Source of legionella hard to pinpoint: Hamilton medical officer
29.08.2008 16:04
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Public health officials in Hamilton, Ont., are searching for the source of legionella that sickened seven of the city's residents this month. It may be impossible to find a common source among the respiratory cases, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the city's medical officer of health, said Thursday. Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by legionella, a bacterium found mainly in warm water environments. Symptoms include high fever, chills and a cough. "Although legionella is often associated with a single point of exposure such as an institution or a spa, these cases are community-based and present us with a more complex investigation," Richardson said in release. Air conditioning systems, hot tubs and water distribution systems are common sources of exposure in outbreaks, according to public health officials. In five of the seven cases, the people lived in lower Stoney Creek or Lower East Hamilton, and geography is the only common thread so far. As of Wednesday, two were in hospital and were expected to recover. The patients range in age from their 20s to 70s. Anyone in Hamilton with symptoms should seek medical attention, the city's health department urged. Medical exams and tests are needed to determine whether the pneumonia is caused by legionella. Legionnaires' is not a communicable disease. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedExternal LinksLegionnaires' Disease, Health Canada(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window) Health HeadlinesDeath linked to cheese recall in Quebec One person has died and 87 cases of salmonella food poisoning have been linked to three brands of contaminated cheese in Quebec, provincial health authorities said Friday in announcing a recall.Listeria-linked recall list lengthensThe list of recalled meat products possibly tainted with listeria at a Maple Leaf Foods plant swelled Friday, a day after the number of deaths in the outbreak jumped to eight.Researchers track Alzheimer's-linked protein in live brainsScientists for the first time have peered into people's brains to directly measure the ebb and flow of a substance notorious for its role in Alzheimer's disease. Findings may have implications for how the brain-injured are tracked in intensive-care units.Ont. urges family doctors to save blood tests for listeriosis patientsOntario's public health lab reached out to doctors in a mass e-mail Thursday, asking them to just say no to people who want blood tests for listeriosis even though they show no symptoms.Health inspectors say no more sweet samples at CNE honey boothHealth inspectors have decided that a booth at the CNE selling honey can no longer give out free samples. Health FeaturesVIDEOListeriosisFollowing the path of the listeriosis outbreak (8:37)YOUR INTERVIEWListeriosisDr. Allison McGeer takes questions on the outbreakVIDEOListeriosis Dr. Dara Maker answers questions about outbreak (4:35)IN DEPTHMedical isotopesThe backbone of nuclear medicineIN DEPTHWest Nile NUTRITIONSchool lunchesHealthy back-to-school lunch tipsPeople who read this also read …
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