Post by crystalriver on Sept 22, 2009 10:54:15 GMT -5
Plague researcher dies of infection
Autopsy shows weakened strain of bacteria in blood of U. of C. prof -- officials say no public health threat
Comments
September 20, 2009
BY MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter/mjthomas@suntimes.com
A University of Chicago researcher studying the genetics of the plague bacteria died last week from an infection he may have gotten in the laboratory, officials said Saturday.
The researcher, 60-year-old molecular genetics Professor Malcolm J. Casadaban, died Sept. 13 at the University of Chicago Medical Center's Bernard Mitchell Hospital.
ยป Click to enlarge image
Professor Malcolm J. Casadaban
(Courtesy)
An initial autopsy showed that Casadaban "showed no obvious cause of death" except for the presence of the weakened strain of the plague bacteria Yersinia pestis in his blood, the U. of C. Medical Center said in a statement.
It is not known to cause illness and has been used in some countries as a vaccine to protect against the plague. It has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for lab studies.
University officials said there does not appear to be a public health threat related to Casadaban's death. There have been no illnesses reported by those who came into contact with him.
As a precaution, U. of C. notified Casadaban's close contacts once the bacteria had been identified in his blood. The medical center's infection control team is also working with the city and state health departments and the CDC to investigate the death.
Discovered at Rense.com
More at this link:
www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1780803%2CCST-NWS-plague20.article
Autopsy shows weakened strain of bacteria in blood of U. of C. prof -- officials say no public health threat
Comments
September 20, 2009
BY MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter/mjthomas@suntimes.com
A University of Chicago researcher studying the genetics of the plague bacteria died last week from an infection he may have gotten in the laboratory, officials said Saturday.
The researcher, 60-year-old molecular genetics Professor Malcolm J. Casadaban, died Sept. 13 at the University of Chicago Medical Center's Bernard Mitchell Hospital.
ยป Click to enlarge image
Professor Malcolm J. Casadaban
(Courtesy)
An initial autopsy showed that Casadaban "showed no obvious cause of death" except for the presence of the weakened strain of the plague bacteria Yersinia pestis in his blood, the U. of C. Medical Center said in a statement.
It is not known to cause illness and has been used in some countries as a vaccine to protect against the plague. It has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for lab studies.
University officials said there does not appear to be a public health threat related to Casadaban's death. There have been no illnesses reported by those who came into contact with him.
As a precaution, U. of C. notified Casadaban's close contacts once the bacteria had been identified in his blood. The medical center's infection control team is also working with the city and state health departments and the CDC to investigate the death.
Discovered at Rense.com
More at this link:
www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1780803%2CCST-NWS-plague20.article