Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) play a vital role in protecting public health in South Dakota. These trained professionals are frontline public health responders who work to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), tuberculosis, and other communicable conditions. South Dakota is home to 23 DIS and 3 field supervisors, located throughout the state in Aberdeen, Pierre, Mobridge, Mitchell, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Watertown. DIS are experts in interviewing and case investigation, partner services, and contact tracing. They connect individuals to testing, treatment, and prevention resources, while also offering counseling and education to support healthier outcomes. By building trust and promoting early detection and intervention, DIS help stop the spread of disease and protect the health of South Dakota communities.
Healthcare Providers
Find information and resources about how to report various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in South Dakota, including syphilis and congenital syphilis.
Disease Intervention Offices
Call or stop by one of our 7 locations for a FREE and confidential HIV or STD test! Walk-ins welcome!
Disease Prevention Services
Proper sexual health and reproductive health can have a strong impact on your physical, emotional, social and mental well-being.
Reportable Diseases in SD
Category I diseases must be reported immediately if suspected. Category II must be reported within 3 days.
DIS are available to help medical providers locate individuals who have been tested but did not return to get positive test results or treatment. In those cases, they can act as an agent for the medical provider, using their resources and experience to locate these individuals. Once located, these individuals are referred back to the original provider, Health Department office, family planning office, or other clinic for treatment. In addition to individual case follow-up, DIS offer STI education outreach to healthcare providers, community organizations, and the general public.
Disease Intervention Specialists focus on:
- Providing the affected individual with accurate information about their infection and ways to prevent infection in the future
- Notifying and locating unaware partners so they can receive confidential and prompt diagnosis and treatment
While many individuals contacted by DIS are less than eager about receiving notification, most are helpful once they understand the importance of receiving treatment for STIs and are assured of the absolute confidentiality of the information they have provided.
Generally, the affected individual and the DIS establish a plan to ensure that all at-risk partners are notified. In some instances, this individual decides to notify and refer their sexual partners on their own. In this case, the DIS provides coaching on how to do this successfully. In other cases, individuals prefer that the DIS inform their partner for them. When DIS notify exposed partners, identifying information about the original person is never disclosed.