COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Communicable diseases are those that spread by an infectious agent, such as bacteria, viruses,
fungi or parasites. Most of these diseases can be passed from person to person so the words
“contagious” or “infectious” are often used when talking about communicable diseases.
List of Communicable Diseases
Local health departments are required to report some 80 communicable diseases to the
California Department of Public Health as part of the disease surveillance and investigation
efforts. The diseases below are among them.
1. Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The

bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can also damage other parts of the body.

TB spreads through the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or
talks. If you have been exposed, you should go to your doctor for tests. You are more likely to
get TB if you have a weak immune system.

2. CRE
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are untreatable or difficult to treat bacteria
that are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics and nearly all available antibiotics. They can cause
serious illness and death; bloodstream infections are fatal in 40% -50% of cases. CRE was
designated by the CDC in 2013 as one of the three most urgent drug resistant threats in the
United States. An estimated 9,000 CRE infections cause 600 deaths yearly in the U.S.
Risk factors for CRE colonization or infection include open wounds, presence of indwelling
devices (such as endotracheal tubes, feeding tubes, and catheters), multiple medical problems,
and high antimicrobial use. CRE are easily spread between infected or colonized patients by
health care workers and equipment, unless rigorous infection prevention precautions are
taken. Cases and outbreaks of CRE have been increasingly recognized in recent years in
Northern California, including Alameda County.
3. Ebola

Ebola is a rare but deadly virus that causes fever, body aches, and diarrhea, and sometimes
bleeding inside and outside the body. As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the
immune system and organs. Ultimately, it causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop. This
leads to severe, uncontrollable bleeding.
4. Enterovirus D68

First identified in California in 1962, enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is one of more than 100 non-
polio enteroviruses.
 5. Flu

Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease caused by an influenza

virus.[1] Symptoms can be mild to severe.[5] The most common symptoms include:
high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, headache, coughing, and feeling
tired.[1] These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus and most last less
than a week.[1] The cough, however, may last for more than two weeks.[1] In children, there may
be diarrhea and vomiting, but these are not common in adults.[6] Diarrhea and vomiting occur
more commonly in gastroenteritis, which is an unrelated disease and sometimes inaccurately
referred to as "stomach flu" or the "24-hour flu".[6] Complications of influenza may include viral
pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, and worsening of previous health
problems such as asthma or heart failure.[2][5]
6. Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease
syndromes in people worldwide. Infection with any hantavirus can produce hantavirus disease
in people. Hantaviruses in the Americas are known as “New World” hantaviruses and may
cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Other hantaviruses, known as “Old World”
hantaviruses, are found mostly in Europe and Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal
syndrome (HFRS).
 7. HIV/AIDS

HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. The immune system helps the body fight off
infections. Untreated HIV infects and kills CD4 cells, which are a type of immune cell called T
cells. Over time, as HIV kills more CD4 cells, the body is more likely to get various types of
infections and cancers.
8. Measles

Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now
almost always be prevented with a vaccine.

Also called rubeola, measles can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates
have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still kills
more than 100,000 people a year, most under the age of 5.

As a result of high vaccination rates in general, measles hasn't been widespread in the United
States for more than a decade. The United States averaged about 60 cases of measles a year
from 2000 to 2010, but the average number of cases jumped to 205 a year in recent years.
Most of these cases originate outside the country and occurred in people who were
unvaccinated or who didn't know whether or not they had been vaccinated.
 9. Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans and
other mammals.[1] Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of
exposure.[1] These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: violent
movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, an inability to move parts of the body,
confusion, and loss of consciousness.[1] Once symptoms appear, the result is nearly always
death.[1] The time period between contracting the disease and the start of symptoms is usually
one to three months, but can vary from less than one week to more than one year. [1] The time
depends on the distance the virus must travel along peripheral nerves to reach the central
nervous system.[5]
Rabies is caused by lyssaviruses, including the rabies virus and Australian bat lyssavirus.[3] It is
spread when an infected animal bites or scratches a human or other animal.[1] Saliva from an
infected animal can also transmit rabies if the saliva comes into contact with the eyes, mouth,
or nose.[1] Globally, dogs are the most common animal involved.[1] In countries where dogs
commonly have the disease, more than 99% of rabies cases are the direct result of dog
bites.[6] In the Americas, bat bites are the most common source of rabies infections in humans,
and less than 5% of cases are from dogs.[1][6] Rodents are very rarely infected with rabies.[6] The
disease can be diagnosed only after the start of symptoms.[1]
 10. Sexually Transmitted Disease

STDs used to be called venereal diseases or VD. They are among the most common contagious
diseases. More than 65 million Americans have an incurable STD. Each year, 20 million new cases
are reported; half of these infections are among people ages 15 to 24 and they can have long-term
consequences.
STDs are serious illnesses that require treatment. Some STDs, such as HIV, cannot be cured and can
be deadly. By learning more about STDs, you can learn ways to protect yourself.
You can get a STD from vaginal, anal, or oral sex. You can also be infected with trichomoniasis
through contact with damp or moist objects such as towels, wet clothing, or toilet seats, although it
is more commonly spread by sexual contact. You are at high risk if: