Title of Regulation: 12VAC5-90. Regulations for Disease Reporting and Control (amending 12VAC5-90-10, 12VAC5-90-80, 12VAC5-90-90, 12VAC5-90-100, 12VAC5-90-110, 12VAC5-90-280; repealing 12VAC5-90-50, 12VAC5-90-290 through 12VAC5-90-360).

Statutory Authority: § 32.1-35 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information: No public hearings are scheduled.

Public Comment Deadline: September 11, 2015.

Agency Contact: Diane Woolard, Ph.D., Director, Division of Surveillance and Investigation, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-8124, or email diane.woolard@vdh.virginia.gov.

Basis: Section 32.1-35 directs the State Board of Health to promulgate regulations specifying which diseases occurring in the Commonwealth are to be reportable and the method by which they are to be reported. Further, § 32.1-42 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the board to promulgate regulations and orders to prevent a potential emergency caused by a disease dangerous to public health. The board is empowered to adopt such regulations as are necessary to carry out provisions of laws of the Commonwealth administered by the State Health Commissioner by § 32.1-12 of the Code of Virginia.

Purpose: The amendments are necessary in order to ensure that the regulations comply with changes in the Code of Virginia and recommendations of national public health organizations. The proposed changes improve the ability of the Virginia Department of Health to conduct surveillance and implement disease control for conditions of public health concern, including outbreaks and emergencies that could be caused by naturally occurring disease or acts of bioterrorism. The changes will position the agency to better detect and respond to these illnesses to protect the health of the public.

Substance: The proposed amendments (i) update definitions to align them with current usage; (ii) update the reportable disease list to reflect current national recommendations and language; (iii) update the list of conditions reportable by laboratory directors to reflect current laboratory technology and public health standards; (iv) increase the information reported by laboratory directors for Campylobacter infection, hepatitis B, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, especially for children, and increase the specimens to be submitted to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) of the Virginia Department of General Services for advanced laboratory testing; (v) update language to ensure consistency between sections; (vi) clarify the agency's role in interstate and national notifications; (vii) clarify the level of information that may be shared with the agency by schools and other facilities; (viii) renumber sections for internal consistency within the regulations; and (ix) update reporting of dangerous microbes and pathogens sections to reflect federal code section numbering changes and other requirements.

Issues: The primary advantage to the agency is that the proposed amendments will improve the ability of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to detect and control diseases of public health importance. Most of the changes being proposed are updates to terminology to reflect current usage or to clarify requirements. Some formatting changes have also been proposed.

The impact on businesses primarily affects laboratories conducting business in the Commonwealth. The addition of laboratory testing methods to the list of conditions that laboratory directors must report reflects advances in laboratory science, but would mean that laboratories conducting business in Virginia will have to report additional positive laboratory findings to VDH. To reflect current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, the reportable blood lead level is changed from 10 to 5 μg/dL for children and from 25 to 10 μg/dL for adults. Many of the proposed changes are already being reported by laboratories that offer those testing options. The proposed amendments would require laboratory directors to provide additional information on antimicrobial susceptibility for gonorrhea, to provide details of hepatitis test results, and to submit remnant HIV diagnostic serum to DCSL for HIV recency testing and HIV genetic sequence data from HIV drug resistance tests. Laboratory directors would also report all hepatitis B test results for children younger than two years of age and HIV test results for children younger than four years of age.

The primary advantage to the public is that VDH will be increasingly aware of conditions of public health concern so that staff can take action to reduce the risk of preventable acute diseases. No disadvantages to the public are known.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The Regulations for Disease Reporting and Control provide information about the process and procedures for reporting diseases to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), including what diseases must be reported, who must report them and other details related to public health reporting and disease control. The Virginia Board of Health proposes to: 1) add two diseases and subtract one from the reportable disease list, 2) add three conditions to the list of conditions for which specimens must be shipped to the Department of General Services Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), and make numerous other changes for clarity and to reflect current practice.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. The specific changes being proposed are necessary to ensure the regulations comply with recent changes in the practice of public health pertaining to the reporting of diseases in humans that are potentially transmitted from environmental sources (e.g., babesiosis and leptospirosis) as well as to update the list of laboratory tests that can be used to identify reportable disease findings and of specimens needing further testing to reflect advances in laboratory technology. Further amendments are necessary to clarify definitions and ensure consistency of the regulatory language, such as to standardize the reporting requirements for those who are required to report. Minor changes are also proposed to the section on the reporting of dangerous microbes to align the regulatory requirements with federal requirements. The benefits of the proposed amendments stem from the improvement in information on which actions can be taken to minimize the spread of disease in Virginia.

The Board proposes to add babesiosis and leptospirosis and remove monkeypox from the reportable disease list. According to VDH, babesiosis and leptospirosis are quite rare and monkeypox has never been found in the Commonwealth. Thus this proposed change will in net likely cause a very small increase in laboratory staff time spent on reporting

Another proposed change will newly require the shipping of specimens to DCLS if positive tests are found for: 1) HIV, 2) Vibrio infection, or 3) when a clinical specimen yields evidence indicating the presence of a select agent or toxin as defined by federal regulations in 42 CFR Part 73. VDH estimates that approximately 2,400 positive HIV lab tests are confirmed each year in Virginia. Annually there are about 30 Vibrio infections and fewer than ten for select agents in the Commonwealth.

Private and Public labs that do HIV testing currently ship remnant sample (that is, serum that is remaining after they have finished their testing) to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-designated lab voluntarily and at zero cost to the shipping lab. The samples are tested to determine recency of the HIV infection; thus this lab is referred to as the recency lab. One state lab (NY) does all of the testing for the country and works with the labs that do confirmatory testing for HIV to provide for them to ship their remnant samples to the recency lab using CDC funds. CDC has supported this program since 2004. As long as CDC funds continue to be available, this proposed amendment would not have any costs to laboratories in Virginia.

There is currently no federal funding to pay for the shipping of the Vibrio and select agent specimens. Statewide there will likely be fewer than 40 times per annum where such a specimen would need to be shipped.¹ Also, if labs are already shipping other specimens to DCLS at the same, the lab could potentially just add the specimen in question to the package and not incur additional costs. Nevertheless, there will likely be occasions where a shipment must be made due to the detection of Vibrio or a select agent.

Businesses and Entities Affected. VDH estimates that up to 100 laboratories may be affected by the changes proposed in laboratory reporting requirements; however, not all will offer the types of testing that must be reported. These laboratories are already reporting disease information to the health department, and the additions should have minimal impact. Some of the affected laboratories, including those in hospitals, would meet the definition of a small business.

Localities Particularly Affected. The proposed amendments do not disproportionately affect particular localities.

Projected Impact on Employment. The proposed amendments will not likely affect employment.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. The proposal to add Vibrio infection and the presence of a select agent or toxin² to the list of conditions for which specimens must be shipped to DCLS will create some occasions where private laboratories must expend additional dollars on shipping.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. The proposal to add Vibrio infection and the presence of a select agent or toxin³ to the list of conditions for which specimens must be shipped to DCLS will create some occasions where small private laboratories must expend additional dollars on shipping.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. Short of providing a subsidy or other outside reimbursement, there is no clear alternative method that would reduce the additional shipping costs for some small laboratories while still accomplishing the policy goal of improved information on which actions can be taken to minimize the spread of disease in Virginia.

Real Estate Development Costs. The proposed amendments do not affect real estate development costs.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, a determination of the public benefit, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has an adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

_________________________________________________

¹As mentioned, VDH estimates that there are about 30 Vibrio infections and fewer than ten for select agents annually in the Commonwealth

²As defined by federal regulations in 42 CFR Part 73.

