Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 21, 1995 TAG: 9501230062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``These eight cases occurred over the past six weeks and are more than would be expected in that area during that time,'' Dr. Donald 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 or other antibiotics.
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, the 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.''
There is no vaccine for GAS, which is spread by direct contact with people carrying the germ, probably from nose and throat discharges.
The department said people can reduce the spread of the germ by washing hands frequently, especially after sneezing or coughing and before taking care of people with wounds or sore throats.
Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control said GAS infections kill an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people annually.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB