14 DAY TRIAL // Two people in Alabama have thus far died of a so-called mysterious respiratory illness whose symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Furthermore, it appears that five others have been hospitalized following their showing signs of having contracted it. The individuals believed to have caught this illness are aged 20 to 80.
“The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the Houston County Health Department, in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are investigating a cluster of respiratory illnesses of unknown origin in south east Alabama,” reads a statement issued by the Alabama Department of Public Health on May 21.
Furthermore, “Seven people have been admitted to a hospital with fever, cough and shortness of breath. Two of the seven have died. Laboratory samples have been obtained from all patients.”
Presently, specialists working with the state's health department are doing their best to make head and tail of this illnesses’ underlying cause.
According to The Examiner, they are busy analyzing several viruses and bacteria, and hope that it will not be long until they have more news.
Due to their not knowing what it is that they are dealing with, these specialists are unable to provide any information concerning how it is that this illness is spreading.
However, given the fact that the five people who have thus far fallen ill and the two who passed away come from the Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties, researchers agree that the illness is most likely spreading across Alabama's southeastern regions.
Given the lack of information, specialists urge that staff at hospitals in the state of Alabama be cautious when treating patients who have respiratory issues.
They also recommend that ordinary folks seek medical attention should they find themselves displaying some or all of the symptoms associated with this medical condition.
“ADPH and CDC have recommended the hospital use respiratory precautions, which include staff using N95 masks when caring for patients presenting with respiratory symptoms.”
“If you or your family members have respiratory symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath, please contact your health care provider to be evaluated,” the Alabama Department of Public Health says.