Statement of Principles concerning strongyloidiasis No. 282 of 1995 (Cth)

Instrument No.282 of 1995

Statement of Principles

concerning

STRONGYLOIDIASIS

ICD CODE: 127.2

Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
subsection 196B(2)

1.         Being of the view that there is sound medical-scientific evidence that indicates that strongyloidiasis and death from strongyloidiasis 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 strongyloidiasis or death from strongyloidiasis with the circumstances of that service, are:

(a)       being a prisoner-of-war before the clinical onset of strongyloidiasis; or

(b)       living in unhygienic conditions before the clinical onset of strongyloidiasis; or

(c)       being in an immuno-compromised state before the clinical worsening of strongyloidiasis; or

(d)       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for strongyloidiasis.

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

3.         The factors set out in paragraphs 1(c) to 1(d) apply only where:

(a)       the person’s strongyloidiasis 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 strongyloidiasis 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 Australian Version of The International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), effective date of 1 July 1995, copyrighted by the National Coding Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, and having ISBN 0 642 22235 5;

“immuno-compromised state” means a state, attracting ICD code 279, where the immune response has been attenuated by administration of immunosuppressive drugs, or by irradiation, certain types of infection, malnutrition, or a malignant disease process;

“living in unhygienic conditions” means living in a community lacking appropriate sanitary facilities, at the relevant time;

“strongyloidiasis” means infestation of the small intestine, and occasionally other tissues, attracting ICD code 127.2, by the roundworm (nematode) parasite, Strongyloides spp.

Dated this       Eighteenth          day of              July                 1995

The Common Seal of the    )

Repatriation Medical Authority                   )

was affixed to this instrument   )

in the presence of:   )

KEN DONALD

CHAIRMAN