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Baie- Comeau
Increase in cases of conjunctivitis in Baie- Comeau
Charlotte Package / QMI Agency
Published : Wednesday, February 19, 2014 , 4:56 | Updated: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 , 8:18
BAY COMEAU - The outbreak of viral conjunctivitis hitting the hospital and the community of Baie -Comeau is unprecedented not only in this city, but throughout Quebec , said a specialist in the health sector .
"We never had a similar situation to my knowledge ," says Dr. Julio Soto , a microbiologist and medical adviser for 27 years at the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ ) .
Dr. Soto works with specialists from the Directorate of Public Health of the North Shore and the authorities of the Hospital Royer to stop the spread of infection. "We work on two levels, sterilization and disinfection, but also in terms of investigation to find out what happened ," he says .
In nearly three decades as a " bug hunter ", as he describes himself on a light tone, Dr. Soto has seen several outbreaks of viral conjunctivitis in hospitals or care centers, but never of the importance of the one affecting Baie- Comeau.
In early December 2013 , the Hospital of Saint-Sacrement in Quebec had also experienced an early outbreak , but barely a dozen people had been infected when it was controlled .
In all, nearly 400 cases were reported to now in Baie- Comeau, including fifty employees at the hospital. "Here, it took perhaps more time to realize that there was an outbreak since it has fallen at the end of December , says Dr. Soto . During that period, monitoring was more difficult . "
A patient who had consulted in ophthalmology in early December could be at the origin of the increase in cases .
According to the microbiologist , outbreaks of this magnitude may affect a few thousand people in the United States . Elsewhere in Canada, outbreaks such as Baie- Comeau have been seen before, but not in Quebec. " This time , it's our turn ," said the doctor. As it is not a notifiable disease , record keeping is difficult .
A tough virus
The virus responsible for the outbreak has been identified for some time . It is the adenovirus . "But we do not know what type in the great family of adenovirus ," says Dr. Soto .
Highly contagious and tough , this virus can survive on surfaces , such as the telephone or the computer, but eventually died after eight to ten days. "The highest risk areas are always ophthalmology services in hospitals ," said the medical officer INSPQ . " Viruses are not stupid . They find ways to settle where it is easier for them to pass their infection , "says the specialist.
Dr. Soto believes that the major epidemic will soon be curbed. He believes it will be controlled more quickly at the hospital because of the measures taken , and off quietly in the community.
Monitor and investigate
The main priority of the Hospital Le Royer is currently controlling the current epidemic for successful containment .
"The investigation can wait , said the microbiologist of INSPQ . At some point , we will clarify what happened. "
http://www.journaldequebec.com/2014/02/19/recrudescence-des-cas-de-conjonctivite-a-baie-comeau
Baie- Comeau
Increase in cases of conjunctivitis in Baie- Comeau
Charlotte Package / QMI Agency
Published : Wednesday, February 19, 2014 , 4:56 | Updated: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 , 8:18
BAY COMEAU - The outbreak of viral conjunctivitis hitting the hospital and the community of Baie -Comeau is unprecedented not only in this city, but throughout Quebec , said a specialist in the health sector .
"We never had a similar situation to my knowledge ," says Dr. Julio Soto , a microbiologist and medical adviser for 27 years at the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ ) .
Dr. Soto works with specialists from the Directorate of Public Health of the North Shore and the authorities of the Hospital Royer to stop the spread of infection. "We work on two levels, sterilization and disinfection, but also in terms of investigation to find out what happened ," he says .
In nearly three decades as a " bug hunter ", as he describes himself on a light tone, Dr. Soto has seen several outbreaks of viral conjunctivitis in hospitals or care centers, but never of the importance of the one affecting Baie- Comeau.
In early December 2013 , the Hospital of Saint-Sacrement in Quebec had also experienced an early outbreak , but barely a dozen people had been infected when it was controlled .
In all, nearly 400 cases were reported to now in Baie- Comeau, including fifty employees at the hospital. "Here, it took perhaps more time to realize that there was an outbreak since it has fallen at the end of December , says Dr. Soto . During that period, monitoring was more difficult . "
A patient who had consulted in ophthalmology in early December could be at the origin of the increase in cases .
According to the microbiologist , outbreaks of this magnitude may affect a few thousand people in the United States . Elsewhere in Canada, outbreaks such as Baie- Comeau have been seen before, but not in Quebec. " This time , it's our turn ," said the doctor. As it is not a notifiable disease , record keeping is difficult .
A tough virus
The virus responsible for the outbreak has been identified for some time . It is the adenovirus . "But we do not know what type in the great family of adenovirus ," says Dr. Soto .
Highly contagious and tough , this virus can survive on surfaces , such as the telephone or the computer, but eventually died after eight to ten days. "The highest risk areas are always ophthalmology services in hospitals ," said the medical officer INSPQ . " Viruses are not stupid . They find ways to settle where it is easier for them to pass their infection , "says the specialist.
Dr. Soto believes that the major epidemic will soon be curbed. He believes it will be controlled more quickly at the hospital because of the measures taken , and off quietly in the community.
Monitor and investigate
The main priority of the Hospital Le Royer is currently controlling the current epidemic for successful containment .
"The investigation can wait , said the microbiologist of INSPQ . At some point , we will clarify what happened. "
http://www.journaldequebec.com/2014/02/19/recrudescence-des-cas-de-conjonctivite-a-baie-comeau