Katrina mystery illness may have a name

Ruston Daily Leader ^ | Jan 25, 2006 | George Graham

[UpTurn]

The mystery rash and illness that has plagued thousands of people exposed to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina may have several names, and one of them is Parvovirus B-19.

The disease is nicknamed “Katrina Rash” and the “New Orleans Crud,” and has affected at least three Ruston-area first-responders who went to New Orleans to help in rescue and recovery efforts.

A Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, an Emergency Medical Technician and a Louisiana State Trooper all came down with variations of the ailment.

Missy Staples, a licensed vocational nurse from Glasgow, Ky., became ill after caring for a patient with similar symptoms. She says the ailment could become an epidemic.

“It is my belief that this mystery illness they speak of is Fifth’s Disease — a form of Parvo,” Staples said. “Yes, the same disease that kills dogs. Fifth’s Disease has the same characteristics these folks are suffering with and seems mysterious.”

Staples said human Parvo (Parvovirus B-19) usually strikes school-aged children and is easily cured — in childhood.

“Parvo is usually one of the viruses that hit school aged children, but with the conditions that were in New Orleans and the other hurricane-stricken areas, I feel it may be rampant,” Staples said. “And remember, the children were all removed from those areas. There were no children for the virus to hit. It has most likely changed itself to stay alive in the affected areas. Viruses replicate and change on a very quick basis to continue their lives, meaning it will be harder to kill out. What New Orleans and other areas need is a really hard, freezing winter, although I do realize the South is not usually frigidly cold in the winter.”

Lincoln Parish Coroner Dr. Allen Herbert agreed with Staples that if the affliction is Parvo, it could become

[Mathews]

Aw Geez!!! Right there in the first sentence. Missed it. I'll betcha I get no less than six reminders to, "read before posting" from folks who just LOVE to pounce on honest mistakes like this every chance they get! Congrats... you are number 1.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Sean Penn's brother Chris just passed away.\

Coincidence?

[DannyTN]

I had Fifth's disease in highschool in Louisiana. Knocked me out of school for 6 weeks.

I had a temperature of 104 for a week and finally had to go to the hospital and get an IV because I was becoming dehydrated.

[HardStarboard]

Naginitus?

[RedRightReturn]

Sunken Bussititis

[caryatid]

How about the "fat, lazy, too stupid to get out of town welfare entitlement Jackson, Sharpton syndrome disease"?

Funny response ... but what are you going to call it when it strikes First Responders?

[Old Professer]

I doubt this is truly Fifth's disease; more likely, the rashes are not even from the same cause among the people mentioned.

Rashes are classified by spread, pattern and severity, the causes are myriad.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

Thanks. Getting to be number 1 is easy. Staying number one is the hard part. Somewhere out there is a young kid feeling his oats who thinks he can take out the old man.

Seriously though, didn't mean to offend you. I get a little defensive on these Katrina/Louisiana threads because so many people are in to much of a hurry to post negative, ugly things without even reading the article. I believe you when you say it was an honest mistake so in the words of the young kids out there that I'm fighting to stay number one......my bad.

[Bogey78O]

For over 2 months my feet were blistered and irritated from the flooding.

[Mathews]

You're right... I jumped to a conclusion.

[Domangart]

First: Measles
2d: Scarlet Fever
3d: Rubella
4th: Dukes Disease
fifth's Disease

[caryatid]

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[Safetgiver]

I had Fifth's disease once. Was so sick I only drink beer now.

[caryatid]

Seriously though, didn't mean to offend you. I get a little defensive on these Katrina/Louisiana threads because so many people are in to much of a hurry to post negative, ugly things ...

Snakes, we all get a little defensive ... those of you who are there and involved ... and those of us at a distance who are involved with family and friends who are there, as well. We need whenever we feel it necessary to remind people that the folks we hear about are the problem folks ... we never seem to hear about all the good folks who have been very busy putting their lives back together.

I posted on another thread about an extended family, relocated to Houston, with whom I am in contact. The remains of their husband/father have finally been identified after all this time ... they were finally able to have a funeral Mass ... in Mid-January, after their loved one disappeared at the end of August. They are finally able to move forward from a period of great anxiety and uncertainty ... and find closure .... In the meantime, they have been quietly rebuilding their shattered lives in their "homes away from home". There are more of these good people than there are of the other sort. They deserve our compassion ... not our scorn.

As someone said recently to me ... keep fighting the good fight. Snakes, it is up to us to keep the record straight ... to get the news out about what is really going on. Thank you for contributing to that effort.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I itched. Almost as bad as hives...causes joint swelling as well in adults.

* First disease = Measles or rubeola
* Second disease = Scarlet fever
* Third disease = Rubella or German measles
* Fourth disease = Filatov or Dukes disease (AKA Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome)
* Fifth disease = Erythema infectiosum (slapped cheek syndrome) - caused by Parvovirus 19
* Sixth disease = Exanthem subitum or roseola infantum

[TaxRelief]

It hurts unborn babies, and it is a one-time-only mild disease--unless you are not born, yet.

[CajunConservative]

Viruses replicate and change on a very quick basis to continue their lives, meaning it will be harder to kill out. What New Orleans and other areas need is a really hard, freezing winter, although I do realize the South is not usually frigidly cold in the winter.”

Yeah right. I have roses blooming and green grass that really needs mowing but I refuse to mow in January.

[TaxRelief]

Fifth's? It was probably mono. Only people with AIDS, sickle cell disease, hereditary spirochaetosise, cancer or who are unborn have a tough time with Fifth's.

[UpTurn]

I posted this article from our local newspaper. There is more bad stuff to come... just trying to give people a heads up. Last week I had lunch with a vendor who lives in New Orleans... it is still very, very bad down there. Just pray for those suffering through this tragedy, okay? The idiotic responses do sting sometimes, but then I guess we in Louisiana brought it on ourselves. I hope no one else ever has to deal with something like this.

I can't imagine the scale of the devestation that 1st-person stories describe. If this rash thing doesn't become widespread, I'll drive down there in April to take a look see... but this article concerns me.

Okay, now for a little levity... (o:

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Are Americans the only people who can take a tragedy and find some humor?


The Mayor of New Orleans has denied rumors that Mardi Gras is cancelled.
He says he's expecting a record number of floats this year.

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Five black men in purple dinner jackets and bow ties were found floating under a pier in New Orleans. DNA tests later identified them as The Drifters. Rumor has it they were under the boardwalk, down by the sea.

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Eric Burden and the Animals are re-releasing their greatest hit.
It begins, "There was a house in New Orleans . . ."

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Hurricane Katrina was a typical woman. When she first arrived she was warm, wild and wet. When she left, she took the house and all its contents.

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Two planes full of volunteers left Detroit today bound for New Orleans to assist with the looting.

[HarleyLady27]

hey thats good!!! lmao