The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has asked VHCA-VCAL to share a clinician letter from Commissioner M. Norman Oliver, MD regarding respiratory illness outbreaks reported from Virginia long term care and assisted living facilities this summer. The agency has also complied additional guidance with infection control and reporting reminders.

According to the clinician letter, recent illnesses have mainly involved older adults or persons with chronic medical conditions in assisted living and long term care facilities.

Cases have not been associated with the same pathogen. Multiple pathogens have been reported, including those causing:

• pertussis,
• influenza,
• Haemophilus influenzae infection,
• Legionnaire’s disease, and
• pneumonia caused by rhinovirus, or human metapneumovirus.

VDH asks that healthcare providers consider the following:

• Report suspected and confirmed cases of diseases listed on the Virginia Reportable Disease List to the local health department. Certain conditions and all outbreaks, regardless of the cause, require immediate reporting. For some conditions (e.g., invasive Haemophilus influenzae infection), testing of culture isolates at Virginia’s Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services is required.
• Depending on the pathogen and its spread, infection control precautions or timely administration of postexposure prophylaxis might be required to prevent further illnesses.
• Remind your patients to take precautions to avoid heat-related illness.

The additional guidance provided by the department includes:

• Definition of a respiratory outbreak in long term care settings
• Action steps for testing and reporting, and infection control

Additional Resources

VDH Infection Prevention Resources