Category Archives: Water Safety

USA – North Carolina Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak rises to 79 cases, 1 death

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North Carolina state health officials were first notified about an increase in the number of Legionnaire’s disease cases in Buncombe and Henderson counties about one week ago.

To date, health officials have reported 83 Legionella cases (79 Legionnaires’ disease and 4 Pontiac fever), including one fatality.

The most cases have been reported from Buncombe (34) and Henderson (21) counties, with 11 other counties affected plus 5 South Carolina cases.

Legionnaires’ disease gained national notoriety in 1976 when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered it during an epidemic of pneumonia among American legion members at a convention in Philadelphia.

USA – 32 Sick and 1 Dead in Legionnaires Outbreak Linked to Mountain State Fair

Outbreak News Today

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The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease potentially linked to the Mountain State Fair in North Carolina. As of today, there are 32 confirmed illnesses and one person has died. According to the health agents, “The source of the outbreak is under investigation. Many of the cases reported attending the NC Mountain State Fair, held September 6-15, 2019 in Fletcher, NC.” The investigation in ongoing.

As Legionnaires’ disease is typically transmitted through contaminated water sources, the health agencies are investigating any rides that may have water. “Features, exhibits, and rides that incorporated some type of water exposure that created droplets which came in contact with visitors will be our focus,” Steven Smith, Henderson County’s Director of Health.

Research -Toxin responsible for Legionella growth identified

Science Daily

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Pneumonia resulting from exposure to Legionella — although uncommon and affecting only 1 in 100,000 in Europe — has a higher than 10% fatality rate. The pathogenic bacterium Legionella pneumophila has more than 300 toxins that it uses to infect humans. Once the aerosols containing the bacteria are inhaled, Legionella enters the lungs where it starts infecting human cells, causing pneumonia.

Legionella toxins especially target the innate immune pathways facilitating the survival of the bacteria inside human cells and allowing the replication of the bacteria. Due to the large number of toxins it is difficult to see the effects of deleting one or multiple of these toxins on the Legionella infection capacities. This is further complicated by the fact that several toxins with similar functions exist inside the bacteria. This makes Legionella hard to target with specific drugs.

USA – E. coli hits South Dakota – Sisseton Area

Food Poison Journal

According to KSFY, the South Dakota Department of Health is investigating several cases of E. coli in northeastern South Dakota. The cases are in and around the Sisseton area.

Source not identified

USA – Sheraton Atlanta Legionnaires’ disease: 11 confirmed, 55 probable outbreak cases

Outbreak News Today

CDC legionella

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In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) reports 11 lab-confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease and 55 probable cases of Legionnaires’ disease related to this outbreak through July 29.

No deaths have been reported.

Probable cases are people who had illness consistent with Legionnaires’ disease, including pneumonia diagnosed by a clinician or chest X-ray, but without laboratory confirmation. The number of probable cases can change based on additional testing and lab results.

Since the first cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed two weeks ago, epidemiologists from DPH and Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH)  have been reviewing hundreds of survey responses from individuals who stayed at or visited the Sheraton Atlanta between June 12 and July 15, 2019. The surveys help identify people who may have been ill, especially those with severe illness like pneumonia.

New Zealand – Shellfish biotoxin alerts – Hawkes Bay

MPI

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) today issued a public health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested from the Hawkes Bay Coast between Mahanga Beach south to Porangahau Beach.

Routine tests on shellfish samples taken from this region have shown levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins above the safe limit of 0.8 mg/kg set by MPI. Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.

Map highlighting in red the areas affected.

Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish.

Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

USA – 10 Sick in Chesterfield Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak

Outbreak News Today

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press release from the Virginia Department of Health announced that 10 people are sick in Chesterfield, Virginia in a Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak. The 10 confirmed illnesses are more cases then the county sees during the summer, which is usually 3 cases. Due to this outbreak, a Chesterfield school was forced to close. The health department is working with the CDC to identify the outbreak source.

USA – FDA warns about fresh basil imported from Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos in Mexico – Cyclospora

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Consumers should not buy, eat, or serve any fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV from Morelos, Mexico to the United States.

The fresh basil from Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico is the subject of a multi-state outbreak investigation of Cyclospora illnesses potentially linked to fresh basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV located in Morelos, Mexico.

As of July 9, health official found 132 illnesses in ten states that are attributed to the outbreak.   Four patients required hospitalization.   Restaurants in Florida, Minnesota, New York and Ohio exposed patrons to the parasite.

Cyclospora is a parasite typically transmitted by contaminated food.    Some areas, such as Massachusetts, are this year experiencing higher Cyclosproa case counts than normal. States with Cyclospora cases associated with the current outbreak are found in CT, FL, IA, MA, MN, NY, OH, RI, SC, and WI.

USA – Case Count Rises to 10 in Atlanta Sheraton Legionnaires Disease Outbreak

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The Georgia Department of Public Health reports that case counts are up to 10 now in the outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease linked to the downtown Atlanta Sheraton hotel. The property remains closed amid the outbreak and its investigation. At this time, no definitive source at the property has been confirmed to have caused the illnesses. According to local media reports, the “investigators continued testing water in pools, fountains, hot tubs, faucets, chillers and other locations at the hotel.”

USA – Issues with Vibrio vulnifcus and Enterococcus

CBS Austin

The family of an elderly San Marcos man wants to spread a message after he died last month from a flesh-eating bacteria following a fishing trip on the Texas Gulf Coast.

His family took him to a Victoria hospital where he was immediately diagnosed with vibrio and underwent surgery. He did not survive.

According to the CDC, the infection often spreads very quickly. Early symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis can include:

  • A red or swollen area of skin that spreads quickly
  • Severe pain, including pain beyond the area of the skin that is red or swollen
  • Fever

See a doctor right away if you have these symptoms after an injury or surgery. Even though minor illnesses can cause symptoms like these, people should not delay getting medical care.

WJHG

The infection caused by Enterococcus is completely different from the infection caused by Vibrio Vulnificus or Group A Streptococcus, which is associated with what people refer to as “flesh-eating bacteria.”

“It’s very rare, Necrotizing Fasciitis is a complication from an infection, so, the most common bacteria that causes the Necrotizing Fasciitis is Group A Streptococcus, it can also be caused by Vibrio Vulnificus, which is a naturally occurring bacteria that lives in warm marine waters,” said Scully.

Unlike Vibrio Vulnificus, Group A Strep can be found in places other than saltwater, meaning you don’t have to enter the gulf to contract it.

Last week, it was reported an Alabama man had contracted Necrotizing Fasciitis in Panama City Beach. According to the report, it was a strand of strep, Group A Strep. FDOH-Bay County says it can’t be confirmed that case of Necrotizing Fasciitis was contracted in Panama City Beach due to it being caused by Group A Strep.