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Contact tracing is the process of identifying people who have been in contact with a person who has an infectious disease and ensuring these contacts are aware of their exposure and options for follow-up. Partner notification is more specifically targeted at particular people who may have been in direct contact with a person with a communicable disease.
The aim of contact tracing is to stop the transmission of infection. It assists in identifying people who may benefit from treatment as well as assisting to minimise complications if others have been infected.
Once you have provided details of your contacts, your doctor or sexual health nurse should discuss with you the best way to find them and inform them of the risk. They provide counselling and assistance to you if you feel nervous or unsure about who to approach or how to do it.
You may choose to tell them yourself, or your health practitioner could discreetly contact them without identifying you in any way. The purpose of contact tracing is to find people and to help them, not to blame anyone.
You may find the Contact Tracing step-by-step resource helpful.
The three scenarios below were designed to assist people who wish to conduct their own contact tracing.
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
Scenarios and resources created by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. Reproduced with permission.
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