Division of Public Health, Bureau of Communicable Diseases (BCD)

About the Bureau

The Division of Public Health, Bureau of Communicable Diseases is responsible for the surveillance, prevention, and control of more than 70 reportable communicable diseases. BCD staff routinely provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to local and Tribal health departments, health care providers, and other public health partners. BCD also develops educational materials, guidance, and data on communicable diseases to help the people of Wisconsin make informed decisions about their health. BCD is responsible for monitoring scientific advances in communicable disease prevention and control, and for incorporating those that are appropriate into public health practice. To support our work, BCD partners with a wide variety of agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.

There are five sections in the Bureau of Communicable Diseases

Communicable Diseases Administration Section

The Communicable Diseases Administration Section includes the Fiscal Management Unit and the Public Health Education Unit. The Fiscal Management Unit helps BCD program areas with fiscal, contractual, and grant-related work. This unit develops and implements fiscal and procurement guidelines and processes to streamline work throughout BCD. The Health Education Unit is a cross-cutting unit that supports the health education and public health communication needs of BCD programs. This unit develops educational, guidance, and outreach materials to support communicable disease surveillance, prevention, and outbreak response activities.

Bloodborne and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Section

The Bloodborne and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Section is comprised of five units: the HIV Care Unit, the HIV Prevention Unit, the HIV Surveillance Unit, the Adult Viral Hepatitis Unit, and the STI Unit. This section provides leadership for Wisconsin's public health response to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STIs). Activities include providing surveillance and epidemiologic investigation, HIV/HCV/STI testing and referral, partner services, educational activities, HIV case management, Ryan White funded care services, and HIV drug assistance and health insurance premium subsidy programs.

Communicable Diseases Epidemiology Section

The Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section is responsible for maintaining and improving the surveillance system for communicable diseases. This section includes the Vectorborne, Respiratory, and Invasive Diseases Unit, the Enteric and Waterborne Disease Unit, and the Wastewater Surveillance and Genomics Unit.

The Vectorborne, Respiratory, and Invasive Diseases and the Enteric and Waterborne Disease Units conduct statewide surveillance, outbreak investigation, and outreach for a broad array of communicable disease categories, including vectorborne, respiratory, invasive, mycotic, gastrointestinal, waterborne, zoonotic, and vaccine-preventable diseases. These units are responsible for tracking disease burden, trends, and distribution; rapidly identifying and mitigating disease outbreaks; and conducting broad and targeted outreach efforts informed by surveillance data to reduce disease burden and the impact of outbreaks.

The Wastewater Surveillance and Genomics Unit leads the statewide programs for wastewater surveillance and genomic epidemiology.

Health Care Associated Infections (HAI) and Tuberculosis (TB) Section

The Health Care Associated Infections (HAI) and Tuberculosis (TB) Section supports the Wisconsin HAI Program and the Wisconsin TB Program (WTBP).

The HAI Program is comprised of two units: the Infection Prevention Unit and the HAI Surveillance and Education Unit, which work together to support HAI prevention and response efforts statewide. This program works directly with health care and long-term care facilities statewide.

The WTBP ensures that patients with suspected or confirmed TB disease or latent TB infection have easy access to diagnostic and treatment services that meet national standards. They do this by providing consultation, technical assistance, education, and training in the clinical and public health aspects of TB. The WTBP also develops state-wide TB control policies and procedures.

Immunization Section

The Immunization Section includes three units: the Vaccine Data Analytics Unit, the Vaccine Management Unit, and the Field Unit. Staff in the section provide guidance and recommendations on vaccine preventable disease surveillance and control, and on Wisconsin school immunization requirements and reporting. The section also analyzes and shares data on vaccines collected in the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR).

Th Immunization Section allocates all Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended vaccines to approximately 750 providers throughout the state that participate in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. Program staff advise health care providers on proper vaccine storage and handling, and conduct site visits to ensure vaccines are being stored properly and providers are following CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines.

Our partners

The Bureau maintains a close working relationship with local health departments, Tribes, health care providers, a wide variety of community-based direct service agencies, as well as with other state and federal agencies, including:

Bureau of Communicable Diseases webinars

The Bureau of Communicable Diseases holds regular webinars on timely communicable disease topics. Visit the Bureau of Communicable Disease Webinar webpage to access recordings of the monthly health care provider webinar as well as a listing of previous webinars organized alphabetically by topic. Additional webinars on a variety of topics can be found on specific disease or topic area webpages.

Division of Public Health (DPH)