Warning on new disease

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 1

Warning on new disease

Christchurch doctors are on the alert for a serious disease which was discovered only three years ago after a fatal outbreak in the United States. Known as legionnaires disease, it killed 26 former servicemen attending a convention in Philadelphia. Now a Wellington man is suspected to have died from the same illness. The existence of the disease came to light when more than 100 people who attended the Philadelphia convention were later admitted to hospital. World-wide attention focused on Philadelphia as doctors struggled to determine the cause of the mysterious illness. Subsequently it was discovered that an almost unknown bacteria had caused the illness, which resulted in

pneumonia and death for 26 people. The disease has since been’ diagnosed in other parts of the world, including Australia. Earlier this month Australian health officials confirmed that two men who worked together had died of the disease. It is suspected the disease caused the death of a Wellington man. Several other New Zealand cases are being studied. The National Health Institute Has sent samples from several patients suffering from pneumonia to the United States Communicable Diseases Centre in Atlanta. Preliminary results have not ruled out the diagnosis, although further study has yet to be made. Samples from six Christ-

church patients have been sent to the National Health Institute this year, according to the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s microbiologist (Dr J. L. Faoagali). However, legionnaires disease had been ruled out in all the cases. She said that the possibility was considered in the case of any patient whose respiratory problems could not otherwise be explained. This had been done since 1977 when information on legionnaires disease first became available. If cases of the disease had occurred before they would probably have been diagnosed as atypical pneumonia, said Dr Faoagali. The legionnaire bacteria often caused pneumonia among persons who already had lung problems.

Initial results from the United States bad supported the New Zealand diagnosis in the Wellington case, said the director of. the National Health Institute (Professor N. P. Markham). However, more samples had been requested and results from these were not yet available. ' Samples from other patients also had been sent, Legionnaires disease was only one of many causes of pneumonia, including influenza, said Professor Markham. The increase in the number of cases was probably because diagnostic techniques had improved. Many people might be Infected, but only a few would contract pneumonia, and others would have only a mild illness.