RARE BACTERIA KILLED ASYLUM SEEKER ON MANUS ISLAND

A rare bacterial infection is what reportedly caused the demise of Hamid Khazei, the Iranian detainee on Manus Island.

The bacteria medically known as chromobacterium violaceum, is found in stagnant water and soul and is known to attack one’s internal organs, aggressively, after it enters a person’s bloodstream.

 

Doctors in Brisbane made the revelation, now a month after; the 24 year old Khazaei succumbed to his illness in a Brisbane hospital.

 

It has been confirmed that the infection is very rare and there have only been 200 known cases reported, so far, in the world since the 1920’s. This has brought much concern on the health status of the asylum centre on Manus Island.

 

It was revealed that from the time the deceased fell ill at the centre, doctors were booked out, thus unable to assess his medical condition at the time. It wasn’t until concerned detainees alerted security personnel at the centre, that Khazaei received attention and was put in isolation on medical grounds.

 

Ali Mesbahi, a formerly detained at the Manus Island asylum centre, has revealed that detainees are told to be wary of keeping cuts covered; and take heed of precautionary measures to prevent infections prone to the tropical environment of the island.

 

Mesbahi said that the deceased had bandaged his wound on his leg a month prior to his death.

 

He was reported to have said “I think that something cut my leg and something like infection,” said Mr Mesbahi, who chose to return to his country of origin, Iran.

 

When Khazaei had been airlifted from the Manus, detainees were ordered to clean their germs to prevent the spread of germs.

 

The Iranian was taken to hospitals in Port Moresby before being taken to Brisbane, three days after he had been flown out of Manus Island. He was reportedly brain dead when he was taken from the detention centre. 

source:  Lateline Australia