To report diseases immediately, use the 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline:
1-800-362-2736
Outbreak Reporting
IMMEDIATELY report to the department outbreaks of any kind, diseases that occur in unusual numbers or circumstances, unusual syndromes, or uncommon diseases. Outbreaks may be infectious, environmental or occupational in origin and include food-borne outbreaks or illness secondary to chemical exposure (e.g., pesticides, anhydrous ammonia).
Bioterrorism Reporting
IMMEDIATELY report diseases, syndromes, poisonings and conditions of any kind suspected or caused by a biological, chemical, or radiological agent or toxin when there is reasonable suspicion that the disease, syndrome, poisoning or condition may be the result of a deliberate act such as terrorism. Examples of these include (but are not limited to) anthrax, mustard gas, sarin gas, ricin, tularemia and smallpox.
Reportable Diseases
| Disease | When to Report | How to Report |
|---|---|---|
| Acute flaccid myelitis | 1 day | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-defining conditions | 7 days | Report by one of the following methods: Phone (515) 242-5141 or (515) 281-6918 Health care providers: Use the Pediatric or Adult Confidential Case Report Form Laboratories: Send copy of lab report or the Iowa Confidential Report of Sexually Transmitted Disease & HIV Infection. Mark envelope "Attention 03" For HIV/AIDS-related questions, call (515) 242-5141 |
| Anthrax | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Botulism (Including infant botulism) | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Brucellosis (Brucella) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Chlamydia | 3 days | Report by mail by one of the following methods: Secure electronic data system (as determined by the Department) Fax (515) 725-1278 Phone (515) 281-3031 Use the Iowa Confidential Report of Sexually Transmitted Disease Mark envelope "Attention 00" |
| Cholera | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Candida auris | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Cryptosporidiosis | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Cyclospora | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Diphtheria | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Escherichia coli shiga toxin-producing and related diseases (includes HUS and TTP) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail
Laboratories: Send isolate or specimen to the State Hygienic Laboratory |
| Giardiasis (Giardia) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Gonorrhea | 3 days | Report by mail by one of the following methods: Secure electronic data system (as determined by the Department) Fax (515) 725-1278Call: (515) 725-1278 Phone (515) 281-3031 Use the Iowa Confidential Report of Sexually Transmitted Disease Mark envelope "Attention 00" |
| Haemophilus influenzae type B invasive disease | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 Laboratories: Send isolate or specimen to the State Hygienic Laboratory |
| Hansenβs disease (leprosy) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Hantavirus syndromes | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Hepatitis A | 1 day | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Hepatitis B, C, D, E | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) | 7 days | Report by one of the following methods: Phone (515) 242-5141 or (515) 281-6918 Health care providers: Use the Pediatric or Adult Confidential Case Report Form Laboratories: Send copy of lab report or the Iowa Confidential Report of Sexually Transmitted Disease & HIV Infection. Mark envelope "Attention 03" For HIV/AIDS-related questions, call (515) 242-5141 |
| Legionellosis (Legionella) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Listeria monocytogenes invasive disease | 1 day | Phone, IDSS or FAX Laboratories: Send isolate or specimen to the State Hygienic Laboratory |
| Malaria | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Measles (rubeola) | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Meningococcal invasive disease | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736
Laboratories: Send isolate or specimen to the State Hygienic Laboratory |
| Mosquito-borne diseases (e.g. chikungunya, dengue, eastern equine encephalitis, La Crosse, St. Louis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, West Nile, western equine encephalitis, and zika) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, fax or mail |
| Mumps | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Pertussis | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Plague | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Poliomyelitis | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Psittacosis | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Rabies, animal | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Rabies, human | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Rubella (including congenital) | 1 day | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Salmonellosis (Salmonella) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or Mail Laboratories: Send isolate or specimen to the State Hygienic Laboratory |
| Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Shigellosis (Shigella) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail
Laboratories: Send isolate or specimen to the State Hygienic Laboratory |
| Smallpox | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Syphilis | 3 days | Report by mail by one of the following methods: Secure electronic data system (as determined by the Department) Fax (515) 725-1278 Phone (515) 281-3031 Use the Iowa Confidential Report of Sexually Transmitted Disease Mark envelope "Attention 00" |
| Tetanus | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Tickborne diseases (includes anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever) | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Tuberculosis - Pulmonary and laryngeal (infectious) | 1 day | Pone (515) 281-7504 or FAX (515) 281-4570 |
| Tuberculosis - Extra-pulmonary | 3 days | Phone (515) 281-7504 or FAX (515) 281-4570 |
| Tularemia | 3 days | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Typhoid Fever | 1 day | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) | 1 day | Phone, IDSS, FAX or mail |
| Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) (e.g., Lassa, Marburg, Ebola, Crimean-Congo) | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
| Yellow Fever | Immediately | 24/7 disease reporting telephone hotline: 1-800-362-2736 |
Reporting of the above diseases is required by Iowa Administrative Code [641] Chapter 1.
Diseases can be reported through the following:
Iowa Disease Surveillance System (IDSS) Secure Fax: (515)281-5698
Phone: 1-800-362-2736
Mail: Iowa Division of Public Health
Attn: Disease Reporting
Lucas State Office Building
321 E. 12th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
For Iowa Disease Surveillance System (IDSS) related questions, call the Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology at 1-800-362-2736
For specimen submission questions, call the State Hygienic Laboratory at (319) 335-4500