Infectious and Communicable Diseases

1. About the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. CDC. 5/28/24.
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Why It's Important
Infectious diseases can spread quickly and quietly before an outbreak is found. Many people get sick and some die from infectious diseases each year.What's Known
Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by germs that enter the body, multiply, and can cause an infection. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can cause infectious diseases. Infectious diseases can spread between people, between people and animals, through vectors (like biting insects), and through food, water, and the environment2The most frequently reported infectious diseases in New Jersey include respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and influenza, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Lyme disease, hepatitis C, HIV, and various bacterial infections caused by food poisoning.
Who's at Risk
- Older adults, young children, individuals with weakened immune systems, people with disabilities, and pregnant women are often at higher risk for communicable diseases.
- Risk factors for transmission of communicable diseases can include close contact with infected individuals, unprotected sexual activity, or engaging in behaviors that increase exposure to infectious agents.
- Sharing or reusing needles or personal items that come into contact with bodily fluids can increase the risk of bloodborne infections, such as hepatitis C and HIV.
- Spending time outdoors in wooded or grassy areas can increase the risk of getting tick- or mosquito-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease.
How to Reduce Risk
- Reduce the risk of communicable diseases through immunizations, good hygiene practices, proper ventilation, and staying home when feeling unwell to prevent spreading infections.
- Practice safe behaviors, such as using condoms during sexual activity, limiting the number of partners, getting tested regularly, and staying informed about vaccination options to minimize exposure to communicable diseases.
- Adhere to prescribed medications to manage chronic infections effectively, reducing the likelihood of transmitting them to others.
- Persons living with HIV who take their medication every day and achieve an "undetectable" viral load will eliminate the risk of transmitting HIV to a sexual partner. People who don't have HIV can take PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent them from getting HIV.
- Taking DoxyPEP (Doxycycline post exposure prophylaxis) after having sex will reduce your risk for acquiring an STI.
- Avoid sharing or reusing personal items, such as needles or razors, to lower the risk of transmitting bloodborne infections.
- Protect against tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease by avoiding areas with high exposure to ticks and by using protective clothing and EPA-registered repellents such as DEET.
- Follow food safety practices by maintaining clean surfaces, avoiding cross-contamination, cooking foods thoroughly, and storing foods properly to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
How It's Tracked
The New Jersey Department of Health and local public health departments depend on reports of diseases and conditions of public health concern to protect the health of all New Jersey residents.- Guidelines for how, when, and why to report a disease are available on the NJDOH Communicable Disease Service website.
- HIV/AIDS, STDs, and tuberculosis cases are reported directly to the NJDOH Division of HIV, STD, and TB Services.
- All other communicable diseases are reported to NJDOH through local health departments.
- Mortality: Death certificates are a fundamental source of demographic, geographic, and cause-of-death information.
Other Data Resources
New Jersey Department of Health
- Communicable Disease Service
- HIV, STD, and TB Services
- Vector-Borne Diseases Dashboard (Mosquitoes and Ticks)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- CDC AtlasPlus (HIV, viral hepatitis, STD, and TB data)
- CDC COVID Data Tracker
- CDC FluView Interactive
- CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
- CDC Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases and Conditions
- CDC Online Tuberculosis Information System
- Healthy People 2030