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 Unt 1s