A. The Board shall provide for the surveillance of and investigation into allpreventable diseases and epidemics in this Commonwealth and into the meansfor the prevention of such diseases and epidemics. Surveillance andinvestigation may include contact tracing in accordance with the regulationsof the Board. When any outbreak or unusual occurrence of a preventabledisease shall be identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter, the Commissioner or his designee shallinvestigate the disease in cooperation with the local health director ordirectors in the area of the disease. If in the judgment of the Commissionerthe resources of the locality are insufficient to provide for adequateinvestigation, he may assume direct responsibility and exclusive control ofthe investigation, applying such resources as he may have at his disposal.The Board may issue emergency regulations and orders to accomplish theinvestigation.
B. When an investigation of any outbreak or occurrence of a diseaseidentified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.)of this chapter indicates the reasonable possibility that the outbreak oroccurrence was the result of exposure to an agent or substance used as aweapon, the Commissioner or his designee shall immediately report suchfinding to the Department of State Police for investigation. Reports,records, materials or other data reported to the Department of State Policepursuant to this section shall remain confidential and shall not be subjectto the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 etseq.). The Department of State Police, and any local law enforcementofficial, may release all or part of any report made or other informationobtained pursuant to this section (i) where the release of such report orinformation may assist in the prevention of imminent harm to public health orsafety, or (ii) where the release of such report or information, with patientidentifying information removed, may be useful for education of the public onhealth, safety or homeland defense issues. Reports required by this sectionshall be maintained in the central repository established by the Departmentof State Police pursuant to the provisions of § 52-8.5. The Department ofState Police shall immediately transmit the report to the local chief ofpolice or sheriff with law-enforcement responsibilities both where thepatient resides and where he sought the medical treatment that resulted inthe report. In addition, the Department of State Police may transmit thereport to federal and military law-enforcement authorities. The Department ofState Police and local law-enforcement authorities shall immediatelydetermine and implement the appropriate law-enforcement response to suchreports, in accordance with their jurisdiction.
(Code 1950, §§ 32-10, 32-42; 1979, c. 711; 1989, c. 613; 2002, c. 768.)
A. The Board shall provide for the surveillance of and investigation into allpreventable diseases and epidemics in this Commonwealth and into the meansfor the prevention of such diseases and epidemics. Surveillance andinvestigation may include contact tracing in accordance with the regulationsof the Board. When any outbreak or unusual occurrence of a preventabledisease shall be identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter, the Commissioner or his designee shallinvestigate the disease in cooperation with the local health director ordirectors in the area of the disease. If in the judgment of the Commissionerthe resources of the locality are insufficient to provide for adequateinvestigation, he may assume direct responsibility and exclusive control ofthe investigation, applying such resources as he may have at his disposal.The Board may issue emergency regulations and orders to accomplish theinvestigation.
B. When an investigation of any outbreak or occurrence of a diseaseidentified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.)of this chapter indicates the reasonable possibility that the outbreak oroccurrence was the result of exposure to an agent or substance used as aweapon, the Commissioner or his designee shall immediately report suchfinding to the Department of State Police for investigation. Reports,records, materials or other data reported to the Department of State Policepursuant to this section shall remain confidential and shall not be subjectto the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 etseq.). The Department of State Police, and any local law enforcementofficial, may release all or part of any report made or other informationobtained pursuant to this section (i) where the release of such report orinformation may assist in the prevention of imminent harm to public health orsafety, or (ii) where the release of such report or information, with patientidentifying information removed, may be useful for education of the public onhealth, safety or homeland defense issues. Reports required by this sectionshall be maintained in the central repository established by the Departmentof State Police pursuant to the provisions of § 52-8.5. The Department ofState Police shall immediately transmit the report to the local chief ofpolice or sheriff with law-enforcement responsibilities both where thepatient resides and where he sought the medical treatment that resulted inthe report. In addition, the Department of State Police may transmit thereport to federal and military law-enforcement authorities. The Department ofState Police and local law-enforcement authorities shall immediatelydetermine and implement the appropriate law-enforcement response to suchreports, in accordance with their jurisdiction.
(Code 1950, §§ 32-10, 32-42; 1979, c. 711; 1989, c. 613; 2002, c. 768.)
A. The Board shall provide for the surveillance of and investigation into allpreventable diseases and epidemics in this Commonwealth and into the meansfor the prevention of such diseases and epidemics. Surveillance andinvestigation may include contact tracing in accordance with the regulationsof the Board. When any outbreak or unusual occurrence of a preventabledisease shall be identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter, the Commissioner or his designee shallinvestigate the disease in cooperation with the local health director ordirectors in the area of the disease. If in the judgment of the Commissionerthe resources of the locality are insufficient to provide for adequateinvestigation, he may assume direct responsibility and exclusive control ofthe investigation, applying such resources as he may have at his disposal.The Board may issue emergency regulations and orders to accomplish theinvestigation.
B. When an investigation of any outbreak or occurrence of a diseaseidentified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.)of this chapter indicates the reasonable possibility that the outbreak oroccurrence was the result of exposure to an agent or substance used as aweapon, the Commissioner or his designee shall immediately report suchfinding to the Department of State Police for investigation. Reports,records, materials or other data reported to the Department of State Policepursuant to this section shall remain confidential and shall not be subjectto the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 etseq.). The Department of State Police, and any local law enforcementofficial, may release all or part of any report made or other informationobtained pursuant to this section (i) where the release of such report orinformation may assist in the prevention of imminent harm to public health orsafety, or (ii) where the release of such report or information, with patientidentifying information removed, may be useful for education of the public onhealth, safety or homeland defense issues. Reports required by this sectionshall be maintained in the central repository established by the Departmentof State Police pursuant to the provisions of § 52-8.5. The Department ofState Police shall immediately transmit the report to the local chief ofpolice or sheriff with law-enforcement responsibilities both where thepatient resides and where he sought the medical treatment that resulted inthe report. In addition, the Department of State Police may transmit thereport to federal and military law-enforcement authorities. The Department ofState Police and local law-enforcement authorities shall immediatelydetermine and implement the appropriate law-enforcement response to suchreports, in accordance with their jurisdiction.
(Code 1950, §§ 32-10, 32-42; 1979, c. 711; 1989, c. 613; 2002, c. 768.)
