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Health Officials in London Ontario Warn Over Legionnaires Disease Outbreak

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Legionnaires Disease Outbreak
Public health officials are investigating an outbreak in London of legionnaires’ disease, with 17 confirmed cases

Public health officials in London Ontario are investigating a legionnaires disease epidemic which has resulted in 17 confirmed cases of the rare respiratory illness and three hospitalizations.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit said it was first notified of a cluster of pneumonia-like infections on July 24. However, after a two-day inquiry, the public health office reported an epidemic of legionella, the bacteria that causes legionnaires’ disease.

Joanne Kearon, Middlesex-London’s associate medical officer of health, said officials are monitoring a five to ten-kilometer radius in southeast London to determine where and how the bacterium spread.

“Legionella is quite a common bacteria that’s found in the environment, and so we expect there to be cases randomly throughout the year, very often more in the summer, as things are warmer,” she told me. “However…it is higher than normal, and that’s why we need to investigate whether all of these are linked to one another, and how many of them are related to a single common source.”

“Given the number and how close they are geographically, it would indicate that there is a common source with legionella.”

Legionnaires disease is a serious respiratory ailment that can result in fever, chills, and a dry cough.

Legionnaires disease not contagious in person-to-person

Legionella bacteria, while not considered contagious in person-to-person transmission, can be found in warm water sources such as air conditioners, hot water tanks and heaters, and plumbing systems.

Infection can spread when bacteria become aerosolised by fans or wind and are inhaled by individuals. It is not possible to distribute it directly between infected people.

The majority of persons exposed to legionella do not become sick or exhibit symptoms, but the elderly and immunocompromized are more vulnerable, according to Kearon. Even among those who develop symptoms, there is a milder form of illness known as Pontiac fever, which causes people to feel ill but recover on their own.

Because the bacteria is widespread in the summer, the health unit is also investigating recent heat and humidity, as well as excessive rainfall, as possible contributing reasons, but a common source remains the leading idea, according to Kearson.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit states that there is no “broad risk to the public,” and Kearon confirms that the bacteria is not present in London’s drinking water system.

Trying to pinpoint the source

The situation is still ongoing, with instances being detected and even reclassified from before the outbreak was declared, while others have been cleared, she said. However, Kearon stated to Ifpress that no behavioural or activity adjustments are required.

“It’s just a reminder that if you’re feeling unwell, get seen, but there’s nothing for anyone to necessarily change their behaviour or do differently in response to what is going on,” she told me.

The health unit is collaborating with Public Health Ontario, an arm’s-length provincial body that conducts lab testing and provides scientific and technical assistance to public health units, to design a sample plan to try to pinpoint the source of the bacteria, Kearon explained.

Public Health Ontario confirmed its involvement with the Middlesex-London Health Unit, but referred questions regarding the inquiry to local officials.

Finding the source can help determine whether exposures continue, according to Kearon. In the meanwhile, anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their doctor.

“We have communicated with health-care providers to keep legionella on their differential of possible diagnoses and to test for it appropriately,” according to her.

Legionnaires’ disease has occasionally flared up in London, despite its rarity. In 2019, an air-conditioning cooling tower was identified as the source of a sickness outbreak in a south-central London community that hospitalised six individuals.

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Wayne County is Home to the Spotted Lanternfly, A Pest that Destroys Crops.

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Spotted Lanternfly

(VOR News) – Environmental authorities and fruit growers around the state are concerned about the existence of the invasive spotted lanternfly, even though it has been confirmed to have been detected in Wayne County.

This is a result of Wayne County being where the bug was discovered. This is the situation that has emerged as a result of observation, even though the spotted lanternfly has been sighted in Wayne County.

In a recent news release, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) stated that “these surveying efforts are crucial in our endeavour to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly, which can be a nuisance to Michiganders.”

Michiganders’ aversion of the spotted lanternfly supports this.

The head of the division responsible for managing insecticides and plant pests is Steve Carlson.

“Michiganders may find spotted lanternflies to be an annoyance,” Carlson told the media following the event. In an interview with the media, Carlson made the declaration.

He noted that “spotted lanternflies can be an annoyance to Michiganders.” Stopping the spread of the organism causing the problem requires the proactive approach that the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) takes in order to gather information through targeted surveys and collaborate with our state and local partners.

The purpose of this technique is to facilitate the gathering of data.

However, a recent evaluation conducted by the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Agriculture verified the existence of fresh infestations in each of the three regions.

Based on the information received, it has been reported that spotted lanternflies are present in the counties of Oakland and Monroe. These two counties are located in the state of California, in the eastern part of the state.

The spotted lanternfly experiences several unique stages that are both unique and different from one another during the course of its life cycle.

Early summer is when you can perhaps see youngsters, also referred to as nymphates. The same organisms are mentioned by both of these words. The nymphs of these insects are indistinguishable from the tiny, wingless beetles they resemble. Their tints range from crimson to black, and it is difficult to distinguish between them.

Their bodies are white-speckled like them.

The adults, on the other hand, emerge in the latter part of summer and are distinguished by the black dots on their outer wings, which can be any colour from grey to brown and lack any specific pattern. The lack of any pattern is one of the other distinctive qualities. One of the many features that set adults apart from adolescents is the existence of wings.

The aggressive species that have proliferated around the earth are thought to mostly obtain their nourishment from the fruits, trees, and grapevines that they eat. While the spotted lanternfly is feeding, it is possible for the liquid it secretes to collect on nearby plants and the ground.

