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Division of Public Health
Statutory Authority: 16 Delaware Code, Section 122; 128; 129; 504; 505; 507; 702 and 707 (16 Del.C. §§122, 128, 129, 504, 505, 507, 702, 707) 16 DE Admin. Code 4202
4202 Control of Communicable and Other Disease Conditions
These proposed regulations, "Regulations for the Control of Infectious Disease," will replace by revision the current "Regulations for the Control of Communicable and Other Disease Conditions," adopted August 2, 1984 and most recently amended July 10, 2001.
In compliance with the State's Administrative Procedures ACT (APA – Title 29, Chapter 101 of the Delaware Code), and under authority of Title 16, Chapters 1, 5 & 7 (sections enumerated above), Delaware Health and Social Services is proposing amendments to the Regulations for the Control of Communicable and Other Disease Conditions and is seeking comments on these amendments. A summary of amendments and amended regulations are attached below. Any person who wishes to make written suggestions, compilations of data, testimony, briefs or other written materials concerning the proposed regulations must submit same to David P. Walton, Office of the Director, Jesse Cooper Building, 417 Federal Street, Dover, Delaware 19901, by January 3, 2006.
The action concerning the determination of whether to adopt the proposed regulations will be based on the results of the Department and Division staff analysis and the consideration of the comments and written materials filed by other interested persons.
Summary of Proposed Changes
• Change the name of the regulation to "Regulations for the Control of Infectious Disease"
• Definitions and language added to make regulation consistent with the Emergency Health Powers Act (EHPA)
• Permits hospitals and laboratories to report notifiable diseases electronically and requires reporting by that method when facilities are authorized to do so
• Authorizes hospitals to report syndromes (symptoms) in addition to diagnosed illnesses
• Removes requirement of DPH to destroy name on reported cases of HIV within 90 days, and makes other HIV reporting changes necessary for compliance with CDC/HRSA guidelines
• Complete revision of quarantine section to make consistent with EHPA
• Removed enforcement and penalty section (enforcement & penalties are in code)
• Changed list of notifiable diseases and list of diseases for which specimens must be sent to the DPH Lab
1.0 Applicable Codes
These regulations are adopted by the Department of Health & Social Services pursuant to 16 Del. C. §122(1), (2), (3) (a and j), (4), (5); §128; §129; §151; §503; §504; §505; §507; §508; §702; §706 and 707. These regulations were originally adopted on August 2, 1984 effective September 1, 1984, and subsequently amended.
The following terms shall mean:
"Carrier" A person who harbors pathogenic organisms of communicable disease but who does not show clinical evidence of the disease and serves as a potential source of infection.
"Case" A person whose body has been invaded by an infectious agent with the result that clinical symptoms have occurred.
"Child Care Facility" Any organization or business created for, and having as its major purpose, the daily care and/or education of children under the age of 7 years.
"Communicable Disease" means an illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic products which arises through transmission of that agent or its products from a reservoir to a susceptible host either directly as from an infected person or animal or indirectly, through an intermediate plant or animal host, vector, or the inanimate environment means "Contagious Disease".
"Contact" A person or animal that has been in such association with an infected person or animal or a contaminated environment as to have had opportunity to acquire the infection.
"Contagious Disease" An infectious disease that can be transmitted from person to person, or animal to person.
"Designee" The person named by the Director of the Division of Public Health to assume a specific responsibility.
"Division" The Division of Public Health.
"Division Director" The Director of the Division of Public Health.
"Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)" an adherence-enhancing strategy in which a health care worker or other designated person watches the patient swallow each dose of medication.
"Epidemic" or "Outbreak" The occurrence in persons in a community, institution, region, or other defined area of cases of an illness of similar nature clearly in excess of normal expectancy, but not upon declaration of a state of emergency due to such illness of similar nature.
"Health care provider" Any person or entity who provides health care services, including, but not limited to, hospitals, medical clinics and offices, special care facilities, medical laboratories, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered and other nurses, paramedics, emergency medical or laboratory technicians, and ambulance and emergency medical workers.
"HIV Infection" repeatedly reactive screening tests for HIV antibody (for example, enzyme immunoassay) with specific antibody identified by the use of supplemental tests such as Western Blot or immunofluorescence assay; or direct identification of virus in host tissues by virus isolation (for example, culture); or HIV antigen detection (for example p24 antigen); or a positive result on any other highly specific licensed test for HIV.
"Infectious disease" A disease caused by a living organism or other pathogen, including a fungus, bacillus, parasite, protozoan or virus. An infectious disease may or may not be transmissible from person to person or animal to person.
"Isolation" The physical separation and confinement of an individual or group of individuals who are infected or reasonably believed to be infected with a contagious or possibly contagious disease from non-isolated individuals to prevent or limit the transmission of the disease to non-isolated individuals.
"Medical Examiner" A physician appointed pursuant to 29 Del.C. §4703 or 7903(a)(3) who is authorized to investigate the causes and circumstances of death.
"Nosocomial Disease" A disease occurring in a patient in a health-care facility and in whom it was not present or incubating at the time of admission.
"Notifiable Disease" An infectious communicable disease or condition of public health significance required to be reported to the Division of Public Health in accordance with these Rules.
"Notification" A written or verbal report as required by any section of these Rules.
"Outbreak" - Refer to definition of "Epidemic".
"Post-Secondary Institution" Means and includes state universities, private colleges, technical and community colleges, vocational technical schools and hospital nursing schools.
"Quarantine" An official order that limits the freedom of movement and actions of persons or animals in order to prevent the spread of notifiable disease or other disease condition. The Division Director or designee shall determine which persons or animals are subject to quarantine and shall issue appropriate instructions The physical separation and confinement of an individual or group of individuals who are or may have been exposed to a contagious or possibly contagious disease and who do not show signs or symptoms of contagious disease from non-quarantined individuals to prevent or limit the transmission of the to disease to non-quarantined individuals.
"Resistant Organism" Any organism which traditionally was inactivated or killed by a drug but has, over time, developed mechanisms to render that drug ineffective.
"Sensitive Situation" A setting, as judged by the Director of the Division of Public Health or designee in which the presence of a person or animal infected with or suspected of being infected with a notifiable or other communicable disease or condition which may affect the public health would increase significantly the probability of spread of such disease and would, therefore, constitute a public health hazard, but not a public health emergency as defined in Title 20 3132(11) of the Delaware Code. Sensitive situations may include, but are not limited to, schools, child-care facilities, hospitals, and other patient-care facilities, food storage, food processing establishments or food outlets.
"Source of Infection" The person, animal, object or substance from which an infectious agent passes directly to the host.
"Suspect" A person or animal whose medical history and symptoms suggest that he or it may have or may be developing a communicable disease condition.
"Syndromic Surveillance" Surveillance using signs and symptoms that precede diagnosis and may signal a sufficient probability of a case or an outbreak to warrant further public health response.
2.0 Notifiable Diseases or Conditions to be Reported Conditions to be Reported, Timeliness and Manner of Reporting
2.1 Notifiable Diseases Reporting
The notifiable diseases specified in the Appendices to these regulations are declared as dangerous to the public health. The occurrence or suspected occurrence of these diseases, including those identified after death, shall be reported as defined in Section 3 to the Division of Public Health. Such reports shall be made within 48 hours of recognition except as otherwise provided in these regulations. Reports shall be made by telephone or in writing except for certain specified diseases as indicated by a (T) which shall be reported immediately by telephone. Certain diseases are reportable in number only and are indicated by an (N). The Division of Public Health may list additional diseases and conditions on its reporting forms for which reporting is encouraged but not required.
2.2 Timeliness and Content of Notifiable Disease Reports
2.2.1 Reports pursuant to this subsection shall be made electronically, telephonically, facsimile, or in writing within 48 hours of recognition to the Division Director or designee, except as otherwise noted in these regulations or specified in the Appendices to these regulations.
2.2.2 Except as otherwise provided by these regulations, reports of notifiable or other diseases or conditions required to be reported by these regulations shall contain sufficient information to contact person reporting. When available, the following information shall be reported: the name, address, telephone number, date of birth, race, gender, and disease of the person ill or infected, the date of onset of illness; the name, address, and telephone number of the person's health care provider; and any pertinent laboratory information.
2.3 Ordinary Skill
Any person who is required to report a disease or other condition under this Section shall use ordinary skill in determining the presence of the reportable disease or condition. If the determination of the disease or condition is disputable and the disease or condition may have potential public health concern or may potentially be an indicator of a public health emergency, the Division Director or designee may request tests through the Division's laboratory or another certified laboratory to help resolve uncertainty.
2.4 Privacy Protection
The Division of Public Health is the state's recognized public health authority as defined in HIPAA (45 CFR § 164.501) pursuant to 45 CFR § 164.512 (b). Covered entities may disclose without individual authorization, protected health information to public health authorities. As the recognized public health authority for the State of Delaware, the Division of Public Health is authorized by law to collect or receive protected health information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability, including, but not limited to, the reporting of disease, injury, vital events such as birth or death, and the conduct of public health surveillance, public health investigations, and public health interventions. The information required to be reported represents the minimum necessary to carry out our public health mandates pursuant to 45 CFR § 164.514(d) of the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
2.5 Electronic Reporting Systems
The Division may establish a system for electronic reporting to improve the accuracy and timeliness of reporting notifiable diseases. The system shall be technologically designed to ensure data security and compatibility with other state and federal public health reporting systems to the extent feasible. Those authorized to participate in electronic reporting systems must meet minimum standards for compliance and training as determined by the Division.
