I run a clinic in the United States

Chapter 181 "Human-Eating Fungi"

Black Scorpion is in the conference room. A three-dimensional map of the actual control area with a radius of two to three hundred kilometers is displayed on the big screen in front of him. It not only displays mountains, lakes, grasslands, tribes, villages, etc., but also labels the mining areas, as well as the most important recent ones. virus-infected areas.

Many of the base's equipment are shipped from the United States. Not only weapons and equipment, many facilities are far superior to those of neighboring countries.

The virus infection in the base and surrounding tribes has been effectively controlled, but there are still tribes and villages in Violent City, more remote areas, especially around several major mining areas, as well as the defenders of the mining areas.

Black Scorpion, Margaret, and some key officers of the base and heads of the logistics department are discussing the next response plan, roughly how many vaccines and special drugs are needed, and which people to send there.

They also sent someone to invite Zhou Qiao to attend the meeting, but Zhou Qiao was preparing special medicine in the laboratory. When it came to the critical step, he said he would arrive half an hour later.Everyone was discussing and waiting for Zhou Qiao.

Then, the guard came to report.

If his ex-girlfriend gets back together like before, Black Scorpion will immediately drive her away without saying a word!

However, now, when he heard that his father was critically ill and was not getting better after taking medicine, Black Scorpion immediately frowned.

Do you want to ask Dr. Zhou to take a look?However, Dr. Zhou is so busy and has many more important things.

Black Scorpion was very entangled and hesitant, with a look of embarrassment on his face.

Margaret shook her head, knowing that Black Scorpion still couldn't let go of that woman, so she stood up and said, "I'm going to see if Dr. Zhou is busy."

Then, she ran to Zhou Qiao's laboratory and told Zhou Qiao what happened.

Zhou Qiao pondered: "If it's an X virus infection, shouldn't it? Unless it's other diseases or serious complications! Otherwise, I'll go and have a look in person!"

Margaret said: "Then Black Scorpion would like to thank you!"

Zhou Qiao said with a smile: "It is a doctor's bounden duty to save lives and heal the wounded. I'm just a little surprised that Black Scorpion is actually quite emotional!"

"Isn't it?" Margaret shrugged.

She felt that Black Scorpion was fierce and decisive in other things, especially fighting and fighting, but when it came to that woman, he was a bit sloppy.

Zhou Qiao came to the conference room, and then heard Black Scorpion arguing with others with an annoyed look on his face: "I said, I have absolutely no feelings for that woman! Why don't you believe me?"

The others were naturally in disbelief.

Black Scorpion: "..."

Zhou Qiao took a deep look at him and said: "Sometimes face is not that important, just follow your own heart. A good horse will occasionally eat grass and turn around, and no one will laugh at you!"

Others were convinced, and some gave Zhou Qiao a thumbs up.

If they say this kind of thing, Black Scorpion will not listen at all, and will even become angry and furious.

But when Zhou Qiao said it, the amount was different.At least, Black Scorpion didn't dare to get angry in front of him.

Black Scorpion has a dark face that is red from suppressing it, but he is dark himself, so no one can see it.I just think he is darker!
Margaret smiled and patted Black Scorpion on the shoulder: "Dear Commander, you need some psychological counseling from Dr. Zhou. I heard that Dr. Zhou is also quite good at psychology."

"I don't need it!" Black Scorpion said stiffly.

Margaret curled her lips: "That woman is actually pretty good, and she is quite pretty. Go ahead, follow your heart, and carry her to your tent. No one will laugh at you!"

After a long time, Black Scorpion finally said a harsh word: "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll be rude to you."

At this time, a subordinate on the side reminded softly: "Commander, Ms. Margaret and Dr. Zhou have gone far and can't be heard!"

Black Scorpion: "Shit!" He was so preoccupied just now that he really didn't notice.

After thinking for a while, he quickly chased outside.

When they got outside, they saw that Margaret had already organized a convoy with people. Zhou Qiao and the woman had already got in the car, and were probably going to go to the woman's residence to treat her father.

"Wait for me!" Black Scorpion shouted.

Then, with a few jumps, he caught up. When a soldier in the front passenger seat saw this, he immediately gave up his seat.

After Black Scorpion got in the car, he couldn't help but glance at the woman in the back seat!
Maybe, he really needs to look at his heart!
Every time I see it, I get really excited!

Over the years, he has found many women, but none of them can really give him the feeling of first love!Even in terms of bed skills, this first girlfriend is more exciting!
In addition, the tribe where Black Scorpion comes from has no virginity. Not only that, but virginity is a shame.

In Africa, the customs of many tribes are the same. They believe that women who have not been "collected" are not truly good women.When a tribal leader marries a wife, he will select some concubine messengers and ask them to undress the bride before him.

Zhou Qiao naturally cannot accept this kind of custom, but since he is a foreigner and doesn't live here anyway, it doesn't matter whether he accepts it or not.

About half an hour later, Zhou Qiao and the others came to a residence, which was a rough and smelly natural cave. A simple but strong fence was added outside. The space inside was cramped and people could not lift their heads when entering. .

