RIDRM Followup Responsibilities

Reportable Infectious Diseases Reference Manual (RIDRM)

Follow-up Responsibilities

In Connecticut, disease follow-up can be the responsibility of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) staff, local health department (LHD) staff, or both. It can also include staff from other State agencies, and public health partners like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The following reflects the recommendations of the DPH Infectious Diseases Section regarding responsibility for the routine follow-up of reportable infectious diseases to obtain additional surveillance data and implement control measures.

LHD Primary Responsibilities

The LHD is responsible for completing state and/or CDC case report forms if indicated, and for assuring that appropriate control measures are being taken independently of any assistance from the DPH. The LHD has primary responsibility for obtaining surveillance data on diseases in the following list:

Joint Responsibilities

For some diseases, follow-up for both investigation and control are a joint responsibility between the LHD and DPH. In general:

The role of the LHD is to take the necessary action. The DPH may take necessary actions if the LHD does not have the resources.

The primary role of the DPH is to assure that appropriate investigation and control actions are taken for each case.

DPH Primary Responsibilities

The DPH is responsible for obtaining additional case data for all other diseases on the list of Reportable Diseases, Emergency Illness, and Health Conditions. All diseases on the list are nationally reportable to the CDC, and some receive federal funding to enable follow-up specifically for surveillance purposes.

Assistance of the LHD may be required when concurrent initiation of control measures is needed, as could be the case in an outbreak.

Diseases for which DPH is primarily responsible include the following:

Updated 5/26/2026

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