Infectious diseases

We undertake statutory surveillance and control of infectious diseases following notification of cases by local doctors and hospital laboratories, as part of our infectious disease control service.

Infectious disease control

The statutory surveillance and control of infectious diseases undertaken by the Council follows notification of cases by local doctors and hospital laboratories.

This involves data logging and trend analysis together with visiting cases to advise on prevention of spread and obtaining details to trace the source and prevent recurrence.

This is one of the oldest of local authority functions and can be tracked back to the Public Health Act of 1848.

Our services

• Management of the control and investigation into outbreaks of infectious disease are carried out in close liaison with the Health Protection Agency and Lambeth Primary Care Trust.
• Management of the voluntary disease reporting system in schools is carried out in liaison with a public health specialist at the Health Protection Agency.
• Prevention advice is offered and there is close joint working with the Health Protection Agency and NHS Trusts on health protection and promotion campaigns relating to notifiable infectious diseases, infection control and parasitic conditions.

What you can do to help

• Take heed of health advice when travelling.
• Always wash your hands after using the toilet and also before handling food (this is so simple and is one of the most important ways of preventing stomach infections).
• Visit your local doctor if you think you may be suffering from a communicable disease and take their advice on treatment and how to prevent further spread of any illness.

Our service standards

• Where there is a suspected or potential outbreak of illness or individual cases of illness where could be a serious threat, we will respond on the same day we are notified.
• Where there are single cases of infectious disease that do not pose as great a risk but where further spread may occur we will respond within 1 working day of the date notified.
• Where risk of further spread is limited, but advice, information and other investigation is needed, we will respond within 3 working days of the date notified.