Emerging Infectious Diseases back issues from October 2003:
Syndromic surveillance and bioterrorism-related epidemics.(Perspective)
Oct 01, 2003; ... To facilitate rapid detection of a future bioterrorist attack, an increasing number of public health departments are investing in new surveillance systems that target the early manifestations of bioterrorism-related disease. Whether this approach is likely to detect an epidemic sooner than ...
Illness in intensive care staff after brief exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a threat to healthcare workers. After a brief, unexpected exposure to a patient with SARS, 69 intensive-care staff at risk for SARS were interviewed to evaluate risk factors. SARS developed in seven healthcare workers a median of 5 days (range ...
Superantigens and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Superantigens produced by Streptococcus pyogenes have been implicated with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). We analyzed 19 acute-phase serum samples for mitogenic activity from patients with severe streptococcal disease. The serum samples from two patients in the acute phase of ...
Hazards of healthy living: bottled water and salad vegetables as risk factors for campylobacter infection.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, yet the etiology of this infection remains only partly explained. In a retrospective cohort study, we compared 213 sporadic campylobacter case-patients with 1,144 patients with negative fecal samples ....
Escherichia coil O157 exposure in Wyoming and Seattle: serologic evidence of rural risk.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... We tested the hypothesis that rural populations have increased exposure to Eschenchia coil O157:H7. We measured circulating antibodies against the O157 lipopolysaccharide in rural Wyoming residents and in blood donors from Casper, Wyoming, and Seattle, Washington, by enzyme immunoassay ...
Characterization of waterborne outbreak--associated Campylobacter jejuni, Walkerton, Ontario.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... The Walkerton, Canada, waterborne outbreak of 2000 resulted from entry of Escherichia cell O157:H7 and Campylobacter spp. from neighboring farms into the town water supply. Isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coil obtained from outbreak investigations were characterized by ...
Cultural contexts of Ebola in Northern Uganda.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Technical guidelines for the control of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) indicate that understanding local views and responses to an outbreak is essential. However, few studies with such information exist. Thus, we used qualitative and quantitative methods to determine how local residents of ...
1918 influenza pandemic caused by highly conserved viruses with two receptor-binding variants.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... The Spanish influenza pandemic swept the globe in the autumn and winter of 1918-19, and resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 million people. Clinically, epidemiologically, and pathologically, the disease was remarkably uniform, which suggests that similar viruses were causing disease ...
Cephamycin resistance in Clinical isolates and laboratory-derived strains of Escherichia coil, Nova Scotia, Canada.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... AmpC [beta]-lactamase, altered porins, or both are usually responsible for cefoxitin resistance in Escherichia coil We examined the relative importance of each. We studied 18 strains of clinical isolates with reduced cefoxitin susceptibility and 10 initially-susceptible strains passaged ...
Mass antibiotic treatment for group A streptococcus outbreaks in two long-term care facilities (1).(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Outbreaks of invasive infections caused by group A [beta]-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS) may occur in long-term care settings and are associated with a high case-fatality rate in debilitated adults. Targeting antibiotic treatment only to residents and staff known to be at specific risk of ...
Anthelmintic baiting of foxes against urban contamination with Echinococcus multilocularis.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... In recent years, increases in the urban fox population have been observed in many countries of the Northern Hemisphere. As a result, Echinococcus multilocularis has entered the urban environment. Because of a possible increased risk for alveolar echinococcosis, intervention strategies need ...
Cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli among summer camp attendees with Salmonellosis.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Investigation of an acute gastroenteritis outbreak involving >100 persons at a summer camp in Girona, Spain, in June 2002 led to the detection of Salmonella enterica and extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (ESCREC). Stool cultures were performed for 22 symptomatic ...
Multijurisdictional approach to biosurveillance, Kansas City.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... An electronic reporting system for a network of 22 laboratories was implemented in Kansas City, Missouri, with an independent organization acting as a data clearinghouse between the reporting laboratories and public health departments. The system ran in tandem with conventional reporting ...
