A reportable disease is one that must be reported to the public health authorities. This helps public health officials to accurately determine trends, detect unusual occurrences, and monitor the effectiveness of public health interventions. Reporting requirements are mandated by provincial legislation and the list of reportable diseases differs by province/territory.
In British Columbia this list is available in the Health Act, Communicable Disease Regulation, and includes communicable diseases like measles, tuberculosis and hepatitis as well as some STIs. Reportable STIs are also listed in the Venereal Disease Act. The reportable STIs in British Columbia are:
- Gonorrhea
- Syphilis
- Chlamydia
- HIV AIDS
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
Partner notification
When an STI result comes back positive for a reportable disease, the nurse will also need to notify sexual partner(s) so that they can also be tested, treated, and counselled about STI prevention. This process assists in minimizing the risk of infection to others and re-infection to the original client.
In OPT clinics, the nurse works with the client to notify sexual partners; this is done confidentially (the client’s name will not be mentioned). Alternatively, clients can notify their own partners.
The BC Centre for Disease Control or Public Health, depending on where you live, will initiate partner notification if the client or health provider are unable to notify sexual partners.
