Lessons learnt from the intense 2014 Chikungunya Epidemic in Grenada

OBJECTIVE: To present an overview of the lessons learnt from the fall 2014 outbreak of Chikungunya (CHIK) in Grenada. DESIGN AND METHODS: A review of newspaper articles, news reports and opinions of clinicians and policy makers on the impact and evolution of the CHIK outbreak in Grenada was conducted. RESULTS: CHIK outbreaks on small island developing nations are characterized by high attack rates. The speed of the spread of the virus is facilitated by the efficient domesticated diurnal vector species Aedes aegypti. Efforts to educate the public and to control this vector stretched resources. Clinical attack rates in the Grenada outbreak impacted manpower resources in every sector including clinical services. CONCLUSION: CHILK infected an estimated 60% of the population in just three months of intense transmission. The resulting morbidity meant that essential lessons were learnt. These included the need for a rapid response in educating the population on the mode of transmission of the virus and its prevention, the implementation of vector control and the demand for diagnostic tests. Essential services were short staffed. The need for an unprecedented rapid response and the impact of the CHIK outbreak in Grenada will be presented.

Contamination of the cold water distribution system of health care facilities by Legionella pneumophila: do we know the true dimension?

German water guidelines do not recommend routine assessment of cold water for Legionella in healthcare facilities, except if the water temperature at distal sites exceeds 25°C. This study evaluates Legionella contamination in cold and warm water supplies of healthcare facilities in Hesse, Germany, and analyses the relationship between cold water temperature and Legionella contamination. Samples were collected from four facilities, with cases of healthcare-associated Legionnaires' disease or notable contamination of their water supply. Fifty-nine samples were from central lines and 625 from distal sites, comprising 316 cold and 309 warm water samples. Legionella was isolated from central lines in two facilities and from distal sites in four facilities. 17% of all central and 32% of all distal samples were contaminated. At distal sites, cold water samples were more frequently contaminated with Legionella (40% vs 23%, p <0.001) and with higher concentrations of Legionella (≥1,000 colony-forming unit/100 ml) (16% vs 6%, p<0.001) than warm water samples. There was no clear correlation between the cold water temperature at sampling time and the contamination rate. 35% of cold water samples under 20 °C at collection were contaminated. Our data highlight the importance of assessing the cold water supply of healthcare facilities for Legionella in the context of an intensified analysis.