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healthcare providers are required to report certain infectious diseases in an effort to monitor and control incidences of these diseases. this reporting increases awareness of infectious diseases to help healthcare providers to be alerted and prepared for possible instances in their organizations. these activities are an integral part of protecting the health of the population and are performed and coordinated by:

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Final answer:

Healthcare providers are legally required to report notifiable diseases to the CDC, which uses the NNDSS to collect and monitor this data. Epidemiologists analyze this data to track disease trends, manage outbreaks, and inform healthcare providers and policies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Healthcare providers are required to report notifiable diseases to monitor and control the incidence of these diseases. This responsibility largely falls upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The CDC, in cooperation with regional, state, and territorial health departments, oversees the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), which is integral to public health. This system collects data on notifiable diseases, which include conditions like HIV infection, measles, and West Nile virus infections, from healthcare providers who are legally required to report such cases.

Reports are compiled into a large database, and data is disseminated through the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), keeping healthcare providers informed about the latest trends and potential outbreaks. Epidemiologists play a crucial role in this process, as they track the incidence, spread, and evolution of diseases, and create strategies to manage and prevent diseases using the collected data. This public health work helps in deploying interventions, guiding research funding, and developing health policies.

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