The Ebola virus can be transmitted via contact with an infected patient's bodily fluids, airborne particulate epithelial cells, and with the virus  suspended in aerosol moisture. Clinical studies performed by the U.S. Army in 1995 (1)  and 2012 (2)  also suggest that in cool, dry climates, the virus may exhibit airborne transmission. The patent-pending Odulair Ebola Isolation Unit provides virus containment that address all of these known and possible modes of transmission.

 

The most common mode of transmission is through direct contact with an Ebola patient or the patient's bodily fluids. The virus must  reach broken skin or a mucous membrane, but that is almost unavoidable because the patient and everything they touch are contaminated for up to seven weeks.

 

The patent pending Odulair Ebola Isolation Unit utilizes a central decontamination room that provides a safe room to spray or wipe down people and equipment to inactivate the Ebola virus. The Unit also utilizes a specialized pass-thru autoclave to sterilize both human waste such as urine, feces, and shower water including sweat; and bagged biohazard waste such as clothing, linen, used consumables, needles, and anything contaminated with the Ebola virus eliminating the need for costly biohazard waste transport. The combination of the central decontamination room and the specialized autoclave provide complete isolation of bodily fluids and inactivation of the virus  addressing the most common mode of Ebola transmission.

 

As the Ebola patient’s symptoms advance, they suffer from severe dehydration causing epithelial cells to flake off and float in the air. A lesser known form of transmission is via inhaling or allowing these microparticles to come in contact with mucous membranes. Although wearing a respirator in the hot zone decreases contact with these epithelial cells, it is not always 100% effective. The Odulair Ebola Isolation Unit incorporates two technologies to address this mode of transmission. The Unit utilizes the highest level of HEPA Type A filtration that is 99.99% effective at eliminating airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in size. Additionally, all isolation room air is treated with germicidal ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which has demonstrated effectiveness at inactivating the Ebola virus. This extra containment step helps to provide a safer environment for health care staff when they are working within the contaminated hot zone.

 

Ebola is also known to be transmittable via aerosol particles traveling on moisture from breathing, coughing, and sneezing. In clinical trials conducted by the U.S. Army, at temperatures between 22 to 28 degrees Celsius at 35 to 65% humidity, the inhaled aerosolized Ebola virus infected 100% of primate study participants suggesting that under some conditions the virus may be airborne (1,2). The Odulair Ebola Isolation Unit exceeds the patient airborne infection isolation requirements in both the number of complete air exchanges per hour and the level of negative pressurization containment.

 

The Isolation Unit far exceeds the existing level of hospital safety for health care workers by providing a positive pressure protective environment, similar to a surgical theater environment, preventing airborne contaminants and the virus from entering into the medical staff work area. This is the only Ebola Isolation Unit that actively protects the medical staff against known and possible airborne transmission.

 

CONTACT ODULAIR TO LEARN MORE

ebola@odulair.com

 

REFERENCES

1.  E. Johnson, N. Jaax, J. White, P. Jahrling. Lethal experimental infections of rhesus monkeys by aerosolized Ebola virus. Int. J. Exp. Path. 1995, 76, 227-236..

 

2. Elizabeth E. Zumbrun, Holly A. Bloomfield, John M. Dye, Ty C. Hunter, Paul A. Dabisch, Nicole L. Garza, Nicholas R. Bramel, Reese J. Baker, Roger D. Williams, Donald K. Nichols, and Aysegul Nalca. A Characterization of Aerosolized Sudan Virus Infection in African Green Monkeys, Cynomolgus Macaques, and Rhesus Macaques. Viruses 2012, 4, 2115-2136; doi:10.3390/v4102115.