Which of the following best describes the relationship between reportable and notifiable?

• A. They describe diseases that must be reported
• B. They are both unrelated terms to reporting
• C. They refer to insurance categories
• D. They are the same term used for billing

Answer: (A)

Both terms refer to diseases or conditions that must be reported to public health authorities. That reporting is crucial for surveillance, trend detection, and rapid outbreak response, helping protect the community. The difference is mainly jurisdictional: notifiable is the legal obligation, while reportable is a designation used in local or regional regulations. In practice, they describe the same idea—a mandatory reporting requirement to monitor public health. They are not about insurance categories or billing. For example, diseases like measles or tuberculosis are typically notifiable and reportable in many areas, triggering public health investigations when identified.