CDC Helps U.S. Military Probe Pneumonia Cases

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> CDC Helps U.S. Military Probe Pneumonia Cases

> Fri Aug 22,11:18 PM ET

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> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An expert from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control

> and Prevention

>

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> sites) is helping the U.S. military investigate a spate of pneumonia cases

> in which two soldiers have died, the Department of Defense

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> sites) said on Friday.

>

>

> There is no evidence the cases are related or have spread from person to

> person and SARS

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> sites) has been ruled out, the defense department said in a statement.

> There is also no evidence of toxins or a biological weapon.

>

> Of the 100 cases in the region so far, 19 have caused special concern

> because they are serious.

>

> " These cases do not represent an epidemic, and it is not being spread

> through person-to-person contact. We are making significant progress in

> eliminating a number of possible causes, such as SARS and vaccines, " said

> Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health

affairs.

>

> Defense and health officials say the rate of pneumonia is not unexpectedly

> high. Pneumonia can be caused by several different viruses, bacteria or

> even inhaling dust or water.

>

> " The concern, however, is about the smaller number of service members, now

> identified as 19 cases, who developed severe pneumonia. Two service

members

> have died from the disease, the first in Iraq

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> sites) on June 17 and the second in Germany on July 12, " the defense

> department said.

>

> One clue is being pursued, said Col. Bruno Petruccelli, of the U.S. Army

> Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine.

>

> " There is evidence that 10 of the cases have shown a higher than usual

> number of blood cells of one specific type called eosinophils. An increase

> in this type of white blood cell can occur in a variety of medical

> conditions -- for example, infections, asthma, hay fever and allergies, "

he

> said.

>

> " Medical personnel are trying to determine why some of the 19 patients

with

> severe pneumonia showed an increase in these cells. "

>

> Experts say about half of all serious respiratory infections are never

> diagnosed. However, doctors are trying harder after this year's epidemic

of

> Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a disease never seen before that arose

> in China and killed 800 people around the world before it was controlled.

>

>

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