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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