Communicable Disease

The Grand Traverse County Health Department's (GTCHD) Communicable Disease program is responsible for the investigation, prevention, intervention, control, and surveillance of communicable diseases in our county to control the spread of diseases in our community. Communicable diseases refer to those that can be passed from person to person or from animal to human through direct contact with bodily fluids, ingestion of contaminated food or water, inhalation of contaminated air, or bites from infected insects. Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are some of the organisms that can cause communicable diseases. Examples of communicable diseases are Hepatitis C, Salmonellosis, and Measles.

Reporting:

Healthcare providers, hospitals, laboratories, veterinarians, childcare centers, and schools are required to report to their local health department to provide follow-up on reported diseases to control the spread of infections. 

Below is information about reporting for physicians, healthcare providers, and laboratories for diseases that must be reported within 24 hours of diagnosis or identification. 

Schools and childcare facilities are required to complete weekly communicable disease reporting. Below is a copy of the reporting form and a link to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Managing Communicable Diseases in Schools and Childcare. 

If you need a blank communicable disease form, here is one for you to print off. 

To report a communicable disease or for more information, call our team at 231-995-6111.

Tuberculosis Testing: 

Tuberculosis (TB) testing and follow-up are available to our community by appointment. Please call us at 231-995-6131 to book, ask questions, or get more information. 

Monthly Epidemiology Reports: