Who is responsible for reporting an immediately notifiable disease?

The responsibility for reporting an immediately notifiable disease primarily falls on the laboratory that diagnoses the disease. This is because laboratories have a legal requirement to report certain diseases when they identify them during testing. Their role is crucial as they directly engage with the biological samples of animals and have the expertise needed to recognize a notifiable condition.

Veterinarians, while also having a role in the management and treatment of animal health, primarily act on the information received from laboratories or report based on their clinical findings. Animal owners are generally not responsible for notifying authorities directly; they rely on veterinarians or laboratories to handle the reporting process. The Chief Veterinarian of Ontario carries out oversight and regulatory responsibilities and may not be involved in individual case reporting by laboratories or veterinarians.

Thus, the role of laboratories is integral as the first point of diagnosis, and their obligation to report ensures public health and safety measures are effectively implemented in a timely manner.