Notifiable Medical Conditions in South Africa – improving the current reporting systems in South Africa

Abstract

Notifiable Medical Conditions are diseases that are of public health importance because they pose significant public health risks that can result in disease outbreaks or disease epidemics with high case fatality rates both nationally and internationally. The International Health Regulations, 2005 (IHR) and the National Health Act, 61 of 2003 in South Africa require the rapid detection of public health risks, as well as the prompt risk assessment, notification, verification and response to these risks.