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Background. Blastomycosis is a potentially life-threatening infection caused by the soil-based dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is endemic throughout much of the Midwestern United States. We investigated an increase in reported cases of blastomycosis that occurred during 2009–2010 in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Methods. Case detection was conducted using the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS). WEDSS data were used to compare demographic, clinical, and exposure characteristics between outbreak-related and historical case patients, and to calculate blastomycosis incidence rates. Because initial mapping of outbreak case patients’ homes and recreational sites demonstrated unusual neighborhood and household case clustering, we conducted a 1:3 matched case-control study to identify factors associated with being in a geographic cluster. Results. Among the 55 patients with outbreak-related cases, 33 (70%) were hospitalized, 2 (5%) died, 30 (55%) had cluster-related cases, and 20 (45%) were Hmong. The overall incidence increased significantly since 2005 (average 11% increase per year, P< .001), and incidence during 2005–2010 was significantly higher among Asians than non-Asians (2010 incidence: 168 vs 13 per 100 000 population). Thirty of the outbreak cases grouped into 5 residential clusters. Outdoor activities were not risk factors for blastomycosis among cluster case patients or when comparing outbreak cases to historical cases. Conclusions. This outbreak of blastomycosis, the largest ever reported, was characterized by unique household and neighborhood clustering likely related to multifocal environmental sources. The reasons for the large number of Hmong affected are unclear, but may involve genetic predisposition.

This report describes the investigation of a ground-beef-associated outbreak that involved five genetically distinct patient strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Human and product isolates were evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with two endonucleases. The multiple-strain etiology of this outbreak underscores the importance of isolating and evaluating multiple colonies from outbreak-related products and comparing two endonuclease PFGE patterns of all product and human isolates identified during outbreak periods. This investigation emphasizes the importance of interviewing all confirmed and suspected case patients during the outbreak period, regardless of the PFGE pattern of their isolate, to confirm or rule out an epidemiologic link to the outbreak.

In Wisconsin, reported Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis (SE) infections during 1997 more than doubled compared with the previous 9 years. A case-control study was conducted to determine risk factors for sporadic infections, and results of outbreak investigations were reviewed. Eating raw eggs (matched odds ratio [MOR]=14.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7-591.6), eating raw or undercooked eggs (MOR=5.8; 95% CI, 1.3-28.0), eating any eggs (MOR=4.2; 95% CI, 1.2-16.2), and dining at a restaurant (MOR=4.7; 95% CI, 1.4-18.4) were associated with infection in the case-control study. For 3 of the 8 outbreaks, a probable source was identified, in each instance, foods containing eggs. Human infections decreased after eggs were diverted from implicated flocks. This epidemic demonstrates the continuing need for quality assurance on egg farms and enhanced education of consumers and commercial food preparers regarding safe handling of eggs.

Background: Blastomycosis is a potentially fatal infection caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. During January 1 through March 5, 2006, twenty-one laboratory confirmed cases of blastomycosis were reported among residents of an endemic area in north-central Wisconsin; a striking increase compared with previous years. The objective of the study was to determine if an observed increase in blastomycosis among residents of an urban area in north-central Wisconsin was caused by a point-source exposure and to identify its source. Methods: We compared epidemiologic features, and signs and symptoms of B. dermatitidis infection among 46 historic (1999–2005) and 21 possible outbreak case patients. In addition, a case-control study was conducted to compare risk factors of the outbreak case patients with those of 64 age, gender, and geographically-matched control subjects. We conducted site inspections, evaluated meteorological data, genetically compared outbreak and non-outbreak isolates, and attempted environmental detection of B. dermatitidis using polymerase chain reaction, in vitro isolation, and in vivo isolation by tail vein injection of mice. Results: The unusual risk profile of this outbreak included: residence within non-rural city limits with limited time spent outdoors and an equivalent gender ratio and young median age among case patients consistent with common source rather than unrelated exposures. Thirteen of fourteen outbreak-associated clinical isolates of B. dermatitidis clustered in the same genetic group by PCR-RFLP analysis. Inspections near the cluster center suggested a yard waste collection site as the probable exposure source. B. dermatitidis nucleic acid was detected in one of 19 environmental samples. Environmental and meteorological conditions and material management practices were identified that may have facilitated growth and dispersal of B. dermatitidis conidia near this residential area. Conclusions: Results of our investigation of this large non-rural outbreak of blastomycosis suggest bioaerosol hazards may exist near yard waste collection and composting facilities, especially where pine tree litter is present, in B. dermatitidis endemic areas.

