MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Rhinovirus

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Acute viral rhinitis, acute coryza, common cold virus

CHARACTERISTICS: Picornaviridae; icosahedral, about 27 nm diameter, ss positive sense RNA, non-lipid enveloped capsid

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Most frequent cause of the common cold responsible for 30-50% of cases; acute infection of the upper respiratory tract; characterized by coryza, sneezing, lacrimation, irritated nasopharynx, headache, sore throat, chilliness and malaise lasting 2-7 days; little or no fever; can be accompanied by laryngitis, tracheitis and bronchitis; secondary bacterial infection may produce acute otis media, sinusitis or pneumonitis

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; occurs mostly in the early fall and winter; over 100 recognized serotypes; incidence highest in children < 5 years

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Ranges from 0.032 to 0.4 TCID₅₀ when given as nasal spray

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact or inhalation of infectious airborne droplets; indirect spread by contaminated hands and freshly soiled articles

INCUBATION PERIOD: From 2-4 days

COMMUNICABILITY: Nasal discharges taken 24 hours before and 5 days after onset have been shown to be infectious

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: No specific antivirals although sensitive to alpha-2 interferon

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to l.0% sodium hypochlorite, tincture of iodine, phenol-alcohol disinfectant, 2% glutaraldehyde; resistant to organic solvents, ethanol

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivates at pH < 3.6

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Relatively stable at 24-35° C; survives for days on environmental surfaces; survives on the human skin up to 3 hours; survival in aerosols enhanced by low temperature and high relative humidity

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Identification by tissue culture

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Rest, hydration, nasal decongestant and saline gargles

IMMUNIZATION: None

PROPHYLAXIS: Antiviral agents have proven effective in vitro, but with little effect in clinical trials

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported although probably quite common

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Nose and throat secretions

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Droplet exposure of mucous membranes; indirect via hands

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices and containment for activities utilizing infectious body fluids, tissues and cultures

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

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

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: February, 2001

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

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