Livestock Disease Reporting in Virginia: Rules Every Producer Must Know

Virginia’s livestock and poultry industries are a cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s agricultural economy, and protecting them from contagious disease outbreaks depends heavily on fast, accurate reporting. When a potentially dangerous disease appears on your farm, in your flock, or in an animal you’ve examined, state law sets clear expectations for what you must do — and how quickly you must do it.

Whether you raise cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, horses, or poultry, understanding Virginia’s livestock disease reporting requirements helps you act decisively, stay compliant, and protect your operation and your neighbors from costly disease spread. This guide walks you through every stage of the process, from recognizing which diseases trigger a report to what regulators do after they receive one.

Reportable Livestock Diseases in Virginia

Virginia’s disease reporting framework is governed by 2 VAC 5-30, the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Reporting Requirements for Contagious and Infectious Diseases of Livestock and Poultry in Virginia. Under this chapter, the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services declares suspected or confirmed cases of multiple-species diseases to be reportable, and conditions identified with an asterisk are classified as foreign animal diseases.

The reportable disease list is organized by species, covering cattle, swine, sheep and goats, equines, and avian species. The Board declares suspected or confirmed cases of cattle diseases to be reportable, with conditions identified as foreign animal diseases noted separately. The same structure applies across all livestock categories.

Key diseases covered across species categories include the following:

Exotic (virulent) Newcastle disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza are both defined according to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code and are classified as foreign animal diseases requiring immediate reporting. You can learn more about Newcastle disease and how it affects birds, as well as general diseases in pet birds that share some overlap with poultry health concerns.

Virginia’s reportable disease amendments updated the list to align with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. National List of Reportable Animal Diseases. This alignment ensures that diseases of national significance are captured at the state level as well. For a broader look at cattle-specific health conditions, see this overview of bovine disease.

Who Is Required to Report a Livestock Disease in Virginia

Virginia law is specific about which parties carry a mandatory reporting obligation. Any person practicing veterinary medicine, any person or firm operating a laboratory for the diagnosis of livestock or poultry diseases, and any other reporting entity designated by the State Veterinarian within the Commonwealth of Virginia must report within 24 hours to the State Veterinarian or a veterinarian in the employ of VDACS the existence of an emerging disease of livestock or poultry or any other disease of livestock or poultry known to them that is listed in 2VAC5-30-30.

This means the primary obligated parties are:

• Licensed veterinarians practicing anywhere in Virginia
• Diagnostic laboratories that test livestock or poultry samples
• Any other entity specifically designated by the State Veterinarian as a required reporter

The Division of Animal and Food Industry Services has the responsibility of interpreting and enforcing the regulations pertaining to the health, humane care, and humane handling of livestock, poultry, and companion animals in the Commonwealth. This division is your primary point of contact for questions about who is obligated to report in any specific situation.

Stockyard and processing facility operators also carry specific duties. Operators of stockyards and poultry slaughter facilities have defined obligations under Virginia law when they observe signs of contagious or infectious disease in animals passing through their operations. If you handle, transport, or market livestock commercially, your reporting obligations may extend beyond those of a typical farm owner.

Virginia’s disease reporting framework also connects to federal oversight. The regulation brings Virginia in line with current federal animal disease reporting requirements, protecting the continued viability of Virginia’s animal industries, and these reporting requirements are designed to quickly recognize a significant animal disease in Virginia, allowing the rapid response necessary to control the disease.

Signs and Symptoms That Trigger a Report in Virginia

You do not need a confirmed laboratory diagnosis to file a report in Virginia. Suspected cases of listed diseases are sufficient to trigger the reporting obligation. Knowing which clinical signs should raise your suspicion is essential for timely action.

The following categories of signs should prompt you to contact VDACS or your veterinarian immediately:

• Vesicular lesions — blisters or sores on the mouth, tongue, feet, or teats, which can indicate Foot-and-Mouth Disease or Vesicular Stomatitis
• Sudden, unexplained death — particularly in multiple animals in a short period, which may suggest Anthrax or other acute systemic diseases
• Severe respiratory distress — rapid onset coughing, nasal discharge, or labored breathing across a flock or herd
• Neurological signs — circling, seizures, incoordination, or behavioral changes in horses or cattle that may indicate encephalomyelitis or other reportable conditions
• Sudden drop in egg production — combined with respiratory signs in poultry, this pattern is a classic early indicator of Avian Influenza
• Swelling of the head and neck — in poultry, this can be associated with Exotic Newcastle Disease
• Abnormal gait or lameness — especially when combined with fever and lesions on the feet or mouth
• Unusual mortality rates — any spike in death loss beyond normal baseline levels warrants investigation and potential reporting

Many of the diseases on Virginia’s reportable list have zoonotic potential, meaning they can spread from animals to people. Understanding zoonotic diseases and their transmission pathways is an important part of farm biosecurity planning. Quick recognition and rapid response are essential to protect public health from potentially zoonotic diseases, as well as to protect the economic interests of animal agriculture producers in Virginia who could be affected by high levels of sickness or death loss without this regulation in place.

