Legionella
E-news -- 25 April 2003
**IN
THIS ISSUE**
1. 19 LD Cases Associated with Hotel in UK
2. Prosecutions Sought in Legionnaires' Outbreak
3. Three LD Cases Associated with Hotel in Israel
4. Six New Live Satellite Seminars
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1. 19 LD CASES ASSOCIATED WITH HOTEL IN UK
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19 cases of Legionnaires' disease, including two deaths, have been
blamed a resort hotel near Chard (UK). Health officials suspect the
hotel's whirlpool spa is the source of contamination but have not
reported a confirmed link. The showers and spa bath at the hotel leisure
center were closed on 27 February 2003 but allowed to reopen on 31 March
after officials were satisfied that the remedial work had been carried
out. Source: BBC News
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2. PROSECUTIONS SOUGHT IN LEGIONNAIRES' OUTBREAK
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Prosecutions are being sought in connection with last year's outbreak
that involved 295 cases and 7 deaths associated with a hot spring in
Japan (see Legionella E-news, 31 July and 3 September, 2002).
In February police served papers to five individuals: the mayor,
deputy mayor, former manager of the spa, a part-time spa employee, and a
man who took part in building the spa. The police are accusing the five
of causing the deaths of six of the seven. Investigators found high
levels of legionellae, and water that was not properly treated. Source:
Japan media, via Denis Green
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3. THREE LD CASES ASSOCIATED WITH HOTEL IN ISRAEL
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Legionnaires' Disease was suspected in three people hospitalized with
severe pneumonia after staying at the same hotel in Eilat, Israel.
The Health Ministry ordered the hotel closed for two days while a
team conducted tests. Two
separate investigations found the first two people diagnosed stayed at
the hotel in late December and both were in rooms with whirlpool spas.
Source: Haaretz English Editions
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4. SIX NEW LIVE SATELLITE SEMINARS
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HCINFO is now offering satellite courses on Legionella and other
waterborne pathogens. These are live seminars that you can take in your
home or office. There are two types, audio seminars and web seminars.
Each seminar is 60-90 minutes in length.
To
participate in an audio seminar, you simply dial a telephone number and
listen to the instructor's live presentation while you follow along in
the course manual. Time is allowed for questions and answers.
Web
seminars are similar, except that you watch a live slide presentation on
the Internet while listening to the instructor. It's interactive: You
can ask questions, and the instructor can use a pointer, mark on a
whiteboard, and poll the audience. No special equipment is needed, just
a telephone line and a computer with an Internet connection.
Five
of the six courses will be offered in June; all six will be offered in
September. The price of each is $159. Here are the titles:
*
Waterborne Pathogens: Illness, Prevalence, and Risk Reduction Strategies
*
Legionnaires' Disease: Guidelines, Litigation, and Risk Management
*
Minimizing Conditions for Legionella and Other Bacteria in Domestic
Water Systems
*
Reducing the Risk of Legionella in Cooling Towers
*
How to Sample Water Systems for Legionella
*
Disinfecting Potable Water Systems
Go
to http://www.hcinfo.com/satellitecourseinfo.htm for more information.
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(c)
Copyright 2003, HC Information Resources Inc. You have permission to
send this newsletter to others, post it on your web site, or include it
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Legionella E-news, a free e-newsletter available at http://hcinfo.com."
THANK
YOU!
Matt
Freije, Editor
HC Information Resources Inc.
Tel: 760-494-3063
Fax: 619-839-3166
hcinfo@hcinfo.com
http://hcinfo.com
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