MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Junin virus/ Machupo virus

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, Argentinian hemorrhagic fever, South American hemorrhagic fever

CHARACTERISTICS: Arenaviridae; pleomorphic, enveloped globular virions 110-130 nm in diameter, linear, single-stranded, two-segmented RNA

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Insidious onset of fever, malaise, headache and muscular pains; petechiae may appear on the upper trunk, oral mucosae; bleeding may occur from the nose, gums, stomach, intestine; severe cases may be presented with hypotensive shock and neurologic crisis with fatality of 5-30%

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Junin virus found mainly in Argentina; Machupo virus found in Bolivia; both viruses have peak incidence during May-June

HOST RANGE: Humans, rodents

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By aerosol transmission via dust contaminated with infected rodent excreta; abraded skin may be portal of entry of virus

INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 7-16 days

COMMUNICABILITY: Direct person-to-person transmission reported

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Rodents (Calomys musculinus, C. laucha for Junin virus; Calomys callosus for Machupo virus)

ZOONOSIS: Yes - disease acquired through contact with rodents

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to ribavirin

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

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by UV irradiation

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Sensitive to drying

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by viral isolation and serological analysis

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer supportive therapy. Convalescent human plasma effective in Junin disease. Ribavirin may also be effective

IMMUNIZATION: Live attenuated vaccine licensed for Junin in Argentina. Monkey study suggests it may prevent Machupo disease

PROPHYLAXIS: None proven, but passive antibodies and/or ribavirin should be tried in event of overt exposure to virus

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 21 cases of Junin virus (1 death) and 6 cases of Machupo virus (1 death) were reported

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood, blood products, saliva, excreta, respiratory and throat secretions from human and animal hosts

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation, droplet exposure of the mucous membranes; aerosols

SPECIAL HAZARDS: Contact with feces from infected animals; contact with dust containing infective particles

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 4 practices and containment equipment for all activities involving the virus, infectious or potentially infectious body fluids or tissues

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Remove street clothing and replace with complete laboratory clothing, 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 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 the containment laboratory 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: September, 1996 Prepared by: Office of Biosafety

LCDC

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.

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