Posted on 12/14/2011 4:59:02 AM PST by James Oscar
February
Feb. 23 - 81-year-old woman began showing symptoms.
Not know what day she was hospitalized?
Feb. 24
Feb. 25
Feb. 26
Feb. 27
Feb. 28 - The three children, a son and two daughters, developed similar
upper respiratory symptoms/ flu-like, including fever, aches, cough
and shortness of breath.
They are hospitalzed (not sure what day) to Calvert Memorial
Hospital.
It has been stated by Dr Orlowski that the siblings arrived (at the
hospital) coughing blood.
Feb. 29
March
Mar.1 - Lou Ruth Blake, 81 years old, died. (In one report it was stated she
died at home, (I doubt this is true)
Mar. 2
Mar. 3
Mar.4
Mar.5 - Two of the siblings die;
The 56 year old daughter (at Calvert Memorial Hospital), and the 58
year old son (At the Medstar Washington hospital center, where he
had been transferred.) , both died (Mar 6 it is confirmed they died
from Influenza A.).
Mar.5 - Third daughter, 51, is transfered to and remains at Washington
Medstar Hospital Center in critical condition.
Mar.6 - Medstar Washington Hospital Center reports the son and daughter
who died in the hospital had Influenza A. Each also acquired a
serious staph infection.
Mar.6 - The health of the other daughter, 51 year old is improving, hospital
officials say. She also prove positive for Influenza A.
Mar.6 - The 81-year-old mother’s cause of death is still under investigation.
Mar.7
Mar.8
Mar.9
Mar.10
Maryland - 100s of birds crash onto Interstate 95 highway February 17, 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RDO-o6O3SI&feature=related
Greetings
Recently we were notified of approximately 80-100 starlings dead on I-95 near Laurel, MD.
Carcasses were taken to a state lab where trauma and hemorrhage were the only findings.
Additional birds were sent to the National Wildlife Health Center/ USGS - Madison, WI - and to
date - the only reported finding has been trauma.
No infectious disease was suspected based on gross necropsy. While additional diagnostic
tests were being performed last week, it is unlikely that a definitive reason for the birds flying
into traffic will be found. No other wildlife incidents were reported during that time.
A similar incident was reported in 1999 in Bowie on Rte 50 at the Bowie Airport. Starlings
reportedly flew into traffic at dusk and a few hundred were removed from the road. The National
Wildlife Health Center again found trauma as the cause of death, but did not have a reason for
the birds flying into traffic.
Will keep you informed if we learn more.
cpd
Commentary
Flu-like Death Cluster In Calvert County Maryland Grows
Recombinomics Commentary 18:30
March 6, 2012
These people that died apparently went downhill fast and started coughing up blood and then their organs were shutting down. From my understanding it all happened in a matter of 2 days from onset of symptoms. The 5th person is a funeral director that was in contact with the bodies, but I haven’t heard anymore on his condition but after he was in contact with the bodies he soon had a tightness in his chest and trouble breathing
The above comments are anecdotal and posted in response to one of several media reports which have cited 4-5 people who were hospitalized including 3-4 who have died with flu-like symptoms, including pneumonia. The cases are under investigation by health and criminal agencies. The fatality rate in the family appears to be in the 75-100% range, raising serious concerns.
Calvert County is adjacent to the Delmarva peninsula, which has a high poultry population, while the Chesapeake Bay region attracts wild birds. In Asia, clade 2.3.2.1 has expanded is geographical range via infections in wild birds, and this clade has been linked to fatal H5N1 infections, although not in a cluster as large as the one reported for Calvert County.
Similarly, the CDC reported a spike in H3N2 low reactors, but the relationship between these low reactors and seasonal or variant (H3N2v) isolates remains unclear. However, neither has been linked previous with a death cluster of this size. Recent discussions of H5N1 transmission have invoked bioterrorism, which may be the cause of the criminal investigation of a death cluster near Washington, DC.
More detail on the above anecdotal report, as well as symptoms and testing on the fatal cases, would be useful.
http://www.recombinomics.com/News/03061202/Flu_Calvert_MD_5.html
We are all chicken littles here. Just watching very closely.
I will be too busy today to post on FR but here is the link to today’s “News Thread” on PFI, Niman’s commentaries are usually posted there as well. Yesterday’s thread had at least 3 IIRC. Pixie’s comments are well worth reading, too.
Today’s news:
http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/viewtopic.php?t=4822&sid=ce90098aec3408486fa70545204d8ff2
Yesterday’s news:
http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/viewtopic.php?t=4821&start=30&sid=ce90098aec3408486fa70545204d8ff2
5th Calvert family member at hospital
By Lena H. Sun, Wednesday, March 7, 11:00 AM
A fifth member of the Calvert County family stricken by serious lung infections and complications of flu is at MedStar Washington Hospital Center for evaluation, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. Three family members have died in the past week.
