If you think you’re sick from a biohazard exposure in Virginia, your first step is: get away from the area, call 911 if it’s a life-threatening emergency, and then call the national poison help line for immediate medical guidance.

Immediate steps if you suspect biohazard illness

  • Leave the area immediately and avoid further contact with the suspected substance.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with layers of cloth if fumes or particles are present.
  • Call 911 if you have severe symptoms (difficulty breathing, confusion, collapse, severe pain, etc.).
  • Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away—even if you’re not sure what you were exposed to. This is free, confidential, and available 24/7 across Virginia.
* They can tell you:
  * Whether you need to go to an ER or can be managed at home.
  * What symptoms to watch for.
  * How to clean contaminated skin or clothing.

Poison Control works with local hospitals and can route you to the right level of care in your area.

Who to contact for help and follow-up

1. Emergency medical care

  • 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

  • Your local emergency department or urgent care if Poison Control or a doctor advises you to be evaluated.
    Tell them:

  • What you think you were exposed to (chemical, biological, unknown substance, etc.).

  • When exposure happened.

  • What symptoms you have and when they started.

2. Poison Control (for non–life-threatening but concerning exposures)

  • 1-800-222-1222 (national poison hotline; works in Virginia).
  • Healthcare providers can also call a dedicated line: 1-800-451-1428.

They will:

  • Give you immediate treatment advice.
  • Possibly notify public health if this looks like a larger exposure or outbreak.

3. Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and local health departments

If the exposure:

  • Might affect other people (e.g., workplace, school, public building),
  • Involves contaminated water, food, or a suspicious substance,
  • Or you need investigation beyond immediate medical care:

Contact:

  • Your local health department (VDH has district offices across Virginia).
* You can find your local health department via the VDH website and contact them to:
  * Report a public health or environmental health risk.
  * Ask about testing, follow-up, and possible outreach to others who may have been exposed.
  • For after-hours public health or environmental risks, your local health department is the correct point of contact.

For specific types of hazards:

  • Radiation concerns : Contact the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and ask for the Radiological Health Duty Officer via the Virginia Emergency Operations Center at (804) 750-8845.
  • Pesticide misuse : Contact the Virginia Office of Pesticide Services at 804-371-6560 or email [email protected].

4. Workplace or institutional exposures

If this happened at:

  • A job site,
  • School,
  • Healthcare facility, or
  • Any place with employees or students:

You should also:

  • Notify your employer’s safety officer, occupational health, or facility manager.
  • Ask them to contact:
    • Their local health department , and
    • Possibly Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) if it’s a workplace hazard.

Document:

  • What happened,
  • Who was involved,
  • What you were told, and
  • Any medical visits or tests.

If you need cleanup or property-related help

If the biohazard is in your home or on a property and you’re worried about lingering contamination:

  • Professional biohazard cleanup companies operate in Virginia (e.g., Aftermath Services, Paul Davis, SERVPRO) and can:
    • Test and assess the area.
    • Safely remove and dispose of contaminated materials.
    • Decontaminate surfaces.

These are cleanup services , not medical help. For your health, still start with:

  1. 911 (if severe),
  2. Poison Control,
  3. Your doctor or local health department.

Quick step-by-step summary

  1. Get away from the suspected biohazard area.
  2. Call 911 if you have severe symptoms or think it’s a life-threatening emergency.
  1. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate medical advice, even if you’re unsure what you were exposed to.
  1. Follow their instructions about:
    • Going to the hospital,
    • Home care,
    • Cleaning your skin, clothes, or space.
  2. If the exposure could affect others or seems part of a larger issue, contact your local Virginia health department to report it and get follow-up guidance.
  1. If the exposure happened at work or school, notify your institution’s safety/occupational health team and document everything.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.