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Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means it's official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Long-term care facilities (LTCFs), acute care hospitals, schools, jails, camps, colleges and universities, and other congregate settings, should report outbreaks of respiratory diseases within 24 hours.  Reporting of outbreaks is mandated under PA state regulations.  Reports should be made to the appropriate local public health jurisdiction, or to the PA Department of Health (PA DOH) by calling 877-PA HEALTH. 

    Note that some settings, such as health care facilities, may have additional reporting requirements to other agencies that must also be followed.

    Special Instructions for Certain Settings

    Schools and childcare settings should report respiratory illness outbreaks when 10% of their student population is absent from school on a given day with respiratory illness symptoms and/or a respiratory illness diagnosis. Schools and childcare settings should report within 24 hours.

    • Respiratory symptoms include coughing, fever or chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat, and runny nose or congestion

    Schools and childcare settings located in an area with a county or municipal health department should report directly to their local health department, all others should report to the PA DOH.

    Schools and childcare settings in other areas should submit a respiratory outbreak report to PA DOH via an online survey. 

    For guidance on preventing illness and outbreaks, visit Schools | Department of Health | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    Guidance on identifying and responding to outbreaks of influenza or other respiratory viruses (RSV, COVID-19, etc.) can be found at LTCF | Department of Health | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

    LTCFs should report outbreaks by calling the facility’s local public health jurisdiction within 24 hours.