EPI Notes | South Carolina Department of Public Health

Useful Information

Epi Notes is published 2-4 times each year by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Bureau of Disease Control. Issues contain articles on

epidemiology of reportable conditions;
surveillance and reporting of diseases/conditions, outbreaks, and events of public health significance;
prevention and treatment of disease;
and other topics of interest to DHEC's disease reporting partners

Each year, the Epi Notes reviews the changes in the SC DHEC List of Reportable Conditions and the School and Childcare Exclusion lists.

Epi Notes issues are emailed to disease reporting partners requesting to be in our subscriber database. To subscribe for email delivery of the Epi Notes, send a message to Epinotes@dhec.sc.gov, and include "Epi Notes" in the subject line. PDF copies are also available from this website.

We welcome your questions and comments. Questions about Epi Notes articles may be addressed to the DHEC Bureau of Disease Control (803.898.0861) or emailed to Epinotes@dhec.sc.gov.

Links to published issues for the Epi Notes back to Fall 2004, as well as links to individual articles, are found below.

Issues / Article Titles
Winter 2024, Volume 49, Issue 1

Fall 2023, Volume 48, Issue 1
Summer 2023, Volume 47, Issue 1
Spring 2023, Volume 46, Issue 1
Winter 2023, Volume 45, Issue 1

Fall 2022, Volume 44, Issue 1
Summer 2022, Volume 43, Issue 1
Spring 2022, Volume 42, Issue 1

Summer 2021, Volume 41, Issue 1
Spring 2021, Volume 40, Issue 1
Winter 2021, Volume 39, Issue 1

Winter 2020, Volume 38, Issue 1

Fall 2019, Volume 37, Issue 1
Winter 2019, Volume 36, Issue 1

Winter 2018, Volume 35, Issue 1
Botulism: Food Safety
CRE and CRPA Reporting in SCION
Dengue Virus Infections
Update: Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Exposure
Legionnaires' disease
Pertussis Testing
Updates to the List of Reportable Conditions for 2018

Winter 2017, Volume 34, Issue 1
Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative of South Carolina
South Carolina Infectious Disease and Outbreak Network for Externals
School and Childcare Exclusion List of 2017
DHEC Bureau of Laboratories Provides Zika Testing
Updates to the List of Reportable Conditions for 2017
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Acute Flaccid Myelitis

Winter 2016, Volume 33, Issue 1
South Carolina Infectious Disease and Outbreak Network for Externals
Updates to the School and Childcare Exclusion List of 2016
Updates to the SC 2016 List of Reportable Conditions
South Carolina 2016 List of Reportable Conditions
Meningococcal Vaccines: MCV4 and MenB
Are You Signed Up for the South Carolina Health Alert Network?

Winter 2015, Volume 32, Issue 1
Updates to the List of Reportable Conditions
Flu Seasons are Unpredictable: A look Back at Influenza
School and Childcare Exclusion Updates for 2015
C. diff Reporting by Laboratories
Meaningful Use
New Vaccine for Meningococcal B Disease
Prevention of Congenital Syphilis Infection
Prevention of Perinatal Hepatitis B

Winter 2014, Volume 31, Issue 1
Updates to the List of Reportable Conditions for 2014
New Contact Numbers for Disease Reporting
Contact Information for Animal Bite Reports / Medical Consultation for Animal Bites
Updated DHEC 1129 (disease reporting) form for 2014

Fall 2013, Volume 30, Issue 1
Prevention of Perinatal Hepatitis B Infection
Updates to the School and Childcare Exclusion Lists for the 2013-2014 Academic Year
New Contact Numbers for Disease Reporting
Contact Information for Animal Bite Reports / Medical Consultation for Animal Bites
Health Alert Network
Outbreaks by the Numbers
Year to Date Reportable Disease Snapshot

