Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 126-51-9 - Disease Control Measures9.1. Distinctions shall be made related to communicable diseases in the school setting versus diseases known not to be spread by casual contact including, but not limited to, HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other similar diseases.9.2. A designated employee, such as the school nurse, shall validate each reported case of a disease known not to be spread by casual contact pursuant to W. Va. Code §18A-5-1 and §18-5-22.9.3. The school nurse shall report to the school administrator any student or school employee known to have, or suspected of having, any infectious disease known to be spread by casual contact and considered to be a health danger to the school population. The county superintendent may exclude a school employee from school when reliable evidence, or information from a qualified source, confirms the school employee potentially has a communicable disease that is known to be spread by any form of casual contact and is considered a health danger to the school population. 9.3.a. A student or school employee shall be prohibited from entering the school or participating in school-related activities, in accordance with the guidelines established by AAP, CDC, and WVDH until a licensed health care provider verifies in writing that the student or school employee's current condition is no longer considered contagious or a danger to the school population.9.3.b. All reportable communicable diseases shall be referred to the local health department in accordance with W. Va. 64CSR7.9.3.c. In the event of a suspected communicable disease outbreak as defined by the Commissioner, public schools, and/or county boards of education shall release student personally identifiable information to appropriate public health officials as permitted by FERPA's Health and Safety Emergency Event Disclosure and W. Va. 126CSR94, Policy 4350, Procedures for the Collection, Maintenance, and Disclosure of Student Data (Policy 4350).9.3.d. School employees shall adhere to any guidance issued by the local health departments relating to reportable communicable diseases.9.3.e. School employees are required to adhere to the procedures established in W. Va. 64CSR7, governing the reporting of certain diseases and conditions, unusual health events, and clusters or outbreaks of disease to the WVDH.9.3.f. School administrators, school nurses, and other health care providers working in schools shall be responsible for reporting, assisting with, or managing outbreaks, and any necessary contact tracing and management of the communicable diseases in accordance with W. Va. 64CSR7. School administrators and school nurses are required to attend any training provided by the local health department relating to surveillance reporting of communicable diseases within the school.9.3.g Foodborne, respiratory, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks, and a case or outbreak of a reportable condition including, but not limited to, vaccine preventable diseases, hepatitis, meningitis and encephalitis, shall be reported to the state, regional, and/or local public health department, along with the Commissioner or their staff. These agencies may request student or school employee personally identifiable information for cases and/or contacts of cases based on surveillance data. The release of personally identifiable information to public health officials is classified as a Health and Safety Emergency under FERPA permitting schools to release information necessary to protect public health.9.4. Mandatory screening for communicable diseases known not to be spread by casual contact is not required for school entry, employment, or continued employment.9.5. School personnel shall be trained in standard/universal precautions established by the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (http://www.osha.gov/).W. Va. Code R. § 126-51-9