Elizabethkingia

[vdub]

A new bacteria that seems to strike people with weak immune systems.

A Mysterious Disease Is Killing People in Wisconsin | WIRED (http://www.wired.com/2016/03/obscure-bacteria-broken-wisconsin-nobody-knows-came/)

[drz]

A new bacteria that seems to strike people with weak immune systems.

A Mysterious Disease Is Killing People in Wisconsin | WIRED (http://www.wired.com/2016/03/obscure-bacteria-broken-wisconsin-nobody-knows-came/)

Oh great, another new threat. Hope it isn't in their cheese:biggrin: Haven't heard of it yet in MN.

[annekat]

Thanks, vdub, good to know. It's got a weird name... Discovered by an Elizabeth King, maybe?

[debra]

Drz, you're comment made my day! Good thinking Drz! Just another thing to add to the long list, huh? Debra...

[drz]

Its still spreading:

MI, WI (USA) - Update: Elizabethkingia outbreak, fatal case in MI; cases grow in WI


March 17, 2016
MDHHS; WDHS
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed that a blood culture isolate from a Michigan resident matches an ongoing outbreak in Wisconsin. MDHHS was notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the match on Friday, March 11. The Wisconsin outbreak consists of bloodstream infections caused by a bacteria called Elizabethkingia anophelis. The Michigan case resulted in the death of an older adult with underlying health conditions in West Michigan.


“Michigan has worked closely with the CDC and Wisconsin Health Department to alert our provider community about the Wisconsin outbreak and to ensure early recognition of potential cases in our state,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive of the MDHHS. “Timely diagnosis is key to ensuring patients receive appropriate treatment, and we will continue to provide updates and guidance as additional information becomes available.”


Elizabethkingia is a genus of bacteria commonly found in the environment and has been detected in soil, river water and reservoirs. However, it rarely makes people sick. Illness associated with Elizabethkingia typically affects people with compromised immune systems or serious underlying health conditions. Most outbreaks associated with Elizabethkingia are healthcare-associated. There are few reports of community-acquired infections.


Elizabethkingia infections are often difficult to treat with antibiotics. These bacteria tend to be resistant to many of the antibiotics physicians may use to treat infections, so early recognition of the bacteria is critical to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment. The signs and symptoms of illness that can result from exposure to the bacteria can include fever, shortness of breath, chills or cellulitis. Confirmation of the illness requires a laboratory test.


As of March 16, 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS), Division of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed 54 cases of Elizabethkingia infection among patients located in southeastern and southern Wisconsin. The majority of these individuals are over the age of 65 years, and all have had serious underlying health conditions. Seventeen of the patients have died, but it has not yet been determined whether the deaths were caused by the bacterial infection, the patients’ underlying health conditions, or both. Affected counties in Wisconsin include Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sauk, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha.


The MDHHS will continue to work with the Wisconsin DPH and the CDC to identify the source of the bacteria. Providers and laboratories should continue to immediately report the isolation of Elizabethkingia to the MDHHS by calling 517-335-8165, and retain available isolates for confirmatory testing by MDHHS BOL and CDC.


Source

[MikeG-2012]

Guess I should stay south of the Cheddar Curtain, huh! I live about 2 miles south of WI. So far, nothing in Green county. That's the closest to me...

[drz]

latest update I got today:

Wisconsin (USA) - Update: Elizabethkingia outbreak, 62 cases inc. 18 deaths


March 30, 2016
WDHS
In a follow-up on the Elizabethkingia anophelis outbreak in Wisconsin, the state Department of Health Services (WDHS), in its latest update on March 30, 2016, reports 62 infections (56 confirmed, 2 under investigation and 4 possible cases) and 18 deaths (17 deaths among individuals with confirmed Elizabethkingia anophelis infections, and an additional 1 death among possible cases). It has not been determined if these deaths were caused by the infection or other serious pre-existing health problems.


Affected counties include Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sauk, Sheboygan, Washington, Waukesha, and Winnebago.


The majority of patients acquiring this infection are over the age of 65, and all patients have a history of at least one underlying serious illness.


At this time, the source of these infections is unknown and the Department is working diligently to contain this outbreak.


As part of the outbreak investigation activities, the Division of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are conducting site visits and collecting environmental samples from both private residences and health care facilities. CDC is also assisting Wisconsin with testing of samples from a variety of potential sources, including health care products, water sources and the environment. To date, none of these have been found to be a source of the bacteria.


The Department has alerted health care providers, infection preventionists and laboratories statewide and provided information as well as treatment guidance for this outbreak. After that initial guidance was sent, there has been a rapid identification of cases and healthcare providers have been able to treat and improve outcomes for patients.

Those of us over 65 with a couple serious underlying chronic illnesses seem most at risk.

[Debbie C]

drz, do you live in any of those counties? I know you can't get out and about now because of your foot but when you do you should probably were a mask for now....Take care

[drz]

drz, do you live in any of those counties? I know you can't get out and about now because of your foot but when you do you should probably were a mask for now....Take care

No I am in the next state and hopefully far enough away to avoid contact but it is interesting and alarming how this rare disease is spreading through that area although it sounds like they are getting better at recognizing it.