Kelowna Bylaw Guide: Reporting Notifiable Diseases

Public Health and Welfare British Columbia 3 Minutes Read · published May 26, 2026 Flag of British Columbia

This guide explains how to report notifiable diseases in Kelowna, British Columbia, and how local residents and health professionals should notify public health authorities. Reporting obligations in Kelowna are implemented through provincial public health legislation and carried out by Interior Health and the regional Medical Health Officer; contact and procedural details follow so you can act promptly and lawfully.

Who is responsible

Medical professionals and laboratories must report specified communicable and notifiable diseases to the regional public health authority. In Kelowna the responsible enforcer is Interior Health and the Medical Health Officer; reporting guidance and the official notifiable disease list are maintained provincially by the BC Centre for Disease Control and by the Public Health Act at the Government of British Columbia. Interior Health reporting page[1] BCCDC reportable diseases list[2] Public Health Act (BC)[3]

When to report

  • Report immediately when a disease is on the provincial notifiable list or when local clinical suspicion meets reportable criteria.
  • Use Interior Health reporting contacts for urgent notifications and post-laboratory confirmation communications.
Report promptly to reduce transmission risk.

How to report

  • Clinicians: complete the applicable provincial reporting form and fax or submit via the channel listed on Interior Health guidance.
  • Laboratories: transmit positive results per the BC reporting protocols and include required patient identifiers and specimen details.
  • Public: call Interior Health or local public health if you suspect a communicable illness requiring official follow-up.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is carried out by Interior Health through the Medical Health Officer under provincial public health legislation. Specific monetary fines and detailed escalation procedures are not specified on the cited provincial and regional guidance pages; see the official references below for the controlling instruments.[3]

  • Fines: not specified on the cited pages for Kelowna; consult the Public Health Act and Interior Health for statutory penalties and orders.
  • Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing offence ranges are not specified on the cited regional guidance.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: Medical Health Officer orders, isolation or quarantine orders, seizure of contaminated material, and court action are available enforcement tools under provincial law.
  • Enforcer contact: Interior Health public health lines and the Medical Health Officer manage inspections, investigations, and orders; use the Interior Health reporting page to find the correct contact. Interior Health reporting page[1]
  • Appeals and reviews: specific appeal routes and statutory time limits are not specified on the cited pages; consult the Public Health Act and Interior Health for procedural details.
If you receive an order from a Medical Health Officer, follow it immediately and seek legal or professional advice about appeals.

Applications & Forms

Provincial reporting forms and case-report templates are published by the BC Centre for Disease Control and by regional health authorities; where a specific form number is required, it is shown on the provincial or Interior Health page. If a required form number or fee is not listed on the official pages, it is not specified on the cited page. BCCDC reporting resources[2]

Action steps

  • Identify: confirm signs, symptoms, and laboratory results that meet the reportable disease criteria.
  • Complete: fill the provincial report form with required patient identifiers and clinical details.
  • Notify: call Interior Health or use the regional submission channel for your facility.
  • Document: keep copies of submitted reports, lab results, and any correspondence with public health.

FAQ

Who must report a notifiable disease?
Health professionals and laboratories are required to report diseases listed by the provincial notifiable disease list; members of the public should contact Interior Health if they suspect a serious infectious condition.
How quickly must I report?
Report immediately for urgent conditions as defined by the provincial criteria; use Interior Health contact channels for urgent notifications.
Are there fees to report a disease?
No fee is required to report notifiable diseases; any administrative or permit fees are not specified on the cited guidance pages.

How-To

  1. Gather patient identifiers, clinical details, and laboratory results that support the suspected notifiable disease.
  2. Complete the provincial case report form or the regional equivalent available from Interior Health or BCCDC.
  3. Submit the report via the Interior Health channel or call the designated public health line for Kelowna.
  4. Follow any immediate infection-control directions from the Medical Health Officer and retain documentation of your report.

Key Takeaways

  • Kelowna reporting follows provincial rules enforced by Interior Health and the Medical Health Officer.
  • Use the BCCDC and Interior Health resources for official lists and reporting forms.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Interior Health reporting page
  2. [2] BCCDC reportable diseases list
  3. [3] Public Health Act (BC)

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