Committee on Laboratory Infections
“arthropod-borne viruses,” are so named
because they are transmitted biologically by arthropods between vertebrate
and Accidents. We now report on the
extent of the problem of accidental infection, without regard to recommended
Measures or devices, since guidelines
hosts. Of more than 200 viruses now
classified as arboviruses, approximately
50 have been associated with disease
for laboratory safety and references to
specific procedures have been reported (3, 6).
in man, and many have caused overt
laboratory infections. This high inci-
Laboratory groups working with the
dence may have resulted from the
marked acceleration of studies of this
group of viruses and from the increase
in the number of persons who handle
fatal (Table 1). Information on 129
cases first became available through
arboviruses were asked to provide information concerning: (i) the number
quired
laboratory-ac-
the recent survey. Of the 192 arboviruses currently registered in a Catalog prepared by the American Com-
type, (ii) the circumstances that led
to infection, (ili) practices in labora-
mittee on Arthropod-borne Viruses (7),
36 are reported to have caused illness
acquired in the laboratory, and at least
and
these agents.
This article, based on data from
laboratories in 38 countries (4), reveals
risks for those who work with arboviruses. The information obtained was
related to the earlier records of the
American Public Health Association
tionnaire ranged from 29 with less
than five individuals employed to 13
with more than 15 persons on the
staff. Over half of the 91 laboratories
surveyed had five to 14 employees.
Of 428 overt laboratory-acquired infections due to arboviruses, 16 were
nature
of
arbovirus
overt
infections
by
virus
tories that may relate to detection and
prevention of infections, and (iv) the
number of people at risk.
Laboratories responding to the ques-
14 induced illnesses of such severity
that need for extreme precaution in
laboratory manipulation was indicated
(6). Most of the arboviruses known
to have caused Jaboratory-acquired in-
fections are in group B. The data do
Table 1. Overt laboratory-acquired infections with arboviruses. APHA/CLIA, American
Public Health Association, Laboratory Section/Committee on Laboratory Infections and
Accidents. ACAV/SLI, American Committee on Arthropod-borne Viruses/Subcommittee on
Laboratory Infections. Numbers in parentheses represent cases for which information first
became available through recent ACAV questionnaire.
Arboviruses
Information from
APHA/CLIA
Chikungunya
,
Eastern equine encephalitis
Mayaro
Mucambo
Venezuelan equine encephalitis
Western equine encephalitis
Group A
13
2
1
2
92
5
Dengue
Japanese B encephalitis
Kunjin
Kyasanur Forest disease
Louping-ill
Omsk hemorrhagic fever
Group B
4
1
2
9
19
2
U.S. bat (Rio Bravo)
St. Louis encephalitis
Spondweni
Tick-borne encephalitis
Wesselsbron
West Nile
Yellow fever
Zika
5
1
2
8
2
3
37
1
Powassan
Apeu
Marituba
1
Group C
1
Oriboca
Bunyamwera
Germiston
Oropouche
Junin
Machupo
Vesticular stomatitis
Colorado tick fever
Nairobi sheep disease
Piry
Rift Valley fever
18 AR 1742 (unidentified)
AR 1792 (unidentified)
1284
ACAV/SLI
13
(6)
3 (2)
2
46 (26)
4 (2)
1
1
60 (56)
3 (2)
1 (¢5)
1
5
13 (10)
2 (2)
11 (8)
1 (1)
1
i
1
(1)
@)
Bunyamwera
4
3
Simbu
Tacaribe
2
1
7
1
1
28
1
19
2
3
2
118
5
Deaths
1
2
- sified (for administrative purposes) according to their various propensities for
2
8
1
3.
1
(3)
5
1
(1)
3
(3)
I
I
1
1
(1)
(1)
8
1
4
29
1
1
causing laboratory infections. Many
caused overt disease of such severity
that hospitalization for periods of 2
days to 3 months was required; seven
different viruses caused death. Although Kyasanur Forest disease virus
has not been reported to be fatal for
any laboratory personnel, it is highly
infectious. Clinically apparent infections occurred in 65 laboratory workers, principally in India, New York,
and Washington.
In several instances, an arbovirus
was first found to be capable of producing disease in man as a result of
infection of laboratory personnel. Six
persons with laboratory-acquired dis-
38
6
Seven cases
laboratory (/7). The viruses causing
these infections may eventually be clas-
1
2
(9).
and all the infections from Colorado
tick-fever virus occurred in a single
1
(2)
in two laboratories
of vesicular stomatitus virus infection
were reported by one institution (J0),
1
2
dom used, and others are used in
many laboratories. For example, 24
cases of Venezuelan equine encephalitis
were the result of a single accident
6
1
2
65
21
3
5
1
2
18
4
il
38
1
single laboratory, some viruses are sel-
(8), and most of the cases. of Kyasanur
Forest disease virus infection occurred
4
3
Vesicular stomatitis virus
38
1
Ungrouped
Total
not necessarily reflect the risk of infection from each of the viruses listed because some cases tend to be concentrated in a single area or even in a
ease due to louping-ill virus were the
1
only known human cases until two
instances of naturally acquired disease
”
were reported in 1948 (/2), and. tha
first recorded case of Zika virusinféction in man was a labaratory-acquired
SCIENCE
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