WAC 246-101-405   Responsibilities of veterinarians.  (1) Veterinarians shall:

     (a) Notify the local health officer of the jurisdiction in which the human resides of any suspected human case or suspected human outbreak based on the human's exposure to a confirmed animal case of any disease listed in Table V-1 of this section:

Table V-1 (Conditions Notifiable by Veterinarians)
Notifiable Condition Time Frame for Notification Notifiable to Local Health Department
Anthrax Immediately √
Arboviral Disease Within 24 hours √
Brucellosis (Brucella species) Within 24 hours √
Burkholderia mallei (Glanders) Immediately √
Disease of suspected bioterrorism origin (including but not limited to anthrax) Immediately √
E. coli – Refer to "Shiga toxin-producing E. coli" Immediately √
Emerging condition with outbreak potential Immediately √
Influenza virus, novel or unsubtypable strain Immediately √
Leptospirosis Within 24 hours √
Plague Immediately √
Psittacosis Within 24 hours √
Q Fever Within 24 hours √
Rabies (suspected human or animal) Immediately √
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections (enterohemorrhagic E. coli including, but not limited to, E. coli O157:H7) Immediately √
Tularemia Immediately √

(√) Indicates that the condition is notifiable to the local health department.

     (b) Cooperate with public health authorities in the investigation of cases, suspected cases, outbreaks, and suspected outbreaks of zoonotic disease.

     (c) Cooperate with public health authorities in the implementation of infection control measures including isolation and quarantine.

     (d) Comply with requirements in chapter 16-70 WAC for submitting positive specimens and isolates for specific diseases, and provide information requested by the department or local health jurisdiction.

     (2) The department of health shall:

     (a) Coordinate with the state veterinarian at the department of agriculture to develop, maintain, and implement a procedure for notifying the department of animal cases of the conditions listed in Table V-1 of this section.

     (b) Notify the local health jurisdiction of reported animal cases of the conditions in Table V-1 of this section.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. 11-02-065, § 246-101-405, filed 1/4/11, effective 2/4/11; 00-23-120, § 246-101-405, filed 11/22/00, effective 12/23/00.]