Virginia Code 3.2-6003: Duty of State Veterinarian when animals are suspected of having a contagious or infectious disease
A. The State Veterinarian, upon receipt of reliable information of the existence of any contagious or infectious disease among animals of the Commonwealth with potential impact on livestock or poultry, shall immediately make an evaluation that may include going to the place where such disease has been reported. The evaluation may include conducting tests of the animals believed to be affected with such disease, and ascertain, if possible, what, if any, disease exists, and whether the same is contagious or infectious.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 3.2-6003
- Animal: means any organism of the kingdom Animalia, other than a human being. See Virginia Code 3.2-5900
- Livestock: includes all domestic or domesticated bovine animals; equine animals; ovine animals; porcine animals; cervidae animals; capradae animals; animals of the genus Lama or Vicugna; ratites; fish or shellfish in aquaculture facilities, as defined in § 3. See Virginia Code 3.2-5900
- Poultry: includes all domestic fowl and game birds raised in captivity. See Virginia Code 3.2-5900
- State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245
- State Veterinarian: means the veterinarian employed by the Commissioner as provided in § 3. See Virginia Code 3.2-5900
B. Upon notice by the State Veterinarian or his representative, the owner or custodian of any animal to be evaluated shall isolate and confine the animal if necessary to accomplish the evaluation or to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious disease.
C. 1. If a disease is found to be contagious or infectious, the State Veterinarian, or his representative, may adopt and enforce quarantine lines and regulations and shall enforce such cleaning and disinfection as may be deemed necessary to prevent the spread of such disease. Quarantine lines and regulations, when adopted, shall supersede any similar provisions made by the governing body of any county under the provisions of Chapter 12 of Title 15.2.
2. The State Veterinarian may issue and enforce a proclamation limiting live animal sales and events or the movement of manure, bedding, equipment, vehicles, or other material that may be infectious to prevent the spread of contagious or infectious diseases to livestock and poultry.
Code 1950, § 3-569; 1966, c. 702, § 3.1-727; 2008, c. 860.