Showing posts with label legionella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legionella. Show all posts

13 May, 2011

Update on Chiang Mai Mystery Deaths; Ukraine Leptospirosis Cases; and Legionella in Latvia

Undiagnosed Deaths in Chiang Mai Possibly Due to Insecticide
As written in a March 23, 2011 HealthMap blog entry, there have been seven mysterious deaths since January 2011 linked to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s Downtown Inn. The undiagnosed deaths prompted travel warnings to be issued for the popular tourist destination, and led authorities to investigate many different potential causes (mushroom poisoning, toxic seaweed, and pure coincidence to name a few).

New findings released by a New Zealand news investigation team suggests the tourist deaths are connected, and due to a toxic bed bug insecticide. Small traces of the insecticide Chlorpyrifos were found in the hotel rooms where the victims had stayed. While additional test samples have been sent to the US Centers for Disease Control as well as Osaka University in Japan, other pesticides are now being looked at, as health officials work to determine the cause of the deaths.

Leptospirosis in Ukraine
For the first time in 10 years, leptospirosis has returned to the capital of Ukraine. Kiev officials have confirmed cases of leptospirosis in individuals who had gone swimming in a local pond.

Leptospirosis is a dangerous infectious disease that is accompanied by fever, possible liver damage and often requires intensive care treatment. Leptospirosis is sometimes found in fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine, and primarily occurs in warmer climates. As a general rule, pond beaches in the Ukraine should be decontaminated before swimming is allowed.

Несистемное и очень некачественное проведение малых гидротехнических работ и дератизации (уничтожения грызунов) на киевских пляжах ставит под угрозу здоровье и даже жизнь людей. Так, впервые за 11 лет после последнего зафиксированного случая заболевания, в столицу вернулся лептоспироз.

Это опасное инфекционное заболевание, которое сопровождается волнообразной лихорадкой, поражением печени и, чаще всего, требует реанимационного лечения. Лептоспироз, преимущественно, попадает в воду с мочой больных домашних животных и крыс. Вот почему борьба с грызунами в зонах отдыха людей особо актуальна накануне открытия пляжного сезона.
«В 2010 году были случаи заболевания лептоспирозом и даже уже в 2011. И это на водоемах с официальными пляжами.

Legionnaires' Disease in Latvia
According to the Latvian Centre of Infectology (LTSI) since last autumn, the country has experienced extended cases of the acute infectious disease, legionellosis (or Legionnaires' disease). This month, Latvia has confirmed the death of one individual due to Legionella.

Experts have determined that all cases of infection have occurred in apartment buildings. This is typically the case for Legionnaires’ disease, as it prospers in humid, confined, and heavily populated spaces.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

“Legionnaires' disease primarily affects the lungs, it occasionally can cause infections in wounds and in other parts of the body, including the heart.”

“A mild form of Legionnaires' disease — known as Pontiac fever — may produce symptoms including fever, chills, headache and muscle aches. Pontiac fever doesn't infect your lungs, and symptoms usually clear within two to five days.”

По информации Латвийского центра инфектологии (ЛЦИ), начиная с осени прошлого года по стране стало резко распространяться опасное острое инфекционное заболевание легионеллез ("болезнь легионеров"). В этом году в результате этой болезни уже скончался один человек.
Как отмечает NRA, эксперты установили, что все случаи заражения произошли в квартирах многоквартирных домов.

Легионеллез (питтсбургская пневмония, понтиакская лихорадка, легионелла-инфекция) — редкое острое инфекционное заболевание. Заболевание протекает, как правило, с выраженной лихорадкой, общей интоксикацией, поражением легких, центральной нервной системы, органов пищеварения, возможно развитие синдрома полиорганной недостаточности.

01 April, 2011

Chickenpox in Guangxi, Legionella in Scotland, and "Apollo" Strikes Ghana

Hundreds of cases of chickenpox in Guangxi, China
Multiple elementary schools and daycare centers in Beihai City of Guangxi Province have seen an explosion of chickenpox among students since the end of last year. The 251 cases reported to date is a staggering 27 times greater than the case count during the same time period last year. Although the winter to spring season is the high-incidence period for chickenpox, this year’s spring has been especially cold and rainy, creating an environment especially conducive to the propagation of varicella-zoster virus. Furthermore, children have relatively weaker immune, and when they congregate in school, the chance of the virus spreading through direct contact or aerosolized spray greatly increases. Since mid-March, two schools have seen 14 and 15 cases, respectively, while the remaining cases have dispersed throughout the city.

Legionella outbreak in Scotland
One individual has been hospitalized with Legionnaire's disease and over 100 guests and staff of a four-star hotel in Dundee, Scotland have reported flu-like symptoms. Pontiac fever and Legionnaire’s disease are both caused by Legionella bacteria, but Pontiac fever is milder while Legionnaire’s can be deadly.  Many of those reporting flu-like symptoms may have Pontiac fever.  Outbreak investigators found Legionella in the hotel’s club.  In February, an outbreak of Legionella reportedly originated at the Playboy mansion.  

“Apollo” strikes Ghana
Over 400 cases of acute hemmorrhagic conjunctivitis have been reported in clinics throughout Ghana.  This viral infection is highly contagious and typically resolves after two weeks.  The disease is known as Apollo in West Africa because the first epidemic occurred during the Apollo 11 lunar landing.