Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 36, September 6, 2024
Section 64-7-10 - Other Reportable Events: Bioterrorism Response10.1. All health care providers, health care facilities, animal health care providers, laboratories and law enforcement personnel shall report suspected or confirmed disease due to a bioterrorism agent immediately by telephone with follow up by other rapid means of notification to the local health department in the jurisdiction where the bioterrorist event is identified.10.2. Suspect disease due to bioterrorism agents may be identified by the following epidemiological findings: 10.2.a. Unusual temporal or geographic clustering of illness. This might include persons who attended the same public event or gathering, or patients presenting with clinical signs and symptoms that suggest an infectious disease outbreak. More than two persons presenting with an unexplained febrile illness associated with sepsis, pneumonia, respiratory failure, rash or a botulism-like syndrome with flaccid paralysis, especially if occurring in otherwise healthy persons;10.2.b. An unusual age distribution for common diseases, such as an increase in what appears to be a chickenpox like illness among adult patients, but which might be smallpox;10.2.c. A large number of cases of acute flaccid paralysis with prominent bulbar palsies, suggestive of a release of botulinum toxin;10.2.d. A laboratory finding characteristic of one of the known bioterrorism agents;10.2.e. An unusually high number of laboratory samples, particularly from the same biologic medium, such as blood or stool cultures;10.2.f. Unusual requests for testing or culturing; or10.2.g. Any other unusual medical, laboratory or epidemiological findings not consistent with known patterns of transmission of naturally-occurring infectious agents.10.3. Bioterrorism agents may include, but are not limited to: 10.3.a. Anthrax (Bacillis anthracis);10.3.b. Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin);10.3.c. Brucellosis (Brucella species);10.3.d. Epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens;10.3.e. Food safety threats (e.g., Salmonella species, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shigella);10.3.f. Glanders (Burkholderia mallei);10.3.g. Melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei);10.3.h. Plague (Yersinia pestis);10.3.i. Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci);10.3.j. Q fever (Coxiella burnetii);10.3.k. Ricin toxin from Riccinus communis (castor beans);10.3.l. Smallpox (variola major);10.3.m. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B;10.3.n. Tularemia (Francisella tularensis);10.3.o. Typhus fever (Rickettsia prowazekii);10.3.p. Viral encephalitis (alphaviruses [e.g., Venezuelan equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis]);10.3.q. Viral hemorhagic fevers (filoviruses [e.g., Ebola, Marburg] and arenaviruses [e.g., Lassa, Machupo]); and10.3.r. Water safety threats, such as Vibrio cholerae, Cryptosporidium parvum.10.4. In the event of a suspected or confirmed bioterrorist event, the Commissioner may designate a disease or condition as immediately reportable by direct notification of local health departments and/or health care providers by any rapid means available. In that situation, the Commissioner may request the reporting of cases by phone or by filing an electronic report with WVEDSS.10.5. The local health officer, on notification of a suspected or confirmed bioterrorist event shall immediately notify the Bureau by phone 1(800) 423-1271 or (304) 558-5358. The local health officer shall also report cases by using WVEDSS.10.6. As appropriate, the local health officer shall collaborate in an investigation of the bioterrorist event with: 10.6.a. Other local health officers if cases from other local health jurisdictions are identified;10.6.b. Public health officials from other states if cases from those states are identified;10.6.d. Federal public health officials; and10.6.e. Law enforcement personnel.10.7. The local health officer shall collaborate in an epidemiological investigation of the bioterrorist event, usually to include a complete outbreak investigation as described in section seven (7) of this rule.10.8. The Commissioner shall collaborate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal, state and local law enforcement, emergency responders and other public safety representatives to develop and use a protocol for sharing information on an investigation. 10.8.a. Information may only be shared if the Commissioner determines that sharing such information is critical to protecting the public's health.10.8.b. Any information shared shall be protected from further disclosure in a manner consistent with state and federal law and regulations and in accordance with the protocol agreed upon by all parties.