pepperluvsme, your chicks could only get sick if
* their mother had the virus active at the time the egg was layed, or
* if they are exposed to other chicks with the virus, or
* if you had chicks with the illness and their feces is still present on your premises as the virus can live up to 4...
Where is there information this disease must be reported? There are some states that require reporting but I'm not finding where it is reportable either nationally or in my own state. I did find this list of reportable diseases which seems a good bookmark for future reference...
From Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 18th Edition
Encephalomyelitis: Acute inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Acute disseminated e: An acute disorder of the brain and spinal cord due to causes such as vaccination or acute exanthema.
Benign myalgic e: An epidemic disease of...