The Red Mutation: The Plot to Destroy America by Barry Libin

Author:Barry Libin [Libin, Barry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Agency Books
Published: 2024-02-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Forty

Julio put the automatic call into the Airborne Infection Team, and within fifteen minutes, the two residents and six nurses gathered in the outer room. He reviewed the precautions.

“We’re going into maximum PPE on these cases. We’re not certain what we have, but it could be a viral outbreak and all procedures we’ve trained to do must be strictly adhered to. We will be moving both cases into the isolation rooms where the negative pressure keeps airflow and anything in the air inside the room. Once there, we only exit on an absolute need basis until the case is closed. Everyone is to wear double surgical gloves interposed with a layer of cut-proof synthetic mesh, fluid-resistant gowns, waterproof aprons, goggles or face shields, and NIOSH-certified disposable N-95 respirators. Surgical scrubs, shoe covers, and surgical caps should be used as usual.”

Julio looked at the team members, several of whom were not present when COVID-19 hit.

“And one more thing. Be careful; do not contaminate yourself. This is real. We don’t know for sure what we are dealing with, but it’s possible it’s more lethal than anything we’ve met before.”

The group looked at each other and understood what was at stake. They changed into their PPE equipment, checked the isolation rooms and the interior pressure differential, and moved the cadavers in for autopsy.

Gogoli began in Room One, examining the gross features of the lifeless body of James Davenport lying on the narrow stainless-steel table within the well-lit, white-tiled aseptic sanctuary and dictated his notes while the two residents observed.

“Now, remember what I am about to do because if my instincts are correct, you will be responsible for repeating these many times over the next weeks. Most important, we must determine what pathogen did this, so we’re going to do a lot of swabbing to collect samples for the lab to evaluate. Why so many swabs? “

The first resident answered, “Because there must be enough material to be analyzed by both the CDC and ours.”

Gogoli nodded. “So please observe. First, I will collect the postmortem nasopharyngeal specimens using synthetic fiber swabs with plastic shafts. Why? Why not the calcium alginate swabs or swabs with wooden shafts?” The second resident responded. “Because they may contain substances that inactivate some viruses or inhibit PCR testing.”

Gogoli was pleased. “Good. And once I have the specimens, what do I do with them?”

The second resident answered, “Place the swabs immediately into sterile tubes containing 2-3 ml of viral transport media, making sure that the nasopharyngeal specimens are placed in separate vials from the lung specimens.”

“Good, then what?”

“Refrigerate the specimens at two to eight degrees centigrade, send one set of vials to our lab and ship one overnight to CDC on ice pack.”

“Excellent.”

Gogoli then began by collecting the upper respiratory tract specimen by inserting a swab into the nostril parallel to the palate.

“Notice how I leave the swab in place for a few seconds to absorb secretions. Make certain you swab both nasopharyngeal areas with the same swab.”

Gogoli then

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