NAC441A.495. Cholera.

     1. The health authority shall investigate each report of a case having cholera to confirm the diagnosis, to determine the extent of any outbreak, to identify any carriers or contacts, to identify the source of infection, to determine if the case is employed in a sensitive occupation or is a child attending a child care facility and to determine if there is a contact residing in the same household as the case who is employed in a sensitive occupation.

     2. A person excreting Vibrio cholerae shall not work in a sensitive occupation until authorized to do so by the health authority. The health authority may authorize a case who is excreting Vibrio cholerae to work in a sensitive occupation if:

     (a) At least two fecal specimens, which are collected from the case at least 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after cessation of antimicrobial therapy, fail to show Vibrio cholerae organisms upon testing by a medical laboratory; and

     (b) The person is asymptomatic.

     3. A contact residing in the same household as a case having cholera shall not work in a sensitive occupation unless authorized to do so by the health authority. The health authority may authorize the contact to work in a sensitive occupation if:

     (a) The contact is asymptomatic; and

     (b) At least one fecal specimen, collected from the contact, is examined and shows no Vibrio cholerae organisms.

Ê If the specimen examined pursuant to paragraph (b) shows Vibrio cholerae organisms upon testing by a medical laboratory, the contact is deemed a case subject to the provisions of this section.

     4. The health authority shall instruct cases and carriers of Vibrio cholerae of the need and proper method of hand washing after defecation.

     5. An infant or child who is excreting Vibrio cholerae shall not attend a child care facility. The health authority shall instruct a child care facility where an infant or child who is excreting Vibrio cholerae is attending of the need and proper method of hand washing and other practices for the control of infection which prevent the transmission of cholera.

     6. If a case having cholera is in a medical facility, the medical facility shall provide care to the case in accordance with enteric precautions or other appropriate disease specific precautions.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health, eff. 1-24-92)