'Walking Pneumonia'? or Legionnaires

[Guest guest]

http://www.rense.com/general28/teen.htm

Mystery Illness Kill Texas

Teen - Brother In Coma

http://www.nbc5i.com/News/1622910/detail.html

8-25-2

IRVING, Texas -- Health officials Tuesday were awaiting test results that

would reveal what killed a 13-year-old Irving girl and left her 15-year-old

brother in a coma.

City, county and state public health experts took no chances ...

investigators wore special " protective suits " to go into the house.

According to investigators, the girl died Sunday from an unknown cause.

Officials also said that the boy became critically ill a week ago, suffering

a high fever and difficulty breathing.

Both teens shared the same bedroom with three other siblings, who have been

hospitalized as a precaution.

" I think our biggest concern right now is to make sure there's not some type

of infectious disease process that's of a concern that we have to watch out

for, " Dr. Zoretic said.

Zoretic, the director of the Texas Department of Health, said Legionnaires'

disease is a possibility.

However, until the mystery is solved, officials have quarantined the home

while they collect test samples.

" We found three air conditioners, nothing obviously wrong with them, " Irving

Health Department investigator Robb Nance said. " We did swab samples on all

three air conditioners. We went into the shower and did a swab sample on the

head and took a water sample from the shower. "

Investigators said they also removed from the house what they called " herbal

medicine. "

Unidentified neighbors said the family doesn't believe in doctors, and that

the children may never have received basic immunizations to prevent illness.

Meanwhile, child welfare agents are also investigating whether the parents

are providing proper child care. However, officials did not take custody of

the couple's remaining children.

The parents have not been sick and were not hospitalized.

However, officials late Tuesday morning announced that the children's

grandfather, who lives in a house across the street, had also fallen ill.

___

Todays news--

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/1626093/detail.html

Officials Identify Fatal 'Mystery Illness'

State Health Officials Know What Killed Girl

IRVING, Texas -- State health officials Wednesday identified the illness

that killed a 13-year-old Irving girl and left her 15-year-old brother in a

coma.

According to officials, an illness known as " walking pneumonia " is

responsible for killing (left) and sickening her brother,

Mathew (right).

Officials also confirmed that the teens' three other siblings, who had been

hospitalized as a precautionary measure, also have the illness and are being

treated.

Officials said that the children's parents were not ill.

However, despite their findings, health officials said they don't know why

both children had such sudden and severe reactions to the illness.

According to the family's pastor, Dr. Steve Nutter, officials are looking

into other factors that may have contributed to the severity of teens'

illness.

Meanwhile, the Health Department has lifted the quarantine it had previously

placed on the family's house before the illness was identified.

___

Legionnaires' disease is listed as one of the differential diagnosis when

considering Mycoplasma Pneumonia.

Comment

'Walking Pneumonia'...My Foot!

From Doyle, PhD

dr_p_doyle@...>

Hello Jeff - I like the diagnosis, 'Walking Pneumonia.' Right? This sounds a

lot like Madagascar.

I noticed that the health department went into the home with " space suits. "

All the kids are

infected.

I have been corresponding with Pasteur lab Madagascar and am told they

operate at level 2. That is strange. Also, they claim m. pneumonae is not a

coinfection of the " flu " in Madagascar.

I wonder if we will hear more cases like this? 'Walking pneumonia' my foot.

Public health must think that the public is stupid. T

Patty