What is required of healthcare facilities in the case of a disease outbreak?

Healthcare facilities are required to provide immediate notification of suspected cases during a disease outbreak to ensure an effective response to prevent further transmission of the illness. This prompt reporting allows public health authorities to initiate investigations, implement control measures, and allocate necessary resources to manage the outbreak effectively.

In the context of disease outbreaks, timely information is crucial for tracking the spread of the disease, identifying potential sources, and determining contact tracing actions. This proactive approach helps protect public health and can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the outbreak.

The other options do not align with the urgent nature of outbreak response. Annual reporting may provide broad data but does not address the immediacy required during an outbreak. Notification within a longer timeframe, such as three weeks, could delay necessary interventions, while voluntary reporting does not ensure comprehensive data collection and may lead to underreporting of cases.