Respiratory cases could be linked to mold

[Guest guest]

Article published Aug 25, 2004

Respiratory cases could be linked to mold

By PATRICK WHITTLE

CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Nearly three dozen people have visited Fawcett Memorial

Hospital since Thursday, complaining of breathing problems, and hospital

officials suspect that mold and mildew are to blame.

Hurricane Charley's damage has allowed both to grow in many water-damaged homes,

a dangerous development for residents with breathing problems.

Those with serious respiratory illnesses such as asthma and emphysema should

consider moving until their homes are cleaned, said infection control

practitioner Hall.

The Port Charlotte hospital has seen 35 patients, most of whom had pre-existing

breathing conditions, for respiratory problems since Thursday, Hall said. That

is about 9 percent of all hospital visits and twice as many respiratory cases as

the hospital would normally see, she said.

Mold growth in homes could be to blame, she said. Mold spores can aggravate

breathing problems or cause allergic symptoms.

Mold has grown in damaged homes because of rain and water that seeped in during

and after the storm. The problem is at its height right now, because mold has

had more than a week to grow since the storm and many homes are still damaged,

she said.

" It's had a chance to grow, humidity is bad, we're still getting rain, people's

roofs are still compromised, and they are getting wet inside, " Hall said. " It's

just adding insult to injury. "

The State Department of Health is keeping track of reported breathing problems

in Charlotte County, spokeswoman Jeannine Mallory said. So far the state hasn't

confirmed any cases where mold was definitely to blame, she said.

In most cases, mold will be visible in the home, Mallory said. It can be cleaned

with diluted bleach, but elderly or sick residents or people with breathing

disorders should not get close to it, Hall said.

Water-damaged items should be thrown out, Mallory said.

" People just need to know what's going on in their homes and remove what got

wet, " Mallory said.

The numbers of patients complaining of respiratory problems were not available

for a Federal Emergency Management Agency mobile emergency room in Punta Gorda

or from Bon Secours-St. ph Hospital in Port Charlotte.

A spokesman at the FEMA facility, which is in a parking lot across from

Charlotte Regional Medical Center, said officials have taken precautions to

prevent mold from growing on their site.

Charlotte Regional also could not provide figures, but expects to see more cases

soon, said Barnett, hospital director of risk management and infection

control.

People who live in damaged residences need to be especially conscious of mold

and mildew, she said.

" They could be the state flowers, " she said. " There is a greater opportunity for

the mold to actually grow inside our homes because of the damage. "

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040825/NEWS/408250481/\

1060<http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040825/NEWS/40825\

0481/1060>