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Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

Ronan Kelly

Ronan Kelly

Retired 2020
Follow the link to read in full - http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=872807#.UURHFBdwh8M

Numbers hard to come by in mystery illness
by Teresa Snow
Posted: 03.15.2013 at 9:01 PM


Solid numbers are hard to come by to confirm how many people fell ill after a conference at the Truman Hotel in Jefferson City this week. Estimates range from 20 to 60 people.

Members of the Missouri Coroner's and Medical Examiner's Association arrived Tuesday from across the state for their spring training conference. It was supposed to be a memorable event for the chief forensic investigator for Boone and Callaway Counties. Dori Burke was installed as the association's first ever female president. Now, the week will be remembered for something much different.

...
Randolph County Coroner Gerald Luntsford stuck it out until the end of the conference, which ended about two hours early Thursday afternoon. He told me he suffered from a cough, fever, chest and muscle pains.

"It was not like any flu I'd ever had before," Luntsford said, who was feeling a bit better Friday evening while resting at home.
...
The source of the illness is still a mystery. Cole County Health Department Director Dr. Marie Peoples says four people were treated at a local hospital for respiratory issues, but the cases do not appear to be related.
...
"I think it's just too much of a coincidence," [Harlow] said, "that nearly 40 people attending the same conference, in the same room, come down with the same symptoms, and so acutely."
 
Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

Illness sickens coroners at state convention

Friday, March 15, 2013 ~ Updated 10:58 PM
By Keith Lewis ~ Southeast Missourian
No official explanation was given as of Friday afternoon for the mysterious outbreak in illnesses that occurred during the Missouri Coroners and Medical Examiners Association convention in Jefferson City, Mo.

The convention, which ran Tuesday night through Thursday, was held at the Truman Hotel in Jefferson City with about 100 association members in attendance. The official count of conventioneers affected by the illness was unknown Friday.

"I've heard 20 people are sick and I've heard that 40 people are sick," said Cape Girardeau County coroner John Clifton, who attended the convention. "I just don't know."

Clifton said symptoms were "more of a respiratory thing," with coughing accompanied by a high temperature.
...
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1950441.html
 
Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

UPDATE: 45-50 people sick from mysterious illness at coroners conference in Jefferson City, MO

by Joe Daues, KSPR News and KMIZ
5:05 p.m. CDT, March 15, 2013

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo

UPDATED at 9 pm (3-15) FROM KMIZ-TV Columbia, MO

More people are getting sick after attending a coroners conference at the Truman Hotel in Jefferson City, Missouri.

A spokesman for the association says an estimated 45-50 people have fallen ill; seven have gone to the hospital. At least two more people had gone to the hospital to get checked today (3-15) and two others are very sick at home.

The Missouri Health Department said it's sent disease investigators and environmental specialists to work with Cole County Health Department. KMIZ is also reporting the Centers for Disease Control is looking into the case.

The source of the illness has not yet been discovered.
...
http://www.kspr.com/news/kspr-myste...rence-in-columbia-mo-20130315,0,2349151.story
 
Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/state-continues-to-investigate-illness-outbreak-as-number-of-cases/article_342f4342-8eb8-11e2-bc1d-10604b9ffe60.html
State continues to investigate illness outbreak as number of cases rises

By Brennan David

Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 2:00 am

The state continues to investigate the cause of an outbreak of illness last week during a conference at a Jefferson City hotel as the number of confirmed cases continues to climb.

The Missouri Coroners' and Medical Examiners' Association on Friday reported that 40 to 50 of its members became ill during a three-day conference at the Truman Hotel and Convention Center, said Roger Mauzy Sr., former president of the group. Mauzy said yesterday he learned of more illnesses, but he said he could not confirm a total number.
...
Click to expand...
 
Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

Jefferson City, Mo (Cole County) has continued to report high ILI. In week 10, according to the Missouri Dept of Health, Cole County reported 9.73% ILI and in week 8 reported 12.05%. Missouri's baseline is 1.6%.

A small portion of Jefferson City extends into Callaway County, whose last report was in week 5 with 9.68% ILI; previous reports were in double digits.
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=487857#post487857
 
Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

Two flu cases confirmed at coroner's conference
by Ashley Crockett
Posted: 03.18.2013 at 4:28 PM


Health officials confirmed that two coroner's conference attendees have Influenza A.

