The statement 'Public health departments report each STI case to the state department of health, which then reports to the CDC' is true.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

Public health surveillance for sexually transmitted infections relies on a stepwise reporting system. Local health departments receive reports of STIs from clinicians and laboratories, conduct necessary investigations, and ensure the cases are documented and reported according to state laws. The next level up is the state health department, which aggregates data from across the state and then forwards it to the national level, typically the CDC, through established surveillance channels. This flow—local to state to CDC—enables standardized data collection, national trend analysis, and timely outbreak detection and response.

There can be variations by jurisdiction or disease, but the described path reflects the common practice and what is intended by notifiable disease surveillance systems.