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VA: Three Dead, Others Hospitalized In Unidentified Virus Outbreak At Fairfax Retirement Community - rhinovirus

Shiloh

Shiloh

Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://wamu.org/story/19/07/11/two...break-at-fairfax-county-retirement-community/



WAMU | 42 mins ago
Two Dead, Others Hospitalized In Virus Outbreak At Fairfax Retirement Community

The Fairfax County Health Department is investigating a respiratory virus outbreak at the Greenspring retirement community in Springfield, Va. after two people died and 18 others were hospitalized.

Over the last 11 days, 54 of the 263 residents have become ill with respiratory symptoms ranging upper respiratory symptoms to pneumonia, according to officials. The exact cause of the illness has not yet been identified, but the Virginia Department of Health and Inova Health System are running additional tests...
 
Outbreak Investigation at Assisted Living Facility in Springfield

July 11, 2019

Fairfax County Health Department is conducting an outbreak investigation at Greenspring, an assisted living facility in Springfield, Va. The Health Department was recently informed that over the last 11 days a total of 54 individuals out of the 263 residents in this facility have become ill with respiratory symptoms ranging from upper respiratory symptoms (cough) to pneumonia. Of the ill individuals, 18 have been hospitalized and two have died. A specific cause has not yet been identified but additional tests are being done by the Virginia Department of Health and Inova Health System. While illnesses continue to occur, there have been no new hospitalizations in the past couple of days.

Respiratory outbreaks at facilities for vulnerable, older adult populations are not uncommon, as we typically see 5-10 per year. This outbreak differs in that it is occurring in July whereas most outbreaks of this kind are in the winter/flu season. There has been excellent collaboration between Greenspring and the Health Department, and appropriate measures have been taken to reduce the risk of infection and keep residents safe, including closing the facility to new admissions, cancelling group activities, keeping ill residents in their rooms, and increasing cleaning.
...

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health...ty-springfield
 
Outbreak Investigation at Assisted Living Facility in Springfield

July 11, 2019
Update: July 12, 2019, 2:00 pm

As of this date and time, an additional resident has become ill with respiratory symptoms, bringing the total to 55. Two more individuals have been hospitalized, bringing the total number of hospitalizations to 20. There are no additional deaths.
...

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health...ty-springfield
 
Mystery virus: What's killing, hospitalizing residents at Greenspring retirement center?

by Tim Barber/ABC7Friday, July 12th 2019
...
The outbreak has only been reported in the assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, but the retirement center?s management is still telling residents visitation is suspended until further notice, and no Garden Ridge residents, healthy or sick, should leave their respective neighborhoods.

Dr. Schwartz says the community is taking proper steps and thoroughly cleaning the facility while Inova Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention work to figure out what kind of a virus this is and how it is spreading.

?These panels have looked for several of the most common pathogens and they have been negative so far,? said Dr. Schwartz.

https://wjla.com/news/local/mystery-virus-greenspring-retirement-cdc-va
 
Source: https://patch.com/virginia/kingstowne/more-sickened-outbreak-springfield-retirement-home

More Sickened By Outbreak At Springfield Retirement Home
Health officials are testing for bacteria and viruses that could be causing the respiratory illnesses at the retirement community.
By Emily Leayman, Patch Staff
Jul 16, 2019 10:52 am ET | Updated Jul 16, 2019 10:55 am ET

SPRINGFIELD, VA ? More people have been sickened by a respiratory outbreak at a Springfield retirement community. Officials are trying to identify the cause of the respiratory symptoms that have led to two deaths.

The Fairfax County Health Department announced the outbreak at Greenspring Retirement Community last week. As of Monday, 60 of the community's 263 residents were sickened by the respiratory illness over a two-week span. This includes 23 who have been hospitalized. Symptoms have ranged from a cough to pneumonia.

Those numbers are up from the original report of 54 sickened residents, which included 18 hospitalized residents. The number of deaths remains at two.

"The individuals who died had complex health conditions," said the health department in a statement. "The Health Department does not know the full medical history and the extent to which the respiratory illness contributed to the deaths."

A cause for the respiratory illness has not yet been identified. Officials with the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are testing for viruses and bacteria that could be causing the respiratory outbreak...
 
