Toronto Illness Unmasked
Toronto (Canda):
Toronto residents can heave a sigh of relief with news that Legionnaire's disease is likely behind the strange outbreak of flu-like illness that has killed 16 people at a Scarborough nursing home.
The reason for the relief is because the bacterial infection isn't catching and is readily treated with antibiotics. Furthermore, the effective handling of this nasty outbreak by public health authorities provides solid evidence that valuable lessons have been learned in the wake of the SARS crisis two years ago.
The outbreak at Seven Oaks Home for the Aged inspired considerable worry, and international attention, because the microbe responsible was distressingly hard to pin down.
For days, as the death toll mounted, public health officials could only say that they were sure it was not SARS, avian flu or influenza.
Sound assurances were made that the outbreak was being contained and controlled and that it presented no threat to the public at large.
But people had difficulty fully accepting those assurances in light of the mysterious nature of this illness.
Doctors moved a long way toward solving the puzzle when they announced yesterday that two autopsy samples of infected lung tissue had revealed Legionnaire's disease.
The disease is caused by bacteria that commonly exist in water, especially in air conditioning systems. It cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
It is still not known exactly where this environmental pest is hiding within the nursing home, but tests are underway to track it down.
All indications are that hard-won lessons learned in the SARS crisis have been put to use in dealing with this new outbreak. Officials checking for viral transmission contacted more than 170 people who had been in the facility, including volunteers and visitors. Proven infection control measures were put in place.
The public was never at risk.
Oct 7, 2005
Edmonton Sun, Canada
Toronto (Canda):
Toronto residents can heave a sigh of relief with news that Legionnaire's disease is likely behind the strange outbreak of flu-like illness that has killed 16 people at a Scarborough nursing home.
The reason for the relief is because the bacterial infection isn't catching and is readily treated with antibiotics. Furthermore, the effective handling of this nasty outbreak by public health authorities provides solid evidence that valuable lessons have been learned in the wake of the SARS crisis two years ago.
The outbreak at Seven Oaks Home for the Aged inspired considerable worry, and international attention, because the microbe responsible was distressingly hard to pin down.
For days, as the death toll mounted, public health officials could only say that they were sure it was not SARS, avian flu or influenza.
Sound assurances were made that the outbreak was being contained and controlled and that it presented no threat to the public at large.
But people had difficulty fully accepting those assurances in light of the mysterious nature of this illness.
Doctors moved a long way toward solving the puzzle when they announced yesterday that two autopsy samples of infected lung tissue had revealed Legionnaire's disease.
The disease is caused by bacteria that commonly exist in water, especially in air conditioning systems. It cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
It is still not known exactly where this environmental pest is hiding within the nursing home, but tests are underway to track it down.
All indications are that hard-won lessons learned in the SARS crisis have been put to use in dealing with this new outbreak. Officials checking for viral transmission contacted more than 170 people who had been in the facility, including volunteers and visitors. Proven infection control measures were put in place.
The public was never at risk.
Oct 7, 2005
Edmonton Sun, Canada