For tick-borne conditions that can affect livestock and companion animals alike, reviewing tick-borne disease prevention strategies can also inform broader farm biosecurity practices.

How to Report a Livestock Disease in Virginia

Virginia provides straightforward, accessible channels for submitting a disease report. Speed matters — the faster a report reaches VDACS, the faster the state can mobilize a response to contain potential spread.

To make a disease report, you can call 804.692.0601 or email vastatevet@vdacs.virginia.gov. These are the primary contact points for the VDACS Office of Veterinary Services, staffed by state veterinarians equipped to receive and act on disease reports.

Reports may also be filed electronically in a manner specified by VDACS, including but not limited to electronic mail or by completing any forms provided online by VDACS. This flexibility allows veterinarians and laboratories to submit reports in the format that best fits their workflow.

When you contact VDACS to report a suspected disease, be prepared to provide the following information:

1. Your name, contact information, and role (veterinarian, producer, laboratory, etc.)
2. Farm or premises location, including the address and, if registered, your Premises Identification Number
3. Species affected and the approximate number of animals showing signs
4. Clinical signs observed, including onset date and progression
5. Mortality numbers, if any animals have died
6. Any diagnostic testing already performed and preliminary results if available
7. Movement history of affected animals — recent purchases, sales, shows, or transport events

If you are a livestock producer and your veterinarian has already been contacted, coordinate with them to confirm who is submitting the official report to VDACS. Duplicate reports are not harmful, but a clear chain of communication ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

Virginia’s reporting framework connects to both state and federal systems. VDACS’ animal health laboratory system provides regulatory and diagnostic testing that supports disease investigations once a report is filed. Samples collected by your veterinarian during a suspected disease event may be submitted to a VDACS laboratory for confirmation, which feeds directly into the official response process.

Producers in other states can compare Virginia’s process with how neighboring states handle reporting. See how Florida handles livestock disease reporting and how Michigan’s reporting requirements compare to Virginia’s framework.

Reporting Deadlines and Timeframes in Virginia

Virginia’s regulations establish a clear and non-negotiable deadline for disease reporting. Any person practicing veterinary medicine, any person or firm operating a laboratory for the diagnosis of livestock or poultry diseases, and any other reporting entity designated by the State Veterinarian must report within 24 hours to the State Veterinarian or a VDACS veterinarian the existence of an emerging disease of livestock or poultry or any other listed disease known to them.

The 24-hour window begins from the moment the veterinarian or laboratory becomes aware of a suspected or confirmed case. This is not 24 hours from a confirmed laboratory result — it applies to suspected cases as well. If clinical signs strongly suggest a reportable disease, the clock starts when you form that reasonable suspicion.

The inclusion of “emerging diseases” in the 24-hour requirement is significant. These animal disease reporting requirements are designed to quickly recognize a significant animal disease in Virginia, thus allowing the rapid response that will be necessary to control the disease. An emerging disease that is not yet formally listed but poses significant risk is still subject to the same reporting timeline.

The “normal reporting” requirement was removed from Virginia’s regulations. This section of the prior regulation had required a laboratory or veterinarian to report diseases of interest to the State Veterinarian monthly. The elimination of monthly reporting reflects a shift toward targeted, real-time disease surveillance rather than periodic summary reporting.

For comparison, see how Colorado’s reporting deadlines and Illinois’s reporting timeframes compare to Virginia’s 24-hour standard.

What Happens After You Report in Virginia

Filing a disease report sets a formal state response in motion. Virginia law defines specific actions the State Veterinarian and VDACS must take once they receive a credible report of a suspected contagious or infectious disease.

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 to ascertain, if possible, what disease exists and whether it is contagious or infectious.

During this evaluation phase, you as the owner or custodian have specific obligations. 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.

