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Infectious Disease Prevention & Control

The St. Mary’s County Health Department’s (SMCHD) Infectious Disease Program monitors, investigates, and responds to infectious (or “communicable”) disease cases in St. Mary’s County that have the potential to become larger public health concerns. The program also works to ensure that community members have access to accurate and timely information about infectious diseases, including emerging infectious agents. The program works closely with local health care providers and facilities to manage outbreaks and to assure appropriate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment practices are implemented in St. Mary’s County.

Infectious Disease Reporting

Maryland law requires local health care providers, hospitals, and certain others to report diagnosed or suspected cases of specific communicable diseases to the St. Mary’s County Health Department. Reporting provides an opportunity for appropriate public health follow up for patients and contacts, helps identify potential or developing outbreaks, and provides a better understanding of Maryland’s communicable disease patterns. Diseases investigated include, but are not limited to:

  • Animal bites/rabies
  • COVID-19
  • Hepatitis
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Lyme disease
  • Meningitis
  • Rocky mountain spotted fever
  • Salmonella
  • Tuberculosis
  • Vibrio

Providers: Click here for a list of mandatory reportable diseases in Maryland and reporting instructions.

Disease Reporting

Providers should also place a call SMCHD at (301) 475-4176 to notify the office of their report or if they have any questions or immediate concerns.

After business hours, clinicians needing to urgently report an animal bite or a reportable condition may contact the St. Mary’s County Emergency Operations Center at (301) 475-8016 to be connected to a public health official on-call.

Laboratories

Laboratory Directors should use forms available per state guidance.

Schools, Childcare Providers & Others

Please call SMCHD at (301) 475-4330 or after hours at (301) 475-8016.

Infectious Disease Surveillance

Disease surveillance is fundamental to the prevention and control of communicable diseases. Surveillance is the process of gathering disease information in a systematic way to observe clues, trends, or patterns that will help with early detection of disease and control of disease outbreaks. It is the basis for planning public health action. 

Prevention

Washing your hands regularly with soap and water continues to be a key strategy for preventing the spread of germs and communicable diseases – Hand washing can reduce the potential of acquiring respiratory diseases, diarrheal infections, and skin infections. Click by topic below for more specific prevention information.

Additional Resources

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