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
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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)*.
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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.
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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.
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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
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