Section R. 325.174 - Investigation of diseases, infections, epidemics, and situations with potential for causing diseasesRule 4.
(1) The department or the local health department that has jurisdiction where an individual who has a reported condition resides or where an illness or infection is being or may be spread shall initiate an investigation as necessary.(2) An investigator who presents official identification of the local health department or the department shall promptly be provided with medical, epidemiologic, and other information pertaining to any of the following: (a) Individuals who have designated conditions or other conditions of public health significance.(b) Individuals, whether ill or well, who are part of a group in which an unusual occurrence, outbreak, or epidemic has occurred.(c) Individuals who are not known to have a designated condition but whose medical or epidemiological information is needed for investigation into the cause of the occurrence of the condition.(d) Individuals who were potentially exposed to a designated condition.(e) Individuals who may be a carrier or health threat to others under MCL 333.5201.(f) Any other information that may be relevant to an investigation under this rule.(3) Requests for individual medical and epidemiologic information to validate the completeness and accuracy of reporting are specifically authorized. Information released in response to a request made by type of disease, infection, or condition or diagnostic code category may include information about individuals who are not the primary focus of the request if it is not reasonably possible to delete it from the requested information.(4) A representative of the local health department or the department may obtain human, animal, environmental, or other types of specimens or cause such specimens to be obtained by appropriate means, including venipuncture, in the course of an investigation of a reported disease, infection, or condition.(5) The local health department shall transmit the results of its investigation of a report of an unusual occurrence of illness, outbreak, or epidemic to the department by an immediate informal report that shall be followed by progress reports and a final report. The reports shall be in a format that is acceptable to the department.Mich. Admin. Code R. 325.174