Diseases and OPIM (Other Potentially Infectious Materials)

All body fluids and human tissue have the potential for harboring disease. Because of this, cleaning the site of a traumatic incident requires the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which includes a zippered, full body suit with hood and booties, eye protection and a respirator.

Hepatitis A

• Transmitted through feces contamination of water, food and drinks
• Can lead to chronic liver problems
• Symptoms more common in adults
• Almost 1% fatality rate

Hepatitis B

• Transmitted via blood or blood derived body fluids
• 73,000 new cases annually
• Approximately 1.25 million carriers in the United States
• Laboratories have found live Hep B viruses in blood pools 30 days old

Hepatitis C

• Transmitted via blood or blood derived body fluids
• 2.7 million Americans are infected with Hep C-80% of those show no signs or symptoms
• Over 90 varieties of Hep C viruses are known
• The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has determined the Hep C virus can survive at least 7 days in dried blood

HIV/AIDS

• Transmitted through body fluids
• No cure for either HIV or AIDS
• The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has found the HIV virus can survive at least 7 days in a blood pool
• Infection can occur when infected blood has contact with a break in skin or mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose and mouth.

Tuberculosis

• Transmitted from person to person through the air
• If a TB infected person coughs or sneezes, they release the disease into the air where it can be inhaled by healthy individuals, who then may become infected

Meningitis

• Most commonly transmitted through direct contact with respiratory secretions, i.e.: saliva, nasal mucus, sputum
• This virus can also be found in feces