Outbreak Investigation at Assisted Living Facility in Springfield

July 11, 2019
Update: July 15, 2019, 3:00 pm

Fairfax County Health Department continues to investigate an outbreak of respiratory illness at Greenspring, a long-term care facility with assisted living and skilled nursing care, in Springfield, Va. Over the last 14 days, a total of 60 individuals out of the 263 residents in this facility have become ill with symptoms ranging from upper respiratory symptoms (cough) to pneumonia. Of the ill individuals, 23 have been hospitalized. There has also been a total of two deaths associated with the outbreak. The individuals who died had complex health conditions. The Health Department does not know the full medical history and the extent to which the respiratory illness contributed to the deaths. No cause for the illnesses has yet been identified, but the Health Department is working with the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct testing for viruses and bacteria that may cause respiratory illness. There continues to be excellent collaboration between Greenspring and the Health Department, and appropriate measures have been taken to reduce the risk of infection and keep residents safe.
...
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/outbreak-investigation-assisted-living-facility-springfield
 
Outbreak Investigation at Assisted Living Facility in Springfield

July 16, 2019
Update: July 16, 2019, 5:30 p.m.

The Health Department is now reporting a total of 63 individuals out of 263 residents in the assisted living and skilled nursing sections of Greenspring have become ill. No new hospitalizations have been reported, but there are now three deaths associated with the outbreak. The Health Department does not know the full medical history and the extent to which the respiratory illness contributed to the deaths. Additionally, the Health Department has been informed that 19 employees have also reported symptoms of upper respiratory illness since the outbreak began on June 30. Results of testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are still pending.

...
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/outbreak-investigation-assisted-living-facility-springfield
 
Outbreak Investigation at Assisted Living Facility in Springfield

July 17, 2019
Update: July 17, 2019, 12:30 p.m.

CDC tested 17 specimens from ill Greenspring residents. No cause for the outbreak was identified. While bacteria were detected from some specimens, further testing is being conducted to determine whether the bacteria is the cause of the infections. The facility continues to apply recommended infection prevention measures. In addition, to reduce the risk of an outbreak occurring in others areas of the campus such as independent living, infection prevention measures are being implemented throughout the Greenspring community. To date, there is no evidence that the outbreak is affecting other areas beyond the assisted and skilled nursing units.

The Health Department is also investigating an outbreak of respiratory illness at Heatherwood, an assisted-living facility in Burke, VA. There is no evidence of any connection between this and the outbreak and Greenspring. The Health Department is working with Heatherwood to ensure appropriate measures are taken to reduce the risk of infection and keep residents safe. Samples are also being tested at CDC labs.

Dr. Benjamin Schwartz will make himself available to speak with the media today at 2:00 p.m. at 10777 Main Street, suite 310, Fairfax. VA.

...
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health...ty-springfield
 
Outbreak Investigation at Assisted Living Facility in Springfield

July 19, 2019
Update: July 19, 2019

The Fairfax County Health Department continues to monitor and work with Greenspring to institute appropriate prevention measures to stop further illnesses and those actions are having a positive result. In the assisted living and skilled nursing areas (Garden Ridge), there have been no illnesses reported for the last few days and residents who have been ill are recovering.

In the independent living section of Greenspring, which includes approximately 1,700 residents and is located in separate buildings from Garden Ridge, there is no outbreak of respiratory illness. While there is some illness in the independent living section, it is not considered to be an unexpected or unusual number of ill residents. Some illness is to be expected in a community of this size for older residents.

Because of the outbreak in the assisted living and skilled nursing sections, Greenspring has instituted enhanced surveillance for illness in the independent living areas. Infection control measures, implemented in the independent area out of abundance of caution, include temporarily stopping group activities, other than dining, and screening residents for illness as they arrive at the dining rooms. Residents have been informed of the respiratory illness in the Garden Ridge area by robo calls and on the internal website and have been asked to self-report any symptoms to the facility administration.

Independent living residents have been asked to not visit the Garden Ridge section, and to self-isolate if they are ill. Extra cleaning of high-touch surfaces and communal areas is in place.
Additional laboratory testing from CDC has not identified a specific cause for the increase in respiratory illness. Test results showed several bacteria that are known to colonize the nose and throat and may not be the cause of infection. In addition, several specimens were positive for rhinovirus, the cause of the common cold.
We will continue to monitor the situation and support the facility in its efforts to prevent further illness.


https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/outbreak-investigation-assisted-living-facility-springfield
 
Chinese government media want an investigation into this outbreak as possible coronavirus stating that respiratory illnesses in the summer are "unusual".

------------------------------------------

Unexplained respiratory disease expert in the United States last July: Unusual
May 08, 2020 11:48 CCTV
0
　　Original title: An unexplained respiratory disease outbreak in the United States last July: Unusual!

