Chapter 252 — COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

252.01 Definitions. In this chapter: (1c) “Advanced practice nurse prescriber” means an advanced practice nurse who is certified under s. 441.16 (2) to issue prescription orders. NOTE: Sub. (1c) is repealed eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. (1g) “Emergency medical responder” has t…

252.02 Powers and duties of department. (1) The department may establish systems of disease surveillance and inspection to ascertain the presence of any communicable disease. Any agent of the department may, with a special inspection warrant issued under s. 66.0119, enter any bui…

252.03 Duties of local health officers. (1) Every local health officer, upon the appearance of any communicable disease in his or her territory, shall immediately investigate all the circumstances and make a full report to the appropriate governing body and also to the department…

252.04 Immunization program. (1) The department shall carry out a statewide immunization program to eliminate mumps, measles, rubella (German measles), diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis and other diseases that the department specifies by rule, and to protect a…

252.041 Compulsory vaccination during a state of emergency. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), during the period under which the department is designated as the lead state agency, as specified in s. 250.042 (2), the department, as the public health authority, may do all of the f…

252.05 Reports of cases. (1) Any health care provider, as defined in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (p), who knows or has reason to believe that a person treated or visited by him or her has a communicable disease, or having a communicable disease, has died, shall report the appearance of …

252.06 Isolation and quarantine. (1) The department or the local health officer acting on behalf of the department may require isolation of a patient or of an individual under s. 252.041 (1) (b), quarantine of contacts, concurrent and terminal disinfection, or modified forms of t…

252.07 Tuberculosis. (1g) In this section: (a) “Infectious tuberculosis” means tuberculosis disease of the respiratory tract, capable of producing infection or disease in others as demonstrated by the presence of acid-fast bacilli in the sputum or bronchial secretions or by chest…

252.09 Meningococcal disease and hepatitis B. (1) Each private college and university in this state shall do all of the following: (a) Annually, provide detailed information on the risks associated with meningococcal disease and hepatitis B and the availability and effectiveness …

252.10 Public health dispensaries. (1) A local health department may request from the department certification to establish and maintain a public health dispensary for the diagnosis and treatment of persons suffering from or suspected of having tuberculosis. Two or more local hea…

252.11 Sexually transmitted disease. (1) In this section, “sexually transmitted disease” means syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and other diseases the department includes by rule. (1m) A physician or other health care professional called to attend a person infected with any form of…

252.12 HIV and related infections, including hepatitis May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 252.12 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES C virus infections; services and prevention. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (b) “AIDS service organizations” means nonprofit corporati…

252.13 HIV tests. (1) In this section, “autologous transfusion” means the receipt by an individual, by transfusion, of whole blood, blood plasma, a blood product or a blood derivative, which the individual has previously had withdrawn from himself or herself for his or her own us…

252.133 HIV testing for anatomical gifts. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), a health care provider, as defined in s. 252.15 (1) (ar), who procures, processes, distributes, or uses a human body part or human tissue that is the subject of an anatomical gift under s. 157.06 shall …

252.14 Discrimination related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. (1) In this section: (ad) “Correctional officer” has the meaning given in s. 301.28 (1). (am) “Fire fighter” has the meaning given in s. 102.475 (8) (b). (ar) “Health care provider” means any of the following: 1…

252.15 Restrictions on use of an HIV test. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (ac) “Authorized representative” means any of the following: 1. A health care agent, as defined under s. 155.01 (4), acting in accordance with a power of attorney for health care that is in effect under …

252.16 Health insurance premium subsidies. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (ar) “Dependent” means a spouse or domestic partner under ch. 770, an unmarried child under the age of 19 years, an unmarried child who is a full-time student under the age of 21 years and who is financi…

252.17 Medical leave premium subsidies. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Group health plan” has the meaning given in s. 252.16 (1) (b). (d) “Medical leave” means medical leave under s. 103.10. (e) “Residence” has the meaning given in s. 252.16 (1) (e). (2) SUBSIDY PROGRAM. …

252.185 Communicable disease control and prevention. (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (cf), the department shall distribute moneys to local health departments to use for disease surveillance, contact tracing, staff development and training, improving communication a…

252.19 Communicable diseases; suspected cases; protection of public. No person who is knowingly infected Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 18 with a communicable disease may willfully violate the recommendations of the local health officer or subject others to danger of contracting the d…

252.21 Communicable diseases; schools; duties of teachers, parents, officers. (1) If a teacher, school nurse, or principal of any school or child care center knows or suspects that a communicable disease is present in the school or center, he or she shall at once notify the local…

252.25 Violation of law relating to health. Any person who willfully violates or obstructs the execution of any state statute or rule, county, city or village ordinance or departmental order under this chapter and relating to the public health, for which no other penalty is presc…