Biological Hazard - France, Multiple areas, [South-western regions]

Earth Watch Report  -  Biological Hazards

A mystery illness has struck hundreds of pupils at a French school. Photo: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP

.....

Biological Hazard

France

Multiple areas, [South-western regions]

.....

RSOE EDIS

Biological Hazard in France on Thursday, 10 April, 2014 at 10:35 (10:35 AM) UTC.

Description Hundreds of French school children have fallen victim to a mystery sickness that has spread like wildfire through their school. All classes have been suspended and baffled health authorities have advised the school to close, while they try to determine the cause of the outbreak. Since January at least 227 pupils at their school in south-western France have reported headaches, dizziness, vertigo and trouble breathing while, but health authorities, despite carrying out multiple tests, are no closer to determining the cause. Earlier this week regional health authorities in Aquitaine recommended "as a measure of precaution" closing part of the College Jean-Moulin in Artix, French magazine L'Express reported. The school apparently remains open for the moment, but all classes have been suspended. So far the most promising lead was the series of renovations completed at the secondary (junior high) school over the winter holidays. It was shortly after classes resumed in January that pupils began reporting symptoms. The head of the Aquitaine regional health authority told L'Express they were baffled by the outbreak of sickness. "This is an unexplained phenomenon. We carried out multiple environmental analyses, starting with carbon monoxide tests, and so far everything's come back negative," Michel Laforcade said. Health inspectors have also checked for volatile compounds that could be in the air after the renovations, perhaps coming from the glue used to attach the carpet or materials in the furniture, but that also proven to be a dead end. The hypothesis of a psychosomatic cause has not been ruled out for the moment, but it doesn't seem likely in Laforcade's view. "We don't believe that this many illnesses could have a social cause," He told L'Express. As their investigation continues, health authorities plan to keep a close eye on the children who have been withdrawn from school due to illness. They also expect to carry out a complete analysis of every material used in the school in an effort to find the cause. Finding the culprit will take as long as it takes, Laforcarde said, adding: "This is really unheard of and all hypotheses bare exploring. We will pass on the information as we get it." Biohazard name: Unidentified Illness Biohazard level: 3/4 Hight Biohazard desc.: Bacteria and viruses that can cause severe to fatal disease in humans, but for which vaccines or other treatments exist, such as anthrax, West Nile virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, SARS virus, variola virus (smallpox), tuberculosis, typhus, Rift Valley fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, yellow fever, and malaria. Among parasites Plasmodium falciparum, which causes Malaria, and Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes trypanosomiasis, also come under this level. Symptoms: headaches, dizziness, vertigo and trouble breathing Status: suspected

.....

A mystery illness has struck hundreds of pupils at a French school. Photo: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP

Mystery illness strikes scores of French pupils

Published: 10 Apr 2014 11:05 GMT+02:00
Updated: 10 Apr 2014 11:05 GMT+02:00

Hundreds of French school children have fallen victim to a mystery sickness that has spread like wildfire through their school. All classes have been suspended and baffled health authorities have advised the school to close, while they try to determine the cause of the outbreak.

Since January at least 227 pupils at their school in south-western France have reported headaches, dizziness, vertigo and trouble breathing, but health authorities, despite carrying out multiple tests, are no closer to determining the cause.

Earlier this week regional health authorities in Aquitaine recommended “as a measure of precaution” closing part of the College Jean-Moulin in Artix, French magazine L’Express reported. The school apparently remains open for the moment, but all classes have been suspended.

So far the most promising lead was the series of renovations completed at the secondary (junior high) school over the winter holidays. It was shortly after classes resumed in January that pupils began reporting symptoms.    

The head of the Aquitaine regional health authority told L’Express they were baffled by the outbreak of sickness.

“This is an unexplained phenomenon. We carried out multiple environmental analyses, starting with carbon monoxide tests, and so far everything’s come back negative,” Michel Laforcade said.

Health inspectors have also checked for volatile compounds that could be in the air after the renovations, perhaps coming from the glue used to attach the carpet or materials in the furniture, but that also proven to be a dead end.

Read More Here
.....

Related articles

• Mystery illness strikes scores of French pupils

Biological Hazard - State of Kansas, Hillsboro [Tabor College]

Earth Watch Report  -  Biological Hazards

---

.....

April 01 2014 01:35 PM

Biological Hazard

USA

State of Kansas, Hillsboro [Tabor College]

.....

Biological Hazard in USA on Tuesday, 01 April, 2014 at 13:35 (01:35 PM) UTC.

Description About 20 percent of people on the Tabor College faculty have come down with an illness that includes stomach and flu-like symptoms. The spread of the illness has gotten the attention of the local and state health departments. Investigators, who don’t suspect cafeteria food poisoning because some sick students didn’t eat there, are still trying to determine the cause. Biohazard name: Unidentified Illness Biohazard level: 2/4 Medium Biohazard desc.: Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. "Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents. Symptoms: stomach and flu-like symptoms Status: suspected

.....

Mystery illness sickening Tabor students and faculty

Posted: Mon 8:34 PM, Mar 31, 2014

By: Chris Frank - Email

Hillsboro, Kan. -- Tabor College senior Ryan Nelson had what started as a normal Tuesday of classes then work. But by early Tuesday evening normal came to sickening end.
Nelson says, "By seven o'clock that night I started throwing up. Just really having bad body aches and everything."
He missed class and discovers he wasn't alone in his misery. "But then I found out a ton of other people on campus got sick as well."
Tabor's Director of Communications Katrina Hancock says, "By Tuesday night we've got at least 30 kids had got sick with stomach cramping and diarrhea and vomiting."
And the number of sick has grown since then she says, "I'd say anywhere from 30 to 50 students and faculty that were affected by this. About 20 percent of our campus has gotten it."

Read More Here
.....

Related articles

• Mystery illness sickening Tabor students and faculty