"Deadly infection remains a mystery" (Tularemia related?)

[ReadTomPaine]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051003.wxflu03/BNStory/National/

"TORONTO — Medical experts are continuing their investigation into a mystery illness that has killed at least four residents at a Toronto nursing home. Although the deaths sparked fears of an epidemic such as the SARS outbreak that killed 44 people in 2003, health officials say their testing has ruled out several of the most feared infectious diseases.

"We know from the testing that's been done so far that this is not influenza. We know this is not SARS. We know this is not avian influenza," said Allison McGeer, an infectious-disease consultant at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital who worked extensively on the SARS epidemic.

"There are many other viruses it could be," Dr. McGeer said, "and the Ontario Public Health lab is working very hard on identifying which one of those viruses it might be."

The infection swept through the Seven Oaks Home for the Aged late last week, affecting 68 residents and five staff members. The first signs appeared Tuesday evening, when a resident exhibited flu-like symptoms at the Scarborough facility. By Friday, a number of residents were seriously ill, and by Saturday, four had died"

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ReadTomPaine]

2. 51 additional stories about the outbreak via Google News.

http://news.google.com/news?lr=&tab=wn&ncl=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051003.wxflu03/BNStory/National/&hl=en

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. You have no evidence to link this to the Tularemia story

Zero evidence.

It is irresponsible to start rumors without evidence.

[ReadTomPaine]

4. Thus the question mark, for those here with microbial expertise...

to offer their opinions. I'm curious, that's all. No need to be so hostile. We're all Democrats and on the same side, remember?

[5X]

5. I for one am not on the side of starting irresponsible rumors.

Tuleremia would infact be easy to identify.

[ReadTomPaine]

10. I've heard from microbiologists here on DU that it is, in fact, hard ...

to find unless it's being looked for. Tularemia is a respiratory infection, and it has the same symptoms. Its also been released in several areas over the last few years, including a week ago in DC. Perhaps it has been released elsewhere as well. That's enough to ask the question. I'm just looking for answers.

Here's a link discussing difficulty in diagnosis:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1819039#1819212

On edit - here's the quote:
"The problem here, like with plague, is that even though this is a treatable bacterial disease, your doctor has to LOOK FOR IT specifically. It is hard to culture. Not easy to confirm a diagnosis. So you could die of it while waiting for the doctor to figure it out."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. It is NOT specifically respiratory infection & doesnt pass human to human

It affects many major organs, even though it has flu-like symptoms. But it doesn't pass human to human.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tularemia

So, you advocate that every flu-like symptom should be linked to Tularemia? That would definitley excite the tinfoil brigade.

[ReadTomPaine]

15. Thanks for your comments. n/t

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. I am hostile to tinfoil ratholes, not to you personally.

[ReadTomPaine]

13. Thanks for the clarification. Apology accepted.

I'm not saying they are related. I'm asking if they are related. I'd be happy to know the answer from an appropriately trained medical professional or further test result either way. I have nothing invested in this story other than curiosity and concern.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. So you thought a Canadian nursing home is linked to a Washington march?

Yeah, I'm sure several residents of a Toronto nursing home would have toddled down to DC to protest Bush. Maybe there's an unexplained death in Romania we could link to Washington too?

[ReadTomPaine]

11. See post #10

[ladylibertee]

7. EEEWWWWW ! Freaked out now! Thanks.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Is that because of an unidentified virus in Toronto

or because you have been convinced by the OP that it has any connection whatsoever with the bacteria found in Washington?

[ladylibertee]

12. All I know is , I work in The Lodging Hospitality Industry and when

we had the SARS scare,myself and other guest service agents as well as room attendants, food servers,security, everyone,had to wear little white face masks and gloves because our guests were from all over the world.When they started allowing Aisians to Travel again ? remember?

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. Yes, I remember, and concern over the Toronto nursing home is justified

I was hoping you hadn't been scared by the mention of Tularemia when it has no discernable relation to Toronto - which you hadn't. :-)

[ladylibertee]

19. Oh, Okay

[ReadTomPaine]

16. Just contacted Allison McGeer at Toronto Mount Sinai Hospital.

She is the infectious-disease consultant mentioned in the article above. Here is her response:

"Thanks for the question and concern; it is nice to know that people are thinking and worrying. This illness is not compatible with tularemia, either in overall clinical picture or epi. Most of the residents are already recovering. Allison"

Looks like nothing to worry about. Note her civil tone to my question.

[truth2power]

18. Why is everyone so cranky here today?

The original poster simply asked a question. Note the question mark in the OP.

I just logged on, and it seems people are in attack mode, in other threads also. what's going on?

[Kailassa]

21. Certain people

have certain "styles" to their posts. One can get to know what to expect from whom, but as for why, one can only conjecture.

[Canuckistanian]

20. I know that place

It's near where I went to University (Scarborough College). It's a historic farm or something originally.

[wrathofkahn]

22. Nursing home...

I'd be willing to bet it's some mutated strain of staph, if they can't identify it. Nursing homes and hospitals are the kinds of places where staph can sweep through like a whirlwind before anyone even knows what's happened.