2.6 Syndromic Surveillance Reporting
The Division may establish a state-wide syndromic surveillance system. The system shall be technologically designed to ensure data security and compatibility with other state and federal public health reporting systems to the extent feasible. Those authorized to participate in syndromic surveillance must meet minimum standards for compliance and training as determined by the Division. The Director will establish what syndromes will be reported. The Director may change and/or add reportable syndromes to assure the monitoring of health events of public health importance.
3.0 Report of Outbreaks and Potential Causes of a Public Health Emergency
3.1 Outbreaks
A health care provider or any other person identified in Section 4 having knowledge of any outbreak of any notifiable disease or clusters of any illness which may be of public concern, shall report such outbreaks within 24 hours to the Division Director or designee.
3.2 Public Health Emergencies
3.2.1 A health care provider or any other person having knowledge of a public health emergency shall immediately report all cases of persons who harbor any illness or health condition, or symptoms of said illness or health condition, that may be potential causes of a public health emergency. The Division Director or designee may declare certain illnesses or health conditions as public health emergencies which shall be reported.
3.2.2 A pharmacist shall report any unusual or increased prescription rates, unusual types of prescriptions, or unusual trends in pharmacy visits that may be potential causes of a public health emergency. Prescription-related events that require a report include, but are not limited to:
3.2.2.1 An unusual increase in the number of prescriptions to treat fever, respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints;
3.2.2.2 An unusual increase in the number of prescriptions for antibiotics or other pharmaceuticals or sales of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals; and
3.2.2.3 Any prescription that treats a disease that is relatively uncommon or may be associated with terrorism.
4.0 Reporting of Notifiable Diseases Persons and Institutions Required to Report
4.1 Attending Practitioners
Reports required by Sections 1 and 2 shall be made to the Division Director or designee by any attending practitioner, licensed or otherwise permitted in Delaware to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy, or veterinary medicine, who diagnoses or suspects the existence of any disease on the notifiable disease list or by the medical examiner in cases of unattended deaths.
4.1 Health Care Providers
Reports required by Sections 2 and 3 shall be made to the Division Director or designee by any health care provider who diagnoses or suspects the existence of any disease required to be reported or by the medical examiner in cases of unattended deaths.
4.2 Hospitals
4.2.1 The chief administrative officer of each civilian hospital, long-term care facility, or other patient-care facility shall (and the United States military and Veterans Administration Hospitals are requested to) appoint an individual from the staff, hereinafter referred to as "reporting officer," who shall be responsible for reporting cases or suspect cases of diseases on the notifiable disease list in persons admitted to, attended to, or residing in the facility.
3.3.2 Such case reports shall be made to the Division Director or designee within 48 hours of recognition or suspicion, except as otherwise provided in these regulations.
4.2.2 Reporting of a case or suspect case of a notifiable disease by a hospital fulfills the requirements of the attending practitioner to report; however, it is the responsibility of the attending practitioner to ensure that the report is made pursuant to Section 4.1.
4.2.3 The hospital reporting officer shall also report to the Division Director or designee communicable diseases not specified in Section 2, should the disease occur in a nosocomial disease outbreak situation which may significantly impact the public health. Such reports shall be made within 24 hours of the recognition of such a situation.
4.2.4 Hospitals authorized to report notifiable diseases electronically per Section 2.5 and syndromic surveillance data per Section 2.6, shall use this method of reporting.
4.3 Laboratories
4.3.1 Any person in charge of a clinical or hospital laboratory, or other facilities in which a laboratory examination of any specimen derived from a human body and submitted for microbiologic examination shall share with the Division of Public Health Laboratory specimens or culture results for agents causing certain diseases listed in the Appendices of these regulations. In addition, such laboratories shall report to the Division of Public Health results of laboratory examinations of specimens indicating or suggesting the existence of;
4.3.1.1 A notifiable disease to the Division of Public Health within 48 hours of when the results were obtained or as soon as possible, except as otherwise provided in these regulations.
4.3.1.2 A suspected agent of bioterrorism immediately upon when results were obtained
4.3.1.3 Any other potential agent or specimen that may be the cause of an outbreak or public health emergency immediately upon when results were obtained.
4.3.2 The Director or designee may contact the patient or the potential contacts so identified from laboratory reports only after consulting with the attending practitioner, when the practitioner is known and when said consultation will not delay the timely control of a communicable disease.
3.4.3 Laboratories identifying salmonella or shigella organisms in the stool specimens shall forward cultures of these organisms or the stool specimens themselves to the Public Health Laboratory for confirmation and serotyping.
4.3.3 Reporting of antibiotic resistant organisms. Any person in charge of a clinical or hospital laboratory, or other facility in which a laboratory examination of any specimen derived from a human body and submitted for microbiologic examination yields a non-susceptible species of microorganism identified in Appendix II I by (A), will report the infected person's name, address, date of birth, race, sex, site of isolation, date of isolation and MIC/Zone diameter to the Division of Public Health. In addition, the number of susceptible and non-susceptible isolates of any of these organisms shall be reported monthly to the Division of Public Health.
4.3.4 Laboratories authorized to report notifiable diseases electronically per Section 2.5, shall use this method of reporting.
In addition to those who are required to report notifiable diseases, the following are requested and authorized to notify the Division Director or designee of the name and address of any person in his or her family, care, employ, class, jurisdiction, custody of control, who is suspected of being afflicted with a notifiable disease although no health care provider, as in Section 4.1 above, has been consulted: every parent, guardian, householder; every nurse, every dentist, every midwife, every superintendent, principal, teacher or counselor of a public or private school; every administrator of a public or private institution of higher learning; owner, operator, or teacher of a child-care facility; owner or manager of a dairy, restaurant, or food storage, food-processing establishment or food outlet; superintendent or manager of a public or private camp, home or institution; director or supervisor of a military installation; military or Veterans Administration Hospital, jail, or juvenile detention center.
Information identifying persons or institutions submitted in reports required in Sections 3.1 - 3.4 shall be held confidential to the extent permitted by law.
3.6 Information in Reports
Information included in reports required in Sections 3.1-3.4 shall contain sufficient information to contact the patient and/or the patient's attending physician. When available, the name, address, telephone number, date of birth, race, gender, and disease of the person ill or infected, the date of onset of illness; the name, address, and telephone number of the attending physician; and any pertinent laboratory information, shall be provided.
5.0 Investigation of Case
5.1 Action to Be Taken
Upon being notified of a case or suspected case of a notifiable disease or an outbreak of a notifiable disease or other disease condition in persons or animals, the Director of the Division or designee may take action as permitted in these Rules, and additionally as deemed necessary to protect the public health. If the nature of the disease and the circumstances warrant, the Director of the Division or designee may make or cause to be made an examination of the patient to verify the diagnosis, make an investigation to determine the source of infection, and take other appropriate action to prevent or control the spread of the disease. These actions may include, but shall not be limited to, confinement on a temporary basis until the patient is no longer infectious, and obligatory medical treatment in order to prevent the spread of disease in the community.
5.2 Examination of Patient
Any person suspected of being afflicted with any notifiable disease shall be subject to physical examination and inspection by any designated representative of the Division of Public Health, except that a duly authorized warrant or court order shall be presented to show just cause in instances where the suspect refuses such examination and inspection. Such examination shall include the submission of bodily specimens when deemed necessary by the Division Director or designee.
5.3 Sensitive Situations
5.3.1 No person known to be infected with a communicable contagious disease or suspected of being infected with a communicable contagious disease shall engage in sensitive situations as defined in Part II I of these regulations until judged by the Division Director or designee to be either free of such disease or no longer a threat to public health. Such action shall be in accord with accepted public health practice and reasonably calculated to abate the potential public health risk.
5.3.2 When, pursuant to Section 5.3.1, it is necessary to require that a person not engage in a sensitive situation because that person is infected or suspected of being infected with a communicable contagious disease, the Division Director or designee shall provide, in writing, instructions specifying the nature of the restrictions and conditions necessary to terminate the restrictions. These written instructions shall be provided to the person infected or suspected of being infected with a communicable contagious disease and to that person's employer or other such individual responsible for the sensitive situation.
5.3.3 The Division Director or designee shall have the authority to exclude from attendance in a child care facility any child or employee suspected of being infected with a communicable contagious disease that, in the opinion of the Division Director or designee, significantly threatens the public health. In addition, no person shall attend or be employed in a child care facility who has the following symptoms:
5.3.3.1 unusual diarrhea, severe coughing, difficult or rapid breathing, yellowish skin or eyes, pinkeye, or an untreated louse or scabies infestation;
5.3.3.2 fever (100 F by oral thermometer or 101 F by rectal thermometer or higher) accompanied by one of the following: unusual spots or rashes, sore throat or trouble swallowing, infected skin patches, unusually dark tea-colored urine, gray or white stool, headache and stiff neck, vomiting, unusually cranky behavior, or loss of appetite.
5.3.3.3 any other symptoms which, in the opinion of the Division Director or designee suggest the presence of a communicable disease that significantly threatens the public health. Exclusion from a childcare facility in this case shall be effective upon written notification pursuant to Section 5.3.2.
5.0 Quarantine
5.1 Establishment
When quarantine of humans is required for the control of any notifiable disease or other disease or condition, the Division Director or designee shall have the authority to initiate procedures to establish a quarantine.
5.2.1 The Division Director or designee shall ensure that provisions are made for proper observations of such quarantined persons as frequently as necessary during the quarantine period.
5.2.2 Quarantine orders shall be in effect for a time period in accord with accepted public health practice.
5.3.1 Transportation or removal of quarantined persons may be made only with prior approval of the Division Director or designee.
5.3.2 Transportation or removal of quarantined persons shall be made in accordance with orders issued by the Division Director or designee.
