FRIDAY, July 31 (HealthDay News) -- A laboratory worker in Virginia became infected with the vaccinia virus, leading to severe eye and ear infection, and the tracing of 102 potential contacts, according to a study published in the July 31 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

E. Davies, of the Virginia Department of Health in Richmond, and colleagues report that the man in his 20s presented with swelling of the lymph nodes and inflammation of the right earlobe and left eye. His symptoms worsened despite treatment with antibiotics, with the patient's eye infection misdiagnosed as keratitis.

The next day, it transpired that the patient had been exposed to vaccinia virus four to six days before onset of symptoms in the course of his work at a cancer research laboratory. Five days after first presentation, the patient was given 800 mg acyclovir and went on to make a full recovery, the investigators report. Viral test results confirmed he had been infected with the vaccinia virus.

"This case underscores the importance of adherence to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' vaccination recommendations for laboratory workers and use of safety precautions when working with non-highly attenuated vaccinia virus," the authors write.

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