Services available

Arboviruses and rikettsiae are causes of febrile illnesses in travellers returning to the United Kingdom from many areas. Less frequently, illness caused by viral haemorrhagic fevers may have to be considered. Although not common, Q fever, anthrax, and plague derived from within the UK or abroad may also be considered as part of the differential diagnosis.

When asking for a test, consider the geographical location that the patient has returned from, and the timing fo their visit. The table of incubation periods in the SPRU manual may help clarify whether a particular disease could be involved.

Common conditions such as malaria must not be forgotten and should be screened for, alongside more exotic diseases, as prompt treatment may be life saving.

Reference Services

Arboviruses
Haemorrhagic Fever viruses
Orthopoxvirus
Hantavirus
Nipah and Hendra viruses
Rickettsia
Orientia
Coxiella burnetii,
Bacillus anthracis
Francisella tularensis

Research Areas

Identification techniques
Reagent production standardisation
Biosafety issues
Basic Sciences (eg immunology, pathogenicity)

Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Porton Down
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP4 0JG

Key Staff

Dr Tim Brooks, Consultant Medical Microbiologist
+44 (0)1980 612 774

Mrs Sheila Holt, Head Biomedical Scientist
+44 (0)1980 612 591

Tel: +44 (0) 1980 612 100 (24 hour switchboard)
Fax: +44 (0) 1980 610 848
Email: special.pathogens@hpa.org.uk

 

PACKAGING OF SAMPLES:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_075440.pdf

• P1 Special pathogens reference form (PDF, 345 KB)
  Reference form for SPRU requests
  Added/updated: 20 December 2010
  
• SPRU User Manual 2009 (PDF, 349 KB)
  Added/updated: 29 June 2010