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Sign in or register for an accountThe notification system in England and Wales is the oldest national system for collecting statistics on communicable diseases. The Infectious Disease (Notification) Act 1889 was introduced to identify and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Many of the diseases notifiable under that act are now rare or have been eliminated in England and Wales, but other diseases have been added to the list which now covers 30 infections.
A doctor who makes the diagnosis (confirmed or suspected) of a notifiable infectious disease is required by statute to notify the proper officer of their local authority (in this case, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)).
The only circumstances in which notification is not required is when the doctor has reason to believe that a colleague has already notified the case. This is not a voluntary reporting system and there are financial penalties for failing to notify a case of a notifiable infection disease.
'Proper officer' is a term widely used in local government and defined as 'an officer appointed for that purpose by that body'. In most cases, the proper officer for some or all of the functions of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 are the UKHSA North West Consultants.
Notifications are necessary to identify and prevent the spread of infectious disease. In some, cases notifications are used to monitor the development of community outbreaks or the success of immunisation programmes. In many cases they prompt the identification of vehicles of infection, such as contaminated foodstuffs or the identification and protection of contacts, as in the case of meningitis or tuberculosis.
Diseases which pose a serious threat to the public health, such as meningitis, diphtheria, etc should be notified by telephone, as should suspected outbreaks of infectious diseases, including food poisoning. Whenever notification is made by telephone, this should always be followed by written notification within three days.
The following diseases are notifiable under the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010.
| Disease | Mode of Transmission | Notification Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Anthrax | Contact with spores |
Immediate |
| Botulism | Foodborne toxin |
Immediate |
| Brucellosis | Animal contact, dairy | Within 3 days |
| Cholera | Contaminated water/food |
Immediate |
| COVID-19 | Respiratory droplets |
Immediate |
| Diphtheria | Respiratory droplets |
Immediate |
| Enteric fever (typhoid/paratyphoid) | Contaminated food/water |
Immediate |
| Food poisoning | Contaminated food | Within 3 days |
| Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) | E. coli infection |
Immediate |
| Infectious bloody diarrhoea | Various pathogens |
Immediate |
| Invasive group A streptococcal disease |
Respiratory/contact |
Immediate |
| Legionnaires’ disease | Inhalation of water mist | Within 3 days |
| Leprosy | Prolonged close contact | Within 3 days |
| Malaria | Mosquito bite | Within 3 days |
| Measles | Airborne droplets |
Immediate |
| Meningococcal septicaemia | Respiratory droplets |
Immediate |
| Mumps | Respiratory droplets | Within 3 days |
| Plague | Flea bites, droplets |
Immediate |
| Poliomyelitis |
Faecal-oral |
Immediate |
| Rabies | Animal bites |
Immediate |
| Rubella | Airborne droplets | Within 3 days |
| SARS | Respiratory droplets |
Immediate |
| Scarlet fever | Respiratory droplets | Within 3 days |
| Smallpox | Airborne droplets |
Immediate |
| Tetanus | Wound contamination | Within 3 days |
| Tuberculosis | Airborne droplets | Within 3 days |
| Typhus | Lice or flea bites | Within 3 days |
| Viral haemorrhagic fevers | Contact with fluids |
Immediate |
| Whooping cough (pertussis) | Respiratory droplets | Within 3 days |
| Yellow fever | Mosquito bite |
Immediate |
The UKHSA Greater Manchester HPT (North West) works strategically to protect the health of Greater Manchester residents, to be a source of expert advice, and to assist local NHS primary care trusts in fulfilling their health protection responsibilities.