Haemophilus influenzae type B infection (invasive)

Statutory notification

• Haemophilus influenzae type B infection (invasive) is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• Alert: cases must be reported urgently by telephone to the public health units (Healthy WA) within a few hours of first suspicion of diagnosis.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 208KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health summary 

• Infectious agent: Haemophilus influenzae type B.
• Transmission: Haemophilus influenzae type B is usually spread through droplet infection and discharges from nose and throat during the infectious period.
• Incubation period: Unknown; probably 2-4 days.
• Infectious period: As long as organisms are present, which may be for a prolonged period even without nasal discharge, or until treated with antibiotics (24-48 hours).
• Case exclusion: Exclude until antibiotic treatment completed, usually 48 hours. See Haemophilus influenzae type B – National Guidelines for Public Health Units (external site).
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude. Contact management will be coordinated by local public health units (Healthy WA).
• Treatment: Antibiotics as recommended by doctor.
• Immunisation: Recommended that children be vaccinated according to the Western Australian immunisation schedule. See Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (external site).
• Case follow-up: Is conducted by local public health units (Healthy WA).

Information and resources for health providers

• Western Australian immunisation schedule
• Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (external site)
• Communicable Disease Guidelines for teachers, childcare workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners
• Haemophilus influenzae type B fact sheet (Healthy WA)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B – National Guidelines for Public Health Units (external site)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B fact sheet (Healthy WA)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B Public Health Unit Checklist (Word 564KB)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B Case Report Form (Word 336KB)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B – Letter templates for contacts (Word 350KB)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B Reference Laboratories (Word 565KB)

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports