2012-12-28 14:05:05
In 2006, the Agency was contacted by the Ministry of Health to assess the health risks for the general population and workers linked to the presence of viruses. Influenza in aqueous effluents and surface waters. Following the emergence of the virus Influenza A(H1N1)2009, in March 2009, the Agency was contacted urgently on June 9, 2009 by the Ministry of Health, in order to assess the health risks for workers in sewers and wastewater treatment plants. wastewater, in the event of contamination of wastewater by the virus Influenza A(H1N1)2009.
ANSES’s work
In its 2006 expertise, the Agency notably studied the hypothesis of contamination of wastewater by the virus Influenza avian subtype H5N1 and considered it unlikely. However, it recommended that this advice be reconsidered in the event of the emergence of a new pandemic virus.
In 2009, the Agency assessed the risk of transmission of the virus as unlikely, or even negligible. Influenza A(H1N1) to sanitation workers (sewers and treatment plants), through wastewater, compared to the risk of classic human-to-human contamination (coughing, sneezing, etc.) which remains largely in the majority. Therefore, she recommended workers likely to come into contact with wastewater, to apply the usual protection and hygiene measures and stressed that there was no benefit in recommending the wearing of the FFP2 mask. Indeed, the Agency estimated that this might, in certain situations, delay the installation of the necessary protective mask in the event of detection of toxic gas in the sewers.
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