MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Kyasanur forest disease virus

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Kyasanur forest disease, tick-borne encephalitis virus group

CHARACTERISTICS: Flaviviridae (formerly group B arboviruses); spherical, enveloped virion about 45 nm in diameter, single-stranded, positive sense RNA genome

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Sudden onset of fever and severe headache, followed by backpain, severe pain in the lower and upper extremities and prostration; biphasic course of illness and fever; central nervous abnormalities develop after an afebrile period of 1-2 weeks; relative bradycardia is frequently present along with inflammation of the conjunctivae; a mild meningoencephalitis frequently occurs; a small proportion of patients develop coma or bronchopneumonia prior to death

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Principally in the Shimoga and Kanara district of Karnataka, India; common in young adults exposed during the dry season in the forest

HOST RANGE: Humans, shrews, monkeys

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By the bite of an infective tick (Haemaphysalis spinigera), especially nymphal ticks; direct transmission from rodent to human is possible

INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 3-8 days

COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly transmitted from person-to-person; infective ticks remains so for life

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Rodents, shrews, monkeys

ZOONOSIS: Yes - disease can be acquired through rodents

VECTORS: Nymphal ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera)

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: No antiviral available to date

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Sensitive to 70% ethanol, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde

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

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Sensitive to freezing

SECTION V - MEDICAL

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

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer supportive therapy; control of dehydration and hemorrhage is critical

IMMUNIZATION: None available to date

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 133 cases were reported up to 1980

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Blood

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation, droplet exposure to the mucous membrane; aerosols

SPECIAL HAZARDS: Aerosol generation when working with experimentally infected rodents

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

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

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 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 before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

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

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: March, 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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