The purpose of notifiable conditions reporting is to provide the information necessary for public health officials to protect the public's health by tracking communicable diseases and other conditions. These data are critical to local health departments and the departments of health and labor and industries in their efforts to prevent and control the spread of diseases and other conditions. Public health officials take steps to protect the public, based on these notifications. Treating persons already ill, providing preventive therapies for individuals who came into contact with infectious agents, investigating and halting outbreaks, and removing harmful health exposures are key ways public health officials protect the public. Public health workers also use these data to assess broader patterns, including historical trends and geographic clustering. By analyzing the broader picture, officials are able to take appropriate actions, including outbreak investigation, redirection of program activities, or policy development.

(1) The purpose of this chapter is to provide critical information to public health authorities to aid them in protecting and improving the public's health through prevention and control of infectious and noninfectious conditions. Public health authorities use the information gathered under this chapter to take appropriate action including, but not limited to:

(a) Treating ill persons;

(b) Providing preventive therapies for individuals who came into contact with infectious agents;

(c) Investigating and halting outbreaks;

(d) Removing harmful health exposures from the environment;

(e) Assessing broader health-related patterns, including historical trends, geographic clustering, and risk factors; and

(f) Redirecting program activities and developing policies based on broader health-related patterns.

(2) This chapter establishes notification requirements and standards for conditions that pose a threat to public health consistent with the purpose as established in this section.