24th July 2023

Notifiable diseases

Notifiable diseases are infectious diseases with high transmission rates or a significant morbidity or mortality risk. Registered medical practitioners – including doctors – have a statutory duty to report suspected cases of notifiable diseases to the relevant local health authority (even before diagnosis is confirmed). Laboratories also share this duty if they process samples which identify notifiable organisms.

Certain organisms that cause gastroenteritis, food poisoning, as well as any cases of infectious bloody diarrhoea are notifiable diseases. A comprehensive list can be found on the GOV.UK website and this guidance can be found in the References section of this topic. It is an important consideration when managing a patient with gastroenteritis.