　　Recently, a number of studies have shown that the confirmed cases of early new coronary pneumonia in many countries are ahead of schedule. The World Health Organization calls on countries to investigate early cases. It is worth noting that in July last year, there were reports in the US media that an unexplained fatal respiratory disease occurred in Virginia, USA.

　　　　Fatal disease outbreak in elderly care community

　　The patient's symptoms include fever, cough, body pain, etc.

　　The ABC reported on July 12 last year that a deadly disease broke out in a community of "Greenspring" retirees in Springfield, Virginia. At that time, 54 people were infected with the disease, and 2 deaths related to the disease occurred.

　　Reported that the patient's symptoms include "fever, cough, body pain, wheezing, hoarse voice, and general weakness", and some patients also have symptoms of pneumonia. The two elderly patients who died were hospitalized due to symptoms of pneumonia, and their own health conditions were more complicated.


　　The ABC reported that local health officials have performed swab tests on patients to determine which virus or bacteria caused the disease outbreak. The Fairfax County Health Bureau announced that although the samples were tested on the patients, they did not find out which pathogen caused the outbreak.

　　According to the Fairfax County Health Bureau, on June 30, 2019, the "Green Spring" community discovered the case of this unexplained respiratory disease for the first time. As of July 15, 2019, the number of deaths related to the disease in the community rose to 3, a total of 63 community residents were sick, and 19 staff members also showed symptoms.

△ Fairfax County Health Bureau, Virginia official website△ Fairfax County Health Bureau, Virginia official website
　　A biological laboratory near the community once mysteriously "closed"

　　According to ABC News, the community is only an hour ’s drive from the Fort Myrtle Biological Laboratory in the United States, which mysteriously “closed” last year and quickly restarted this year. Some people suspected that the outbreak in the community last year was the new coronavirus, but the reporter who reported the news denied this claim, saying that the local health department's test conclusion was caused by Haemophilus influenzae. However, many netizens recommend testing the community members to see if they carry antibodies against the new coronavirus.


　　In August 2019, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suddenly ordered the temporary closure of the US Army Infectious Disease Medical Institute in Fort Detrick. According to the New York Times, the suspended laboratory research involves certain toxins that the government has identified as "a serious threat to the public, animal or plant health, or animal and plant products." The CDC refused to publish information about this decision on the grounds of "national security reasons".

　　On March 10th, someone initiated a petition on the White House Petition Network, requesting the US government to announce the real reason for closing the Fort Detrick Biological Laboratory last August to clarify whether the laboratory had a virus leak.

　　　　Expert: This outbreak is not unusual

　　Respiratory diseases are unlikely to occur in summer

　　Experts say the outbreak in Virginia is unusual.

　　Dr. Benjamin Schwartz of the Fairfax County Health Bureau in Virginia said: "In this type of care facility, people have close contact. When someone has a potential health problem, the risk of disease outbreaks rises linearly. In institutions, outbreaks of respiratory diseases are not uncommon, but this outbreak is in the summer. In general, respiratory diseases are unlikely to occur in summer. "


　　The Washington Post reported on August 2, 2019 that Virginia Health Officer Jonathan Foco found that the number of locally reported respiratory disease outbreaks increased by about half in the summer of 2019, including the “Green Spring” community. This outbreak. (see below....from 13 cases up to 19)

△ Washington Post screenshot△ Washington Post screenshot

　　Locally, in mid-May every year, the flu season will pass, and in October, the flu will make a comeback. Folk said that Virginia's respiratory disease outbreaks in the non-influenza season in 2019 have reached 19, compared with 13 in 2018 and 15 in 2017.

https://news.sina.com.cn/w/2020-05-0...k0486619.shtml


----------------------------------

Very interesting that China experts think "respiratory diseases are unlikely to occur in summer" - look at this - last summer (2019) - in Wuhan - blaming air conditioning:

China - 2000 children admitted each day to Wuhan Children's Hospital - 30% are respiratory fever related due air conditioning, Hubei province - August 9, 2019
 
I think Fort Myrtle is probably a translation blip and they are talking about Fort Detrick there, too. That's an hour from Springfield. Certainly a legitimate question about why the lab was closed. Biological safety is a global concern.
 