³Ibid.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Virginia Department of Health concurs with the results of the analysis performed by the Department of Planning and Budget, specifically, the benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Summary:

The proposed amendments (i) add babesiosis and leptospirosis to and remove monkeypox from the reportable disease list; (ii) require the shipping of specimens to the Department of General Services' Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services if positive tests are found for HIV or Vibrio infection, or when a clinical specimen yields evidence indicating the presence of a select agent or toxin as defined in 42 CFR Part 73; and (iii) make numerous changes for clarity and to reflect current practice.

Part I
Definitions

12VAC5-90-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Acute care hospital" means a hospital as defined in § 32.1-123 of the Code of Virginia that provides medical treatment for patients having an acute illness or injury or recovering from surgery.

"Adult intensive care unit" means a nursing care area that provides intensive observation, diagnosis, and therapeutic procedures for persons 18 years of age or more who are critically ill. Such units may also provide intensive care to pediatric patients. An intensive care unit excludes nursing areas that provide step-down, intermediate care, or telemetry only.

"Affected area" means any part or the whole of the Commonwealth, which has been identified as where persons reside, or may be located, who are known to have been exposed to or infected with, or who are reasonably suspected to have been exposed to or infected with, a communicable disease of public health threat. "Affected area" shall include, but not be limited to, cities, counties, towns, and subsections of such areas, public and private property, buildings, and other structures.

"Arboviral infection" means a viral illness that is transmitted by a mosquito, tick, or other arthropod. This includes, but is not limited to, chikungunya, dengue, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), LaCrosse encephalitis (LAC), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), and West Nile virus (WNV) infection.

"Board" means the State Board of Health.

"Cancer" means all carcinomas, sarcomas, melanomas, leukemias, and lymphomas excluding localized basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, except for lesions of the mucous membranes.

"CDC" means the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"Central line-associated bloodstream infection" means a primary bloodstream infection identified by laboratory tests, with or without clinical signs or symptoms, in a patient with a central line device, and meeting the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC surveillance definition for laboratory-confirmed primary bloodstream infection.

"Central line device" means a vascular infusion device that terminates at or close to the heart or in one of the greater great vessels. The following are considered great vessels for the purpose of reporting central line infections and counting central line days: aorta, pulmonary artery, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, brachiocephalic veins, internal jugular veins, subclavian veins, external iliac veins, and common femoral veins.

"Child care center" means a child day center, child day program, family day home, family day system, or registered family day home as defined by § 63.2-100 of the Code of Virginia, or a similar place providing day care of children by such other name as may be applied.

"Clinic" means any facility, freestanding or associated with a hospital, that provides preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or palliative care or services to outpatients.

"Commissioner" means the State Health Commissioner or his duly designated officer or agent, unless stated in a provision of these regulations that it applies to the State Health Commissioner in his sole discretion.

"Communicable disease" means an illness due to an infectious agent or its toxic products which is transmitted, directly or indirectly, to a susceptible host from an infected person, animal, or arthropod or through the agency of an intermediate host or a vector or through the inanimate environment.

"Communicable disease of public health significance" means an illness caused by a specific or suspected infectious agent that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another. This includes but is not limited to infections caused by human immunodeficiency viruses, bloodborne pathogens, and tubercle bacillus. The State Health Commissioner may determine that diseases caused by other pathogens constitute communicable diseases of public health significance.

"Communicable disease of public health threat" means an illness of public health significance, as determined by the State Health Commissioner in accordance with these regulations, caused by a specific or suspected infectious agent that may be reasonably expected or is known to be readily transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another and has been found to create a risk of death or significant injury or impairment; this definition shall not, however, be construed to include human immunodeficiency viruses or the tubercle bacilli, unless used as a bioterrorism weapon.

"Companion animal" means any domestic or feral dog, domestic or feral cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit not raised for human food or fiber, exotic or native animal, reptile, exotic or native bird, or any feral animal or any animal under the care, custody, or ownership of a person or any animal that is bought, sold, traded, or bartered by any person. Agricultural animals, game species, or any animals regulated under federal law as research animals shall not be considered companion animals for the purpose of this regulation.

"Condition" means any adverse health event, such as a disease, an infection, a syndrome, or as indicated by a procedure (including but not limited to the results of a physical exam, laboratory test, or imaging interpretation) suggesting that an exposure of public health importance has occurred.

"Contact" means a person or animal known to have been in such association with an infected person or animal as to have had an opportunity of acquiring the infection.

"Contact services" means a broad array of services that are offered to persons with infectious diseases and their contacts. Contact services include contact tracing, providing information about current infections, developing risk reduction plans to reduce the chances of future infections, and connecting to appropriate medical care and other services.

"Contact tracing" means the process by which an infected person or health department employee notifies others that they may have been exposed to the infected person in a manner known to transmit the infectious agent in question.

"Decontamination" means the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy hazardous substances or organisms from a person, surface, or item to the point that such substances or organisms are no longer capable of causing adverse health effects and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal.

"Department" means the State Department of Health.

"Designee" or "designated officer or agent" means any person, or group of persons, designated by the State Health Commissioner, to act on behalf of the commissioner or the board.

"Ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis" "Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis" means human infections caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis (formerly included in the category "human monocytic ehrlichiosis" or "HME"), Ehrlichia ewingii or Anaplasma phagocytophilum (formerly included in the category "human granulocytic ehrlichiosis" or "HGE").

"Epidemic" means the occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness clearly in excess of normal expectancy.

"Essential needs" means basic human needs for sustenance including but not limited to food, water, and health care, (e.g., medications, therapies, testing, and durable medical equipment).

"Exceptional circumstances" means the presence, as determined by the commissioner in his sole discretion, of one or more factors that may affect the ability of the department to effectively control a communicable disease of public health threat. Factors to be considered include but are not limited to: (i) characteristics or suspected characteristics of the disease-causing organism or suspected disease-causing organism such as virulence, routes of transmission, minimum infectious dose, rapidity of disease spread, the potential for extensive disease spread, and the existence and availability of demonstrated effective treatment; (ii) known or suspected risk factors for infection; (iii) the potential magnitude of the effect of the disease on the health and welfare of the public; and (iv) the extent of voluntary compliance with public health recommendations. The determination of exceptional circumstances by the commissioner may take into account the experience or results of investigation in Virginia, another state, or another country.

"Foodborne outbreak" means two or more cases of a similar illness acquired through the consumption of food contaminated with chemicals or an infectious agent or its toxic products. Such illnesses include but are not limited to heavy metal intoxication, staphylococcal food poisoning, botulism, salmonellosis, shigellosis, Clostridium perfringens food poisoning, hepatitis A, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection.

"Healthcare-associated infection" (also known as nosocomial infection) means a localized or systemic condition resulting from an adverse reaction to the presence of an infectious agent or agents or its toxin or toxins that (i) occurs in a patient in a healthcare health care setting (e.g., a hospital or outpatient clinic), (ii) was not found to be present or incubating at the time of admission unless the infection was related to a previous admission to the same setting, and (iii) if the setting is a hospital, meets the criteria for a specific infection site as defined by CDC.

"Hepatitis C, acute" means the following clinical characteristics are met: (i) discrete onset of symptoms indicative of viral hepatitis and (ii) jaundice or elevated serum aminotransferase levels and the following laboratory criteria are met: (a) serum alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) greater than 400 IU/L; (b) IgM anti-HAV negative (if done); (c) IgM anti-HBc negative (if done); and (d) hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) screening test positive with a signal-to-cutoff ratio predictive of a true positive as determined for the particular assay as defined by CDC, HCV antibody positive by immunoblot (RIBA), or HCV RNA positive by nucleic acid test.