According to Black Scorpion's ex-girlfriend Hatam, they were active outside during the day and only went in to sleep at night.

Because she was going on a long trip to the base to seek help, she moved her old father into a cave and surrounded it tightly with fences.She was afraid that after she left, a wild beast would come and eat her old father.

Hatam was very smart. When X disease was raging, he moved out of the tribe and moved to this cave far away from the tribe. Unexpectedly, his old father still fell ill.

The base dispatched a work team to deliver medicines and vaccinations. At the suggestion of the tribe's witch doctor, she and her old father also pressed their fingerprints on the mining agreement and signed a contract of sale.

Zhou Qiao's special medicine is highly praised by even the local witch doctor. After all, it has great curative effects!
She took the special medicine and basically recovered in two days, but her old father became worse and worse, and now he is almost out of shape!
Black Scorpion and another soldier, wearing gloves and masks, carefully moved Hatam's old father out of the cave. Although they had been vaccinated, they were still cautious about contacting patients.

Zhou Qiao examined the old man carefully.

I saw that the patient's entire left leg was dark, blistered, swollen, and emitted a foul odor. His body temperature was extremely high. When measured with a thermometer, it was a full 41°C.

"This is not X disease. This should be another rare bacterial infection. I have already made a guess, but further examination is needed to confirm. There is no way to save it here." Zhou Qiao looked around, feeling full of survival in the wilderness.There is nothing you can ask for, not even a chair to sit on.

"Ah? What should we do?" Hatam began to wipe away tears. She glanced at Black Scorpion secretly, wanting to make a suggestion, but she did not dare to speak.I was afraid that he would scold me again and say that I would only cause trouble for him.Moreover, she is also afraid of Black Scorpion's rejection!

Zhou Qiao said to Black Scorpion: "Take him back to the base medical area!"

Hatam looked at Black Scorpion nervously.Because Black Scorpion is the highest officer of the base, if he doesn't agree...

As everyone knows, Zhou Qiao only needs to agree to this kind of thing!

Black Scorpion asked with some concern: "Will new viruses be introduced into the base?"

Zhou Qiao shook his head and said: "No. If I am not mistaken, the contagiousness of this bacteria is not high and it is within the controllable range."

Black Scorpion glared at the woman fiercely and shouted, "Why don't you thank Dr. Zhou quickly?"

Hatam reacted and was a little shocked. It turned out that Dr. Zhou's status was higher than that of Black Scorpion, and he repeatedly shouted: "Thank you, thank you!"

She originally thought that Zhou Qiao was just a doctor under Black Scorpion, just like the previous doctors. Unexpectedly, Black Scorpion showed respect for Zhou Qiao in every move he made.

In fact, Black Scorpion wanted to curry favor with Zhou Qiao whenever he had the chance, because in the past, when they first met, he was very disrespectful to Zhou Qiao.He did many excessive actions, such as putting a gun to the back of Zhou Qiao's head, and mocking Zhou Qiao's M1911 pistol as a useless gadget!

Who would have expected that Dr. Zhou would have their boss hooked!
So when Black Scorpion faced Zhou Qiao, he felt a little guilty deep down, fearing that Zhou Qiao would uncover old scores to settle!
In fact, how could Zhou Qiao be such a vengeful person?
Joe's pattern is great!
Black Scorpion shook his head and asked someone to lift Hatam's old father into the carriage of a pickup truck. The conditions were simple. It was good to have a pickup truck, but naturally there was no ambulance.

Hatam also got into the carriage of the pickup truck and personally took care of her old father. The group quickly traveled through the wilderness and soon returned to the base.

The patient was transported to the emergency room, where his temperature and blood pressure were measured, oxygen was given, intravenous access was established, fluids were transfused, and treatments such as hormones, antipyretics, antibiotics, anti-inflammation, and fluid rehydration were given.Put on various vital sign monitoring equipment, draw blood samples for testing...

Zhou Qiao alone couldn't do it. There were a lot of chores to do. Other medical staff also came to help. After seeing the patient's condition, everyone took a breath!
It is too serious!
The patient was naturally unconscious and had obvious sepsis. The wound was huge, covering the entire left leg, and the redness and swelling affected the waist.

This is necrotizing fasciitis and septic shock caused by infection!
Under Zhou Qiao's arrangement, the nurses began to remove all the patients' blisters and flush them with large amounts of iodophor and dilute hydrogen peroxide.

Hatam waited anxiously outside, using a pleading tone from time to time, begging Black Scorpion if he could go in and ask, what kind of disease is this?Can her old father be rescued?As long as she can be rescued, she can do anything!I am willing to mine for 100 years!
She was not qualified to enter, but Black Scorpion could.

So, Black Scorpion went in, stood far away from the rescue area, and asked Zhou Qiao: "Doctor Zhou, what kind of bacterial infection is this?"

Zhou Qiao raised his head and said, "If I guess correctly, this should be Vibrio vulnificus infection!"

As soon as these words came out, Black Scorpion and other laymen didn't understand much, so they didn't have much reaction.

