Priority diseases standard case definition

S.no Diseases/Condition Suspected cases Confirmed cases

1 Anthrax Any person with acute onset characterized by confirmed case of anthrax in a human can
several clinical forms which are: be defined as a clinically compatible case
of cutaneous, inhalational or
1. Cutaneous form: Any person with skin lesion
gastrointestinal illness that is laboratory-
evolving over 1 to 6 days from a popular
confirmed by:
through a vesicular stage, to a depressed black
eschar invariably accompanied by edema that 1. isolation of B. anthracis from an
may be mild to extensive. affected tissue or site; or

2. Gastro-intestinal: Any person with 2. Other laboratory evidence of B.

abdominal distress characterized by nausea, anthracis infection based on at least two
vomiting, anorexia and followed by fever supportive laboratory tests. Note: It may
not be possible to demonstrate B.
3. Pulmonary (inhalation): any person with
anthracis in clinical specimens if the
brief prodromal resembling acute viral
patient has been treated with
respiratory illness, followed by rapid onset of
antimicrobial agents
hypoxia, dyspnea and high temperature, with
X-ray evidence of mediastina widening

4. Meningeal: Any person with acute onset of

high fever possibly with convulsions, loss of
consciousness, meningeal signs and symptoms;
commonly noted in all systemic infections, but
may present without any other clinical
symptoms of anthrax

AND has an epidemiological link to confirmed

or suspected animal cases or contaminated
animal products

Cholera In areas where a cholera outbreak has not A suspected case with Vibrio cholerae O1
been declared: or O139 confirmed by culture or PCR
polymerase chain reaction and, in
Any patient aged two years and older
countries where cholera is not present or
presenting acute watery diarrhoea and severe
has been eliminated, the Vibrio cholerae
dehydration or dying from acute watery
O1 or O139 strain is demonstrated to be
diarrhoea.
toxigeni
In areas where a cholera outbreak is declared:
any person presenting or dying from acute
watery diarrhoea.
 Priority diseases standard case definition
3 Poliomyelitis Any child under 15 years of age with acute A suspected case with virus isolation in
(Acute flaccid flaccid paralysis or any person with paralytic stool
paralysis) illness at any age in whom the clinician
suspects poliomyelitis.

4 Measles Any person with fever and maculopapular A suspected case with laboratory
(non-vesicular) generalized rash and cough, confirmation (positive IgM antibody) or
coryza or conjunctivitis (red eyes) or any epidemiological link to confirmed cases in
person in whom a clinician suspects measles. an outbreak.

5 Rabies A person bitten by suspected rabid dog and A suspected case confirmed by lab.
presented with fever, nausea, vomiting,
agitation, pharyngeal spasms (hydrophobia/
aerophobia).

6 Malaria Any person with fever or fever with headache, A suspected case confirmed by microscopy
rigor, back pain, chills, sweats, myalgia, or RDT for plasmodium parasites.
nausea, and vomiting diagnosed clinically as
malaria.

7 Meningitis Any person with sudden onset of fever A suspected case confirmed by isolation of
(>38.50 C rectal or 380 C axillary) and one of N. meningitis from Cerebrospinal fluid or
the following signs: neck stiffness, altered blood
consciousness or other meningeal sign.

8 Severe Acute Children age from 6 months to 5 years with

Malnutrition MUAC less than 11cm and/or children with
bilateral edema regardless of their MUAC.
Children with MUAC less than 11cm and/or
children with bilateral edema regardless of
their MUAC

Source; National PHEM guideline, Second Edition, July 2021