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Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

Introduction

Acute viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is an illness caused by a number of geographically restricted viruses including Lassa, Marburg, Ebola, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever viruses. These viruses are known to have caused significant outbreaks of diseases with person-to-person transmission. Potential sources of these viruses in the United States are (1) imported cases; (2) laboratories conducting research on the viruses or laboratories receiving specimens from patients who have fever of unknown origin;(3) imported infected rodents (highly unlikely) or laboratory research animals; and (4) an act or biologic warfare. If a patient with suspected acute viral hemorrhagic fever is admitted to the hospital, the HEIC department, in conjunction with the state and local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), will advise personnel on appropriate precautions to take.

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Procedures

Immediate Notification
Immediately notify the HEIC department.

Strict Isolation
Place the patient in Strict Isolation, a single room with anteroom. Transport the patient to the room with the patient wearing a standard surgical mask. Only essential personnel should enter the patients room/anteroom.

Create a Protective Barrier
All healthcare workers entering the room must wear disposable gowns, gloves, masks and shoe covers. Wear protective eyewear when splashing might occur, or if the patient is disoriented or uncooperative.

Sterilize Disposable Equipment
Place any disposable items, including linens, in a double plastic bag and saturate with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (1:10 dilution of bleach). Place sharps in the sharps container saturated with the 0.5% solution, wipe the containers with the 0.5% solution and send them to be incinerated.

Chemical Toilet

The patient must use a chemical toilet. Treat all exceptions, secretions and body fluids with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite prior to flushing toilet. Disinfect all surfaces and equipment contaminated with body fluids with the 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution.

CDC Guidelines for Lab Specimens

All laboratory specimens are handled according to guidelines developed by the CDC.

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