The newest person to come under medical attention is the sister of Lou Ruth Blake, 81. Blake died at her home in Lusby on March 1. The sister has a fever but does not appear to have other flulike symptoms, the spokeswoman said.
Blake’s son, 58, and one daughter, 56, died Monday after they were hospitalized with upper respiratory symptoms. They had been taking care of their mother.
A second daughter, 51, who had also been a caregiver, is improving and is likely to be moved out of intensive care some time Wednesday, according to hospital spokeswoman So Young Pak.
Hospital officials said tests confirmed that the siblings who died had a strain of the influenza A virus and each also acquired a serious staph infection before they were hospitalized. The two developed severe bacterial pneumonia, which is not uncommon in people infected with the flu virus. The flu virus weakens and damages the lungs, and infection develops when bacteria invade.
Calvert County health officials said in a statement Wednesday that the cases were isolated to a single family and “there are currently no other affected individuals.” They said local health-care providers are not reporting any significant increase in patients with flulike symptoms.
Calvert County health officials have also been testing inside Blake’s home to determine whether there are additional substances there that could have contributed to the illnesses.
Commentary
Another Fatal H3 Case In Maryland?
Recombinomics Commentary 18:45
March 7, 2012
My 33 year old sister died on Tuesday morning in BWMC (old North Arundel) she got sick over the weekend was coughing up blood by Monday and died 4:30 am Tuesday. Hospital said it was pneumonia. but It happened so fast. sounds just like what these people had.
The above comments represent another anecdotal report on flu-like cases in the Washington DC area. The above fatal case (33F) was said to be at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center, just south of Baltimore, and was in response to comments on the Calvert County cluster, which has been H3 confirmed.
Although these comments are unconfirmed, the earlier description of the Calvert cluster coughing up blood was confirmed by subsequent media reports.
An earlier press release denies additional similar clusters, the above description appears to be a single case that was not part of a reported cluster.
http://smnewsnet.com/archives/10857
This case is an anecdotal report which has not been verified by any other source.
Always remember to take Dr. Niman’s commentaries with a grain of salt. He tends to be a bit dramatic. But he has been right a lot.
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/07/maryland-flu-deaths-mysterious/
Looks like they are saying the sister of the old lady is infected and might have got it at the funeral.
Index case - Woman, 81, disease onset February 23, death at home March 1 - influenza not confirmed but highly suspected
Woman, 56, child of index case, disease onset February 28, died in hospital March 5 - seasonal influenza A/H3 confirmed + staph infection
Man, 58, child of index case, disease onset February 28, died in hospital March 5 - seasonal influenza A/H3 confirmed + staph infection
Woman, 51, child of index case hospitalized and recovering - seasonal influenza A/H3 confirmed, staph infection not confirmed
Woman - elderly, sister of index case hospitalized March 6 with fever - no diagnosis at this time
Sources:
CIDRAP report March 7
Growing H3 Maryland Death Cluster Raises Concerns
Recombinomics Commentary 12:00
March 8, 2012
“We don’t yet know what this is about,” Orlowski said. “She has a fever and a cough. They were all together at a funeral last week. Individuals could easily have caught the flu–a large gathering of people, hugging, consoling, possibly sharing a meal.”
“If the individuals had the flu at that time it is quite likely that others are showing signs of the flu,” says Orlowski. ‘If I was in that family and felt ill, I would seek medical attention early.”
The above comments strongly suggest that the sister of the index case (81F) for the Calvert County, Maryland cluster is also infected by the H3 confirmed in her sister, nieces, and nephew. This case raises serious concerns about the Calvert County announcement of no new cases or clusters, which appears to be dependent on lab confirmation and thus, is ignoring symptomatic contacts, include the above hospitalized case.
Moreover, the above case has fever in cough, in contrast to media reports claiming that the only symptom upon hospitalization was fever.
Moreover, the funeral cited above is almost certainly the March 3 funeral (in Lusby) for a nephew, who was killed while falling a neighbor’s tree, also in Lusby. Thus, the transmission chain appears to be active, and new cases should be developing symptoms this week.
More information on cases under investigation would be useful, as would detail on the H3 testing (which has been withheld), including full sequences for all eight gene segments.
Here’s an obituary for a fourth fatality that is a relative of this cluster. Noting the date, his may be the funeral that the other victims attended.
Name:
BRIAN W. BUCK
Dates:
Birth date: March 25, 1961
Death date: February 25, 2012
Obituary:
Brian Winfred Buck, more affectionately known as “Jake” and “Bally”, was born on March 25, 1961 in Calvert County, Maryland to the late Frances Delores Stewart Buck and Nathaniel Buck, Sr. He peacefully departed this life on Saturday, February 25, 2012.
