Disease Reporting
Wisconsin has communicable disease reporting requirements, P-02566 (PDF), that support public health’s responsibilities to control the incidence and spread of communicable diseases in our state.
The diseases and conditions listed on this page are considered to have significant public health impact, and any confirmed or suspected cases must be reported promptly.
Requirements for the timing of reporting, once the disease or condition is recognized or suspected, vary by disease. In addition to the information listed below, general reporting requirements are described in Wis. Stat. ch. 252 Communicable Diseases. The specific reporting requirements are described in Wis. Admin Code. ch. DHS 145 Control of Communicable Diseases. A list of reportable conditions is provided in Wis. Admin Code. ch. DHS 145 - Appendix A.
Questions concerning this information may be directed to: Bureau of Communicable Diseases, 608-267-9003, or the Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health, 608-266-1120.
Health Alert Network (HAN)
The HAN enables public health staff, Tribal nations, health care providers, emergency workers, and others to exchange reliable information as outbreaks evolve. Access the HAN webpage to read messages that have gone out in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging health issues.
Case reporting methods and contact information
Category I diseases must be reported IMMEDIATELY by telephone to the patient's local health officer, or their designee, unless otherwise instructed by the state epidemiologist for specific reportable diseases. Category II diseases must be reported within 72 hours either electronically through the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS), by mail or fax using an Acute and Communicable Disease Case Report, F-44151 or STD Case Report Form, F-44243, or by other means. HIV/AIDS should be reported directly to the Wisconsin HIV Program.
Communicable diseases and other notifiable conditions
The following diseases are of urgent public health importance and must be reported IMMEDIATELY by telephone to the patient's local health officer, or their designee, unless otherwise instructed by the state epidemiologist for specific reportable diseases. In addition to the immediate report, within 24 hours, complete and fax, mail, or submit a case report electronically through the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS), or by other means. Public health intervention is expected as indicated. See Wis. Admin Code. § DHS 145.04(3)(a) and Wis. Stat. § 252.05.
| Category I Disease | Notes |
|---|---|
| Anthrax | 1, 4, 5 |
| Botulism (Clostridium Botulinum) including foodborne, infant, wound, and other | 1, 2, 4, 5 |
| Carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CP-CRE) As of April 25, 2022, this is a Category II disease | 1, 2, 7 |
| Cholera (Vibrio cholera) | 1, 3, 4 |
| Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheria) | 1, 3, 4, 5 |
| Haemophilus influenzae invasive disease including epiglottitis | 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| Hantavirus infection | 1, 2, 4 |
| Hepatitis A | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Measles (rubeola) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitidis) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome-associated Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) | 2, 3, 4 |
| Mpox (Monkeypox) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Pertussis whooping cough caused by any Bordetella infection | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Plague (Yersinia pestis) | 1, 4, 5 |
| Polio virus infection paralytic or nonparalytic | 1, 4, 5 |
| Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) Naegleria fowleri | 2, 4, 5, 6 |
| Rabies human and animal | 1, 4, 5 |
| Ricin toxin | 4, 5 |
| Rubella | 1, 2, 4, 5 |
| Rubella congenital syndrome | 1, 2, 5 |
| Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-associated Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Smallpox | 4, 5 |
| Tuberculosis | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) infection. As of September 22, 2023, this is a reportable category II disease. | 1, 4, 5, 7 |
| Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) including Crimean-Congo, Ebola, Lassa Lujo, and Marburg viruses, and New World Arenaviruses | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Yellow fever | 1, 4 |
Outbreaks, confirmed or suspected: Foodborne or waterborne outbreaks | 1, 3, 4, 6 6 3, 4, 6 |
| Any detection of, or illness caused by, an agent that is foreign, exotic or unusual to Wisconsin, and that has public health implications | 4 |
Notes key
- Infectious disease or other condition designated as notifiable at the national level.
- Required Wisconsin or CDC follow-up form completed by public health agency.
- High-risk assessment by local health department is needed to determine if patient or member of patient's household is employed in food handling, daycare or health care.
- Source investigation by local or state health department is needed.
- Immediate treatment is recommended, i.e., antibiotic or biologic for the patient or contact or both.
- Coordination between local and state health departments is recommended for follow-up.