Fall 2012, Volume 29, Issue 2
Upcoming Changes in the 2013 List of Reportable Conditions
Updates to the School and Childcare Exclusion Lists for the 2012-2013 Academic Year
West Nile Virus Activity Increases in US and SC in 2012
Epi Clips: Take Action to Prevent the Spread of Flu Viruses between People and Swine
Epi Clips: Varicella Case Reporting (chart)
Epi Clips: Outbreaks by the Numbers
Winter 2012, Volume 29, Issue 1
Changes in the 2012 List of Reportable Conditions
Revised Requirement for Animal Bite Reporting
Epi Clips: Outbreaks Investigated by SC DHEC, 2009-2010 - Etiologic Agents and Routes of Transmission
Fall 2011, Volume 28, Issue 2
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis in the Office Setting: Expanding the Role of Practicing Physicians in the Public-Private Disease Control Partnership
* South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners PEP Policy for STDs
Update on CLABSI Reporting (Central-Line Associated Blood Stream Infections)
Web Resources to Bookmark (compiled from DHEC Website)
Epi Clips: Animal Rabies in SC-Testing and Reporting
2011 Issue 1 (Winter 2011), Vol. XXVIII, No. 1
Pertussis in Adolescents and Adults: Nothing to Cough At!
Changes in the List of Reportable Conditions for 2011
Summer 2010, Vol. XXVII, No. 3
South Carolina 2009-2010 Influenza Season Surveillance Summary
Changes in School and Childcare Exclusion Lists for the 2010-2011 School Year
Update on Influenza: What You Need to Know for the Upcoming Season
Ask Epi: Lyme Disease -- Long-term Therapy for Lyme Disease -- or Not?
Spring 2010, Vol. XXVII, No. 2: Special Antimicrobial Resistance Issue
Bad Bugs Including No ESKAPE -- Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospitals and Communities Continues to Challenge
Over-Prescribing of Antibiotics: Truly Not a Benign Practice
SC Careful Antibiotic Use (SC CAUse): Resources for the Practicing Clinician
Winter 2010, Vol. XXVII, No. 1
Are you using 2009 H1N1 Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) in your Practice?
Ask Epi: Perspective on the Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccines
Changes in the 2010 List of Reportable Conditions: Influenza
Changes to the SC List of Reportable Conditions for 2010
Syndromic Surveillance in South Carolina
Fall 2009-Supplement, Vol. XXVI, No. 6: Special Pandemic H1N1 Flu Issue
Perspectives on the Evolving H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
Thanksgiving Food Safety
Fall 2009, Vol. XXVI, No. 5
Brucellosis
Influenza Season Update
Influenza Vaccination for 2009-10: Seasonal and Novel H1N1
Summer 2009, Vol. XXVI, No. 4
Changes in the 2009-2010 School and Childcare Exclusion Lists
Hospital Infection Disclosure Act (HIDA) Update
Influenza Season Update
Rabies Vaccine and Rabies Immune Globulin Procurement Change
Summer Food Safety: Safe Grilling Practices
Summertime Salmonella
Winter 2009, Vol. XXVI, No. 2
Ask Epi: Prevention and Treatment of Influenza during Pregnancy
Better, Faster, Smarter: Using SCIONx for Reportable Conditions
Changes in Reporting for Haemophilus influenzae for 2009
Changes in the 2009 List of Reportable Conditions
Changes in Varicella Reporting for 2009
List of Reportable Conditions for Laboratories
Public Health Clinical Liaisons
South Carolina 2008-2009 Influenza Season Surveillance Update
Vibrio Spotlight
Fall (Back-to-School) 2008, Vol. XXVI, No. 1
2008 Recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Regarding Influenza Vaccine and Antiviral Agents
Ask Epi: New Recommendations for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Hepatitis A
Back to School Appointments? Think MRSA!
Back to School: Changes in the School and Childcare Exclusion Lists
Outpatient Management Of Skin And Soft Tissue Infections In The Era Of Community-Associated MRSA (Algorithm)
South Carolina 2007-2008 Influenza Season Surveillance Update
Spotlight on Salmonella
Update on Salmonella Saintpaul Multistate Outbreak - South Carolina Perspective
Hospital Infection Disclosure Act (HIDA)
Winter 2008, Vol. XXV, No. 12
Changes in the SC 2008 List of Reportable Conditions
DHEC Adds Human Illness with Avian or Novel Influenza A as Reportable Condition
Electronic Disease Reporting
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Laboratory Tests)
New List of Reportable Diseases for Laboratories
Polio Surveillance Update - Rationale for Maintaining Vigilance Both for (i) Poliomyelitis, Paralytic and (ii) Poliovirus Infection, Nonparalytic
Required Laboratory Reporting of Bloodstream Infections Caused by MRSA
Syndromic Surveillance in South Carolina
Fall 2007, Vol. XXV, No. 11
Ask Epi: Infectious Disease Information
Help DHEC Identify the Circulating Strains for Influenza Virus in South Carolina
Help DHEC Measure Influenza Burden in South Carolina
Neisseria gonorrhea Antimicrobial Resistance: Important Considerations for the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Public Health Clinical Liaisons: Assisting South Carolina Medical Practices with Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
