Many diseases are required by state law to be reported to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. About 60 diseases are on the "List of Reportable Diseases." Examples include measles, syphilis, and tuberculosis. Reporting of AIDS has been required since 1982.
On January 1, 2002, HIV (not progressed to AIDS)
was added to the List of Reportable Diseases.
- Why has HIV been made reportable?
Collecting information about HIV will help us get a better understanding of HIV in our state. We need to know if people with HIV are getting the care they need. We also need to know why some people get infected with HIV and others do not. HIV information is also used to obtain money for HIV prevention and treatment services in Connecticut.
- Who receives HIV reports?
HIV is reported only to the HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program at the Department of Public Health. Reportable disease information is used only for public health purposes.
- Who is responsible for reporting HIV infection?
HIV is reported by health care providers who order HIV tests and laboratories
that do the tests.
- What is reported?
Health care providers report basic information about the person with HIV. This includes the person's name, address, sex, race or ethnicity, and how the person was infected (sexual transmission and injection drug use are examples). Information such as the person's name is needed so that anyone who tests positive for HIV is only counted once.
- Are all persons with HIV reported?
Only people diagnosed with HIV infection after January 1, 2002 are reported. People diagnosed with AIDS will continue to be reported.
- Is anonymous testing still available?
Yes. Free anonymous testing is available at HIV counseling and testing sites throughout Connecticut. Call the lnfoline (dial 211) to find out where these sites are.
- How is confidentiality protected?
- Information about persons with reportable diseases is protected by state and federal laws. There are penalties for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.
- Only a few authorized persons have access to confidential reportable disease information like names and addresses.
- Confidential information is not shared with other state or federal agencies (DCF, DOC, DSS, CDC), police, immigration, insurance companies, employers, school officials, or family members of the person with HIV.
- Department of Public Health employees cannot be subpoenaed or deposed to release information about a person with HIV, nor can they be questioned in civil or criminal legal proceedings about the existence or content of reportable disease information.
- How will HIV reporting information be used?
Disease reporting information is used for many public health purposes. Specifically, the information is used to:
- Monitor trends in the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
- Evaluate HIV prevention needs in Connecticut.
- Estimate future needs for health care and other services.
- Obtain funding to continue providing HIV prevention and treatment services.
- Where can I get more information?