{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-39.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-39.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-39.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-39.html"}],"law_id":61766,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61766,"structure_id":15913,"section_number":"32.1-39","catch_line":"Surveillance and investigation","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 32-10, 32-42; 1979, c. 711; 1989, c. 613; 2002, c. 768.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Board shall provide for the surveillance of and investigation into all preventable diseases and epidemics in this Commonwealth and into the means for the prevention of such diseases and epidemics. Surveillance and investigation may include contact tracing in accordance with the regulations of the Board. When any outbreak or unusual occurrence of a preventable disease shall be identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter, the Commissioner or his designee shall investigate the disease in cooperation with the local health director or directors in the area of the disease. If in the judgment of the Commissioner the resources of the locality are insufficient to provide for adequate investigation, he may assume direct responsibility and exclusive control of the investigation, applying such resources as he may have at his disposal. The Board may issue emergency regulations and orders to accomplish the investigation.B\n\nWhen an investigation of any outbreak or occurrence of a disease identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter indicates the reasonable possibility that the outbreak or occurrence was the result of exposure to an agent or substance used as a weapon, the Commissioner or his designee shall immediately report such finding to the Department of State Police for investigation. Reports, records, materials or other data reported to the Department of State Police pursuant to this section shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). The Department of State Police, and any local law enforcement official, may release all or part of any report made or other information obtained pursuant to this section (i) where the release of such report or information may assist in the prevention of imminent harm to public health or safety, or (ii) where the release of such report or information, with patient identifying information removed, may be useful for education of the public on health, safety or homeland defense issues. Reports required by this section shall be maintained in the central repository established by the Department of State Police pursuant to the provisions of § 52-8.5. The Department of State Police shall immediately transmit the report to the local chief of police or sheriff with law-enforcement responsibilities both where the patient resides and where he sought the medical treatment that resulted in the report. In addition, the Department of State Police may transmit the report to federal and military law-enforcement authorities. The Department of State Police and local law-enforcement authorities shall immediately determine and implement the appropriate law-enforcement response to such reports, in accordance with their jurisdiction.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":225561,"text":"The Board shall provide for the surveillance of and investigation into all preventable diseases and epidemics in this Commonwealth and into the means for the prevention of such diseases and epidemics. Surveillance and investigation may include contact tracing in accordance with the regulations of the Board. When any outbreak or unusual occurrence of a preventable disease shall be identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter, the Commissioner or his designee shall investigate the disease in cooperation with the local health director or directors in the area of the disease. If in the judgment of the Commissioner the resources of the locality are insufficient to provide for adequate investigation, he may assume direct responsibility and exclusive control of the investigation, applying such resources as he may have at his disposal. The Board may issue emergency regulations and orders to accomplish the investigation.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":225562,"text":"When an investigation of any outbreak or occurrence of a disease identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of this chapter indicates the reasonable possibility that the outbreak or occurrence was the result of exposure to an agent or substance used as a weapon, the Commissioner or his designee shall immediately report such finding to the Department of State Police for investigation. Reports, records, materials or other data reported to the Department of State Police pursuant to this section shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). The Department of State Police, and any local law enforcement official, may release all or part of any report made or other information obtained pursuant to this section (i) where the release of such report or information may assist in the prevention of imminent harm to public health or safety, or (ii) where the release of such report or information, with patient identifying information removed, may be useful for education of the public on health, safety or homeland defense issues. Reports required by this section shall be maintained in the central repository established by the Department of State Police pursuant to the provisions of § 52-8.5. The Department of State Police shall immediately transmit the report to the local chief of police or sheriff with law-enforcement responsibilities both where the patient resides and where he sought the medical treatment that resulted in the report. In addition, the Department of State Police may transmit the report to federal and military law-enforcement authorities. The Department of State Police and local law-enforcement authorities shall immediately determine and implement the appropriate law-enforcement response to such reports, in accordance with their jurisdiction.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15913,"edition_id":1,"name":"Investigation of Diseases","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13607,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:01:48","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:01:48","permalink":{"id":201867,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15913,"identifier":"2","token":"32.1\/2\/2","url":"\/32.1\/2\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13607,"edition_id":1,"name":"Disease Prevention and Control","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:22","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:22","permalink":{"id":201743,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13607,"identifier":"2","token":"32.1\/2","url":"\/32.1\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":61766,"structure_id":15913,"section_number":"32.1-39","catch_line":"Surveillance and investigation","url":"\/32.1-39\/","token":"32.1\/2\/2\/32.1-39","metadata":false},{"id":86075,"structure_id":15913,"section_number":"32.1-40","catch_line":"Authority of Commissioner to examine medical records","url":"\/32.1-40\/","token":"32.1\/2\/2\/32.1-40","metadata":false},{"id":61734,"structure_id":15913,"section_number":"32.1-41","catch_line":"Anonymity of patients and practitioners to be preserved in use of medical records","url":"\/32.1-41\/","token":"32.1\/2\/2\/32.1-41","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":86075,"structure_id":15913,"section_number":"32.1-40","catch_line":"Authority