Biosafety Honor

Science & Health

Requirements

  1. Define the following terms:
    • Aerosols
    • Hazard agent
    • Biosafety
    • Biological material
    • Chemical or biological accident
    • Chemical or biological incident
    • Pathogenic

    Answer: 1) Aerosols: very small particles (liquid or solid) suspended in the air, which can carry infectious agents and be inhaled. 2) Risk agent: any agent (biological, chemical or physical) capable of causing harm to people's health or to the environment. 3) Biosafety: the set of measures and procedures to prevent, control and reduce risks to health and to the environment in activities involving risk agents. 4) Biological material: any material of living origin, such as blood, secretions, tissues, body fluids and microorganisms. 5) Chemical or biological accident: an undesired event that actually causes exposure or harm, for example direct contact with contaminated blood or with a hazardous chemical product. 6) Chemical or biological incident: an event that could have caused harm but was prevented in time (a near-accident), serving as a warning to correct failures. 7) Pathogenic: capable of causing disease; said of the agent (virus, bacterium, fungus) that causes illness in the organism. — Mastering these terms is the foundation of biosafety — speaking the same language in order to prevent risks.

  2. What is PPE? What is it for? State which types can be used by healthcare professionals.

    Answer: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) are items used to protect the worker from risks to health and safety, creating a barrier between the person and the risk agent. Those used by healthcare professionals include: gloves, mask (surgical or N95/PFF2), gown/lab coat, cap, protective goggles, face shield and closed-toe shoes. — PPE is the barrier that protects the professional from contact with risk agents.

  3. Distinguish between outbreak, epidemic, pandemic and endemic disease?

    Answer: • Outbreak: a sudden increase in cases of a disease in a small, specific area (a neighborhood, a school). • Epidemic: an increase in cases that spreads across a larger region (city, state, country). • Pandemic: an epidemic that spreads across several countries and continents, on a worldwide scale. • Endemic disease: a disease that occurs constantly and habitually in a given region (e.g., dengue in tropical areas). — The difference lies in the scope: outbreak (local), epidemic (regional), pandemic (worldwide) and endemic disease (constant in a region).

  4. In the midst of an epidemic/pandemic, what are the main precautions that should be taken?

    Answer: Sanitize your hands frequently (soap and water or 70% alcohol), wear a mask, keep your distance, avoid gatherings, cover your mouth when coughing/sneezing, ventilate environments, sanitize surfaces, get vaccinated and follow the guidance of health authorities; isolate yourself if symptoms appear. — Hygiene, mask, distance and vaccine are the main barriers to slowing down an epidemic.

  5. What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?

    Answer: Isolation: separates those who are ALREADY sick (infected/symptomatic) from healthy people, so as not to transmit. Quarantine: separates and observes those who have been EXPOSED to the agent (they may be infected, but still without symptoms), during the incubation period, to see whether they develop the disease. — Isolation is for those who are already sick; quarantine is for those who have been exposed and may be incubating.

  6. Choose two diseases from the list below and state: when did it happen? how many were infected? what was the means of contagion? what were the symptoms? was a cure found? what were the biosafety precautions?
    • Black Death
    • Smallpox
    • Spanish flu
    • Typhus
    • Swine flu

    Answer: Two diseases chosen from the list (Black Death and Spanish Flu). BLACK DEATH: 1) When did it happen? In the 14th century, peaking between 1347 and 1351, spreading across Europe. 2) How many were infected? It killed about one third of the European population, tens of millions of people. 3) Means of contagion? Through the bite of fleas from infected rats and also by the respiratory route between people. 4) Symptoms? High fever, buboes (swollen lymph nodes in the armpits and groin) and dark spots on the skin. 5) Was a cure found? There was no cure at the time. 6) Biosafety precautions? Isolation of the sick and burning of contaminated clothing and bodies. SPANISH FLU: 1) When did it happen? Between 1918 and 1919, affecting the whole world. 2) How many were infected? About 500 million people, with tens of millions of deaths. 3) Means of contagion? By the respiratory route, through droplets in the air. 4) Symptoms? Fever, cough, body aches and symptoms of severe flu, with pulmonary complications. 5) Was a cure found? There were no antivirals at the time; treatment was supportive only. 6) Biosafety precautions? Use of masks, isolation of the sick, closing of schools and prohibition of gatherings. — The great epidemics of history show how contagion, the lack of treatment and the absence of biosafety cost millions of lives.

