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White Nose Syndrome Decontamination Procedure
The following WNS decontamination procedures were prepared for the Congress by Jim Kennedy of Bat Conservation International on 4 June 2009 following U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey Wildlife Health Service decontamination protocols. The procedures will be printed in the Congress Program. Any changes in the procedures based on new research or otherwise unavailable at the time of the printing of the Program will be published in the Congress newsletter, On the Horizon.
NO equipment (clothing, helmets, boots, lights, cameras, ropes, packs, etc.) used in a WNS-confirmed cave should be used in any other cave. For the Congress, we ask all cavers to bring new gear if possible, gear that has been thoroughly decontaminated, and no gear from affected or possibly affected caves. Use minimal equipment in caves; take only what is absolutely necessary. Caves with bat colonies will not be visited during the Congress. Equipment should not be used in multiple caves on the same day unless the cleaning and disinfection procedures below are performed between caves as well as after the last cave.
Step-by-step decontamination procedures
Before entering a cave
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Wear your non-caving clothes and shoes on the way to the cave. Carry your caving equipment in a clean container. Change into your caving clothes and equipment at the cave and put your clean clothes in the clean container.
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All clothing (including underwear), boots, and equipment that enters a cave should be new or fully cleaned using the protocols below. Do not take equipment into a cave if it cannot be disposed of or thoroughly decontaminated.
After exiting a cave
Step #1:
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Thoroughly scrape or brush off any dirt and mud from your clothes, boots, and equipment. Seal the clothes, boots, and equipment in a plastic bag until they can be cleaned and disinfected.
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Before entering a vehicle, remove and bag your caving clothes as described above, clean your exposed skin (arms, face, neck, hands, etc.) with an antibacterial hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol (e.g. Purell®), and change into your clean non-caving clothes.
Step #2:
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All caving trips will end at the Schreiner University Washateria (see the campus map). Tubs and brushes are available for your use in fully scrubbing and rinsing your caving clothes and equipment. It is important to remove all soil and organic material. You can then either follow the steps below at the Washateria or place your caving clothes and equipment into new, clean plastic bags for washing at other laundry facilities on campus (inside the Delaney and Trull dormitories or the Pecan Grove Apartments) or off campus. The disinfectant solutions and wipes described below are provided in the Schreiner laundry facilities.
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Clothing - Wash all clothing and any appropriate equipment in a washing machine using the hottest cycle possible for the material. Laboratory testing has found WooliteŽ fabric wash the most effective surfactant. Rinse thoroughly and then soak for 10 minutes in a sodium hypochlorite bleach (i.e. household bleach) solution diluted to 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Rinse and air dry or use a drier at the highest setting that is safe for the materials.
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Submersible equipment - Submerge equipment for 10 minutes in a solution of sodium hypochlorite bleach (i.e. household bleach), diluted to 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, or in a ≥3% quaternary ammonium compound solution (e.g. Lysol® All-purpose Professional Cleaner or the antibacterial form of Formula 409®) at a 1:128 ratio (1 ounce to 1 gallon of water). Rinse and air dry or use a drier at the highest setting that is safe for the materials.
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Non-submersible equipment - Apply one of the following disinfectants to the outside surface for 10 minutes, rinse, and then air dry: ≥3% concentration of quaternary ammonium compounds (e.g. LysolŽ All-purpose Professional Cleaner, Lysol® disinfecting wipes, or the antibacterial form of Formula 409®) at a 1:128 ratio (1 ounce to 1 gallon of water), or a sodium hypochlorite bleach (i.e. household bleach) solution diluted to 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
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Boots - The entire boots, including soles and leather uppers, must be disinfected as described above for non-submersible equipment.
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Ropes and harnesses - Decontamination of vertical equipment is recommended following the submersible equipment instructions above. However, repeated use of the disinfecting agents may compromise the equipment's integrity. New equipment, or equipment dedicated to a single cave, is recommended if possible.
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Vehicles - Every bus, van, and personal vehicle used for Congress trips has trash bags, disinfectant sprays, and hand sanitizers. Each trip leader will screen trip participants for WNS policy compliance, and will disinfect the vehicle at the end of the trip using the above non-submersible equipment protocol.
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