August 18, 2000 - Infectious Diseases News Brief - 2000

Helicobacter canadensis Infection: Canada
Researchers have identified a strain of Helicobacter bacteria as an emerging cause of diarrheal infections. In the study, they report on several cases of diarrhea in Canada over the past few years that appeared to be caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pullorum. The bacteria that caused these infections tested positive for indoxyl acetate, a feature not previously seen in H. pollorum. Further study suggested that this was a new bacterium that the researchers named Helicobacter canadensis. Since its original isolation and description, H. pollorum has been isolated from diarrheic humans in North America and Europe. Because of its association with chicken feces and carcasses, studies have suggested that a link to chicken consumption may exist. Whether H. canadensis has similar reservoir hosts and zoonotic potential requires further study.
Source: Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Vol 38, No 7, July 2000

Association of Internet Use and Acquisition of Syphilis: San Francisco
A recent outbreak of syphilis among users of an Internet chat room challenged traditional methods of partner notification and community education because locating information on sexual partners was limited to screen names and privacy concerns precluded identifying sexual partners through the Internet service provider. Researchers sought to determine the association of Internet use and acquisition of syphilis and to describe innovative methods of partner notification in cyberspace. An outbreak investigation was conducted at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) in June-August 1999: 7 cases of early syphilis among gay men linked to an online chat room; case-control study of 6 gay men with syphilis reported to SFDPH in July-August 1999 (cases) and 32 gay men without syphilis who presented to a city clinic in April-July 1999 (controls). During the outbreak, cases were significantly more likely than controls to have met their sexual partners through use of the Internet. Researchers notified and confirmed testing for 42% of named partners; the mean number of sexual partners medically evaluated per index case was 5.9. In this study, meeting sexual partners through the Internet was associated with acquisition of syphilis among gay men. Public health efforts must continually adapt disease control procedures to new venues, carefully weighing the rights to privacy versus the need to protect public health.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol 284, No 4, July 26, 2000

Arenavirus Infection: California
Three deaths in California during the past 14 months have been linked to an arenavirus, a rare virus which causes hemorrhagic fever syndromes in Africa and South America. The discovery followed an extensive investigation by the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) into the unexplained deaths of a 52-year-old female who died in June 1999 in Riverside County, a 14-year-old female who died in April 2000 in Alameda County and a 30-year-old woman who died in June 2000 in Orange County. In the 14-year-old patient, arenavirus has been confirmed and in the two others, the virus is highly suspected based on initial laboratory tests. Further testing is under way. The patients did not have any activities in common, and none had a history of travel outside California during the 4 weeks preceding their illness. Illnesses were associated with nonspecific febrile symptoms including fever, headache, and myalgias. All 3 patients had acute respiratory distress syndrome and 2 developed liver failure and hemorrhagic manifestations. All patients died 1-8 weeks after illness onset. Arenavirus, like hantavirus, is believed to be transmitted to humans through inhalation of dust contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of infected rodents. Family members of the 3 patients were interviewed about activities and potential exposure sites during the month before illness onset. One patient reportedly cleaned rodent droppings in her home during the 2 weeks before illness onset; no history of rodent contact was reported for the other 2 patients.
Source: California Department of Health Services, Press Release, August 3, 2000; Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol 49, No 31, August 11, 2000

The details given are for information only and may be very provisional. Where incidents are considered of national importance and are ongoing, the initial report will be updated as new information becomes available.