+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| **BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL          | GCRC POLICY:     | PAGE 1 OF 1      |
| LABORATORY**                   | IC-15            |                  |
|                                |                  |                  |
| **GENERAL CLINICAL RESEARCH    |                  |                  |
| CENTER POLICY**                |                  |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|                                | PREPARED BY: B.  |                  |
|                                | Pyatt Infection  |                  |
|                                | Control          |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|                                | REVIEWED BY: W.  |                  |
|                                | Gunther GCRC     |                  |
|                                | Manager          |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| SUBJECT: OUTBREAK OF ANY       | APPROVED BY: G.  |                  |
| DISEASE                        | J. Wang Medical  |                  |
|                                | Department Chair |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|                                | EFFECTIVE DATE:  |                  |
|                                | 1-15-08          |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
|                                | REVISION         |                  |
|                                | HISTORY: 3       |                  |
+--------------------------------+------------------+------------------+

**1.0 [DEFINITION]{.underline}**

> An outbreak or an epidemic exists when there are more cases of a
> particular disease than expected in a given area, or among a specific
> group of people, over a particular period of time. An aggregation of
> cases in a given area over a particular period, regardless of whether
> the number of cases is more than expected, is a cluster. In an
> outbreak or epidemic, we usually presume that the cases are related to
> one another or that they have a common cause.

**2.0 [POLICY ]{.underline}**

Any healthcare provider having knowledge of any outbreak or undue
prevalence of infectious or parasitic disease or infestation shall
promptly report the facts to the Infection Control Practitioner or OMC
who will then contact the local health department. The following are
examples of diseases, outbreaks of which are to be so reported: epidemic
gastroenteritis, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, impetigo, chickenpox,
influenza and scabies.

**IN ADDITION:**

**IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS AND WORK RESTRICTIONS**

**See Attachment 1**

[**Guidelines for work restrictions for personnel with infectious
diseases**](http://www.bnl.gov/medical/CRCInfectionControlManual/IC15-Att1.doc)

**THE FOLLOWING ARE THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN IF AN EXPOSURE IS SUSPECTED**

**See Attachment 2**

[**Steps to be taken if an exposure is
suspected**](http://www.bnl.gov/medical/CRCInfectionControlManual/IC15-Att2.doc)

The only official copy of this file is the one online at the Medical
Department website under "Clinical Research Center Policy Manual."
Before using a printed copy, verify that it is the most current version
by checking the document effective date on the website.