2016 United States Elizabethkingia outbreak
 Wisconsin, in red, the location of 63 confirmed cases as of June 16, 2016 | |
| Date | November 1, 2015 — present |
|---|---|
| Location | Wisconsin, western Michigan, and Illinois, United States[1][2] |
| Type | Disease outbreak |
| Cause | Elizabethkingia anophelis |
| Casualties | |
| Deaths | 20[3] |
An outbreak of Elizabethkingia anophelis infections centered in Wisconsin [4] is thought to have led to the death of at least 20 people in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois.[5][6][1][2] As of March 2016 it was reported to be the largest outbreak of Elizabethkingia anophelis-caused disease investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[7]
Human infections by Elizabethkingia anophelis involve the bloodstream.[4] Signs and symptoms can include fever, shortness of breath, chills, and cellulitis.[4] Confirmation requires a laboratory test.[4]
Statewide surveillance of the situation in Wisconsin was organized on January 5, 2016.[8] Cases had been reported from Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sauk, Sheboygan, Washington, Waukesha, and Winnebago counties); Illinois; and western Michigan as of April 13, 2016.[8][1]
Between November 1, 2015 and March 30, 2016, 62 cases of Elizabethkingia anophelis infections were reported to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Public Health (DPH).[4]
The severity of the outbreak is reflected in a statement by the CDC that "the agency sees a handful of Elizabethkingia infections around the country each year, but the outbreaks rarely involve more than a couple of cases at a time. To have dozens of cases at once — and more than a third of them possibly fatal — is startling".[9]
References
- ^ a b c Sarah Kaplan (18 March 2016). "The mysterious infection that might be behind 17 deaths in Wisconsin has spread to a second state". Washington Post.
- ^ a b c Gallardo, Michelle. "Illinois Death Linked to Elizabethkingia Outbreak That Killed 18". ABC 7 Eyewitness News. WLS-TV. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- ^ a b "Multistate Outbreak of Infections Caused by Elizabethkingia anophelis". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). June 16, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Wisconsin Department of Health Services: "Wisconsin 2016 Elizabethkingia anophelis outbreak", last revised: March 30, 2016.
- ^ "A mysterious infection may have killed 18 people in Wisconsin, and health officials aren't sure why". Msn.com. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ "Rare Elizabethkingia Bacteria Outbreak Infects 44 in Wisconsin, Killing 18 – ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ Ehlke, Gretchen. "Source of bloodstream infection in Wisconsin unknown". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ a b WISN 12 News: "Cases of blood infection reported in Southeast Wisconsin | 44 cases of Elizabethkingia anophelis reported since Nov. 1", March 3, 2016.
- ^ "CDC offers new call to arms on nightmare bacteria". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
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