Further information
Hepatitis viruses
Hepatitis is a disease of the liver that is commonly caused by a virus. Symptoms of hepatitis may include abdominal discomfort, nausea, and loss of appetite, tiredness, fever, jaundice and dark urine. Blood tests are used to diagnose hepatitis and which type of Hepatitis virus is causing infection.
Hepatitis B virus
HBV can be found in blood and body fluids/substances such as semen. It can be passed from one person to another by infected blood or body fluids / substances entering the body.
This may occur:
• by injection or injury with contaminated injecting equipment (e.g. needle stick injury or intravenous drug use) or other sharp objects; - by sexual contact (mainly hepatitis B Virus);
• by transfusion with infected blood or blood products or the transplantation of infected material;
• by indirect transfer of infected blood through shared razors, toothbrushes and other personal items;
• through mucosal contact (e.g. splashes of body substances to the mouth, nose, eyes or non-intact skin);
HBV vaccine is available to everyone. This vaccine consists of three booster injections over a period of 6 months. The vaccine is recommended for all persons who live in the same household as a HBV carrier and for babies who are from a high-risk ethnic group.
HBV patients are at risk of developing Hepatitis D, which can only occur with HBV. Hepatitis D is a defective RNA virus, which can cause further complications. HBV can survive in blood and body fluids/substances outside the body. HBV is not usually transmitted by casual contact between persons.
The risk of an unvaccinated person contracting HBV from a single needle stick or sharps injury ranges from approximately 6 – 30 per cent* depending upon the Hepatitis B antigen status of the source individual. Employees who have received a Hepatitis B vaccine and developed immunity to the virus have a negligible risk of infection of HBV.
Hepatitis C virus
HCV is transmitted via blood-to-blood contact; the highest risk being when equipment used to inject drugs is shared, it may also be transmitted via sexual contact and was in blood transfusions prior to 1990. Occupational infection of HCV may occur through injury from contaminated sharps or, more rarely, through eyes, nose and mouth contact with blood.
No vaccine is available for HCV. The risks of contracting HCV from a needle stick or sharps injury exposure to HCV infected blood is approximately 1.8 per cent.* The risk of contracting HCV from a splash exposure is not known but is expected to be very low.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) can damage the body's immune system so that it is unable to fight off infection. This is the cause of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). An important feature of HIV infection is that there is usually a long period after initial infection during which the person has few or no symptoms of the disease.
HIV usually progresses through several stages:
• In the initial weeks of infection, the person may experience symptoms similar to those of glandular fever. Antibodies to the virus are usually formed at this time (three to twelve weeks after infection occurs).
• Following the initial infection, there is a long period during which the person has few or no symptoms, but HIV is detectable through the presence of antibodies in the blood. This period usually lasts from three to eight years after the initial infection.
• As the virus begins to destroy the immune system, symptoms such as weight loss, fever, diarrhea and lymph gland enlargement may commence. This usually progresses to the full AIDS, which develops when the immune system is severely damaged. The person may become terminally ill with infections, cancers or neurological disorders.
Infection with HIV can occur through the transfer of infected human blood or other body fluids/substances during anal or vaginal sexual intercourse, sharps injury (including needle sticks) and needle sharing related to drug use. HIV is usually not transmitted through non-sexual, person-to-person contact. However, the virus can be transferred where infected materials such as blood or other body fluids/substances come into direct contact with broken skin or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.
HIV can survive in body fluids/substances outside the body; HIV is much more fragile than the Hepatitis viruses and cannot survive for long outside the body.
There is currently no vaccine available that protects against the acquisition of HIV.
The risk of contracting HIV from a needle sticks or sharps injury exposure to HIV infected blood is approximately 0.3 per cent (or 1 in 333)*.
Expressed otherwise, 99.7 per cent of needle stick or sharps injury exposures to HIV infected blood do not lead to infection.
The risk of infection from HIV after exposure of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth to HIV infected blood is approximately 0.1 per cent (or 1 in 1000)*. The risk of infection after exposure of intact skin is below 0.1 per cent. However the risk may increase where broken/damaged skin is present, large areas of skin have been exposed or prolonged exposure has occurred.
