NORTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL DIRECTOR's
HEALTH ALERT ::
PROTECTING OUR CLUSTERS, FAMILY & LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Health Alert #1 -
"What the Spinach Outbreak Was Really All About"
As of September 25, 2006, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there have been 175 cases of illness due to E. coli infection which have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including 28 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), 93 hospitalizations and one death. Consumers are advised not to purchase or consume fresh spinach if they cannot verify that it
was grown in areas other than the three California counties (Monterey, San
Evelyn Sample Oates Benito and Santa Clara) implicated in the outbreak.
North Atlantic Regional Director
States Affected
The 25 affected states are: Arizona (7), California (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (3), Idaho (4), Illinois (1), Indiana (9), Kentucky (8), Maine (3), Maryland (3), Michigan (4), Minnesota (2), Nebraska (9), Nevada (1), New Mexico (5), New York (11), Ohio (20), Oregon (6), Pennsylvania (8), Tennessee (1), Utah (18), Virginia (2), Washington (3), Wisconsin (44), and Wyoming (1).
Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 Illness
E. coli O157:H7 infection often causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps; sometimes the infection causes non-bloody diarrhea or no symptoms. Usually little or no fever is present, and the illness resolves in five to ten days. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, in some persons, particularly children under five years of age and the elderly, the infection can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death. Individuals who may have experienced any of the above symptoms after eating spinach should contact their physician, local department of health, or appropriate healthcare personnel.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01465.html
Health Alert #2 -
"Meet Leptospirosis - A Microorganism With Macro Problems For You"
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. In humans it causes a wide 
range of symptoms, and some infected persons may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. If the disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs. Leptospirosis is confirmed by laboratory testing of a blood or urine sample.
How do people get leptospirosis?
Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.
How is leptospirosis treated?
Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms. Persons with symptoms suggestive of leptospirosis should contact a health care provider. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/leptospirosis_g.htm
Case:Leptospirosis in North Texas: One Sunday, a woman went boating and took several cans of coke with her. She placed the cans in the refrigerator of the boat. On Monday, she was rushed to the hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit. On Wednesday she died. Her autopsy concluded she died of Leptospiroris. Tests revealed that the can was infected by dried rat urine. This was traced to the can of coke she had been drinking while boating.
It is highly recommended to thoroughly wash all cans with hot water before drinking out of them or opening them for the use of preparing food.
Health Alert #3 -
"Pretty Feet & Diabetes"
According to the American Diabetes Association, about 20 million people in the United States have diabetes, a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. But while nearly 15 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, another 6 million people are unaware that they have it. Pedicures are manicures for the feet. 
Discuss pedicure options with your doctor as well as your podiatrist. Before getting a pedicure, inspect the salon for cleanliness and proper licensing. Make sure that trash receptacles are emptied and covered; floors and work surfaces are clean and tidy; there is a fresh and clean scent rather than an unpleasant odor or heavily perfumed smell. Trust your nose. Disinfectant containers should be visible and containing clean, translucent solutions. Cloudy solutions are ineffective and contaminated. Your service provider should be able to show you the state regulations about the appropriate cleansing solutions upon request. In California, for example, the requirement is for quaternary ammonium solutions. These are four compound ammonium solutions rather than the less effective alcohol solutions used in the past. Inform your service provider that you have diabetes and discuss the salon’s service and sanitizing procedures. Observe your service provider’s appearance, which should be neat, professional, and clean. Providers should wash their hands frequently and wear gloves. Of final note is proper licensing, which should be prominently displayed for the salon and service providers. Follow your instincts, if something seems wrong, it probably is.
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/206_feet.html#diabetes
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read,1039,3168.html
***Information in this health alert bulletin is not meant to frighten or scare you, only to inform you about safety and health precautions that may preserve quality of life.
Prepared by: Diane L. Adams, MD, MPH, CHS-III
Health Advisor, Theta Omega Omega Chapter, Silver Spring, Maryland * dla8315@aol.com
Date: 9/2006
