Journal article
Ebola Virus Persistence in the Environment: State of the Knowledge and Research Needs
Environmental science & technology letters, v 2(1), pp 2-6
01 Jan 2015
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
In March 2014, an outbreak of Ebola virus (Ebola) arose in western Africa. Since then, there have been mores than 10000 cases reported with a mortality rate of approximately 70% in clinically confirmed cases. A significant unanswered question has arisen for the scientific and engineering communities, as well as the general public, surrounding Ebola virus persistence in the environment and the potential for an environmental route of Ebola virus exposure. Here, the authors review the state of knowledge of Ebola virus environmental persistence and highlight future research needs. In general, there are limited data on the environmental persistence or disinfection of Ebola virus available in the open literature. The available evidence suggests that Ebola virus is inactivated at a rate more rapid than or comparable to those of typically monitored enteric viruses. Additionally, while environmental exposure is' not the dominant exposure route, available data suggest that it is imprudent to dismiss the potential of environmental transmission without further evidence. A significant research effort, including environmental; persistence studies and microbial risk assessment, is necessary to inform the safe handling and disposal of Ebola virus-contaminated waste, especially liquid waste in the wastewater collection and treatment system.
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Details
- Title
- Ebola Virus Persistence in the Environment: State of the Knowledge and Research Needs
- Creators
- Kyle Bibby - Univ Pittsburgh, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USALeonard W. Casson - Univ Pittsburgh, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USAElyse Stachler - Univ Pittsburgh, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USACharles N. Haas - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Environmental science & technology letters, v 2(1), pp 2-6
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society; Washington, DC
- Number of pages
- 5
- Grant note
- 1508415; 1507285 / NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000351026400002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84969136033
- Other Identifier
- 991019168875904721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Environmental
- Environmental Sciences