Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Health
Title R386 - Disease Control and Prevention, Epidemiology
Rule R386-702 - Communicable Disease Rule
Section R386-702-1 - Purpose Statement

(1) Sections 26-6-3, 26B-1-2 -2, and Title 26, Chapter 23b, Detection of Public Health Emergencies Act authorize this rule.

(2) This rule outlines a multidisciplinary approach to communicable and infectious disease control and emphasizes reporting, surveillance, isolation, treatment, and epidemiological investigation to identify and control preventable causes of infectious diseases. Reporting requirements and authorizations are specified for communicable and infectious diseases, outbreaks, and unusual occurrence of any disease. Each section has been adopted with the intent of reducing disease morbidity and mortality through the rapid implementation of established practices and procedures.

(3) The successes of medicine and public health dramatically reduced the risk of epidemics and early loss of life due to infectious agents during the twentieth century. However, the emergence of diseases such as Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and the rapid spread of diseases such as West Nile virus to the United States from other parts of the world, made possible by advances in transportation, trade, food production, and other factors, highlight the continuing threat to health from infectious diseases. Continual attention to these threats and cooperation among all health care providers, government agencies, and other entities that are partners in protecting the public's health are crucial to maintain and improve the health of the citizens of Utah.