U.S. (UTAH) – RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AMONG TRAIL VOLUNTEERS
Eight of 16 volunteers who worked on trails at the Dinosaur National Monument in late
June in Utah contracted a flu–like illness. Seven of the infected volunteers worked
primarily in an Indian sweat cave while the other volunteer worked on a quarter mile trail
that led to the cave. Health officials suspect that a soil–transmitted fungal pneumonia was
responsible for the infection. Volunteers who were infected came from different parts of
the country, including one from abroad, while volunteers from Utah and Colorado were
not affected.
[PROMED 7/6/01]

U.S. (OHIO) – SHIGELLOSIS OUTBREAK IN TODDLERS
Over 700 confirmed cases of shigellosis have been reported this year in Cincinnati and
Hamilton counties, with 539 of the cases occurring between June 1 and July 18 of this
year. In contrast, there were 574 confirmed cases in the same counties during all of 2000.
The majority of the cases have occurred in diaper–wearing toddlers, their family members, and their caregivers. The infection is highly contagious and is spread primarily through fecal–oral contact. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and nausea. Ohio state law requires children with shigellosis to complete a five–day course of antibiotics, wait two days, and provide two clean stood samples before they are allowed to return to day care facilities. Health officials are reminding those who deal with infants and toddlers to be vigilant of the infection and to always wash their hands after changing diapers or helping children in the bathroom.
[THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER 7/13/01, 7/18/01]

U.S. (TEXAS) – ANTHRAX OUTBREAK; HUMAN CASE
Hundreds of deer and several horses and cattle have died from probable anthrax disease
in south Texas, where health officials have reported one of the worst outbreaks of anthrax
since the late 1970’s. In addition, one human case of anthrax has been confirmed and
another is under investigation. This is the first human anthrax case in Texas since 1988.
The confirmed case is believed to have been exposed to the infection while vaccinating
goats. Health officials are urging ranchers, hunters, and others to avoid contact with dead
or sickly–looking animals. According to an epidemiologist with the Texas Department of
health, the safest way to handle infected dead animals is by burning their carcasses. The
area director for the Animal Health Commission has stated that he expects more cases
until cooler weather arrives.

Anthrax disease is caused by the spore–forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, and is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals. Human cases often occur as a result of exposure to infected animals or their products. Anthrax can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
[PROMED 7/12/01; CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm]