Legionella E-news -- 3 August 2006
Legionella E-news, 3
August 2006
HC Information Resources Inc.
Matthew R. Freije, Editor
**IN THIS ISSUE**
1. Major Outbreak in Spain
2. Thirty Cases and Two Deaths in the Netherlands
3. Ten Cases Among Hospital Patients in San Antonio
4. Pittsburgh Legionella Lab Closes
5. $193 Million Awarded to Cruise Line
6. Legionella Management Plans
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1. MAJOR OUTBREAK IN SPAIN
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On June 1, four confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease were reported
in Pamplona, northern Spain. By June 8, the number of reported cases had
grown to 139, all of which were diagnosed by urinary antigen tests. The
patients ranged from 21 to 97 years of age. Seventy-six (55%) of the
patients were hospitalized, seven of whom required intensive care. No
deaths were reported. The investigators inspected cooling towers located
at buildings in the neighborhood in which most of the initial cases
occurred. Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly
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2. THIRTY CASES AND TWO DEATHS IN THE NETHERLANDS
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Health officials implicated a cooling tower as the source of an outbreak
in Amsterdam that affected 30 people, aged from 32 to 81 years, who
lived or worked near it. Onset of illness occurred between June 27 and
July 21. Two have died. A high concentration (5,000,000 cfu/L) was found
in the cooling tower, and the strain matched that found in patients.
Samples from other possible sources were negative or had different AFLP
(Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) patterns. The cooling tower was
shut down on July 11.
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3. TEN CASES AMONG HOSPITAL PATIENTS IN SAN ANTONIO
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At least ten cases and three deaths occurred between April and June
among patients of a San Antonio hospital who contracted Legionnaires'
disease. A local health official said she suspects all 10 people--five
visitors and five were patients--acquired the disease at the hospital.
Source: News media
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4. PITTSBURGH LEGIONELLA LAB CLOSES
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The Special Pathogens Laboratory at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center was
closed on July 21 (see http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-07192006-685727.html).
Many thanks to Janet Stout, Victor Yu, and others behind the
laboratory’s good work and life-saving research.
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5. $193 MILLION AWARDED TO CRUISE LINE
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During an eight-month period ending in July 1994, many cases of
pneumonia, at least six confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease, and
one death, occurred among passengers who traveled aboard a cruise ship
between New York and Bermuda. The cases were allegedly caused by two
defective swimming-pool filters. In 2004, claims by passengers were
settled for $8.6 million. In June of this year, a New York jury ordered
the company that purchased the filter manufacturer to pay $193 Million
to the cruise line for business that it claimed to have lost because of
the contaminated filters. Source: Pioneer Press
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6. LEGIONELLA MANAGEMENT PLANS
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For hospitals: http://hcinfo.com/318info.htm
For nursing Homes and Senior Living Facilities: http://hcinfo.com/319info.htm
For hotels: http://hcinfo.com/320info.htm
The management plans read like an in-house policy manual. Each is
available in print (softcover) or on a CD for US$149 plus shipping, or
can be downloaded at www.hcinfo.com for $119.
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(c) Copyright 2006, HC
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