Recent Sanitary Code Changes in Communicable Disease Regulations

During 1993 several changes were made to update Part 2 of the State Sanitary Code relating to communicable diseases. The following is a summary of the changes made. The updated Part 2 is included in the Appendix.

2.1	Chickenpox was deleted from the list of reportable diseases, and Cryptosporidiosis, E. coli 0157:H7 infections, hemolytic uremic syndrome, hepatitis C and listeriosis were added to the list.
2.2	Definitions were amended to clarify the reporting and infection control responsibilities for hospital-associated infections. In addition, definitions of terms "local health authority" and "laboratory," as used in Part 2, were added.
2.5	The list of diseases requiring submission of laboratory specimens was amended to include certain additions from the list of reportable diseases described in section 2.1 above. The spelling of diphtheria was corrected.
2.7	The language was updated to reflect current tuberculosis control practices.
2.8	This section was repealed as obsolete. Its provisions relating to inspection of boarding or lodging houses where cases of tuberculosis exist were rarely, if ever, invoked.
2.10	This section was amended to clarify disease reporting responsibilities.
2.13	This section was repealed as obsolete. Its provisions relating to reporting of communicable diseases on dairy farms were no longer invoked.
2.14	This subpart of the State Sanitary Code relates to rabies cases. In 1990, the Sanitary Code was changed on an emergency basis to require the vaccination of cats in counties with a confirmed case of raccoon rabies. This action was required because of the public health threat of raccoon to cat contact which is prevalent in the mid-Atlantic outbreak. This amendment requires that cats three months of age or over be vaccinated against rabies within 30 days of notice to the county of the confirmation of raccoon rabies in the county.