5.3.3 Quarantine shall be resumed immediately upon arrival of quarantined person at point of destination for the period of time in accord with accepted public health practices.
5.4 Disinfection
5.4.1 Concurrent disinfection is required of infectious or potentially infectious secretions or excretions of any quarantined person or animal or of objects contaminated by such secretions or excretions. The collection, storage and disposal, of such contaminated matter and disinfection procedures shall be approved by the Division Director or designee.
5.4.2 Disinfection shall also be carried out at the termination of the period of quarantine and shall be applied to the quarter vacated. The disinfection procedures shall be as approved by the Division Director or designee.
6.0 Quarantine and Isolation
6.1 The Division's authority may exercise the following over persons:
6.1.1 To establish and maintain places of isolation and quarantine;
6.1.2 To isolate and quarantine individuals subject to the procedures enumerated in this section; and
6.1.3 To require isolation or quarantine of any person by the least restrictive means necessary to protect the public health, subject to the other provisions of this section. All reasonable means shall be taken to prevent the transmission of infection among the isolated or quarantined individuals.
6.2 Standard for quarantine or isolation.
6.2.1 Persons shall be isolated or quarantined if it is determined by clear and convincing evidence that the person to be isolated or quarantined poses a significant risk of transmitting a disease to others with serious consequences. A person's refusal to accept medical examination, vaccination or treatment shall constitute prima facie evidence that said person should be quarantined or isolated.
6.2.2 Isolation or quarantine of any person shall be terminated when such person no longer poses a significant risk of transmitting a disease to others with serious consequences.
6.3 Character of isolation and quarantine area
6.3.1 To the extent possible, the premises in which persons are isolated or quarantined shall be maintained in safe and hygienic manners designed to minimize the likelihood of further transmission of infection or other harm to persons subject to isolation or quarantine. Adequate food, clothing, medication and other necessities and competent medical care shall be provided.
6.3.2 Isolated individuals must be confined separately from quarantined individuals.
6.3.3 The health status of isolated and quarantined individuals must be monitored regularly to determine if their status should change. If a quarantined individual subsequently becomes infected or is reasonably believed to have become infected with a contagious or possibly contagious disease, the individual must promptly be moved to isolation.
6.4.1 Transportation or removal of quarantined or isolated persons may be made only with prior approval of the Division Director or designee.
6.4.2 Transportation or removal of quarantined or isolated persons shall be made in accordance with orders issued by the Division Director or designee.Quarantine or isolation shall be resumed immediately upon arrival of quarantined or isolated person at point of destination for the period of time in accord with accepted public health practices.
6.5.1 Concurrent disinfection is required of infectious or potentially infectious secretions or excretions of any quarantined or isolated person or animal or of objects contaminated by such secretions or excretions. The collection, storage and disposal, of such contaminated matter and disinfection procedures shall be approved by the Division Director or designee.
6.5.2 Disinfection shall also be carried out at the termination of the period of quarantine or isolation and shall be applied to the quarter vacated. The disinfection procedures shall be as approved by the Division Director or designee.
6.6 Control of quarantine and isolation area.
6.6.1 A person subject to isolation or quarantine shall obey the Division's rules and orders, shall not go beyond the isolation or quarantine premises, and shall not put himself or herself in contact with any person not subject to isolation or quarantine other than a physician or other health care provider, public health authority, or person authorized to enter isolation or quarantine premises by the Division's authority. Any person entering isolation or quarantine premises may be isolated or quarantined.
6.6.2 No person, other than a person authorized by the Division, shall enter isolation or quarantine premises. If by reason of an unauthorized entry into an isolation or quarantine premises, the person poses a danger to public health, that person may be subject to isolation or quarantine pursuant to the provisions of this section.
6.7 Procedures for isolation and quarantine. The following procedures shall protect the due process rights of individuals:
6.7.1 The Division shall petition the Superior Court for an order authorizing the isolation or quarantine of an individual or groups of individuals. Said petition shall specify the following:
6.7.1.1 The identity of the individual or group of individuals subject to isolation or quarantine;
6.7.1.2 The premises subject to isolation or quarantine;
6.7.1.3 The date and time at which the Division request isolation or quarantine to commence;
6.7.1.4 The suspected contagious disease, if known;
6.7.1.5 A statement of compliance with the conditions and principles for isolation and quarantine;
6.7.1.6 A statement of the basis upon which isolation or quarantine is justified.
6.7.1.7 A statement of what effort, if any, has been made to give notice of the hearing to the individual or group of individuals to be isolated or quarantined, or the reason supporting the claim that notice should not be required.
6.7.2 Ex parte orders. Before isolating or quarantining a person, the Division shall obtain a written order, which may be an ex parte order, from the Superior Court authorizing such action. An order, which may be an ex parte order, shall be requested as part of a petition filed in compliance with 6.1 through 6.2. The Court shall grant an order, which may be an ex parte order, upon finding by clear and convincing evidence that isolation or quarantine is warranted pursuant to the provisions of this Section. A copy of the authorizing order shall be given to the person ordered to be isolated or quarantined, along with notification that the person has a right to a hearing under subsection (6.7).
6.7.3 Temporary quarantine or isolation pending filing of a petition. Notwithstanding the preceding subsections, the Division may isolate or quarantine a person without first obtaining a written order, which may be an ex parte order, from the Court if a physician determines that any delay in the isolation or quarantine of the person would pose an immediate and severe danger to the public health. Following such isolation or quarantine, the Division shall file a petition within 24 hours. In addition, if the Division exercises its powers, it must provide a written directive to the individuals or groups under temporary quarantine or isolation indicating the identities of the individuals or groups subject to the directive, the premises subject to isolation or quarantine, the date and time that the directive commences, the suspected contagious disease (if known).
6.7.4 Speedy hearing. The Court shall grant a hearing within 72 hours of the filing of a petition when an individual has been isolated or quarantined.
6.7.5 Consolidation of claims. The Court may order consolidation of individual claims into a group of claims where:
6.7.5.1 The number of individuals involved or to be affected is so large as to render individual participation impractical;
6.7.5.2 There are questions of law or fact common to the individual claims or rights to be determined;
6.7.5.3 The group claims or rights to be determined are typical of the affected individuals' claims or rights; and
6.7.5.4 The entire group will be adequately represented in the consolidation, giving due regard to the rights of affected individuals.
6.8 Relief for isolated and quarantined persons.
6.8.1 On or after 10 days following a hearing, a person isolated or quarantined pursuant to the provisions of this section may request in writing a Court hearing to contest his or her continued isolation or quarantine. The hearing shall be held within 72 hours of receipt of such request, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. A request for a hearing shall not alter the order of isolation or quarantine. At the hearing, the Division must show by clear and convincing evidence that continuation of the isolation or quarantine is warranted because the person poses a significant risk of transmitting a disease to others with serious consequences.
6.8.2 A person isolated or quarantined pursuant to the provisions of this section may request a hearing in the Superior Court for remedies regarding his or her treatment and the terms and conditions of such quarantine or isolation. Upon receiving a request for either type of hearing, the Court shall fix a date for a hearing. The hearing shall take place within 10 days of the receipt of the request by the Court. The request for a hearing shall not alter the order of isolation or quarantine.
6.8.3 If upon a hearing, the Court finds that the isolation or quarantine of the individual is not warranted under the provisions of this section, then the person shall be immediately released from isolation or quarantine. If the Court finds that the isolation or quarantine of the individual is not in compliance with the provisions of this section, the Court may then fashion remedies appropriate to the circumstances of the necessity for the isolation or quarantine and in keeping with the provisions of this section.
6.8.4 No person shall be permanently terminated from employment by a Delaware employer as a result of being isolated or quarantined pursuant to this section. However, this paragraph shall not apply to a person who has been quarantined as a result of refusing to comply with an examination, treatment or vaccination program, nor shall it apply to a person whose conduct caused the necessity for the isolation or quarantine.
6.9 Additional due process protections.
6.9.1 A record of proceedings before the Court shall be made and retained for at least 3 years.
6.9.2 The petitioner shall have the right to be represented by counsel or other lawful representative, and the State shall provide counsel to indigent persons against whom proceedings are initiated pursuant to this section.
6.9.3 The manner in which the request for a hearing is filed and acted upon will be in accordance with the existing laws and rules of the Superior Court or any such rules that are developed by the Court, provided that hearings should be held by any means that will allow all necessary persons to participate in the event that a public health emergency makes personal appearances impractical.
7.0 Control of Specific Communicable Diseases
7.1 Vaccine Preventable Diseases
7.1.1 All preschool children who are enrolled in a child care facility must be age-appropriately vaccinated against diseases prescribed by the Division Director. For those diseases so prescribed, the most current recommendations of the federal Center's for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) shall determine the vaccines and vaccination schedules acceptable for compliance with this regulation.
7.1.2 Any child entering private school must be age-appropriately vaccinated against diseases prescribed by the Division Director, prior to enrolling in school. For those diseases so prescribed, the most current recommendations of the federal Center's for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) shall determine the vaccines and vaccination schedules acceptable for compliance with this regulation. This provision pertains to all children between the ages of 2 months and 21 years entering or being admitted to a Delaware private school for the first time including, but not limited to, foreign exchange students, immigrants, students from other states and territories and children entering from public schools.
7.1.3 Acceptable documentation of the receipt of immunization as required by Sections 7.1.1 - 7.1.2 shall include either a medical record signed by a physician, or a valid immunization record issued by the State of Delaware or another State, which specifies the vaccine given and the date of administration.
7.1.4 Immunization requirements pursuant to sections 7.1.1 - 7.1.2 shall be waived for:
7.1.4.1 children whose physicians have submitted, in writing, that a specific immunizing agent would be detrimental to that child; and,
7.1.4.2 children whose parents or guardians present a notarized document that immunization is against their religious beliefs.
