Real Talk: Reportable Diseases in Vet Infection Control Plans
Real question from a veterinary practice:
“In the Infection Control Plan included in our Documentation Kit, there’s a section referencing reportable diseases. Do I need to list only what we at our clinic could come into contact with, or do I need to list all of the reportable diseases for our state?”
Short Answer
No—you do not need to list every reportable disease in your infection control plan.
However, your plan must include a clear reference to an up-to-date source and explain how staff can access reporting requirements and instructions.
Why This Requirement Exists
The language in your veterinary infection control plan is based on guidance from the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) Model Infection Control Plan, which is also endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
These guidelines emphasize that practices should:
- Be aware of reportable (notifiable) diseases
- Know how and where to report them
- Provide staff with access to current, authoritative resources
Because disease lists change over time, linking to official sources—rather than maintaining a static list—is the recommended and compliant approach.
What You Should Do Instead
Rather than listing diseases, whether all or just those relevant to your clinic, your plan should:
- Reference your state’s official reporting resource
- Provide a direct link or clear instructions on where to find it
- Identify who is responsible for reporting within your practice
Example (Florida)
For example, in Florida, the official reporting resource is maintained by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
State resource:
https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Animals/Animal-Diseases/Reportable-Animal-Diseases
This page includes:
- A current list of reportable diseases
- Instructions for reporting online, by phone, and by email
You can also include the national reference list from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):
National list:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/surveillance/reportable-diseases?page=1
Suggested Language for Your Plan
You can add a simple statement like this to your Infection Control Plan:
“This practice follows state requirements for reporting animal diseases. A current list of reportable diseases and reporting instructions can be found at: [insert state link]. [Insert role/title] is responsible for reporting suspected cases in accordance with these requirements.”
Where to Include This
In your Gamma Veterinary OSHA Documentation Kit, this should be added to the “Other Resources” section of the Infection Control Plan.
Why This Approach Works
- Compliant – aligned with NASPHV and AVMA expectations
- Up to date – no need to revise your plan when disease lists change
- Practical – gives staff clear, direct access to reporting guidance
Final Takeaway
You do not need to maintain a long or highly tailored list of diseases. Instead, focus on referencing official, current sources, making those resources easy for staff to access, and assigning clear responsibility for reporting.
The Real Talk article series includes real customer questions and our answers. Since these questions come directly from clinics, practices, hospitals, and businesses, we thought you might have them too. We hope you find this format helpful—stay tuned for more Real Talk. Your question might even be featured!
