Dengue Fever Surveillance Protocol

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

2 – 4 KING STREET, KINGSTON, JAMAICA.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DENGUE FEVER SURVEILLANCE PROTOCOL

-         revised 31 August 2012.

Dengue Fever is a Class I Notifiable Disease for notification purposes, in order to assist with enhanced monitoring. Dengue Fever (DF), Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) cases must be reported immediately on suspicion. There is currently enhanced surveillance for DF, DHF and DSS.

The protocol below shall be adhered to for surveillance activities and reporting.

v  There shall be daily reporting of ALL suspected cases of DF, DHF and DSS from all health care facilities (including sentinel and non-sentinel sites, private and public hospitals, and private practitioners’ offices).

v  These reports must be sent daily to the Parish Health Department from where they will be forwarded to the Regional Health Authorities and the National Surveillance Unit (NSU).

v  A Class 1 Notification Form must be filled out for all suspected cases of DF, DHF and DSS. 

v  All suspected DF, DHF and DSS cases shall also be recorded on the standard Ministry of Health Line Listing form, providing information on: age, gender, parish of residence, date of onset of illness, signs and symptoms, whether or not the patient has been hospitalized, whether or not a sample was sent off (including date, type and result of test), travel history and care site.

v  The updated line listing must be submitted by the Parish Health Department to the NSU at 10:00 am each day.    

v  A Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever Case Investigation form must also be filled out for each suspected case of DHF and DSS. ( See attachment)

v  All cases of DHF and DSS must be admitted to hospital, investigated and managed in accordance with the standard clinical guidelines.

v  All suspected dengue-related deaths must be reported and investigated within 72 hours.

v  All suspected cases of DHF and DSS must have a blood sample taken for dengue testing.

v  In addition, there must be 1:10 sampling of all suspected DF cases. Take the sample from the first suspected case that presents each day and every 10^th suspected case thereafter.

v  For all DF, DHF and DSS samples, five (5) mls. of blood should be collected in a red top tube and stored at 4° C in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the specimen. The sample(s) must be transported on ice in an igloo to the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) within 48 hrs.

v  For samples that are scheduled to arrive after 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and on weekends, contact is to be made with the NPHL, via telephone (Tel. No.: 967-2234).  

v  Samples are NOT to be sent to any private laboratories or directly to the University Hospital of the West Indies Laboratory.

v  Private practitioners should contact the Parish Medical Officer (Health) at the relevant Parish Health Departments for transportation of samples.

v  The Medical Officer (Health) must ensure that Class 1 Notification Forms and updated Line Listing Forms are forwarded to the Regional Health Authorities and the National Surveillance Unit, on a daily basis. In addition, follow-up on the dispatch of samples, receipt of results and in-patient management and outcome is also to be ensured.

v  The Regional Technical Director, in collaboration with the Regional Medical Epidemiologist, must ensure that the Class 1 Notification Forms and the Updated Line Listing Forms are forwarded to the National Surveillance Unit, on a daily basis. In addition, follow-up on the dispatch of samples, receipt of results and in-patient management and outcome is also to be ensured.

For further information, please contact the National Surveillance Unit, Ministry of Health.

 Telephone numbers: 924-9668 or 967-1110 / 1101 / 1103 / 1105 / 1107 / 1109.