UK DAILY MAIL: LEGIONELLA pneumophilia in CALPE,SPAIN 4-star hotel

British tourists aged 73, 76 and 78 die after contracting disease

11 other people diagnosed with Legionnaires after staying at hotel

By Gerard Couzens

Three British pensioners have died after contracting Legionnaires' Disease while on holiday in Spain, health officials said.

The OAPs aged 73, 76 and 78-year-old all fell ill after staying in the same four-star beach hotel in Costa Blanca.

A further 11 people - seven British holidaymakers and four Spaniards - have also been hit by the disease.

Outbreak: The AR Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe where a total of 14 people have contracted Legionnaires' Disease

The AR Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe which is at the centre of the outbreak has been temporarily closed.

A regional health authority spokesman said: 'The results of our investigation into the cases of Legionnaires' Disease in Calpe show it's an outbreak which has so far affected 14 people, ten British tourists and four Spaniards.

'Recently we've learned tests on three British people aged between 73 and 78 suffering pneumonia who died in hospital showed they had contracted Legionnaires' Disease.

'The deaths occurred on January 26 and 31 and February 2.'

The pensioners aged 73 and 78 who passed away after getting Legionnaires' died from unrelated conditions. Only the death of the 76-year-old has been attributed to the disease.

Relatives of the three victims are thought to have flown to Spain to be by their bedsides before they died.

They were all on Saga holidays.

Of the remaining 11 people who contracted Legionnaires', five of them were treated in British hospitals after returning home. Four of them have been discharged.

The Spanish regional health authority said the hotel's water systems have been thoroughly treated since the outbreak.

Initial tests failed to find any trace of the disease but a further investigation is being carried out.

Saga sent their own expert out from the UK who recommended changes to the plumbing. However, he was also unable to find the source of the disease.

Saga have moved their guests to another hotel in the area.

Speaking yesterday when just one death had been attributed to the disease, Saga company spokesman Paul Green said: 'Sadly one of those who contracted Legionnaires' Disease passed away this morning.

'Our condolences go out to his family and we are doing all we can to support them in this difficult time.'

A regional health spokesman insisted last night: 'With the preventative closure of the hotel, we have the guarantee there's not going to be any new outbreak.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2095709/Three-British-pensioners-die-Legionnaires-Disease-outbreak-Spanish-beach-hotel.html#ixzz1lKTK6k3z

Ontario Government pays for OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY payment by Govt. Insurance.(OHIP)


For a year now OHIP has paid $63 for OCT.tests.Now billing explained in the Ontario Medical Review of Jan. 2012 p 25-27.



The Ontario Liberal Govt Minister of Health Dr.D.Matthews PhD(Sociology U.Western Ont) MPP London Cenral North blocked investors planning to set up an OCT clinic ($60-80,000 for one OCT) by refusing payment unless the test is performed by the patient's Primary Ophthalmologist or technician. According to the present Law, an Ontario resident cannot be billed for an Insured Service.



OCT (eg Carl Zeiss Ltd. "Cirrus") is paid for "medically necessary" conditions such as:



"Glaucoma monitoring" or if patient has Clinical Glaucoma, a Glaucoma Family History in the "immediate family".,or Ocular hypertension. Max 2 x year



Retinal disease or "Vision loss unexplained by dilated fundus exam." Max. 6 x year.



OPTOMETRISTS can bill patients directly: usually $75



OHIP does not pay for

Confocal Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (cSLO)

Any physician or sSLO clinic can bill patients directly.

(eg Heidelberg Engineering Inc "HRT")