1. Carbon monoxide epidemic among immigrant populations: King County, Washington, 2006.
- Author
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Gulati RK, Kwan-Gett T, Hampson NB, Baer A, Shusterman D, Shandro JR, and Duchin JS
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning diagnosis, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning prevention & control, Child, Child, Preschool, Disease Outbreaks prevention & control, Female, Hospitals statistics & numerical data, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Population Surveillance, Retrospective Studies, Washington epidemiology, Young Adult, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning epidemiology, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ethnology, Disease Outbreaks statistics & numerical data, Emigrants and Immigrants statistics & numerical data
- Abstract
Objectives: We investigated an outbreak of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after a power outage to determine its extent, identify risk factors, and develop prevention measures., Methods: We reviewed medical records and medical examiner reports of patients with CO poisoning or related symptoms during December 15 to 24, 2006. We grouped patients into households exposed concurrently to a single source of CO., Results: Among 259 patients with CO poisoning, 204 cases were laboratory confirmed, 37 were probable, 10 were suspected, and 8 were fatal. Of 86 households studied, 58% (n = 50) were immigrant households from Africa (n = 21), Asia (n = 15), Latin America (n = 10), and the Middle East (n = 4); 34% (n = 29) were US-born households. One percent of households was European (n = 1), and the origin for 7% (n = 6) was unknown. Charcoal was the most common fuel source used among immigrant households (82%), whereas liquid fuel was predominant among US-born households (34%)., Conclusions: Educational campaigns to prevent CO poisoning should consider immigrants' cultural practices and languages and specifically warn against burning charcoal indoors and incorrect ventilation of gasoline- or propane-powered electric generators.
- Published
- 2009
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