of Commissioner to examine medical records","url":"\/32.1-40\/","token":"32.1\/2\/2\/32.1-40","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-39\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1979, chapter 711; in 1989, chapter 613; in 2002, chapter 768<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":86577,"section_number":"32.1-162.17","catch_line":"Exemptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-162.17\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":55569,"section_number":"2.2-3700","catch_line":"Short title; policy","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3700\/"},{"id":74231,"section_number":"32.1-35","catch_line":"List and reports of diseases and dangerous microbes and pathogens","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-35\/"},{"id":73991,"section_number":"52-8.5","catch_line":"Reporting hate crimes","order_by":null,"url":"\/52-8.5\/"}],"permalink":{"id":201869,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61766,"identifier":"32.1-39","token":"32.1\/2\/2\/32.1-39","url":"\/32.1-39\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-39\/","token":"32.1\/2\/2\/32.1-39","dublin_core":{"Title":"Surveillance and investigation","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-39","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Board<\/span> shall provide for the surveillance of and investigation into all preventable diseases and epidemics in this Commonwealth and into the means for the prevention of such diseases and epidemics. Surveillance and investigation may include contact tracing in accordance with the regulations of the Board<\/span>. When any outbreak or unusual occurrence of a preventable disease shall be identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35<\/a> et seq.) of this chapter, the Commissioner<\/span> or his designee shall investigate the disease in cooperation with the local health director or directors in the area of the disease. If in the judgment<\/span> of the Commissioner<\/span> the resources of the locality are insufficient to provide for adequate investigation, he may assume direct responsibility and exclusive control of the investigation, applying such resources as he may have at his disposal. The Board<\/span> may issue<\/span> emergency regulations and orders<\/span> to accomplish the investigation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> When an investigation of any outbreak or occurrence of a disease identified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35<\/a> et seq.) of this chapter indicates the reasonable possibility that the outbreak or occurrence was the result of exposure to an agent or substance used as a weapon, the Commissioner<\/span> or his designee shall immediately report such finding<\/span> to the Department<\/span> of State Police for investigation. Reports, records, materials<\/span> or other data reported to the Department<\/span> of State Police pursuant to this section shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700<\/a> et seq.). The Department<\/span> of State Police, and any local law<\/span> enforcement official, may release all or part of any report made or other information obtained pursuant to this section (i) where the release of such report or information may assist in the prevention of imminent harm to public health or safety, or (ii) where the release of such report or information, with patient identifying information removed, may be useful for education of the public on health, safety or homeland defense issues<\/span>. Reports required by this section shall be maintained in the central repository established by the Department<\/span> of State Police pursuant to the provisions of § 52-8.5<\/a>. The Department<\/span> of State Police shall immediately transmit the report to the local chief of police or sheriff with law<\/span>-enforcement responsibilities both where the patient resides and where he sought the medical treatment that resulted in the report. In addition, the Department<\/span> of State Police may transmit the report to federal and military law<\/span>-enforcement authorities. The Department<\/span> of State Police and local law<\/span>-enforcement authorities shall immediately determine and implement the appropriate law<\/span>-enforcement response to such reports, in accordance with their jurisdiction<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSURVEILLANCE AND INVESTIGATION (\u00a7 32.1-39)\n\nA. The Board shall provide for the surveillance of and investigation into all\npreventable diseases and epidemics in this Commonwealth and into the means for\nthe prevention of such diseases and epidemics. Surveillance and investigation\nmay include contact tracing in accordance with the regulations of the Board.\nWhen any outbreak or unusual occurrence of a preventable disease shall be\nidentified through reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et\nseq.) of this chapter, the Commissioner or his designee shall investigate the\ndisease in cooperation with the local health director or directors in the area\nof the disease. If in the judgment of the Commissioner the resources of the\nlocality are insufficient to provide for adequate investigation, he may assume\ndirect responsibility and exclusive control of the investigation, applying such\nresources as he may have at his disposal. The Board may issue emergency\nregulations and orders to accomplish the investigation.\n\nB. When an investigation of any outbreak or occurrence of a disease identified\nthrough reports required pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of this\nchapter indicates the reasonable possibility that the outbreak or occurrence was\nthe result of exposure to an agent or substance used as a weapon, the\nCommissioner or his designee shall immediately report such finding to the\nDepartment of State Police for investigation. Reports, records, materials or\nother data reported to the Department of State Police pursuant to this section\nshall remain confidential and shall not be subject to the provisions of the\nVirginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). The Department of\nState Police, and any local law enforcement official, may release all or part of\nany report made or other information obtained pursuant to this section (i) where\nthe release of such report or information may assist in the prevention of\nimminent harm to public health or safety, or (ii) where the release of such\nreport or information, with patient identifying information removed, may be\nuseful for education of the public on health, safety or homeland defense issues.\nReports required by this section shall be maintained in the central repository\nestablished by the Department of State Police pursuant to the provisions of\n§ 52-8.5. The Department of State Police shall immediately transmit the\nreport to the local chief of police or sheriff with law-enforcement\nresponsibilities both where the patient resides and where he sought the medical\ntreatment that resulted in the report. In addition, the Department of State\nPolice may transmit the report to federal and military law-enforcement\nauthorities. The Department of State Police and local law-enforcement\nauthorities shall immediately determine and implement the appropriate\nlaw-enforcement response to such reports, in accordance with their jurisdiction.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 32-10, 32-42; 1979, c. 711; 1989, c. 613; 2002, c. 768.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}