Section 615.300  Infectious Diseases

a)         In order to protect the citizens within its jurisdiction from contracting and transmitting infectious diseases, the local health department shall perform a comprehensive infectious diseases control program.

b)         For selected Class I(a), Class I(b) and Class II diseases listed in Section 690.100 of the Control of Communicable Diseases Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 690), the local health department in consultation with the Department shall jointly monitor trends on an annual basis.  Disease case rates are important in the framework of measures needed to understand the outcome of disease control efforts, but should not be interpreted in isolation since they may be a reflection of circumstances beyond the control or influence of a disease control program.  Communicable disease control programs should track trends in Class I(a), Class I(b) and Class II disease case rates at least on an annual basis and use this information in combination with other program activity measures in order to assess program performance and undertake program planning. Local health departments will be asked to demonstrate compliance with this process by either:

1)         producing an annual report that includes disease case rates selected by the local health department and approved by the Department and is distributed to the public health and medical community; or

2)         selecting on an annual basis at least three diseases of concern and providing a written interpretation of trends and a plan of action in response to those trends.

c)         The local health department shall undertake the following activities, in accordance with the Control of Communicable Diseases Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 690), the Control of Sexually Transmissible Diseases Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 693), and the AIDS Confidentiality and Testing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 697), in order to control the spread of, reduce the incidence of, and prevent Class I and Class II diseases within its jurisdiction.

1)         Investigation shall be initiated on all reported cases (or suspected cases) of Class I(a) and (b)  and Class II diseases: immediately (within 3 hours after receiving information about the suspected case) for Class I(a); within 24 hours for Class I(b); and within 7 days for Class II diseases.

2)         For reported cases involving HIV or sexually-transmitted diseases, counseling shall be provided to a negotiated percentage of consenting investigated cases and (their) contacts.

3)         For reported cases involving HIV or sexually-transmitted diseases, partner notification services shall be provided to a negotiated percentage of consenting investigated cases and (their) contacts.

4)         For reported cases involving Tuberculosis and sexually-transmitted diseases, a negotiated percentage of reported cases receiving treatment for infectious diseases shall complete the course of therapy included within a list of Department-approved guidelines for prevention and treatment of Tuberculosis and sexually-transmitted diseases.

5)         For reported cases involving Tuberculosis and sexually-transmitted diseases, a negotiated percentage of identified contacts to cases shall be placed on, and complete, the course of preventive therapy included within a list of Department-approved guidelines for prevention and treatment of Tuberculosis and sexually-transmitted diseases.

6)         Public health infectious disease clinics should be conducted in accordance with the United States Public Health Service's "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Practice Guidelines" (May 1991) or "Recommended Practices and Procedures for Providing Immunization Services" published by the Department and provided to local health departments.

7)         A system to monitor the status of Class I(a) and (b) and Class II infectious diseases, including reporting, and a system to estimate the incidence, prevalence and demographic characteristics of cases that occur in the community shall be implemented and maintained.

8)         Screening for Tuberculosis and HIV  shall be conducted as determined by the results of a needs assessment of the community.  If the needs assessment does not address this issue, goals for such screening shall be negotiated with the Department based upon a consideration of the current status of disease in the jurisdiction, resources (local, State, and federal) available to the local health department, and national ("Healthy People 2010") goals.

9)         Ongoing immunization clinics shall be developed and maintained as a local service.  Ongoing clinics should be of such number and frequency so as to provide for immunizations as recommended in "Recommended Practices and Procedures for Providing Immunization Services", and to assist schools to comply with Section 27-8.1 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/27-8.1].  During outbreaks, special immunization clinics shall be provided, of such number and frequency as needed to control the spread of disease.  Documentation shall be maintained regarding the clinics held by sites and dates; numbers immunized; and vaccine used or distributed by vaccine type, client ages, and the nature of the vaccinations, e.g., primary series or booster shot.

10)       A plan shall be developed and implemented to survey the immunization status of the population in the local jurisdiction.  The local health department shall assist and support the completion of annual surveys of selected populations, i.e., school enterers, special age groups or communities. Survey results should be used to plan and conduct activities to increase immunization levels to at least 90 percent for specific diseases.  Subsequent surveys should show the same or higher levels of immunity.

11)       Distribution and use of biologics provided by the Department shall be performed in accordance with the United States Public Health Service "Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)" as published in "Standards for Pediatric Immunization Practices" (February 1993), United States Public Health Service "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines" (September 1989) or United States Public Health Service "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Practice Guidelines" (May 1991).

12)       An accounting for biologics provided by the Department shall be reported monthly to the Department on form IL482-00702.

13)       Procedures shall be implemented that assure that the amount of State-supplied vaccine unaccounted for or wasted on an annual basis is less than 3 percent.

14)       All known adverse events following administration of vaccines shall be investigated, and a Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) form shall be completed and submitted to the Department.

15)       Qualified personnel shall be available to conduct the activities pursuant to this Section.  One or more staff members involved in infectious disease investigations shall complete the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention home study course on communicable disease control or equivalent approved by the Department within six months prior to conducting activities, and shall attend at least one related training program annually.  This training program may include, but shall not be limited to, classroom training, satellite courses, or conference seminars.

16)       Records that contain information that identifies or could lead to the identity of cases, case contacts, counseling clients, screening participants, or vaccine recipients shall be strictly confidential and shall not be released except as provided in applicable State and federal statutes and rules or with written consent of the person to whom the records related.

d)         Notwithstanding activities conducted pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, local health departments shall adhere to the requirements of the Control of Communicable Diseases Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 690), the Control of Sexually Transmissible Diseases Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 693), and the AIDS Confidentiality and Testing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 697).

e)         The percentages agreed upon between the Department and the local health department for activities described in subsection (c) of this Section shall be negotiated every three years to coincide with Local Health Protection Grant reviews and shall be based on current status of disease in the jurisdiction, resources (local, State, and federal) available to the local health department, federal initiatives and national ("Healthy People 2010") goals.

f)          Documentation of activities conducted pursuant to this Section shall be maintained by the local health department for a minimum of five years after the completion of the grant period, and shall be available for review by the Department upon request.

(Source:  Amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 421, effective January 1, 2002)