Communicable Diseases
A communicable disease, also known as an infectious disease, is an illness that is passed through contact with an infected individual, animal, or vector. As a part of Wisconsin State Statute - Communicable Diseases, the NSHD is required to follow up and respond to all category I and II diseases and conditions considered to have significant public health impact.
To learn more about the 3 categories of diseases and which diseases fall in them, click here to view Wisconsin Department of Health Services Disease Reporting Page.
If you are a health care provider, please visit our “Reportable Disease Information for Health Care Providers” page for more information on your reporting requirements. Click here to view this page.
Resources for Various Communicable Diseases
We have various supplies at our health department that can help prevent the spread of some types of communicable diseases. Below is a list of those with information and resources:
Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory diseases like influenza (flu) or COVID-19 are conditions that affect your airway and lungs can range from being mild, like a cold, or severe and life-threatening. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, mucus, etc.
VACCINES for under/uninsured children and adults are provided in the North Shore Health Department Clinic.
Call NSHD and ask to speak to a Public Health Nurse to ensure we have and if you qualify for the vaccine you need. (414) 371-2980
*We no longer carry COVID-19 tests. We recommend that if you feel COVID-19 symptoms to practice handwashing, social distancing, avoiding large gatherings, and wear a mask in public once symptoms start to relieve. Just as you would do with any other respiratory illness.*
TUBERCULOSIS (TB)We no longer offer TB testing in our clinic. Please refer to the list below for some local options to schedule a TB skin test:
Aurora Occupational Health - Brown Deer
Located at 7878 N 76th St. Milwaukee, WI 53223
To schedule an appointment, call Aurora at (833) 986-2170
Walk-ins welcome, appointments preferred
Fee for tuberculin skin test (TST) is $34
Fee for quantiFERON (QFT) blood test is $37 for the venipuncture, $65 for the lab test ($102 total)
Concentra Urgent Care - Brown Deer
Milwaukee Brown Deer Location: 5500 W Brown Deer Rd. Ste. 400 Milwaukee, WI 53223
West Brown Deer Location: 8514 W Brown Deer Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53224
For questions, call (414) 355-4300
No appointment necessary, service is not available on Thursdays
Fee for tuberculin skin test (TST) is $78
Note: Please bring a photo ID
CVS Minute Clinic - Fox Point
Located at 8661 N Port Washington Rd. Fox Point, WI 53217
Phone: (866) 398-2727
Must schedule appointment online
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4pm
Fee for TB test placement (first visit) is $35
Fee for TB test reading (follow-up visit) is $39 if negative, $99-139 if positive
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a great resource for information on tuberculosis (TB) testing: Click here to visit CDC website on TB testing
Sexually Transmitted Infections/Diseases:
Infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. They are usually spread during vaginal, oral, or anal sex. But sometimes they can be spread through other sexual contact involving the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus. This is because some STDs, like herpes and HPV, are spread by skin-to-skin contact. (Source)
FREE CONDOMS are available at the North Shore Health Department (5901 N Milwaukee River Pkwy, Glendale, WI 53209)
*Correct and consistent use of the male latex condom is highly effective in reducing STI transmission. Use a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex to help prevent STIs*
*Vivent Health has free condoms, lubricants, and HIV test kits that can be shipped to Wisconsin residents. Click herefor access.*
Vector-Borne Diseases
Vectors are mosquitos, ticks, and fleas that spread pathogens. A person who is bitten by a vector and gets sick has a vector-born disease.
FREE TICK KITS are available at the North Shore Health Department (5901 N Milwaukee River Pkwy, Glendale, WI 53209)
*Tick kits include: infect repellant towelettes, alcohol prep wipes, tweezers, band aids, small zip-lock baggies, and instruction cards of tick removal*
Food-Borne Illness
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has a tool for people to report suspected illnesses from food or water.
FEELING SICK? REPORT IT QUICK is the online reporting tool that helps local health departments like NSHD identify sources of contamination to prevent others from getting sick.
To see your vaccine history, visit the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR)
Click the button below to access WIR
To report a suspected or confirmed Category 1 communicable disease to the North Shore Health Department after hours, please call the Health Officer, Becky Rowland
(414) 916-7158
Communicable Disease Data in the North Shore 2024
Top 5 Communicable Diseases
