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The Management of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers in Ireland

Biological

Closed. Please see Biological100
HPSC must be commended on this update!

The Management of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers in Ireland
November, 2012
Report of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre
http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Vectorborne/ViralHaemorrhagicFever/Guidance/File,12936,en.pdf

Snip
Table of Contents
The Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Sub‐Committee ...................................................................................... 6
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 7
Foreword ................................................................................................................................................. 8
Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 9
Background ........................................................................................................................................... 13
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 13
Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................ 13
Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 14
1.Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 17
1.1 What are viral haemorrhagic fevers?.......................................................................................... 17
1.2 The need for new guidance ........................................................................................................ 17
1.3 Overview of VHFs ........................................................................................................................ 18
1.4 Ebola haemorrhagic fever ........................................................................................................... 19
1.5 Lassa fever ................................................................................................................................... 20
1.6 Marburg haemorrhagic fever ...................................................................................................... 20
1.7 Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever ........................................................................................... 21
1.8 Other Old‐World and New‐World Arenaviruses ......................................................................... 23
1.9 Flaviviruses .................................................................................................................................. 23
1.10 Requirement to notify VHF to the World Health Organization under the International Health Regulations, 2005.............................................................................................................................. 26
1.11 Establishment and role of National Isolation Centres .............................................................. 26
1.12 Web resources .......................................................................................................................... 26
2. Clinical Assessment, Risk Categorisation and Initial Management ................................................... 27
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 27
2.2 Clinical presentation ................................................................................................................... 27
2.3 Assessment of sick travellers for potential Viral Haemorrhagic Fever ....................................... 30
2.4 Initial management of patient categorised as High Risk ............................................................ 32
2.5 Initial management of patient categorised as At Risk ................................................................ 34
2.6 Patient transfer ........................................................................................................................... 36
2.7 Differential diagnosis .................................................................................................................. 36
2.8 Clinical case management ........................................................................................................... 37
3. Infection Prevention and Control Guidance ..................................................................................... 39
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 39 ‐3‐
The Management of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers in Ireland
3.2 Mode of transmission ................................................................................................................. 39
3.3 Incubation period and infectivity ................................................................................................ 40
3.4 Initial assessment ........................................................................................................................ 41
3.5 Infection prevention and control precautions for managing a patient categorised as At Risk of VHF .................................................................................................................................................... 42
3.6 Infection prevention and control precautions for managing a patient categorised as High Risk of VHF ................................................................................................................................................ 44
3.7 Infection prevention and control precautions for managing a patient with confirmed VHF pending transfer to the NIU, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital ........................................... 49
3.8 Handling human remains ............................................................................................................ 55
4. Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Viruses .............................................................. 57
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 57
4.2 Collection of clinical specimens .................................................................................................. 58
4.3 Packaging and transport of biological specimens ....................................................................... 58
4.4 Laboratory testing for At Risk patients ....................................................................................... 59
4.5 Laboratory testing for High Risk patients ................................................................................... 61
4.6 Reporting of results ..................................................................................................................... 62
4.7 Disposal of residual blood samples ............................................................................................. 62
4.8 Contact information .................................................................................................................... 62
5. Public Health Management of Imported VHF ................................................................................... 63
5.1 Irish guidelines ............................................................................................................................ 63
5.2 Notification of a potential case ................................................................................................... 63
5.3 Actions to be taken by the DPH/MOH once notified of a High Risk possible case .................... 64
5.4 Actions by DPH/MOH once case is confirmed ............................................................................ 66
5.5 Preparedness activities ............................................................................................................... 76
6. Transport of Infected Patients .......................................................................................................... 77
6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 77
6.2 Preparation of the ambulance and crew .................................................................................... 77
6.3 At the pick‐up location ................................................................................................................ 79
6.4 En‐route to hospital .................................................................................................................... 79
6.5 On arrival at the hospital ............................................................................................................ 80
6.6 Decontamination and disinfection .............................................................................................. 80
6.7 Post‐transportation procedures ................................................................................................. 81
7. VHF in the Context of Bioterrorism ................................................................................................... 83
7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 83 ‐4‐
The Management of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers in Ireland
7.2 Which VHFs? ............................................................................................................................... 83
7.3 Outbreaks/cases due to deliberate release ................................................................................ 84
7.4 Key medical and public health interventions after identification of a suspected index case of VHF .................................................................................................................................................... 85
7.5 Recommendations for ribavirin therapy in patients with clinically evident VHF of unknown aetiology or secondary to Arenaviruses or bunyaviruses ................................................................. 86
References ............................................................................................................................................ 87
Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 91
Appendix A: Search Strategies for VHF ................................................................................................. 93
Appendix B: Distribution List for Consultation Document .................................................................... 95
Appendix C: Published Reports on Responses to Imported Cases of VHF ............................................ 97
C.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 97
C.2 Marburg haemorrhagic fever ...................................................................................................... 97
C.3 Lassa fever................................................................................................................................... 99
C.4 Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever ......................................................................................... 104
C.5 Novel Arenavirus infection (Lujo virus) ..................................................................................... 104
References ...................................................................................................................................... 107
Appendix D: Annex 2: Decision Instrument for the Assessment and Notification of Events That May Constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern ....................................................... 109
Appendix E: Clinical Risk Assessment Form ........................................................................................ 111
Appendix F: VHF Risk Assessment Algorithm for Use in All Acute Medical Settings .......................... 113
Appendix G: Summary of VHF Risk Categories ................................................................................... 115
Appendix H: Review of Evidence for Mode of Transmission .............................................................. 117
Appendix I: Checklist of Supplies for Acute Hospitals in Preparation for High Risk or Confirmed Cases of VHF .................................................................................................................................................. 125
Appendix J: VHF Risk Assessment for Use by Ambulance Service Personnel at Airports ................... 127
Appendix K: VHF Case Exposure Assessment & Contact Identification Form .................................... 129
Appendix L: VHF Contact Assessment Form ....................................................................................... 139
Appendix M: VHF Contact Surveillance Form ..................................................................................... 145
Appendix N: Case Definitions for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers ............................................................ 149
Appendix O: VHF Checklists of Actions for Director of Public Health ................................................. 151
Appendix P: Campus Map, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin .................................... 155
Glossary of Terms................................................................................................................................ 157
 
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