U. of C. researcher dies after exposure to plague bacteria

[Are_grits_groceries]

A University of Chicago molecular genetics professor studying the origins of harmful bacteria died last weekend after contracting an infection linked to the plague, officials said today.

University hospital officials said there "does not appear to be a threat to the public" following the death of Malcolm J. Casadaban, 60, at the campus' Bernard Mitchell Hospital on Sept. 13.

None of the people the researcher had contact with has reported illness and symptoms typically develop within 2 to 10 days, officials said.

The researcher was studying a weakened laboratory strain of Yersinia pestis that lacked the plague bacteria's harmful components, officials said.

Further study is under way after initial autopsy showed no obvious cause of death other than the presence of the bacteria.

Underlying health conditions could potentially increase susceptibility to infections, officials said. Casadaban's death notice asked mourners to make donations to the American Diabetes Research Association.
<snip>
University officials said the weakened strain of the bacteria is used as a vaccine to protect against the plague.

According to university officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved the weakened strain for laboratory studies. It does not require special safety precautions required for work with more virulent strains, according to the release.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/uofc-researcher-dies-after-exposer-to-plague-bacteria.html

Move along! Nothing to see here folks.

Methinks they reassure to much. I am not all warm and fuzzy about a "weakened" strain. His underlying condition may have been that he was human.

[stray cat]

1. The bacteria that causes plague is in the soil already in a nonweakened form

go visit a prairie dog population if you want plague.

[pscot]

2. The plague is always with us

There are deaths every year. An outbreak in India killed 100 people not too long ago.

[kestrel91316]

5. I hope you're not proposing we simply ignore plague because it is

always with us. Plague makes a great bioweapon.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. They can't fool me!

I've seen the movies -- one minute, a scientist makes a simple mistake, and before you know it, the world is depopulated, and Will Smith is cracking wise to his dog.

If we're lucky, there will just be a bunch of kids left, and Kim Darby and Michael J. Pollard will be doomed.

And don't forget the nukes, either. There are ALWAYS nukes nearby, threatening to blow up or melt down and create ginormous grasshoppers and ants.

Science! You can't live with it, and you can't live without it!

--d!

[pscot]

6. Ice nine

I was pretty certain that super collider thingy in Switzerland would generate a black hole that would swallow the earth. Imagine my embarrassment.

[Voice for Peace]

4. just yer typical weekend strain of yer sinia pestis