"Hepatitis C, chronic" means that the laboratory criteria specified in clauses (b), (c) and (d) listed above for an acute case are met but clinical signs or symptoms of acute viral hepatitis are not present and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels do not exceed 400 IU/L. This category will include cases that may be acutely infected but not symptomatic.

"Immunization" means a procedure that increases the protective response of an individual's immune system to specified pathogens.

"Independent pathology laboratory" means a nonhospital or a hospital laboratory performing surgical pathology, including fine needle aspiration biopsy and bone marrow specimen examination services, which reports the results of such tests directly to physician offices, without reporting to a hospital or accessioning the information into a hospital tumor registry.

"Individual" means a person or companion animal. When the context requires it, "person or persons" shall be deemed to include any individual.

"Infection" means the entry and multiplication or persistence of a disease-causing organism (prion, virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite, or ectoparasite) in the body of an individual. An infection may be inapparent (i.e., without recognizable signs or symptoms but identifiable by laboratory means) or manifest (clinically apparent).

"Influenza A, novel virus" means infection of a human with an influenza A virus subtype that is different from currently circulating human influenza H1 and H3 viruses. Novel subtypes include H2, H5, H7, and H9 subtypes or influenza H1 and H3 subtypes originating from a nonhuman species.

"Invasive" means the organism is affecting a normally sterile site, including but not limited to blood or cerebrospinal fluid.

"Investigation" means an inquiry into the incidence, prevalence, extent, source, mode of transmission, causation of, and other information pertinent to a disease occurrence.

"Isolation" means the physical separation, including confinement or restriction of movement, of an individual or individuals who are infected with, or are reasonably suspected to be infected with, a communicable disease in order to prevent or limit the transmission of the communicable disease to uninfected and unexposed individuals.

"Isolation, complete" means the full-time confinement or restriction of movement of an individual or individuals infected with, or reasonably suspected to be infected with, a communicable disease in order to prevent or limit the transmission of the communicable disease to uninfected and unexposed individuals.

"Isolation, modified" means a selective, partial limitation of freedom of movement or actions of an individual or individuals infected with, or reasonably suspected to be infected with, a communicable disease. Modified isolation is designed to meet particular situations and includes but is not limited to the exclusion of children from school, the prohibition or restriction from engaging in a particular occupation or using public or mass transportation, or requirements for the use of devices or procedures intended to limit disease transmission.

"Isolation, protective" means the physical separation of a susceptible individual or individuals not infected with, or not reasonably suspected to be infected with, a communicable disease from an environment where transmission is occurring, or is reasonably suspected to be occurring, in order to prevent the individual or individuals from acquiring the communicable disease.

"Laboratory" as used herein means a clinical laboratory that examines materials derived from the human body for the purpose of providing information on the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease.

"Laboratory director" means any person in charge of supervising a laboratory conducting business in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Law-enforcement agency" means any sheriff's office, police department, adult or youth correctional officer, or other agency or department that employs persons who have law-enforcement authority that is under the direction and control of the Commonwealth or any local governing body. "Law-enforcement agency" shall include, by order of the Governor, the Virginia National Guard.

"Lead, elevated blood levels" means a confirmed blood level greater than or equal to 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter (μg/dL) of whole blood in a child or children 15 years of age and younger, a venous blood lead level greater than or equal to 25 μg/dL in a person older than 15 years of age, or such lower blood lead level as may be recommended for individual intervention by the department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the reference value established by the CDC. In 2012, the reference value was 5 μg/dL in children and 10 μg/dL for persons older than 15 years of age.

"Least restrictive" means the minimal limitation of the freedom of movement and communication of an individual while under an order of isolation or an order of quarantine that also effectively protects unexposed and susceptible individuals from disease transmission.

"Medical care facility" means any hospital or nursing home licensed in the Commonwealth, or any hospital operated by or contracted to operate by an entity of the United States government or the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Midwife" means any person who is licensed as a nurse midwife by the Virginia Boards of Nursing and Medicine or who is licensed by the Board of Medicine as a certified professional midwife.

"National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)" or "NHSN" means a surveillance system created by the CDC for accumulating, exchanging, and integrating relevant information on infectious adverse events associated with healthcare health care delivery.

"Nucleic acid detection" means laboratory testing of a clinical specimen to determine the presence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) specific for an infectious agent using any method, including hybridization, sequencing, or amplification such as polymerase chain reaction.

"Nurse" means any person licensed as a professional nurse or as a licensed practical nurse by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

"Occupational outbreak" means a cluster of illness or disease that is indicative of a work-related exposure. Such conditions include but are not limited to silicosis, asbestosis, byssinosis, pneumoconiosis, and tuberculosis.

"Outbreak" means the occurrence of more cases of a disease than expected.

"Period of communicability" means the time or times during which the etiologic agent may be transferred directly or indirectly from an infected person to another person, or from an infected animal to a person.

"Physician" means any person licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy by the Virginia Board of Medicine.

"Quarantine" means the physical separation, including confinement or restriction of movement, of an individual or individuals who are present within an affected area or who are known to have been exposed, or may reasonably be suspected to have been exposed, to a communicable disease and who do not yet show signs or symptoms of infection with the communicable disease in order to prevent or limit the transmission of the communicable disease of public health threat to unexposed and uninfected individuals.

"Quarantine, complete" means the full-time confinement or restriction of movement of an individual or individuals who do not have signs or symptoms of infection but may have been exposed, or may reasonably be suspected to have been exposed, to a communicable disease of public health threat in order to prevent the transmission of the communicable disease of public health threat to uninfected individuals.

"Quarantine, modified" means a selective, partial limitation of freedom of movement or actions of an individual or individuals who do not have signs or symptoms of the infection but have been exposed to, or are reasonably suspected to have been exposed to, a communicable disease of public health threat. Modified quarantine may be designed to meet particular situations and includes but is not limited to limiting movement to the home, work, and/or or one or more other locations, the prohibition or restriction from using public or mass transportation, or requirements for the use of devices or procedures intended to limit disease transmission.

"Reportable disease" means an illness due to a specific toxic substance, occupational exposure, or infectious agent, which affects a susceptible individual, either directly, as from an infected animal or person, or indirectly through an intermediate host, vector, or the environment, as determined by the board.

"SARS" means severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-associated coronavirus (MERS-CoV) disease, or another coronavirus causing a severe acute illness.

"School" means (i) any public school from kindergarten through grade 12 operated under the authority of any locality within the Commonwealth; (ii) any private or parochial school that offers instruction at any level or grade from kindergarten through grade 12; (iii) any private or parochial nursery school or preschool, or any private or parochial child care center licensed by the Commonwealth; and (iv) any preschool handicap classes or Head Start classes.

"Serology" means the testing of blood, serum, or other body fluids for the presence of antibodies or other markers of an infection or disease process.

"Surveillance" means the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of outcome-specific data for use in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. A surveillance system includes the functional capacity for data analysis as well as the timely dissemination of these data to persons who can undertake effective prevention and control activities.

"Susceptible individual" means a person or animal who is vulnerable to or potentially able to contract a disease or condition. Factors that affect an individual's susceptibility include but are not limited to physical characteristics, genetics, previous or chronic exposures, chronic conditions or infections, immunization history, or use of medications.

