U.S. authorities are investigating the circumstances of the sudden death of 25-year-old microbiologist, who less than a day died from the disease, due, perhaps, a bacterium, which he studied in his laboratory, the laboratory itself is closed during the investigation, the staff are under medical supervision, said the publication ScienceNOW.
Research Laboratory of the Medical Management Center of Veterans Affairs in San Francisco, 25-year-old Richard Dean (Richard Din) died April 28 from meningococcal disease. The night before his death, he felt a headache and nausea the next morning his condition worsened, friends took Dean to the hospital where he died - only 17 hours after onset of symptoms.
Head of department of infectious medical center Lampiris Harry (Harry Lampiris) reported that Dean was researching Neisseria meningitidis - bacteria, which causes annually in the United States about a thousand cases of meningitis and kills about 75 people. Save from infection may prompt use of antibiotics at the first symptoms.
The vaccine against several strains of this bacterium was established back in 1960, but the bacteria strain B, with whom he worked Dean, vaccines do not exist. The development of such vaccines has been the ultimate goal of research that Dean says Lampiris.
He said the tests confirmed the presence of meningococcal serotype B in the blood of a scientist. In addition, the medical center sent blood samples to the laboratory of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to conduct genetic analysis of bacteria and make sure that the cause of death of Dean was just laboratory infection.
Laboratory employees are wondering how Dean could become infected.
"We conducted an internal investigation and found no trace in the laboratory of bacterial contamination, equipment failure or problems with protective suits," - said Lampiris, noting that this laboratory for over 20 years with meningococcal bacteria.
Dean started working here six months ago. "His colleagues say that he worked very carefully and comply with all safety precautions. He did not tell them about any incidents," - said Lampiris.
Bacteria N. meningitidis are two levels of biological hazards, which means that any action with these organisms should be carried out in a sealed protective suits, which is fed purified air.
Head of the Laboratory Centre for Meningitis Disease Control and Prevention, Leonard Meyer (Leonard Mayer) notes that all employees of such laboratories should be vaccinated against meningitis, although it does not protect against strains of type B.
"Right now actively discussing the issue of raising the level of biological risk strain of B up to level 3," - says Meyer.
Lampiris reported that the laboratory where he worked for Dean, will remain closed until the completion of the investigation, which hold the power of the State of California and federal agencies. Colleagues and friends of Dean are under the supervision of doctors and take antibiotics as a preventive measure.
"All the staff of our center feel overwhelmed and exhausted," - says Lampiris.
Head of department of infectious medical center Lampiris Harry (Harry Lampiris) reported that Dean was researching Neisseria meningitidis - bacteria, which causes annually in the United States about a thousand cases of meningitis and kills about 75 people. Save from infection may prompt use of antibiotics at the first symptoms.
The vaccine against several strains of this bacterium was established back in 1960, but the bacteria strain B, with whom he worked Dean, vaccines do not exist. The development of such vaccines has been the ultimate goal of research that Dean says Lampiris.
He said the tests confirmed the presence of meningococcal serotype B in the blood of a scientist. In addition, the medical center sent blood samples to the laboratory of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to conduct genetic analysis of bacteria and make sure that the cause of death of Dean was just laboratory infection.
Laboratory employees are wondering how Dean could become infected.
"We conducted an internal investigation and found no trace in the laboratory of bacterial contamination, equipment failure or problems with protective suits," - said Lampiris, noting that this laboratory for over 20 years with meningococcal bacteria.
Dean started working here six months ago. "His colleagues say that he worked very carefully and comply with all safety precautions. He did not tell them about any incidents," - said Lampiris.
Bacteria N. meningitidis are two levels of biological hazards, which means that any action with these organisms should be carried out in a sealed protective suits, which is fed purified air.
Head of the Laboratory Centre for Meningitis Disease Control and Prevention, Leonard Meyer (Leonard Mayer) notes that all employees of such laboratories should be vaccinated against meningitis, although it does not protect against strains of type B.
"Right now actively discussing the issue of raising the level of biological risk strain of B up to level 3," - says Meyer.
Lampiris reported that the laboratory where he worked for Dean, will remain closed until the completion of the investigation, which hold the power of the State of California and federal agencies. Colleagues and friends of Dean are under the supervision of doctors and take antibiotics as a preventive measure.
"All the staff of our center feel overwhelmed and exhausted," - says Lampiris.
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