- Hello Jeff - I notice in the second part of this email
the author describes using cultures of vibrio cholera obtained from the
N.O. Public Health Lab.
-
- It is therefore noted that cultrues of V. Cholera strains
were, indeed, kept at the N.O. Public Health Lab...the one that was cracked
open with bolt cutters. Then again, I am sure a little chlorox did the
trick. Sure. Interesting that the same strain as the culture seems to
be infecting some of the evacuees in Tennessee and around the country.
-
- I also note a Hep A vaccine shortage. They recommend
getting the HAV vaccine, and, all of a suddent, there is a shortage.
One way to keep the price up and ensure that ONLY those who can pay get
the vaccine.
-
- I just heard a talk show host on WABC NY confirm that
Mayor Nagin went to Dallas and purchased a new home for his family. He
moved his family to Dallas and claims that he will live in New Orleans
during the work week but the family will remain in Dallas where the children
will go to school.
-
- Now what does that tell you about the safety of New Orleans?
What does he KNOW that the public doesn't?
-
- Patty
-
- From ProMed Mail
-
- From Jim Diaz
- diazjh@earthlink.net
- 9-17-5
-
- _Vibrio cholerae_ is not endemic in Louisiana, but more
pathogenic non-cholera Vibrios are, and they have already killed and will
continue to do so. I have been [back] to New Orleans, and there are no
mosquitoes now; all larvae were killed by floating petrochemicals.
-
- The ARBOR diseases will return soon, principally West
Nile virus -- worse than in Mississippi -- and spraying will be required
later when the floodwaters recede.
-
- Current mild diarrheal diseases are viral and secondary
to poor sanitation and endemic RNA enteric viruses. More serious dysenteric
disease outbreaks could follow among those who are not evacuating flooded
areas and who are consuming contaminated food and water. Dysenteric diseases
should not be a problem in well-run shelters. Baton Rouge will probably
have a hepatitis A outbreak in 4-6 weeks so get vaccinated for HAV now,
because there are inadequate stocks of IgG and HAV vaccine to respond to
an outbreak.
-
- As we enter flu season, viral URIs will become a problem
among the elderly in shelters and may result in community acquired pneumonias.
-
- Since many TB+ homeless persons and ex-prisoners may
have been sheltered with the elderly, infants, and the immunosuppressed,
MDR-TB could be transmitted to these susceptible populations. Reactivation
of non-MDR TB in the elderly is usually more of a problem, especially among
older immigrants from countries where TB is endemic (Viet Nam, Mexico,
etc.) and primary infections were acquired during childhood. The elderly
often baby sit the infants, who are highly susceptible to TB. TB should
not be as much of a problem as viral URIs and secondary pneumonias.
-
- [He added:] I have never seen a case of cholera in 30
years of practice, but plenty of non-cholera _Vibrio_ infections; many
were fatal, especially in immunosuppressed transplant patients. _V. vulnificus_
septicemia is especially problematic, because it can be transmitted through
lacerations, ingestion, and, probably, transconjunctivally.
-
- Jim Diaz, MD, PhD
- Professor of Public Health
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health
- LSU Health Sciences Center
- New Orleans
-
- I hate to disagree with Jim, as we have known each other
for many years, but in the past, there have been outbreaks in southern
Louisiana of _V. cholerae_ "El Tor" of a specific phage type
common from Apalachicola Bay to Galveston Bay, and usually south of Interstate
highway 10 (I-10). We used it in a trial involving frog legs: see Sang,
F.C.; Hugh-Jones, M.E.; Hagstad, H.V. 1987. A Research Note: Viability
of Vibrio cholerae 01 on Frog Legs under Frozen and Refrigerated Conditions
and Low Dose Radiation Treatment. Journal of Food Protection, 50:662-664.
We obtained the culture from the NO PH Laboratory which had recovered it
from some prior outbreak. It was never very virulent in the various outbreaks,
and its recovery depended more on clinician awareness than anything else.
I haven't seen it reported for some time now. Those outbreaks followed
a lack of rain and thus presumably salt-water intrusion into the oyster
bays and blue crab trapping areas. It was largely south of the I-10, presumably
because of the Cajun propensity to under cook their crabs. _V. cholerae_
non-01 strains are still recovered occasionally. But, in reality, Jim is
absolutely correct about the present status of cholera in Louisiana.
-
- His advice about getting vaccinated for hepatitis A is
valid, but the vaccine appears to be unavailable in Baton Rouge. Our shared
grad student was unable to get any for her daughter this morning. - Mod.
MHJ
-
-
- 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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