Published Date: 2002-08-05 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/EDR> Legionellosis - UK (Cumbria)
Archive Number: 20020805.4951
LEGIONELLOSIS - UK (CUMBRIA)
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2002
From: H.Larry Penning <hlpenning@yahoo.com>
Source: ABC News / Reuters [edited]
<http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Living/reuters20020803_49.html>
Legionnaire's disease outbreak in Northwest England
-----------------------
An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in northwest England could
involve as many as 120 people before it is contained, health officials
and experts said on Sat 3 Aug 2002
But as fears grew that the outbreak in the Cumbrian town of Barrow-in-
Furness could be Britain's worst since 23 people died in 1985, officials
said they were confident the source had been found, in a leisure center
air conditioner, and urged calm.
On Fri 2 Aug 2002 an 89-year-old man became the first person to die
and 54 adults were in hospital by the next day; 19 confirmed cases and
the rest showing symptoms of the pneumonia-like illness.
Ian Cumming, chief executive of the area's Morecambe Bay Hospitals
Trust, said up to 10 people a day with symptoms were being admitted
and this was set to continue for around 12 days. "Incubation is between
5 and 10 days...it is usually 6 or 7 days before symptoms show," he
told Reuters.
The projections were based on the fact the likely source of the
outbreak, an air conditioning unit at a council-run entertainment
complex in the town, had been closed on 1 Aug 2002. Local council
leader Terry Waiting said the unit had leaked steam and was shut down
for maintenance a day before the disease was confirmed. He said tests
were under way to confirm this was the source and said the cordoned-
off building posed no danger to people.
Health officials echoed his comments at a news conference. "If the
source is where we think it is, then control measures have now been
taken and it doesn't pose a further threat to public health," said
Professor John Ashton, regional public health director. "There is no
need for panic. It seems to be a local source, a local problem which is
being tackled."
Exactly half the 54 people still in hospital on Saturday were women; 9
people were in intensive care, including 5 whose condition was "giving
cause for concern," the Morecambe Bay Hospitals trust said in a
statement. The age range of patients was from 18 to 89. In the last
major outbreak in Britain, 68 people were infected and 23 died in the
town of Stafford in 1985.
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[This large (potentially 3-digit numbers of cases) outbreak of
legionellosis has attracted a good deal of attention based on the number
of ProMED-mail subscribers who sent us information on it. We thank
all of those who took the time to e-mail us. The total number of cases
and overall mortality rate is still awaited. - Mod.LL]
[Reports dated today, Mon 5 Aug 2002, sent in by ProMED
subscribers, speak of more than 70 hospitalized, with 56 confirmed, but
no more deaths. Public health officials also confirmed last night that
bacteria that cause Legionnaire's disease had been found in the 30-year-
old air conditioning system of the community centre. The bacteria have
not yet been typed as the strain involved in the outbreak, but tests are
expected to be completed today, Monday.
Details on Legionnaire's disease for the public are available from NHS
Direct Online at the following website:
<http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/nhsdoheso/display.asp?sTopic=Legionnai
resdisease> - Mod.JW]
See Also
Legionellosis, pilgrims - Italy (Puglia) 20020705.4674Legionellosis, nursing home - USA (Pennsylvania) 20020615.4507
Legionellosis - update 20020517.4237
Legionellosis - Australia (Melbourne): alert 20020417.3977
2001
---
Legionellosis - Norway (02) 20010906.2123
Legionellosis - Spain (Pamplona) (02) 20010822.1979
Legionellosis - France (Paris) 20010717.1379
Legionellosis - Spain (Murcia) 20010711.1340
Legionellosis - Spain (Murcia) (08) 20011017.2555
Legionellosis - UK (London): alert 20010630.1249
Legionellosis, automobile plant - USA (Ohio) 20010315.0531
Legionellosis, hospital - Australia (Melbourne) 20010108.0059
2000
---
Legionellosis - Australia (Melbourne) (09) 20000525.0833
Legionellosis - New Zealand, UK, ex Australia 20000503.0673
1999
---
Legionellosis - trade fair - Belgium: alert 19991114.2028
Legionellosis - prisoners - Germany (02) 19991017.1851
Legionellosis - USA (Pennsylvania) 19990918.1675
Legionellosis - Australia (Victoria) 19990801.1310
Legionellosis - Australia 19990801.1309
Legionellosis - flower show - Netherlands (09) 19990404.0545
1998
---
Legionellosis - Australia (Melbourne) (04) 19981224.2437
Legionellosis - Australia (Victoria) (03) 19980722.1388
Legionellosis, cruise ship - UK (Scotland) 19980629.1206
Legionellosis, lorry drivers - Europe 19980413.0677
..............................ll/pg/jw
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