Welcome to the Hampton and Peninsula Health Districts’ Epidemiology Resources Page. This resource hub is designed to support healthcare professionals, educators, and the public in accessing essential information related to reportable diseases, infection prevention, and outbreak response.
Here, you’ll find quick access to:
- The Virginia Reportable Disease Listand Communicable Disease Reference Chart.
- Direct links to VDH and CDC fact sheetsfor common communicable diseases such as Salmonella, Norovirus, Influenza, COVID-19, and more.
- Tools like the My Meal Detective portalfor reporting foodborne illnesses.
- Clinician lettersand return-to-work guidance for healthcare providers.
This self-service page is intended to streamline access to up-to-date public health information, promote timely disease reporting, and support effective response efforts across Virginia communities.
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).
Link: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/134/2023/03/VIRGINIA-REPORTABLE-DISEASE-LIST.pdf
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/
VDH Healthcare Worker Guidance: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/3/HCP-Return-to-Work-and-Management-Recommendations-for-COVID-19-and-Influenza.pdf
Preventing Respiratory Illness in k-12 Programs: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/get-the-latest-guidance/k-12-education-and-child-care/
VDH's "Little Things" Campaign: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/toolkits/littlethings/
Hand Hygiene Resources:
- Hand Hygiene Brochure
- CDC Clean Hands Campaign
- CDC Wash Your Hands Poster
- CDC Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign
- VDH Handwashing Toolkit
- VDH Hand Hygiene Information
Respiratory Resources:
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.
Link: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/foodborne-illness-report/
Interested in the latest disease trends in Virginia? VDH offers multiple resources to explore the latest data.
Weekly GI Illness Report: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-in-virginia/foodborne-diseases-and-outbreaks/foodborne-disease-data/gi-report/
Weekly Respiratory Report: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/respiratory-diseases-in-virginia/data/#Weekly-Respiratory-Disease-Report
CDC Wastewater Surveillance: https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/about.html
FDA Recall Site: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts
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.
Link: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/
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.
Link: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/clinicians/clinician-letters/
VDH Fact Sheet: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/influenza/
CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season.html
VDH Healthcare Worker Guidance: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/3/HCP-Return-to-Work-and-Management-Recommendations-for-COVID-19-and-Influenza.pdf
CDC Infection Control: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/hcp/infection-control/index.html
VDH Fact Sheet: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/norovirus-infection/
CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/index.html
Infection Prevention: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/174/2023/09/Quick-Guide_Norovirus_FINAL.pdf
Disinfection from Norovirus: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/206/VDH_NorovirusIncident_8.5x11_Eng_Clr_Concentrated.pdf
Norovirus Key Facts: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/206/NTK_SchoolsChildcare_Centers_KeyFacts.pdf
VDH Norovirus Quick Guide: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/206/VDHNoroGuide.pdf
Salmonella VDH Fact Sheet: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/salmonellosis/
Salmonella CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/index.html
VDH Fact Sheet: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/vibriosis-non-cholera/
CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/about/index.html
Raw Shellfish Risk: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/epidemiology/epidemiology-fact-sheets/risks-of-eating-raw-oysters-and-clams/
Contact Our Epidemiologists
Hampton Health District (Hampton)
Leigh Jacques
Epidemiologist Sr.
Email: leigh.jacques@vdh.virginia.gov
Peninsula Health District (Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, James City County, and York County)
Jacqueline Williams
Epidemiologist Sr.
Email: jacqueline.williams@vdh.virginia.gov