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Safety and Ebola hemorrhagic fever resources

Wastewater treatment operation

The DNR has received questions about health risks to wastewater treatment plant/sanitary sewer workers from sewage containing the Ebola virus. There is very little research on the fate and transport of the Ebola virus in wastewater collection systems and the associated human health risks from Ebola virus-contaminated human excreta and sewage.

There are no known cases of Ebola virus disease in Wisconsin at this time. The Department of Health Services (DHS) is the lead agency for Ebola response in Wisconsin. DHS developed guidance on pretreatment of Ebola virus-infected hospital patient wastewater prior to discharge into sanitary sewer systems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also developed interim safety guidance for wastewater worker safety.

Guidance

Disinfectants For Cleaning Surfaces

Webinars

Presentation from Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) Webinar on Wastewater Worker Safety and Ebola - Aug. 24, 2016

The Water Environment Federation and the Water Environment Research Foundation hosted an event on August 24, 2016, to address concerns about the Emerging Pathogens (i.e. Ebola virus) and wastewater worker safety. The Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation addressed what is known about the survival of pathogens in wastewater and what is needed in terms of research, sanitation and personal protective practices for wastewater personnel and helpful guidance documents.
 

General Information On Ebola