Earth Watch Report - Biological Hazards
Image Source : Pathogenesis of Viral Respiratory Infection
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| Biological Hazard | USA | State of Florida, Ocala [Lowell Correctional Institution, Northwest Gainesville Road] |  |  |
Biological Hazard in USA on Sunday, 28 July, 2013 at 05:38 (05:38 AM) UTC.
| Description | |
| A mysterious illness has led officials to restrict the movements of more than 150 inmates at the Lowell Correctional Institution in northern Marion County while the state Department of Corrections and state Department of Health investigate. Misty Cash, a spokeswoman for the DOC, said some inmates at the women's prison are experiencing "flu-like symptoms." Because the problem has not been diagnosed, Cash said 156 inmates have been restricted in R Dorm. That does not mean all 156 have contracted the unknown illness. An inmate from R Dorm, Yvonne Eugena McBride, 26, died Wednesday from what family members were told was pneumonia. Cash confirmed McBride's death, but because of federal privacy laws could not disclose if the woman's death was connected to the mystery illness. She would only say that McBride died Wednesday at Ocala Regional Medical Center. Eugene McBride said he received a call on that day from a prison chaplain informing him of his daughter's death. McBride said he asked about the cause of death and was told it was pneumonia. He said he hasn't heard anything from Lowell officials. Cash said the sickness was detected on Tuesday after someone reported being sick. Craig Ackerman, a spokesman for Florida Department of Health in Marion County, said his office was notified about the condition at Lowell on Wednesday and is assisting the DOC with the investigation. Ackerman described it as an "influenza-like illness." He said officials await laboratory results. | |
| Biohazard name: | Unidentified respiratory illness (influenza-like illness) |
| Biohazard level: | 3/4 Hight |
| Biohazard desc.: | Bacteria and viruses that can cause severe to fatal disease in humans, but for which vaccines or other treatments exist, such as anthrax, West Nile virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, SARS virus, variola virus (smallpox), tuberculosis, typhus, Rift Valley fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, yellow fever, and malaria. Among parasites Plasmodium falciparum, which causes Malaria, and Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes trypanosomiasis, also come under this level. |
| Symptoms: | |
| Status: | suspected |
Mystery illness at Lowell; one prisoner has died
Published: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 6:36 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 6:36 p.m.
A
mysterious illness has led officials to restrict the movements of more
than 150 inmates at the Lowell Correctional Institution in northern
Marion County while the state Department of Corrections and state
Department of Health investigate.
Misty Cash, a spokeswoman for the DOC, said some inmates at the women’s prison are experiencing “flu-like symptoms.”
Because
the problem has not been diagnosed, Cash said 156 inmates have been
restricted in R Dorm. That does not mean all 156 have contracted the
unknown illness.
An inmate from R Dorm, Yvonne Eugena McBride, 26, died Wednesday from what family members were told was pneumonia.
Cash
confirmed McBride’s death, but because of federal privacy laws could
not disclose if the woman’s death was connected to the mystery illness.
...
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