COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Memorial Hospital and health authorities are investigating a suspicious death from a communicable disease, a spokesman for the hospital said. Sharon Miracle, hospital spokeswoman, said, "We are investigating a suspicious communicable disease." She said it was too early to say whether it might be tuberculosis, because cultures have to grown to determine what the cause of the person's death.
The patient arrived at the emergency room on Friday and later died. The patient was put in an isolation room and air flows controlled as a precautionary measure. Staff and family wore personal protective gear. The health department told the hospital it would not have test results until early next week. "It is much to early to speculate on what it is," she said.
Tuberculosis, particularly anti-drug resistant strains, has attracted worldwide attention since an Atlanta lawyer named Andrew Speaker was quarantined at National Jewish Hospital last week. Medical experts say TB is significantly less contagious than flu, SARS and other maladies that have led to airport alerts. Approximately 36,000 people in the U.S. die from the flu each year.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/13474337/detail.html
Investigate Son's, Mother's Mysterious Symptoms 7 People Quarantined (Wisconsin)
June 8, 2007
WAUWATOSA, Wis. -- Six people are being treated at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin for potential exposure to a harmful substance. Milwaukee County Sheriff's spokeswoman Kim Brooks said that two teenage boys reported feeling sick at Menomonee Falls High School early Friday afternoon. The first boy went to the nurse's office and the nurse called his mother, who picked him up to take him to the hospital. On the way to the hospital, the boy's mother became ill, Brooks said. They both complained of a headache and shortness of breath.
A couple of hours later, a second teenager, a friend of the first, was taken to Children's Hospital with similar symptoms. Brooks said there is no reason to believe the symptoms are contagious and that there is any danger to the public. The other people being treated are four hospital staff members. Authorities said they are not certain any harmful substance actually exists, and they are looking for any potential hazardous material. Brooks said the quarantine of the seven people is precautionary.
The emergency room is open and under normal operations. The Menomonee Falls Police Department told 12 News they found nothing at Menomonee Falls High School and have cleared the scene. Police said they they believe it might be a mold problem at the first teenager's house that may be causing the illness.
http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/news/13469396/detail.html
Thank you Oorang.
Updates appreciated on the Colorado article.