Viral haemorrhagic fevers

Statutory notification

• Viral haemorrhagic fevers (including Ebola disease, Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever) are notifiable infectious diseases in Western Australia.
• Alert: Suspected cases must be immediately reported by telephone to the local public health unit.
• Case definition: A suspected case requires both clinical and epidemiological evidence. Ebola disease – CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units (external site) for detailed suspected Ebola disease case definition. For national probable and confirmed surveillance case definitions, see Viral haemorrhagic fever (not elsewhere classified) (external site).
• Notification: Notify using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 214KB) or regional residents (PDF 213KB). For notification of regional residents, see public health units contact details.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health summary

• Infectious agent: Viral haemorrhagic fever is caused by several different viruses (including ebolaviruses, marburgviruses, Lassa virus, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus).
• Transmission: Transmission depends on the virus. Initial human infection may occur through contact with infected animals, animal tissues or bodily fluids, or through tick bites for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Viral haemorrhagic fevers can then spread from person to person through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials.
• Incubation period: Depends on the virus. The incubation period for Ebola disease and Marburg virus disease is usually 2 to 21 days, for Lassa fever, it is usually 6 to 21 days, and for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, it is usually 1 to 12 days.
• Infectious period: People with viral haemorrhagic fever are not considered infectious before the onset of symptoms. Infectiousness may continue while blood or bodily fluids contain viable virus, including after death.
• Case exclusion: People with viral haemorrhagic fever must be isolated and treated in an appropriate quarantine hospital facility.
• Contact exclusion: Routine exclusion of contacts is not recommended, however, active surveillance by the public health unit should occur.
• Treatment: Treatments are available for Ebola disease caused by Ebola (Zaire) virus. There are currently no approved treatments for other viral haemorrhagic fevers, including other ebolaviruses such as Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus. No specific viral haemorrhagic fever treatments are currently available in Australia.
• Immunisation: A licenced Ebola vaccine is available in some countries to protect against Ebola (Zaire) virus in outbreak settings. Protection against other ebolaviruses, such as Sudan virus or Bundibugyo virus, has not been established and the vaccine is not available in Australia. No vaccines exist for other viral haemorrhagic fevers.
• Case follow-up: Conducted by local public health units.

Guidelines for public health units

• Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Response Plan for Western Australia (PDF 1.0MB)
• Ebola disease – CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units (external site)
• Guidance for managing departing and returning aid workers (external site)
• Information for front line health professionals (external site)

Infection prevention and control

• Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Infection Prevention & Control Guideline for Western Australia (PDF 368KB)
• Infection prevention and control principles and recommendations (external site)