You must follow the law, and each state has recommendations for how to report a published list of diseases. Like the mandatory reporting of child abuse, you are obligated to report the 'reportable' diseases to your state's designated agencies. According to the CDC, 'In the United States, the authority to require notification of cases of disease resides in the respective state legislatures. In some states, authority is enumerated in statutory provisions; in other states, authority to require reporting has been given to state boards of health; still other states require reports both under statutes and under health department regulations.'