[snip]
Left to cherish many memories of his life are his two beautiful daughters and six grandchildren whom he deeply loved: Nadine (Jonah, Lynaijah, & Jamon), and Levina (JayVion, Kaniya & Merriyah), three brothers: Nathaniel, Jr. (Joyce), Steve (Mary Jane), and Levi (Felicia), three sisters: Robin (friend Stanley), Renea (Leroy), and Brenda (friend Kevin), three uncles: James, Richard, and Charles Buck, six aunts: Ruth Blake (now deceased), Beatrice, Louise, Patricia, Delores, and Mary Buck, Marnette and Lucille Stewart, and Emmalene Holland, a very special friend Catherine Stewart, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation:
10:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Eastern UM Church 975 Eastern Church Road Lusby, MD 20657 (map/driving directions)
Service:
11:00 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Eastern UM Church 975 Eastern Church Road Lusby, MD 20657 (map/driving directions)
Note: This man DID NOT die of flu. Nevertheless, it provides a clue as to whose funeral it could have been and the timing (and a fourth tragic death in the same extended family).
Calvert man crushed while cutting up tree
Published: February 26
A Calvert County man died Saturday afternoon when a root ball the size of a small car rolled onto him while he was cutting up a toppled tree, authorities said.
Brian W. Buck, 50, of Lusby was working on an oak tree that fell last August during Hurricane Irene, said Lt. Steve Jones of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. When a large log rolled into the hole where the tree once stood, Buck jumped into the hole to retrieve the log.
Maryland flu deaths mysterious
The Calvert County investigation into the flu deaths of 3 family members in Lusby, Maryland, found two of them–a 58 year-old brother and his 56-year-old-sister died of serious lung infections, a complication of seasonal flu.
The CDC already has confirmed the siblings died of influenza A. The strain is still unknown. Their 81-year-old mother, who was being cared for by her three children died at home Thursday of complications from the flu. The surviving sibling, a 51-year-old woman, remains in guarded condition at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., where she is responding to treatment.
Dr. David Rogers, Health Officer of Calvert County, says the investigation into the flu deaths of the three family members in Lusby, Maryland, is continuing. Rogers told CNN while unusual, these were isolated cases and the community at large should not be overly concerned or alarmed.
“This is extremely rare. I think what happened here is that we had an elderly woman who got flu, then she suffered a complication of flu, a severe bacterial pneumonia. Three kids came to provide bedside care and came in close contact. They may not only have caught flu from her but the serious lung infection that she had.”
Rogers said. “This is a very isolated situation where you have four people in a home, in close contact. This happens not infrequently in elderly people.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 90% of seasonal flu related deaths and more than 60% of flu related hospitalizations in the United States each year are in people 65 or older.
The sister of the deceased 81-year old woman is now also being treated for flu like symptoms at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Dr. Janis Orlowski, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, says the woman was admitted last night and is in fair condition.
“We don’t yet know what this is about,” Orlowski said. “She has a fever and a cough. They were all together at a funeral last week. Individuals could easily have caught the flu–a large gathering of people, hugging, consoling, possibly sharing a meal.”
“If the individuals had the flu at that time it is quite likely that others are showing signs of the flu,” says Orlowski. ‘If I was in that family and felt ill, I would seek medical attention early.”
Orlowski also treated the brother, who passed away at the hospital Monday night.
She says the bacterial infection they had was a staphylococcal (staph) infection, which she calls a super infection. Cultures on the surviving sister are not back yet. The source of the staph is still unknown, but Orlowski says the bacteria is naturally on the body. On skin, in the nose. Most people, she says, don’t catch it from someone else.
“The question is did the mother have the staph where it went to the hands of the children and they got infected or did each end up becoming super infected with their own bacteria and we don’t know the answer to that. It’s likely we will never know.”
And rare enough that they looked for other sources.
“We did look for poison, carbon monoxide in the house, did they all ingest something?” Orlowski asks. “It’s astonishingly rare, such that we are all looking that other explanations.”
Orlowski says over the last several days the hospital emergency room filled with nearly 400 patients. Most had chronic illnesses like heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and liver disease made worse by a bout of flu.
“It’s flu season in the mid-Atlantic area so I urge the public to get vaccinated if you have not been, wash your hands, and if you are ill, don’t go to school or work. We don’t want you to spread the illness.”
There are only two still alive.
Woman, 51, child of index case hospitalized and recovering - seasonal influenza A/H3 confirmed, staph infection not confirmed
Woman - elderly, sister of index case hospitalized March 6 with fever - no diagnosis at this time (another report says being treated for flu symptoms)
above is what we have on those two.
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