05
Oct
2012
Flu

Flu Vaccination Blitz Needed for Long-term Healthcare Workers

14
Sep
2012
Outbreaks
by Water Quality & Health Council

Staying One Step Ahead of Legionnaires’ Disease

Two large Quebec City buildings and a Chicago hotel are reported sites of exposure to Legionella bacteria that resulted in over 100 recent cases of Legionnaires’ disease and 13 deaths. In Quebec City, officials suspect building cooling systems became colonized with high numbers of the bacteria (CNN Health report), causing ten deaths and 165 cases... Read More »
17
Aug
2012
Outbreaks
by Ralph Morris, MD, MPH

Avoiding Swine Flu at the County Fair

County and state fairs are popular late-summer events in many regions of America. In addition to cash for the carnival rides, funnel cakes and “food on a stick”, this year’s fair-goers should equip themselves with an awareness of a new flu strain that is being spread by pigs to people—a variant of H3N2 called H3N2v.... Read More »
13
Jul
2012
Preventing Infection
by Barbara M. Soule, RN, MPA, CIC, FSHEA

For Disinfecting Sponges, Microwaving is a Simple Solution

Ah, the lowly kitchen sponge.  It is the seemingly perfect scrubbing tool that can take repeated use and abuse as it helps you scrub the dishes, wipe up food debris and even clean the kitchen sink.  However, as we all know, you don’t get something for nothing in this world!  From a microbiological point of... Read More »
20
Apr
2012
Outbreaks
by Fred Reiff, PE

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Highlights Need for Hygiene in Child Care Settings

Hand, foot and mouth diseasei is a viral illness caused by coxsackievirus. Afflicting mostly children, coxsackievirus normally causes mild fever and rash or sores on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and sores or blisters in the mouth. Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported coxsackievirus A6... Read More »
03
Feb
2012
Norovirus
by Joan B. Rose, PhD

Norovirus: The “Stomach Flu” That Is Not a Flu

The dreaded “stomach flu” that hits particularly hard in winter is not a flu at all. It is norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramping. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the illness often begins suddenly and lasts for one to two days with... Read More »
27
Jan
2012
Outbreaks
by Jerod Loeb, PhD

Water Wall in Hospital Dispenses Legionella

Question: When does a decorative water wall, installed in a hospital lobby to provide a calming ambience, become a health risk? Answer: When the water wall dispenses a bacteria-laden mist that results in an outbreak of Legionnaires disease. Eight people who walked by just such a water wall in a Wisconsin hospital lobby in 2010... Read More »
20
Jan
2012
Outbreaks
by Chris Wiant, MPH, PhD

The Jensen Farms Cantaloupe Outbreak: How to Avoid Repeating a Tragedy

Last summer a family-owned farm in Colorado became the focal point of the largest foodborne illness outbreak in the US in 25 years. Tragically, cantaloupe contaminated with Listeria bacteria sickened 146 people in 28 states, killed 30 and caused one pregnant woman to miscarry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The... Read More »