Environmental risk and meningitis epidemics in Africa.(Research)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis occur in areas with particular environmental characteristics. We present evidence that the relationship between the environment and the location of these epidemics is quantifiable and propose a model based on environmental variables to identify regions ...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome: lessons from Singapore.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in Singapore in March 2003. To illustrate the problems in diagnosing and containing SARS in the hospital, we describe a case series and highlight changes in triage and infection control practices that have resulted. By ...
West Nile virus transmission in resident birds, Dominican Republic.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... We report West Nile virus (WNV) activity in the Dominican Republic for the first time, Specific anti-WNV antibodies were detected in 5 (15%) of 33 resident birds sampled at one location in November 2002. One seropositive bird was <4 months old, indicatin9 a recent infection. ...
West Nile virus encephalitis and myocarditis in wolf and dog.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... In the third season (2002) of the West Nile virus epidemic in the United States, two canids (wolf and dog) were diagnosed with West Nile virus encephalitis and myocarditis with similarities to known affected species (humans, horses, and birds). The West Nile virus infections were confirmed ...
Weissella confusa infection in primate (Cercopithecus mona).(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... We describe the first systemic infection by Weissella confusa in a mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona) on the basis of microbiologic, molecular genetic, and histologic data. The same strain of W. confusa, as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, was isolated in pure culture from the ...
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype, the Netherlands.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... To determine whether the Beijing genotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is emerging in the Netherlands, we collected data on 6,829 patients during 1993 to 2000. Six percent had the Beijing genotype. This genotype was associated with diagnosis in recent years, young age, nationality, and ...
Saliva and meningococcal transmission.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Neisseria meningitidis carriage was compared in swab specimens of nasopharynx, tonsils, and saliva taken from 258 students. We found a higher yield in nasopharyngeal than in tonsillar swabs (32% vs. 19%, p<0.001). Low prevalence of carriage in saliva swabs (one swab [0.4%]) suggests that ...
Small colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus and pacemaker-related infection.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... We describe the first known case of a device-related bloodstream infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants. Recurrent pacemaker-related bloodstream infection within a 7-month period illustrates the poor clinical and microbiologic response to prolonged antimicrobial ...
West Nile virus detection in American Crows.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... A dipstick immunochromatographic assay used for West Nile virus (WNV) detection in mosquitoes was investigated for application to testing of fecal, saliva, and tissue samples from dead American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos). Results suggest that VecTest may be an efficient method for WNV ...
Severe histoplasmosis in travelers to Nicaragua.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... We investigated an outbreak of unexpectedly severe histoplasmosis among 14 healthy adventure travelers from the United States who visited a bat-infested cave in Nicaragua. Although histoplasmosis has rarely been reported to cause serious illness among travelers, this outbreak demonstrates ...
Mayaro virus in wild mammals, French Guiana.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... A serologic survey for Mayaro virus (Alphavirus, Togaviridae) in 28 wild nonflying forest mammal species in French Guiana showed a prevalence ranging from 0% to 52% and increasing with age. Species active during the day and those who spent time in trees were significantly more infected, ...
The European Commission's task force on bioterrorism.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... In response to the increased threat of bioterrorism, a task force on health security was established in the European Commission. Task force members address a broad range of issues related to preparedness for and response to bioterrorist events and seek to bring about a greater ...
Wild-type measles virus in brain tissue of children with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, Argentina.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... We studied eight children who had measles at 6 to 10 months of age during the 1998 Argentine measles outbreak and in whom subacute sclerosing panencephalitis developed 4 years later. We report the genetic characterization of brain tissue-associated measles virus samples from three ...
Cat or dog ownership and seroprevalence of Ehrlichiosis, Q fever, and cat-scratch disease.(Dispathes)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Concerns have been raised about the role of domestic cats or dogs in the acquisition of zoonoses, in particular in pregnant women or immune-suppressed persons. We report that cat or dog ownership is not associated with an increased seroprevalence of antibodies to Anaplasma phagozytophilum, ...
