Alabama Administrative Code
Title 420 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
Chapter 420-4-1 - NOTIFIABLE DISEASES
Section 420-4-1-.02 - Definitions

(1) Birth defects - New diagnosis of a structural, functional, or biochemical abnormality regardless of cause and irrespective of any known genetic or environmental association(s) specified by the National Birth Defects Prevention Network or as designated by the State Health Officer; whether manifested prenatally, at delivery, or at a later date up to 12 months of age and may interfere with normal growth or development.

(2) Case of Public Health Importance - Includes an individual that presents at a healthcare provider with unusual symptoms or an uncommon disease as determined by a reporting healthcare provider, or a disease not normally seen in Alabama. An example would be a non-reportable disease that has caused alert or concern among local healthcare providers.

(3) Clinical materials - A clinical isolate containing the infectious agent for which submission of material is required; or if an isolate is not available, material containing the infectious agent for which submission of material is required, in the following order of preference:

(4) Congregate living facilities - A facility where persons reside and share common spaces with other residents. Congregate living facilities can include, but are not limited to, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, jails, prisons, shelters, mental health facilities, dormitories, and resident summer camps.

(5) Department - Alabama Department of Public Health.

(6) Exposure - That condition in which an individual comes in contact with a disease or health condition in a manner such as to allow transmission of said disease or health condition.

(7) Immediate, Extremely Urgent - Classification for diseases and conditions that require Department notification within 4 hours of presumptive diagnosis or laboratory test result.

(8) Immediate, Urgent - Classification for diseases and conditions that require Department notification within 24 hours of presumptive diagnosis or laboratory test result.

(9) Isolation - The restriction of free movement of a person or persons to prevent the spread of a notifiable disease, or other diseases as determined by the State Board of Health, by ordering confinement to a particular building or part thereof or the restriction of said individual to a facility specifically designated for the confinement of persons who may be infectious and possibly capable of transmitting a notifiable disease.

(10) Notifiable disease - A disease or health condition of epidemic potential; a threat to the health and welfare of the public; or otherwise of public health importance. In the context of this Chapter 420-4-1, a disease or condition that is required to be reported in accordance with Rule 420-4-1-.04.

(11) Outbreak - The occurrence of more cases of disease in a given area, or among a specific group of people linked to a common source, over a particular period of time. Foodborne and waterborne outbreaks may be defined as two or more individuals, who reside in different households, with similar illness resulting from a common exposure, such as ingestion of a common contaminated food.

(12) Pediatric - For the purposes of reporting influenza-associated pediatric mortality, persons younger than 18 years of age.

(13) Pre-Hospital Transport Personnel/Emergency Medical Service Personnel - Those individuals involved in the transportation of a person to a hospital and care of a person prior to hospitalization, licensed by the State Board of Health, and defined in Code of Ala. 1975, §22-18-1. Also included within this definition is any individual performing emergency medical services who is exempted from licensure by Code of Ala. 1975, §22-18-2.

(14) Quarantine - The forced isolation or restriction of free movement of a person or persons to prevent the spread of a notifiable disease or health condition. Quarantine may refer to the restriction of access to or egress from any building, place, property, or appurtenance.

(15) Sex offender - Any adult convicted of a sex offense or any individual adjudicated for a sex offense as defined in Code of Ala. 1975, §15-20A-5.

(16) Sex offense - Any offense as defined in Code of Ala. 1975, §15-20A-5.

(17) Standard - Classification for diseases and conditions that require Department notification within 3 days of diagnosis or laboratory test result unless otherwise noted. The standard category does not apply to laboratories.