THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 23, 1995 TAG: 9501230041
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
The Virginia Department of Health is investigating a contagious bacterial illness in the Shenandoah Valley that has killed five people and severely infected three others.
``These eight cases occurred over the past six weeks and are more than would be expected in that area during that time,'' Dr. Donald R. Stern, the acting state health commissioner, said Friday.
The victims range in age from 28 to 83 and are from Augusta, Rockbridge and Rockingham counties. One of those hospitalized in Virginia was from West Virginia.
Group A Streptococci (GAS) are bacteria commonly found in the throat and on the skin, a Health Department statement said. Many people carry the germ without any symptoms. The most common disease caused by GAS is strep throat, which usually is treated successfully with penicillin.
Less commonly, GAS causes life-threatening infections that can rapidly destroy tissue and cause shock. The Health Department said those cases usually occur in people who have had a wound or surgery or have an underlying disease that weakens them. But the department said in the past 10 years, there has been an increasing number of the more serious GAS infections.
``It is a very serious disease. Death is a good possibility,'' said Suzanne Jenkins, assistant state epidemiologist. ``But it's probably still more of a risk to be driving on Interstate 81 than it is to be out there mixing with folks.''
Three victims died at the Augusta Medical Center, said Dr. Donald Fowler, chief medical officer. One died at the University of Virginia Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said. The fifth victim died at the Rockingham Memorial Hospital, said Dawn Kiser, the hospital's infection control practitioner.
Two of the three deaths at the Augusta Medical Center involved an elderly couple. Fowler said it appeared that the man caught the infection from his wife.
Both died within 24 hours of coming to the hospital.
The third person who died at Augusta Medical had cancer. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phyllis R. Parker, 47, of Lexington is recovering from a bout with
Group A Streptococci at the University of Virginia Hospital.
KEYWORDS: CONTAGIOUS DISEASE ILLNESS FATALITIES by CNB