Notifiable infections must be reported to?

Notifiable infections must be reported to the local health department, as they are the primary agency responsible for tracking and managing public health concerns at the community level. Each state has its own list of notifiable diseases, which healthcare providers are required to report to local health authorities. These reports are crucial for monitoring disease trends, controlling outbreaks, and protecting public health.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also plays a vital role in the surveillance and management of infectious diseases on a national level, the initial reporting and notification process typically starts at the local health department. This allows for a timely response to emerging health threats, enabling appropriate measures to be taken to prevent further spread within the community.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is involved in global health issues but does not directly receive reports of local diseases from healthcare providers. Similarly, while a patient's primary care provider might be informed about a notifiable infection, they are not the authority to report it for public health purposes. Therefore, the local health department is the correct entity to which notifiable infections must be reported.