Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

 

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: CCHF, Central Asian hemorrhagic fever

CHARACTERISTICS: Nairovirus, Bunyaviridae, spherical, enveloped virion 85-100 nm in diameter, genome contains 3 segments of single-stranded, negative-sense RNA

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Sudden onset of fever, malaise, weakness, irritability, headache, severe pain in the limbs and loins and marked anorexia; vomiting, abdominal pains and diarrhea may occur; hemorrhagic exanthem of soft palate, uvula and pharynx and a petechial rash are generally associated with the disease; bleeding from the gums, nose, lungs, uterus, intestine can occur, in some cases associated with liver damage and death due loss of blood; case fatality rate ranges from 2 to 50%

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Observed in western Crimea, Kersch Peninsula, Kazakstan and Uzbekistan, Rostov and Astrakhan regions of Russia; also found in Bosnia-Herzogovina, Albania, Bulgaria, Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, western China, tropical Africa and South Africa; high risk individuals includes animal husbandry workers and medical personnel

HOST RANGE: Humans, birds, ticks (Hyalomma spp. in Eurasia and South Africa), domestic animals, rodents, and mosquitoes

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By the bite of an infective adult tick (Hyalomma spp.); nosocomial outbreaks have occurred due to exposure to blood and secretions; infections also associated with slaughtering infected animals

INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 1 to 3 days (Range 1 to 12 days)

COMMUNICABILITY: Highly infectious, especially through the nosocomial route. Infective ticks remain so for life

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Hares, birds, ticks, rodents, domestic animals

ZOONOSIS: Yes - can be acquired from infected animals

VECTORS: Ticks (Hyalomma spp.)

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to ribavirin

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heating at 56°C for 30 min

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Virus stable in blood up to 10 days at 40°C

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by serological analysis and virus isolation from blood sample

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer supportive therapy. Ribavirin may be effective (available in emergency from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); convalescent plasma with high neutralizing antibody titre shown to be beneficial

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: Convalescent plasma with high neutralizing antibody titre shown to be beneficial

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Eight cases were reported with 1 death up to 1980

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood, mucous secretions

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Droplet exposure of the mucous membrane to infective blood; aerosols; accidental parenteral inoculation

SPECIAL HAZARDS: Exposure to aerosols when working with infected animals

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 4 practices, containment equipment and facilities are recommended for all activities utilizing virus materials and known or potentially infectious materials of human, animal or arthropod

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Street clothing is removed and complete laboratory clothing is used, the nature of which depends on the Level 4 design

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Clinical specimens from persons suspected of being infected with this virus should be submitted to a Level 4 containment facility

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle: wearing protective clothing including full respiratory protection, gently cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes and materials from containment before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration, gaseous methods; includes liquid and solid wastes

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled and contained within the Level 4 facility

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: February 2000

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001