Biological Hazard - State of Kansas, Hillsboro [Tabor College]

Earth Watch Report  -  Biological Hazards

---

.....

April 01 2014 01:35 PM

Biological Hazard

USA

State of Kansas, Hillsboro [Tabor College]

.....

Biological Hazard in USA on Tuesday, 01 April, 2014 at 13:35 (01:35 PM) UTC.

Description About 20 percent of people on the Tabor College faculty have come down with an illness that includes stomach and flu-like symptoms. The spread of the illness has gotten the attention of the local and state health departments. Investigators, who don’t suspect cafeteria food poisoning because some sick students didn’t eat there, are still trying to determine the cause. Biohazard name: Unidentified Illness Biohazard level: 2/4 Medium Biohazard desc.: Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. "Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents. Symptoms: stomach and flu-like symptoms Status: suspected

.....

Mystery illness sickening Tabor students and faculty

Posted: Mon 8:34 PM, Mar 31, 2014

By: Chris Frank - Email

Hillsboro, Kan. -- Tabor College senior Ryan Nelson had what started as a normal Tuesday of classes then work. But by early Tuesday evening normal came to sickening end.
Nelson says, "By seven o'clock that night I started throwing up. Just really having bad body aches and everything."
He missed class and discovers he wasn't alone in his misery. "But then I found out a ton of other people on campus got sick as well."
Tabor's Director of Communications Katrina Hancock says, "By Tuesday night we've got at least 30 kids had got sick with stomach cramping and diarrhea and vomiting."
And the number of sick has grown since then she says, "I'd say anywhere from 30 to 50 students and faculty that were affected by this. About 20 percent of our campus has gotten it."

Read More Here
.....

Related articles

• Mystery illness sickening Tabor students and faculty