[Infectious Diseases News Brief]

Influenza-Like Illness: British Columbia
Laboratory findings at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and BC Cancer Agency's Genome Sciences Centre provide conclusive evidence that the virus responsible for an outbreak of respiratory illness at a North Surrey long-term care facility is not the SARS coronavirus. Large sequences of the virus that are not present in the SARS coronavirus were clearly found. Further genome sequencing of the virus identified in the outbreak points to a known family of human coronaviruses, related to OC43. The symptoms caused by this family of viruses are consistent with those suffered by the residents and staff at the long-term care facility. After some preliminary laboratory findings indicated the possibility of a SARS-like coronavirus, health officials at Fraser Health Authority placed the long-term care facility and a ward at Surrey Memorial Hospital on heightened infection control precautions. Given the new information, in consultation with the provincial health officer and BCCDC they have decided to downgrade the precautions to normal infection control protocol for respiratory illness at long-term care facilities. Staff remaining in quarantine will be released and able to resume normal duties, and limited visiting will be allowed again at the long-term care facility. Since the outbreak began in early July, 96 residents and 51 staff have suffered mostly mild cold-like symptoms such as runny nose. Laboratory research to sequence the entire genome of the virus responsible for the outbreak continues.
Source: Press Release, B.C. Centre for Disease Control, 22 August 2003

West Nile virus: Canada (Update)
There are 12 new probable human cases of clinical illness due to West Nile virus in Saskatchewan. Three people are in hospital (one each in the Cypress and Sun Country regional health authorities with West Nile Neurological Syndrome and one in Heartland with West Nile Fever); the rest are presenting the milder symptoms of probable West Nile Fever. The infections are spread throughout the southern and central areas of the province in the regional health authorities of Heartland (3), Five Hills (3), Sun Country (2), Cypress (2), Regina Qu'Appelle (1), and Prairie North (1). This brings the total number of probable and confirmed incidences of West Nile virus in Saskatchewan to 28. Two probable human cases of West Nile virus infection have been identified in Manitoba. The first individual, a Stony Mountain resident is recovering at home after a brief hospital stay. The individual has been reported to Health Canada as a probable case of West Nile neurological syndrome. It appears that the likely source of the virus was infected mosquitoes from the Stony Mountain area in late July. The second individual, a Neepawa area resident in his twenties, had a mild illness that did not require hospitalization. The individual has been reported to Health Canada as a probable case of West Nile fever. Surveillance data from around the province has shown the presence of the virus throughout most of Southern Manitoba and that the risk of contracting West Nile virus in Manitoba has increased.
Source: News Release, Government of Saskatchewan; News Release, Manitoba Health, 22 August 2003

Syphilis: Ontario
Eleven cases of infectious syphilis have been diagnosed in the first 6 months of 2003 in Ottawa. Risk of infection is greatest for men and women who are sexually active. The majority of the cases that were identified have been among men who have sex with men.
Source: Health Alert, City of Ottawa, July 2003

Cryptosporidiosis: Spain
On 22 July 2003, the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health reported an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis to the Spanish National Centre of Epidemiology (Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, CNE). This outbreak occurred in a hotel in Majorca where 2,000 guests had stayed during the epidemic period (nearly 100% occupation). All guests at the hotel, which is used by only one tour operator, were British tourists. The onset date of the first case was 5 July 2003. At present, CNE is aware of 391 cases, 214 of which are known to be positive for Cryptosporidium. The hotel's swimming pool is suspected to be the source of the infection. No failures in the infrastructure of the hotel's water supply have been found. Cryptosporidium oocysts have been found in water from the swimming pool. The epidemiological investigation and the control measures are continuing.
Source: Eurosurveillance Weekly, Volume 7, No. 33, 14 August 2003

The details given are for information only and may be very provisional. Where incidents are considered of national importance and are ongoing, the initial report will be updated as new information becomes available.

[Infectious Diseases News Brief]