Laboratory-Acquired Vaccinia Virus Infection — Virginia, 2008

Vaccinia virus (VACV) is the live viral component of smallpox vaccine. Inadvertent exposure to VACV can result in infection, and severe complications can occur in persons with underlying risk factors (e.g., pregnancy, immunodeficiencies, or dermatologic conditions). The Advisory Committee on Immuniz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2009-07, Vol.58 (29), p.797-800
Main Authors: Davies, E, Peake, L, Woolard, D, Novak, C, Hall, K, Leonard, R.T, Allen, R, Reynolds, M, Davidson, W, Hughes, C, Olson, V, Smith, S, Zhao, H, Li, Y, Karem, K, Damon, I, MacNeil, A, Roess, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
2008 AD
Adult
Animals
Animals, Laboratory
Contact Tracing
Disease transmission
Eyes
Humans
Infections
Lesions
Male
Medical Laboratory Personnel
Mice - virology
Predisposing factors
Properties
Recommendations
Safety
Sentinel health events
Smallpox
Smallpox vaccine
Smallpox Vaccine - administration & dosage
Specimen Handling
Vaccination
Vaccinia
Vaccinia - drug therapy
Vaccinia - transmission
Vaccinia virus
Vaccinia virus - classification
Vaccinia virus - genetics
Variola
Virginia
Virus diseases
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Summary:Vaccinia virus (VACV) is the live viral component of smallpox vaccine. Inadvertent exposure to VACV can result in infection, and severe complications can occur in persons with underlying risk factors (e.g., pregnancy, immunodeficiencies, or dermatologic conditions). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends smallpox vaccination for laboratory workers who handle nonhighly attenuated VACV strains or other orthopoxviruses (e.g., monkeypox, cowpox, or variola). On July 8, 2008, CDC was notified by a Virginia physician of a suspected case of inadvertent autoinoculation and VACV infection in an unvaccinated laboratory worker. This report describes the subsequent investigations conducted by the Virginia Department of Health and CDC to identify the source of infection and any cases of contact transmission. Of the patient's 102 possible contacts, seven had underlying risk factors for developing serious vaccinia infection. Investigators found no evidence of contact transmission and, based on the results of molecular typing, further concluded that the patient had been exposed to a VACV strain that had contaminated the seed stock from the laboratory where the patient worked. This case underscores the importance of adherence to ACIP vaccination recommendations for laboratory workers and use of safety precautions when working with nonhighly attenuated VACV.
ISSN:0149-2195
1545-861X