This guideline outlines the recommended actions for a Victorian health service and the Victorian Department of Health (the department) to identify and manage suspected and confirmed cases of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) in a health care facility.
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The Victorian guideline on viral haemorrhagic fevers – Health services guide (the guide) was developed by the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Preparedness Writing Group, which included members from the:
- Victorian Department of Health (the department)
- Local Public Health Units (LPHUs)
- health services
- Primary Health Networks
- Ambulance Victoria (AV)
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL)
- Environmental Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) (Appendix 1: Project governance).
Recommendations are based on best-practice guidance, research literature and expert opinion.
We gratefully acknowledge The Royal Melbourne Hospital for allowing us to use their ‘Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Management Guideline’ as a foundation for this guide.
We also acknowledge the organisations that supported the development and review of the guide including health services, infectious diseases specialists, refugee and migrant health services, infection prevention and control units and public health and diagnostic laboratories.
This guide remains open to continued review and should be reviewed at a minimum every three years. The experience of health services in applying this guideline continues to be invaluable.
Reviewed 26 February 2026