National surveillance and the epidemiology of human Q fever in the United States, 1978-2004.

Although Q fever is considered enzootic in the United States, surveillance for human Q fever has been historically limited. From 1978 through 1999, 436 cases (average = 20 per year) of human Q fever were reported. After Q fever became nationally reportable in 1999, 255 human Q fever cases (average = 51 per year) were reported with illness onset during 2000 through 2004.

Outbreak of pertussis among healthcare workers in a hospital surgical unit.

Background: In September 1999, a pertussis outbreak was detected among surgical staff of a 138-bed community hospital. Patients were exposed to Bordetella pertussis during the 3-month outbreak period.

Objective: To describe the outbreak among surgical staff, to evaluate implemented control measures, and to determine whether nosocomial transmission occurred.