Nipah Virus Contamination of Hospital Surfaces during Outbreaks, Bangladesh, 2013–2014

• Main Authors: Md Zakiul Hassan, Hossain M.S. Sazzad, Stephen P. Luby, Katharine Sturm-Ramirez, Mejbah Uddin Bhuiyan, Mohammed Ziaur Rahman, Md Muzahidul Islam, Ute Ströher, Sharmin Sultana, Mohammad Abdullah Heel Kafi, Peter Daszak, Mahmudur Rahman, Emily S. Gurley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2018-01-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Hospital surface contamination; hospital-acquired infection; Nipah virus; viral RNA shedding; infection control; viruses
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/24/1/16-1758_article
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059

Nipah virus (NiV) has been transmitted from patient to caregivers in Bangladesh presumably through oral secretions. We aimed to detect whether NiV-infected patients contaminate hospital surfaces with the virus. During December 2013–April 2014, we collected 1 swab sample from 5 surfaces near NiV-infected patients and tested surface and oral swab samples by real-time reverse transcription PCR for NiV RNA. We identified 16 Nipah patients; 12 cases were laboratory-confirmed and 4 probable. Of the 12 laboratory-confirmed cases, 10 showed NiV RNA in oral swab specimens. We obtained surface swab samples for 6 Nipah patients; 5 had evidence of NiV RNA on >1 surface: 4 patients contaminated towels, 3 bed sheets, and 1 the bed rail. Patients with NiV RNA in oral swab samples were significantly more likely than other Nipah patients to die. To reduce the risk for fomite transmission of NiV, infection control should target hospital surfaces.