Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Laura Spivak.
Ricin is a potent toxin found within the beans of the castor plant. Ricin's widespread availability makes it a viable biological weapon. Ricin intoxication mimics a variety of disease states, thus a low threshold of suspicion must be maintained to recognize a potential epidemic. Treatment is largely supportive.
This article presents timelines for two emergency medical incidents in which an atypical, unsafe scene was detected and managed by paramedics. Both incidents involved patients who were correctly diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia (septic shock) by the paramedics on scene. A case review is presented in moderated format to discuss meningococcal disease and to present several points about scene safety in the setting of an infectious disease emergency, management principles for occupational exposures, and the local emergency management approach to a potential public health emergency in a municipality that does not have its own health department or health officer.