State statutes assign responsibility to and give authority to local public health departments and health officers to prevent the occurrence and contain the spread of communicable diseases. Reportable diseases are investigated and appropriate actions are taken to locate a source and to stop transmission. Some examples of the diseases reported include tuberculosis, hepatitis, salmonella, pertussis, measles, meningitis, cryptosporidium, sexually transmitted diseases, and foodborne/waterborne outbreaks.

People who are newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS are interviewed in order to identify other persons who may have been exposed to the HIV infection. Those persons are then notified of their potential exposure and advised to seek counseling or testing.

Tuberculosis (TB) skin testing is provided to individuals and groups. This can be done on a routine basis or following an exposure to tuberculosis. For people with positive TB skin tests, preventive medication can be provided.