  7. Choose one of the diseases below and answer: What are the symptoms? What is the means of contagion? Is there currently a cure? Where and when has there been an outbreak/epidemic/pandemic? Is there prevention for this disease?
    • Cholera
    • Tuberculosis
    • Yellow fever
    • Measles
    • Malaria
    • AIDS

    Answer: Disease chosen from the list: Tuberculosis (caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis). 1) What are the symptoms? Cough lasting more than 3 weeks (sometimes with blood), fever, night sweats, weight loss and fatigue. 2) What is the means of contagion? Through the air, by inhaling droplets expelled by someone with active disease when coughing, talking or sneezing. 3) Is there currently a cure? Yes, it is curable, with antibiotic treatment for about 6 months, which must be completed in full. 4) Where and when has there been an outbreak/epidemic/pandemic? It is still endemic in several regions of the world, with a large number of cases in Africa, Asia and also in Brazil. 5) Is there prevention for this disease? Yes: the BCG vaccine (given to infants), early diagnosis and treatment of the sick, and keeping environments well ventilated and lit. — Knowing the symptoms, contagion, cure and prevention of a disease is what makes it possible to fight it and protect yourself.

  8. How do vaccines work? Why is it important to keep your vaccines up to date?

    Answer: Vaccines work by presenting to the body a weakened or killed version, or a fragment, of the agent that causes the disease; the immune system learns to recognize it and produces defenses (antibodies) and memory — so that if the person later comes into contact with the real agent, the body already knows how to fight it. It is important to keep vaccines up to date in order to protect yourself, avoid serious illness and protect the community (herd immunity). — The vaccine 'trains' the body to defend itself before real contact with the disease — protecting you and those around you.

  9. About handwashing:
    • Make a video demonstrating, or present in person to your instructor, how proper handwashing should be done. Explain why it is important to follow each step.
    • Why is it not advisable to use towels that will be used multiple times by several people, but rather paper towels?
  10. Why is it best to use 70% alcohol and not other types of alcohol? What is the correct way to use it?

    Answer: 70% alcohol is the most effective antiseptic because the water present (30%) helps the alcohol penetrate and denature the proteins of microorganisms more efficiently; more concentrated alcohol (above 90%) evaporates too quickly and dries out the surface of the microorganism before killing it. Correct way: apply to clean hands and rub covering the entire surface (palms, backs of the hands, between the fingers and nails) until dry. — The water in 70% alcohol is what makes it more lethal to germs — pure alcohol evaporates too quickly and kills less.

  11. What actions should be taken when coughing and sneezing to avoid contaminating other people?

    Answer: Cover your nose and mouth with the inside of your elbow (or with a disposable tissue, throwing it away immediately afterward) — never with your hands — sanitize your hands afterward, and wear a mask when you are sick, keeping your distance from people. — Covering with your elbow (and not with your hand) prevents spreading droplets and contaminating whatever you touch afterward.

  12. According to Matthew 24 and Revelation 6, what does the Bible say about diseases in the end times?

    Answer: In Matthew 24, among the signs of the end, Jesus mentions that there will be 'pestilences' (epidemics), in addition to wars and famines. In Revelation 6, the fourth horseman (the pale horse) represents Death, who kills 'with pestilence', the sword, famine and the beasts. The Bible indicates that diseases and pestilences would be part of the signs of the last days. — The Bible announces pestilences among the signs of the end — but with the promise that this is not the final destiny of God's people.

  13. According to 1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation 21 and 22, what will happen to the sick and to diseases when we go to heaven?

    Answer: In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul speaks of the resurrection: the mortal and corruptible body will be transformed into one incorruptible and immortal — without disease or death. In Revelation 21 and 22, God will wipe away every tear and 'there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor pain', and the leaves of the tree of life are for the healing of the nations. In other words, in heaven there will be no more diseases or suffering. — The Christian hope: in heaven there will be no more disease, pain or death — God restores everything completely.