Infectious diseases

Infectious diseases

The law requires reporting of infectious diseases to local authorities. These are known as notifiable diseases. Examples include the following infections:

• Cryptosporidiosis
• Dysentery
• E coli 0157
• Food Poisoning
• Giardiasis
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Legionnaires Disease
• Malaria
• Rubella
• Salmonella
• Shigellosis
• Tetanus
• Tuberculosis

Notifications are received from doctors but may also be received by the public or other local authorities. 

The Royal Borough's Directorate of Environmental Health is responsible for investigating the source and controlling the spread of both notifiable and some non-notifiable diseases within the borough.

If the notification relates to food poisoning where a number of people have eaten at the same venue and have the same food poisoning symptoms, EHO’s will contact anyone suffering illness and inspect the venue and if there is enough evidence, consider taking formal action under food safety legislation. 

Anyone running a food business must also notify the Directorate if they are aware that anyone of their staff is suffering from food poisoning. In this situation they should be able to tell us what has been done to prevent contamination of food in their business.

Travelling overseas

If you are planning to travel overseas, you should seek health advice from your GP 6-8 weeks before travel. This is to help minimise children and their parents acquiring infections abroad and becoming unwell on return to the UK. Where vaccinations are required, most are provided free by the NHS.

Further information regarding travel health can be found on the following websites:

• National Travel Health Network and Centre website.
• Gov.uk - travelling overseas

Enquiries about diagnosis of illness and treatment should always be made to your doctor. If you suspect a particular food has caused you illness or would like advice on control of infection (such as exclusions from work or school) and you live within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, please feel free to contact the Directorate of Environmental Health on 020 7361 3002