Columbia Reports of cases required ordinance (§ 11-96)
Chapter 11: Health and Sanitation · Article IV. Diseases
In short: Physicians must report in writing to the health director, within 24 hours of diagnosis, any city patient with tuberculosis, smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, infantile paralysis or another disease the director declares dangerous, including where the patient can be found.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
Every physician shall report in writing to the director every patient the physician may have in the city suffering from tuberculosis, smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, infantile paralysis or any other communicable disease that may be declared by the director to be dangerous to the public health, together with the precise locality where such patient may be found, within twenty-four (24) hours after diagnosis is made; and the director shall keep a record of every case so reported to the director.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 11-96
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.