- Hello, Jeff - The following adenovirus outbreak in mental
helath facilities is interesting for a couple of reasons.
-
- 1. We are told by Public Helath spokeswoman that the
public was NEVER at RISK. Oh, really. 2. The fact that the virus was
"confined" to 8 mental health facilities tells me that it might
have originated with someone who would visit all the facilities, like a
doctor or public health professional.
-
- It also reminds us that other viruses, not just influenza,
cause respiratory symptoms.
-
- As I stated many times, I would like to see doctors and
other health professionals using better infecton control measures.
-
- Adenovirus Outbreaks In Eight Mass. Mental
Facilities
-
- By Maria Papadopoulos
The Enterprise - Brockton, MA
6-22-5
-
- 17 people were admitted to hospital after an outbreak
of a viral illness in 8 mental health facilities in Brockton and nearby
towns, a state Department of Public Health spokeswoman said on Tue 21 Jun
2005. A total of 28 clients and staff in 8 state Department of Mental Health
(DPH) facilities in the area contracted adenovirus infection, said Donna
Rheaume, DPH spokeswoman.
-
- Doctors say [adenovirus infections are common]. An unknown
number of clients from New Beginnings Club House at 591 Centre St in Brockton,
which is run by the state Department of Mental Health, were among those
who became ill. 17 people were taken to Brockton Hospital and 15 who became
ill developed pneumonia, Rheaume said. Rheaume said there is no public
health risk. "The community was never at risk," Rheaume said.
"This virus requires very close contact for transmission."
-
- Rheaume would not name the towns or exact location of
the other facilities for confidentiality reasons. Clients and staff of
the state Department of Mental Health reportedly became ill between 23
May and 17 Jun 2005, with the most recent case reported on Fri 17 Jun 2005,
she said. "It appears right now that this [outbreak] is under control,"
she said.
-
- Helen Singh, a nurse at the Brockton Board of Health,
said a board nurse inspected the New Beginnings location last week after
receiving reports of several people becoming ill from a flu-like syndrome.
"There were a few more cases than usual," Singh said Tuesday.
"They seem to be clients from one area." Singh did not have an
exact number of people stricken at the Brockton facility. 2 people were
clients from Brockton Area Multi-Services Inc (BAMS). and are being treated
locally, said Charles Fiske, BAMSI spokesman.
-
- Fiske said BAMSI was alerted about the outbreak by the
Department of Mental Health a week ago. "The cause of it is unknown
at this point," he said.
-
- Symptoms of adenovirus include coughing, fever, aches
and diarrhea, said Dr Brian Dolan, director of the hospitalist program
at Brockton Hospital. The virus is spread through air droplets by coughing
or hand-to-mouth transmission. It can manifest itself as gastroenteritis
or as an upper respiratory infection like pneumonia, he said. "It's
kind of an ideal virus to cause a local outbreak," Dolan said.
-
- [Adenovirus infection] tends to run its course within
one to 2 weeks and may take longer for people with other medical problems,
he said. Treatment may include administering intravenous fluids, breathing
treatments and anti-viral medications, Dolan said. Adenovirus is known
to cause outbreaks in closed populations such as military barracks, nursing
homes or facilities for the mentally handicapped, he said. Military personnel
are [were] commonly vaccinated against adenovirus, he said. [The vaccines
used were against adenovirus types 4 and 7, but recurrent production problems
led to their withdrawal. - Mod.CP] Rheaume said the virus is spread primarily
through saliva by sharing food or beverages. "All of the facilities
have implemented careful respiratory precautions, including not sharing
food and other precautions," she said. "We feel as though this
is under control."
-
- http://enterprise.southofboston.com/articles/2005/06/22/news/news/news04.txt
-
- ProMED-mail promed@promdmail.org
-
- The adenoviruses comprise a large number of distinct
serotypes. Adenovirus infections are mostly asymptomatic, but certain serotypes
are associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal, ocular, and respiratory
systems. The serotypes associated with respiratory illness are types 3,
4, 7, and 21, and live and inactivated vaccines have been developed but
not employed widely except by the military. It is newsworthy here that
the symptoms are described as "flu-like", emphasizing the fact
that many viruses other than the influenza viruses can be responsible for
serious outbreaks of respiratory disease. It would be interesting to have
information concerning the particular serotype (or serotypes) associated
with these outbreaks in mental health facilities in Massachusetts. - Mod.CP
-
-
- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD Please visit my "Emerging
Diseases" message board at: http://www.clickitnews.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?
Cat=&Board=emergingdiseases
Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
Go with God and in Good Health
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