32.1-48.06 - Definitions.
§ 32.1-48.06. Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Affected area" means any part or the whole of the Commonwealth, which hasbeen identified as where persons reside, or may be located, who are known tohave been exposed to or infected with or who are reasonably suspected to havebeen exposed to or infected with a communicable disease of public healththreat. "Affected area" shall include, but not be limited to, cities,counties, towns, and subsections of such areas, public and private property,buildings, and other structures.
"Communicable disease of public health threat" means an illness of publichealth significance, as determined by the State Health Commissioner inaccordance with regulations of the Board of Health, caused by a specific orsuspected infectious agent that may be reasonably expected or is known to bereadily transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another andhas been found to create a risk of death or significant injury or impairment;this definition shall not, however, be construed to include humanimmunodeficiency viruses or tuberculosis, unless used as a bioterrorismweapon. "Individual" shall include any companion animal. Further, whenever"person or persons" is used herein it shall be deemed, when the contextrequires it, to include any individual.
"Companion animal" means, consistent with the provisions of § 3.2-6500, anydomestic or feral dog, domestic or feral cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig,hamster, rabbit not raised for human food or fiber, exotic or native animal,reptile, exotic or native bird, or any feral animal or any animal under thecare, custody, or ownership of a person or any animal that is bought, sold,traded, or bartered by any person. Agricultural animals, game species, or anyanimals regulated under federal law as research animals shall not beconsidered companion animals for the purposes of this article.
"Isolation" means the physical separation, including confinement orrestriction of movement, of an individual or individuals who are infectedwith or are reasonably suspected to be infected with a communicable diseaseof public health threat in order to prevent or limit the transmission of thecommunicable disease of public health threat to other uninfected andunexposed individuals.
"Law-enforcement agency" means any sheriff's office, police department,adult or youth correctional officer, or other agency or department thatemploys persons who have law-enforcement authority that is under thedirection and control of the Commonwealth or any local governing body."Law-enforcement agency" shall include, by order of the Governor, theVirginia National Guard.
"Quarantine" means the physical separation, including confinement orrestriction of movement, of an individual or individuals who are presentwithin an affected area, as defined herein, or who are known to have beenexposed or may reasonably be suspected to have been exposed to a communicabledisease of public health threat and who do not yet show signs or symptoms ofinfection with the communicable disease of public health threat in order toprevent or limit the transmission of the communicable disease of publichealth threat to other unexposed and uninfected individuals.
(2004, cc. 773, 1021; 2007, cc. 699, 783.)