QUT protocol considerations for communicable/infectious diseases 10/04
Introduction
Communicable or infectious diseases are those which medical practitioners are required to notify to the Public Health Unit of the Health Department under the Queensland Health Act 1937 Sections 31B-50 and Schedule Two of the Health Regulation 1996.
Diagnosis of a disease is confirmed by laboratory tests, and only medical practitioners have the authority to diagnose, and hence notify diseases. Examples of diseases diagnosed in the 55,000 population of QUT have included typhoid, meningococcal disease, hepatitis, tuberculosis, AIDS, legionellosis, measles, mumps, rubella and laboratory confirmed influenza.
Infectious periods are different for different diseases. Some are communicated during incubation, some through coughing, some though vectors such as the mosquito and so on.
Information re notifiable diseases varies and may come as a result of:
- A timely diagnosis based on laboratory results
- An as yet unconfirmed diagnosis with strong likelihood of disease
- A possible alternative diagnosis
- A late diagnosis with long exposure to others
Checklist for managing notifications of communicable diseases
The Registrar will be the spokesperson for media and publicity. Notification to the University of communicable diseases can occur in a variety of ways, some formal and some informal. For example notification may occur through a family or friend of the patient informing the University. Notification may come through a medical practitioner (QUT or private or hospital). Finally notification may occur formally through the Public Health Unit of the Queensland Health Department.
Regardless of how the University is notified, the Registrar must be informed of any communicable disease. The Registrar will then inform:
- The Associate Director, Health and Safety Advisory Services, who will provide advice to the University and be the contact point for the Public Health Unit of the Queensland Health Department. The Associate Director can be contacted on Ext 9269.
- the QUT Health Services
- Vice-Chancellor's Office
- Director, Corporate Communication
- if appropriate, the International Student Services Office
- the Dean or Faculty Administration Manger (if a student)
- the head of the organisational area (if a staff member)
QUT has to comply with the requirements of the Public Health Unit of the Queensland Department of Health. Their instructions will determine issues of disclosure, contact with individuals, information for dissemination and from time to time, may even govern which university activities are permitted or prohibited.