Communicable diseases, sometimes called infectious diseases, are illnesses caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Sometimes the illness is not due to the organism itself, but rather a toxin that the organism produces after it has been introduced into a human host.
Communicable diseases may be transmitted (spread) either by:
- one infected person to another,
- from an animal to a human, or
- from some inanimate object (doorknobs, table tops, etc.) to an individual.
It is important to note that some communicable diseases can be spread in more than one way.
Forest County Health Department is responsible for prevention, mitigation and control of communicable diseases in Forest County, under Wis. Stat. Chapter 252. Local providers are required to report communicable diseases to the Health Department per Wis. Stat. 441 and 448.
To see a list of reportable diseases, please check the Department of Health Service’s Disease Reporting page.