Notifiable diseases are infectious diseases that must be reported to government officials by law. These diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and protozoa. The notifiable diseases list in the United States is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diseases may be removed from the list if they become less common, or diseases may be added to the list if incidence increases.
Bacterial Diseases
Bacteria are responsible for a number of diseases on the U.S. notifiable disease list. Some of the bacterial diseases on the list are transmitted by sexual contact, while others are spread by breathing the same air as an infected person. Sexually transmitted diseases on the list include chlamydia, chancroid, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other bacterial diseases on the notifiable diseases list include anthrax, botulism, cholera, diphtheria, ehrlichiosis, E. coli, hemolytic uremic syndrome, legionellosis, leprosy, listeriosis, lyme disease, meningococcal disease, pertussis, plague, paralytic poliomyelitis, psittacosis, Q fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, salmonellosis, shigellosis, group A streptococcal disease, Streptococcus pneumonaie, tetanus, toxic shock syndrome, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, vancomycin-resistant staph aureus and tularemia.
Viral Diseases
Viruses are responsible for several infectious diseases on the United States notifiable diseases list. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) may be the most recognizable diseases on the list. According to the State University of New York at Albany, these diseases are transmitted by contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. Sexual contact, blood transfusions, and needle sticks are responsible for the transmission of the AIDS virus. Other viral diseases on the notifiable diseases list include California encephalitis virus, Haemophilus influenzae, Eastern equine encephalitis, hantavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, measles, rabies, mumps, rubella, SARs, smallpox, West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, varicella, yellow fever and Western equine encephalitis.
Parasitic & Fungal Diseases
Some diseases on the notifiable disease list are caused by parasites, fungi and protozoa. Coccidioidomycosis is caused by the fungus C. posadasii. This disease is also known as California valley fever, valley fever and desert fever. Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by cryptosporidium. This disease is often transmitted in drinking water and the water used to fill swimming pools. Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite that is spread via infected feces. Transmission can occur if food or drink that are contaminated with the parasite are ingested. Malaria is found in tropical and subtropical regions but can be brought to the United States by travelers who become infected with the disease. This disease is caused by a protist known as Plasmodium, which can be classified into five different species. Giardiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Giardia intestinalis. This parasite is often found in drinking water, making it possible for humans to contract the disease without being in contact with an infected person. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, trichinosis is a parasitic disease that is caused by eating meat that is infected with a worm known as Trichinella. Although the worm larvae are covered with a hard covering, the acids in the stomach dissolve the covering and release the worms into the intestinal tract.
