A biosecurity error in the Netherlands resulted in a lab worker being hospitalized with typhoid fever, as discovered by MailOnline. Though the incident happened during the peak of the Covid pandemic, the details have only recently come to light. This mishap highlights how easily lab-acquired infections can occur, even in facilities with strict safety measures. The lab worker, whose identity remains unknown, sought medical attention after experiencing a headache and fever of unknown origin. Initially, tests did not show anything concerning, and the worker was sent home. However, further tests revealed that the worker had salmonella typhi, a highly contagious bacterium that causes typhoid fever. The incident occurred in early 2021, during the spring, at a laboratory in Amsterdam. Samples of the bacteria were sent to the Dutch Government’s infectious diseases lab for analysis, confirming that it was a lab-acquired infection. The lab worker had previously come into contact with a salmonella sample at a BSL-2 lab, which is equipped to handle low-risk microbes. The incident occurred despite adhering to good biosafety practices, leaving experts puzzled as to how the infection occurred. It is worth noting that lab-acquired accidents are uncommon, as laboratories follow strict biosafety protocols. The lab worker received 14 days of antibiotic treatment in the hospital and has since fully recovered. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining rigorous biosecurity measures in laboratories to prevent such occurrences in the future.
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