08 April 2011

MADAGASCAR: 14 dead from poisoned sardines

FOODBORNE ILLNESS, FATAL - MADAGASCAR: (TOLIARA) FISH
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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[1]
Date: Wed 6 Apr 2011
Source: BigNewsNetwork.com [edited]
<http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=765874>

At least 14 people have died in Madagascar from poisoned fish. Around
120 other people are seriously ill, with some in hospitals, after
ingesting the toxic sardines which had been caught in the
south-western town of Toliara.
Samples of the fish have been sent for analysis.
In previous food poisoning incidents the contaminated sardines had
eaten poisonous seaweed, which now proliferates on local reefs.

SCOTLAND: LEGIONELLOSIS

The [Landmark] hotel's leisure club and spa have been off limits
since [17 Mar 2011] after staff and guests reported feeling unwell
with flu-like symptoms that sparked testing for _Legionella_
infection. As of last night [5 Apr 2011] a total of 112 people who
work in or have visited the Landmark are known to have had a flu-like
illness with respiratory infection. One person remains in Ninewells
Hospital, the only confirmed case of legionnaires' disease in a person
who visited the hotel's leisure club. There are no further confirmed
cases.
While legionnaires' disease is potentially fatal, Pontiac fever is a
milder illness caused by _Legionella_ bacteria. It [Pontiac fever]
causes a flu-like illness, which lasts just a few days. An NHS
[National Health Service] Tayside spokeswoman said last night [5 Apr
2011] it was "very likely" a number of the respiratory infections
reported at Landmark could be caused by Pontiac fever, but it would
take some time to establish if that was the case. "No one has yet been
confirmed as having Pontiac fever because it is difficult to diagnose
and can require up to 3 separate blood tests over a period of several
weeks," she said.

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