Rule 511-2-1-.01. Definitions

1. (a) "Clinical materials" means a patient specimen taken for the purpose of identifying a suspected agent of disease, a clinical isolate derived from such a specimen, nucleic acid, or other laboratory material taken or created for the purpose of identifying a suspected agent of disease.
2. (b) "Cluster" means an unusual aggregation of cases, real or perceived, of a disease or condition that are grouped together in time or space. A cluster will be redefined as an outbreak if a geographic or temporal excess in the expected number of cases and an association between the disease or condition and an exposure can be established.
3. (c) "Department" means the Georgia Department of Public Health.
4. (d) "Exposure" means proximity to or contact with a source of a disease agent in such a manner that effective transmission of the agent or harmful effects of the agent may occur.
5. (e) "Notifiable disease" means an illness, condition, or disability listed on the Department's current official roster of notifiable diseases and conditions, as it may be revised from time to time.
6. (f) "Outbreak" means an exposure that results in a higher number of cases of a disease or condition than would be expected within a defined community, geographical area, or time period. If the disease or condition is rare or has serious public health implications, a single case may be considered an outbreak.
7. (g) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, the State or any municipality or other subdivision thereof, or any other entity whether organized for profit or not.
8. (h) "Reporter" means a licensed physician, clinical laboratory, or the chief administrative officer or a designee thereof of a hospital, nursing home, clinic, health maintenance organization, university health service, primary health care center, or institution such as a school, day care center, mental health hospital, or detention facility.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2A-6, 31-12-2, 31-17-2.

History. Original Rule entitled "Definitions" adopted. F. Sep. 23, 2013; eff. Oct. 13, 2013.

Amended: F. Oct. 27, 2017; eff. Nov. 16, 2017.

Amended: F. Mar. 20, 2019; eff. Apr. 19, 2019, as specified by the Agency.