Legionella
E-news -- 30 October 2001
**IN
THIS ISSUE**
1.
Update on Murcia, Spain Outbreak
2.
Letter from a Legionnaires' Survivor
3.
Legionella Prevention Training Courses
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1.
UPDATE ON THE MURCIA, SPAIN OUTBREAK
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The
source of the biggest Legionnaires' outbreak to date is still
unknown. Legionella strains found in cooling tower samples
did not match the ones found in patients. According to Francisco
Marques, head of the local health unit, 800 cases of
pneumonia
have been reported, of which 420 have been confirmed
as
Legionnaires' disease. 4 people have died. A report based on data
from the Centro Nacional de Epidemiologia Instituto Carlos III,
Madrid, estimates that the final number of confirmed cases could
reach 650.
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2.
LETTER FROM A LEGIONNAIRES' SURVIVOR
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Editor's
note: The writer is under the assumption that he had Legionnaires'
disease--perhaps his physician told him--but he does
not mention diagnosis by laboratory tests. Names of places,
states, and companies have been omitted. By the way, I have
received several e-mails like this one--from L/D survivors who
are angry that they suffered from a preventable disease, and
are determined to increase awareness. Would you like to see other
survivor letters in future issues of E-news, or would you prefer
technical content only?--mrf
July
5, 2001
Dear
Matt Freije:
I
have recently contracted Legionnaires. I am an independent contractor/project
manager building cellular wireless sites for the
past 18 years, throughout the world. I have not worked outside
of the U.S. since 1998. In April 2001 I accepted a
contract
with COMPANY A to manage a GSM test overlay for COMPANY
B in CITY, STATE, USA. A warehouse was procured (By COMPANY
A) for staging of the cell site radio equipment. I firmly
believe this warehouse was the source of the bacteria as it
utilized a swamp cooling system and the warehouse was empty and
without power for quite some time.
On
4/26/01 I began working in this warehouse, with no electricity
turned on yet. On Monday 4/30/01 in early afternoon I
was hanging "White" boards on the wall in the front office of this
warehouse, when the power to the building was turned on. I was
on a ladder directly in front of the cooling duct when the swamp
cooler came on with the electric. I was inundated with the
initial blast of stagnant smelling air. I continued working that
day feeling OK.
On
Tuesday 5/1/01 I continued a full day at the warehouse. That evening,
I developed a cough, which progressed day by day. On Wednesday
5/2/01 Flu symptoms began along with the cough. On Thursday
5/3/01 I went to the HOSPITAL NAME emergency. They advise
me it looked like pneumonia and advised me to check in to
the hospital. I declined and asked for antibiotics prescription
and left.
I
went without sleep all Thursday night, unable to breathe properly.
On Friday 5/4/01 at 6am I went back to the emergency room,
almost unable to breathe. That is pretty much all I remember
until I awoke on 6/3/01. My wife advised me I was on
life
support for almost a month and it looked very grim at times.
Unable
to walk, groom, bathe or take care of myself in any way I
was transferred to the "REHAB" unit on 6/4/01 where I spent the
next three and a half weeks. Under extensive Occupational, Physical
and Speech therapy I made substantial progress and was released
on 6/22/01 with "Outpatient" continuum three times a week
for speech and physical therapy.
Matt,
as a result of this Godforsaken disease I have lost my job
and will not be able to return to work until possibly August
sometime. As an independent contractor, I carried no short
or long term disability insurance. I have contacted the state
of STATE NAME disease center to test this warehouse as an attempt
to avert anyone else from contracting this disease and to
recoup lost wages from the parties responsible for upkeep on this
property. The state of
STATE NAME advised me they will not
dispatch anyone to inspect the warehouse as I am still alive.
If I would have died the state might have sent someone to
investigate. What kind of an oxymoron is that?
I
have exhausted all avenues of response except for the media. Again
Matt, this disease almost killed me and I will NEVER let this
go. It is my personal crusade to have local/federal government
investigate EVERY occurrence of this disease.
Any
advice, suggestions or help you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
TC
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3.
LEGIONELLA PREVENTION TRAINING COURSE
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To
register for the seminars, or get more information, telephone
1-800-801-8050 (1-760-494-3063 outside the USA and Canada),
visit http://hcinfo.com/legionellaseminar.htm, or
e-mail hcinfo@hcinfo.com.
*
Atlanta - 13-14 Nov. 2001 (Tues.-Wed.)
Crowne
Plaza Atlanta Airport
(http://www.basshotels.com/crowneplaza?_franchisee=ATLAT).
Mention
the HC Information group for a special room rate of $119/night.
Although the room block expired 22 October 2001, you
can still get the discounted rate if you make your room reservation
before all the discounted rooms are taken.
Telephone
404-768-6660 to make reservations (mention the HC Information
Resources group). Crowne Plaza offers a free shuttle
to and from the Airport.
*
San Diego - 28-29 Nov. 2001 (Wed.-Thurs.)
Hyatt
San Diego
(http://www.hyatt.com/usa/san_diego/hotels/hotel_sanrs.html),
a
waterfront
location at Seaport Village, about 3 miles from the
airport.
The block of discounted rooms ($149/night) expires 27 October
2001, but the hotel might give the discounted rate if rooms
are left. Telephone 619-232-1234 to make reservations
(mention
the HC Information Resources group).
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information on advertising in Legionella E-news or on our
web
site, e-mail adinfo@hcinfo.com. You will receive an immediate
auto-reply.
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(c)
Copyright 2001, HC Information Resources Inc.
You
have permission to send this newsletter to others, post it on
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THANK
YOU!
Matt
Freije
HC
Information Resources Inc.
http://hcinfo.com
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