A cohort study of health care workers to assess nosocomial transmissibility of Nipah virus, Malaysia, 1999.
During 1998-1999, an outbreak of Nipah virus encephalitis occurred in Malaysia. To assess the possibility of nosocomial transmission, 338 health care workers (HCWs) exposed and 288 HCWs unexposed to outbreak-related patients were surveyed, and their serum samples were tested for anti-Nipah virus antibody. Needlestick injuries were reported by 12 (3%) HCWs, mucosal surface exposure to body fluids by 39 (11%), and skin exposure to body fluids by 89 (25%). No encephalitis occurred in either group. Three exposed and no unexposed HCWs tested positive by EIA for IgG antibodies. It is likely that these 3 were false positives; no IgM response occurred, and the serum samples were negative for anti-Nipah virus neutralizing antibodies. The risk of nosocomial transmission of Nipah virus appears to be low; however, given the high case-fatality rate and the presence of virus in respiratory secretions and urine of some patients, standard and droplet infection-control practices should be maintained with these patients.
Mounts
A W
AW
Respiratory and Enteric Viruses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Kaur
H
H
Parashar
U D
UD
Ksiazek
T G
TG
Cannon
D
D
Arokiasamy
J T
JT
Anderson
L J
LJ
Lye
M S
MS
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D018098:Paramyxovirinae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G