A. The Board shall provide for the surveillance of and investigation into all preventable diseases and epidemics in this Commonwealth and into the means for the prevention of such diseases and epidemics. Surveillance and investigation may include contact tracing in accordance with the regulations of the Board. When any outbreak or unusual occurrence of a preventable disease shall be identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter, the Commissioner or his designee shall investigate the disease in cooperation with the local health director or directors in the area of the disease. If in the judgment of the Commissioner the resources of the locality are insufficient to provide for adequate investigation, he may assume direct responsibility and exclusive control of the investigation, applying such resources as he may have at his disposal. The Board may issue emergency regulations and orders to accomplish the investigation.
B. When an investigation of any outbreak or occurrence of a disease identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter indicates the reasonable possibility that the outbreak or occurrence was the result of exposure to an agent or substance used as a weapon, the Commissioner or his designee shall immediately report such finding to the Department of State Police for investigation. Reports, records, materials or other data reported to the Department of State Police pursuant to this section shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). The Department of State Police, and any local law enforcement official, may release all or part of any report made or other information obtained pursuant to this section (i) where the release of such report or information may assist in the prevention of imminent harm to public health or safety, or (ii) where the release of such report or information, with patient identifying information removed, may be useful for education of the public on health, safety or homeland defense issues. Reports required by this section shall be maintained in the central repository established by the Department of State Police pursuant to the provisions of § 52-8.5. The Department of State Police shall immediately transmit the report to the local chief of police or sheriff with law-enforcement responsibilities both where the patient resides and where he sought the medical treatment that resulted in the report. In addition, the Department of State Police may transmit the report to federal and military law-enforcement authorities. The Department of State Police and local law-enforcement authorities shall immediately determine and implement the appropriate law-enforcement response to such reports, in accordance with their jurisdiction.
Code 1950, §§ 32-10, 32-42; 1979, c. 711; 1989, c. 613; 2002, c. 768.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 2 - Disease Prevention and Control
§ 32.1-35. List and reports of diseases and dangerous microbes and pathogens
§ 32.1-35.1. Information on health care-associated infections
§ 32.1-36. Reports by physicians and laboratory directors
§ 32.1-37. Reports by persons other than physicians
§ 32.1-37.01. Posting of information about cases of communicable disease of public health threat
§ 32.1-37.1. Report of diseases infecting dead human bodies
§ 32.1-38. Immunity from liability
§ 32.1-39. Surveillance and investigation
§ 32.1-40. Authority of Commissioner to examine medical records
§ 32.1-41. Anonymity of patients and practitioners to be preserved in use of medical records
§ 32.1-42. Emergency rules and regulations
§ 32.1-43. Authority of State Health Commissioner to require quarantine, etc.
§ 32.1-44. Isolated or quarantined persons
§ 32.1-45. Expense of treatment
§ 32.1-45.4. Comprehensive harm reduction programs
§ 32.1-46. Immunization of patients against certain diseases
§ 32.1-46.01. Virginia Immunization Information System
§ 32.1-46.02. Administration of influenza vaccine to minors
§ 32.1-46.2. Certain testing or determination of low risk for elevated blood-lead levels required
§ 32.1-47. Exclusion from school of children not immunized
§ 32.1-47.1. Vaccination of children; plan enhancements
§ 32.1-48. Powers of Commissioner in epidemic
§ 32.1-48.03. Petition for hearing; temporary detention
§ 32.1-48.04. Isolation hearing; conditions; order for isolation; right to appeal
§ 32.1-48.07. Conditions for invoking the provisions of this article
§ 32.1-48.08. Declaration of quarantine
§ 32.1-48.09. Order of quarantine
§ 32.1-48.010. Appeal of any order of quarantine
§ 32.1-48.012. Isolation order
§ 32.1-48.013. Appeal of any order of isolation
§ 32.1-48.013:1. Electronic filings as protection from communicable disease
§ 32.1-48.014. Enforcement of orders of quarantine or isolation; penalties
§ 32.1-48.015. Authorization to disclose health records
§ 32.1-48.016. Immunity from liability
§ 32.1-48.017. Use of public or private property or facilities
§ 32.1-48.2. Regulation of Commissioner requiring vaccination or inoculation of dogs
§ 32.1-48.3. Regulations of Commissioner covering local ordinances and requirements
§ 32.1-48.4. Commissioner to cooperate with local governing bodies and agencies
§ 32.1-49. Tuberculosis required to be reported
§ 32.1-53. Facilities and contracts for treatment of tuberculosis patients
§ 32.1-54. Commissioner authorized to charge patients for care
§ 32.1-55.1. Anonymous testing sites for human immunodeficiency virus
§ 32.1-56. Information to be provided patients
§ 32.1-57. Examination, testing and treatment; failure to comply with order of examination
§ 32.1-58. Persons convicted of certain crimes to be examined, tested and treated
§ 32.1-59. Examination and treatment in certain institutions
§ 32.1-60. Prenatal tests required
§ 32.1-62. Procedure upon infant's birth
§ 32.1-63. Duty of physician, midwife or nurse noting ophthalmia neonatorum
§ 32.1-64. Duty of Board to provide for treatment
§ 32.1-64.1. Virginia Hearing Loss Identification and Monitoring System
§ 32.1-65. Certain newborn screening required
§ 32.1-65.1. Critical congenital heart defect screening test required
§ 32.1-66. Commissioner to notify physicians; reports to Commissioner
§ 32.1-67. Duty of Board for follow-up and referral protocols; regulations
§ 32.1-67.1. Confidentiality of records; prohibition of discrimination
§ 32.1-69. Records confidential; disclosure of results of screening
§ 32.1-69.1. Virginia Congenital Anomalies Reporting and Education System
§ 32.1-69.1:1. Dissemination of information regarding birth defects
§ 32.1-69.3. Virginia Cord Blood Bank Initiative established
§ 32.1-69.4. Publication of information regarding cord blood education
§ 32.1-70.2. Collection of cancer case information by the Commissioner
§ 32.1-71.01. Penalties for unauthorized use of statewide cancer registry
§ 32.1-71.02. Notification of cancer patients of statewide cancer registry reporting
§ 32.1-73. Failure to comply with provisions; grounds for revocation of license or permit
§ 32.1-73.5. Comprehensive statewide asthma management plan
§ 32.1-73.6. Implementation of state asthma management programs
§ 32.1-73.7. Department to be lead agency for youth suicide prevention
§ 32.1-73.8. Youth health risk behavior survey
§ 32.1-73.10. Advisory Council; report
§ 32.1-73.11. (Continued pursuant to Acts 2022, Sp. S. I, c. 2, item 299 D) Sunset
§ 32.1-73.12. Department to be lead agency for services for substance-exposed infants
§ 32.1-73.14. Rare Disease Council; purpose
§ 32.1-73.15. Powers and duties of the Council
§ 32.1-73.16. Membership; terms; quorum; meetings; staffing
§ 32.1-73.17. Rare Disease Council Fund
§ 32.1-73.18. Renal Disease Council; purpose