Good thing we have a CDC doing this oversight.

https://www.fredericknewspost.com/n...cle_fdf4e5a6-82b8-5773-a8cd-a498e00fb5ef.html
As Trump, China trade barbs, a Fort Detrick laboratory finds itself in the middle
...
USAMRIID timeline


On July 15, the CDC sent USAMRIID a cease and desist letter and suspended its registration in the Federal Select Agent Program following a June inspection by the health agency.

At the time of the shutdown, USAMRIID researchers were working on the Ebola virus and the agents that cause tularemia, the Plague and Venezuelan equine encephalitis, the News-Post previously reported. No infectious pathogens were found outside of the authorized areas at USAMRIID, according to the News-Post article.

Inspection reports obtained by the News-Post found there were two breaches that led to the shutdown. What the two breaches resulted in was redacted. However, Col. E. Darrin Cox told the News-Post breach was a “loaded” word and said there was no exposure as a result of the breaches.

When those breaches were discovered, the former USAMRIID commander ordered a stop to high-level research. That voluntary halt came before the official cease and desist order from the CDC.

In addition to the breaches, there were five other departures from federal regulations found during the CDC inspection, according to the report. This included systematic failures to implement biosafety and containment procedures, such as someone propping open the door to the autoclave room while removing bio-waste.

“They weren’t doing it to openly flout the rules,” Cox previously told the News-Post. “They were doing it for a reason that they thought was reasonable. But I mean, it still was not in compliance with [standard operating procedures].”

One of the concerns was the effluent decontamination system USAMRIID had been using since its thermal decontamination system was damaged by flooding.

The laboratory has since addressed problems with its decontamination system and was allowed to return to full operations at the end of March, which included having its Federal Select Agent Program registration restored...
Click to expand...
 
This might fit in the topic and makes all more complicated:

REVIEW

Broad-spectrum coronavirus antiviral drug discovery

Allison L. Totura and Sina Bavari

Division of Molecular and Translational Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, U

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full...1.2019.1581171

Pages 397-412 | Received 16 Aug 2018, Accepted 07 Feb 2019, Published online: 08 Mar 2019

Abstract
The highly pathogenic coronaviruses severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are lethal zoonotic viruses that have emerged into human populations these past 15 years. These coronaviruses are associated with novel respiratory syndromes that spread from person-to-person via close contact, resulting in high morbidity and mortality caused by the progression to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Areas covered: The risks of re-emergence of SARS-CoV from bat reservoir hosts, the persistence of MERS-CoV circulation, and the potential for future emergence of novel coronaviruses indicate antiviral drug discovery will require activity against multiple coronaviruses. In this review, approaches that antagonize viral nonstructural proteins, neutralize structural proteins, or modulate essential host elements of viral infection with varying levels of efficacy in models of highly pathogenic coronavirus disease are discussed. Expert opinion: Treatment of SARS and MERS in outbreak settings has focused on therapeutics with general antiviral activity and good safety profiles rather than efficacy data provided by cellular, rodent, or nonhuman primate models of highly pathogenic coronavirus infection. Based on lessons learned from SARS and MERS outbreaks, lack of drugs capable of pan-coronavirus antiviral activity increases the vulnerability of public health systems to a highly pathogenic coronavirus pandemic.
 
Agree. I have been accused of picking on China. I am not. I think lab security is a important topic and should be investigated no matter where it is.
 
Kathy - I scanned the paper. It appears to be a review of literature that was existing up to that date. These authors do not describe any experiments with live animals and coronavirus at that facility. Yes?
 
I just noted that in figure 3 future studies are mentioned but I do not know if in their lab:

Figure 3. Pan-coronavirus drug discovery.
Currently, the state of pan-coronavirus drug discovery is not structured to provide adequate pre-clinical therapeutics to combat emerging CoV pathogens. A diverse array of coronaviruses is
needed that includes epidemic isolates of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, zoonotic viruses isolated from intermediate reservoir hosts, pre-emergent CoVs from bats, and clinical isolates of mildly
pathogenic HCoVs. In vitro testing in compatible cell lines uses high throughput screening to identify novel targets that mitigate replication of coronaviruses. Targets identified by in vitro
methods can be confirmed using human airway epithelial cultures. Based on these results, lead targets will be tested in small animal models and nonhuman primate models of highly
pathogenic coronavirus infections that recapitulate signs of human SARS or MERS patients. Our analysis identified several key weaknesses in both in vitro and in vivo models of highlypathogenic coronavirus virus infection impeding the identification of pan-coronavirus antiviral drugs.

I am not accusing them. I would like only that all the possibilities can be considered and tested, not only in China.
 
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