Department of Public Health - Acute Communicable Disease Control

Recent News & Updates

Letter to Providers: Avian Influenza A H7N9 Alert (5-10-13)
Health Advisory: Avian Influenza A H7N9, English Spanish Mandarin (4-30-13)
Influenza Watch Wk 16, 201 3 (4-26-13)
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)

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

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