February 11, 1998

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Macon County Health Department are investigating an outbreak of an uncommon bacterial disease in Decatur that has resulted in seven deaths over the past four months.

Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, said the Department was first informed Monday by the Macon County Health Department official and a Decatur physician that a total of 10 cases of a serious infection caused by the Group A Streptococcus bacteria have been diagnosed in Decatur since November 1997. Those who became ill range in age from 43 to 89 years.

Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, said the Department was first informed Monday by the Macon County Health Department official and a Decatur physician that a total of 10 cases of a serious infection caused by the Group A Streptococcus bacteria have been diagnosed in Decatur since November 1997. Those who became ill range in age from 43 to 89 years.

As a precaution, Dr. Lumpkin encouraged people to practice good hygiene -- cover your mouth when sneezing, wash hands frequently and keep wounds clean and covered.

As a precaution, Dr. Lumpkin encouraged people to practice good hygiene -- cover your mouth when sneezing, wash hands frequently and keep wounds clean and covered.

The Macon County Health Department today notified doctors in Macon County and the Department contacted infectious disease specialists and hospitals in Springfield and Champaign to increase surveillance for the disease and to promptly report cases to the health department

Four of the cases have been linked to a single Decatur nursing home, three cases involve residents at three other separate nursing homes and the remaining three cases occurred randomly in the community.

After consultation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department instructed the Macon County Health Department to notify the Decatur nursing home where three residents and a visitor were diagnosed with the disease to take immediate steps to prevent additional cases. These measures include culturing the throats or wounds of all residents, employees and volunteers of this nursing home and treating any persons who test positive with antibiotics.

The other three nursing homes have been contacted about the cases and asked to watch closely for residents with Group A Streptococcus

Group A Streptococcus comprises a number of strains of bacteria that can produce a wide range of illness. Some -- like strep throat and impetigo -- are quite common and easily treated. Other, including those referred to as invasive disease, are more rare and require immediate medical attention.

The invasive strains of group A bacteria reported in Decatur can lead to several forms of serious disease, including pneumonia, meningitis, infection of the bone, an illness resembling toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis, also known as the flesh-eating bacteria.

Depending on the type of invasive infection that develops, symptoms can include a painful, red swollen part of the body; redness or inflammation around a wound that is spreading; high fever, with or without shortness of breath.

In Illinois, 95 cases of the severe, invasive Group A Streptococcus disease were reported in 1997; 89 in 1996 and 89 in 1995. On average, Macon County reports one case of invasive group A a year.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments