Managing potential laboratory exposure to ebola virus by using a patient biocontainment care unit

• Published in: Emerging infectious diseases Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 881 - 887
• Main Authors: Kortepeter, Mark G, Martin, James W, Rusnak, Janice M, Cieslak, Theodore J, Warfield, Kelly L, Anderson, Edwin L, Ranadive, Manmohan V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01.06.2008; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Laboratory - virology; biocontainment; Containment of Biohazards; Ebola virus; Ebolavirus; filovirus; Guidelines as Topic; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - prevention & control; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - therapy; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - virology; Humans; Laboratory Infection - prevention & control; Laboratory Infection - therapy; Laboratory Infection - virology; Marburg virus; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Mice; Military Medicine; Occupational Exposure; Patient Isolation - methods; quarantine; Research institutes; United States; viral hemorrhagic fever; United States
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059
• DOI: 10.3201/eid1406.071489

In 2004, a scientist from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) was potentially exposed to a mouse-adapted variant of the Zaire species of Ebola virus. The circumstances surrounding the case are presented, in addition to an update on historical admissions to the medical containment suite at USAMRIID. Research facilities contemplating work with pathogens requiring Biosafety Level 4 laboratory precautions should be mindful of the occupational health issues highlighted in this article.