DefinitionReportable diseases are diseases considered to be of great public health importance. Local, state, and national agencies (for example, county and state health departments or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) require that such diseases be reported when they are diagnosed by doctors or laboratories.Reporting allows for the collection of statistics that show how often the disease occurs. This, in turn, helps researchers identify disease trends and track disease outbreaks. This can help control future outbreaks.Alternative NamesNotifiable diseasesInformationAll states have a "reportable diseases" list. It is the responsibility of the health care provider, not the patient, to report cases of these diseases. Many of the diseases on the lists must also be reported to