Low Risk of Prolonged Carriage of FMD Virus in Human Nose
UK - The carriage of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus in human nasal cavities after exposure to infected animals is short-lived, according to research published by researchers at the Institute for Animal Health last year.
12 April 2011
1 minute read
C.F. Wright and colleagues at Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory, published a paper in Veterinary Record last year on their studies into the length of time the FMD virus is carried in human nasal cavities after exposure to infected animals.
In their paper, they explain that a quarantine period for potentially contaminated personnel can be used to reduce the risk of transfer of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) from infected to susceptible premises. This is set at 72 hours in the UK, on the basis of results from laboratory studies and field observations.
Previous analysis of FMDV carriage within human nasal cavities has relied upon virus isolation by culture in susceptible cells.
This study, involving 51 people, evaluated a PCR method, which detected viral genomic material within 35 nasal swabs taken from personnel after up to eight hours exposure to infected animals.
Only one of 23 people who was PCR-positive immediately after exposure to FMDV-infected animals remained positive the following day, indicating a low risk of prolonged carriage of virus in the nasal cavities.
Reference
Wright, C.F., J. Gloster, L. Mazelet, D.J. Paton and E.D. Ryan. 2010. Short-lived carriage of foot-and-mouth disease virus in human nasal cavities after exposure to infected animals. Veterinary Record, 167:928-931 doi:10.1136/vr.c6275. For abstract, click here.
