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[Infectious Diseases News Brief]
Syphilis Outbreak: Manitoba (Update)
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) reported four more confirmed cases
of syphilis which have been identified in the last month, bringing the total
number to 62. Public health officials recently learned a number of the most
recent cases involve people who are also HIV positive and have been engaging
in anonymous casual sexual contacts (so-called one-night stands or brief sexual
encounters). WRHA Medical Officer of Health mentioned the trend is disturbing
because there is no way to trace those contacts and inform them of their exposure
to both HIV and syphilis and of the need to get tested and treated. In addition
to heterosexual cases, the latest cases also involve men having casual sex
with men after meeting at downtown establishments. Management of those facilities
is working with Public Health to raise awareness of the issue. The WRHA also
unveiled its awareness campaign, comprised of posters, newspaper advertisements
and personal ads.
Source: Press Release, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, 9 September
2004.
Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreak: Ohio (Update)
As of 13 September, the Ottawa County Health Department in Port Clinton, Ohio,
received reports of 1,455 people having gastrointestinal illness among South
Bass residents and visitors. The island is located on Lake Erie close to
the United States-Canada border. There have been five new cases reported
in September, the latest date of onset being 7 September. Cases have been
identified in travellers from 17 American states, one Canadian province (Ontario)
and one European country ( England - UK ). To date there have been 11 laboratory
confirmed cases of Campylobacter, one lab-confirmed case of Salmonella and
three lab-confirmed cases of Norovirus. Health Canada has been notified of
three Canadian travellers who report gastrointestinal illness following travel
to South Bass Island. Health Canada's Foodborne, Waterborne, and Zoonotic
Infections Division is currently assisting with the CDC investigation in
collaboration with provincial public health authorities. To help protect
both residents of and visitors to South Bass Island, the Ohio Department
of Health urges residents with wells to consider vigorously boiling their
water for one minute before drinking, cooking, making prepared drinks or
brushing teeth. Visitors to South Bass Island are urged to consider drinking
only bottled water.
Source: Alerts and Advisories, Ohio Department of Health, 13
September 2004; Travel Medicine Program, Health Canada, 15 September
2004.
Salmonellosis: United Kingdom
An outbreak of gastrointestinal disease on board a cruise ship passing round
the British Isles is currently under investigation. The cruise ship left
Bremehaven on 28 August with 940 persons on board (330 crew and 610 passengers).
Following a welcome dinner on that day, a total of 86 cases of gastrointestinal
illness presented on the following four days (29 August: one case; 30 August:
25 cases; 31 August: 45 cases; 1 September: 15 cases). Diarrhoea was a much
more prominent symptom than vomiting and two cases were admitted to hospital
when the ship arrived in the Orkney Islands. By 2 September, 10 of the cases
had microbiologically confirmed salmonella infection. The ship has since
continued its cruise and, by 6 September, a further six of the 86 cases were
confirmed as salmonella infection. The Scottish Salmonella Reference Laboratory
has typed a number of the isolates as Salmonella Enteritidis phage
type 4. During this period, a further 26 cases of illness had occurred. Seventeen
were still symptomatic (6 September). No pathogen had at this point been
identified in these cases. The second wave of cases raises the possibility
of a continuing common source of infection, or secondary spread of salmonella,
or a concurrent outbreak involving another pathogen (such as Norovirus).
The investigation continues and results will be published as soon as available.
Source: Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health
Weekly Report, Volume 38, No. 2004/36, 7 September 2004.
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]
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