Legionella E-news -- March 1999

www.hcinfo.com

Legionella E-news, March 1999
HC Info
Matthew R. Freije, Editor

This electronic newsletter is being sent to numerous individuals who signed up at our website to be on our mailing list. If you did not sign up at our website, you are receiving this message either because you are recognized as a Legionella expert, or have shown interest in the subject.

We apologize for taking so long to put the list together and begin making announcements (some of you signed up over two years ago!). From this point forward, you can expect about one message a month. 

Most of the newsletters will be short--one or two paragraphs. We will cover news related to Legionnaires' disease and Legionella control--perhaps describing a recent outbreak or new information on the effectiveness of a disinfectant. We will also tell you about new publications.

If you would like to be removed from the list, reply to this message with the word REMOVE on the subject line.

**ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THIS ISSUE**

1. Outbreaks update
2. New electronic publications
3. New report on Legionella culturing -- for laboratorians
4. Our new address
5. Friends & Associates Network

1. OUTBREAKS UPDATE 
Mar 1999, The Netherlands: A flower show in Amsterdam has been blamed for more than 40 cases of Legionnaires’ disease, including four deaths. Autopsies are being carried out on five others who have died to determine whether Legionnaires’ was the cause. The Health Ministry is trying to track down everyone who visited the weeklong flower show, which ended 28 February, and establish the source of the outbreak. Health Minister Els Borst said that the exact source has not been confirmed but authorities suspect it may have been a drinking fountain, a decorative water curtain, or water particles spread by sprinklers. Brief descriptions of several outbreaks were added to our website over the last four months or so. You can review them at http://www.hcinfo.com/outbreaks-news.htm

2. NEW ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS 
Most of the book _Legionellae Control in Health Care Facilities: A Guide for Minimizing Risk_ is now available in electronic format. The information is divided into seven reports. The reports apply to all types of large buildings, not just health care facilities. Although paper versions are available, the electronic versions cost less and are easy to get. You can store them on your computer, and click and go instantly to references and content listings. The epubs download quickly--in about 30 seconds or less. No special software is needed. For more information, visit http://www.hcinfo.com/reports.htm

3. NEW REPORT ON LEGIONELLA CULTURE METHODOLOGY 
Culture Methodology for Legionella Species, by Janet Stout PhD, is for laboratorians who want to set up for Legionella culturing or improve proficiency. The report details how to culture Legionella in clinical specimens as well as environmental samples collected from plumbing systems and cooling towers. Suppliers of required products are listed in the appendix. The report is available in both paper and electronic formats. For more information, or to buy and download right now, go to http://hcinfo.com/308info.htm.

4. OUR NEW ADDRESS

HC Information Resources has moved from Indianapolis to the San Diego area. Contact us at: 

HC Information Resources Inc.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web site: http://www.hcinfo.com

5. FRIENDS & ASSOCIATES NETWORK 
You can earn referral fees on sales of our publications simply by placing a link to our website on your website. If you don't have a website, you can list the special web page address in e-mail messages. Our technology is very similar to that used for the same purpose by Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. For more information, visit http://www.hcinfo.com/friendsassocinfo.htm

We would like to keep our Legionella announcements informative but brief. If you have suggestions regarding content--or any other suggestions--please let us know at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We would appreciate feedback!

Thank you.