Occupational risks during a monkeypox outbreak, Wisconsin, 2003. Emerg Infect Dis 2007 Aug;13(8):1150-7
Date
10/24/2007Pubmed ID
17953084Pubmed Central ID
PMC2828073DOI
10.3201/eid1308.061365Scopus ID
2-s2.0-34548394128 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 57 CitationsAbstract
We determined factors associated with occupational transmission in Wisconsin during the 2003 outbreak of prairie dog--associated monkeypox virus infections. Our investigation included active contact surveillance, exposure-related interviews, and a veterinary facility cohort study. We identified 19 confirmed, 5 probable, and 3 suspected cases. Rash, headache, sweats, and fever were reported by > 80% of patients. Occupationally transmitted infections occurred in 12 veterinary staff, 2 pet store employees, and 2 animal distributors. The following were associated with illness: working directly with animal care (p = 0.002), being involved in prairie dog examination, caring for an animal within 6 feet of an ill prairie dog (p = 0.03), feeding an ill prairie dog (p = 0.002), and using an antihistamine (p = 0.04). Having never handled an ill prairie dog (p = 0.004) was protective. Veterinary staff used personal protective equipment sporadically. Our findings underscore the importance of standard veterinary infection-control guidelines.
Author List
Croft DR, Sotir MJ, Williams CJ, Kazmierczak JJ, Wegner MV, Rausch D, Graham MB, Foldy SL, Wolters M, Damon IK, Karem KL, Davis JPAuthor
Mary Beth Graham MD Associate Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Animal Technicians
Animals
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Disease Outbreaks
Female
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure
Risk Factors
Sciuridae
Wisconsin
Zoonoses
