County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
E-Mail:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov

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 Recent News & Updates

• Current LAC WNV Epidemiology Report, 2013 (12-5-13)
• Influenza Watch Wk 46, 2013 (11-22-13)
• Influenza Watch Wk 44, 2013 (11-8-13)
• Health Officer Confirms First Death From Influenza in LA County (10-25-13)
• ACDC 2012 Special Studies Report (10-25-13)
• Influenza Watch Wk 42, 2013 (10-25-13)
• Influenza Watch Wk 39, 2013 (10-4-13)
• Los Angeles County Health Officer Order: Influenza Vaccination and Masking for Healthcare Personnel (10-2-13)
• Press Release: LA County's First Influenza Cases of the Season Confirmed (9-9-13)
• Influenza Watch 2012-13 Season Summary (8-30-13)
• Coccidiomycosis: The Importance of Clinical Recognition (Rx for Prevention May 2013)
• The Epidemiology of Coccidioidomycosis in Los Angeles County, 1973-2011 (VIDEO) (6-20-13)
• Letter to Physicians: Report West Nile Virus Infections 2013 (6-19-13)
• Hepatitis A Postexposure Prophylaxis Guidance (June 2013)
• Letter to Providers: Avian Influenza A H7N9 Alert (5-10-13)
• Health Advisory: Avian Influenza A H7N9, English  Spanish  Mandarin (4-30-13)
• West Nile Virus Final Epidemiology Report  (1-31-13)
• ACDC 2011 Annual Morbidity Report and Special Studies Report (12-24-12)
• ACDC 2011 Annual Executive Summary (12-19-12)
• Norovirus Presentation: Norovirus in Skilled Nursing Facilities (12-10-12)
• Influenza Watch Special Issue: Influenza and Schools (12-7-12)
• ACDC Special Studies Report, 2011 (10-25-12)
• Updated Terrorism Agent Information and Treatment Guidelines for Clinicians & Hospitals (10-23-12)
• Norovirus Outbreak Prevention Toolkit: A Guide for Preventing Norovirus Outbreaks in Skilled Nursing Facilities (10-12-12)

Prior News and Updates

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Mission Statement

To prevent and control communicable disease in Los Angeles County utilizing the tools of surveillance, outbreak response, education, and preparedness activities.

Vision Statement

Los Angeles County residents are free of preventable communicable disease. Public Health is prepared to meet the challenge of emerging diseases.

ACDC Focus Areas

Vector-borne & Zoonotic Disease Hospital Outreach Unit and Healthcare Associated Infections Food Borne Disease Surveillance Waterborne Disease Surveillance Seasonal Influenza (Flu) (also Avian & Pandemic Flu) Automated Disease Surveillance Planning, Evaluation and Response Policy and Prevention Antibiotic Resistance Special Projects

About ACDC

ACDC's mission is to reduce the incidence of communicable disease (other than TB, STDs, and AIDS) in Los Angeles County through prevention, surveillance, and outbreak control. The ongoing goals of ACDC include the following:

Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control

• conduct surveillance for over 60 diseases and disease syndromes
• investigate disease outbreaks and recommend control measures
• conduct special studies and projects
• produce annual reports, special analyses, and procedure manuals

Communicable Disease Policy and Coordination

• set policy and make procedure recommendations for Department activities related to infectious and communicable diseases
• interpret and enforce state and federal laws and regulations
• interface with other local (cities, universities), state, national, and federal agencies, and programs concerned with public health (see Links), and participate in national forums.

Communicable Disease-Related Training

• serve as a consultant to the medical community on issues of communicable and infectious diseases
• provide professional education to doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals
• train medical doctors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), and preventive medicine residents from UCLA, California Department of Health Services training programs, health care professionals, and others

Public Education

• proactively educate and address concerns and inquiries of the news media on communicable disease

Funding

• apply for additional funding from outside agencies in order to support mission

Control of communicable disease can only occur through collaboration. ACDC serves as the lead unit for surveillance and investigation of certain suspected and confirmed communicable (CD) cases and disease syndromes. ACDC examines the population distribution of disease, specifically in relation to seasonality, geographic occurrence and demographic factors. ACDC also sets policy and provides guidance and assistance to field staff who handle the bulk of case investigations. This field staff includes area health officers, public health nurses, registrars, and investigators based in 24 districts and eight service planning areas (SPAs) throughout Los Angeles County.

California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Section 2500, et seq., mandates healthcare providers and others to report diseases or conditions to their local health departments.

Dedicated professional staff: (1) provide expert consultation and policy recommendations on communicable disease control, and (2) offer in-service training for healthcare professionals and selected community-based organizations throughout Los Angeles County.

View Organization Chart

ACDC Brochure

Summary of West Nile Virus case characteristics  and dead bird map in LA County

Diseases reportable by all public health professionals and medical providers in LA County.

Diseases reportable by all laboratories in LA County.

ACDC Annual Morbidity and Special Studies Report 2011 (Includes summary of surveillance, trends, investigations, public health policies and practices.)