Governor Scott Walker Increases Support in the Fight Against Elizabethkingia

Madison – This week, Governor Scott Walker approved a plan for additional project positions at the Department of Health Services (DHS) to assist in the response and investigation of the Elizabethkingia Anophelis outbreak, as well as preparation and response to other current public health risks, including the Zika virus and an increase in Tuberculosis (TB) cases.

“Our team at DHS’ Division of Public Health has been working aggressively to locate the source of Elizabethkingia outbreak since the first notification,” Governor Walker said. “We need to make sure we have the resources to address the risk, and do whatever we can to keep Wisconsinites safe.”

Immediately following a meeting with DHS officials involved in the Elizabethkingia investigation this week, Governor Walker approved the addition of nine (9) project positions to assist in the effort. DHS has been working with partners from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene, local health departments, and impacted health care facilities and clinicians to find the source of the bacteria and prevent further infections.

This is the largest outbreak of this strain ever documented in the United States.  To date, in Wisconsin there have been 63 cases of Elizabethkingia reported to the Division of Public Health (DPH), including 57 confirmed cases, two cases under investigation, and four possible cases (cases that will never be confirmed because the outbreak specimens are no longer available to test). There is also one confirmed case in Michigan.  The rare occurrence of Elizabethkingia infections complicates the investigation.

“As in any investigation, the search for the source of the bacteria begins with a search for common threads that link those who are infected,” said Karen McKeown, DPH Division Administrator. “It also involves testing specimens from a wide variety of potential sources. At this point, we have not yet identified a common thread among those who have been affected.”

Most of those affected by the outbreak are over the age of 65, and all have serious underlying health conditions. Of those infected, 19 people have died in Wisconsin, including one among possible cases. It is unclear if their deaths were caused by the infection, or other underlying serious health condition, or both.

For more information on the Elizabethkingia outbreak, and Wisconsin’s response to it, go to dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/elizabethkingia.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.