Statement of Principles concerning influenza No. 267 of 1995 (Cth)

Instrument No.267 of 1995

Statement of Principles

concerning

INFLUENZA

ICD CODE: 487

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
subsection 196B(2)

1.         Being of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that influenza and death from influenza can be related to operational service rendered by veterans, peacekeeping service rendered by members of Peacekeeping Forces and hazardous service rendered by members of the Forces, the Repatriation Medical Authority determines, under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act1986 (the Act), that the factors that must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting influenza or death from influenza with the circumstances of that service, are:

(a)       being exposed to the influenza virus immediately before the clinical onset of influenza; or

(b)       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for the influenza.

2.         Subject to clause 3 (below) at least one of the factors set out in paragraphs 1(a) to 1(b) must be related to any service rendered by a person.

3.         The factor set out in paragraph 1(b) applies only where:

(a)       the person’s influenza was contracted before a period, or part of a period, of service to which the factor is related; and

(b)       the relationship suggested between the influenza and the particular service of a person is a relationship set out in paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e), 70(5)(d) or 70(5A)(d) of the Act.

4.         For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:

“ICD code” means a number assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision, effective date of 1 October 1993, copyrighted by the US Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities, and having the Library of Congress number 77-94472;

“influenza” means a highly contagious acute respiratory disease caused by infection with the influenza virus and characterised by systemic signs, such as fever, prostration, headaches and myalgia as well as inflammation of the respiratory mucous membranes, attracting ICD code 487;

“influenza virus” means the virus being a member of the Orthomyxoviridae family and known as type A, B or C influenza virus.

Dated this       Twenty-first         day of         June              1995

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of:   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN