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Two Now Dead, 12 Infected; Health Boss Describes Disease Crisis As a 'Murder Mystery'

Posted on: Friday, 5 August 2005, 15:00 CDT

Christchurch health authorities are struggling to get on top of a deadly legionnaires' disease outbreak that has left two people dead and a dozen fighting for their lives.

Health bosses initially believed the deadly lung disease had killed only one person, but yesterday they were forced to concede another had died after the dead man's family contacted The Press.

They were also forced to revise the number infected with the disease -- from an initial nine to 14 so far this year.

They admit they have no idea of the source of the disease, one describing it as a "murder mystery".

The latest patient, a Rangiora woman, was admitted to Christchurch Hospital on Wednesday.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Mel Brieseman believed she was in a satisfactory condition.

Brieseman said the public health team had not been informed of the death of Riccarton man Ross Hern, 56, on June 14, although the team knew he was infected. Brieseman said he did not expect to be told when people died of a notifiable disease.

Eleanor Carter, from patient lobby group Health Cuts Hurt, said she found it disturbing that public health officials did not know of the man's death.

"They should be the first to know about these things. There's been a communication breakdown," she said.

Carter, an elected member of the Canterbury District Health Board, was concerned the public were not being fully informed about the outbreak. "There seems to be very scant information provided about the people affected," she said.

"We should know more as it's something of great concern to the public, and rightly so."

Health board chief medical officer Nigel Millar said the number of legionnaires' cases was more significant from a public health point of view than whether a patient died of it.

"It's obviously a tragedy that somebody died -- that's awful," he said. "But the disease is treated as a potentially serious problem whether or not someone dies."

Millar said informing the public about a potential outbreak was more of a priority in cases where awareness could limit the spread. However, because legionnaires' disease was not passed from person to person, the emphasis was on analysing the problem and trying to find a source.

The 14 people infected in Canterbury range in age from 48 to 91 and live in various suburbs. The Rangiora resident was the first woman affected.

Brieseman said the disease had a "predilection" for men, mainly because men in the older age group were often heavy smokers.

Legionnaires' disease is most common in people aged over 50. Males, smokers, heavy drinkers and those with chronic health conditions are most at risk.

A public health team of four officers is investigating the outbreak. It is visiting the homes and families of people affected to try to find out where the patients had been in the two to three weeks before their diagnosis.

Brieseman said the situation was a "cause for concern" because the source had not been identified.

"There's nothing that jumps out and hits you in the eye. It's like having an unsolved murder mystery on your hands," he said.

All the infected people had the same strain of legionella bacteria, which pointed to a single source for the infection.

Dr Graham McGeoch, from Pegasus Health, which represents most Christchurch GPs, said many doctors would not have seen legionnaires' disease.

It was one of the conditions GPs dreaded, he said, because symptoms were similar to flu and other respiratory illnesses, meaning it was not easy to pick up in the early stages.

Sufferers of legionnaires' disease usually have fever, chills and a cough. Many also report aching muscles, headaches, a loss of appetite and, occasionally, diarrhoea. Kidney function may be affected, and many develop pneumonia. It is treated with antibiotics.

McGeoch said people should return to their GP if a respiratory condition worsened or did not seem to improve within the time suggested by the doctor.

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Source: Press, The; Christchurch, New Zealand

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