35-4-133. Examination and treatment of infected persons; treatment at public expense; notification of exposed individuals; suppression of prostitution.

(a) Upon receipt of a report or notice of a case or a reasonably suspected case of sexually transmitted disease infection, a health officer within his respective jurisdiction:

(i) May isolate the individual in accordance with existing standards of medical practice;

(ii) If examination has not been performed, may provide for the examination of the infected individual or the individual reasonably suspected of suffering from a sexually transmitted disease and shall report the examination results to the individual;

(iii) May require the infected individual to seek adequate treatment or, subject to subsection (d) of this section, may require the individual to submit to treatment at public expense; and

(iv) May arrange for education and counseling of the infected individual as to the medical significance of the sexually transmitted disease.

(b) To the extent possible, the health officer shall identify any other person with whom the infected individual has had contact which may have resulted in significant exposure of that person to a dangerous or life-threatening sexually transmitted disease. For purposes of this subsection, "significant exposure" means:

(i) Contact of an emergency medical services provider's broken skin or mucous membrane with the infected individual's blood or bodily fluids other than tears or perspiration;

(ii) That a needle stick, or scalpel or other instrument wound has occurred in the process of caring for the infected individual;

(iii) Sexual contact;

(iv) Exposure that occurs by any other method of transmission defined by the department as a significant exposure; or

(v) Exposure that occurs during the course of examination or treatment by dental care providers.

(c) To the extent possible, a health officer shall make every reasonable effort to notify any person identified in subsection (b) of this section of his possible exposure to a sexually transmitted disease. Such notification shall include the name of the sexually transmitted disease to which the person may have been exposed, the approximate date of possible exposure, and shall advise the person of the nature of the disease and sources for education and counseling as to the medical significance of the disease. The health officer shall not provide information as to the specific identity of the infected individual unless the health officer has received written authorization for release of information from the infected individual.

(d) Public funds appropriated for treatment of any individual infected with a sexually transmitted disease shall be spent in accordance with priorities established by the department of health. In establishing priorities, the department shall consider the treatment's cost, effectiveness, curative capacity and public health benefit to the state.

(e) A health officer shall investigate sources of sexually transmitted disease, cooperate with the proper law enforcement officials in enforcing laws against prostitution and otherwise assist in the suppression of prostitution.

(f) Upon receipt of information documenting an actual exposure of a health care worker as provided in paragraphs (b)(i) and (ii) of this section to blood or body fluids of a patient where the exposure could lead to a communicable disease infection which is capable of transmission by blood or other body fluids, a health care provider acting within his scope of practice may order appropriate testing to be performed on a specimen from the patient by a duly licensed and accredited laboratory. If the patient's specimen is not available for testing, a health care provider acting within his scope of practice, or county health officer may, with the patient's consent, order the necessary testing according to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Wyoming department of health. If the patient does not consent to testing, the county health officer or the authority responsible for the care of the patient may apply to the district court for an order to have the necessary testing performed. Test results will be kept confidential and will be reported by the health care provider in accordance with W.S. 35-4-130 through 35-4-134. Reports to the department of health shall be made on an official state disease case report form or the report may be made by telephone with confirmation by the written form. For purposes of this section, "health care worker" means all personnel involved in the care of a patient, including first responders, such as law enforcement officers, rescue personnel and those acting as good samaritans.