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Volume 15, Number 7—July 2009
CME ACTIVITY - Research

Cluster of Sylvatic Epidemic Typhus Cases Associated with Flying Squirrels, 2004–2006

Alice S. Chapman1, David L. Swerdlow, Virginia M. Dato, Alicia D. Anderson, Claire E. Moodie, Chandra Marriott, Brian Amman, Morgan J. Hennessey, Perry Fox, Douglas B. Green, Eric Pegg, William L. Nicholson, Marina E. Eremeeva, and Gregory A. DaschComments to Author 

Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (A.S. Chapman, D.L. Swerdlow, A.D. Anderson, C.E. Moodie, B. Amman, M. Hennessey, D.B. Green, E. Pegg, W.L. Nicholson, M.E. Eremeeva, G.A. Dasch); Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA (V.M. Dato, C. Marriott, P. Fox)

Main Article

Table 1

Characteristics of patients with flying squirrel–associated sylvatic typhus, Pennsylvania, USA, 2004–2006*

Patient no. (age, y)* Date of illness onset Exposure‡
 Hospitalized
Touched flying squirrel Slept in bunk B Serologic titer (date)
 Clinical sign§
IgG IgM Fever, °C Headache Photophobia
1 (31) 2006 Jan No A 512 
(2006 Feb) 4,096 (2006 Feb) 39.6 Yes No Yes
2 (39) 2004 Dec Yes F 1,024 (2006 Mar) 512 
(2006 Mar) 40.3 Yes Yes Yes
3 (26) 2005 Jan No F 128 
(2006 Mar) ND 39.4 No No No
4 (26) 2005 Dec No S 256 
(2006 Mar) ND 39.8 Yes Yes No

*Ig, immunoglobulin titer against Rickettsia prowazekii; ND, not done.
†All patients were male.
‡All patients lived in cabin A. A, always; F, frequently; S, sometimes.
§All patients had chills and muscle pain but not rash.

Main Article

1Current affiliation: US Air Force, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, USA.

Page created: December 03, 2010
Page updated: December 03, 2010
Page reviewed: December 03, 2010
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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