During the 2017 Seoul virus outbreak, which organization developed guidelines for workers such as those in veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and pet stores?

• A. CDC
• B. FDA
• C. NIOSH
• D. WHO

Answer: (C)

Occupational safety guidelines for workers in places like veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and pet stores come from NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH specializes in preventing work-related illness and injury and publishes recommendations tailored to specific workplace risks, including exposure to rodents and rodent-borne pathogens. In the Seoul virus outbreak, the guidance focused on how workers can protect themselves through proper personal protective equipment, hygiene practices, rodent control, and safe cleaning and disinfection procedures. The other organizations have broader or different roles: the CDC covers overall public health surveillance and disease guidelines, the FDA regulates drugs, vaccines, and animal products, and the WHO provides international health guidance. None of them target occupational safety guidance for pet-industry workers as directly as NIOSH does.