Consensus statement ularemia, a bacterial zoono

ENVIRONMENTAL DECONTAMINATION AND PROTECTION

Under natural conditions, F tularensis may survive for extended periods in a cold, moist environment. The work- ing group lacks information on sur- vival of intentionally dispersed par- ticles but would expect a short half- life due to desiccation, solar radiation, oxidation and other environmental fac- tors, and a very limited risk from sec- ondary dispersal. In circumstances of a laboratory spill or intentional use in which authorities are concerned about an environmental risk (eg, inanimate surfaces wet with material thought to contain F tularensis), decontamina- tion can be achieved by spraying the suspected contaminant with a 10% bleach solution (1 part household bleach and 9 parts water). After 10 min- utes, a 70% solution of alcohol can be used to further clean the area and re- duce the corrosive action of the bleach. Soap water can be used to flush away less hazardous contaminations. Per- sons with direct exposure to powder or liquid aerosols containing F tularensis should wash body surfaces and cloth- ing with soap water. Standard levels of chlorine in municipal water sources should protect against waterborne in- fection.60 Following an urban release, the risk to humans of acquiring tula-

MANAGEMENT OF TULAREMIA AS A BIOLOGICAL WEAPON

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