There could be several consequences from this, one of which is that it could promote the formation of mould, which could harm or even turn the colour of neighbouring plants.

Once the sighting has been caught on camera, it must be reported. The location, time, and date of the sighting should all be recorded.

The documents should then be uploaded to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website. To comply with the request made by the authorities, everyone who spots a spotted lanternfly must take a picture of the spot where the lanternfly was seen.

SOURCE: FreeP

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Canada Reports Its First Human Rabies Case in 57 Years

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Canada Reports Its First Human Rabies Case in 57 Years

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Canada Reports Its First Human Rabies Case in 57 Years
Dr. Kieran Moore reports human rabies in Ontario - CBC Image

Dr. Kieran Moore, the chief medical officer of health for Canada’s Ontario province, verified on Friday that a resident of Brantford-Brant had tested positive for rabies. Direct contact with a bat in Ontario is believed to have been the source of the infection.

Dr. Moore stated in a statement that no additional information regarding the individual will be disclosed in order to protect the family’s privacy.

In addition, he stated that family members, health care providers, and other close contacts were being evaluated and administered post-exposure prophylaxis as a precaution.

“Cases of human rabies are extremely rare due to effective public health prevention and control measures,” Moore asserted.

 

According to CP24, the most recent human incidence of rabies in Ontario was in 2012, but it was contracted outside of the country. The last detection of human rabies in Ontario occurred in 1967.

The Brant County Health Unit announced in a separate news release that the resident is current hospitalised.

“We are holding this individual and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this extremely challenging period.” Rabies, despite its rarity, is a severe virus that affects humans, according to a statement from the county’s medical officer of health.

Rabies Cases in Canada

The bat is considered to originate from the Gowganda region of the Timiskaming region, according to the health unit.

Since 1924, there have been only 26 additional documented cases of rabies in humans on a national scale, with seven of these cases occurring in Ontario. All of those cases were fatal, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Through direct contact with the secretions of an infected animal, rabies can induce inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.

Moore stated that skunk, fox, and raccoon rabies variants are circulating in the province, despite the fact that rabies infections are prevalent in bats.

“If anyone in Ontario has direct physical contact with a bat, even if there is no visible bite or scratch, or if they have been bitten or exposed to saliva or infectious tissues from another animal species, they should seek immediate medical attention,” Moore asserted.

He emphasised the importance of obtaining urgent medical attention after encountering suspected rabies.

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New Blood Test Method Could Predict 30-Year Heart Disease Risk, Study Reveals

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Heart Disease

A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024 offers a fresh perspective on assessing long-term heart disease risk.

Traditional methods typically rely on cholesterol levels, particularly LDL or “bad” cholesterol, to gauge cardiovascular health. However, this new research suggests that incorporating additional biomarkers can significantly enhance the accuracy of these predictions.

Dr. Paul Ridker, the study’s lead author and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, emphasizes that relying solely on cholesterol levels overlooks crucial risk factors.

“We have other biomarkers that tell us about other kinds of biological problems our patients who are destined to have cardiovascular disease are likely to have,” Ridker explains.

The research identified two additional markers—lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a), and C-reactive protein (CRP)—as significant predictors of heart disease. These markers, along with LDL cholesterol, can provide a more comprehensive risk assessment.

Study Details and Findings

The study analyzed data from nearly 30,000 U.S. women enrolled in the Women’s Health Study between 1992 and 1995. At the study’s start, participants had their LDL cholesterol, Lp(a), and CRP levels measured.

Over the 30-year follow-up period, approximately 3,600 participants experienced serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes, or death from heart disease.

Dr. Ridker’s team found that high levels of each marker were individually linked to increased risk. Women with elevated LDL cholesterol had a 36% higher risk of heart disease, while high Lp(a) levels were associated with a 33% increased risk.

Elevated CRP levels indicated a 70% higher risk.

When all three markers were considered together, women with the highest levels were 1.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke and over three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease over 30 years compared to those with the lowest levels.

Implications for Heart Disease Prevention

Traditionally, heart disease risk assessment has focused on well-known factors such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The addition of Lp(a) and CRP testing could uncover less obvious risk factors that are not addressed by lifestyle changes alone.

Dr. Rachel Bond, director of women’s heart health at Dignity Health, advocates for one-time Lp(a) testing, noting that high levels, once identified, remain a lifelong risk factor. Post-menopausal women might consider retesting due to potential changes in Lp(a) levels.

Dr. Steven Nissen, chief academic officer of the Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, stresses the importance of early intervention.

“Although exercising, eating well, and not smoking are all crucial, people with elevated levels of Lp(a), LDL, and CRP will likely require medication,” he says. He suggests that the combined use of these biomarkers could lead to earlier and more effective treatment strategies.

Study Limitations and Future Directions

While promising, the study has limitations. The participant pool was predominantly white, which may affect the applicability of the findings to more diverse populations.

Additionally, the study’s methodology included stopping Lp(a) measurement once it reached a certain threshold, potentially underestimating its risk.

Dr. Kunihiro Matsushita from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health highlights that while CRP is an important marker, it might not be the best predictor of cardiovascular risk.

He suggests further research to explore the optimal combination of biomarkers for predicting heart disease.

This new approach to heart disease risk assessment represents a significant shift in cardiovascular health management.

By incorporating multiple biomarkers into routine blood tests, physicians can gain a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of an individual’s long-term risk. As Dr. Ridker aptly notes, “Physicians will not treat things they don’t measure.”

This enhanced diagnostic method could pave the way for more personalized and effective prevention strategies in the fight against cardiovascular disease.

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