Vaccinia Virus Infections, Maryland, USA | CDC EID

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Volume 17, Number 4–April 2011
Dispatch
Vaccinia Virus Infections in Martial Arts Gym, Maryland, USA, 2008
Christine M. Hughes,1 David Blythe,1 Yu Li, Ramani Reddy, Carol Jordan, Cindy Edwards, Celia Adams, Holly Conners, Catherine Rasa, Sue Wilby, Jamaal Russell, Kelly S. Russo, Patricia Somsel, Danny L. Wiedbrauk, Cindy Dougherty, Christopher Allen, Mike Frace, Ginny Emerson, Victoria A. Olson, Scott K. Smith, Zachary Braden, Jason Abel, Whitni Davidson, Mary Reynolds, and Inger K. Damon

Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (C.M. Hughes, Y. Li, C. Dougherty, C. Allen, M. Frace, G. Emerson, V.A. Olson, S.K. Smith, Z. Braden, J. Abel, W. Davidson, M. Reynolds, I.K. Damon) ; Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (D. Blythe); Maximed Associates, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA (R. Reddy); Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Silver Spring (C. Jordan, C. Edwards, C. Adams, H. Conners, C. Rasa, S. Wilby, J. Russell, K.S. Russo); Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, Michigan, USA (P. Somsel); and Warde Medical Laboratory, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA (D. Wiedbrauk)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
Vaccinia virus is an orthopoxvirus used in the live vaccine against smallpox. Vaccinia virus infections can be transmissible and can cause severe complications in those with weakened immune systems. We report on a cluster of 4 cases of vaccinia virus infection in Maryland, USA, likely acquired at a martial arts gym.
Vaccinia virus (VACV) is the virus used in the live vaccine against smallpox. Smallpox was declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980 (1), and routine childhood smallpox vaccination ceased after 1972 in the United States. Since 2002, smallpox vaccinations have again been administered to some military personnel and health care workers, and they continue to be recommended for laboratory workers who work with nonattenuated orthopoxviruses (2). VACV infections are transmissible and can cause severe complications in those with weakened immune systems (3). We report a cluster of community-acquired VACV infections at a martial arts gym in Maryland, USA.

full-text:
Vaccinia Virus Infections, Maryland, USA | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Potter P. The fragrance of the heifer's breath. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Apr [date cited].
http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/4/763.htm


DOI: 10.3201/eid1704.AC1704

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Polyxeni Potter, EID Journal, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Mailstop D61, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; email: PMP1@cdc.gov