                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 32.1-48.01)

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

&#8220;Appropriate precautions&#8221; means those specific measures which have
been demonstrated by current scientific evidence to assist in preventing
transmission of a communicable disease of public health significance.
Appropriate precautions will vary according to the disease.

&#8220;At-risk behavior&#8221; means engaging in acts which a person, who has
been informed that he is infected with a communicable disease of public health
significance, knows may infect other persons without taking appropriate
precautions to protect the health of the other persons.

&#8220;Communicable disease of public health significance&#8221; means an
illness of public health significance, as determined by the State Health
Commissioner, caused by a specific or suspected infectious agent that may be
transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another.

&#8220;Communicable disease of public health significance&#8221; shall include,
but may not be limited to, infections caused by human immunodeficiency viruses,
blood-borne pathogens, and tubercle bacillus. The State Health Commissioner may
determine that diseases caused by other pathogens constitute communicable
diseases of public health significance. Further, &#8220;a communicable disease
of public health significance&#8221; shall become a &#8220;communicable disease
of public health threat&#8221; upon the finding of the State Health Commissioner
of exceptional circumstances pursuant to Article 3.02 (§ 32.1-48.05 et seq.) of
this chapter.

HISTORY: 1990, c. 958; 2004, cc. 773, 1021.