Measles Virus Transmission on the Rise
Opinion – Educational
Recent Reports of an Increase in the transmission of the Measles virus may start to cause the phone to ring for ABRA Member Companies. Similar to other respiratory viruses, it is transmitted through droplets It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing.
According to the CDC, If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases
Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected. Infected people can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears. Measles virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves an area. According to the National Institutes for Health (NIH), For measles, R nought (R0) is often cited to be 12-18, which means that each person with measles would, on average, infect 12-18 other people in a totally susceptible population. We did a systematic review to find studies reporting rigorous estimates and determinants of measles R0
Surface Significance
According to OSHA, the measles virus can remain active and infectious on surfaces for several hours-typically up to about two hours. As infectious particles enter the air and settle on surfaces, anyone close to an infectious person and who is not immune can become infected.
Risks to Environmental Services Workers – OSHA
Environmental services workers may have exposure to contaminated environments and surfaces that can transmit the measles virus.
Activities that can lead to environmental services worker exposure include:
- Working in environments where an infected person is or has been within the previous two hours.
- Cleaning or otherwise having contact with environmental surfaces contaminated with an infected person’s infectious body fluids (i.e., respiratory secretions, saliva).
- Cleaning tasks that involve using pressurized sprays of water or cleaning chemicals can create potentially infectious aerosols.
Risk Group
According the Canadian Pathogen Safety Data Sheet for the Measles Virus, the Risk group for Measles Virus is an RG-2. With that said, this is probably due the fact that the majority of us have been vaccinated for the virus making it unlikely to spread in the community but with the recent criticism of vaccines, the risk group is a bit of a grey area. The Bio Recovery Site Risk Assessment (BSRA) guidance document suggest that this bumps in to the RG-3 area and when in doubt pick the more conservative approach for scope.
The other variable is that it is said that the virus only remains active up to two hours on surfaces. Once an individual is identified as a carrier, how quickly can you respond and make a difference? A continuous cleaning and disinfection may help prevent the spread in a facility that is occupied 24/7. If the space is unoccupied for more than two hours the risk of air and surface transmission is mitigated. Keeping up with virus that can move this quickly can prove to be difficult for any environmental services response. The air and surfaces in any facility are only as good as the next possible carrier enters the space knowingly or unknowingly ill.
Passive Air Scrubber and other Air/Surface Devices
With any outbreak you will see a ton of advertisement for Devices with claims for efficacy regarding a biological remedy. Please use caution and consult with an Environmental Infection Control Professional to make the best decision based on sound due diligence and science to back the claimed risk reduction.