A number of people became ill last Wednesday while attending the Missouri Coroner's and Medical Examiner's Association conference at the Truman Hotel. Estimates of those affected range from 20 to 60 people.
...
http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=873630#.UUg8CRdwh8M
 
Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

If the primary illness was influenza, why are there no staff or family member illnesses reported yet?

Also, the article on the two positive influenza tests does not say whether or not those two attendees were even symptomatic. Another article indicates that many symptomatic attendees were NOT positive for influenza:

http://www.komu.com/news/two-cases-of-influenza-confirmed-at-coroner-s-conference/
Two Cases of Influenza Confirmed at Coroner's Conference

Posted: Mar 18, 2013 9:23 PM by Asger Mow
Updated: Mar 19, 2013 2:27 PM
[snip]
The president of the coroner's association Dori Burke was even hospitalized for the weekend.

"Treated with steroids, antibiotics and breathing treatments. I seem to getting better breathing," Burke told us upon arriving at home.

She tested negative for influenza. We spoke to several others who also tested negative for influenza and are now getting better.

"The ache is gone, the fever is gone, but I still have coughing and tightening of the chest. That's what I can't get rid of," said Willie Harlow, coroner in Saline County...
Click to expand...
 
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Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

I wonder if this lady, was tested for the Novel Coronavirus? Never know, it could be here in US. :confused:
 
Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

3 tested positive for one strain, and 1 for another strain in Missouriwatcher's article. The reports of the initial 2 cases said those were a influenza type A strain, so this latest report leaves open the possibility that the second strain found in one case could be another type.

Since there are still no reports of other guests, hotel staff, or family members getting ill, there seems to be a persistent mystery here.
 
Re: Missouri - Unidentified respiratory illness sickens conference atendees

http://centralmoinfo.com/pages/15831986.php?contentType=4&contentId=12634662
Posted: Tuesday, 19 March 2013 6:30AM

SWINE FLU CAUSE OF ILLNESS AT CONVENTION
The Cole County Health Department says the swine flu is to blame for causing several people to get sick during a recent convention in Jefferson City...
Click to expand...

I don't see that supported by any updates at the Cole County Health Department or in other print articles. :confused: Possibly the reporter thinks influenza type A is synonymous with 'swine flu' and got the impression that the investigation has concluded, or the type A strain was actually called 'swine flu' by the health dept. spokesperson on television.

Here's another article that mentions 3 matching strains in a way that might give the impression that the investigation was concluded:

http://www.abc17news.com/news.php?id=9365
Illnesses Can Spread Quickly
[snip]
The illness that made the coroners sick in Jefferson City is a perfect example on how to avoid spreading viruses.

The convention held dozens of people together in small rooms for two days.

"They are sitting across the table, they are talking maybe coughing, passing papers back and fourth. How easy would it be to transmit under those conditions," Dr. Cooperstock says.

The Missouri State Health Department positively identified three different people with the same strain of influenza A....
Author: ABC 17 News Staff
Mar 22, 2013 5:09 PM
Click to expand...

An article from a day earlier suggests that the coroners and ME's attending the conference are looking beyond influenza for a cause for the outbreak:

http://www.abc17news.com/news.php?id=9358
CDC Warns of New Virus
[snip]
It is similar to the common cold but can be fatal, and the symptoms are similar to ones that hit a group of coroners at a convention in Jefferson City last week.
[snip]
...Former President of the Coroners Association shared a letter sent out to explain the investigation.

"One conference attendee was confirmed to have influenza type A and another had positive rapid type influenza test. Although influenza has been reported the investigation is on going to identify the possible causes or sources of this illness," the letter read.
Many of the sick coroners left the hospital and are feeling better, but former president Roger Mauzy tells me he still wants more information.

"It's not the fact we don't know what it isn't, it's we don't know what it is and that's what is kinda keeping people on the edge of their seats." Mauzy says.

Author: ABC 17 News Staff
Mar 21, 2013 6:46 PM
Click to expand...

(The new virus is the novel coronavirus, but the article does NOT suggest the CDC thinks that is the cause of the outbreak at the hotel.)
 
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