Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal

Highlights: Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 18, No. 1, (January 2012)

1. Babesiosis among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries in the United States, 2006–2008, Mikhail Menis et al.

In the United States, recently, there has been an increase in the number of reported clinical and transfusion-transmitted babesiosis cases. Human babesiosis is a tick-borne disease that is generally mild but may cause life-threatening anemia in people at high risk, such as the elderly, who are also likely to receive blood transfusions. Review of the Medicare databases confirmed that most cases recorded in claims data occurred in the northeastern United States, during peak tick season, and also suggested that the disease may be spreading to other regions. Among potential causes for disease expansion are human encroachment into tick and deer habitat, growing deer populations, climatic effects and travel to disease-endemic areas.

Contact Mikhail Menis via:
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD
Mikhail.menis@fda.hhs.gov

2. Multistate Outbreak of MDR TB Identified by Genotype Cluster Investigation, Pennan M. Barry et al.

In the United States, more than half the cases of tuberculosis (TB) occur in people born outside this country. Many immigrants are assumed to have been infected before coming to the United States; however, genotype matching shows that they can be infected after arrival. Genotype matching compares the genetic make-up of TB isolates from different patients.  This article reports on multidrug resistant tuberculosis in patients that were born on different continents and who worked together in the United States. They had TB isolates that shared the same genotype, so their TB probably came from the United States. Nationwide use of genotype matching should help identify the source of other, previously unknown, TB outbreaks.

Contact Dr. Pennan Barry via:
California Department of Public Health Office of Public Affairs
916-440-7259

3. Rabies in Captive Deer, Pennsylvania, USA, 2007–2010, Brett W. Petersen et al.

Rabies is almost always fatal, unless preventive treatment is received soon after exposure. Although usually associated with small wild animals, rabies has recently been found in large captive animals—farmed deer that probably became infected through contact with wildlife. Four deer farmers in Pennsylvania were potentially exposed to rabies and received vaccination against rabies. More cases could be prevented by vaccinating deer against rabies, decreasing wildlife contact with captive deer, and educating deer farmers about their risks.

Contact Dr. Brett W. Petersen via:
CDC Press Office
404-639-3286
media@cdc.gov

4. Dengue Outbreak in Key West, Florida, USA, 2009, Elizabeth G. Radke, et al.

For more than 60 years, no cases of dengue had been acquired in the continental United States outside the Texas-Mexico border; therefore, a reported suspect case in Florida in 2009 was cause for concern. An investigation, consisting of a survey and blood testing, found 13 Key West residents in the sampled area who had been infected with dengue virus in 2009 and reported no travel outside the United States. From the survey results, researchers estimated that 5 percent of people in the surveyed area had been infected, which would mean that more infections occurred in 2009 than were reported. Factors that put people at risk for dengue infections included having windows frequently open, using air conditioning less frequently and having yards with large amounts of vegetation or bird baths. Preventing future cases will require personal protection against mosquitoes, mosquito control, early diagnosis, appropriate testing, and prompt reporting of suspected cases. A total of 27 and 66 cases of locally acquired dengue were reported in Key West in 2009 and 2010, respectively. There were no cases of locally acquired dengue in 2011, which is indicative of the success that local health authorities, mosquito control and the public are having in controlling dengue in Key West.

Contact Dr. Carina Blackmore via:
Jessica Hammonds
Florida Department of Health
(850) 245-4111

 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES