Case Definition: Avian H5N1 Influenza

Providers should take a travel history on all patients presenting with a acute febrile respiratory illness and should report immediately any suspect cases of avian H5N1 influenza meeting the following clinical AND epidemiologic criteria during the current pandemic alert period.

Suspect case? Call MDH anytime at 651-201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414.

On this page:
Suspect case
Possible case
Epidemiologic criteria
Clinical criteria
Close contact definition
Areas affected by H5N1

Suspect case

Patients who meet both the epidemiologic criteria and the clinical criteria should be tested for H5N1.

  • Infection Control Precautions for Avian Influenza: Initial contact
    Use full barrier protection (airborne, contact, and standard precautions, plus face/eye protection).

  • Notify MDH at 651-201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414.

  • Make note of healthcare workers who had unprotected contact with patient and as much as possible, limit patient's contact with other healthcare workers.

Possible case

Patients who meet any epidemiologic criteria and some/all clinical criteria may be offered tested.

  • Call MDH at 651-201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414 to discuss possible testing and follow-up.

  • Minimally, patient should be instructed to self-monitor and seek medical attention if changes in symptoms.

Epidemiologic criteria

  1. Travel to/resident of area affected by H5N1 avian influenza (animals or humans) within 10 days of onset of symptoms.

AND

  1. Contact with birds or poultry, including touching birds (well-appearing, sick, or dead birds) or consuming uncooked poultry (including blood) in the affected area; or
  2. Direct contact with poultry feces or surfaces contaminated with poultry feces; or
  3. Close contact with someone known or suspected to have H5N1 avian influenza, during or one day prior to that person's illness; or
  4. Close contact with a person who died or was hospitalized due to a severe respiratory illness.

OR

  1. Occupational exposure: possible exposure to H5N1, including:
    1. Healthcare workers (HCWs) in contact with patients known or suspected to have H5N1 infection; or
    2. Worker in a laboratory that contains H5N1 virus; or
    3. Poultry worker (farm, market, or processing), with known or suspected H5N1 avian influenza infection among poultry.

Clinical criteria

  1. Temperature >38°C (100.4°F); and
  2. Cough, sore throat or dyspnea; and
  3. Hospitalized with radiographically confirmed pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) or other undiagnosed severe respiratory illness.

Typical symptoms are respiratory; however, note that some cases have presented with encephalitis or diarrhea. In such cases other specimens may be submitted to MDH for evaluation.

Close contact criteria

Close contact is defined as having cared for or lived with a person known to have avian influenza or having a high likelihood of direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of such a person. Examples of close contact include kissing or embracing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation (<3 feet), physical examination, or any other direct physical contact between persons. Close contact does not include activities such as walking by a person or briefly sitting across from a patient in a waiting room or office.

Areas affected by H5N1

Updated Friday, 19-Nov-2010 16:12:49 CST