Health Professionals Update – Vol. 19, No. 18
From:
Dr. Atiba Nelson, MD, MPH, CCFP, FRCPC; Associate Medical Officer of Health
In this issue
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (including Ebola) and clinical risk assessment tool
- Immediate actions for suspected Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (including Ebola) cases and notification pathway for special pathogens
Key messages
- An outbreak of Ebola virus disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus is ongoing in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with related cases reported in Uganda
- There are no cases in Canada, and the risk remains low; however, clinicians should still be alert for possible imported cases in returning travellers from affected areas
- Ebola spreads through direct contact with infectious bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces
- Consider Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF), including Ebola, in patients with compatible symptoms and relevant travel or exposure within the past 21 days
- Use Public Health Ontario’s VHF clinical risk assessment tool to guide assessment
Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (including Ebola) and clinical risk assessment tool
An outbreak of Ebola virus disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus is ongoing in parts of the DRC, with related cases reported in Uganda. While the risk to Canada remains low, clinicians should still be alert for possible imported cases in returning travellers from affected areas. Ebola spreads through direct contact with infectious bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces
Use Public Health Ontario’s Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) clinical risk assessment tool to guide assessment of clinical and exposure risk and support a focused travel history
Immediate actions for suspected Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (including Ebola) cases and notification pathway for special pathogens
- Isolate the patient in a single room or an airborne infection isolation room and implement droplet and contact precautions with appropriate PPE, following Public Health Ontario guidance for Infection Prevention and Control Management of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever in Acute Care.
- Notify Peel Public Health by phone at 905-799-7700 or toll free 1-888-919-7800.
- Contact local and regional Infectious Disease and IPAC specialists, as available, to support decision-making around implementation of VHF protocols and review of the VHF risk assessment.
- Initiate the Ministry of Health Notification Pathway for Special Pathogens by calling the 24/7 Health Care Provider Hotline at 1-866-212-2272 (ext. 1) to start a coordination call.
- Notify your hospital infection prevention and control (IPAC) team, occupational health and safety team, and an infectious diseases specialist.
- Notify your local or hospital laboratory management and microbiologist.
- Do not collect specimens for microbiological testing until advised through the coordination process and after consultation with Public Health Ontario Laboratory.
Related information
- Ebola virus disease: For health professionals and humanitarian aid workers - PHAC
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers - PHO
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever symptom and exposure risk assessment for clinician use - PHO
- Infection Prevention and Control management of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever in acute care - PHO
Contact us
The Health Professionals Update (HPU) is distributed to physician offices in Peel region via email. Share this update with other health professionals in your clinic.
More information:
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- For questions about this update, email healthprofessionals@peelregion.ca.