El tifus exantemático en Jerez de la Frontera (1941-1942) / The exanthematic typhus in Jerez de la Frontera (1941-1942) / O tifo exantemático em Jerez de la Frontera (1941-1942)

Los objetivos de este trabajo son: localizar documentación para estudiar la morbilidad y la mortalidad ocasionada por el tifus exantemático en Jerez de la Frontera (1941-1942); estudiar las medidas sanitarias que se llevaron a cabo en esta ciudad contra esta enfermedad, y exponer otros problemas de morbilidad y mortalidad en los años 40

The objectives of this paper are to locate documentation to study the morbidity and mortality caused by exanthematoustyphus in Jerez de la Frontera (1941-1942); to study the sanitary measures that were carried out in this city against this disease, and to point out other problems of morbidity and mortality in the 1940s

Os objetivos deste trabalho são localizar documentação para estudar a morbimortalidade causada por tifo exantematoso em Jerez de la Frontera (1941-1942); estudar as medidas sanitárias adotadas nesta cidade contra essa doença e expor outros problemas de morbimortalidade na década de 1940

A Mixed Outbreak of Epidemic Typhus Fever and Trench Fever in a Youth Rehabilitation Center: Risk Factors for Illness from a Case-Control Study, Rwanda, 2012.

In August 2012, laboratory tests confirmed a mixed outbreak of epidemic typhus fever and trench fever in a male youth rehabilitation center in western Rwanda. Seventy-six suspected cases and 118 controls were enrolled into an unmatched case-control study to identify risk factors for symptomatic illness during the outbreak. A suspected case was fever or history of fever, from April 2012, in a resident of the rehabilitation center. In total, 199 suspected cases from a population of 1,910 male youth (attack rate = 10.4%) with seven deaths (case fatality rate = 3.5%) were reported. After multivariate analysis, history of seeing lice in clothing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-5.8), delayed (≥ 2 days) washing of clothing (aOR = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.6-9.6), and delayed (≥ 1 month) washing of beddings (aOR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2.0-11) were associated with illness, whereas having stayed in the rehabilitation camp for ≥ 6 months was protective (aOR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.10-0.40). Stronger surveillance and improvements in hygiene could prevent future outbreaks.

[Typhus fever morbidity among the military personnel and civilians in the regions around Volga river during World War I].

The article is concerned to the materials about epidemiologic situation of typhus fever in the regions around Volga river (Saratovsky, Samarsky and others) during World War I (1914-1918) among the military personnel of the Russian army and among the civilians. The main reasons for spread of infection, ways of the transmission, and also measures for decreasing of level of morbidity on the different stages of evacuation of patients with typhus fever in the safer hospitals are shown. The most important methods of fighting against epidemic of typhus fever were: isolation of patients in separate special hospitals, desincection and disinfection measures in the foci of infection and organization appropriate sanitary conditions for military man in the army and among civilians. Acquired valuable experience of territorial and military doctors during the period of epidemic of typhus fever allowed receiving complex effective antiepidemic measures of fighting and prevention from this disease.

"Belsenitis": liberating Belsen, its hospitals, UNRRA, and selection for re-emigration, 1945-1948.

The liberation of the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen has remained controversial with opinion divided over whether the British military and subsequently the British zonal administration responded adequately to the plight of survivors. This paper reconsiders the evidence on health conditions at Bergen-Belsen. At first the British underestimated the incidence of typhus and the delay in taking effective measures caused the death rate to remain high. In the longer-term, measures for psychotic, old, and infirm DPs were inadequate as criteria that favored the fit and able-bodied were applied when selecting migrants.

[Effect of fosfidomycin on development of various infections in mice]. / Deistvie fosmidomitsina na razvitie nekotorykh infektsii u myshei.

Antibiotic fosmidomycin will know as inhibitor of the nonmevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis and as possible antimalarial drug, was shown to possess a certain protective effect on mice experimentally infected with tularemia, tiphus or coli-septicemia. Positive effect on mice with chronic form of tuberculosis was not observed when the animals were given 1 mg of fosmidomycin per capita twice a day. Under oxidative conditions an ESR signal of long living nitroxil free radicals were registered in the water solution of fosmidomycin. The radicals are supposed to be involved in the therapeutic effect of the antibiotic.

Epidemic typhus in a prison in Burundi.

The International Committee of the Red Cross investigated an outbreak of fever of unknown origin in Ngozi prison, Burundi, which resulted in a crude mortality rate of 2.61% in January 1996. A definite diagnosis of epidemic typhus caused by Rickettsia prowazekii was established by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using specific antigens. Control measures included complete cleansing of the prison with cyfluthrine, shaving and dusting all prisoners with permethrin 0.5% dusting powder, and replacement of all mattresses and clothes. All prisoners and guards received a single dose of doxycyline (100 mg) simultaneously. The crude mortality rate dropped abruptly to 1.27% in February 1996 and remained at or below 0.5% from March onwards. Health authorities and medical agencies working in Burundi need to consider epidemic typhus in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin in order to be able to take appropriate control measures in time.

Typhus fever: report of an epidemic in New York City in 1847.

An epidemic of thyphus fever in New York City in 1847 that was associated with massive immigrations from Ireland is described by review of the records of 138 cases admitted to The New York Hospital during a seven-week period. Medical understanding of epidemic diseases, of typhus, and of therapeutics is examined. Most patients (80%) acquired the disease during passage, but 20% of the cases resulted from secondary spread in New York. The illness was characterized by high fever, headache, myalgias, and loss of appetite. Complications, most commonly central nervous system dysfunction and secondary bacterial infections, occurred in 29% of the cases. The mortality rate was 11%. Therapy was directed at cleansing the bowel and diaphoresis. Bleeding was not employed. In spite of mistaken concepts about epidemic diseases, measures were employed that controlled spread of the disease.

[Studies on the possibility of immunoprophylaxis of carcinoma]. / Untersuchungen über die Möglichkeit einer Immunoprophylaxe des Karzinoms.

The extremely high mortality rate of cancer requires every effort to avoid or decrease the incidence of malignant diseases. In this paper the possibility of an immuno-prophylaxis of carcinoma is discussed. A study was undertaken, whether or not the incidence of carcinoma is decreased in patients after the change of the status of immunity developed by typhus. In the years after the war (1945-1947) over 5400 patients suffering from typhus had been reported in Vienna (according to the law in Austria) and about 600 died from this disease. In 1967 more than 2800 could be determined still alive and 535 had died in the meantime. The mortality rate of cancer was calculated and compared in age- und sex-adjusted groups with the relative cancer mortality rate of the whole population of Vienna in the average of the years 1959-1963. The statistical evaluation shows a lower cancer mortality of patients suffering from typhus at an earlier time. This difference seems to be significant (chi 2test, p less than 0.05) in women of the age group 30-50 and in men 35-65 years of age. Additionally in two regions of Austria (Oberösterreich, Burgenland) similar observations were made, but with no statistical significance because of the small numbers. Some diagnostic insecurities during war time require the restriction of conclusions. On the basis of clinical observations and results from animal experiments the possibility of an immuno-prophylaxis of carcinoma by unspecific stimulation of the defensive mechanism is supposed, and a prospective study of volunteers, whose level of defense is kept optimal by adequate frequent repetition of the stimulation, is suggested. The incidence of carcinoma of volunteers would have to be compared to a control group.