*(Statistic from NOHSC Control of Work-related Exposure to Hepatitis and HIV)
Common infectious diseases
Chickenpox (Varicella) & Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
Chickenpox may have a few symptoms, outbreaks of small raised rose-pink spots on the head, face, trunk, arm, arm-pits, and legs and inside the mouth. Spots are followed by small blisters.
Shingles infection is caused by the virus that causes chickenpox that often recurs. Symptoms are pain and numbness.
Chickenpox has a much higher rate of infection and via direct contact, droplet or airborne spread. Shingles has a lower rate of transmission; if a person has not had chickenpox previously they may develop chickenpox from a person with shingles.
To control the spread of chickenpox, avoid touching the weeping sores or shingles. If contact is made, wash hands well with soap and water. Articles of clothing should be disinfected when washed.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea results in watery bowel movements, abdominal cramping, dehydration and often vomiting and fever.
Diarrhoea can be transferred by eating or drinking contaminated food or water and through poor hygiene practises. It is recommended that good hygiene, such as washing hands should be maintained at all times. People affected by diarrhoea are not to work in food preparation areas until that are healthy again.
Glandular Fever
Glandular Fever symptoms include headache, sore throat, mental and physical fatigue, severe weakness and sometimes skin rashes may occur.
Glandular Fever is spread by saliva from person to person. This can also be in the form of saliva on persons hand to another person.
Head Lice (Pediculosis)
Head Lice and nits (eggs) will infest the head, other hairy areas of the body and clothing (especially along the seams of inner surfaces of the clothes) As a result of infestation, the skin can have severe itching and abrasions. Head lice are transmitted by direct contact with an infected person.
Eggs of lice usually hatch in a week and reach maturity in approximately 8-10 days. All material, clothes, bed lines need to be washed in hot water for 20 minutes to destroy the lice and eggs.
Measles
Measles is a highly communicable viral disease with fever, sneezing, runny nose, redness and watering of the eyes. The dry cough is present during the first days and a distinctive rash appears 3-7 days after the early symptoms. Red spots and blotches on the forehead and face spread progressively downwards toward the feet until the whole body is affected.
Susceptive individuals should see their own doctor. Those who have had measles will be permanently immune to the disease.
Meningococcal Meningitis
Meningococcal Meningitis is an acute bacterial disease with symptoms of a sudden onset of fever, intense headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck and a rash. It is transmitted via direct contact, including respiratory droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person.
All material, clothes, bed linen needs to be washed in hot water for 20 minutes.
Scabies
Scabies result in severe itching that continues for days, weeks and becomes worse at night. The itching is caused by a tiny mite who burrows under the skin. Warm parts of the body such as wrists, armpits, elbows, back of shoulders, buttocks and groin are most affected.
Scabies is transmitted by skin to skin contact or through contaminated clothing and bedding. It is important to use hot water cycles in washing and the dryer. Clothes can also be placed in direct sunlight to dry.
Avian Influenza
Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The disease occurs worldwide. While all birds are thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza viruses, many wild bird species carry these viruses with no apparent signs of harm.
Since 1959, instances of human infection with an avian influenza virus have been documented on only 10 occasions. Of the hundreds of strains of avian influenza A viruses, only four are known to have caused human infections: H5N1, H7N3, H7N7, and H9N2. In general, human infection with these viruses has resulted in mild symptoms and very little severe illness, with one notable exception: the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.
All evidence to date indicates that close contact with dead or sick birds is the principal source of human infection with the H5N1 virus. Whilst the incubation period is longer the development of respiratory symptoms is much more rapid. Health authorities continue to monitor Avian Influenza due to the risk of a pandemic developing.
Colds and flu
Generally a virus transmitted from person to person through breathing droplets from sneezes or coughs or touching body parts such as hands or objects contaminated with mucus material.
Avoid transmission by:
• Covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth to stop infecting yourself
• Use paper tissues and throw away after use
• Wash hands with soap thoroughly and frequently, especially before preparing and eating food and after blowing nose
• Wipe down your telephone handsets and dial buttons, keyboards and mouses
• Avoid sharing pens and telephones
Version 1, February 2009