- Disease declared reportable by State Epidemiologist memo.
The following diseases shall be reported to the patient's local health officer, or the local health officer's designee, either electronically through the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS), by mail or fax using an Acute and Communicable Disease Case Report, F-44151, or by other means within 72 hours upon recognition of a case or suspected case, unless otherwise indicated. Public health intervention is expected as indicated. See Wis. Admin Code. § DHS 145.04(3)(b) and Wis. Stat. § 252.05.
The sexually transmitted diseases shall be reported to the local health officer within 72 hours on a Sexually Transmitted Diseases Laboratory and Morbidity Epidemiologic Case Report, F-44243 (Word fillable) or by entering the data into the WEDSS or by other means within 72 hours of the identification of a case or suspected case. Public health intervention is expected as indicated. See Wis. Admin Code § DHS 145.15 and Wis. Stat. § 252.11(7)(b).
Notes key
- Infectious disease or other condition designated as notifiable at the national level.
- Required Wisconsin or CDC follow-up form completed by public health agency.
- High-risk assessment by local health department is needed to determine if patient or member of patient's household is employed in food handling, daycare or health care.
- Source investigation by local or state health department is needed.
- Immediate treatment is recommended, i.e., antibiotic or biologic for the patient or contact or both.
- Coordination between local and state health departments is recommended for follow-up.
- Disease declared reportable by State Epidemiologist memo.
* Effective November 29, 2010, influenza-associated hospitalizations are reportable in Wisconsin within 72 hours of identification to local public health agencies.
**Refer to Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 181.05 for more stringent reporting timelines of blood lead tests.
The following disease shall be reported to the state epidemiologist on a Wisconsin HIV Case Report Form, F-44338 (Word and PDF), electronically through the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS), by fax, telephone, or mail within 72 hours after identification of a known or suspected case. Additionally, the following laboratory results shall be reported on all persons newly or previously diagnosed with HIV infection each time the test is conducted: all CD4+ test results (CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and percentages), both detectable and undetectable HIV viral load results, HIV genotypic genotype results and all components of the HIV laboratory diagnostic testing algorithm when the initial screening test is reactive. See Wis. Stat. § 252.15(7)(b) and Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 145.04(3)(b)
Additional information about HIV reporting and testing algorithm
For questions, contact the HIV Program’s Surveillance Unit, DHSHIVsurveillance@dhs.wisconsin.gov
| Category III HIV/AIDS | Notes |
|---|---|
| Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection AIDS has been reclassified as HIV Stage III | 1, 2, 4 |
Notes key
- Infectious disease or other condition designated as notifiable at the national level.
- Required Wisconsin or CDC follow-up form completed by public health agency.
- High-risk assessment by local health department is needed to determine if patient or member of patient's household is employed in food handling, daycare or health care.
- Source investigation by local or state health department is needed.
- Immediate treatment is recommended, i.e., antibiotic or biologic for the patient or contact or both.
- Coordination between local and state health departments is recommended for follow-up.
Listing of Wisconsin Local Health Officers
Register to report electronically through WEDSS
(Note: 75% of disease reports are now received through WEDSS)
Case Reporting and Investigation Protocols (EpiNet) can be found by clicking on the name of each individual disease.
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
Phone: 608-267-9003
Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Health
Phone: 608-266-1120
Secure fax numbers
HIV Program
608-720-1288
BEOH
608-267-4853
Epidemiology Program
608-261-4976
Immunization Program
608-267-9493
STD Program
608-261-9301
TB Program
608-266-0049
Copies may be mailed to:
Wisconsin State Epidemiologist (Communicable Diseases)
Bureau of Communicable Diseases
Specify Disease or Program
1 W Wilson St., Room 272
Madison, WI 53703
or
Wisconsin State Epidemiologist (Environmental and Occupational Health)
BEOH
1 W Wilson St., Room 150
Madison, WI 53703
Frequently used paper report forms
Acute and Communicable Disease Case Report form, F-44151
STD: F-44243
HIV: F-44338
LTBI: F-02265 (PDF)
Additional resources
- Reportable Communicable Disease Conditions in Wisconsin: P-03305 (PDF)
- Electronically order forms. Follow the instructions at the top of the page and email the order form to dhsfmdphpph@wisconsin.gov.