A communicable disease is an infectious disease that is transmissible from person to person. The reporting of suspected or confirmed communicable diseases to the local health department is mandated for physicians and labs under the New York State Sanitary Code. There are certain communicable diseases that require prompt attention and rapid action to avoid the spread and control the disease. Examples of these communicable diseases include:

• Chicken Pox
• Coronavirus (SARS, SAR-Cov-2, MERS)
• Hepatitis A (in food handlers)
• Measles
• Meningococcal Meningitis
• Mumps
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
• Rubella
• Typhoid
• Tuberculosis

Primary Response Team

• Academic Health Care Centers (Chief Medical Officer)
• Counseling and Wellness Services
• Office of the Dean of Students (staff/coordinator of campus operations and student services staff)
• Office of Housing and Residential Life

Secondary Response Team

• Office of Strategic Communications and External Affairs
• Office of Human Resources
• Office of the President
• Office of the Provost

Objectives
To control the spread of disease and provide necessary information to all who may be affected, in compliance with all state/county/city regulations related to communicable disease.

Notification
Follow the established chain of primary responders. The first responder in all communicable disease emergencies should be the chief medical officer of the university’s Academic Health Care Center, who should be notified immediately.

Procedures

For community members:

• If you have or have been exposed to a communicable disease, immediately call the Academic Health Care Centers at 516.686.1300.
  • Explain that you have been exposed to or have a communicable disease.
  • Be prepared to share symptoms.
  • Follow their instructions.

For chief medical officer:

• Determine appropriate management of infection control emergency.
• Immediately notify the appropriate departments of health by telephone, as required by agency protocols.
• Cooperate with, aid, and assist the primary health agency according to procedures governed by federal, state, and local law.
• Initiate emergency response phone chain by calling Vice President for Health Sciences and Medical Affairs, who will initiate contact with New York Tech administration.
• Remain in consultation with the departments of health throughout the duration of the emergency situation.

For primary responders:

• Post health and wellness information and updates in highly visible areas on campus. Include information stating who is at risk, where treatment is available (if applicable), and emergency numbers.
• Communicate all pertinent information to students, faculty, staff, and family members via email(s).
• Determine other ways to quickly and frequently provide information and updates to students and the college/campus community, including website updates/microsites, open forums, social media, digital signage, and other channels.
• Communicate relevant information to students who are participating in off-campus activities (internships, etc.).
• Chief medical officer and other university administrators will notify the Office of Strategic Communications and External Affairs to coordinate communications outside of the college community, including interviews with the media.

Follow-up:

• Dean of Students will notify any student(s) and Human Resources will notify any employee(s) who may present a risk due to infection of steps necessary to receive clearance to return to campus.
• Students must provide written documentation of medical clearance to the Dean of Students prior to returning to campus. Employee(s) must provide written documentation of medical clearance to Human Resources prior to returning to campus.
• In the event of a student hospitalization, the Dean of Students or designee will coordinate outreach to parents/guardians as appropriate.