Smallpox-Like Virus Infects Lab Worker After Mishap
LiveScience.com By Rachael Rettner
18 hours ago
A lab worker in Boston became infected with a virus similar to smallpox after he accidentally stuck himself with a needle that was contaminated with the virus, according to a new report of the case.
But the case is noteworthy because the worker developed the infection despite having recently been vaccinated against the virus, which was intended to protect him in case of exactly such an accident.
In November 2013, the 27-year-old lab worker was preforming an experiment that required him to inject mice with the vaccinia virus — which is the virus in the smallpox vaccine. (The vaccinia virus is similar to smallpox, but doesn't actually cause the disease.) While putting a cap back on the needle he was using, he accidentally stuck the needle into his left thumb.
The worker immediately sterilized his gloves and washed his hands for 10 minutes, and saw that there was a small amount of blood from his injury. He filed an accident report at his work, and was told to go to the emergency room if he had signs of infection.
About a week later, the man developed a rash on his left bicep, and went to the ER. But the hospital doctors thought the man had a bacterial infection, and gave him antibiotics.
A few days later, the man developed a lesion of dead tissue on his thumb, and went to a health clinic at his work, where he was diagnosed with a vaccinia virus infection.
Continued...
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Originally Posted by angelatc
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