Cryptococcus gattii dispersal mechanisms, British Columbia, Canada.

Recent Cryptococcus gattii infections in humans and animals without travel history to Vancouver Island, as well as environmental isolations of the organism in other areas of the Pacific Northwest, led to an investigation of potential dispersal mechanisms. Longitudinal analysis of C. gattii presence in trees and soil showed patterns of permanent, intermittent, and transient colonization, reflecting C.

Characterization of environmental sources of the human and animal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii in British Columbia, Canada, and the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Cryptococcus gattii has recently emerged as a primary pathogen of humans and wild and domesticated animals in British Columbia, particularly on Vancouver Island. C. gattii infections are typically infections of the pulmonary and/or the central nervous system, and the incidence of infection in British Columbia is currently the highest reported globally.

Impact of smoking policy on the respiratory health of food and beverage servers.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether workplace smoking policy was associated with respiratory health effects among food and beverage servers.

Methods: Data were obtained from a postal survey of hospitality workers. The participation rate for the questionnaire was 73.