Statement of Principles concerning strongyloidiasis No. 283 of 1995 (Cth)

Instrument No.283 of 1995

Statement of Principles

concerning

STRONGYLOIDIASIS

ICD CODE: 127.2

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 strongyloidiasis and death from strongyloidiasis 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 (the Act), that the factors that must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, strongyloidiasis or death from strongyloidiasis is connected with the circumstances of that service, are:

(a)       living in unhygienic conditions before the clinical onset of strongyloidiasis, unless the person's risk of contracting strongyloidiasis from exposure to non-service related factors was significantly greater than the risk from living in service-related unhygienic conditions; or

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

(c)       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(c) must be related to any service rendered by a person.

3.         The factors set out in paragraphs 1(b) to 1(c) 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) 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 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