Disease Control

A communicable disease is an infectious disease transmissible from person to person, directly or indirectly. 

In order for an infection in a person to occur there needs to be: 

• an infecting organism bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungus, or helminth (parasitic worms) 

• a person who is susceptible to the infection – has no antibodies to that specific organism 

• environmental factors that bring the infectious organism and the susceptible person together

Sources of Infection and Transmission routes

Direct contact – from person to person 

• touching, biting, kissing, sexual contact or droplet spread from coughs and sneezes, spitting or talking
• infecting oneself with the body’s own germs
• hand to mouth transmission also known as faeco-oral transmission
• blood borne 

Indirect contact – from the environment 

The infecting organism can get into the environment in a number of ways 

• surfaces or food contaminated by the person with the infection through poor hygiene after toilet use or after coughing and sneezing
• insects, pests, animals, domestic pets
• blood borne e.g. through needles
• poor food preparation, cooking and/or storage
• contaminated food/water 

Prevention and Exclusion

Notifiable Diseases

Other useful guidance

• Blood-bourne viruses
   
• Cryptosporidium 
  
  
• Headlice
  
  
• MRSA
  
  
• Sepsis
  
  
• Tuberculosis (TB)
  
  
• Diagnosing Tuberculosis 
  
  
• Tuberculosis Vaccine
  
  
• Ticks and Lime Disease 

Outbreaks and Surveillance

Other ongoing outbreaks