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

• Tuberculosis ECHO
• Tuberculosis 101 for Health Care Workers
• Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Consultation Network

• Sexually Transmitted Infections 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 Tuberculosis Toolkit
• Public Health and Provider Resources (WA DOH)
• Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) Treatment Guidance; one-page quick reference version

• General Resources for Schools (WA DOH)

• What To Do When You Are Sick With COVID-19 or Another Respiratory Virus (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)
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis | Washington State Department of Health (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 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 Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.
• Consider masking when in crowded spaces.

Learn more about protecting yourself against respiratory illnesses. English | Spanish

• 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. Call Skagit County Public Health and we can help determine if there has been rabies exposure and if rabies testing is needed. If you know for certain you have been bitten or scratched by a bat, seek medical attention immediately.

If you believe your pet has been exposed, please contact your veterinarian for further assessment.

If there is a need to safely capture a bat for testing, 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 and seal the container. If the bat is dead, place secured container in a cool place, such as a refrigerator, until further instructions are provided. Do not put the bat in a freezer. Freezing can damage the bat and may affect testing. Watch the How to Capture a Bat in your Home video below for more detail.

Do not touch or handle wild animals, especially bats. Teach your children never to touch or handle bats, even dead ones. Have your children tell an adult if they find a bat at home, at school, or with a pet. If you see a wild animal, leave it alone. Report wildlife observations. Do not feed wild animals or try to keep them as pets. Keep bats out of your living space by your home: Living with wildlife: Bats | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Pets can get rabies if bitten by a mammal infected with rabies, such as a bat. Protect your pets and yourself by getting them vaccinated against rabies on a schedule recommended by a veterinarian. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are required to be up-to-date on rabies vaccination in Washington.

FOR INDIVIDUALS:

Never handle a bat with bare hands. If you know for certain you've been bitten or scratched by a bat, seek medical attention immediately. If you believe your pet has been exposed, please contact your veterinarian for further assessment.

During business hours? Call us right away. We can help determine if there has been rabies exposure and whether rabies testing is needed. Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm | (360) 416-1500

After hours? Follow the steps below based on your situation, then contact us during business hours for next steps.

• If you can safely capture the bat: Wear thick leather gloves, place the bat in a secure container with a tight-fitting lid and tiny breathing holes. Avoid smashing or damaging the bat’s head, as this can make testing difficult. Keep the bat safely contained until business hours and contact Skagit County Public Health for next steps. Do not freeze the bat or take it to the hospital.
  
  
• If you can’t safely capture the bat: Close off the area and shut doors to other rooms. Place towels under the doors to help prevent the bat from escaping. Keep people and pets away and make sure no one touches the bat. Contact Skagit County Public Health during business hours for guidance.

FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND FACILITIES:

If you suspect rabies exposure, call Skagit County Public Health immediately and fax a Bite Report Form to 360-416-1515. We can help determine whether the animal suspected of rabies qualifies for testing and can help facilitate testing.

Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm: (360) 416-1500
For after-hours provider consultations, please call the 24/7 on-call phone.