Flying squirrel-associated typhus, United States.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... In March 2002, typhus fever was diagnosed in two patients residing in West Virginia and Georgia. Both patients were hospitalized with severe febrile illnesses, and both had been recently exposed to or had physical contact with flying squirrels or flying squirrel nests. Laboratory results ...
Chlamydia trachomatis infections in female soldiers, Israel.(Dispatches)
Oct 01, 2003; ... We examined the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Israeli female soldiers. The prevalence was 3.2% among soldiers seeking medical care; rural residence was identified as a significant risk factor. Nevertheless, given the study design, recommending broad-scale screening of ...
Clostridium tertium in necrotizing fasciitis and gangrene.(Letters)
Oct 01, 2003; ... To the Editor: Bacterial species of the genus Clostridium are anaerobic or aerotolerant, gram-positive, endospore-forming bacilli found in the soil and gut of humans and other animals. These species cause botulism, tetanus, gas gangrene, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, pseudomembranous ...
Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Uttaradit, Thailand.(Letters)
Oct 01, 2003; ... To the Editor: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) has been recognized as a disease of young children in the past. Three decades ago most reported case-patients in Thailand were 3-6 years of age (1). Increasing evidence shows that the age group most affected is changing (2). We report evidence ...
Antimicrobial drug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium (Reply to Helms).(Letters)
Oct 01, 2003; ... In Reply to Helms: In the article by Helms et al., Helms concludes that infections with Salmonella Typhimurium strains resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamide, and tetracycline (hereafter referred to as penta-resistant) were associated with higher death rates ...
Antimicrobial drug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium (Reply to Dahl).(Letters)
Oct 01, 2003; ... In Reply to Dahl: The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 (MDR DT104) contributed to an international increase in antimicrobial drug resistance in S. Typhimurium in the late 1990s (1,2). This type of Salmonella is usually resistant to ...
Serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis outside meningitis belt in Southwest Cameroon.(Letters)
Oct 01, 2003; ... To the Editor: Epidemic meningitis associated with serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis is a devastating disease in the absence of vaccination (1). Without treatment, the case-fatality rate is high, approaching 100%. In Africa, such epidemics occur regularly (1) within a well-limited ...
West Nile virus meningitis in patient with common variable immunodeficiency.(Letters)
Oct 01, 2003; ... To the Editor: Infection by West Nile virus (WNV) was first recognized in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 in New York (1). Subsequently, this mosquito-borne flavivirus has spread westward and has emerged as an important cause of infectious meningoencephalitis in the United States (2). In ...
Isolation of Enterobacter sakazakii from Midgut of Stomoxys calcitrans.(Letters)
Oct 01, 2003; ... To the Editor: Enterobacter sakazakii, a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium, is an emerging foodborne pathogen that can cause meningitis, sepsis, or necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns, particularly affecting premature or other immunocompromised infants. Although an environmental ...
Exotic Viral Diseases: a Global Guide.(Book Review)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Stephen A. Berger, Charles H. Calisher, and Jay S. Keystone BC Decker, Inc., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 2003 ISBN: 1-55009-209-7 Pages: 252 Price: $29.95 Exotic Viral Diseases: A Global Guide by Berger et al is a small, soft-cover, 252-page handbook organized by disease or ...
Drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surveillance.(Conference Summary)
Oct 01, 2003; ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convened a conference on March 12-13, 2003, in Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss improving state-based surveillance of drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The Council of State ...
Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825). Coronation of Empress Josephine by Napoleon I at Notre Dame de Paris, 2 December 1804 (1806-1887).(About The Cover)
Oct 01, 2003; ... Detail of Napoleon and Josephine Oil on canvas, 6.1 m x 9.31 m. Photo: Peter Willi Reunion des Musees Nationaux/Art Resource, NY. Chateaux de Versailles el de Trianon Versailles, France "I was always hiding behind the instructor's chair, drawing for the duration of the class," ...