Ventura County, CA: Cluster of mysterious heart cases may be over (cardiomyopathy)

[Emily]

http://www.vcstar.com/news/local/cl...c6-92b3-3376-e053-0100007f7c3f-376262971.html

Cluster of mysterious heart cases may be over By Tom Kisken of the Ventura County Star
Posted: April 19, 2016
Health officials said they're hopeful an unexplained cluster of sudden heart illnesses that caused two deaths has played itself out.
"I hope it's over. I think it's over but we'll stay vigilant," said Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County public health officer.
Over the past several weeks, county health officials reported confirming 17 unexplained cases of the condition that involves a weakened heart muscle, with most emerging in February and March. Two people died.
The apparent surge of cases triggered an investigation involving the county, the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Not all cardiomyopathy cases are included in the cluster.
Officials are primarily concerned about cases that emerged abruptly and have no obvious cause. Other illnesses can be attributed to long-term conditions that may include coronary artery disease and high blood pressure.
...
Officials looked at a long list of possible causes, ranging from viruses and infections to lead and mercury.
So far, the cause remains a mystery. In some cardiomyopathy cases, the cause is never known...

http://www.vcstar.com/news/local/mo...92-89b8-46ec-e053-0100007fbf9e-374558731.html

By Tom Kisken of the Ventura County Star
Posted: April 04, 2016

... The cluster triggering investigation is different because the cardiomyopathy came without warning and, in nearly all the cases, without identifiable origin. Investigators are looking at a litany of possible causes ranging from viruses and infections to lead, mercury and arsenic.
"Ideally what we'd like to find is in a majority of the cases the same cause being documented," Levin said. "We have not found that yet."
Public health officials continue to look for more cases. They also continue to monitor people who have been exposed to the cardiomyopathy cluster.
None of the contacts has developed serious illnesses, Levin said.
"It tells me that we don't have a new deadly virus on our hands that is highly transmissible," he said.
Once the vast majority of the cases in the cluster came from the Oxnard. But now cases are being reported elsewhere in the county with eight of 17 coming from outside of Oxnard.
There is no evidence linking the cardiomyopathy cases to a dominant flu strain, H1N1, also known as swine flu. Levin said other flu strains have not been ruled out, along with a long list of other possible causes...

Video from early in the outbreak, which started or was noticed first in the Oxnard area:
http://ktla.com/2016/03/17/cluster-...estigated-by-ventura-county-health-officials/