What are Respiratory Diseases?

Respiratory diseases are diseases that affect the lungs and other components of the respiratory system (airways, throat, etc.). Common symptoms of respiratory diseases include difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain.

For more information on specific respiratory diseases please view:

• COVID-19 
• Influenza
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) 
• Legionellosis (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever) 

DC Health guidance in regards to COVID-19, flu and RSV respiratory infections as of March 1, 2024, is available in this one-pager. CDC guidance can be found here.

Healthcare Provider Reporting

Healthcare providers must report all notifiable respiratory diseases to DC Health. Report cases to DC Health by completing a Notifiable Disease and Condition Case Report Form or by calling the Division of Epidemiology at (844) 493-2652.

• Please view the List of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions in DC to understand which respiratory diseases are reportable.
• For more information on how to complete and submit the online case report form: Online Notifiable Disease Case Report Form User Guide.