Disease Reporting and Control Regulations

  • What diseases must be reported to the health department
  • Who is required to report
  • How the report should be submitted

Certain diseases and conditions are reported to local health departments so that steps can be taken to prevent others from becoming ill. These steps might include messaging to raise public awareness, pulling a contaminated item from stores, or offering preventive treatments to people who have been exposed. All of these interventions help us protect the public’s health.

Cases of disease have been reported to the Virginia Department of Health since the early part of the 20th century. Since 1919, the Code of Virginia has required the State Board of Health to determine a list of diseases that shall be required to be reported. Additional information about disease reporting in Virginia is below.

Have more questions?
If you have questions not addressed below, please contact your local health department.

Virginia Reportable Disease List

Reporting of the following diseases is required by state law (Sections 32.1-36 and 32.1-37 of the Code of Virginia and 12 VAC 5-90-80 of the Board of Health Regulations for Disease Reporting and Control). Report all conditions when suspected or confirmed to your local health department (LHD). Reports may be submitted by Confidential Morbidity Report Portal (Epi-1 form), computer-generated printout, CDC or VDH surveillance form, or upon agreement with VDH, by means of secure electronic submission.

Download Reportable Disease Poster

Physician and Director of Medical Facility Reporting

Reporting Requirements

Reporting Options

Laboratory Reporting

Reporting Requirements

Reporting Options

  • Telephone to LHD (only for rapidly reportable conditions)
  • Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR)
  • A laboratory’s own form if it includes the required information
  • Computer-generated reports containing the required information

Outbreak Reporting

Reporting Requirements

  • Certain facilities or programs, such as residential or day programs, services or facilities licensed or operated by any agency of the Commonwealth, schools, child-care centers, and summer camps are required to report the presence or suspected presence of an outbreak to the local health department per 12VAC5-90-90D . Other entities/businesses may voluntarily report outbreaks.
  • For additional information, visit VDH webpage about outbreak reporting requirements.

Reporting Options

Out-of-State Disease Reporting

Reporting Requirements

  • Virginia requests that out-of-state disease reporters (e.g., laboratories, physicians, state health departments) notify VDH when Virginia residents are diagnosed with or suspected of having a reportable condition. 

Reporting Options

Unusual Occurrence of Disease of Public Health Concern

Immediately report unusual or emerging conditions of public health concern.
Unusual or emerging conditions of public health concern shall be reported to the local health department immediately by the most rapid means available, preferably by telephone.

In addition, the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s 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 and count cases,  identify the mode(s) of transmission and risk factors for the disease, and implement appropriate actions to protect public health.

Conditions that have been identified and are requested

Condition-Specific Reporting

Reporting Options

Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance or Public Health Threat

Communicable diseases deemed to be conditions of public health significance or public health threat have special considerations within the Code of Virginia pertaining to public health actions to prevent further disease spread.

Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance

  • Human immunodeficiency viruses
  • Blood-borne pathogens
  • Tubercle bacillus

Communicable Diseases of Public Health Threat

  • Marburg Virus Disease
  • 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Active Variances (exceptions to regulatory requirements)

Last Updated: October 17, 2024