Precautions for Workers
in Affected Areas Who are Regularly Exposed to Rodents
Persons who frequently handle or are exposed to rodents (e.g.,
mammalogists, pest-control workers) in the affected area are probably
at higher risk for hantavirus infection than the general public
because of their frequency of exposure. Therefore, enhanced precautions
are warranted to protect them against hantavirus infection.
Precautions To Be Used:
- Workers in potentially high-risk settings should be informed
about the symptoms of the disease and be given detailed guidance
on prevention measures.
- Workers who develop a febrile or respiratory illness within
45 days of the last potential exposure should immediately seek
medical attention and inform the attending physician of the potential
occupational risk of hantavirus infection. The physician should
contact local health authorities promptly if hantavirus-associated
illness is suspected. A blood sample should be obtained and forwarded
through the state health department to CDC for hantavirus antibody
testing.
- Workers should wear a half-face air-purifying (or negative-pressure)
respirator or PAPR equipped with HEPA filters when removing rodents
from traps or handling rodents in the affected area. (Please
note: the HEPA classification recently has been discontinued.
Under the new classification system, the N-100 filter type is
recommended. Read the Federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) directive online, at "OSHA
Directives: CPL 2-0.120 - Inspection procedures for the Respiratory
Protection Standard".)
- Respirators (including positive-pressure types) are not considered
protective if facial hair interferes with the face seal, since
proper fit cannot be assured. Respirator use practices should
be in accord with a comprehensive user program and should be supervised
by a knowledgeable person.
- Workers should wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling rodents
or handling traps containing rodents. Gloves should be washed
and disinfected before removing them, as described above.
- Traps contaminated by rodent urine or feces or in which a rodent
was captured should be disinfected with a commercial disinfectant
or bleach solution. Dispose of dead rodents as described in the
section on Eliminating Rodents inside the Home.
- Persons removing organs or obtaining blood from rodents in affected
areas should contact the Special Pathogens Branch, Division of
Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious
Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [telephone
(404) 639-1115] for detailed safety precautions.
Precautions for Other Occupational Groups Who
Have Potential Rodent Contact
Insufficient information is available at this time to allow general
recommendations regarding risks or precautions for persons in the
affected areas who work in occupations with unpredictable or incidental
contact with rodents or their habitations. Examples of such occupations
include telephone installers, maintenance workers, plumbers, electricians,
and certain construction workers. Workers in these jobs may have
to enter various buildings, crawl spaces, or other sites that may
be rodent infested. Recommendations for such circumstances must
be made on a case-by-case basis after the specific working environment
has been assessed and state or local health departments have been
consulted.
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This page last reviewed
Thursday, August 5, 2004
Special Pathogens Branch
Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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