MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Rubella virus

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: German measles, 3-day measles

CHARACTERISTICS: Togaviridae, genus Rubivirus; single-stranded positive sense RNA, icosahedral, enveloped, 50-80 nm diameter, teratogenic

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Mild febrile infectious disease with a diffuse punctate and macular rash resembling measles; leukopenia; arthralgia and arthritis may arise as complications, especially in adult females; half of infections occur without rash; 30-50% of infections are asymptomatic; congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) may occur in infants born to women with rubella in 1st trimester - death, spontaneous abortions, congenital malformations, risk decreases with fetal development

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; prevalent in winter and spring; endemic except in remote and isolated communities which have epidemics every 10-15 years; peaked in North America every 6-9 years before vaccine; in unvaccinated populations-childhood disease, in vaccinated population - young adult infections

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: 60 units (nasal drops); 10 units (pharyngeal spray); 30 units (subcutaneous)

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Contact with nasopharyngeal secretions of infected persons; droplet spread or direct contact with patients; indirect contact with freshly infected articles; in closed environments, all susceptibles may be infected; infected infants shed large quantities of virus

INCUBATION PERIOD: 12-23 days; usually 16-18 days

COMMUNICABILITY: Communicable for 1 week before and at least 4 days after onset of rash; highly communicable; infants with congenital rubella may shed virus for up to 1 year after birth

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Humans

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Not affected by antibiotics

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, lipid solvents, trypsin

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Infectivity lost after 30 min at 56° C, 4 min at 70° C and 2 min at 100° C; sensitive to ultraviolet light; degrades rapidly with conventional freezing

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives for short periods outside of host

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Rubella serology screen for antibodies, especially for a pregnant female contact in first trimester

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: No specific treatment

IMMUNIZATION: All females of reproductive age and all persons who may have contact with pregnant women should be immune; those found to be susceptible by review of immunization records or serological testing should be immunized unless medically contraindicated; vaccine is contraindicated for the immunocompromised and expectant mothers, or those planning on becoming pregnant within three months

PROPHYLAXIS: IG given after exposure in pregnancy may modify or suppress symptoms but may not prevent infection

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 1 reported case up to 1974

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Pharyngeal and nasal specimens, stool, urine, blood, CSF

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; droplet exposure of the mucous membranes; inhalation of concentrated aerosolized materials

SPECIAL HAZARDS: None

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities involving known or potentially infectious clinical materials or cultures

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable; gloves and gown in biosafety cabinet

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Women who may become or are pregnant, if seronegative, should be restricted from working with this agent

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

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

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

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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