Citation:
D G Bausch et al. Assessment of the risk of Ebola virus transmission from bodily fluids and fomites. Journal of Infectious Diseases. Oct,2014.
Abstract / Summary:
Although Ebola virus (EBOV) is transmitted by unprotected physical contact with infected persons, few data exist on which specific bodily fluids are infected or on the risk of fomite transmission. Therefore, we tested various clinical specimens from 26 laboratory-confirmed cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, as well as environmental specimens collected from an isolation ward, for the presence of EBOV. Virus was detected by culture and/or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in 16 of 54 clinical specimens (including saliva, stool, semen, breast milk, tears, nasal blood, and a skin swab) and in 2 of 33 environmental specimens.We conclude that EBOV is shed in a wide variety of bodily fluids during the acute period of illness but that the risk of transmission from fomites in an isolation ward and from convalescent patients is low when currently recommended infection control guidelines for the viral hemorrhagic fevers are followed.
Healthcare:
Knowledge cycle:
WHO Regions and Countries:
Users of healthcare information:
Full text access?:
Formal literature type:
Journal title:
Year published:
2007
Month published:
N/A
Would you like to comment on this item? Please join the HIFA discussion forum here www.hifa2015.org or send an email directly to the forum: hifa2015@dgroups.org