7.1.5 Child care facilities and private schools (grades K-12) shall maintain on file an immunization record for each child. The facility will also be responsible to report to the Division Director or designee on an annual basis the immunization status of its enrollees.
7.1.6 Parents whose children present immunization records which show that immunizations are lacking will be allowed l4 days (or such time as may be appropriate for a particular vaccination) to complete the required age-appropriate doses of vaccine for their children. In instances where more than l4 days will be necessary to complete the age-appropriate immunization schedule, an extension may be allowed in order to obtain the required immunizations. Extension of the 14-day allowance because of missed appointments to receive needed immunizations shall not be permitted.
7.1.7 When a child's records are lost and the parent states that the child has completed his/her series of immunizations, or a child has been refused admission or continued attendance at a child care facility or private school for lack of acceptable evidence of immunization as specified in this regulation, a written certification must be provided by a health care provider who has administered the necessary age-appropriate immunizations to the child according to the current ACIP immunization schedule.
7.1.8 It is the responsibility of the child care facility or private school to exclude a child prior to admission or from continued attendance who has failed to document required immunizations pursuant to this section.
7.1.9 Upon the occurrence of a case or suspect case of one of the vaccine preventable diseases specified in pursuant to sections 7.1.1 and 7.1.2, any child not immunized against that disease shall be excluded from the premises, until the Division Director or designee has determined that the disease risk to the unimmunized child has passed. Such exclusion shall apply to all those in the facility who are admitted under either medical or religious exemption as well as to those previously admitted who have not yet received vaccine against the disease which has occurred. If, in the judgment of the Division Director or designee, the continued operation of the facility presents a risk of the spread of disease to the public at large, he/she shall have the authority to close the facility until the risk of disease occurrence has passed.
7.1.10 All full-time students of post-secondary educational institutions and all full and part-time students in such educational institutions if engaged in patient-care related curriculums (included but not limited to nursing, dentistry and medical laboratory technology), shall be required to show evidence of immunity to measles, rubella and mumps prior to enrollment by the following criteria:
7.1.10.1 Measles immunity:
7.1.10.1.1 persons born before January 1, 1957; or
7.1.10.1.2 physician documented history of measles disease; or
7.1.10.1.3 serological confirmation of measles immunity; or
7.1.10.1.4 a documented receipt from a physician or health facility that two doses of measles vaccine were administered after 12 months of age.
7.1.10.2 Rubella immunity:
7.1.10.2.1 persons born before January 1, 1957; except women who could become pregnant; or
7.1.10.2.2 laboratory evidence of antibodies to rubella virus; or
7.1.10.2.3 a documented receipt from a physician or health facility that rubella vaccine was administered on or after 12 months of age.
7.1.10.3 Mumps immunity:
7.1.10.3.2 physician diagnosed history of mumps disease; or
7.1.10.3.3 laboratory evidence of immunity; or
7.1.10.3.4 a documented receipt from a physician or health facility that mumps vaccine was administered on or after 12 months of age.
7.1.11 Immunization requirements pursuant to section 6.1.10 shall be waived for:
7.1.11.1 A student whose licensed physician certifies that such immunization may be detrimental to the student's health;
7.1.11.2 A student who presents a notarized document that immunization is against their religious beliefs.
7.1.12 The student health service, the admissions office and the office of the university or college registrar are jointly responsible for implementing Section 7.1.10 through notification of immunization requirements, the collection and verification of documented vaccine histories, identification and notification of students not in compliance and imposition of sanctions for non-compliance.
7.1.13 Students who can not show evidence of immunity to measles pursuant to 6.1.10 and who cannot show documented receipt of ever having received measles vaccine shall be permitted to enroll on the condition that 2 doses be administered within 45 days or at the resolution of an existing medical contraindication. Students who cannot show evidence of immunity to rubella and/or mumps or who have had only 1 dose of measles vaccine shall be permitted to enroll on the condition that measles, mumps and rubella immunizations be obtained within 14 days or at the resolution of an existing medical contraindication. However, in implementing these requirements, doses of a measles containing vaccine shall not be given closer than 28 days apart.
7.1.14 The Division Director may maintain a registry of the immunization status of persons vaccinated against any vaccine preventable diseases (hereafter called an "immunization registry").
7.1.14.1 Physicians and other health care providers who give immunizations shall report information about the immunization and the person to whom it was given for addition to the immunization registry in a manner prescribed by the Division Director or designee.
7.1.14.2 The Division Director or designee may disclose information from the immunization registry without a patient's, parent's, or guardian's written release authorizing such disclosure to the following:
7.1.14.2.1 The person immunized, or a parent or legal guardian of the person immunized, or persons delegated in writing by same.
7.1.14.2.2 Employees of public agencies or research institutions, however only when it can be shown that the intended use of the information is consistent with the purposes of this section.
7.1.14.2.3 Health records staff of school districts and child care facilities.
7.1.14.2.4 Persons who are other than public employees who are entrusted with the regular care of those under the care and custody of a state agency including but not limited to operators of day care facilities, group, residential care facilities and adoptive or foster parents.
7.1.14.2.5 Health insurers, however only when the person immunized is a client of the health insurer.
7.1.14.2.6 Health care professionals or their authorized employees who have been given responsibility for the care of the person immunized.
7.1.14.3 If any person authorized in subsection 7.1.14.2 discloses information from the immunization registry for any other purpose, it is an unauthorized release and such person may be subject to civil and criminal penalty.
7.2 Ophthalmia Neonatorum
Any physician, nurse, midwife, or other health care provider so permitted to under the law, who attends the birth of an infant in Delaware, shall provide or cause to be provided prophylactic treatment against inflammation of the eyes of the newborn. Said prophylactic treatment shall be provided within 1 hour of birth and consist of (1) 1% silver nitrate in single-dose containers, or (2) a 1-2 centimeter ribbon of sterile ophthalmic ointment containing tetracycline (1%) or erythromycin (0.5%) in single-use tubes, or (3) other treatment recommended for this purpose as published in the most recent edition of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Guide to Clinical Preventive Services.
7.3 Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
7.3.1 Appendix I list STDs regarded to cause significant morbidity and mortality, can be screened, diagnosed and treated, or are of major public health concerns such that surveillance of the disease occurrence is in the public interest, and therefore shall be designated as sexually transmitted and reportable pursuant to 16 Del.C. Ch. 7. For the purposes of this section, a suspect is any person; having positive or clinical findings of a STD; or in whom epidemiologic evidence indicates a STD may exist; or is identified as a sexual contact of a STD case, and is provided treatment for the STD on that basis.
7.3.2 Reporting STDs
7.3.2.1 A physician or any other licensed health care provider professional who diagnoses, suspects or treats a reportable STD and every administrator of a health facility or prison in which there is a case of a reportable STD shall report such case to the Division of Public Health. Unless reportable in number only as specified in Appendix I, Reports provided under this rule shall specify the infected person's name, address, date of birth, gender and race as well as the date of onset, name and stage of disease, type and amount of treatment given and the name and address of the submitting licensed health care professional.
7.3.2.2 Any person who is in charge of a clinical or hospital laboratory, blood bank, mobile unit, or other facility in which a laboratory examination of any specimen derived from a human body yields microscopic, cultural, serological, or other evidence suggestive of a reportable STD shall notify the Division of Public Health. Unless reportable in number only as specified in Appendix I, Reports provided under this rule shall specify the name, date of birth, race, gender and address of the persons from whom the specimen was obtained, laboratory findings, and the name and address of the physician and that of the processing clinical laboratory.
7.3.2.3 The manner and timing of reports required by this Section 7.3 shall be made in accordance with Section 2 of these regulations unless otherwise specified by these regulations. for STD's designated with the letter "T" in Appendix I shall be made by telephone, fax, or other rapid electronic means within 1 working day. Reports required by this Section for STD's designated with the letter "N" in Appendix I shall be made at the request of the Division of Public Health, in number only, and in demographic categories specified by the Division of Public Health. All other reports required by this Section for STD's listed in Appendix I shall be placed into the United States mail, faxed, telephoned, or otherwise routed to the Division of Public Health within one working day of diagnosis, suspicion, or treatment.
7.3.2.4 All reports and notification made pursuant to this section are confidential and protected from release except under the provisions of Title 16 Del.C., §710, and §711. From information received from laboratory notifications, the Division of Public Health may contact attending physicians. The Division of Public Health shall inform the attending physician, if the notification indicates the person has an attending physician, before contacting a person from whom a specimen was obtained. However, if delays resulting from informing the physician may enhance the spread of the STD, or otherwise endanger the health of either individuals or the public, the Division of Public Health may contact the person without first informing the attending physician.
7.3.2.5 Any person or facility required to report a STD under this Section shall permit the Division of Public Health to examine records in order to evaluate compliance with this section.
7.4 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
7.4.1 HIV/AIDS infection is regarded to cause significant morbidity and mortality, can be screened, diagnosed and treated, and is of major public health concern, such that surveillance of the disease occurrence is in the public interest, and therefore shall be designated as notifiable and reportable pursuant to 16 Del.C. Ch. 5. Under this provision the following shall be reported:
7.4.1.1 A diagnosis of HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition of HIV
7.4.1.2 A diagnosis of AIDS, according the Centers for Disease
7.4.1.3 Control and Prevention case definition of AIDS
7.4.1.4 A positive confirmed result of any test approved and indicative of the presence of HIV.
7.4.1.5 All CD4 T-lymphocyte percentage and test results and all viral load detection test results (detectable and undetectable)
7.4.1.6 A perinatal exposure of a newborn to HIV.
6.4.1 Reporting HIV Infection
7.4.2 Reporting of HIV/AIDS and perinatal exposure of newborns to HIV.
7.4.2.1 A physician or any other licensed health care professional health care provider who diagnoses or treats HIV/AIDS and every administrator of a health care facility or prison in which there is an HIV/AIDS infected person or perinatal exposure to HIV shall report such information to the Division of Public Health. Reports provided under this rule shall specify the infected person's name, address, date of birth, gender, mode of transmission and race as well as the date of HIV positive laboratory result, date of perinatal exposure, date of AIDS diagnosis and stage of disease, type and amount of treatment given and the name and address of the submitting licensed health care professional health care provider.
