Risk of occupational human herpesvirus 8 infection for health care workers

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), or Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, is highly prevalent in certain risk groups (human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, transplant recipients, and patients on hemo-dialysis). Heath care workers caring for these patients were found to be more frequently infected with HHV-8 than staff caring for other patients (P < 0.01).