CHERRY HILL, N.J. Possible outbreak of meningococcal disease at convention; 1 dead, 7 hospitalized

http://www.nandotimes.com ^ | February 10, 2002 | The Associated Press

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

The Associated Press

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (February 10, 2002 12:37 p.m. EST) - A 45-year-old woman died Sunday and seven others were hospitalized after becoming ill during a mortgage company's convention at a hotel outside Philadelphia.

The woman who died showed signs of bacterial pneumonia and a rash associated with the types of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis, said Dr. David Condoluci, chief of infectious diseases at Kennedy Memorial Hospitals-Cherry Hill.

"Because it could - and I emphasize 'could' - be the form of meningococcal disease, we've offered preventative antibiotics with those who had close contact," Condoluci said Sunday.

Joanne Hemstreet, of Kingston, Mass., had been critically ill when she arrived at the hospital Saturday evening. She had complained of headache, fever, chills and vomiting about noon Saturday, and her condition worsened throughout the day, Condoluci said.

Hemstreet was among hundreds of people at the Cherry Hill Hilton attending a convention held by Mount Laurel-based Cendant Mortgage, a division of Cendant Corp.

Seven convention-goers were admitted to Kennedy Memorial Hospitals for treatment and observation, but none was critically ill, Condoluci said.

Thirty others were assessed in the hospital's emergency room, and six of them who had close contact with Hemstreet were given antibiotics.

"Otherwise, being in the same room or being in the hotel, it's not necessary for those people to be given antibiotics," Condoluci said.

The Camden County Health Department was talking to other convention-goers at the hotel Sunday morning, Condoluci said. Health officials and other local authorities remained at the Hilton just before noon.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

important bumps

[vetvetdoug]

Neisseria meningitidis is always bad if you are the first one to contract the disease. Once the disease is identified, the contacts are given prophylactic antibiotics. This disease has always been the scourge of groups of people in an enclosed area for a protracted period of time, usually in schools or recruits at military basic training. It is not a good situation being the harbinger or sentinel.

[.30Carbine]

Information on the disease and treatment here

[Eva]

I don't know if it is a co-incidence, but someone posted a prayer request on FreeRepublic for his daughter who was admitted to the hospital, yesterday with a bacterial meningites, or encephalitis. I always get those two mixed up.

[inflorida]

I hope this has nothing to do with this prayer request posted Friday on FR:

Pray for my wife

me | today | my self

Posted on 2/8/02 11:24 PM Pacific by CJ Wolf

Today was a difficult day. I ask anyone who can, to pray for my wife, Michelle. She was admitted last night to the hospital with flu like symptoms. Today I learned from the docs that she has developed a bacterial meningitis. I've seen prayer requests on Free Republic before and have said a few for those that have had difficult times.

She means all the world to me and her children.

Thanks

[Eva]

I just checked, it was his wife and it was bacterial meningitis. He is from Virginia.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

BUMP saw this on breaking news on T.V.

[Seeking the truth]

If I recall correctly, this was also the area of the Legionaires Disease outbreak way back when.

[FReepaholic]

Was it Philadelphia that had the outbreak of Legionaires disease during a convention many years ago?

[lsee]

I will pray for her speedy recovery. May God be with you and your family.

[tortoise]

There have been quite a few outbreaks of meningococcal disease around the world over the last couple years. Several western countries have taken steps to immunize their entire populations as a result of increasing problems with this bacterium. The only reason I am aware of this at all is that I own quite a bit of stock in a biotech that produces good meningitis vaccines that has recently won a few contracts with various governments around the world for tens or hundreds of millions of doses with more countries considering similar contracts. Apparently it is becoming a serious problem these days, though fortunately it is fixable both with vaccines and antibiotics.

[Kaslin]

My daughter became ill with monoccus (sp) Meninghities in 1970 when she was just seven month old. This is the type that affects the lining of the brain. As a result of this she is totally deaf in her left ear and her right ear is also affected, but not as serious as the other one. At the time she had just learned to stand up and had to learn everything over after her illness that an infant has to learn in the first year of her life. We do call our self lucky though as she has become quite a intelligent and pretty woman

[WxMan2000]

Yes...it was in Philly..circa 1976.

[pgkdan]

You're right. Legionnaires Disease broke out at the old Bellvue Stratford Hotel on Broad Street in Philadelphia . The Hotel closed and never reopened. I attended the 1976 Eucharistic Confrence held in Philly that year and remember everyone avoided the place like the plague. There was a subway stop on the block the Hotel was located and everyone ascended to street level at the point farthest from the Hotel and crossed to street to avoid passing the hotel at close proximity.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Ping {{{{{ }}}}}

[Mixer]

NJ Bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!