7.4.2.2 Any person who is in charge of a clinical or hospital laboratory, blood bank, mobile unit, or other facility in which a laboratory examination of any specimen derived from a human body yields serological or other evidence of HIV/AIDS, including perinatal exposure to HIV, shall notify the Division of Public Health. Reports provided under this rule shall specify the name, date of birth, race, gender and address of the person from whom the specimen was obtained, laboratory findings, including all CD4 T-lymphocyte percentage and test results and all viral load detection test results (detectable and undetectable), and the name and address of the physician health care provider and that of the processing clinical laboratory.
7.4.2.2.1 Reports made on the basis of an HIV test to detect antibodies shall only be made if confirmed with a Western Blot or other confirmatory test.
7.4.2.2.2 All facilities obtaining blood from human donors for the purpose of transfusion or manufacture of blood products shall report HIV/AIDS consistent with 7.4.2.2.
7.4.2.2.3 Any laboratory that examines specimens, or reporting source finding evidence of HIV, shall permit the Division of Public Health to examine the records of said laboratory, facility, or office in order to evaluate compliance with this section.
6.4.2.3 Reports made on the basis of an HIV test to detect antibodies shall only be made if confirmed with a Western Blot or other confirmatory test.
6.4.2.4 All facilities obtaining blood from human donors for the purpose of transfusion or manufacture of blood products shall report HIV consistent with 6.4.2.2.
6.4.2.5 Reports of HIV infection required by Section 6.4 shall be placed into the United States mail, using a special envelope that will be provided by the Division of Public Health, and routed to the Division within 48 hours of diagnosis or treatment. Any other reporting method must be approved in advance and must be in a time frame acceptable to the Division.
6.4.2.6 Any laboratory that examines specimens, or reporting source finding evidence of HIV, shall permit the Division of Public Health to examine the records of said laboratory, facility, or office in order to evaluate compliance with this section.
7.4.2.3 Reports made on the basis of perinatal HIV exposure shall be made regardless of confirmatory testing.
7.4.2.4 Reports of HIV/AIDS, required by Section 7.4 shall be placed into the United States mail, using a special envelope that will be provided by the Division of Public Health, and routed to the Division within 48 hours of diagnosis or treatment. Any other reporting method must be approved in advance and must be in a time frame acceptable to the Division.
6.4.2.7 As it is the intent of the Division of Public Health to continue the availability of anonymous HIV counseling and testing, and as it is not the practice to collect the name or other identifying information from a person who is anonymously tested for HIV, and therefore no name is available to be reported, nothing in these regulations shall preclude the performance of anonymous HIV testing.
6.4.3 Confidentiality of HIV Reports
7.4.3 Confidentiality of HIV/AIDS Reports
7.4.3.1 The Division of Public Health will evaluate reports of HIV/AIDS for completeness and potential referrals for service. All case reports will be kept in a confidential and in a secure setting. Once this function is completed, the patient's name will be converted to a code and then destroyed. From that time forward, the code will be used in lieu of the name to determine if the patient has been previously reported. In carrying out this function, the Division shall destroy the name as expeditiously as possible, but not later than 90 days from receipt of the report.
7.4.3.2 The Division of Public Health will evaluate its procedures for HIV/AIDS named-based reporting on a continuous basis after implementation for timeliness, completeness of reporting, and security of confidential information.
7.4.3.3 The Division of Public Health will follow the December 10, 1999 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Recommendations and Reports, "CDC Guidelines for National Human Immunodeficiency Virus Case Surveillance, Including Monitoring for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome" document as it pertains to patient records and confidentiality, or any subsequent revisions of said document.
7.4.3.4 All reports and notification made pursuant to this section are confidential and protected from release except under the provisions of 16 Del.C. §710, §711 and §1201-4, §1201A-4A. Any person aggrieved by a violation of this Section shall have a right of action in the Superior Court and may recover for each violation:
7.4.3.4.1 Against any person who negligently violates a provision of this regulation, damages of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater.
7.4.3.4.2 Against any person who intentionally or recklessly violates a provision of this subchapter, damages of $5,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater.
7.4.3.4.3 Reasonable attorneys' fees.
7.4.3.4.4 Such other relief, including an injunction, as the court may deem appropriate.
7.4.3.4.5 Any action under this regulation is barred unless the action is commenced within 3 years after the cause of action accrues. A cause of action will accrue when the injured party becomes aware of an unauthorized disclosure.
7.4.3.5 From information received from reports of HIV infection, the Division of Public Health may contact attending physicians. The Division of Public Health shall inform the attending physician, if the notification indicates the person has an attending physician, before contacting a person on whom the report is made. However, if delays resulting from informing the physician may enhance the spread of HIV, or otherwise endanger the health of any individuals, the Division of Public Health may contact the person without first informing the attending physician.
6.4.4 Duty to Disclose the Identity of Sexual or Needle-sharing Partners of HIV Infected Patients
7.4.4 Duty to Disclose the Identity of Sexual or Needle sharing Partners of HIV Infected Patients
7.4.4.1 Any physician, or any other licensed health care professional acting on the orders of a physician, (hereafter referred to as provider), health care provider diagnosing or caring for an HIV infected patient shall disclose the identity of the patient's sexual or needle-sharing partner(s) (if known), including spouses to the Division of Public Health so that the partner(s) may be notified of his or her risk of infection, provided that:
a. The patient's condition satisfies the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition of AIDS, or has an HIV infection as evidenced by a positive antibody test which is confirmed by Western Blot, or based upon other tests accepted by prevailing medical opinion, the patient is considered to be infected with HIV;
7.4.4.1.1 The provider knows of an identifiable partner at risk of infection who may not have been informed of their potential risk; and
7.4.4.1.2 The provider believes there is a significant risk of harm to the partner; and
7.4.4.1.3 Reasonable efforts have been made to counsel the patient pursuant to 16 Del.C. §1202(e), urging the patient to notify the partner, and the patient has refused or is considered to be unlikely to notify the partner.
e. The provider has made reasonable efforts to inform the patient of the intended disclosure and to give the patient the opportunity to express a preference as to whether the partner be notified by the provider, the patient, or the Division.
7.4.4.2 Any health care provider diagnosing or caring for an HIV infected patient shall also report to the Division of Public Health relevant facts about a patient that does not pose a threat to an identifiable partner but, in the professional judgment of the provider based upon stated intended acts, the patient may threaten further spread of HIV to the general population. In this instance the conditions specified in Section 7.4.4.1.3, 6.4.4.1 (d) and 6.4.4.1 (e) shall apply. Disclosure shall be for the purpose of providing appropriate counseling to the patient.
7.4.4.3 Procedures for disclosing information pursuant to this section shall be specified by the Division. Such procedures shall (a) include the requirement that, prior to the Division identifying and notifying a partner, reasonable efforts be made by the Division to counsel the patient and urge the patient's voluntary notification of a partner; (b) specify Division employees permitted to receive the disclosed information; and (c) describe the manner in which partners will be notified pursuant to these regulations.
6.4.4.4 The provider will prepare and maintain contemporaneous records of compliance with each element of these regulations.
7.4.4.4 Division shall have the authority to re-ascertain names for previously reported HIV cases and report them as deemed necessary.
7.5 Tuberculosis
7.5.1 Any person afflicted with or suspected of being afflicted with tuberculosis disease and in need of hospitalization and unable to pay the cost, shall be hospitalized at public expense wherever and whenever facilities are available and provided that private or third party funds are not available for this purpose.
7.5.2 Reporting Tuberculosis
7.5.2.1 Physicians, pharmacists, nurses, hospital administrators, medical examiners, morticians, laboratory administrators, and other health care providers who provide health care services to a person with diagnosed, suspected or treated tuberculosis (TB) shall report such a case to the Division of Public Health specifying the infected person's name, address, date of birth, race, gender, date of onset, site of disease, prescribed anti-TB medications, and, in the case of laboratory administrators, the name and address of the submitting health professional. A report shall be telephoned into the Division of Public Health within two working days of the provision of service or laboratory finding.
7.5.2.2 Any person who is in charge of a clinical or hospital laboratory or other facility in which a laboratory examination of sputa, gastric contents, or any other specimen derived from human body yields microscopic, cultural, serological or other evidence suggestive of tubercle bacilli shall notify the Division of Public Health by telephone within two working days of the occurrence.
7.5.2.3 Any health care provider, who has knowledge about a person with multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), even if the confirmed or suspected TB cases had been previously reported, shall report the occurrence to the Division of Public Health within two days of the occurrence.
7.5.2.4 Persons with TB who have demonstrated an inability or an unwillingness to adhere to a prescribed treatment regimen, who refuse medication, or who show other evidence of not taking anti-TB medications as prescribed, shall be reported to the Division of Public Health within two days of the occurrence.
7.5.3 Diagnostic Examinations
7.5.3.1 Any persons suspected of having infectious tuberculosis shall have a Mantoux tuberculin skin test, a chest radiograph, and laboratory examinations of sputum, gastric contents or other body discharges as may be required by the Division Director or designee to determine whether said patient represents an infectious case of tuberculosis.
