Notification of Infectious Disease, Who is Responsible? – Hiruan B Md Ideris

Detection and prompt notification of any health related event are crucial in public Health not just as part of the surveillance system but also vital for the health authority to respond, prevent and control the particular event especially if it involved an infective origin. The recent emerging and reemerging of communicable disease had triggered not justthe attention of the Public Health communities but also the lay public ^[1] (e.g. Nipah Virus, Zika Virus, Ebola Virus) Based on the interpretation of Communicable Diseases Center (CDC) “Communicable Diseases” means an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible animal or human host. While in Malaysia, the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 interpreted “infectious diseases” is any disease specified in the First Schedule part I and II ^[2],the up to date list is available on the Ministry of Health website.

Notification of communicable diseases is one of the mandatory surveillance system under the Public Health section in Ministry of Health Malaysia. Under the section 10 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 it was clearly stated that the obligation of medical practitioner who treat or become aware of the existence of any infectious diseases in any premises to notify the case thru notice with the least practicable delay to the nearest Medical Officer of Health. The contravention of this section commits an offence and punishable under section 24 of the act ^[2]. Health care provider (HCPs), defined as medical doctors and professional nurses, are critical to strong, resilient health systems ^[5]. They are responsible for the early detection through diagnosis, notification and effective management of infectious diseases. One of the determining factor on a timely Public Health action is dependent on HCP compliance with communicable disease notification in order for the Public Health Authority to take necessary prevention and control measures A recent Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) outbreak in most of the states in Malaysia with alarming figures of daily cases and adviceon closure of the school reflects the work of Public Health Authority in surveillance and control measure to prevent further spreading of the disease following notification by HCP.The evolution of technology had given more options for disease notification by not just the conventional way ( e.g. telephone and fax) .but also an online notification system known as Communicable Diseases Control Information System (CDCIS) that is more reliable and effective developed by the Ministry of Health.

            At the international level, Malaysia is obligated under the International Health Regulation (2005) to notify any public health event including potential communicable diseases which may constitute a Public Health Emergency Of International Concern (PHEIC) within its territory to the World Health Organisation (WHO) within 24 hours of assessment of public health information

The Ministry of Health, Malaysia had published a guidelines on case definitions for infectious diseases in Malaysian that serves as a references for Health Care Providerbefore notification of any communicable diseasess, the guidelines is available on the Misnitry of Health official website. The use of these case definitions which provides standardized criteria for the reporting of cases and enhance the quality of data received under the national notification of infectious diseases ^[9] and

Notification of communicable diseases it’s not merely a legal requirement but are part of a Public Health surveillance system that includes national and international levels which directly impact on the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Increasing worldwide movement of goods and air travel also means diseases are now not only contained to a particular country or region but have a huge potential to reach any country in a matter of hours and days. Without the awaresness of how crucial is the early piece of information through notification to the nearest Public Health Authrority, it might result in unnecessary delay in prevention and control measures resulting in economic and social impacts.The awareness among Health Care Provider in notifying communicable diseases is crucial and should be continuously being updated by the responsible body and it also to be the duty of the Health Care Provider to be aware of their responsibilities.

Reference

1. Dr Ramlee, R. 2015. Message From The Director Disease Control Divison-Infectiuos diseases bulletin, Disease Control Division Ministry Of Health Malaysia.
2. Government of Malaysia. Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
3. Cambridge Dictionary 2018. https://dictionary.cambridge.Org/dictionary/english/ notification.

4. Last JM. A dictionary of epidemiology. 4 ^th London: Oxford University Press; 2001. p. 125

5. United Nations. Working For Health and Growth—Investing in the health workforce 2016 [cited 2016 8 December].http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/250047/1/9789241511308-eng.pdf.

7. Frew G.B, Jonathan L, Laetitia C.R. Health care providers’ compliance with the notifiable diseases surveillance system in South Africa,Published: April 9, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195194
8. World Health Organization 2016, International Health Regulations (2005), Third Edition
9. Bawa SB, Olumide EA, Umar US. The Knowledge attitude and practices of reporting of notifiable diseases among health workers in Yobe State, Nigeria. Afr J Med Sci 2003;32:49-53.

9. Disease Control Division Ministry of Health Malaysia case definitions for infectious diseases in Malaysia 3rd Edition January 2017.

Written by:

Hiruan B Md Ideris

Assistant Environmental Health Officer Cert. Safety & Health Officer (FMM), Dip. Environmental Health (KKM), Postbasic Investigation & Prosecution Of Law (KKM), BSc Environmental Health (hons) (CityU)

 

[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]

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