Background. Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection often causes hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Methods. In 2006, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health and the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, in cooperation with other local, state, and federal partners, investigated an outbreak of E. coli O157: H7 infection. Results. In September 2006, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health and the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene were able to link geographically dispersed E. coli O157: H7 isolates recovered from the stool samples of ill persons, all of which had the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern (i.e outbreak pattern). Investigators conducted a case-control study with control subjects (n = 86) matched to case patients (n = 49) by age, sex, and residential location. All case patients' onsets of illness occurred during the period from 20 August through 14 September 2006. Illness was associated with spinach consumption (matched odds ratio, 82.1; 95% confidence interval, 14.7 to >1000). Of the 49 case patients, 26 (53%) recalled eating brand A spinach. On multibrand analysis, only brand A was associated with illness (undefined matched odds ratio; 95% confidence interval, 6.8-infinity). Wisconsin's agriculture laboratory isolated E. coli O157:H7 with the outbreak pattern from spinach in 2 brand A packages, both produced on 15 August 2006. Conclusions. The rapid multijurisdictional epidemiologic and laboratory response, including timely pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern analysis and PulseNet posting, facilitated prompt voluntary recall of brand A spinach.

In response to a United States Department of Energy (DOE) solicitation, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), in partnership with CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), submitted a proposal to DOE to support the demonstration of Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) technology on fifty-six CSXT locomotives. The project purpose was to demonstrate the idle fuel savings, the Nitrous Oxide (NOX) emissions reduction and the noise reduction capabilities of the APU. Fifty-six CSXT Baltimore Division locomotives were equipped with APUs, Engine Run Managers (ERM) and communications equipment to permit GPS tracking and data collection from the locomotives. Throughout the report there is mention of the percent time spent in the State of Maryland. The fifty-six locomotives spent most of their time inside the borders of Maryland and some spent all their time inside the state borders. Usually when a locomotive traveled beyond the Maryland State border it was into an adjoining state. They were divided into four groups according to assignment: (1) Power Unit/Switcher Mate units, (2) Remote Control units, (3) SD50 Pusher units and (4) Other units. The primary data of interest were idle data plus the status of the locomotive--stationary or moving. Also collected were main engine off, idling or working. Idle data were collected by county location, by locomotive status (stationary or moving) and type of idle (Idle 1, main engine idling, APU off; Idle 2, main engine off, APU on; Idle 3, main engine off, APU off; Idle 4, main engine idle, APU on). Desirable main engine idle states are main engine off and APU off or main engine off and APU on. Measuring the time the main engine spends in these desirable states versus the total time it could spend in an engine idling state allows the calculation of Percent Idle Management Effectiveness (%IME). IME is the result of the operation of the APU plus the implementation of CSXT's Warm Weather Shutdown Policy. It is difficult to separate the two. The units demonstrated an IME of 64% at stationary idle for the test period. The data collected during calendar year 2004 demonstrated that 707,600 gallons of fuel were saved and 285 tons of NOX were not emitted as a result of idle management in stationary idle, which translates to 12,636 gallons and 5.1 tons of NOx per unit respectively. The noise reduction capabilities of the APU demonstrated that at 150 feet from the locomotive the loaded APU with the main engine shut down generated noise that was only marginally above ambient noise level.

During September 1999, a multistate outbreak of Salmonella serovar Muenchen infection associated with eating raw alfalfa sprouts was identified in Wisconsin. Despite use of a calcium hypochlorite sanitizing procedure to pretreat seeds before sprouting, at least 157 outbreak-related illnesses were identified in seven states having sprouters who received alfalfa seed from a specific lot. The continued occurrence of sprout-related outbreaks despite presprouting disinfection supports the concern that no available treatment will eliminate pathogens from seeds before sprouting and reinforces the need for additional safeguards to protect the public. A lack of consumer knowledge regarding exposure to sprouts documented in this investigation suggests that more-targeted outreach to high-risk individuals may be needed to reduce their risk.

Background Blastomycosis is a potentially fatal mycosis that is acquired by inhaling infectious spores of Blastomyces dermatitidis present in the environment. The ecology of this pathogen is poorly understood, in part because it has been extremely difficult to identify the niche(s) it occupies based on culture isolation of the organism from environmental samples. Methodology/Principal Findings We investigated the ecology of blastomycosis by performing maximum entropy modeling of exposure sites from 156 cases of human and canine blastomycosis to provide a regional-scale perspective of the geographic and ecologic distribution of B. dermatitidis in Wisconsin. Based on analysis with climatic, topographic, surface reflectance and other environmental variables, we predicted that ecologic conditions favorable for maintaining the fungus in nature occur predominantly within northern counties and counties along the western shoreline of Lake Michigan. Areas of highest predicted occurrence were often in proximity to waterways, especially in northcentral Wisconsin, where incidence of infection is highest. Ecologic conditions suitable for B. dermatitidis are present in urban and rural environments, and may differ at the extremes of distribution of the species in the state. Conclusions/Significance Our results provide a framework for a more informed search for specific environmental factors modulating B. dermatitidis occurrence and transmission and will be useful for improving public health awareness of relative exposure risks.

Blastomycosis was fatal to a wild wolf in Minnesota, and serologic evidence of blastomycosis was found in a Wisconsin wolf. No unusual movements were detected in the Minnesota animal from October 1983 through October 1985. However, by early December 1985, this wolf was weak and debilitated, and it perished on 14 December after approaching a human residence.