Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

Ah ha Thanks.

Whatever it is, there's no doubt it goes human to human transmission.

Name:
LOU RUTH BLAKE

Dates:
Birth date: October 12, 1930
Death date: March 01, 2012

Visitation:
AS OF 3/5/2012 ALL VISITATIONS AND FUNERAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.

http://www.sewellfuneralhome.com/?menui ... yid=116528

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EFFICIENTLY

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Archive Number: 20120306.1062870

RESPIRATORY ILLNESS - USA: (MARYLAND) FATAL CLUSTER, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
****************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Tue 6 Mar 2012
Source: 4 NBC Washington [edited]
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local ... 60013.html


Cluster of deaths following flu-like symptoms in Calvert County
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Calvert County Health Department [CCHD] is investigating a cluster of deaths following respiratory illnesses in the Lusby area. The county health department told News4 that 4 family members who live near the Calvert Cliffs nuclear facility fell ill with an unidentified respiratory illness at the end of February, [2012] and 3 died this month.

An 81 year old woman was the 1st to become sick, in late February. The woman's 3 adult children, 2 daughters and a son, traveled to her home to care for her. Subsequently, they became sick with similar health problems.

According to the health department, the 81 year old who died presented symptoms of respiratory illness on 23 Feb 2012 and died on 1 Mar 2012. The children showed symptoms around 28 Feb 2012, and were hospitalized in critical condition. Several days later, the 58 year old son and the 56 year old daughter died, and the 3rd daughter remains hospitalized.

Health officer David Rogers, in a statement released on 6 Mar 2012, said the county health department does not believe the illness represents a widespread health threat. "The cases appear to be confined to a single family," Rogers wrote, "and there are currently no other affected individuals at this time. CCHD is not recommending any protective actions for the general public."

In an earlier statement, the county erroneously reported 4 deaths.

The department recommends people with flu-like symptoms like fever, cough, or sore throat contact their doctors to see if they would benefit from antiviral or other medications. Currently, county health officials are not advising any specific preventive measures.

CCHD sent a message to area residents to say it was working together with health care providers to monitor the situation and determine a cause for the respiratory illness. A spokesperson told News4 the victims' proximity to the power plant was not believed to be a factor.

On Monday afternoon, a crew of health workers dressed in hazardous material suits entered the woman's house and collected more samples for testing.

[byline: Melissa Mollet]

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[This cluster of deaths within the same family due to an unidentified respiratory illness is an unusual event. Proximity to the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant is not considered to be a relevant factor, but specific diagnosis of the cause of these fatal illnesses will be necessary to reassure the local community.

Lusby is located in Calvert County, Maryland, and includes residents of the Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point community. The Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, and a compressed natural gas plant run by Dominion Resources, are both nearby. See map at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lusby,_Maryland. - Mod.CP]

.................................................cp/ejp/sh

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Update from the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:



Update on Calvert County Respiratory Illness Investigation

Preliminary Testing Indicates Influenza



BALTIMORE (March 6, 2012) - The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is working in conjunction with the Calvert County Health Department to investigate a cluster of respiratory illnesses in Calvert County. As the Calvert County Health Department has reported, DHMH is aware of four cases in adults from a single family with severe respiratory illness; three have died. At this time, no other similar clusters have been reported from Calvert County or elsewhere in the state.



The cause for these illnesses is under investigation and testing is being conducted by the DHMH Laboratories Administration. Preliminary testing at the DHMH Laboratories Administration indicates that two of the fatal cases had influenza, and these cases may have been complicated by bacterial co-infections. Bacterial co-infection is a known complication of influenza infection. Additional testing is being conducted for all cases.



DHMH recommends all individuals continue to take the following precautions during influenza season: hand washing, staying home if sick, and staying up to date with influenza vaccinations. DHMH also reminds Maryland residents with influenza-like illness (fever and sore throat or cough) to consult their healthcare providers for evaluation. DHMH is not recommending any additional measures at this time.

http://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/info/st ... rts.asp#65

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Note that the latest denial is of SIMILAR CLUSTERS, not similar CASES.

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Code for we know of other similar individual cases?

No doubt. Other cases/deaths under investigation.

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Mar 6, 2012 (CIDRAP News) – Maryland health officials are investigating a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses in a Calvert County family that led to the deaths of an elderly woman and two adult children who cared for her.

The Calvert County Health Department (CCHD), which released the first details about the cases in an e-mail alert, posted a press release on its Web site today and has updated the information twice as new details became available.

David Rogers, MD, MDH, health officer with the CCHD, said in the statement that it is investigating a cluster of illnesses and deaths in a Lusby area family. He said the illnesses are confined to a single family, and the CCHD isn't recommending any specific precautions for the general public.

The first case is in an 81-year-old woman who got sick on Feb 23 at her home, where she received care from three of her children, a son and two daughters. The caregivers became ill with similar upper respiratory symptoms on Feb 28. All were hospitalized.

The woman, her 58-year-old son, and her 56-year-old daughter died, and the other daughter is hospitalized at Washington Hospital Center. As of 4:30 pm US eastern time this afternoon, no new cases had been reported.

The CCHD said the state medical examiner is investigating deaths to determine the cause of the illnesses.

Karen Black, director of public relations for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, told CIDRAP News that state health officials are working with local health officials to investigate the cause of the illnesses and that the state's public health lab will conduct additional testing.

She said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is aware of the situation.

Calvert County Public Schools posted a health alert on its Web site today, saying the district was in contact with the CCHD, which so far has not advised schools to take any specific precautions.

The story was first reported in the local news media and highlighted by flu and infectious disease message boards. Earlier versions of the story had reported four deaths.

A CCHD spokesperson said the family's proximity to Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant was not believed to be a factor in the outbreak, according to an NBC news story today. Lusby is located in southern Maryland, and an earlier version of the CCHD press release said the woman's home was in a rural setting.

The CCHD advised residents to take standard precautions to prevent illnesses, such as hand washing and limiting contact with sick people. It urged people with flulike illnesses to contact their healthcare providers.

See also:

Mar 6 CCHD press release

Mar 6 NBC news report

Mar 6 Calvert County Public Schools health alert
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/conten ... yland.html

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Video
Calvert County Department of Health officials have not confirmed that "Influenza A" killed three people in a Lusby home, but say it was a contributing factor.

Influenza A is the virus that is most commonly known as the flu in humans. However, if not treated properly, as in these cases, it can prove to be deadly.

"The first case of illness occurred in an 81-year-old woman who presented symptoms at her home beginning on or about February 23, 2012. She was cared for at home by three of her children, a son and two daughters. The caregivers developed similar upper respiratory symptoms on or about February 28, 2012. All were hospitalized and became critically ill. The elderly woman, a 58-year-old son and a 56-year-old daughter subsequently died. A third family member and caregiver is currently hospitalized at the Washington Hospital Center," CCHD officials said.

Residents are recommended to take standard precautions to prevent the spread of illness including hand washing and limiting contact with sick individuals. Those with flu-like symptoms should check with their healthcare provider to be evaluated.

Health officials say if you think you have similar symptoms, you should check with a doctor immediately.

"In the meantime, we continue to recommend that people ill with influenza-like illnesses (fever and cough or sore throat) check in with their healthcare provider to be evaluated and see if they would benefit from antiviral or other medications," officials said.
http://wusa9.com/news/article/194856/15 ... -Md-Deaths

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