Better health and ageing for all Australians

Australian national notifiable diseases case definitions

Viral haemorrhagic fevers (quarantinable) case definition

This document contains the case definitions for Viral haemorrhagic fevers which is nationally notifiable within Australia. This definition should be used to determine whether a case should be notified.

Communicable Diseases Surveillance

Australian national notifiable diseases case definitions - Viral haemorrhagic fevers (quarantinable)

(Quarantinable - includes Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Crimean-Congo fevers)

Reporting

Both confirmed cases and probable cases should be notified.

Confirmed case

A confirmed case requires Laboratory definitive evidence only.

Laboratory definitive evidence

Laboratory definitive evidence requires confirmation by the Special Pathogens Laboratory, CDC, Atlanta, or the Special Pathogens Laboratory, National Institute of Virology (NIV), Johannesburg.

1. Isolation of a viral haemorrhagic fever virus

OR

2. Detection of specific virus by nucleic acid testing, antigen detection assay, or electron microscopy

OR

3. IgG seroconversion or a significant increase in antibody level or a fourfold or greater rise in titre to specific virus.

Probable case

A probable case requires Laboratory suggestive evidence AND clinical evidence AND epidemiological evidence.

Laboratory suggestive evidence

1. Isolation of virus pending confirmation by CDC, Atlanta or NIV, Johannesburg

OR

2. Detection of specific virus by nucleic acid testing, antigen detection assay, or electron microscopy pending confirmation by CDC, Atlanta or NIV, Johannesburg

OR

3. IgG seroconversion or a significant increase in antibody level or a fourfold or greater rise in titre to specific virus pending confirmation by CDC, Atlanta or NIV, Johannesburg

OR

4. Detection of IgM to a specific virus.

Clinical evidence

A compatible clinical illness as determined by an infectious disease physician. Common presenting complaints are fever myalgia, and prostration, with headache, pharyngitis, conjunctival injection, flushing, gastrointestinal symptoms. This may be complicated by spontaneous bleeding, petechiae, hypotension and perhaps shock, oedema and neurologic involvement.

Epidemiological evidence

1. History of travel to an endemic/epidemic area within 9 days (Marburg), 13 days (Crimean Congo) or 21 days (Lassa, Ebola) of illness onset. Filoviruses are endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, Lassa in Western Africa, Crimean Congo in Africa and the Middle East to West China;

OR

2. Contact with a confirmed case

OR

3. Exposure to viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF)-infected blood or tissues.




Related Links