Communicable Diseases

View the archive of health alerts, updates, and notices.

To report notifiable conditions to Skagit County Public Health:

• 24-hour provider line (for healthcare professionals only: (360) 770-8852
• Confidential fax reporting line: (360) 416-1515

• Health Care Providers
• Health Care Facilities
• Laboratories
• Veterinarians

In addition to the list of conditions notifiable statewide, Skagit County Board of Health requires health care providers, health care facilities, EMS, and firefighters to report opioid overdoses to Public Health within 72 hours of the incident.

• FAQ for Health Care Providers about Opioid Overdose Reporting
• FAQ for EMS and Fire about Opioid Overdose Reporting

Skagit County Public Health can also facilitate testing for certain diseases at the Washington Public Health Lab.

To report clusters or outbreaks of infectious disease at long-term care facilities, use the REDCap Facility Outbreak Notification Tool.

• Suspect Measles Worksheet
• Communicable Disease Report Form (non-STI)
• STI Case Report Form
• STI Expedited Partner Therapy Rx Form
• Animal Bite Report Form
• Opioid Overdose Report Form

• COVID-19 Resources for Providers
• STD Treatment Guidelines
• Mpox Resources for Providers
• Measles Resources for Providers
• Mumps Resources for Providers
• Rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis instructions (Consultation with Public Health is strongly recommended prior to initiation of PEP)
• Health Care Provider TB Toolkit
• Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) Treatment Guidance; one-page quick reference version

• TB ECHO
• TB 101 for Health Care Workers
• STD Clinical Consultation Network

• General Resources for Schools (WA DOH)

• COVID-19 Symptom and Exposure Flowchart (WA DOH)
• Tools to improve ventilation to prevent COVID-19 (CDC)
• Guidance for Aerosol-Generating Procedures for K-12 Schools (WA DOH)

• Respiratory Illness Dashboard (WA DOH)
• Norovirus Toolkit (WA DOH)
• Flu Free in Schools and Childcare (WA DOH)
• Chickenpox (Varicella) information (WA DOH)
• Pertussis (whooping cough) information (WA DOH)
• School and Childcare Immunization information (WA DOH)

What do you need to report?
The list of notifiable conditions is found at the Washington State Department of Health (WA DOH) website.

Schools and child care facilities are required to notify the local health department of the presence of a contagious disease (WAC 246-110-020) or of suspected or confirmed outbreaks of notifiable conditions that may be associated with the facility (WAC 246-101-415 & 246-101-420). Schools are also asked to report when school absenteeism exceeds 10% of the student population.

Schools and childcare are allowed to report diseases or health concerns that pose a risk to student health and safety under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA 34 CFR § 99.36).

When do you need to report?
In general, cases of reportable conditions or outbreaks should be reported as soon as they are identified. Specific timelines from WA DOH are found on the reporting website.

How do you report?
Use the reporting tools below. Urgent questions? Call (360) 770-8852 (school nurses or school leadership only) or on weekdays (360) 416-1500.

• School Illness Absenteeism Report Form
• School Outbreak Reporting Tool for COVID-19 or Norovirus
• School Chickenpox Report Form

The goal of reporting is to prevent further spread of disease by implementing appropriate control measures. Once reported, Skagit County Public Health can offer guidance and can also help with drafting letters to notify parents, flyers, and other educational materials.

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Stay home when you are sick, and test when possible.
• Stay up to date on vaccines, including the seasonal COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
• Consider masking when in crowded spaces.

• What to do when you are sick with COVID-19 or another respiratory virus (WA DOH)
• Respiratory Illness Dashboard (WA DOH)
• Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (CDC)
• Vaccine Locator (CDC)

Rabies is a severe viral disease that affects the central nervous system. If a person does not receive the appropriate medical care after a potential rabies exposure, infection with the virus is almost always fatal. All warm-blooded mammals, including humans, are susceptible to rabies. For more information, visit the Washington State Department of Health and CDC rabies webpages.

In Washington State, bats are the only known reservoir for rabies. The percentage of bats in the wild that are infected with rabies is very low (less than 1%). Though rabies is rare in bats, it is important to assess every human exposure to a bat carefully. Bat teeth are razor sharp and tiny, so a bite wound might not be noticed. If you know for certain you have been bitten or scratched by a bat, seek medical attention immediately. If you are unsure, call Public Health at (360) 416-1500 for an assessment.

Do not touch the bat with bare hands. Close the room's doors and windows. Wait until the bat lands on the floor or a wall. Wearing leather or other thick gloves, capture the bat in a can or box without touching it. Seal the container and call Skagit County Public Health. Do not put the bat in a refrigerator or freezer. See the video “How to capture a bat in your home” below for more detail.

We will help you determine whether any people or pets in your home may have been exposed and can arrange to test the bat for rabies, if needed. What may seem insignificant to you might turn out to be serious enough for testing and treatment. If you know for certain you have been bitten or scratched by a bat, seek medical attention immediately.