This section provides guidance to health services for the management of a suspected or confirmed case of VHF. Refer to the surveillance case definition for confirmed and suspected cases in the glossary, noting that this case definition is the Communicable Disease Network Australia (CDNA) surveillance case definition. It is not the clinical criteria for diagnosis of VHF, which should be made in discussion with an infectious diseases specialist.
A single case of suspected or confirmed VHF must be notified to the LPHU immediately. LPHUs will receive the initial notification, immediately escalate to the department and undertake a preliminary risk assessment with the DCHO-CD. An IMT with relevant stakeholders will be convened by the department to coordinate the overall public health response. Certain actions recommended below will be discussed and agreed through the IMT.
Reviewed 26 February 2026