Regulations Governing the Reporting of Diseases, Exposures, and Sentinel Health Events

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1.1 Definitions: As used in these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, these words and terms shall be defined as follows:

1.1.1 “Case” defined: A person or animal having a disease, as defined by these Regulations

1.1.2 “Chief Health Officer” defined: The Chief Health Officer of the Southern Nevada Health District, or his designee

1.1.3 “Disease” defined: Any abnormal condition of the body or mind that impairs normal physiological or psychological functioning, as identified through examination or by clinical laboratory testing

1.1.4 “District Board of Health” defined: The “District Board of Health” as defined by Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 439.390 and organized pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes 439.370

1.1.5 “Drowning” defined: The process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion and/or immersion in liquid

1.1.6 “Exposure” defined: Contact with a biological, chemical, radiological, or other agent or situation that can affect health

1.1.7 “Health Authority” defined: The officers and agents of the Southern Nevada District Board of Health

1.1.8 “Health Care Provider” defined: Any person providing medical diagnosis, evaluation, testing, treatment, or care as part of their routine occupational or professional duties, including, but not limited to, a physician, nurse, physician assistant, veterinarian, emergency medical technician, paramedic, pharmacist, or dentist

1.1.9 “Medical Facility” defined: Has the definitions ascribed to “medical facility” in Nevada Revised Statutes 449.0151, and, to “independent center for emergency medical care” in Nevada Revised Statutes 449.013

1.1.10 “Outbreak” defined: The occurrence of cases of a disease in a community, geographic region, or particular population at a rate in excess of that which is normally expected in that community, geographic region or particular population

1.1.11 “Sentinel Health Event” defined: Any event which has the potential to affect health, or result in death, disease, physical, or psychological injury

1.1.12 “Sensitive Occupation” defined: Has the definition ascribed to it in Nevada Administrative Code 441A.170.

1.1.13 “Suspected Case” defined: A person or animal who, based on clinical signs, symptoms, laboratory evidence, or history of exposure, is considered by a health care provider or the health authority to have, or possibly have, a disease, as defined by these Regulations

1.2 List of adopted recommendations, guidelines, and definitions: The following recommendations, guidelines, and definitions are adopted by reference

1.2.1 The definition of “case” or “suspected case” set forth in the list of “Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases,” published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at www.cdc.gov/epo/dphsi/phs/infdis.htm

1.2.2 The recommended guidelines for the investigation, prevention, suppression, and control of communicable diseases contained in “Control of Communicable Diseases Manual,” published by the American Public Health Association

1.2.3 The recommended guidelines for the investigation, prevention, suppression, and control of communicable diseases contained in the “2006 Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases,” published by the American Academy of Pediatrics

1.2.4 The case definition for non-Cholera Vibrio infections (Vibriosis) as described in the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 2006 Position Statement 06-ID-05, “National Reporting for non-cholera Vibrio Infections (Vibriosis)”

1.2.5 The standards for determining antimicrobial resistance as described in “Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing; Sixteenth Information Supplement”, document number M100-S16, published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

1.3 Review of revision or amendment of adopted recommendation, guideline, or definition

1.3.1 The Chief Health Officer shall review any revision or amendment of a recommendation, guideline, or definition specified in subsections 1.2.1 to 1.2.5, inclusive, to determine whether the revision or amendment made to the recommendation, guideline, or definition is appropriate for application in this jurisdiction.

1.3.2 For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, a revision or amendment of a recommendation, guideline, or definition specified in subsections 1.2.1 to 1.2.5, inclusive, is effective in this jurisdiction 45 days after its revision or amendment unless the Chief Health Office files an objection to the amendment or revision of the recommendation, guideline, or definition with the district board of health at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the district board of health.