Which diseases do doctors have to notify?
The Notifiable Diseases Act requires doctors and laboratories to notify diseases which are scheduled under the Act. There are about 86 diseases in all, 54 of which are notifiable by doctors. Of these, a large proportion (43) are also notifiable by laboratories.
The notifiable diseases schedule was last updated in March 2006.
Download Notifiable conditions to be reported in the NT (Adobe PDF document - 1024KB)
Some of the diseases are designated as urgently notifiable (marked with a phone symbol image: "phone" ) and some are non-urgent.
What are the important diseases to notify?
There are two groups of diseases which are particularly important to notify:
- those designated urgent (marked with a phone symbol). The more likely and important ones here are:
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
- Dengue if thought to be acquired in the NT
- Enteric disease in an institution or food-handler
- Outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease
- Measles
- Pertussis
- Malaria
- Tuberculosis
- those which involve a clinical diagnosis and might not be notifiable by the laboratory, such as:
- Acute rheumatic fever
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
- Adverse vaccine reaction
- AIDS
- Creutzfelt-Jacob Disease
- Enteric disease in an institution or food-handler
- Outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease
- Congenital syphilis
- Haemolytic Uraemic syndrome
We would prefer to know about a notifiable disease when the diagnosis is seriously considered, rather than wait for final confirmation. An unconfirmed case does not automatically mean public health action will be taken, but readiness can be made and more information be available to aid you in making a diagnosis eg other measles cases in the community.
Please acquaint yourself with the list of notifiable conditions. Many are rare diseases (such as botulism and plague) and others are becoming increasingly rare as a result of immunisation and other public health activities (such as measles and Haemophilus influenzae type b infection).
Do not hesitate to contact your local CDC if you require any further assistance.
Your assistance in this public health activity is appreciated.
Notifiable diseases for laboratories in the NT
Download Notifiable conditions to be reported in the NT (Adobe PDF document - 1024KB)
Download Guide to laboratory notification in the Northern Territory
How do you notify the Centre for Disease Control?
There are two ways to notify a disease:
1. Telephone - any of the diseases on the list can be notified by telephone. (See our Contact Us page)
2. Notification Form (Adobe PDF document - 56KB) - this form can be filled in and sent postage-free to the Centre for Disease Control or by fax (always remember to photocopy a few before you use the last one).
If we require further information or if a public health response is required, we will always get in contact with you. Please contact us .