PBessential

Peterborough County-City Health Unit March 2001

Outbreak Control Manual

Essential First Steps Upon Recognition of an Outbreak

Role of Facility	Role of Public Health Unit
1. Notify Medical Officer of Health.	1. Receive all and assign a public health staff member to outbreak. Establish an Outbreak number (2255-outbreak number-year).
2. Collect and provide the Health Unit with the following information: location (address and phone number) contact person at the above location number of ill individuals number of individuals at risk signs/symptoms presented by ill individuals onset dates of signs and symptoms of ill individuals duration of illness number and type of specimens, if any, sent to the laboratory number and results of confirmed laboratory specimens any possible connection of existing cases control measures instituted	2. Collect the following information from caller: provide facility with the outbreak number location (address and phone number contact person at the above location number of ill individuals number of individuals at risk signs/symptoms presented by ill individuals onset dates of signs and symptoms of ill individuals duration of illness nd type of specimens, if any, sent to the laboratory number and results of confirmed laboratory specimens any possible connection of existing cases control measure instituted
3. Notify appropriate Ministry of Health branch.	3. Public Health Staff to notify Supervisor of Health Protection and Promotion.
4. Direct specimens to Provincial Laboratory only.	4. Public Health Staff to alert Provincial Laboratory of suspected outbreak. Provide outbreak number and relevant outbreak information. Collect appropriate specimen kits from Laboratory.

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Role of Facility Role of Public Health Unit

5. Prepare for visit by Public Health Staff. 5. Public Health Staff to visit suspected outbreak site to meet with contact person and deliver specimen kits to the site.

6. Establish a case definition using information obtained previously, the Reportable Disease Information System (RDIS) Manual, and/or Long-Term Care Guidelines(Appendix 2.) 6. Review case definition with contact person.

7. Initiate "Case Reporting Form" (Appendix 3) and "Daily Record of New Outbreak Cases" form (Appendix 4). 7. Review case report forms with contact person to ensure information is collected and recorded appropriately.

8. Identify and institute appropriate control measures. 8. Review control measures established and suggest additional control measures. (Appendices 5, 6, and 7 for control measures during a respiratory, gastrointestinal or general outbreak.)

9. Prepare a report on the outbreak. Complete the Reportable Disease Information System outbreak form. Provide a copy of the report to the contact person.

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Role of Facility	Role of Public Health Unit
5. Prepare for visit by Public Health Staff.	5. Public Health Staff to visit suspected outbreak site to meet with contact person and deliver specimen kits to the site.
6. Establish a case definition using information obtained previously, the Reportable Disease Information System (RDIS) Manual, and/or Long-Term Care Guidelines(Appendix 2.)	6. Review case definition with contact person.
7. Initiate "Case Reporting Form" (Appendix 3) and "Daily Record of New Outbreak Cases" form (Appendix 4).	7. Review case report forms with contact person to ensure information is collected and recorded appropriately.
8. Identify and institute appropriate control measures.	8. Review control measures established and suggest additional control measures. (Appendices 5, 6, and 7 for control measures during a respiratory, gastrointestinal or general outbreak.)
	9. Prepare a report on the outbreak. Complete the Reportable Disease Information System outbreak form. Provide a copy of the report to the contact person.