CDC Health Alert Network Health Advisory: Advice for Health Care Providers Treating Patients in or Recently Returned from Hurricane-Affected Areas, Including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands

October 27, 2017

Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with federal, state, territorial, and local agencies and global health partners in response to recent hurricanes. CDC is aware of media reports and anecdotal accounts of various infectious diseases in hurricane-affected areas, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI). Because of compromised drinking water and decreased access to safe water, food, and shelter, the conditions for outbreaks of infectious diseases exist.

Background
Infectious disease outbreaks of diarrheal and respiratory illnesses can occur when access to safe water and sewage systems are disrupted and personal hygiene is difficult to maintain. Additionally, vector borne diseases can occur due to increased mosquito breeding in standing water; both Puerto Rico and USVI are at risk for outbreaks of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. The period of heightened risk may last through March 2018, based on current predictions of full restoration of power and safe water systems in Puerto Rico and USVI.

In addition, providers in health care facilities that have experienced water damage or contaminated water systems should be aware of the potential for increased risk of infections in those facilities due to invasive fungi, nontuberculous Mycobacterium species, Legionella species, and other Gram-negative bacteria associated with water (e.g., Pseudomonas), especially among critically ill or immunocompromised patients.

Cholera has not occurred in Puerto Rico or USVI in many decades and is not expected to occur post-hurricane.

Recommendations
These recommendations apply to healthcare providers treating patients in Puerto Rico and USVI, as well as those treating patients in the continental U.S. who recently traveled in hurricane-affected areas (e.g., within the past 4 weeks), during the period of September 2017 - March 2018.

• Health care providers and public health practitioners in hurricane-affected areas should look for community and healthcare-associated infectious diseases.  
• Health care providers in the continental U.S. are encouraged to ask patients about recent travel (e.g., within the past 4 weeks) to hurricane-affected areas.
• All healthcare providers should consider less common infectious disease etiologies in patients presenting with evidence of acute respiratory illness, gastroenteritis, renal or hepatic failure, wound infection, or other febrile illness. Some particularly important infectious diseases to consider include leptospirosis, dengue, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, vibriosis, and influenza.
• In the context of limited laboratory resources in hurricane-affected areas, health care providers should contact their territorial or state health department if they need assistance with ordering specific diagnostic tests.
• For certain conditions, such as leptospirosis, empiric therapy should be considered pending results of diagnostic tests- treatment for leptospirosis is most effective when initiated early in the disease process. Providers can contact their territorial or state health department or CDC for consultation.
• Local health care providers are strongly encouraged to report patients for whom there is a high level of suspicion for leptospirosis, dengue, hepatitis A, typhoid, and vibriosis to their local health authorities, while awaiting laboratory confirmation.
• Confirmed cases of leptospirosis, dengue, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and vibriosis should be immediately reported to the territorial or state health department to facilitate public health investigation and, as appropriate, mitigate the risk of local transmission. While some of these conditions are not listed as reportable conditions in all states, they are conditions of public health importance and should be reported.

For More Information

• General health information about hurricanes and other tropical storms: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/index.html
• Information about Hurricane Maria: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/hurricane_maria.html
• Information for Travelers:
  • Travel notice for Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/hurricane-irma-in-the-caribbean
  • Health advice for travelers to Puerto Rico: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/puerto-rico?s_cid=ncezid-dgmq-travel-single-001
  • Health advice for travelers to the U.S. Virgin Islands: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/usvirgin-islands?s_cid=ncezid-dgmq-travel-leftnav-traveler
  • Resources from CDC Health Information for International Travel 2018 (the Yellow Book):
    • Humanitarian Aid Workers: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/advising-travelers-with-specific-needs/humanitarian-aid-workers
• Post-travel Evaluation: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/post-travel-evaluation/general-approach-to-the-returned-traveler
• Information about infectious diseases after a disaster: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/disease/infectious.html
  • Dengue: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html
  • Hepatitis A: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HAV/index.htm
  • Leptospirosis: https://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/
  • Typhoid fever: https://www.cdc.gov/typhoid-fever/index.html
  • Vibriosis: https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/index.html
• Information about other infectious diseases of concern:
  • Conjunctivitis: https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/
  • Influenza: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
  • Scabies: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/scabies/index.html
  • Tetanus and wound management: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/emergwoundhcp.html
    • Tetanus in Areas Affected by a Hurricane: Guidelines for Clinicians https://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/cocanow/2017/2017sept12.asp
      
      

For additional questions, contact Karyn Richman at [email protected]

or Eric Wortman at [email protected].