Ebola virus disease is a serious illness of humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs). Direct contact has been shown to be the primary source of Ebola (EBOV) transmission. We used a high-volume air sampler to determine whether EBOV could be detected during 3 independent studies with EBOV-challenged NHPs. Viral RNA was recovered during days 9 and 10 of Study I and days 7 and 8 of Study III. Viral RNA levels were below limits of detection during all other collections. The results demonstrate that the biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) suit protects workers from aerosols in a BSL-4 environment using proper engineering and administrative controls.
Keywords: BSL-4; Ebola; aerosol sampling; aerosol transmission; animal model; nonhuman primate.
Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2016. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.