"Toxic substance" means any substance, including any raw materials, intermediate products, catalysts, final products, or by-products of any manufacturing operation conducted in a commercial establishment, that has the capacity, through its physical, chemical or biological properties, to pose a substantial risk of death or impairment either immediately or over time, to the normal functions of humans, aquatic organisms, or any other animal but not including any pharmaceutical preparation which deliberately or inadvertently is consumed in such a way as to result in a drug overdose.

"Tubercle bacilli" means disease-causing organisms belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovis, and Mycobacterium africanum or other members as may be established by the commissioner.

"Tuberculin skin test (TST)" means a test for demonstrating infection with tubercle bacilli, performed according to the Mantoux method, in which 0.1 ml of 5 TU strength tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) is injected intradermally on the volar surface of the arm. Any reaction is observed 48-72 hours after placement and palpable induration is measured across the diameter transverse to the long axis of the arm. The measurement of the indurated area is recorded in millimeters and the significance of the measured induration is based on existing national and department guidelines.

"Tuberculosis" means a disease caused by tubercle bacilli.

"Tuberculosis, active disease" (also "active tuberculosis disease" and "active TB disease"), as defined by § 32.1-49.1 of the Code of Virginia, means a disease caused by an airborne microorganism and characterized by the presence of either (i) a specimen of sputum or other bodily fluid or tissue that has been found to contain tubercle bacilli as evidenced by culture or nucleic acid amplification, including preliminary identification by rapid methodologies; (ii) a specimen of sputum or other bodily fluid or tissue that is suspected to contain tubercle bacilli as evidenced by smear, and where sufficient clinical and radiographic evidence of active tuberculosis disease is present as determined by a physician licensed to practice medicine in Virginia; or (iii) sufficient clinical and radiographic evidence of active tuberculosis disease as determined by the commissioner is present, but a specimen of sputum or other bodily fluid or tissue containing, or suspected of containing, tubercle bacilli is unobtainable.

"Tuberculosis infection in children age less than 4 <4 years" means a significant reaction resulting from a tuberculin skin test (TST) or other approved test for latent infection without clinical or radiographic evidence of active tuberculosis disease, in children from birth up to their fourth birthday.

"Vaccinia, disease or adverse event" means vaccinia infection or serious or unexpected events in persons who received the smallpox vaccine or their contacts, including but not limited to bacterial infections, eczema vaccinatum, erythema multiforme, generalized vaccinia, progressive vaccinia, inadvertent inoculation, post-vaccinial encephalopathy or encephalomyelitis, ocular vaccinia, and fetal vaccinia.

"Waterborne outbreak" means two or more cases of a similar illness acquired through the ingestion of or other exposure to water contaminated with chemicals or an infectious agent or its toxic products. Such illnesses include but are not limited to giardiasis, viral gastroenteritis, cryptosporidiosis, hepatitis A, cholera, and shigellosis. A single case of laboratory-confirmed primary amebic meningoencephalitis or of waterborne chemical poisoning is considered an outbreak.

12VAC5-90-50. Applicability. (Repealed.)

A. This chapter has general application throughout the Commonwealth.

B. The provisions of the Virginia Administrative Process Act, which is codified as Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia shall govern the adoption, amendment, modification, and revision of this chapter, and the conduct of all proceedings and appeals hereunder. All hearings on such regulations shall be conducted in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia.

Part III
Reporting of Disease

12VAC5-90-80. Reportable disease list Lists of diseases that shall be reported.

A. Reportable disease list. The board declares suspected or confirmed cases of the following named diseases, toxic effects, and conditions to be reportable by the persons enumerated in 12VAC5-90-90. Conditions identified by an asterisk (*) require immediate communication to the local health department by the most rapid means available upon suspicion or confirmation, as defined in subsection C of this section. Other conditions should be reported within three days of suspected or confirmed diagnosis.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Amebiasis

*Anthrax

Arboviral infections (e.g., dengue, EEE, LAC, SLE, WNV)

Babesiosis

*Botulism

*Brucellosis

Campylobacteriosis

Chancroid

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Chlamydia trachomatis infection

*Cholera

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease if <55 years of age

Cryptosporidiosis

Cyclosporiasis

*Diphtheria

*Disease caused by an agent that may have been used as a weapon

Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis

Escherichia coli infection, Shiga toxin-producing

Giardiasis

Gonorrhea

Granuloma inguinale

*Haemophilus influenzae infection, invasive

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)

*Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B (acute and chronic)

Hepatitis C (acute and chronic)

Hepatitis, other acute viral

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection

Influenza

*Influenza-associated deaths in children <18 years of age

Lead, elevated blood levels

Legionellosis

Leprosy (Hansen (Hansen's disease)

Leptospirosis

Listeriosis

Lyme disease

Lymphogranuloma venereum

Malaria

*Measles (Rubeola)

*Meningococcal disease

*Monkeypox

Mumps

Ophthalmia neonatorum

*Outbreaks, all (including but not limited to foodborne, healthcare-associated health care-associated, occupational, toxic substance-related, and waterborne)

*Pertussis

*Plague

*Poliovirus infection, including poliomyelitis

*Psittacosis

*Q fever

*Rabies, human and animal

Rabies treatment, post-exposure

*Rubella, including congenital rubella syndrome

Salmonellosis

*Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), including any coronavirus causing a severe acute illness

Shigellosis

*Smallpox (Variola)

Spotted fever rickettsiosis

Staphylococcus aureus infection, vancomycin-intermediate or vancomycin-resistant

Streptococcal disease, Group A, invasive or toxic shock

Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, invasive, in children <5 years of age

Syphilis (report *primary and *secondary syphilis by rapid means)

Tetanus

Toxic substance-related illness

Trichinosis (Trichinellosis)

*Tuberculosis, active disease

Tuberculosis infection in children <4 years of age

*Tularemia

*Typhoid/Paratyphoid fever

*Unusual occurrence of disease of public health concern

*Vaccinia, disease or adverse event

*Vibrio infection

*Viral hemorrhagic fever

*Yellow fever

Yersiniosis

B. Conditions reportable by directors of laboratories.

Conditions identified by an asterisk (*) require immediate communication to the local health department by the most rapid means available upon suspicion or confirmation, as defined in subsection C of this section. Other conditions should be reported within three days of suspected or confirmed diagnosis.

Amebiasis - by microscopic examination, culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Anthrax - by culture, antigen detection or nucleic acid detection

Arboviral infection - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Babesiosis - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Botulism - by culture, nucleic acid detection, or identification of toxin neurotoxin in a clinical specimen

*Brucellosis - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Campylobacteriosis - by culture, antigen detection, or nucleic acid detection. Submit all culture results (positive or negative) associated with a positive antigen detection test.

Chancroid - by culture, antigen detection, or nucleic acid detection

Chickenpox (varicella) (Varicella) - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Chlamydia trachomatis infection - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection or, for lymphogranuloma venereum, serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Cholera - by culture or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease if <55 years of age by histopathology in patients under the age of 55 years

Cryptosporidiosis - by microscopic examination, antigen detection, or nucleic acid detection

Cyclosporiasis - by microscopic examination or nucleic acid detection

*Diphtheria - by culture or histopathology

Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis - by culture, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Escherichia coli infection, Shiga toxin-producing - by culture of E. coli O157 or other Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Shiga toxin detection (e.g., by EIA), or nucleic acid detection

Giardiasis - by microscopic examination or, antigen detection, or nucleic acid detection

Gonorrhea - by microscopic examination of a urethral smear specimen (males only), culture, antigen detection, or nucleic acid detection. Include available antimicrobial susceptibility findings in report.

