Communicable Diseases

The State of Missouri maintains a list of reportable diseases/conditions intended to identify and solve community health problems and to diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community.  Missouri has the authority to define conditions of public health importance known as State Reportable Diseases/Conditions.

Potential or suspect cases of diseases, dog bites and/or bat exposures are reported from hospitals, laboratories and health care providers to the local health department in a process known as “reporting”.  A public health investigation is conducted to determine and implement appropriate public health interventions by the local public health communicable disease investigator, at times assisted by regional and/or state epidemiological specialists.