Infectious Diseases

Columbus Public Health helps stop the spread of disease in our community by tracking and investigating infectious diseases and providing guidance and monitoring to affected individuals.

Learn more about how to report an illness. 

Columbus Public Health's Ben Franklin TB Program conducts TB surveillance, medical management, and prevention and control for Franklin County, including: 

• Treatment and case management of persons confirmed with or thought to have TB disease.
• Evaluation, testing and treatment of persons identified as close contacts to a person with infectious TB.
• Screening, testing and treatment of specific groups at high-risk for TB infection and/or disease progression.
• Evaluation of persons referred by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Migration and Quarantine.

Individuals seeking routine or administrative testing for housing or employment, including workers in health care, should contact their primary care provider.

Questions? Call 614-645-2199.

To report a TB case, call 614-645-1823 or email TBprogram@columbus.gov. 

Vaccines: Columbus Public Health has a limited supply of the updated COVID-19 vaccine for people without insurance at our walk-in Immunization Clinic during normal hours. If you have insurance, you are encouraged to check with your health care provider or visit your local retail pharmacy to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. 

Testing: COVID-19 testing is available at health care providers and pharmacies throughout central Ohio. Testing helps protect yourself, your loved ones and the community from the virus.

Data and Reports:

• Columbus Public Health (CPH) - Interactive reports on COVID-19 cases, including data on age, race, sex, hospitalizations and ZIP codes. (Best viewed on a laptop or desktop.)
•  Ohio Department of Health (ODH) - COVID-19 data from the Ohio Department of Health. 
•  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - COVID-19 data from the CDC.

More Information and Resources: Download information and materials on COVID-19 at the CDC COVID-19 Resource Page. 

Columbus Public Health offers testing, treatment and prevention options for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 

Learn more about our HIV and STI services. 

Measles is one of the most contagious (easy to spread) diseases and can be dangerous in babies and young children. 

The symptoms of measles include a fever, runny nose, cough, rash and red eyes. If you have these symptoms, call your doctor or Columbus Public Health – and stay home and avoid having visitors until you see a doctor.

Measles FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

• Measles FAQ - English 
• Measles FAQ - Somali   

Measles Vaccine: The best way to protect against measles is to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine which is safe and very effective at preventing measles. Children may get the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine instead, which protects against chickenpox too. 

Most people who are vaccinated with MMR and MMRV will be protected for life. Vaccines and high rates of vaccination have made these diseases much less common in the United States.

Get your MMR vaccine from:

• Your health care provider
• Columbus Public Health - (614) 645-1474, option 2
• Franklin County Public Health - (614) 525-3719
• Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers - (614) 235-5555
• Lower Lights Christian Health Center - (614) 274-1455
• Lutheran Social Services (Faith Mission Health Center) - (614) 224-6617
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital Primary Care Centers - (614) 722-6200
• PrimaryOne Health Centers - (614) 645-5500
• Southeast Healthcare Services - (614) 225-0990
• A retail pharmacy or convenience care clinic (e.g. Walmart, CVS, etc.)

Measles Data: 

• National Measles Data: Visit the CDC's Measles Cases and Outbreaks for data and information about current cases and outbreaks in the United States. 
• 2025 Central Ohio Outbreak: There were four confirmed measles cases in Columbus. 
• 2022 Central Ohio Outbreak: Click here to view data from Central Ohio's 2022 Measles Outbreak (Best viewed on a laptop or desktop).

Healthcare Providers and Businesses

Infectious Disease Reporting for Healthcare Providers: The Infectious Disease Reporting System is the combined reporting system for health care in Columbus and Franklin County, making the reporting, tracking and investigation of infectious disease cases easier and more convenient. Visit IDRS for more information.

Measles Outbreak Signs:

• Measles Outbreak Sign for Healthcare Providers - English(PDF, 123KB)  
• Measles Outbreak Sign for Businesses - English(PDF, 216KB)  
• Measles Outbreak Sign for Businesses - Spanish(PDF, 199KB)
• Measles Outbreak Sign for Businesses - Somali(PDF, 147KB)

Prevent Measles Information Card:

• Prevent Measles - English(PDF, 360KB)
• Prevent Measles - Somali(PDF, 357KB)