*Haemophilus influenzae infection, invasive - by culture, antigen detection, or nucleic acid detection from a normally sterile site

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome - by antigen detection (immunohistochemistry), nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Hepatitis A - by detection of IgM antibodies

Hepatitis B (acute and chronic) - by detection of HBsAg, HBeAg, or IgM antibodies or nucleic acid detection. For any reportable hepatitis finding, submit all available results from the hepatitis panel. Submit all findings for hepatitis B testing in children younger than two years of age.

Hepatitis C (acute and chronic) - by hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) screening test positive with a signal-to-cutoff ratio predictive of a true positive as determined for the particular assay as defined by CDC, HCV antibody positive by immunoblot (RIBA), or HCV RNA positive by nucleic acid test. For all hepatitis C patients, also report available results of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), anti-HAV IgM, anti-HBc IgM, and HBsAg. For any reportable hepatitis finding, submit all available results from the hepatitis panel.

Hepatitis, other acute viral – any finding indicative of acute infection with hepatitis D, E, or other cause of viral hepatitis. For any reportable hepatitis finding, submit all available results from the hepatitis panel.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or detection of antibody confirmed with a supplemental test. For HIV-infected patients, report all results of CD4 and HIV viral load tests and all HIV genetic sequence data associated with HIV drug resistance tests. For children from birth to three years of age, report all tests regardless of the test findings (e.g., negative or positive).

Influenza - by culture, antigen detection by direct fluorescent antibody (DFA), or nucleic acid detection

Lead, elevated blood levels - by blood lead level greater than or equal to 10 μg/dL in children ages 0-15 years, or greater than or equal to 25 μg/dL in persons older than 15 years of age the reference value established by CDC. The reference value established in 2012 was 5 µg/dL in children and 10 µg/dL in persons older than 15 years of age.

Legionellosis - by culture, antigen detection (including urinary antigen), nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Leptospirosis - by culture, microscopic examination by dark field microscopy, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Listeriosis - by culture

Lyme disease - by culture, antigen detection, or detection of antibody confirmed with a supplemental test

Malaria - by microscopic examination, antigen detection, or nucleic acid detection

*Measles (rubeola) (Rubeola) - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Meningococcal disease - by culture or antigen detection from a normally sterile site

*Monkeypox - by culture or nucleic acid detection

Mumps - by culture, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Mycobacterial diseases - (See 12VAC5-90-225 B) Report any of the following:

1. Acid fast bacilli by microscopic examination;

2. Mycobacterial identification - preliminary and final identification by culture or nucleic acid detection;

3. Drug susceptibility test results for M. tuberculosis.

*Pertussis - by culture, antigen detection, or nucleic acid detection

*Plague - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Poliovirus infection - by culture

*Psittacosis - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Q fever - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Rabies, human and animal - by culture, antigen detection by direct fluorescent antibody test, nucleic acid detection, or, for humans only, serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Rubella - by culture, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Salmonellosis - by culture or antigen detection

*Severe acute respiratory syndrome, including any coronavirus causing a severe acute illness - by culture, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Shigellosis - by culture or antigen detection

*Smallpox (variola) (Variola) - by culture or nucleic acid detection

Spotted fever rickettsiosis - by culture, antigen detection (including immunohistochemical staining), nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Staphylococcus aureus infection, resistant, as defined below.:

1. Methicillin-resistant - by antimicrobial susceptibility testing of a Staphylococcus aureus isolate, with a susceptibility result indicating methicillin resistance, cultured from a normally sterile site

2. Vancomycin-intermediate or vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection - by antimicrobial susceptibility testing of a Staphylococcus aureus isolate, with a vancomycin susceptibility result of intermediate or resistant, cultured from a clinical specimen. Include available antimicrobial susceptibility findings in report.

Streptococcal disease, Group A, invasive or toxic shock - by culture from a normally sterile site

Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, invasive, in children <5 years of age - by culture from a normally sterile site in a child under the age of five years

*Syphilis - by microscopic examination (including dark field), antigen detection (including direct fluorescent antibody), or serology by either treponemal or nontreponemal methods

Toxic substance-related illness - by blood or urine laboratory findings above the normal range, including but not limited to heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial-type solvents and gases. When applicable and available, report speciation of metals when blood or urine levels are elevated in order to differentiate the chemical species (elemental, organic, or inorganic).

Trichinosis (trichinellosis) (Trichinellosis) - by microscopic examination of a muscle biopsy or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Tularemia - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Typhoid/Paratyphoid fever - by culture

*Vaccinia, disease or adverse event - by culture or nucleic acid detection

*Vibrio infection - by culture. Include Photobacterium damselae and Grimontia hollisae as well as Vibrio species.

*Viral hemorrhagic fever - by culture, antigen detection (including immunohistochemical staining), nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

*Yellow fever - by culture, antigen detection, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

Yersiniosis - by culture, nucleic acid detection, or serologic results consistent with recent infection

C. Reportable diseases requiring rapid communication. Certain of the diseases in the list of reportable diseases, because of their extremely contagious nature or their potential for greater harm, or both, require immediate identification and control. Reporting of persons confirmed or suspected of having these diseases, listed below, shall be made immediately by the most rapid means available, preferably that of telecommunication (e.g., by telephone, telephone transmitted facsimile, pagers, etc.) to the local health director or other professional employee of the department. (These same diseases are also identified by an asterisk (*) in subsection A and subsection B subsections A and B, where applicable, of this section.)

Anthrax

Botulism

Brucellosis

Cholera

Diphtheria

Disease caused by an agent that may have been used as a weapon

Haemophilus influenzae infection, invasive

Hepatitis A

Influenza-associated deaths in children <18 years of age

Influenza A, novel virus

Measles (Rubeola)

Meningococcal disease

Monkeypox

Outbreaks, all

Pertussis

Plague

Poliovirus infection, including poliomyelitis

Psittacosis

Q fever

Rabies, human and animal

Rubella, including congenital rubella syndrome

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), including any coronavirus causing a severe acute illness

Smallpox (Variola)

Syphilis, primary and secondary

Tuberculosis, active disease

Tularemia

*Typhoid/Paratyphoid Typhoid/Paratyphoid fever

Unusual occurrence of disease of public health concern

Vaccinia, disease or adverse event

Vibrio infection

Viral hemorrhagic fever

Yellow fever

D. Toxic substance-related illnesses. All toxic substance-related illnesses, including pesticide and heavy metal poisoning or illness resulting from exposure to an occupational dust or fiber or radioactive substance, shall be reported.

If such illness is verified or suspected and presents an emergency or a serious threat to public health or safety, the report of such illness shall be by rapid communication as in subsection C of this section made immediately by the most rapid means available.

E. Outbreaks. The occurrence of outbreaks or clusters of any illness which may represent a group expression of an illness which may be of public health concern shall be reported to the local health department immediately by the most rapid means available.

F. Unusual or ill-defined diseases or emerging or reemerging pathogens. Unusual or emerging conditions of public health concern shall be reported to the local health department immediately by the most rapid means available. In addition, the commissioner or his designee may establish surveillance systems for diseases or conditions that are not on the list of reportable diseases. Such surveillance may be established to identify cases (delineate the magnitude of the situation), to identify the mode of transmission and risk factors for the disease, and to identify and implement appropriate action to protect public health. Any person reporting information at the request of the department for special surveillance or other epidemiological studies shall be immune from liability as provided by § 32.1-38 of the Code of Virginia.

12VAC5-90-90. Those required to report.

