Biological Hazard in Niger on Saturday, Description Biohazard name: Unidentifed Illness Biohazard level: 4/4 Hazardous Health officials in Africa are investigating 2 separate outbreaks of unknown illness, a small one in Niger that has killed nearly a third of patients and a larger one in Tanzania in which no deaths have been reported so far, the World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office said today - 20 Nov 2013. In Niger, the outbreak as of the middle of October 2013 had sickened 23 patients in 2 villages in Tera District, located in the countrys Tillaberi Region. The area is located in far south western Niger, not far from the Burkina Faso and Mali borders. According to the WHO report, 7 deaths have been reported. Symptoms included fever, dysphagia, nosebleeds, vomiting, neck pain, submandibular lymphadenopathy, and ulceronecrotic tonsil lesions. However, none of the patients had a pseudomembrane at the back of the throat, which is a hallmark feature of diphtheria. Also, nosebleed, which occurred in 5 patients, isnt a common diphtheria symptom. Throat swabs from 5 patients were negative for diphtheria, and blood tests from 2 patients were negative for mononucleosis. These tests were done at the Centre for Medical and Health Research (CERMES), a Pasteur Institute lab that operates under Nigers public health ministry. Given the unusual symptoms, negative lab tests for diphtheria, and high case fatality rate, further investigations are needed to determine the outbreaks scope, source, and risk of further spread, WHO said. The office said that WHO is assisting Nigers health ministry investigators and has deployed an epidemiologist to provide technical support in coordinating the work. Biohazard name: Unidentifed 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: Symptoms included fever, dysphagia, nosebleeds, vomiting, neck pain, submandibular lymphadenopathy, and ulceronecrotic tonsil lesions. Status: suspected
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 11:01:16 +0000
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