7.5.3.2 The Division Director or designee shall determine the names of household and other contacts who may be infected with tuberculosis and cause them to be examined for the presence of tuberculosis disease.
7.5.4 Clinical Management
7.5.4.1 In addition to fulfilling the reporting requirements of 7.5.2, health care providers shall manage persons with active TB disease by following one of three courses of action:
7.5.4.1.1 they shall immediately refer the client to the Division of Public Health for comprehensive medical and case management services; or
7.5.4.1.2 they shall provide comprehensive assessment, treatment, and follow-up services (including patient education, directly observed therapy and contact investigation) to the client and his/her contacts consistent with current American Thoracic Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ATS/CDC) guidelines; or
7.5.4.1.3 they shall initiate appropriate medical treatment and refer the client to the Division of Public Health for coordination of community services and case management including directly observed therapy (DOT).
If the health care provider chooses 7.5.4.1.2 or 7.5.4.1.3 above, then the Division Director or designee may ask the health care provider for information about the care and management of the patient, and the health care provider shall assure that the requested information is communicated.
7.5.4.2 Patients with infectious tuberculosis who are dangerous to public health may be required by the Division Director or designee to be hospitalized, isolated, or otherwise quarantined. Whenever facilities for adequate isolation and treatment of infectious cases are available in the home and patient will accept said isolation, it shall be left to the discretion of the Division Director or designee as to whether these or other facilities shall be used.
8.0 Preparation for Burial.
See 16 Del.C. Ch. 31 and Department of Health and Social Services regulations promulgated thereunder, entitled "Regulations Concerning Care and Transportation of the Dead".
9.0 Disposal of Infectious Articles, Remains
No person shall dispose of articles, or human or animal remains known or suspected to be capable of infecting others with a communicable disease in such a manner whereby exposure to such infectious agents may occur. See also "Regulations Concerning Care and Transportation of the Dead", Section 10 ("Disposition of Amputated Parts of Human Bodies").
10.0 Diseased Animals.
10.1 Importation and Sale
No person shall bring into this state or offer for sale domestic or wild animals infected or suspected to be infected with a disease communicable from animals to man.
It shall be the duty of persons having custody of care of animals infected or suspected to be infected with a disease transmitted from animals to man to notify the Division Director or designee of the infection.
11.0 Notification of Emergency Medical Care Providers of Exposure to Communicable Diseases.
11.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply.
"Emergency medical care provider" fire fighter, law enforcement officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, correctional officer, ambulance attendant, or other person who serves as employee or volunteer of an ambulance service and/or provides pre-hospital emergency medical service.
"Receiving medical facility" hospital or similar facility that receives a patient attended by an emergency medical care provider for the purposes of continued medical care.
"Universal precautions" those precautions, including the appropriate use of hand washing, protective barriers, and care in the use and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments, that minimize the risk of transmission of communicable diseases between patients and health care providers. Universal precautions require that all blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions of care providers use appropriate barrier precautions to prevent exposure to blood and body fluids of all patients at all times.
11.2 Universal Precautions
11.2.1 Didactic Instruction
Education and training with respect to universal precautions shall be a mandatory component of any required training and any required continuing education for all emergency medical care providers who have patient contact. Training shall be appropriately tailored to the needs and educational background of the person(s) being trained. Training shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
11.2.1.1 Mechanisms and routes of transmission of viral, bacterial, rickettsial, fungal, and mycoplasmal human pathogens.
11.2.1.2 Proper techniques of hand washing, including the theory supporting the effectiveness of hand washing, and guidelines for waterless hand cleansing in the field.
11.2.1.3 Proper techniques and circumstances under which barrier methods of protection (personal protective equipment) from contamination by microbial pathogens are to be implemented. The instruction is to include the theory supporting the benefits of these techniques.
11.2.1.4 The proper techniques of disinfection and clean-up of spills of infectious material. This instruction is to include the use of absorbent, liquid, and chemical disinfectants.
11.2.1.5 Instruction regarding the reporting and documentation of exposures to infectious agents and the requirement for employers to have an exposure control plan.
11.2.1.6 The proper disposal of contaminated needles and other sharps. The instruction is to include information about recapping needles and using puncture-resistant, leak-resistant containers.
11.2.1.7 First aid and immediate care of wounds which may be incurred by an emergency medical care provider.
11.2.2 Practical or Laboratory Instruction
Practical sessions addressing the field application of the above didactic instruction must be part of the curriculum. The practical sessions shall provide a means of hands-on experience and training in the proper use of personal protective equipment, hand-washing disinfection, clean-up of infectious spills, handling and disposal of contaminated sharps, and the proper completion of reporting forms.
12.2.3 Approval of Curricula
Any provider of mandatory education and training and continuing education pursuant to this section must submit a curriculum for approval by the Division of Public Health and shall not utilize curricula that are not regarded by the Division of Public Health to be in substantial compliance with 10.2.1 and 10.2.2.
11.3 Communicable Diseases
11.3.1 Communicable Disease Defined
For the purposes of Section 11 only, exposure to patients infected with the following communicable disease agents shall warrant notification to an emergency medical care provider pursuant to this section:
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Hepatitis B Virus
Hepatitis C Virus
Meningococcal disease
Uncommon or rare pathogens
11.3.2 Infection Defined
For the purposes of Section 11 only, a patient shall be considered infected with a communicable disease when the following conditions are satisfied:
11.3.2.1 Blood-borne pathogens
11.3.2.1.1 HIV - ELISA and western blot (or other confirmatory test accepted by prevailing medical opinion) tests must be positive.
11.3.2.1.2 Hepatitis B - positive for hepatitis B surface antigen.
11.3.2.1.3 Hepatitis C - (1) IgM anti-HAV negative, and (2) IgM anti-Hbc negative or HBsAg negative, and (3) serum aminotransferase level more than two and one half times the upper limit of normal, or anti-HcB positive. Hepatitis C antibody screening test and more specific supplemental test positive.
11.3.2.2 Air-borne pathogens
11.3.2.2.1 Meningococcal disease -compatible clinical findings and laboratory confirmation through isolation of Neisseria meningitides from a normally sterile site.
11.3.2.2.2 Haemophilus influenzae -compatible clinical findings of epiglottitis or meningitis and laboratory confirmation through isolation of Haemophilus influenzae from a normally sterile site or from the epiglottis.
11.3.2.2.3 Measles - compatible clinical findings with or without laboratory confirmation by one of the following methods: (1) presence of the measles virus from a clinical specimen, or (2) four-fold rise in measles antibody level by any standard serologic assay, or (3) positive serologic test for measles IgM antibody.
11.3.2.2.4 Tuberculosis - compatible clinical findings of pulmonary disease and identification of either acid-fast bacilli in sputum or the pathogen by culture.
11.3.2.3 Uncommon or rare pathogens
Infection with uncommon or rare pathogens determined by the Division of Public Health on a case-by-case basis.
11.3.3 Exposure Defined
Exposure of an emergency medical care provider to a patient infected with a blood-borne pathogen as defined in 11.3.2.1 shall include a needle-stick or other penetrating injury with an item contaminated by a patient's blood, plasma, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, or any other body fluid or drainage that contains blood or plasma. Contact of these fluids with mucous membranes or non-intact skin of the emergency medical care provider or extensive contact with intact skin shall also constitute exposure.
Exposure of an emergency medical care provider to a patient infected with an air-borne pathogen as defined in 11.3.2.2 shall be as follows:
11.3.3.2.1 Meningococcal disease and Haemphilus influenza - Close contact with an infected patient's oral secretions or sharing the same air space with an infected patient for one hour or longer without the use of an effective barrier such as a mask.
11.3.3.2.2 Measles - Sharing confined air space with an infected patient, regardless of contact time.
11.3.3.2.3 Tuberculosis- Sharing confined air space with an infected patient, regardless of contact time.
The Division of Public Health shall determine definition of exposure to an uncommon or rare pathogen on a case-by-case basis.
11.3.3.4 Ruling on infection and exposure
When requested by the emergency medical care provider or receiving medical facility, the Division of Public Health shall investigate and issue judgment on any differences of opinion regarding infection and exposure as otherwise defined in 11.3.
11.4 Request for Notification
11.4.1 Every employer of an emergency medical care provider and every organization which supervises volunteer emergency medical care providers must register the name(s) of a designated officer who shall perform the following duties. The designated officer shall delegate these duties as may be necessary to ensure compliance with these regulations.
11.4.1.1 receive requests for notification from emergency medical care providers;
11.4.1.2 collect facts relating to the circumstances under which the emergency medical care provider may have been exposed;
11.4.1.3 forward requests for notification to receiving medical facilities;
11.4.1.4 report to the emergency medical care provider findings provided by the receiving medical facility; and
11.4.1.5 assist the emergency medical care provider to take medically appropriate action if necessary.
11.4.2 Receiving medical facilities must register with the Division of Public Health the name or office to whom notification requests should be sent by an emergency medical care provider and who is responsible for ensuring compliance with this section.
11.4.3 If an emergency medical care provider desires to be notified under this regulation, the officer designated pursuant to 11.4.1 shall notify the receiving medical facility within 24 hours after the patient is admitted to or treated by the facility on a form that is prescribed or approved by the State Board of Health.
11.5 Notification of Exposure to Air-borne Pathogens
11.5.1 Notwithstanding any requirement of 11.4.3, a receiving medical facility must make notification when an emergency medical care provider has been exposed to an air-borne communicable disease pursuant to 11.3.2.2 and 11.3.3.2. Such notification shall occur as soon as possible but not more that 48 hours after the exposure has been determined and shall apply to any patient upon whom such a determination has been made within 30 days after the patient is admitted to or treated by the receiving medical facility.
