Emergency

Resource

Communicable disease control

Under the direction of the Medical Officer of Health, the Communicable Disease (CD) team receives notifications of reportable communicable diseases, conducts a risk assessment and implements strategies to prevent further transmission.

Reportable communicable diseases

Reportable communicable diseases on bclaws.gov.bc.ca

Strategies to minimize the spread of disease include:

  • CD case and contact investigation to disrupt disease transmission
  • Clinical services including TB screening, syphilis testing and treatment, sexually transmitted infections counselling, post exposure prophylaxis, supporting linkage to care
  • Ensure HIV cases are informed of their diagnosis in a timely, safe, and supportive manner; provide linkage to HIV care ; identify and provide care to partners
  • Cluster and outbreak investigations in congregate settings, care facilities, and the community
  • Collecting epidemiologic data to monitor and manage communicable diseases and outbreaks
  • Distribute vaccines/prophylaxis across the region · Provide health education and consultation to the health region

Please contact the CD team at (604) 675-3900 or 1 (855) 675-3900 for reporting a communicable disease concern or to seek consultation regarding an exposure.

Communicable Disease Surveillance

Surveillance of communicable diseases is important to monitor, analyze and interpret the data that may be impacting the health and well being of our communities:

  • Monitor trends in communicable diseases
  • Apply epidemiological methods to examination of issues of public health concern
  • Provide scientifically valid information in support of public health advocacy, policy development and prevention of diseases
  • Conduct and support outbreak investigations

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