Notifiable Disease Reporting - Vancouver Bylaw Guide

Public Health and Welfare British Columbia 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of British Columbia

In Vancouver, British Columbia, reporting notifiable diseases follows provincial public health law and regional health authority procedures; residents and health professionals must notify the appropriate authorities quickly to protect public health. This guide explains who must report, the agencies that receive reports, the practical steps to submit a report, and what to expect from enforcement and appeals in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Who must report and when

Under provincial public health rules, regulated health professionals, laboratories, and certain institutions must report suspected or confirmed notifiable diseases without delay to the regional health authority and to provincial surveillance systems. For province-wide case definitions, reporting lists and clinician instructions, consult the BC Centre for Disease Control resources.[1]

Report suspect cases immediately to prevent community spread.

Responsible agencies and roles

  • Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) - primary local enforcer and case management for Vancouver.
  • BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) - provincial surveillance, case definitions, and reporting tools.[1]
  • Provincial public health legislation (Public Health Act) - legal authority for orders and requirements.[3]

How to report

Health professionals and laboratories should follow local VCH reporting pathways for immediate notifications and use BCCDC reporting forms or electronic systems for provincial surveillance. For urgent or outbreak concerns contact VCH communicable disease control directly as specified on their site.[2]

  1. Identify a suspected or confirmed notifiable disease case based on clinical signs and lab results.
  2. Notify VCH by the telephone numbers or online reporting form provided for communicable disease notifications.
  3. Complete any required BCCDC case report forms or electronic submissions for provincial surveillance.
  4. Provide timely lab reports, contact details, and exposure information to assist contact tracing.
  5. Follow any isolation or control measures issued by VCH until cleared by public health.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement for notifiable disease reporting in Vancouver is carried out by Vancouver Coastal Health under the authority of the provincial Public Health Act; the Act and VCH can issue orders to control communicable disease and require compliance.[3]

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: information on first, repeat, or continuing offence amounts and ranges is not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to isolate, treatment or testing requirements, restrictions on premises, seizure of items for public safety, and court enforcement are available under provincial law (details on scope are on provincial legislation pages).[3]
  • Enforcer and inspection: Vancouver Coastal Health (Communicable Disease Control) conducts investigations, inspections and issues orders; contact details are on the VCH communicable disease page.[2]
  • Appeals and review: statutory appeal or review routes are governed by the Public Health Act and associated regulations; specific time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited pages.
  • Defences and discretion: measures may allow medical exemptions, reasonable excuse clauses, or orders varied by medical officers of health where the law permits; exact defenses are not fully detailed on the cited guidance pages.
If enforcement or orders affect liberty or property, request written reasons and the statutory appeal route immediately.

Applications & Forms

Provincial case report forms, lab reporting instructions and clinician reporting tools are published by the BCCDC; local VCH pages list telephone contacts and online reporting pathways for immediate notification. Specific form numbers or fees are not specified on the cited pages for municipal submission.[1]

Action steps

  • Clinician: follow BCCDC case definition and submit required case report forms to BCCDC and VCH.
  • Laboratory: notify VCH and include confirmatory results; use lab reporting channels.
  • Patient: follow isolation directions, provide contacts, and cooperate with public health investigators.

FAQ

Who must report a notifiable disease in Vancouver?
Regulated health professionals, laboratories and designated institutions must report suspected or confirmed cases to Vancouver Coastal Health and provincial surveillance according to BCCDC lists.[1]
How quickly must I report?
Reports must be made without delay for immediate or urgent conditions; use VCH emergency contact numbers for urgent public health threats.[2]
Are there fines for failing to report?
Specific fine amounts and escalation details are not specified on the cited public guidance pages; consult the Public Health Act for statutory penalties.[3]
How do I appeal a public health order?
Appeal and review procedures are governed by the Public Health Act and related regulations; exact timelines are set out in the legislation and are not specified on the cited guidance pages.[3]

How-To

  1. Confirm the case meets a notifiable disease case definition.
  2. Call VCH communicable disease control for immediate notification and guidance.
  3. Complete and submit any BCCDC case report forms or electronic reports.
  4. Provide lab reports and contact information to support contact tracing.
  5. Follow isolation and public health instructions until cleared.

Key Takeaways

  • Report without delay to protect community health.
  • Use VCH for local notification and BCCDC for provincial case reporting.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] BC Centre for Disease Control - Notifiable Diseases
  2. [2] Vancouver Coastal Health - Communicable Disease Control
  3. [3] Public Health Act - Government of British Columbia

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