NAC441A.722. Viral hemorrhagic fever.

     1. The health authority shall investigate each report of a case having viral hemorrhagic fever or a suspected case considered to have viral hemorrhagic fever to:

     (a) Confirm the diagnosis;

     (b) Determine the extent of any outbreak;

     (c) Identify the source of the infection;

     (d) Identify any susceptible contacts; and

     (e) Determine the need for measures to prevent, suppress and control the spread of the disease, including, without limitation, the need to:

          (1) Isolate the case or suspected case; and

          (2) Quarantine any susceptible contacts.

     2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a case having viral hemorrhagic fever or a suspected case considered to have viral hemorrhagic fever must be isolated from all persons until the case or suspected case is no longer considered to be infectious.

     3. If a case having viral hemorrhagic fever or a suspected case considered to have viral hemorrhagic fever is treated in a medical facility, the medical facility shall provide care to the case or suspected case in accordance with strict isolation or other appropriate disease specific precautions until the case or suspected case is no longer considered to be infectious.

     4. An employee of a medical facility shall not have direct contact with a case having viral hemorrhagic fever or with a suspected case considered to have viral hemorrhagic fever unless the employee uses appropriate personal protective equipment.

     5. The health authority shall immediately notify the State Health Officer of a report of a case having viral hemorrhagic fever or a suspected case considered to have viral hemorrhagic fever.

     6. As used in this section, “viral hemorrhagic fever” means infection with:

     (a) A filovirus, including, but not limited to, Ebola virus or Marburg virus;

     (b) An Old World arenavirus, including, but not limited to, Lassa virus or Lujo virus;

     (c) A New World arenavirus, including, but not limited to, Guanarito virus, Machupo virus, Junin virus or Sabia virus; or

     (d) A nairovirus, including, but not limited to, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R087-08, eff. 1-13-2011)