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1. Will I be contacted by the health department if I am ill with an infectious disease?

When the health department receives a communicable disease report, a nurse contacts the ill person by phone to talk about their symptoms and possible sources of exposure. The nurse will also review appropriate precautions and any work or school restrictions. The person will be referred to this website for more information about their disease. The nurse is in contact with the person's medical provider for coordination purposes. On completion of the investigation, the report is sent to the New York State Department of Health.

2. Does the health department provide disease surveillance in my community?

Yes, the health department and medical community, schools, day care centers and other agencies work together to monitor for any unusual diseases or potential health concerns. Cortland County Health Department also looks carefully at all communicable disease data and information learned during the investigations to identify any disease trends. These surveillance strategies are used to help identify a potential concern early in order to increase the possibility of an effective response.