However, several other doctors, especially Sampson and Chen Zhining, immediately changed their expressions in horror.

A terrifying picture emerged in their minds involuntarily, that is, Hatam's father would be eaten bit by bit by this germ!

Because this bacteria also has a scary alias - "human-eating bacteria"!
Vibrio vulnificus is a very special Gram-negative bacillus that is commonly found in warm (approximately 15°C) low-salinity/saltwater waters and is an important opportunistic pathogen.

It can cause wound infections and sepsis and is usually contracted through exposure to seawater or consumption of seafood.Patients are mostly male (about 90%) and middle-aged and elderly (85% are over 40 years old).

In addition, Vibrio vulnificus infection is very rapid. The average incubation period of wound infection is only 16 hours, and the average incubation period of sepsis is 26 hours. The course of the disease progresses very quickly and is fatal. It has the highest case fatality rate among all foodborne pathogens. .

Vibrio vulnificus infection is a highly acute and severe disease. The progression of the disease is measured hourly. Every hour, the patient's limb swelling will progress significantly.

Its fatality rate is extremely high. According to relevant literature, the mortality rate of patients can reach more than 48% within 50 hours. If it exceeds 72 hours without effective treatment, the mortality rate will approach 100%.

Sampson exclaimed: "It's unlikely. This kind of bacteria usually lives in the sea. The base is hundreds of kilometers away from the sea!"

Chen Zhining remembered something and said: "Actually, it doesn't have to be the sea, it can also exist in some saltwater lakes. And there are saltwater lakes around our base!"

Black Scorpion is a local, and he nodded immediately and said: "Indeed, there is Lake Turkana about twenty kilometers away. It is the saltiest of our African lakes and one of the largest saltwater lakes in the world."

So, he called Hatam to the door and asked loudly: "Did your old father go to Lake Turkana and became ill when he came back from there?"

"Ah?" Hatam was stunned, his head was buzzing, and he was a little confused. What does this have to do with going to that lake?
However, she quickly reacted and said quickly, "Yes, yes... we had no food, so he went fishing over there, but was pinched by a crab when he was in the lake. I didn’t take it to heart, but after I came back, I got sick!”

My heart said, isn’t it that X disease?Is it because of the evil crab?Oh my God, crabs can bite people to death?
Hatam was horrified and continued: "I went to the witch doctor of the tribe. The witch doctor said it was caused by the devil that has been raging recently. She said that my father's flesh and blood was being eaten by the devil, which is the most obvious evidence. He also said that the medicine in the base can make the devil fearful, so he asked me to get one too."

"I went to get it. After feeding it to him, not only did it not drive away the devil, but it became more and more serious. His whole body was as hot as coals at night. I...I had no other choice, so I came to find you! I was afraid that you wouldn't If you are willing to see me, I will roll around at the gate of the base..."

Hatam was very eloquent and quickly explained what happened!

In the emergency room, the doctors looked at each other.Could it be that Dr. Zhou's guess is true?
If that were the case, it would be very troublesome!This bacterial infection is very difficult to treat!It can be said that it was a narrow escape from death!
There have been many similar case reports. For example, a well-known medical journal published a case of a 63-year-old male patient with skin lesions involving both lower limbs. He underwent emergency fasciotomy and tension reduction surgery 3 hours after admission. All organs failed and treatment had to be given up 24 hours after admission!
In another case, there was a 52-year-old male patient with skin lesions involving his right lower limb. He was in shock when he was admitted to the hospital. He also underwent emergency surgical exploration and amputation of his right thigh 3 hours after admission. However, he became weak and died 7 days later!
Of course, there are also cases of cure.

For example, among the four major medical journals, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) have reported two cured cases.

However, in those two cases, the patient's infection was very small, involving only the palm of his hand. Even so, his life was ultimately saved through amputation.

Hatam's father already suffered from sepsis. The wounds were extremely large and covered his entire left leg. The redness and swelling also affected his waist.

If amputation is the best option for treating Vibrio vulnificus infection, then Hatam's father may have to be cut in half!
In a place like Africa, how long can you survive at such an old age and be cut in half?

The doctors began to discuss and analyze. Black Scorpion listened and frowned, deep in thought.

And Hatam has already stayed!After a few minutes, she finally couldn't help it anymore, and burst into tears!
She knelt down in front of Black Scorpion, kissed his shoes, and then hugged her thigh tightly, crying, and begged: "Assefa, Assefa, you must save him, save him." Save him, you also called him daddy before!"

Assefa is naturally Black Scorpion’s former real name here.

In the past, he and Hatam were passionately in love. He had fantasized about starting a family with Hatam more than once. Indeed, he once regarded Hatam's old father as his biological father!Every time I see you, I am respectful and give you all kinds of gifts!
Who would have thought that things would change after a few years!

Looking at the woman at his feet, Black Scorpion's heart softened, and he looked at Zhou Qiao with pleading eyes!
　Thanks to "Shrimp Joy" for the tip.Thank you to those who voted monthly!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)