Iowa Administrative Code 641 Chapter 1 identifies diseases, poisonings and conditions, and incidents that are to be reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health. This page provides information and resources for the Reportable Poisonings and Conditions listed in Appendix B of IAC 641 Chapter 1.
Diseases reportable to the Bureau of Environmental Health Services
Posters listing the required reportable conditions may be downloaded:
Reporting to the Bureau of Environmental Health Services:
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
Bureau of Environmental Health Services
Lucas State Office Building
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075
Phone (Mon-Fri 8 am-4:30 pm): 800-972-2026
Fax: 515-281-4529
24-hour Disease Reporting Hotline: (For use outside of EH office hours) 800-362-2736
Report by IDSS, phone, fax, or mail using the condition specific report forms
Trauma Care Facilities utilizing the Iowa Trauma Registry should indicate that the incident occurred on a farm or involved agriculture within the Trauma Registry record (See Bureau of Emergency and Trauma Services)
Report electronically:
Lead poisoning (child or adult) - The results of all blood-lead testing done on both adults and children must be reported to the Bureau of Environmental Health Services at Iowa HHS.
All blood lead test results greater than or equal to 20 micrograms per deciliter (ยตg/dL) in a child under the age of 6 years or a pregnant woman must be reported daily, followed by routine electronic reporting.
The Harmful Algal Blooms program monitors the health effects of people who come in contact with blue green algae in recreational water. The Iowa Department of Public Health works collaboratively with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and CDC to expand a system that tracks and reports human illnesses related to harmful algal blooms.
Several known species of harmful algal blooms occur throughout the world. The kind most frequently found in Iowa are called blue green algae, or cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria occur when algae that are normally present in water grow exuberantly. Within a few days, a bloom can cause clear water to become cloudy or covered in a scum layer. The cloudy or scummy water often smells bad. Algal blooms usually float to the surface and can be many inches thick, especially near the shoreline. Blue green algae often form in warm, slow moving waters that are rich in nutrients, such as fertilizer runoff or septic system overflows. Blooms can occur at any time, but most often occur in late summer or early fall. Algal blooms can appear quickly and can last a few hours, days or weeks.
Blue green algae can produce toxins that can cause people to get sick. Not all algal blooms produce toxins, however. The IDNR's Beach Monitoring program tests the water of many of Iowa's beaches and currently also tests for the presence of some toxins caused by harmful algal blooms.
Blue green algae, or cyanobacteria, can produce toxins that can cause illnesses in people and animals. Microcystin is one of the cyabobacterial toxins that can be released from bacteria in the water during the life cycle of a blue-green algae bloom. People who accidentally swallow water or breathe in water droplets containing microcystin can develop gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other symptoms can include cough, runny eyes and nose, sore throat, and asthma-like symptoms. Skin rashes can also develop. In severe cases, liver failure can occur.
Suspected and confirmed cases of exposure to blue green algae (microcystin poisoning) is required to be reported to Iowa HHS by health care providers.
Iowa HHS is specifically asking health care providers to report cases that meet the following criteria:
AND/Or a history of exposure within the past seven days to water testing positive for microcystin
How to report:
To report cases, call Iowa HHS at (800) 972-2026. This telephone line is only staffed during business hours. If you call after hours, please leave a message and your call will be returned the next business day.
What to report:
Health care provider's name
Health care provider's number
Patient name
Patient phone number
Patient address
Caller's name and phone number
Public reporting
Individuals who believe they may have become ill from exposure to blue green algae can notify Iowa HHS by sending an email. The email should include the person's name and day time phone number, along with information about where and when the exposure occurred. An Iowa HHS staff member will contact the individual to conduct a confidential telephone interview.
