CSTE POSITION STATEMENT 1987-5 COMMITTEE: Surveillance TITLE: Removal of Smallpox, Relapsing Fever and Fleaborne Typhus Fever from the List of Nationally Notifiable Diseases ISSUE: Certain diseases have been made nationally notifiable based on their public health importance such as significant morbidity and mortality and amenability to intervention and control efforts. The following three diseases no longer meet these criteria for national reporting: smallpox, relapsing fever, and fleaborne typhus fever. POSITION TO BE ADOPTED: CSTE recommends the removal of these disease (smallpox, relapsing fever, and fleaborne typhus fever) from the list of nationally notifiable diseases. As with other diseases not on the list, individual cases may continue to have public health importance and should be followed up as appropriate. These diseases may continue to have importance at an international level and regionally within the United States. BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION: These three diseases are so rare and of such minimal current importance to make routine reporting unnecessary. It is important to keep the list of nationally notifiable diseases up to date and useful. Keeping unnecessary diseases on the national list will serve as a deterrent to the addition of other disease which are currently more important. CONSULTATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS: CDC CONTACT: Dale Morse, M.D. (New York)