Click here to view the Infectious Disease Isolation Guidance
Click here to view the Respiratory Infection Guidance
Communicable Diseases
Communicable diseases, also known as infectious or transmissible diseases, are illnesses that can be spread from one person to another or from an animal to a person. Pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and fungi cause these diseases. The spread of disease can happen through multiple ways including air, blood or bodily fluids, food, and water. The terms contagious and infectious are also used to describe communicable diseases. Contagious diseases are spread through contact; infectious diseases are spread by infectious agents, such as bacteria and viruses. While all contagious diseases are infectious, not all infectious diseases are contagious. For example, some foodborne illnesses are not able to be spread from one person to another, hence they are infectious but not contagious.
Communicable Disease Surveillance
Communicable disease surveillance is a multi-component system for monitoring the emergence and spread of contagious diseases. The data that this system monitors and analyzes includes, but is not limited to, demographic, geographic, and disease/condition-specific information. Accurate identification and timely reporting are key parts of successful disease control, and they enable public health agencies to:
With the right information, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and public health professionals can take timely and effective actions to save lives and keep Americans safe.
Examples of Communicable Diseases
Mosquito Borne Illnesses:
Tick borne illnesses:
Other communicable diseases:
If you suspect that you may have been exposed to rabies, contact the Kansas Department of Health & Environment's (KDHE) Epidemiology Hotline at (877) 427-7317. To determine if you need to begin post-exposure prophylaxis, click here to access KDHE's Rabies Exposure Assessment tool.
For Law Enforcement Professionals, Animal Control Officers, or Clinicians, click here to access our Animal Bite Report Form.
For more information about rabies and state recommendations, click here to visit KDHE's rabies webpage.