Volume 15, Number 7—July 2009
CME ACTIVITY - Research
Cluster of Sylvatic Epidemic Typhus Cases Associated with Flying Squirrels, 2004–2006
Table 2
Selected characteristics of surveyed staff members at wilderness camp in Pennsylvania, March 2006*
Characteristic | Case-patients (n = 4) | Non–case-patients (n = 29) | Case-patients surveyed† (n = 12) |
---|---|---|---|
Median age, y‡ |
28.5 (range 26–40) |
38.7 (range 21–69) |
35 (range 23–63) |
Gender | |||
Male‡ | 4 (100) | 23 (79) | 11 (92) |
Female |
0 |
6 (21) |
1 (8) |
Job classification | |||
Counselor‡ | 4 (100) | 14 (48) | 7 (58) |
Maintenance | 0 | 3 (10) | 1 (8.3) |
Administrative | 0 | 5 (17) | 1 (8.3) |
Support staff | 0 | 5 (17) | 1 (8.3) |
Night security | 0 | 1 (3.4) | 2 (17) |
No answer |
0 |
1 (3.4) |
0 |
Employment, y‡ |
2.5 (range 1.8–3.9) |
2.7 (range 0.1–30.8) |
1.1 (range 0.2–26.3) |
Ever slept in cabins | |||
Yes‡ | 4 (100) | 19 (66) | 8 (66.6) |
No | 0 | 10 (34) | 3 (25) |
Don’t know |
0 |
0 |
1 (8.3) |
Contact with (touching) flying squirrel | |||
Yes‡ | 1 (25) | 7 (24) | 1 (8) |
No | 3 (75) | 20 (69) | 11 (92) |
Don’t know | 0 | 1 (3.4) | 0 |
No answer |
0 |
1 (3.4) |
0 |
Contact with (touching) flying squirrel nests§ | |||
Yes | 2 (50) | 3 (10) | 0 |
No | 1 (25) | 17 (58.6) | 10 (83) |
Don’t know | 1 (25) | 8 (28) | 2 (17) |
No answer |
0 |
1 (3.4) |
0 |
Ever slept in cabin A | |||
Yes‡ | 4 (100) | 13 (45) | 4 (33) |
No |
0 |
16 (55) |
8 (67) |
Ever slept in bunk B in cabin A | |||
Yes¶ | 4 (100) | 9 (69) | 2 (50) |
No | 0 | 3 (23) | 1 (25) |
No answer |
0 |
1 (7.6) |
1 (25) |
Cumulative months in cabin A# | 17.00 (range 8–43) | 2.00 (range 0–13) | 0.25 (range 0–30) |
*Data given as frequency (%) except as indicated.
†Responses of staff members who declined serologic testing. Remaining respondents classified as case-patients or non–case-patients, according to results of serologic testing for Rickettsia prowazekii and patients’ medical histories.
‡These characteristics did not demonstrate statistical difference between case-patients and non–case-patients.
§Odds ratio 11.3 (95% confidence interval 0.51–474) for association between contact with flying squirrel nests and sylvatic typhus.
¶Association with sleeping in bunk B of cabin A significant at p = 0.02.
#Significant at p = 0.04.