Statement of Principles concerning scrub typhus No. 26 of 1995 (Cth)

Instrument No.26 of 1995

Statement of Principles

concerning

SCRUB TYPHUS

ICD CODE: 081.2

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
subsection 196B(3)

1.         Being of the view that, on the sound medical-scientific evidence available to the Repatriation Medical Authority, it is more probable than not that scrub typhus and death from scrub typhus can be related to eligible war service (other than operational service) rendered by veterans and defence service (other than hazardous service) rendered by members of the Forces, the Repatriation Medical Authority determines, under subsection 196B(3) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, that the factors that must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, scrub typhus or death from scrub typhus is connected with the circumstances of that service, are:

(a)       being in an area indicated by the shaded area on the map contained in the Schedule not more than 21 days before the clinical onset of scrub typhus; or

(b)       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for scrub typhus.

2.         Subject to clause 3 (below) at least one of the factors set out in paragraphs 1(a) and (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 scrub typhus was contracted prior to a period, or part of a period, of service to which the factor is related; and

(b) the relationship suggested between the scrub typhus and the particular service of a person is a relationship set out in paragraph 8(1)(e), 9(1)(e) or 70(5)(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;

“scrub typhus” means a rickettsial disease attracting ICD code 081.2 that is:

(a)       caused by R tsutsugamushi;

(b)       limited to eastern and south-eastern Asia, India, northern Australia and to all islands immediately proximate to these areas;

(c)       transmitted by the larvae of several species of mites, particularly Leptotrombidium (Trombicula) akamushi and L.deliense); and

(d)       characterised by:

(i)        a primary lesion at the site of the bite of an infected mite;

(ii)       a fever of about two weeks duration;

(iii)     a cutaneous rash which develops about the fifth day; and

(iv)      the appearance late in the second week of agglutinins of the OX-K strain of Proteus bacillus.

SCHEDULE

Dated this                   twelfth           day of              January         1995

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of:   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN