HIV/AIDS Surveillance

The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Department no longer publishes a quarterly Surveillance Statistics Newsletter. For any specific HIV or AIDS data not located in FL CHARTS, or the EHE Florida dashboard, please call the HIV Surveillance office at 727-824-6903 and we can assist you with reports and graphs.

---

A note to Health Care Providers and Health Information Management Directors 

As per Florida Administrative Code 64D-3.029, HIV and AIDS are reportable diseases that must be reported within two weeks of a reportable HIV test or AIDS diagnosis to your local health department and/or area HIV/AIDS Surveillance Office at 727-824-6903. HIV exposed babies, <18 months of age, that are born to HIV positive mothers are reportable to the area HIV/AIDS Surveillance office within 24 business hours.

The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County is required by law to administer and enforce laws and rules relating to sanitation, control of communicable diseases, illnesses and hazards to health among humans and from animals to humans, and the general health of the people of the state according to Section 381.0011(2) of the Florida Statutes.

According to the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) §160.203, disease reporting, public health disease surveillance, and disease intervention activities are among those that are EXEMPT from federal preemption of state laws. Other examples include child abuse, and birth or death information.

The Department and its authorized representatives may review pertinent, relevant medical records, if necessary, to confirm a reportable disease diagnosis; to investigate causes; to identify other related cases in an area, community, or workplace; to determine if a person with a reportable notifiable disease or condition has received adequate treatment to render themselves non-infectious or if exposed has received prophylaxis, if appropriate.

Such review of records may occur without patient consent and shall be conducted at reasonable times and with such notice as is deemed reasonable under the circumstances according to Rule 64D-3.041 (a) of the Florida Administrative Code.