A. Physicians. Each physician who treats or examines any person who is suffering from or who is suspected of having a reportable disease or condition shall report that person's name, address, age, date of birth, race, sex, and pregnancy status for females; name of disease diagnosed or suspected; the date of onset of illness; and the name, address, and telephone number of the physician and medical facility where the examination was made, except that influenza should be reported by number of cases only (and type of influenza, if available). Reports are to be made to the local health department serving the jurisdiction where the physician practices. A physician may designate someone to report on his behalf, but the physician remains responsible for ensuring that the appropriate report is made. Any physician, designee, or organization making such report as authorized herein shall be immune from liability as provided by § 32.1-38 of the Code of Virginia.

Such reports shall be made on a form to be provided by the department (Form Epi-1) Form Epi-1, a computer generated printout containing the data items requested on Form Epi-1, or a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC surveillance form that provides the same information and shall be made within three days of the suspicion or confirmation of disease unless the disease in question requires rapid reporting under 12VAC5-90-80 C except that those identified in 12VAC5-90-80 C shall be reported immediately by the most rapid means available to the local health department serving the jurisdiction in which the facility is located. Reporting may be done by means of secure electronic transmission upon agreement of the physician and the department.

Pursuant to § 32.1-49.1 of the Code of Virginia, additional Additional elements are required to be reported for individuals with confirmed or suspected active tuberculosis disease. Refer to Part X (12VAC5-90-225 et seq.) for details on these requirements.

B. Directors of laboratories. Any person who is in charge of a laboratory conducting business in the Commonwealth shall report any laboratory examination of any clinical specimen, whether performed in-house or referred to an out-of-state laboratory, which yields evidence, by the laboratory method(s) indicated or any other confirmatory test, of a disease listed in 12VAC5-90-80 B.

Each report shall give the source of the specimen and the laboratory method and result; the name, address, age, date of birth, race, sex, and pregnancy status for females (if known) of the person from whom the specimen was obtained; and the name, address, and telephone number of the physician for whom and medical facility for whom at which the examination was made. When the influenza virus is isolated, the type should be reported, if available. Reports shall be made within three days of identification of evidence of disease, except that those identified by an asterisk in 12VAC5-90-80 C shall be reported immediately by the most rapid means available, to the local health department serving the jurisdiction in which the laboratory is located. Reports shall be made on Form Epi-1 or on the laboratory's own form if it includes the required information. Computer generated reports containing the required information may be submitted. Reporting may be done by means of secure electronic transmission upon agreement of the laboratory director and the department. Any person making such report as authorized herein shall be immune from liability as provided by § 32.1-38 of the Code of Virginia.

A laboratory identifying evidence of any of the following conditions shall notify the local health department of the positive culture or other positive test result within the timeframes specified in 12VAC5-90-80 and submit the initial isolate or other initial specimen to the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) within seven days of identification. All specimens must be identified with the patient and physician information required in this subsection.

Anthrax

Brucellosis

Cholera

Diphtheria

E. coli infection, Shiga toxin-producing. (Laboratories that use a Shiga toxin EIA methodology but do not perform simultaneous culture for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli should forward all positive stool specimens or positive broth cultures enrichment broths to DCLS the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services for confirmation and further characterization.)

Haemophilus influenzae infection, invasive

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Submit all remnant HIV diagnostic sera to the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services or other laboratory designated by the department for HIV recency testing.)

Influenza A, novel virus

Listeriosis

Meningococcal disease

Pertussis

Plague

Poliovirus infection

Q fever

Salmonellosis

Shigellosis

Streptococcal disease, Group A, invasive

Tuberculosis (A laboratory identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (see 12VAC5-90-225) shall submit a representative and viable sample of the initial culture to DCLS the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services or other laboratory designated by the board to receive such specimen.)

Typhoid/Paratyphoid fever

Vancomycin-intermediate or vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection

Vibrio infection, including infections due to Photobacterium damselae and Grimontia hollisae

Yersiniosis

Other diseases as may be requested by the health department

When a clinical specimen yields evidence indicating the presence of a select agent or toxin as defined by federal regulations in 42 CFR Part 73, the person in charge of the laboratory shall contact the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services and arrange to forward an isolate for confirmation. If a select agent or toxin has been confirmed in a clinical specimen, the laboratory director shall consult with Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services or CDC regarding isolate transport or destruction.

Laboratories operating within a medical care facility shall be considered to be in compliance with the requirement to notify the local health department when the director of that medical care facility assumes the reporting responsibility; however, laboratories are still required to submit isolates to DCLS the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services or other designated laboratory as noted above in this subsection.

C. Persons in charge of a medical care facility. Any person in charge of a medical care facility shall make a report to the local health department serving the jurisdiction where the facility is located of the occurrence in or admission to the facility of a patient with a reportable disease listed in 12VAC5-90-80 A unless he has evidence that the occurrence has been reported by a physician. Any person making such report as authorized herein shall be immune from liability as provided by § 32.1-38 of the Code of Virginia. The requirement to report shall include all inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care departments within the medical care facility. Such report shall contain the patient's name, address, age, date of birth, race, sex, and pregnancy status for females; name of disease being reported; the date of admission; hospital chart number; date expired (when applicable); and attending physician. Influenza should be reported by number of cases only (and type of influenza, if available). Reports shall be made within three days of the suspicion or confirmation of disease unless the disease in question requires rapid reporting under 12VAC5-90-80 C and except that those identified in 12VAC5-90-80 C shall be reported immediately by the most rapid means available to the local health department serving the jurisdiction in which the facility is located. Reports shall be made on Form Epi-1, a computer generated printout containing the data items requested on Form Epi-1, or a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC surveillance form that provides the same information. Reporting may be done by means of secure electronic transmission upon agreement of the medical care facility and the department.

A person in charge of a medical care facility may assume the reporting responsibility on behalf of the director of the laboratory operating within the facility.

D. Persons in charge of a residential or day program, service, or facility licensed or operated by any agency of the Commonwealth, or a school, child care center, or summer camp. Any person in charge of a residential or day program, service, or facility licensed or operated by any agency of the Commonwealth, or a school, child care center, or summer camp as defined in § 35.1-1 of the Code of Virginia shall report immediately to the local health department the presence or suspected presence in his program, service, facility, school, child care center, or summer camp of persons who have common symptoms suggesting an outbreak situation. Such persons may report additional information, including individual cases of identifying and contact information for individuals with communicable diseases of public health concern or individuals who are involved in outbreaks that occur in their facilities, as necessary to facilitate public health investigation and disease control. Any person so reporting shall be immune from liability as provided by § 32.1-38 of the Code of Virginia.

E. Local health directors. The local health director shall forward any report of a disease or report of evidence of a disease which has been made on a resident of his jurisdiction to the Office of Epidemiology within three days of receipt. This report shall be submitted immediately by the most rapid means available if the disease is one requiring rapid communication, as required in 12VAC5-90-80 C. All such rapid reporting shall be confirmed in writing and submitted to the Office of Epidemiology, by either a paper report or entry into a shared secure electronic disease surveillance system, within three days. Furthermore, the local health director shall immediately forward to the appropriate local health director any disease reports on individuals residing in the latter's jurisdiction or to the Office of Epidemiology on individuals residing outside Virginia. The Office of Epidemiology shall be responsible for notifying other state health departments of reported illnesses in their residents and of notifying CDC as necessary and appropriate.

