Thursday, October 13, 2005

Still no souce of Legionella in T.O. outbreak.

The outbreak source of the Legionair's Disease in Toronto is still not identified today.

The outbreak that began late last month killed 17 elderly patients at the Seven Oaks Home for the Aged in the city's east end. Now, two more people - both middle-aged men who had no contact with the nursing home - have fallen ill.

Toronto's medical officer of health, Dr. David McKeown, says bacteria-laden water droplets from the air conditioner could have been sucked into another building's air conditioning system.

Or, he says, the droplets could have floated down to the street and be inhaled by a passerby.

McKeown stresses the actual source of the outbreak remains unknown.

One of the newly identified patients works at a hospital across the street from Seven Oaks.

The other resides at a nursing home next door to the old-aged home.

Both patients are recovering.

So two newish cases and still no bullseye on the source.  This is not good.  I'm getting the feeling that this is not a front-burner issue for the provincial and federal authorities.  Bird flu response this sluggish is going to get a bunch of people killed.  Call your MP and kick his/her ass.

The Phantom

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