Public Health Saves Lives
Reportable Diseases
Epidemiology plays a vital role in monitoring, preventing, investigating and controlling infectious and communicable diseases in Franklin County.
An infectious disease can be transmitted from person to person, or animal to human, by direct contact with body fluids, ingesting contaminated food or water, inhalation of contaminated air or the bite of an infected insect.
Public Health Surveillance is the collection, investigation and distribution of data about illness and death. This surveillance helps prevent and control disease in Franklin County. Surveillance is used to protect and improve the health of the public by:
- describing disease trends
- identifying and controlling the sources of infection
- educating the public
- preventing disease
The health department can provide educational FAQ sheets on a variety of conditions that can be provided to staff, students, or employees.
Epidemiology endorses proper hand washing as the most effective way to stop the spread of germs. To learn more information about hand washing and proper hand washing procedure please click on the links below.
Physicians, hospitals, and laboratories report communicable diseases as required by 902 KAR 2:020 to the epidemiology unit of the health department. Qualified health department staff persons provide investigation of the cases and report the communicable diseases to the state office which reports to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staff can be reached for reporting or for consultation using the information below.
Phone: 502-564-7647 ask for the charge nurse
Fax: 502-564-9640
After-hours and weekends: 502- 875-8582
Examples of infectious and communicable diseases are:
- West Nile Virus
- Legionnaires’ disease
- bacterial meningitis
- brucellosis
- salmonellosis (salmonella)
- E. coli
Providers Only
Health care providers are a community’s gateway to many health services. Providers, health care systems, and pharmacists are also trusted sources of information for many people. The resources on this page can help you recognize and respond to patients’ information and communication needs.
The Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) daily investigates cases of communicable diseases such as influenza, food-borne illness, pertussis, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections, per 902 KAR 2:020.
FCHD communicates this information to the Kentucky Department for Public Health, surveillance sites, and community partners, facilitating collaborative efforts to monitor the health status of Franklin County.
This data also aids public and private health officials in educating patients and clients, planning staff training on timely disease topics, and preparing for and responding to disease outbreaks.
Health professionals that are reporting diseases to the Franklin County Health Department can find the appropriate and required forms listed in the links below. Upon completion please fax the forms to (502) 564-9640. If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance in reporting please contact our office at (502) 564-7647, and ask for the Charge Nurse.
What are you required to report?
Kentucky adopted legislation, 902 KAR 2:020, requiring laboratory results to be electronically reported through KHIE to the Department for Public Health.
How do you report?
Forms & reporting information:
Table of Reportable Diseases in Kentucky
Who is required to report?
The Kentucky Health Information Exchange (KHIE) is the public health reporting authority in Kentucky. Eligible professionals (EPs) and eligible hospitals/critical access hospitals (EH/CAHs) that wish to submit data to any of the following public health registries must do so through KHIE.
Reportable diseases are diseases that are required to be reported to public health authorities for surveillance and control purposes.
Blood-borne Diseases
Germs that can have a long-lasting presence in human blood and disease in humans are called blood-borne pathogens. The most common and dangerous germs spread through blood in the hospital are: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). These viruses cause infections and liver damage. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
Enteric Diseases
Enteric diseases are caused by micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause intestinal illness. The illnesses most frequently result from consuming contaminated food or water, and some can spread from person to person.
Respiratory Diseases
A disease that affects the lungs, bronchus and respiration.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD)
Vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) are infectious diseases caused by viruses or bacteria that can be prevented with vaccines. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tens of thousands of people in the United States get sick with VPDs. Infections caused by these diseases can result in hospitalizations and can sometimes be fatal. The best protection against VPDs are vaccines. Vaccines help reduce the incidence of VPDs and in some cases has helped to eliminate these health threats.
Vectorborne Diseases
Illnesses that are transmitted by organisms that act as vectors such as mosquitoes, flies, ticks.
Waterborne Diseases
A waterborne disease outbreak occurs when two or more people get the same illness from the same contaminated water. Public health officials have been tracking waterborne disease in the United States for more than 100 years, and CDC has been overseeing waterborne disease and outbreak tracking since 1971.
Updated: Aug 4, 2026
The Franklin County Health Department is an EEO/EOP/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Additional WIC Non-Discrimination Information can be found at – FCHD.org/WIC-Info
Franklin County Health Department – HIPAA Privacy and Disclosure Statement
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