Rabies and World Rabies Day
ReachSC and South Carolina Health Alert Network
Surveillance for Botulism in South Carolina
Summer 2007, Vol. XXV, No. 10
2005 Annual Report on Notifiable Conditions in South Carolina
Acute Retroviral Syndrome
CDC Annual Report "Annual assessment of Progress Towards Goals to Prevent Perinatal HBV Transmission"
Changes in the School and Child Care Exclusion Lists for the 2007-2008 School Year
Leptospirosis
Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program - What you need to know
Spring 2007, Vol. XXV, No. 9b
Brucellosis
HPV Disease in the United States and South Carolina and the HPV Vaccine
Laboratory Testing of Shiga-Toxin Producing Escherichia coli
Norovirus
Preventing Illnesses and Injuries associated with Animal Contact Settings
Winter 2007, Vol. XXV, No. 9a
Changes in HIV Test Reporting
Changes in the SC 2007 List of Reportable Conditions
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
How to Report Cases of Botulism
Important Dates When Reporting Diseases
New Reporting Guidelines for Toxins
Revised Cholera and Other Vibrio Illness Reporting Requirement
Revised E. Coli Reporting Requirement
Seasonal Influenza Surveillance and Reporting 2006-07
Update for Reporting Meningococcal Disease
Fall 2006, Vol. XXV, No. 8
ACIP Recommendations for New Rotavirus Vaccine
SCIONx Hospital Deployment
Cryptosporidiosis: Is a Change in Test Methodology Identifying More Cases?
Mumps
Rabies Update
South Carolina Immunization Registry
The South Carolina Health Alert Network
Summer 2006, Vol. XXV, No. 7: Influenza Special Issue
Avian Influenza in Birds
Immunization Update: Influenza Vaccination for Health-care Personnel
Pandemic Influenza [Overview]
Pandemic Influenza Planning: On Your doorstep!
Preparing for a Pandemic: The Psychosocial challenges
Prevention and Control of Influenza for 2006: New and Updated Recommendations
S.C. Human Pandemic Influenza Monitoring Systems
SC DHEC Media Relations [What do you do to prevent the flu?]
Teleconference: "Influenza Update for Physician Office Laboratories: September 26, 2006 from 1-2 PM ET
Updated Interim Guidance for Laboratory Testing of Persons with Suspected Infection with Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in the United States
Spring 2006, Vol. XXV, No. 6
Avian Influenza
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning from Fish Caught off the Coast of South Carolina
Immunization Requirements for Child Day Care Facilities and Schools
New Hepatitis B Immunization Recommendations from the ACIP
School and Childcare Exclusion Lists
South Carolina Needs More Participation in the Sentinel Influenza Surveillance Providers Network
Time to Order Influenza Vaccine for the 2006-07 Season
Varicella Disease - A Review and an Update on New Recommendations for Vaccination
West Nile Virus in the 2006-07 Season
Winter 2006, Volume XXV, No. 5
Addition of Yersiniosis to the 2006 List of Reportable Conditions
Ask Epi: Post-Exposure Prophylaxis after Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis [Pertussis, Rabies, Hepatitis A]
Change in Reporting Antibiotic Resistant Organisms [VRE, Strep pneumoniae]
Changes in the SC 2006 List of Reportable Conditions
"Get the Point" Program
Removal of Laboratory Reported HTLV-I and HTLV-II Infections from the 2006 South Carolina List of Reportable Conditions
Fall 2005, Volume XXV, No. 4
Antiviral Drugs for Prophylaxis and Treatment of Influenza
Human Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection Associated with Rodents
Immunization Update: General, Influenza, Meningococcal
Pertussis Deaths in Infants
Preventing Illnesses and Injuries associated with Animal Contact Settings
PulseNet
Reporting of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Invasive Disease
Revised School and Childcare Exclusion Lists
South Carolina Influenza Surveillance 2005-06 Season
The Overwhelming Challenge of Community Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)
To PPD or Not to PPD -- An Issue Revisited on the Utility of Tuberculin skin Tests for Low Risk Persons
Update on Tuberculosis in South Carolina
Winter 2005, Volume XXV, No. 3
Ask Epi: TB Skin Testing after BCG
Change in Rapid Influenza Test Surveillance (for 2005)
Changes in the SC 2005 List of Reportable Conditions and Why Disease Reporting is Important!
Got Shigella? A Community Responds
Pediatric Influenza-related Deaths Surveillance
Revised Listeriosis Reporting Requirement
Surveillance for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) will begin in SC in 2005
Surveillance of Aseptic Meningitis
June 2004, Volume XXV, No. 2
Ask Epi: IgM False Positives
Ask Epi: IgM in Febrile Rash Illness
Enhanced Surveillance for Chlamydia in Women-South Carolina, 1998-2002
Table: Clinical Symptoms, Food-Related Agents to Consider
Update on Foodborne Illness in S.C.
West Nile Virus - 2003 Summary and the Upcoming Season