Notifiable diseases

Why in news?

• Central government asked states to make mucormycosis or black fungus, a notifiable disease.

About notifiable diseases:

• A notifiable disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities.
• The collation of information allows the authorities to monitor the disease, and provides early warning of possible outbreaks.
• The World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations, 1969 require disease reporting to the WHO in order to help with its global surveillance and advisory role.
• Making a disease legally notifiable by doctors and health professionals allows for intervention to control the spread of highly infectious diseases.
• Registered medical practitioners need to notify such diseases in a proper form within three days, or notify verbally via phone within 24 hours depending on the urgency of the situation.
• This means every government hospital, private hospital, laboratories, and clinics will have to report cases of the disease to the government.
• The process helps the government keep track and formulate a plan for elimination and control. In less infectious conditions, it improves information about the burden and distribution of disease.
• The Centre has notified several diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, encephalitis, leprosy, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), plague, tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis, measles, yellow fever, malaria dengue, etc.
• The onus of notifying any disease and the implementation lies with the state government.
• Any failure to report a notifiable disease is a criminal offence and the state government can take necessary actions against defaulters.

Prelims Question:

Which of the following has been included in the list of notifiable diseases by central government?
1.Tuberculosis
2.Leprosy
3.Leukaemia 
4.Plague
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a)1,2 and 3 only
(b)2,3 and 4 only
(c)1,2 and 4 only
(d)1,2,3 and 4

Answer to Prelims question