Kittitas County Public Health is required by law to receive and investigate reports of communicable disease and other conditions of public health significance in Kittitas County residents. Health care providers, hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, veterinarians, and schools all are required to report certain conditions and outbreaks. We work together with these entities and the public to control the spread of infectious diseases. We interview people who are sick to determine where the infection started and make sure they understand how to keep others from getting sick. We may recommend that sick people stay away from others until they are no longer contagious. Certain diseases, such as tuberculosis, may require strict isolation. We identify other people who have been exposed and may become sick in order to monitor their health or recommend measures to prevent illness. We advise schools on how to handle outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

We get support and advice from the Washington State Department of Health, our regional epidemiologist, and other local health jurisdictions in carrying out this responsibility.

For Health Care Providers

• Notifiable Conditions Reporting: Health Care Providers
• Confidential Sexually Transmitted Disease Case Report
• List of Notifiable Conditions with links to guidelines, reporting forms, and case definitions

For Schools

• Infectious Disease Control Guide for School Staff

For Kittitas County Residents

How You Can Stop the Spread of Germs

The very best ways we have to control the spread of most common illnesses are very simple!

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your cough (or sneeze). Cough into your elbow or use a tissue.
• Stay home when you are sick.

• Bloodborne Pathogens Education for groups of employees
• HIV/AIDS Training Required for Licensure
  • Washington Department of Health listing of in-person and online training
• Other Resources:
  • Washington Department of Health link to information about Illness and Disease A-Z
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention home page