Legionella E-news -- 3 September 2002

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IN THIS ISSUE
1. Britain's Worst Outbreak: 131 Cases, 4 Deaths
2. Sandwell, UK: 7 Cases, 1 Death
3. Matara, Spain: 124 Cases, 2 Deaths
4. Update on Hot Spring Outbreak in Japan
5. State Office Complex, Waterbury, VT, 16 cases
6. Legionella Seminar in Washington, DC
7. URL for Ulm Conference Papers

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1. BRITAIN'S WORST OUTBREAK: 131 CASES, 4 DEATHS
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Legionnaires' disease has been confirmed in 131 people who had been in or around the center of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in July. Nearly 330 others received hospital treatment for Legionnaires'-like symptoms. Four have died; an 88-year-old man and three women aged 54, 56, and 76.

The death toll may actually be five. A mother of four in her 50s, who contracted Legionnaires' in early August and was discharged from the hospital after an apparent recovery, died at her home about two weeks later. But a hospital official said her death could not be definitely related to the Legionella infection.

Investigators said that the source was "beyond all reasonable doubt" the air conditioning plant at the town's arts and civic centre. Legionella bacteria were found in the cooling water. Source: various news media

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2. SANDWELL, UK: 7 CASES, 1 DEATH
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Three women, all in their 50s and all from the Sandwell area, were admitted to the hospital 16 August. Since then four other cases have been identified, including two women in their 40s and 50s and a 63-year-old man. The seventh case, a man in his 50s, died 25 August. Epidemiologic information led officials to focus their investigation in the Oldbury and Smethwick areas, but a specific source has not been reported. Sources: BBC, The Scotsman, Reuters

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3. MATARA, SPAIN: 124 CASES, 2 DEATHS
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As of 26 August, a total of 124 cases have been reported in the Spanish town of Matara, near Barcelona. The first cases were reported mid-August. News reports stated that the outbreak is being blamed on the air conditioner of a public building, but details of the investigation were not given. A 49-year-old man and an 83-year-old woman have died. Source: The Daily Telegraph (Australia)

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4. UPDATE ON HOT SPRING OUTBREAK IN JAPAN
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Last month we reported an outbreak associated with a new hot spring resort in southern Japan. As of 19 August, 252 suspected cases of Legionnaires' have been identified among individuals who visited the hot spring, six of whom have died. After opening 1 July, the resort received about 1,000 visitors daily until authorities shut it down 24 July following reports of disease. Sources: The Associated Press; The Daily Yomiuri

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5. STATE OFFICE COMPLEX, WATERBURY, VT, 16 CASES
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16 cases of Legionnaires' disease have been reported in Waterbury, Vermont (USA). The first case was reported in late July in a former inmate at the state women's prison located in a 39-building state office complex. Five state employees and two other inmates were also infected. More than 1,500 people live and work at the complex. All but one of the victims were out of the hospital by 14 August. The complex has not been closed. Health officials think cooling towers are the source and that disinfecting the towers will be effective. Source: Associated Press

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6. LEGIONELLA SEMINAR IN WASHINGTON, DC
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The Legionella Prevention Training Course will be offered 5-6 December, 2002 in the Washington, DC area. The Virginia Department of Mental Health is hosting the course, but registrations should be made through HCINFO. The course will be held at VDMH's Northern Virginia Training Center in Fairfax, Virginia. The site is only 10 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport and close to many hotels and restaurants. Only 30 seats are available, so register early. Tuition is US$495. After registering you will receive information on transportation from the airport, driving directions, and nearby hotels.

If you have access to a meeting facility, and would like to host a course, please let us know. We can provide the two-day comprehensive course for a mixed group (health officials, hospital personnel, plumbing engineers, water treatment professionals, industrial hygienists, etc.), or tailor a one-day course for a specific audience. You can also get private training for your organization. For more information, visit http://hcinfo.com/legionellaseminar.htm.

*******************************************************************7. URL FOR ULM CONFERENCE PAPERS
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Last month it was announced that each chapter of ASM's book _Legionella_ is now available online at hcinfo.com. The 85 chapters, each of which is a paper presented at the International Conference on Legionella held September 2000 in Ulm, Germany, are available for US$6 each. The files can be read online, saved on your computer, and printed. For more information, visit http://www.hcinfo.com/legionella-asm.htm.

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THANK YOU!

Matt Freije, Editor
HC Information Resources Inc.
http://hcinfo.com