If the evaluation confirms a contagious or infectious disease is present, the state’s response can escalate significantly:

• Quarantine: 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 required.
• Condemnation and euthanasia: If the owner or custodian fails to euthanize or slaughter any condemned livestock or poultry, the State Veterinarian or his representative may seize the condemned livestock or poultry and euthanize or slaughter the animals as required.
• Import restrictions: When the Commissioner or the State Veterinarian has a reasonable belief of the existence of contagious or infectious diseases in localities in other states, territories, or countries, the Commissioner or State Veterinarian shall, by proclamation, prohibit the importation of any or all kinds of animals from those localities into the Commonwealth.

VDACS is authorized to make regulations for the purpose of eradicating and preventing disease in livestock and poultry, including requirements for interstate movement, operation of livestock markets, testing, laboratory fees, and reporting of certain animal diseases. The agency may impose quarantines, require treatment of premises, vehicles, animals, or poultry, and condemn diseased livestock and poultry.

Virginia also coordinates with federal authorities during significant disease events. It is the duty of the Commissioner, the Board, and the State Veterinarian to cooperate with the livestock and poultry disease control officials of other states and with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in establishing interstate quarantine lines and regulations to best protect the livestock and poultry of the Commonwealth against all contagious and infectious diseases.

Owners of condemned animals may be eligible for compensation in certain circumstances. Under Virginia Code § 3.2-6021, additional compensation provisions exist for owners of euthanized or slaughtered animals, and § 3.2-6022 provides indemnity provisions specifically for swine. Contact VDACS or a qualified agricultural attorney for details on indemnity eligibility following a disease event.

You can also review how California’s post-report response procedures compare to Virginia’s approach for additional context on how state systems differ.

Penalties for Failing to Report in Virginia

Virginia takes non-compliance with disease reporting requirements seriously. Failing to report a known or suspected reportable disease exposes you to both criminal and civil liability under the Code of Virginia.

Criminal penalties apply directly to violations of Chapter 60’s provisions. It is unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions of Chapter 60 or regulations adopted or quarantines established under it, and any person who violates such provisions or regulations is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. In Virginia, a Class 1 misdemeanor carries a potential sentence of up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.

Civil penalties provide an alternative or additional enforcement mechanism. Except as provided in § 3.2-6023, in lieu of any criminal penalty established pursuant to § 3.2-6043, the Board may assess a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per violation.

For violations of specific prevention and control regulations, the civil penalty exposure is even higher. Any person violating any regulation adopted pursuant to this section may be assessed a civil penalty by the Commissioner in an amount not to exceed $2,500 per day per violation. In determining the amount of any civil penalty, the Commissioner shall give due consideration to the history of the person’s previous violations, the seriousness of the violation, and the demonstrated good faith of the person charged in attempting to achieve compliance with the regulation after notification of the violation.

The three factors considered when setting penalty amounts are:

1. History of previous violations — repeat offenders face higher penalties
2. Seriousness of the violation — diseases with greater public health or economic impact carry greater weight
3. Demonstrated good faith — efforts to comply after notification can reduce the penalty assessed

Civil penalties collected under these provisions are deposited into the Livestock and Poultry Disease Fund established in § 3.2-6045. This fund is a special nonreverting fund created in the state treasury, established on the books of the Comptroller, and all civil penalties assessed pursuant to Chapter 60 are paid into the state treasury and credited to the fund. Revenue from penalties is therefore reinvested directly into disease prevention and control efforts.

Beyond regulatory penalties, there is also civil liability exposure for producers who knowingly allow a disease to spread. Any person who knowingly disregards, violates, or evades any provision of this article may face liability for damages. This means that if your failure to report leads to disease spread onto a neighboring farm, you could face a civil lawsuit in addition to state penalties.

It is also unlawful for any person to fail to allow the State Veterinarian or his representative to perform any duty required of him pursuant to Chapter 60. Obstructing or interfering with a VDACS investigation is itself a separate violation, compounding the consequences of an already serious situation.

Understanding how penalties are structured in other states can provide useful context. Review how Florida enforces livestock disease reporting and how Michigan’s penalty framework compares to Virginia’s tiered approach.

Virginia’s livestock disease reporting system exists to protect every producer in the Commonwealth. When you report promptly, you are not just fulfilling a legal obligation — you are actively defending your herd, your neighbors’ herds, and the broader agricultural economy that depends on swift, coordinated disease control. If you ever have questions about whether a condition is reportable or how to file, contact VDACS directly at 804.692.0601 or email vastatevet@vdacs.virginia.gov before the 24-hour window closes.