Division of Surveillance and Investigation (DSI)

Mission: The Division of Surveillance and Investigation serves the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia by monitoring for the occurrence of reportable and emerging diseases or suspected outbreaks of illness (natural or otherwise), providing recommendations and guidance to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, and investigating outbreaks of disease and other public health emergencies.   

The Division of Surveillance and Investigation has responsibility for a wide range of conditions, including*:

• Respiratory infections [e.g., influenza (both seasonal and pandemic), legionellosis, etc.]
• Gastrointestinal illnesses (e.g., norovirus, salmonellosis/typhoid fever, shigellosis, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, campylobacteriosis, botulism, hepatitis A, listeriosis, giardiasis, cholera, etc.)
• Agents that may be used for bioterrorism (e.g., anthrax, tularemia, smallpox, viral hemorrhagic fevers, Q fever, etc.)
• Other conditions of public health importance (e.g., emerging infectious diseases, invasive bacterial infections, drug-resistant infections, outbreaks)
• Infections and other health conditions potentially associated with healthcare facilities

*Note: Sexually transmitted infections (e.g., syphilis, HIV/AIDS), tuberculosis, environmental illnesses (e.g., mold, lead), vaccine-preventable illnesses (e.g., chickenpox, mumps), and zoonotic diseases (e.g., rabies, West Nile virus infection) are generally the responsibility of other divisions within the Office of Epidemiology. However, joint responsibility may exist under some circumstances.

Please take a moment to look around our site to find out who we are, what we do, and how the information we provide can assist you. 

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Programs in the Division of Surveillance and Investigation

Communicable Disease Surveillance

• Provide guidance on surveillance laws, regulations, and methods to local health departments and healthcare providers
• Investigate potential clusters identified through laboratory-based surveillance
• Support state-wide disease reporting systems, including the implementation of the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System

Syndromic Surveillance

• Develop and implement novel methods for rapidly identifying unusual patterns of illness in the community

Outbreak Management

• Coordinate and augment local health department responses for outbreak investigation management

Communication

• Coordinate and contribute to the development of materials to inform healthcare professionals and the public on health issues of importance in Virginia, including:
• The Virginia Epidemiology Bulletin (VEB)
• Annual Summary of Communicable Disease Statistics for Virginia
• Regular and ad-hoc statistical reports
• Fact sheets and other guidance for conditions within areas of responsibility
• Work with federal agencies (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) on multi-state outbreak investigations and other collaborative projects
• Respond to public inquiries and provide consultation with local health departments on the detection, prevention, and control of communicable diseases of public health interest

Emergency Planning and Response

• Work with VDH programs to develop educational materials to help businesses and the public prepare for and respond to communicable disease emergencies
• Support state and local planning to prepare for and respond to communicable disease emergencies, such as pandemic influenza, bioterrorism events, and other widespread outbreaks

Infection Control

• Assist local health departments in providing consultation to medical facilities, schools, and businesses to identify the sources of outbreaks and control the spread of disease
• Support public, private, and governmental initiatives to reduce antimicrobial resistance, including:
• Participating in the Get Smart VA program
• Promoting guidelines for appropriate antimicrobial use
• Developing and promoting guidance for infection control

Training

• Develop and deliver training to ensure a skilled and knowledgeable public health work-force in Virginia
• Collaborate with local and state agencies to train staff on emerging public health issues, including:
• Infection control
• Surge capacity and other emergency response actions

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Mailing Address:
Division of Surveillance and Investigation | Virginia Department of Health | P.O. Box 2448 | Richmond, VA 23218

Physical Address:
C. Diane Woolard, PhD, MPH - Director | Division of Surveillance and Investigation | 109 Governor St. - 5th Floor East | Richmond, VA 23219

Phone: (804) 864 - 8141 | Fax: (804) 864-8139

Contact Us by Email

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