Biohazards viruses

Schafer, T.W., J. Everett, G.H. Silver, and P.E. Came. 1976. Biohazard virus-contaminated liquid nitrogen. Science 191 24. 

Biohazard level 1. Bacillus subtilis, canine hepatitis, E. coli, varicella (chicken pox). At this level precautions against the biohazardous materials in question are minimal, most likely wearing gloves and some facial protection. Decontamination procedures at this level are similar in most respects to modern precautions against everyday viruses (washing hands with antibacterial soap, washing all exposed surfaces of the lab with disinfectants, etc.). 

Biohazard level 3. Anthrax, BSE, HIV, mumps, West Nile virus, SARS, smallpox, tuberculosis, typhus, Yellow fever. 

Biohazard level 4. Bolivian fever, Dengue fever, ebola, Hanta virus, Lassa virus, and other various hemorrhagic diseases (mostly of African origin). When dealing with biological hazards at this level the use of a Hazmat suit and a self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory, and the disease is studied and patient isolated in very rigorously self-contained environments. 

The unique properties and particular importance of smallpox virus are discussed, both as a bioterrorism threat and as a major biohazard in general. It appears to pose, potentially, a colossal menace, which ought to be intensely coped with. The issues of renewed vaccination and ongoing research are then addressed, showing the complexity related to that singular pathogen. 

Biohazard Those organisms that have a pathogenic effect on life and the environment, and can exist in normal ambient environments. These hazards can represent themselves as disease germs and viruses. 

Biohazards are biological hazards from plants, animals, insects, or their products that may be infectious, toxic or allergenic. Agents are bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsia, or parasites. 

The classification of biological risk is defined by Ordinance 3.214/78 of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, in its regulatory standards and job security (Brasil, 2002). Biohazards are represented by bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, among others. It is known that occupational exposure to potentially contaminated biological materials constitute a serious risk to health professionals in their workplaces. 

According to the AIHA Biohazards Committee, a biohazardous agent is one that is biological in nature, capable of self-repHcation and has the capacity to produce deleterious effects upon other biological organisms, particularly humans (AIHA 1986). The four broad classes of microorganisms that can interact with humans are bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoan parasites. 

In this classification the basic facility is used for work with the least hazardous agents and the total containment facility is used for the most hazardous agents. For recombinant DNA research, the biosafety levels of these facilities have been abbreviated as BLl, BL2, BL3, and BL4 (previously called PI to P4) these terms are also used to refer to the corresponding facilities for other kinds of biohazard research (see Section 11.4). Table 10.1 indicates the level of facility that is appropriate for work with cancer viruses, recombinant DNA, and human pathogens. 

Barkley, W.E. 1973. Facilities and equipment available for virus containment. In Biohazards in Biological Research, A. Heilman, M.N. Oxman, and R. Pollack, eds., pp. 327-341. Proc. of a Conference at Asilomar Conference Center. Cold Spring Harbor, NY Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. 

Heilman, A. 1969. Biohazard Control and Containment in Oncogenic Virus Research. DHEW Publication No. (NIH) 73-459. U.S. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. 

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