Detection Criteria (continued)

Slide 7 of 63

Notes:

Syndrome-based *Due to rapid progression to illness and potential for secondary infection with some agents, it may not be practical to wait diagnostic lab confirmation. (MORE later in surveillance.)

Epidemiologic Features *Features that should alert healthcare providers to the possibility of a bioterrorism-related outbreak. Some of these features include: (USE HANDOUT 5: Epi Clues That May Signal… HERE)

ØLarge number of ill persons with similar disease or syndrome;

ØLarge numbers of unexplained disease, syndrome or deaths;

ØUnusual illness in a population;

ØHigher morbidity and mortality than expected with a common disease or syndrome;

ØFailure of a common disease to respond to usual therapy;

ØSingle case of disease caused by an uncommon agent;

ØMultiple unusual/unexplained disease coexisting in the same pt without other explanation;

ØDisease with an unusual geographic or seasonal distribution;

ØMultiple atypical presentations of disease agents

ØSimilar genetic type among agents isolated from temporally or spatially distinct sources;

ØUnusual, atypical, genetically engineered, or antiquated strain of agent;

ØEndemic disease with unexplained increase in incidence;

ØSimultaneous clusters of similar illness in non-contiguous areas, domestic or foreign;

ØAtypical aerosol, food, or water transmission;

ØIll persons presenting near the same time;

ØDeaths or illness among animals that precedes or accompanies illness or death in humans.