Health, Department of

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Effective Date: 10/22/2001 to Current

Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 048.0051.3.10222001

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Public Health Responsibilities

Section 1. Public Health Action. Upon receipt of a report or notice of a case of sexually transmitted disease within a respective jurisdiction, a Health Officer or Designee may take any or all of the following actions:

(a) If examination has not been performed, may provide for the examination of the infected individual(s) or the individual(s) reasonably suspected of suffering from a sexually transmitted disease and shall report the examination results to the individual(s);

(b) May require the infected individual(s) to seek adequate medical assistance for treatment of said infection either privately or if necessary at public expense;

(c) To the extent possible, provide for and/or arrange for the education and counseling of the infected individual(s) and/or their partner(s) as to the medical significance of the sexually transmitted disease;

(d) To the extent possible, identify, locate and refer the individual(s) with whom the infected individual(s) may have had contact for medical evaluation and treatment if necessary;

(e) Shall follow procedures (a) through (d) (Chapter III, Section 1) above with any identified partner(s);

(f) May isolate the individual(s) when that person(s) fails to comply with medical recommendations pertaining to an infection with or exposure to a dangerous or life-threatening sexually transmitted disease.

Section 2. Public Health Notification.

(a) To the extent possible, the Health Officer or Designee shall make every reasonable effort to locate and notify any person identified as having been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease within the prescribed public health standard for critical dates of exposure.

(b) Notification may include:

(i) The name of the sexually transmitted disease to which the individual may have been exposed;

(ii) The approximate date of exposure;

(iii) The nature of the disease (method of transmission, effects of the disease, etc.);

(iv) The available sources for education and counseling as to the medical significance of the disease;

(v) A recommendation to the individual about seeking medical assistance to determine if he or she is infected and obtaining treatment for known or suspected infection necessary.

(c) The notice shall not provide any information that may be construed to identify the specific identity of the originally infected individual, unless the Health Officer or Designee has received written authorization for the release of information from the originally infected individual.

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