a near daily update of emerging viruses & diseases, by region...
(To new cross-post newsgroups, past updates found on:
alt.current-events.earth-changes )
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1/9/98 update -
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HONG KONG - American CDC officials said Thursday they are increasingly
confident that the 'bird flu' in Hong Kong is not spreading from person to
person.
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Haarlem, THE NETHERLANDS - Six cases of Legionnaire's disease, a flu-like
bacterial illness, have been linked to a sauna by researchers.
Two of the cases have proven fatal.
Sauna operators have changed the hot-water installation of the facility
to prevent water from standing or flowing too slowly. It will also be
tested regularly.
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Blantyre, MALAWI - A cholera outbreak has killed 14 people, out of 80
reported cases, since the beginning of December. Officials said the rate
of new cases has slowed in the last week, but that there is still danger
of cholera spreading.
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Philadelphia, PA (US)- "Has Southwest Super-flu Spread to Philly?" Doctors
reported cases here very similar in nature, duration, and symptoms to the
recent southern California "super flu".
Philly area hospitals are reporting 89% occupancy, the usual average is
76%, mostly respiratory-related cases of pneumonia, bronchial problems &
asthma.
They know it's not a virus, like influenza, because this respiratory
infection responds to the antibiotic erythromycin.
The rumors here, reported by the Philadelphia Daily News, is that the
CA bug - or a strain of it - was carried, via the oh-so-wonderful
onboard air circulation, by an airplane passenger to this region.
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Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA (U.S) - An outbreak of Legionnaire's disease
killed a 72-year old man and sickened at least 7 others in the Culver City
area between Nov 8 & Dec 8, the Los Angeles County Dept. of Health
Services announced Thursday.
None of the victims knew each other, a spokesperson said, and no source
has been found.
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(today's facts from: The Lancet, Reuters, AP & CDC reports.)
Have any disease outbreak news from your region? Post it here.
