Researcher Dies After Studying Plague Bacteria

Malcolm J. Casadaban, a molecular genetics professor at the University of Chicago, died last Sunday, seemingly from an infection of a weakened form of Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the plague. "Because this form of the bacteria is not known to cause problems in healthy people, special safety procedures are not required to handle it, said Dr. Kenneth Alexander, a virologist and chief of pediatric infections at the U. of C. Medical Center. Lab researchers who work with the bacteria would typically wear gloves, a lab coat and protective goggles, and the bacteria would be disposed of in a biohazard bag and heated for about two hours, Alexander said. Two key questions in Casadaban's death will be whether there was anything different about the strain of bacteria he was handling and whether Casadaban had any underlying conditions that may have made him more susceptible to infection."

Comments

third key question

[s4m7]

when he rises from the dead, will he spread the contagion through his bite, and will cutting off his head finally kill him?

Re:third key question

[X-Power]

How does embalming stop the dead from rising? By fooling people with their good looks?

Re:third key question

[Eudial]

Since he was walking on clipped tiles and handing out more objects than could possibly fit in his inventory, there was justified suspicion of some form of cheating. I think the server has been patched now, though, since that doesn't seem to happen as often.

Re:A brief rememberence of Prof. Casadaban

[baKanale]

Ultimately we ALL will rest in piece.

Unless you get hit by a grenade. Then it's pieces.

Re:Cause of Death?

[antifoidulus]

If I get out of my car and promptly drop dead, you're not going to say that driving my car was the cause of death.

Guess it all depends on who you cut off...

Re:A brief rememberence of Prof. Casadaban

[rhyder128k]

With a dry cool wit like that, you could be an action hero.