Occupational risks during a monkeypox outbreak, Wisconsin, 2003

Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Aug;13(8):1150-7. doi: 10.3201/eid1308.061365.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animal Technicians
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mpox (monkeypox) / epidemiology
  • Mpox (monkeypox) / transmission*
  • Mpox (monkeypox) / veterinary*
  • Mpox (monkeypox) / virology
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sciuridae / virology*
  • Wisconsin / epidemiology
  • Zoonoses / transmission*
  • Zoonoses / virology