F. Persons in charge of hospitals, nursing facilities or nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and correctional facilities. In accordance with § 32.1-37.1 of the Code of Virginia, any person in charge of a hospital, nursing facility or nursing home, assisted living facility, or correctional facility shall, at the time of transferring custody of any dead body to any person practicing funeral services, notify the person practicing funeral services or his agent if the dead person was known to have had, immediately prior to death, an infectious disease which may be transmitted through exposure to any bodily fluids. These include any of the following infectious diseases:

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Human immunodeficiency virus infection

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

Monkeypox

Rabies

Smallpox

Syphilis, infectious

Tuberculosis, active disease

Vaccinia, disease or adverse event

Viral hemorrhagic fever

G. Employees, applicants, and persons in charge of food establishments. 12VAC5-421-80 of the Food Regulations requires a food employee or applicant conditional employee to notify the person in charge of the food establishment when diagnosed with certain diseases that are transmissible through food. 12VAC5-421-120 and requires the person in charge of the food establishment to notify the health department regulatory authority. Refer to the appropriate sections 12VAC5-421-80 of the Virginia Administrative Code for further guidance and clarification regarding these reporting requirements.

Part IV
Control of Disease

12VAC5-90-100. Methods.

The board and commissioner shall use appropriate disease control measures to manage the diseases listed in 12VAC5-90-80 A, including but not limited to those described in the "Methods of Control" sections of the 18th 20th Edition of the Control of Communicable Diseases Manual (2004) (2015) published by the American Public Health Association. The board and commissioner reserve the right to use any legal means to control any disease which is a threat to the public health.

When notified about a disease specified in 12VAC5-90-80, the local health director or his designee shall have the authority and responsibility to perform contact tracing/contact services for HIV infection, infectious syphilis, and active tuberculosis disease and may perform contact services for the other diseases if deemed necessary to protect the public health. All contacts of HIV infection shall be afforded the opportunity for appropriate counseling, testing, and individual face-to-face disclosure of their test results. In no case shall names of informants or infected individuals be revealed to contacts by the health department. All information obtained shall be kept strictly confidential.

The local health director or his designee shall review reports of diseases received from his jurisdiction and follow up such reports, when indicated, with an appropriate investigation in order to evaluate the severity of the problem. The local health director or his designee may recommend to any individual or group of individuals appropriate public health control measures, including but not limited to quarantine, isolation, immunization, decontamination, or treatment. He shall determine in consultation with the Office of Epidemiology and the commissioner if further investigation is required and if one or more forms of quarantine and/or, isolation, or both will be necessary.

Complete isolation shall apply to situations where an individual is infected with a communicable disease of public health significance (including but not limited to active tuberculosis disease or HIV infection) and is engaging in behavior that places others at risk for infection with the communicable disease of public health significance, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3.01 (§ 32.1-48.02 32.1-48.01 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Modified isolation shall apply to situations in which the local health director determines that modifications of activity are necessary to prevent disease transmission. Such situations shall include but are not limited to the temporary exclusion of a child with a communicable disease from school, the temporary exclusion of an individual with a communicable disease from food handling or patient care, the temporary prohibition or restriction of an individual with a communicable disease from using public transportation, the requirement that a person with a communicable disease use certain personal protective equipment, or restrictions of other activities that may pose a risk to the health of others.

Protective isolation shall apply to situations such as the exclusion, under § 32.1-47 of the Code of Virginia, of any unimmunized child from a school in which an outbreak, potential epidemic, or epidemic of a vaccine preventable disease has been identified.

To the extent permitted by the Code of Virginia, the local health director may be authorized as the commissioner's designee to implement the forms of isolation described in this section. When these forms of isolation are deemed to be insufficient, the local health director may use the provisions of Article 3.01 (§ 32.1-48.01 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia for the control of communicable diseases of public health significance or, in consultation with the Office of Epidemiology, shall provide sufficient information to enable the commissioner to prepare an order or orders of isolation and/or, quarantine, or both under Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia for the control of communicable diseases of public health threat.

Part V
Immunization of Persons Less Than 18 Years of Age

12VAC5-90-110. Dosage and age requirements for immunizations; obtaining immunizations.

A. Every person in Virginia less than 18 years of age shall be immunized in accordance with the most recent Immunization Schedule developed and published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CDC, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Requirements for school and day care attendance are addressed in 12VAC5-110.

B. The required immunizations may be obtained from a physician licensed to practice medicine or from the local health department, registered nurse, or other licensed professional authorized by the Code of Virginia to administer immunizations at locations to include private settings or local health departments.

Part XII
Reporting of Dangerous Microbes and Pathogens

12VAC5-90-280. Definitions. Reporting of dangerous microbes and pathogens.

A. Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this part shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Biologic agent" means any microorganism (including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae, or protozoa), or infectious substance, or any naturally occurring, bioengineered, or synthesized component of any such microorganism or infectious substance, capable of causing death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or other living organism; deterioration of food, water, equipment, supplies, or material of any kind; or deleterious alteration of the environment.

"CDC" means the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"Diagnosis" means the analysis of specimens for the purpose of identifying or confirming the presence or characteristics of a select agent or toxin, provided that such analysis is directly related to protecting the public health or safety.

"Proficiency testing" means a sponsored, time-limited analytical trial whereby one or more analytes, previously confirmed by the sponsor, are submitted to the testing laboratory for analysis and where final results are graded, scores are recorded and provided to participants, and scores for participants are evaluated.

"Responsible official" means any person in charge of directing or supervising a laboratory conducting business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At colleges and universities, the responsible official shall be the president of the college or university or his designee. At private, state, or federal organizations, the responsible official shall be the laboratory director or a chief officer of the organization or his designee.

"Select agent or toxin" or "select agent and toxin" means all those biological agents or toxins as defined by federal regulations in 42 CFR Part 73, including: 1. Health and Human Services (HHS) select agents and toxins, as outlined in 42 CFR 73.4 and overlap select agents and toxins.

2. HHS overlap select agents and toxins, as outlined in 42 CFR 73.5.

"Toxin" means the toxic material or product of plants, animals, microorganisms (including but not limited to bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiae, or protozoa); or infectious substances; or a recombinant or synthesized molecule, whatever the origin and method of production; and includes any poisonous substance or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology or produced by a living organism; or any poisonous isomer or biological product, homolog, or derivative of such a substance.

"Verification" means the process required to assure the accuracy, precision, and the analytical sensitivity and specificity of any procedure used for diagnosis.

B. Administration. The dangerous microbes and pathogens will be known as "select agents and toxins." The select agent and toxin registry will be maintained by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Division of Surveillance and Investigation.

C. Reportable agents. The board declares the select agents and toxins and overlap select agents and toxins outlined in 42 CFR Part 73 to be reportable and adopts it herein by reference including subsequent amendments and editions. The select agents and toxins are to be reportable by the persons enumerated in subsection F of this section.

D. Items to report. Each report shall be made on a form determined by the department and shall contain the following: name, source and characterization information on select agents and toxins and quantities held; objectives of the work with the agent; location (including building and room) where each select agent or toxin is stored or used; identification information of persons with access to each agent; identification information of the person in charge of each of the agents; and the name, position and identification information of one responsible official as a single point of contact for the organization. The report shall also indicate whether the laboratory is registered with the CDC Select Agent Program and may contain additional information as required by 42 CFR Part 73 or the department.

E. Timing of reports. Reports shall be made to the department within seven calendar days of submission of an application to the CDC Select Agent Program. By January 31 of every year, laboratories shall provide a written update to the department, which shall include a copy of the federal registration certificate received through the CDC Select Agent Program.

In the event that a select agent or toxin that has previously been reported to the department is destroyed, a copy of federal forms addressing the destruction of the select agent or toxin must be submitted to the department within seven calendar days of submission to the CDC Select Agent Program.

In the event that a select agent or toxin, or a specimen or isolate from a specimen containing a select agent or toxin, has previously been reported to the department and is subsequently transferred to a facility eligible for receiving the items, a copy of federal forms addressing the transfer of the select agent or toxin must be submitted to the department within seven calendar days of submission to the CDC Select Agent Program.

