Epidemiology Resources

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. The Virginia Reportable Disease List covers that diseases are required by state law to be reported (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). 

Are you a health care practitioner, representative of a health care facility, representative of a medical laboratory, or an agency with a contractual agreement with VDH and need to report? The preferred method for reporting is the Confidential Morbidity Report Portal (Epi-1).

Section 32.1-37 of the Code of Virginia requires certain facilities and programs to report the presence or suspected presence of an outbreak to the local health department (LHD). Additional information about those required to report can be found in the Administrative Code under 12VAC5-90-90. 

Those who are required to report certain diseases in Virginia are listed in 12-VAC5-90-90. This includes, but is not limited to, the person in charge of: 

• Any residential or day program, service, or facility licensed or operated by any agency of the Commonwealth; 

• A school, childcare center, or summer camp as defined in § 35.1-1 of the Code of Virginia; or 

• Assisted living facilities, correctional or other detention facilities, mental health programs, and other group settings where outbreaks of illness might occur. 

Anyone required to report in accordance with 12-VAC5-90-90 is also required to report suspected outbreaks to the LHD. 

Outbreak Reporting Portal: https://redcap.vdh.virginia.gov/redcap/surveys/?s=M3YRJPNRHP 

Outbreak Reporting Requirements for Facilities and Programs: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/outbreak-reporting/ 

• It’s common to get sick from respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, especially in the fall and winter. Learn more about these viruses, how to prevent getting very sick, and how these viruses are spreading in your community today at Respiratory Diseases in Virginia. 

  Helpful resources: 

  • VDH Healthcare Worker Guidance outlines VDH’s recommendations for work exclusion for healthcare personnel. 
  • Preventing Respiratory Illness in K-12 Programs contains information on common respiratory viruses and resources for school and childcare officials, parents and guardians, and the entire school and childcare community, 
  • VDH’s “Little Things” Campaign to help bring small but powerful health habits to life. 
  • VDH Respiratory Communication Toolkit includes flyers and social media graphics for all things respiratory. 
  • CDC Respiratory Illness Toolkit utilize to prepare and protect your community from respiratory illnesses. 

The VDH HAI/AR Program’s Resource Hub is a streamlined webpage to help you find the information you need related to infection control and prevention. 

My Meal Detective is an online reporting system that allows you to file a foodborne illness report when events surrounding your illness are fresh on your mind. When you think something you ate made you sick (and possibly others), fill out all of the questions completely to capture as much information as possible to send to your local health department. The health department will examine your report, investigate if needed, and capture real-time information about what is going on in your community. 

VDH provides fact sheets for numerous diseases, covering everything from common infections to less common infections. These are great resources for quick, reliable disease information. 

VDH Clinician Letters are official communication from VDH to healthcare professionals in the state. The letters provide timely updates, recommendations, and guidance on public health issues, disease outbreaks, regulatory changes, and clinical practices. 

The HPHD Epidemiology Team produces a quarterly (and as needed) newsletter for external partners. Check out the previous editions below! 

HPHD Epi Exchange Newsletter August 2026 Volume 1 Issue 1 

HPHD Epi Exchange Newsletter Back-to-School Special Edition Volume 1 Issue 2