A disease that legally needs to be reported to Public Health is called a notifiable disease.
When notifiable diseases are reported, Public Health investigates. The goal of the investigation is to identify the where the disease came from and who else may have been exposed. Public Health may take actions to reduce the risk of the disease spreading in the community.
The Health Protection Act, which guides this aspect of our work in Public Health, is based on an ethical framework where we use the least restrictive means to achieve our public health goals, considering health equity and other factors.
Information About Other Infectious Diseases:
- Group A Streptococcal Infections
- Measles
- Legionella (Legionnaires' Disease and Pontiac Fever)
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
- Leptospirosis
- Lyme Disease / Tick Awareness
- Nova Scotia Health Tick Service
Information for Health Care Providers
Health care providers are responsible for reporting notifiable diseases, which helps prevent the spread of severe illnesses within our province and to those who are most at risk. Find more information and resources for providers on this website.