Transcript Biohazards
Biological hazards Christina Nickerson Global Geography 12 What is a biological hazard? Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily humans. Sources of biological hazards may include bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals and humans. These sources can cause a variety of health effects ranging from skin irritation and allergies to life threatening infections And illnesses. Biological agents enter the body by being inhaled, injected or absorbed. Once inside the body, these agents can multiply quicy and can be spread from person to person. Examples of Biohazards Severe acute respiratory syndrome Tuberculosis Hepatitis C HIV/AIDS Influenza virus H1n1 Avian influenza H5N1 MRSA Salmonella Pseudomonas Aspergillus fungus Mad cow disease Vibro cholera Malaria And many others Have biohazards reached their peak? The worlds population is the highest in history and is still increasing: United Nations statistics reveal that the words population has increased by 5 billion people during the 20th century from 1 billion to 6 billion people. As the population increases so does the number of sick and vulnerable people who are least able to fight off these viruses. Developing countries currently make up 80% of the world: this means most people in the world are living with poor sanitation, unsanitized water, inadequate food, and a lack of basic medicine, leaving most of the world more vulnerable to sickness. Continued Population in urban area is rising at a rate of 1 million people per week: with people living in close proximity, pathogens can more quickly spread as was experienced during the plaque and epidemics. Urbanization causes for land and forest areas to be cleared: microorganisms living in the forests are forced to enter populated areas. More people= increased potential for a higher population with sexually transmitted diseases: Most common in Africa, 26% of American girls between 14 and 19 have at least one sexually transmitted diseases. Classification Category A- infections substances affecting humans and animals Category B- infections substances affecting animals only Category C- biological substances transported for diagnostics or investigative purposes Biohazard level 1: bacteria and viruses with minimal precautions Biohazard level 2: bacteria and viruses causing mild disease Biohazard level 3: bacteria and viruses causing severe to fatal des ease to humans Biohazard level 4: bacteria and viruses that cause fatal disease to human with no available treatment Some of the biggest; Influenza, or Spanish flu Yersina pestis Avian influenza virus, or bird flu HIV/AIDS Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS Ebola The plaque Influenza Took 50 million lives in just one year Symptoms result in fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, coughing, and fatigue. Spread through air partials, usually from coughs or sneezes. Also through touching infected surfaces or contact with the eyes or mouth of an infected person. Influenza spreads through the world with a yearly outbreak, resulting to about 35 million cases of severe illness and about 250,000-500,000 deaths annually. Deaths occur mainly in children or those with health issues New outbreaks of influenza are discovered and go viral still today, with the latest being discovered in 2009 ( H1N1, swine flu) Yersina pestis This biohazard has the world record for the largest number of deaths. Also known as 'The Black Death' This disease-causing bacterium killed between 75-100 million people during the black plaque, or roughly 20% of the worlds 450 million population in the 14th century. Y. Pestis was only discovered in 1894 because of an outbreak in Hong Kong Transmission to humans is usually through a bite of infected fleas, however it can also be spread through coughs or sneezes Continued Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, swelling of lymph nods, hypotension, hepatosplenomegaly, seizures in children, shock, lethargy, hemopytsis, People can die before any symptoms appear, as well people infected can die within two weeks time. HIV/AIDS Transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated blood transfusions, contaminated needles, to a child from its mother at birth, breastfeeding HIV infects the cells, and uses them as a place to multiply. Then, the virus destroys the ability to let these cells do their job, and the immune system eventually shuts down if not treated. Since its discovery, AIDS has caused an estimated 36 million deaths worldwide, and as of 2012, 35.3 people live with HIV globally People who have HIV/AIDS may experience flu-life symptoms, or no symptoms at all. Since the epidemic, almost 78 million people have been infected with HIV/AIDS AIDS is contracted from HIV Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS 9.6% fatality rate First reported in Asia in February of 2008 Viral respiratory disease caused by SARS corona virus Outbreak in 2003 affecting North America, South America, Europe, and Asia being the main countries, however this SARS outbreak affected a total of 37 countries This outbreak consisted ofv8,096 cases with 774 reported deaths Ebola Ebola is a disease in humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses. Signs and symptoms typically start between two days and three weeks of contracting the virus Symptoms include things like a fever and a cough ranging to liver and kidney failure. Ebola kills between 25-90% of all who contract the virus Spread by body fluids Prevention Airborn illnesses can be prevented by wearing protective thing such as masks, gloves and goggle , and recommends that no skin is showing while trying to prevent deadly biohazards Not sharing drinks with others. Not sharing needless for your in a area where an outbreak occurs, make sure your wearing protective gear Regular hand washing Wearing body protection when cutting down trees and bushes Handling rubber tires, crates, boxes and abandoned vehicles with care and being health cautious Bibliography Early Warning inc. Wikipedia Takeonestep.org Www.oshc.org Www.ccohs.ca Www.gov.mb.ca