If a perfectly clean book has been used by someone with chickenpox, how should it be handled?

If a perfectly clean book has been used by someone with chickenpox, how should it be handled?

• A. Treating it is the same as any other book
• B. Isolate it for 21 days
• C. Disinfect with bleach
• D. Return to publisher

Answer: (A)

Chickenpox spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and direct contact with lesions, not through clean, dry library books. Because of that, a perfectly clean book that has been used by someone with chickenpox should be treated the same as any other book. Return it to circulation with normal handling, continuing practices like hand hygiene and routine shelf-cleaning. There’s no need to isolate the item for a period, disinfect with bleach, or return it to the publisher. If there’s visible bodily fluid contamination, follow your standard contamination-cleaning procedures rather than any special disinfection.

Chickenpox spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and direct contact with lesions, not through clean, dry library books. Because of that, a perfectly clean book that has been used by someone with chickenpox should be treated the same as any other book. Return it to circulation with normal handling, continuing practices like hand hygiene and routine shelf-cleaning. There’s no need to isolate the item for a period, disinfect with bleach, or return it to the publisher. If there’s visible bodily fluid contamination, follow your standard contamination-cleaning procedures rather than any special disinfection.