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Frequently Asked Questions

For immediately reportable diseases and conditions (e.g., unidentified vesicular disease), in most cases, we want reporting prior to testing since ODA can help expedite shipping/testing and can generally cover the cost when testing is necessary. Additionally, for many of those situations, specific testing will be required and we want to help ensure proper samples are taken and laboratory submission protocols are followed.​

​We understand that sometimes testing will be conducted which results in an immediately reportable disease being diagnosed prior to ever having reported that disease as suspected. Please just call ODA when you do get positive results, we want to ensure we help veterinarians and animal owners with any required biosecurity needs and any potential regulatory response as/if required. Depending on disease and situation circumstances, there may not be any further regulatory requirements beyond reporting.​

​Yes. You can submit a monitored disease report online via this online reporting form:
https://data.oda.state.or.us/fmi/webd/AH_Online?script=Startup&param=Disease​

​The main reason for these adjustments was the numerous requests to ODA from veterinarians and animal industries. In recent years, there have been several situations where animals diagnosed with an infectious disease were knowingly moved, leading to additional exposures and new cases of the disease. The desire to have the diseases made immediately reportable was centered around high-risk situations (e.g., large barns or shelters) where ODA can help implement biosecurity and quarantines as needed. For lower risk situations, there may not be any regulatory action taken beyond taking the report.​

​This will depend on the specific disease and situation. For most diseases, we have a fair amount of latitude in terms of how we respond, and for many diseases, we will defer to a joint risk assessment of the case with the attending veterinarian. For example, if the case occurs on a fairly isolated farm and the risk of spread beyond that property is minimal, we often may not take any further action beyond recording the case. If the case occurs in a larger/busier facility, or in an animal where compliance with biosecurity/isolation is of concern, we can work with you and the owner to obtain testing as appropriate and then take regulatory action as/if needed. This may include quarantine, monitoring, and further testing.​

​These are common questions regarding endemic diseases and opportunistic pathogens. The short answer is yes, please report every new case/infection even if the animal is not showing clinical signs. We want all cases reported so that we can build a publicly available dashboard for veterinarians to see case numbers by county (of all reportable diseases in Oregon). We are relying on the clinical judgement of veterinarians to identify and report infections with reportable diseases. If an antibody test suggests previous exposure rather than current infection, this does not necessarily need to be reported but we will still accept a report. When in doubt, report it.​

For chronic diseases, if the case has already been reported, we do not need reporting of continued positive results that are presumed to be the same infection (or part of the same outbreak already reported in a herd). Similarly, if an animal was diagnosed with a reportable disease through laboratory tests submitted by another Oregon veterinarian, you do not need to report that case (since the previous veterinarian was required to do so by law). However, if an animal/herd clears a disease and is later reinfected, that new infection should be reported. We are relying on the best clinical judgement of veterinarians, and when in doubt, report it.​

​If you clinically diagnose a reportable disease using the supportive diagnostics available to you and a physical exam, then please report that case.​

Both IDEXX and Antech automatically report reference laboratory test results to ODA for many monitored diseases. At this time, no other Oregon laboratories automatically report monitored disease results to ODA. We are in communication with the main laboratories that serve Oregon veterinarians and hope to have additional laboratories that will automatically report monitored diseases.

When a reference laboratory automatically reports positive results for any monitored disease to ODA, that fulfills the veterinarian's responsibility to report those results. Positive in-house lab results must still be reported to ODA by the veterinarian or veterinary practice within 15 days, even if the results are uploaded into an online laboratory system, because those systems do not share data with ODA. (See the Searchable Disease List table for specific diseases that are automatically reported.)

Note: Immediately reportable diseases must always be reported to ODA by veterinarians or the veterinarian's office via phone (503-986-4711), even if a laboratory sends results to ODA.

​Veterinarians practicing in Oregon are legally required to report certain diseases and abnormalities only to ODA. ODA forwards positive results to partner agencies and select organizations, which may satisfy a veterinarian's desire to report to additional organizations. Currently, ODA forwards results of interest to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC).

Note: Laboratories (not individual veterinarians) are required by OAR 333-018-0017 to report certain diseases of zoonotic concern directly to the OHA Public Health Division.

​Please reach out to the Animal Health Program at 503-986-4680 or animalhealth@oda.oregon.gov and we will do our best to answer your questions.​