Isolation & Quarantine Measures in Response to a Smallpox Emergency

Decontamination

Smallpox virus is sensitive to UV light inactivation. Good air flow and exhaust to the outside will help to dilute the concentration of any airborne particles and expose the virus to UV light. Contaminated surfaces can be cleaned with fresh, diluted bleach solution or other hospital disinfectants that inactivate viruses. Reusable medical instruments or surfaces contaminated with blood or pus should be washed to remove the material in addition to disinfection. Laundry and contaminated personal protective clothing should be placed in appropriate containers upon leaving an isolation area.

For reusable laundry, dissolving laundry bags that can be placed in the wash without removing the laundry are preferable. Laundry should not be sorted before washing, should be placed directly in the wash, then sorted. Contaminated clothing can be washed in hot water with bleach added if possible. 

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