Occupational Risks during a Monkeypox Outbreak, Wisconsin, 2003

摘要

We determined factors associated with occupational transmission in Wisconsin during the 2003 outbreak of prairie dog–associated monkeypox virus infections. Our in-vestigation included active contact surveillance, exposure-related interviews, and a veterinary facility cohort study. We identifi ed 19 confi rmed, 5 probable, and 3 suspected cases. Rash, headache, sweats, and fever were reported by >80% of patients. Occupationally transmitted infections occurred in 12 veterinary staff, 2 pet store employees, and 2 animal distributors. The following were associated with illness: working directly with animal care (p = 0.002), being involved in prairie dog examination, caring for an animal within 6 feet of an ill prairie dog (p = 0.03), feeding an ill prairie dog (p = 0.002), and using an antihistamine (p = 0.04). Having never handled an ill prairie dog (p = 0.004) was protective. Veteri-nary staff used personal protective equipment sporadically. Our fi ndings underscore the importance of standard veteri-nary infection-control guidelines