11.5.2 To determine if notification is necessary pursuant to this section, a receiving medical facility must review medical records of a patient infected with an air-borne communicable disease to determine if care was provided by an emergency medical care provider. If medical records do not so indicate, the receiving medical facility shall assume that no notification is required.
11.6 Notification of Exposure when Requested
11.6.1 When a request for notification has been made pursuant to 10.4.3, the receiving medical facility shall attempt to determine if the patient is infected with a communicable disease and if the emergency medical care provider has or has not been exposed. Information provided on the request for notification and medical records and findings in possession of the receiving medical facility shall be used to make this determination. If a determination is made within 30 days after the patient is admitted to or treated by the receiving medical facility, the receiving medical facility shall notify the officer designated pursuant to 10.4.1 as soon as possible but not more than 48 hours after the determination. The following information shall be provided in the notification:
11.6.1.1 The date that the patient was attended by the emergency medical care provider;
11.6.1.2 Whether or not the emergency medical care provider was exposed;
11.6.1.3 If the emergency medical care provider was exposed, the communicable disease involved.
11.6.2 If, after expiration of the 30-day period and because of insufficient information, the receiving medical facility has not determined that the emergency medical care provider has or has not been exposed to a communicable disease, the receiving medical care facility shall so notify the officer designated pursuant to Section 11.4.1 as soon as possible but not more than 48 hours after expiration of the 30-day period. The following information shall be provided in the notification:
11.6.2.2 That there is insufficient information to determine if an exposure has occurred;
11.6.3 The receiving medical facility shall provide to the Division of Public Health a copy of each form completed pursuant to 11.4 which shall include information about whether or not the patient is infected, and if the emergency medical care provider is considered by the receiving medical facility to have been exposed.
11.7 Manner of Notification
A receiving medical facility must make a good faith effort, which is reasonably calculated based upon the health risks, the need to maintain confidentiality, and the urgency of intervention associated with the exposure, to expeditiously notify the officer designated pursuant to 11.4.1. If notification is by mail, and if, in the judgment of the receiving medical facility the circumstances warrant, the receiving medical facility shall ensure by telephone or other appropriate means that the designated officer of the emergency medical care provider has received notification.
11.8 Transfer of Patients
If, within the 30-day limitation defined in 11.5.1 and 11.6.1 a patient is transferred from a receiving medical facility to a second receiving medical facility, the receiving medical facility must provide the second facility with all requests for notification made by emergency medical care providers for that patient. The second receiving medical facility must make notification to the officer designated pursuant to 11.4.1 if the facility determines within the remaining part of the 30-day period that the patient is infected and shall otherwise comply with these regulations.
11.9 Death of Patient
If, within the 30-day limitation defined in 11.5.1 and 11.6.1, a patient is transferred from a receiving medical facility to a medical examiner, the receiving medical facility must provide the medical examiner with all requests for notification made by emergency medical care providers for that patient. The medical examiner must make notification to the designated officer if the medical examiner determines that the patient is infected with a communicable disease, and shall otherwise comply with these regulations.
11.10 Testing of Patients for Infection
Nothing in this regulation shall be construed to authorize or require a medical test of an emergency medical care provider or patient for any infectious disease.
11.11 Confidentiality
All requests and notifications made pursuant to these regulations shall be used solely for the purposes of complying with these regulations and are otherwise confidential.
11.0 Enforcement
The Department of Health and Social Services or the Director of the Division of Public Health or their designated representatives are authorized to enforce these regulations to accomplish the following:
11.1.1 To insure compliance of persons who refuse to submit themselves or others for whom they are responsible, including their animals, to necessary inspection, examination, treatment, sacrifice of the animal, or quarantine.
11.1.2 To insure coordination of actions of individuals, local authorities, or state authorities in the control of communicable disease.
11.1.3 To insure the reporting of notifiable diseases or other disease conditions as required in these Rules.
11.2 Penalties
Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware Code or this regulation, failure to comply with the requirements of this regulation will be subject to prosecution pursuant to 16 Del.C., §107. The Department of Health and Social Services may seek to enjoin violations of this regulation.
NOTIFIABLE DISEASES
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (S) Lymphogranuloma Venereum (S)
Anthrax (T) Malaria
Botulism (T) Measles (T)
Brucellosis Meningitis (all types other than
meningococcal)
Campylobacteriosis Meningococcal Infections (all types ) (T)
Chancroid (S) Mumps (T)
Chlamydia trachomatis infection (S) Nosocomial Disease Outbreak (T)
Cholera (T)
Cryptosporidiosis Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (resulting
from gonococcal and/or chlamydial infections) (S)
Cyclosporidiosis Pertussis (T)
Diphtheria (T) Plague (T)
E. Coli 0157:H7 infection (T) Poliomyelitis (T)
Encephalitis Psittacosis
Ehrlichiosis Rabies (man, animal) (T)
Foodborne Disease Outbreaks (T) Reye Syndrome
Giardiasis Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Gonococcal Infections (S) Rubella (T)
Granuloma Inguinale (S) Rubella (congenital) (T)
Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) Salmonellosis
Hantavirus infection (T) Shigellosis
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) Streptococcal disease (invasive group A)
Hepatitis A (T)
Hepatitis B (S) Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS)
Syphilis (S)
Hepatitis C & unspecified Syphilis (congenital) (T) (S)
Herpes (congenital) (S) Tetanus
Herpes (genital) (N) Toxic Shock Syndrome
Histoplasmosis Trichinosis
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Tuberculosis
Human papillomavirus (genital warts) (N) Tularemia
Influenza (N) Typhoid Fever (T)
Lead Poisoning Vaccine Adverse Reactions
Legionnaires Disease Varicella (N)
Leptospirosis Waterborne Disease Outbreaks (T)
Lyme Disease Yellow Fever (T)
(T) report by rapid means.
(N) report in number only when so requested
For all diseases not marked by (T) or (N):
(S) - sexually transmitted disease, report required in 1 day
Others - report required in 2 days
State of Delaware - List of Notifiable Diseases/Conditions
AIDS (S)
Amoebiasis
Anthrax (T)
Arboviruses
Botulism (T)
Brucellosis (T)
Campylobacteriosis
Chancroid (S)
Chlamydia (S)
Cholera (toxigenic Vibrio cholerae 01 or 0139) (T)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (T)
Cryptosporidiosis
Cyclosporiasis
Dengue Fever (T)
Diphtheria (T)
Enterhemorrhagic E.coli including but not limited to E.coli 0157:H7 (T)
Enterococcus species, Vancomycin resistant (A)
ESBL resistance (Extended-Spectrum B-lactamases) (A)
Foodborne Disease Outbreak (T)
Glanders (T)
Gonorrhea (S)
Granuloma inguinale (S)
Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)
Hantavirus (T)
Haemophilus influenzae, invasive
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (T)
Herpes, congenital (S)
Herpes, genital (S)
HIV (S)
Human Papillomavirus (S)
Influenza Associated Infant Mortality (T)
Kawasaki Syndrome
Lymphogranuloma venereum (S)
Measles (T)
Melioidosis
Meningococcal Infections, all types (T)
Monkey Pox (T)
Mumps (T)
Nosocomial Disease Outbreak (T)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (N. gonorrhea, C. trachomatis, or unspecified) (S)
Pertussis (T)
Plague (T)
Poliomyelitis (T)
Psittacosis
Q Fever
Rabies (man and animal) (T)
Ricin Toxin (T)
Rickettsial Disease
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rubella (including congenital which is rapidly reportable)
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) (T)
Shigatoxin Production
Smallpox (T)
Staphylococcal Enterotoxin (T)
Staphylococcal aureus, Methicillin Resistant (MRSA) (A)
Staphylococcal aureus, Vancomycin Intermediate or Resistant (VISA, VRSA) (T) (A)
Streptococcal Disease, invasive group A or B (T)
Streptococcus pneumoniae, invasive (sensitive and resistant) (A)
Tetanus (T)
Toxic Shock Syndrome (Streptococcal or Staphylococcal)
Trichinellosis
Tuberculosis (T)
Tularemia (T)
Typhoid Fever (T)
Typhus Fever (endemic flea borne, louse borne, tick borne)
Vaccine Adverse Reaction
Vibrio, non-cholera
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (T)
Waterborne Disease Outbreaks (T)
Yellow Fever (T)
Yersiniosis
(T) - report by rapid means (telephone, fax or other electronic means)
(S) - sexually transmitted disease, report required within 24 hours
(A) - Drug Resistant Organisms required to be reported within 48 hours
Others - report required within 48 hours
DRUG RESISTANT ORGANISMS REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED
Staphylococcus aureus intermediate or resistance to Vancomycin (MIC >8ug/ml)
Streptococcus pneumoniae drug-resistant, invasive disease
Organisms and Samples to be sent to the Division of Public Health Laboratory
1. Clinical or hospital laboratories, or other facilities, that presumptively identify or are unable to rule out the following organisms shall send an isolate or specimen to the Delaware Public Health Laboratory for testing immediately:
Brucella species
Franciscella tularensis
Bacillus anthracis
2. Any environmental sample deemed as credible threats for harboring a toxin or a biological agent of terrorism shall be sent to the Delaware Public Health Laboratory for testing immediately upon identification:
3. Clinical specimens from patients potentially exposed to a chemical agent of terrorism shall be sent to the Public Health Laboratory for testing immediately upon identification.
