Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2014/02/news-scan-feb-27-2014
News Scan for Feb 27, 2014
Histoplasmosis linked to bonfire; Rat-bite fever lawsuit
Filed Under:
Histoplasmosis; Streptobacillus
Bamboo bonfire sparked histoplasmosis outbreak in Arkansas
An outbreak of histoplasmosis was linked to a bonfire of bamboo at a family gathering in Arkansas in 2011, suggesting that heating of fungal spores that cause the disease may fuel their transmission, says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Histoplasmosis is an infection with Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus that is endemic in several states along the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri rivers, the CDC said in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
The outbreak came to light after a boy and girl, ages 8 and 5, fell ill with abdominal pain and a cough 8 days after the family gathering. They were eventually diagnosed as having pneumonia and were hospitalized. Once the pathogen was identified, they were treated with itraconazole, which led to dramatic improvement.
At the gathering, 19 people, mostly children, had cut bamboo, made a fort, and built a bonfire in a small grove that had served as a red-winged blackbird roost. H capsulatum is known to be associated with bird and bat feces and disturbed ground, the article says.
Investigators learned that all 19 attendees at the gathering had gotten sick afterward; most had fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Of 14 who had chest x-rays, 11 showed abnormal results. Seven histoplasmosis cases were confirmed, and 11 were classified as probable.
The report cites one previous histoplasmosis outbreak associated with the burning of bamboo, in Louisiana in 1980. "Because all attendees in both outbreaks reported illness, this raises the possibility that heating of Histoplasma spores in conjunction with fire-related air currents might create an ideal mode of transmission," it states.
Feb 28 MMWR article
CDC background information on histoplasmosis
Family sues over 'rat-bite fever' death
The family of a 10-year-old San Diego boy who died from a Streptobacillus moniliformis infection, commonly known as "rat-bite fever," is suing the pet store that sold him a rat that his family says is the source of his illness, the Associated Press (AP) reported yesterday.
Attorney John Gomez said his firm filed a lawsuit Feb 24 seeking an unspecified amount from Petco for the suffering endured by the Pankey family, whose son, Aidan, died Jun 12, 2013. The San Diego County medical examiner's office ruled that the boy died from his S moniliformis infection.
Petco Animal Supplies Inc. expressed condolences to the family and said it is "in the process of investigating these claims and will respond appropriately when we have more information," the AP reported.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rat-bite fever can be caused by either S moniliformis in North America or Spirillum minus, which typically occurs in Asia.
People usually get the disease from the scratch or bite of infected rodents, by handling infected rodents even without getting bitten or scratched, or by consuming contaminated food or water. A pet or wild rodent can be a disease carrier and not show signs of illness, the agency said.
Only about 200 US cases of rat-bite fever had been documented as of 2004, the AP story said, citing data from the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University.
Feb 26 AP story
CDC background information on rat-bite fever
News Scan for Feb 27, 2014
Histoplasmosis linked to bonfire; Rat-bite fever lawsuit
Filed Under:
Histoplasmosis; Streptobacillus
Bamboo bonfire sparked histoplasmosis outbreak in Arkansas
An outbreak of histoplasmosis was linked to a bonfire of bamboo at a family gathering in Arkansas in 2011, suggesting that heating of fungal spores that cause the disease may fuel their transmission, says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Histoplasmosis is an infection with Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus that is endemic in several states along the Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri rivers, the CDC said in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
The outbreak came to light after a boy and girl, ages 8 and 5, fell ill with abdominal pain and a cough 8 days after the family gathering. They were eventually diagnosed as having pneumonia and were hospitalized. Once the pathogen was identified, they were treated with itraconazole, which led to dramatic improvement.
At the gathering, 19 people, mostly children, had cut bamboo, made a fort, and built a bonfire in a small grove that had served as a red-winged blackbird roost. H capsulatum is known to be associated with bird and bat feces and disturbed ground, the article says.
Investigators learned that all 19 attendees at the gathering had gotten sick afterward; most had fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Of 14 who had chest x-rays, 11 showed abnormal results. Seven histoplasmosis cases were confirmed, and 11 were classified as probable.
The report cites one previous histoplasmosis outbreak associated with the burning of bamboo, in Louisiana in 1980. "Because all attendees in both outbreaks reported illness, this raises the possibility that heating of Histoplasma spores in conjunction with fire-related air currents might create an ideal mode of transmission," it states.
Feb 28 MMWR article
CDC background information on histoplasmosis
Family sues over 'rat-bite fever' death
The family of a 10-year-old San Diego boy who died from a Streptobacillus moniliformis infection, commonly known as "rat-bite fever," is suing the pet store that sold him a rat that his family says is the source of his illness, the Associated Press (AP) reported yesterday.
Attorney John Gomez said his firm filed a lawsuit Feb 24 seeking an unspecified amount from Petco for the suffering endured by the Pankey family, whose son, Aidan, died Jun 12, 2013. The San Diego County medical examiner's office ruled that the boy died from his S moniliformis infection.
Petco Animal Supplies Inc. expressed condolences to the family and said it is "in the process of investigating these claims and will respond appropriately when we have more information," the AP reported.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rat-bite fever can be caused by either S moniliformis in North America or Spirillum minus, which typically occurs in Asia.
People usually get the disease from the scratch or bite of infected rodents, by handling infected rodents even without getting bitten or scratched, or by consuming contaminated food or water. A pet or wild rodent can be a disease carrier and not show signs of illness, the agency said.
Only about 200 US cases of rat-bite fever had been documented as of 2004, the AP story said, citing data from the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University.
Feb 26 AP story
CDC background information on rat-bite fever