09/24/2025

ODH Updates Rules on Reportable Communicable Diseases in Ohio

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has updated its rules regarding mandatory reporting of certain communicable diseases in Ohio, and these updates take effect on Oct. 1, 2025. ODH lists reportable communicable diseases in three categories:

• Class A – Diseases of major public health concern because of the severity of disease or potential for epidemic spread and must be reported immediately via telephone upon recognition that a case, a suspected case, or a positive laboratory result exists. Examples of Class A disease include (but are not limited to) botulism, measles, and meningococcal disease.

• Class B – Diseases of public health concern needing timely response because of potential for epidemic spread and must be reported by the end of the next business day after the existence of a case, a suspected case, or a positive laboratory result is known. Examples of Class B diseases include (but are not limited to) Candida auris, Lyme disease, and salmonellosis.

• Class C – Report an outbreak, unusual incident, or epidemic of other diseases (e.g. histoplasmosis, pediculosis, scabies, staphylococcal infections) by the end of the next business day. Examples of outbreaks include foodborne, healthcare-associated, and zoonotic.

A summary of the updates for communicable disease reporting are detailed in this Dear Colleague Letter. Additionally, here is a resource for Know Your ABCs: A Quick Guide to Reportable Infectious Diseases in Ohio. ODH also offers an Infectious Disease Control Manual, which is designed to be a reference for local health departments, hospitals, physicians, and laboratories in providing information about infectious diseases from a public health perspective, including prevention, control, and reporting of suspected and diagnosed cases. 

These updates are found in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rules 3701-3-01; 3701-3-02; 3701-3-03; 3701-3-04; 3701-3-07; 3701-3-08; and 3701-3-13. Before finalizing these rule changes, ODH held a stakeholder meeting to review the proposed changes, and also posted them for a public comment period.