In the event of a suspected release, loss, or theft of any select agent or toxin, the responsible official at a laboratory shall make a report to the department immediately by the most rapid means available, preferably by telephone. The rapid report shall be followed up by a written report within seven calendar days and shall include the following information:

1. The name of the biologic agent and any identifying information (e.g., strain or other characterization information);

2. An estimate of the quantity released, lost, or stolen;

3. An estimate of the time during which the release, loss, or theft occurred; and

4. The location (building, room) from or in which the release, loss, or theft occurred. The report may contain additional information as required by 42 CFR Part 73 or the department.

The department must be notified in writing of any change to information previously submitted to the department. If a new application or an amendment to an existing application is filed with the CDC Select Agent Program, a copy of the application or amendment must be submitted to the department within seven calendar days of submission to the CDC Select Agent Program.

F. Those required to report. The responsible official in charge of a laboratory conducting business in the Commonwealth shall be responsible for annual reporting of select agents and toxins to the Virginia Department of Health and for the reporting of any changes within the time periods as specified within these regulations. Such reports shall be made on forms to be determined by the department. Any person making such reports as authorized herein shall be immune from liability as provided by § 32.1-38 of the Code of Virginia.

G. Exemption from reporting. A person who detects a select agent or toxin for the purpose of diagnosing a disease, verification, or proficiency testing and either transfers the specimens or isolates containing the select agent or toxin to a facility eligible for receiving them or destroys them on site is not required to make a report except as required by 12VAC5-90-80 and 12VAC5-90-90. Proper destruction of the agent must take place through autoclaving, incineration, or by a sterilization or neutralization process sufficient to cause inactivation. The transfer or destruction must occur within seven calendar days after identification of a select agent or toxin used for diagnosis or testing and within 90 calendar days after receipt for proficiency testing.

Any additional exemptions from reporting under 42 CFR Part 73, including subsequent amendments and editions, are also exempt from reporting under this regulation; however, the department must be notified of the exemption by submitting a copy of federal forms addressing the exemption within seven calendar days of submission to the CDC Select Agent Program.

H. Release of reported information. Reports submitted to the select agent and toxin registry shall be confidential and shall not be a public record pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, regardless of submitter. Release of information on select agents or toxins shall be made only by order of the State Health Commissioner to the CDC and state and federal law-enforcement agencies in any investigation involving the release, theft, or loss of a select agent or toxin required to be reported to the department under this regulation.

12VAC5-90-290. Authority. (Repealed.)

Chapter 2 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia authorizes the reporting of dangerous microbes and pathogens to the department. Specifically, § 32.1-35 directs the board to promulgate regulations specifying which dangerous microbes and pathogens are to be reportable and the method and timeframe by which they are to be reported by laboratories.

12VAC5-90-300. Administration. (Repealed.)

The dangerous microbes and pathogens will be known as "select agents and toxins." The select agent and toxin registry will be maintained by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Division of Surveillance and Investigation.

12VAC5-90-310. Reportable agents. (Repealed.)

The board declares the select agents and toxins outlined in 42 CFR 73.4 and 42 CFR 73.5 to be reportable, and adopts it herein by reference including subsequent amendments and editions. The select agents and toxins are to be reportable by the persons enumerated in 12VAC5-90-340.

12VAC5-90-320. Items to report. (Repealed.)

Each report shall be made on a form determined by the department and shall contain the following: name, source and characterization information on select agents and toxins and quantities held; objectives of the work with the agent; location (including building and room) where each select agent or toxin is stored or used; identification information of persons with access to each agent; identification information of the person in charge of each of the agents; and the name, position and identification information of one responsible official as a single point of contact for the organization. The report shall also indicate whether the laboratory is registered with the CDC Select Agent Program and may contain additional information as required by 42 CFR Part 73 or the department.

12VAC5-90-330. Timing of reports. (Repealed.)

Initial reports shall be made by October 26, 2004. Thereafter, reports shall be made to the department within seven calendar days of submission of an application to the CDC Select Agent Program. By January 31 of every year, laboratories shall provide a written update to the department, which shall include a copy of the federal registration certificate received through the CDC Select Agent Program.

In the event that a select agent or toxin that has previously been reported to the department is destroyed, a copy of federal forms addressing the destruction of the select agent or toxin must be submitted to the department within seven calendar days of submission to the CDC Select Agent Program.

In the event that a select agent or toxin, or a specimen or isolate from a specimen containing a select agent or toxin, has previously been reported to the department and is subsequently transferred to a facility eligible for receiving the items, a copy of federal forms addressing the transfer of the select agent or toxin must be submitted to the department within seven calendar days of submission to the CDC Select Agent Program.

In the event of a suspected release, loss or theft of any select agent or toxin, the responsible official at a laboratory shall make a report to the department within 24 hours by the most rapid means available, preferably that of telecommunication (e.g., telephone, telephone transmitted facsimile, pagers, etc.) The rapid report shall be followed up by a written report within seven calendar days and shall include the following information:

1. The name of the biologic agent and any identifying information (e.g., strain or other characterization information);

2. An estimate of the quantity released, lost or stolen;

3. An estimate of the time during which the release, loss or theft occurred; and

4. The location (building, room) from or in which the release, loss or theft occurred. The report may contain additional information as required by 42 CFR Part 73 or the department.

The department must be notified in writing of any changes to information previously submitted to the department. If a new application or an amendment to an existing application is filed with the CDC Select Agent Program, a copy of the application or amendment must be submitted to the department within seven calendar days of submission to the CDC Select Agent Program.

12VAC5-90-340. Those required to report. (Repealed.)

The responsible official in charge of a laboratory conducting business in the Commonwealth shall be responsible for annual reporting of select agents and toxins to the Virginia Department of Health and for the reporting of any changes within the time periods as specified within these regulations. Such reports shall be made on forms to be determined by the department. Any person making such reports as authorized herein shall be immune from liability as provided by § 32.1-38 of the Code of Virginia.

12VAC5-90-350. Exemption from reporting. (Repealed.)

A person who detects a select agent or toxin for the purpose of diagnosing a disease, verification, or proficiency testing and either transfers the specimens or isolates containing the select agent or toxin to a facility eligible for receiving them or destroys them onsite is not required to make a report. Proper destruction of the agent must take place through autoclaving, incineration, or by a sterilization or neutralization process sufficient to cause inactivation. The transfer or destruction must occur within seven calendar days after identification of a select agent or toxin used for diagnosis or testing and within 90 calendar days after receipt for proficiency testing.

Any additional exemptions from reporting under 42 CFR 73.6, including subsequent amendments and editions, are also exempt from reporting under this regulation; however, the department must be notified of the exemption by submitting a copy of federal forms addressing the exemption within seven calendar days of submission to the CDC Select Agent Program.

12VAC5-90-360. Release of reported information. (Repealed.)

Reports submitted to the select agent and toxin registry shall be confidential and shall not be a public record pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Relea\se of information on select agents or toxins shall be made only by order of the State Health Commissioner to the CDC and state and federal law-enforcement agencies in any investigation involving the release, theft, or loss of a select agent or toxin required to be reported to the department under this regulation.

FORMS (12VAC5-90)

Virginia Department of Health Confidential Morbidity Report, Epi-1 (rev. 3/07)

Confidential Morbidity Report, Epi-1 (rev. 10/11)

Virginia Cancer Registry Reporting Form (rev. 1/98)

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (12VAC5-90)

Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 18th Edition, American Public Health Association, 2004.

Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 20th Edition, American Public Health Association, 2015