Communicable diseases

Communicable diseases are diseases that can spread from person to person. Find out what we’re doing to prevent outbreaks and monitor these diseases in Australia.

We are monitoring the unfolding situation in Australia concerning the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). It has been declared a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance. We will update this alert with the latest medical advice and official reports.
Find information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, how to protect yourself and your family, where and when you can get vaccinated, and the current situation in Australia.

Communicable diseases in Australia

Find out about diseases of concern in Australia, and frameworks and laws around managing diseases.

What we do

Discover our role in preventing, monitoring and managing communicable diseases in Australia.

Programs and initiatives

We fund programs and initiatives to reduce the impact of communicable diseases on Australia.

Who we work with

Several key committees and networks help us with our work on communicable diseases.

Latest news

Latest news

Protecting Older Australians – COVID-19 Update 14 February 2023

In this issue: Message from the Ministers to Aged Care Providers, ATAGI advice on 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster, Webinar – aged care COVID-19 update and more.

Nationally notifiable diseases

Health authorities report over 70 communicable diseases to us so we can track what is happening nationwide and respond to any outbreaks.

Our National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System tracks these diseases. 

Communicable Diseases Intelligence journal

This scientific journal publishes information about communicable diseases in Australia:

  • how often and where diseases occur
  • how many cases we have
  • methods to prevent diseases
  • methods to control outbreaks.

Series of National Guidelines (SoNGs)

These guidelines give nationally consistent advice to public health units about how to respond to notifiable diseases. 

The Communicable Diseases Network Australia produces these SoNGs.

Case definitions

We support networks to develop case definitions for health professionals to use when diagnosing notifiable diseases. See our collections of:

Latest resources

Latest resources

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) – Sport information kit

This kit includes information from the Department of Health and Aged Care and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for stakeholders about the current Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) outbreak that you can disseminate through members, networks and channels.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) – Schools and camps information kit

This kit includes information from the Department of Health and Aged Care and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for stakeholders about the current Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) outbreak that you can disseminate through members, networks and channels.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) – Easter information kit

This kit includes information from the Department of Health and Aged Care and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for stakeholders about the current Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) outbreak that you can disseminate through members, networks and channels.

COVID-19 National Health Plan – prescriptions via telehealth – a guide for prescribers

Electronic prescribing has been fast-tracked as part of the National Health Plan for coronavirus (COVID-19). This guide for prescribers outlines the temporary arrangements available now that will help patients receive medicines via telehealth services.