Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 16 - Health and Welfare, Department of
Rule 16.02.10 - IDAHO REPORTABLE DISEASES
Section 16.02.10.065 - INVESTIGATION AND CONTROL OF REPORTABLE DISEASES

Universal Citation: ID Admin Code 16.02.10.065

Current through September 2, 2024

01. Responsibility and Authority. The Department will use all reasonable means to confirm in a timely manner any case or suspected case of a reportable disease or condition, and will determine, when possible, all sources of infection and the extent of exposure. Investigations may be made when the Division of Public Health Administrator, Health District Director, or state epidemiologist determines a disease to be of public health significance.

a. Every licensed physician or other health care provider attending a person with a reportable disease or condition must report the case or suspected case, as described in Section 050 of these rules. They must instruct the person on applicable control measures as outlined in Sections 100 through 949 of these rules and cooperate with the Department in the investigation and control of the disease or condition.

b. Any person providing emergency or medical services who believes they have experienced a significant exposure to blood or bodily fluids as defined in Subsection 011.15 of these rules may report said exposure as soon as possible or within fourteen (14) days of the occurrence to the Department on a significant exposure report form. When, in the state epidemiologist's judgment, a significant exposure has occurred, the Department will inform the exposed individual that they may have been exposed to the HIV or HBV virus, or that there is no information available based on the Department's current HIV or HBV registry and will recommend appropriate counseling and testing for the exposed individual.

02. Inspection - Right of Entry. The Department may enter private or public property for the purpose of administering or enforcing the provisions of these rules under the authority and constraints granted by Section 56-1009, Idaho Code.

03. Inviolability of Placards. If it is necessary to use placards, it is unlawful for any person to interfere with, conceal, mutilate or tear down any notices or placards on any house, building or premises placed by the Department. Such placards can only be removed by the health official.

04. Verification of Diagnosis. Cases of diseases or conditions reported to the Department will be treated as such upon the statement of the attending licensed physician or other health care provider, unless there is reason to doubt the diagnosis. Final decision as to the diagnosis for administrative purposes will rest with the Division of Public Health Administrator or Health District Director.

05. Closure of Schools and Places of Public Assembly. The Director may order the closing of any public, parochial, or private school, or other place of public assembly when, in their opinion, such closing is necessary to protect public health. The school or other place of public assembly must not reopen until permitted by the health official.

06. Transportation of Patients With Communicable Disease. No person with a reportable disease in a communicable form, who is under orders of isolation, nor any contact who is restricted under an order of quarantine, may travel or be transported from one place to another without the permission of the Division of Public Health Administrator or Health District Director. An exception may be made in instances where the patient is to be admitted directly to a hospital or treatment facility, provided adequate precautions are taken to prevent dissemination of the disease by the patient enroute to the hospital or treatment facility.

07. Order to Report for Examination. The Division of Public Health Administrator or Health District Director may issue an order to report for examination. An order to report for examination must be served by delivering one (1) copy to the person to be examined, one (1) copy to the prosecuting attorney of the county or city in which the person resides, and filing one (1) copy bearing the notation of time and place of service and the signature of the person serving the notice with the issuing health authority.

08. Order for Isolation. The Division of Public Health Administrator or Health District Director may issue and withdraw an order for isolation if they determine that it is necessary to protect the public from a significant risk of the spread of infectious or communicable diseases or from contamination from chemical or biological agents. Orders for isolation must be executed as described in Subsections 065.08.a. and 065.08.b. of this rule.

a. The order for isolation must be executed as follows:
i. One (1) copy to the individual being isolated;

ii. One (1) copy to the attending licensed physician;

iii. One (1) copy to the prosecuting attorney of the county or city in which the person resides; and

iv. One (1) copy to be filed in the office of the issuing officer along with an affidavit of service signed by the person who served the order.

b. The issuing officer will make an assessment and identify the least restrictive means of isolation that effectively protects unexposed and susceptible individuals from the public health threat. Orders of isolation require the individual to isolate himself at a certain place or places, and may require specific precautions to be taken when outside a designated place of isolation as the issuing officer deems appropriate and necessary. If the place of isolation is other than the individual's place of residence, a copy of the order must be provided to the person in charge of that place.

c. The Division of Public Health Administrator or Health District Director will withdraw an order for isolation once it is determined there is no longer a significant threat to the public's health posed by the individual under order for isolation.

09. Order for Quarantine. The Division of Public Health Administrator or Health District Director is empowered whenever a case of any communicable disease occurs in any household or other place within their jurisdiction and in their opinion it is necessary that persons residing within must be kept from contact with the public, to declare the house, building, apartment, or room a place of quarantine and to require that no persons will leave or enter during the period of quarantine except with specific permission of the issuing officer. Orders for quarantine must be executed as described in Subsections 065.09.a. and 065.09.b. of this rule.

a. The order for quarantine must be executed as follows:
i. One (1) copy to any individual being quarantined;

ii. One (1) copy to the attending licensed physician;

iii. One (1) copy to the prosecuting attorney of the county or city in which the quarantine occurs;

iv. One (1) copy to be filed in the office of the issuing officer along with an affidavit of service signed by the person who served the order; and

v. One (1) copy to the person in charge or owner of the place of quarantine.

b. The issuing officer will make an assessment and identify the least restrictive timeframe of quarantine that effectively protects unexposed and susceptible individuals to the infection of public health threat.

c. The Division of Public Health Administrator or Health District Director will withdraw an order for quarantine when they determine there is no longer a significant threat to the public's health posed by the individual or premises under the order for quarantine.

10. Sexually Transmitted Infection Contacts. Any person infected with a sexually transmitted infection (venereal disease) as defined in Section 39-601, Idaho Code, is required to provide the name, address, and telephone number(s) of all persons from whom the disease may have been acquired and to whom the disease may have been transmitted, when such information is requested by the Department or Health District.

Effective March 17, 2022

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Idaho may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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