4. Clinical specimens from suspect human cases of the following infections shall be sent to the Delaware Public Health Laboratory for testing immediately upon identification
Variola (Smallpox)
Vaccinia
5. The following isolates from humans shall be sent to the Delaware Public Health Laboratory for testing within 24 hours of identification:
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, including 0157
Haemophilus influenzae, sterile sites
Mycobaterium tuberculosis
Neisseria meningitidis, sterile sites
Salmonella species
Shigella species
Streptococcus pneumoniae, sterile sites, Penicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus, sterile sites, Methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycin intermediate or resistant (VISA, VRSA)
Vancomycin resistant Enterococci, (VRE) sterile series
Vibrio cholerae and Non-cholerae
9 DE REg. 861 (12/01/05) (Prop.)
Delaware General Assembly
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text:
Michael Caines restaurant CONFIRMED for Exmouth seafront development
Michael Caines is opening a restaurant next to a multi-million pound water centre
Daniel ClarkLocal Democracy Reporter
Michael Caines to open Exmouth restaurant
Celebrity chef Michael Caines will be opening a restaurant with a bar and café area as part of the new waterfront development in Exmouth.
Grenadier hope to turn part of Exmouth seafront into a brand-new watersports facility for the community and planning permission was granted earlier this year.
Edge Water Sports, run by a world champion kite surfer, have previously been announced as the first key tenant for Exmouth 's new multi-million pound watersports centre.
They have now been joined in the development by a new restaurant, run by Mr Caines, and East Devon District Council have said that it shows that Exmouth is 'truly going places' and the people can be reassured about the seafront regeneration.
Cllr Philip Skinner, Chairman of the Exmouth Regeneration Board and the economy portfolio holder for East Devon District Council, said: "It's marvellous news that Grenadier and the watersports centre development now has the renowned chef Michael Caines signed up.
Devon chef Michael Caines has just won Lympstone Manor's first Michelin star
"The council is delighted that our ongoing road and car park development will enable this to happen next year and we look forward to the opening of Michael's restaurant alongside the new water sports facility. Exmouth is truly going places and the people of the town can now be reassured that the seafront regeneration is underway."
Work is expected to begin on site in late Summer 2019 after East Devon District Council has completed the diversion of Queens Drive, and the restaurant is expected to open Summer 2020.
Five Guys to open in Plymouth for first time
Mr Caines has said that what will be on offer will be very different to the fine dining experience available at nearby Lympstone Manor.
Mr Caines, who grew up in Exeter, said: "The waterfront development will play a pivotal role in the future and regeneration of Exmouth and I'm really excited to be a part of something that celebrates all that this wonderful coastline has to offer.
New artist impression of the Grenadier watersports centre plan for Exmouth seafront
"We'll be using local ingredients to showcase the great variety of high-quality food and drink that this area has right on its doorstep with a menu that offers something for everyone.
"Tourism and hospitality are together a pinnacle of the local economy and job market and we'll be working with a local academy and college to bring young people through on an apprenticeship scheme to offer them the opportunity to work in the catering and hospitality industry.
"I'm looking forward to working alongside Edge Watersports to create a vibrant place for local people and visitors to enjoy the activities and food on offer or to just come and relax while they soak up the scenery."
The new chocolate stall that everyone's going crazy for at Exeter's Christmas Market
The restaurant will include a range of offers to suit all tastes, from a casual dining restaurant complete with an upstairs terrace, to a dog-friendly cafe offering a lighter menu and serving homemade ice-creams, local coffee and healthy takeaway snacks.
It will use quality locally sourced produce, including fish from the Exmouth docks and meat from local farms offering something for everyone, a spokesman for Grenadier said.
Peter Quincey, Director of Grenadier, added: "We are thrilled to have Michael and his team on board supporting the new water sports centre on Exmouth seafront. The restaurant will offer somewhere for people to visit all year round – whether they're dog walkers, cyclists, scenery seekers or have been out enjoying water sports activities and want somewhere to relax, refresh and refuel."
But the decision of East Devon District Council's cabinet to commence realignment of Queen's Drive, even though there was a risk that the council will have incurred the £1.2m costs of developing the road and car park without Grenadier committing to build the watersports centre, has been criticised.
East Devon up-to-date news
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Breaking in Exeter
Mr Quincey said that Grenadier were still committed to the project, but the final signatures on the planning permission had not been signed off by them, meaning that if the council didn't go ahead and forward-fund the works, which started in November, they would not have begun until at least January and would have added to the cost of the project.
Save Exmouth Seafront campaigners said that the decision of the cabinet had raised a whole number of questions.
Nick Hookway, SES spokesman, said: "We view with grave concern the decision taken by East Devon District Council to proceed with diverting Queen's Drive to go behind the proposed Watersports centre.
"Why is a new road being built behind the proposed Watersports centre before the developer has fully signed up to the project? Why is EDDC paying for the new road? Why isn't the developer paying upfront for the new road instead of EDDC? Is there a contingency plan in place if the present developer does not proceed? What does EDDC hope to gain by building this road now?
"Yet again SES has to ask, what are the motives that are driving EDDC's decision making processes over the redevelopment of Queen's Drive?"
East Devon District Council

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Home > Opinion > Bihar 'Gathbandhan' a one-time exception
Bihar 'Gathbandhan' a one-time exception
Amulya Ganguli23 Nov 2015 11:23 PM GMT
It will be a mistake to see the congregation of various leaders opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's swearing-in ceremony as the beginning of a "Mahagathbandhan" or a Grand Alliance at the national level.
Not only are their bases confined to different parts of the country, but also such respective provincial egos and ambitions are exacerbated by overt rivalries. For example, the Trinamool Congress and the communists. If any reminder was needed about their lack of commonality apart from their dislike for the BJP, it was Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's decision to stay away. Moreover, the Shiv Sena's presence underlined the self-contradictory nature of the gathering.
The concept of a "Grand Alliance" gained in importance after the success of the experiment in Bihar. However, Bihar was a one-time affair. In any case, the idea is no more than a rehash of past united or third fronts. The difference is that while those groups were directed against the Congress, the target of the latest one is the BJP, which has replaced the tattered Grand Old Party as the top dog in Indian politics.
However, as the back-and-forth statements of Akhilesh Yadav on the subject show, there isn't much chance of such an alliance taking shape in his state prior to the 2017 elections. Even if similar alliances are set up in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which go to the polls next year, they will be too rickety to replicate the Bihar experiment against the powerful regional leaders of the two states. Besides, the BJP is of hardly any importance in these states.
It's different in Assam, but there isn't much chance of an anti-BJP alliance unless the Congress, in its desperation over losing sitting legislators to the BJP, teams up with perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal of the United Democratic Front.
What such speculation indicates is that there are far too many divisions among the anti-BJP parties for them to come together. Bihar was an exception because the two former foes, and current friends, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad, demonstrated remarkable maturity to forge the unity of their parties, the Janata Dal-United and the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Few would have thought it possible and, even today, it is believed that their camaraderie is too fragile to last.
Arguably, it is some kind of a message which the two leaders received from the ground level, combined with their intense political antipathy towards Narendra Modi, which cemented their alliance.
In Uttar Pradesh, however, the fact that Mulayam Singh Yadav is far less antagonistic towards Modi has long been evident. After walking out of the Janata Dal (United)-RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar, which also spelt doom for the proposed Janata Parivar, Mulayam Singh predicted a BJP victory in the state. The suspicion is that the reason why Mulayam has moved closer to Modi is to save himself from too intrusive a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the disproportionate assets case against him.
In any case, the relationship between the big guns of Uttar Pradesh politics - the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party - are too strained to be easily repaired. The two together had beaten the BJP in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition to come to power in 1993. But the threat to her life which the BSP czarina, Mayawati, felt from the SP "goons" in 1995 led to a permanent breach between the two parties.
Moreover, Mayawati is unlikely to have any interest in reviving the alliance. The BSP chief believes that she has a fair chance of returning to power by benefitting from the anti-incumbency sentiments affecting the SP. If Akhilesh Yadav has spoken of an alliance at all - which he now denies - without taking permission from his domineering father, the apparent reason is that he, too, has sensed the prevailing anti-SP mood.
In the midst of these permutations and combinations, what is noteworthy is the sorry state of the Congress. As in Bihar, it will bring up the rear in Uttar Pradesh as the top positions go to the big regional players. It cannot even be too certain of success in Assam. Only in Kerala, it can expect to hold on to power as leader of the United Democratic Front.
While hoping to gain in Assam, the BJP is aware that the prized catch of Uttar Pradesh is likely to elude it. The BJP cannot realistically hope to replicate its success of winning 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats - its ally, Apna Dal, won two - in Uttar Pradesh in the last general election. As in Bihar, there is little doubt that the Modi wave has abated in Uttar Pradesh as well.
However, the BJP will look with some satisfaction at the motley nature of the gathering in Patna. The mere presence of several Chief Ministers, a former prime minister and a Prime Minister wannabe (Rahul Gandhi) do not make a "Gathbandhan".
(Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are strictly personal)
Amulya Ganguli


Karan Johar says Ranbir Kapoor, and not Shah Rukh Khan, is his all time favourite actor in a new interview.
Karan Johar is the cover boy for the latest edition of a luxury lifestyle magazine, which will shed light on 'The Many Moods' of the ace filmmaker.
The 46-year-old, who looks dapper in a checkered trench coat, features on the September issue of Man's World.
"I'm excited to have worked with him, I'm excited to work with him for 'Brahmastra'. I would say Kiara Advani is a girl that I've discovered as an amazing acting resource. I really think that Ishaan Khatter is very talented. I'm really excited to see how Janhvi [Kapoor] and Sara [Ali Khan]'s careers unfold," he further said.