Biological Hazard in India on Sunday, 13 October, 2013 at 04:12 (04:12 AM) UTC. Description One more patient suffering from fever died in the Kadarsha ni Naal area of the Walled City (Surat, Gujarat state) on Wednesday (9 Oct 2013). A total of 4 deaths in the last 2 days resulting from a mysterious illness have led to a scare in the area with the locals suspecting outbreak of leptospirosis. However, health department officials of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) maintain that deaths are not due to leptospirosis or dengue fever. A total of 3 samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) at Pune to ascertain the cause of deaths. A 22-year-old man died in the area on Wednesday after 4 days of acute fever, cough and having thrown up blood in Maskati Hospital. A social worker in the area said, People are scared, and if the deaths dont stop they might flee the place. Dr KI Khatri, health officer of central zone of SMC said, The cause of death is shown as acute viral hemorrhagic fever by the hospital authorities. All the deceased have shown the same signs of high fever, cough, cold, and have vomited blood. Once the sample reports come from NIV, we would be able to treat the people better, said Dr Hemant Desai, chief medical officer of SMC. At present there are 7 patients from the area undergoing treatment in different hospitals. The locals claim that the number is 15. The SMC is carrying out a door-to-door survey and people showing symptoms of fever are being given treatment. Officials claim that the people are suffering from some kind of viral infection. They suspect that it might have spread to many people in the area that was badly affected during the recent floods. The health department has undertaken a massive sanitation operation in the area. Biohazard name: Unidentified Fatal Illness Biohazard level: 4/4 Hazardous Biohazard desc.: Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, H5N1(bird flu), Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic or unidentified diseases. When dealing with biological hazards at this level the use of a Hazmat suit and a self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory. The entrance and exit of a Level Four biolab will contain multiple showers, a vacuum room, an ultraviolet light room, autonomous detection system, and other safety precautions designed to destroy all traces of the biohazard. Multiple airlocks are employed and are electronically secured to prevent both doors opening at the same time. All air and water service going to and coming from a Biosafety Level 4 (P4) lab will undergo similar decontamination procedures to eliminate the possibility of an accidental release. Symptoms: acute fever, cough and having thrown up blood Status: suspected
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 02:28:20 +0000
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