Nevada Administrative Code
Chapter 441A - INFECTIOUS DISEASES; TOXIC AGENTS
DUTIES AND POWERS RELATING TO THE PRESENCE OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Section 441A.290 - Duties of district health officer

Universal Citation: NV Admin Code 441A.290

Current through December 31, 2024

1. A district health officer who knows, suspects or is informed of the existence within his or her jurisdiction of a communicable disease shall:

(a) Use as a guideline for the investigation, prevention, suppression and control of the communicable disease, the recommended guidelines for the investigation, prevention, suppression and control of communicable disease set forth in:
(1) "General Recommendations on Immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices," adopted by reference pursuant to NAC 441A.200;

(2) Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, adopted by reference pursuant to NAC 441A.200;

(3) Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, adopted by reference pursuant to NAC 441A.200; and

(4) Red Book: 2021 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, adopted by reference pursuant to NAC 441A.200; and

(b) Carry out the measures for the investigation, prevention, suppression and control of the communicable disease specified in this chapter.

2. Upon receiving a report from a medical laboratory pursuant to NAC 441A.235, the district health officer shall notify the health care provider who ordered the test or examination and discuss the circumstances of the case or suspected case before initiating an investigation or notifying the case or suspected case. If, after a reasonable effort, the district health officer is unable to notify the health care provider who ordered the test or examination before the time an investigation must be initiated to protect the public health, the district health officer may proceed with the investigation, including notifying the case or suspected case, and may carry out measures for the prevention, suppression and control of the communicable disease.

3. The district health officer shall notify the Chief Medical Officer, or a representative thereof, as soon as possible of any case reported in his or her jurisdiction:

(a) Having anthrax, foodborne botulism, botulism other than foodborne botulism, infant botulism or wound botulism, cholera, diphtheria, extraordinary occurrence of illness, measles, plague, rabies, rubella, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), smallpox (variola), tularemia or typhoid fever;

(b) That is part of a foodborne disease outbreak; or

(c) That is known or suspected to be related to an act of intentional transmission or biological terrorism.

4. The district health officer shall prepare a case report for each case reported in his or her jurisdiction pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The report must be made on a form approved or provided by the Division and be submitted to the Chief Medical Officer, or the representative, within 7 days after completing the investigation of the case. The district health officer shall provide all available information requested by the Chief Medical Officer, or the representative, for each case reported, unless the provision of that information is prohibited by federal law.

5. If the district health officer suspects that there may be an association between two or more cases infected with the same communicable disease, the district health officer shall:

(a) Conduct an investigation to determine whether the cases share a common source of infection; and

(b) If he or she identifies a common source of infection that poses a threat to the public health:
(1) Inform the public of the common source of infection;

(2) Provide education to the public concerning the risk, transmission, prevention and control of the communicable disease; and

(3) Notify the Chief Medical Officer.

6. The district health officer shall inform persons within his or her jurisdiction who are subject to the provisions of this chapter of the requirements of this chapter.

7. The district health officer may require, in his or her jurisdiction, the reporting of an infectious disease not specified in NAC 441A.040 as a communicable disease.

Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92; A by R047-99, 9-27-99; R087-08, 1-13-2011; A by R121-14, eff. 10/27/2015; A by R148-22A, eff. 7/26/2023; A by R002-22A, eff. 9/18/2023

NRS 439.200, 441A.120

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