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Unexplained Critical Illnesses/Deaths Surveillance WelcomePurpose of unexplained critical illness surveillance Criteria for defining unexplained critical illness Reported Unexplained/Critical Illnesses in Oregon - Year of Onset Reported Unexplained/Critical Illnesses in Oregon - Primary Syndrome Reported Unexplained/Critical Illnesses in Oregon - Region Oregon death underscores danger in dietary supplement — a link reported via UNEX surveillance Surveillance for Unexplained Deaths and Critical Illnesses Due to Possibly Infectious Causes, United States, 1995-1998: Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 8, No. 2, February 2002 Welcome to the Unexplained Critical Illnesses/Deaths home page. Since 1 July 1995 the Oregon Health Services has been conducting surveillance for Unexplained Critical Illnesses/Deaths. We are interested in learning about any previously healthy patient between the ages of 1 and 39 years who either is critically ill or has died from an unexplained illness that appears to have been caused by an (unidentified) infectious agent. Download a poster describing the inclusion criteria. (pdf) (574K) Purpose of unexplained critical illness surveillance disease The purpose of this surveillance is to identify early emerging new pathogens that may be causing illness among Oregonians. Much of the impetus for this approach comes from the 1993 experience in New Mexico with the hantaviral pulmonary syndrome. There, because two mysterious cases presented to the same physician and because that physician contacted others in the area, an investigation was begun, the pathogen found, and the reservoir identified within 6 weeks of the first case presentation. We hope that through our surveillance we can identify and stop emerging pathogens before too many people get sick.Criteria for determining an unexplained critical illness An unexplained critical illness is defined by the following criteria:
OHS staff will gather clinical and epidemiologic information (syndromes, travel history, etc.) and try to ensure that sera and other clinical specimens are sent to Oregon State Public Health Laboratory and the Special Pathogens Laboratory at CDC (n.b.: in most instances it is unlikely that the results of such testing will be available rapidly enough to affect the clinical management of the patient). Reported Unexplained/Critical Illnesses in Oregon by Year of Onset
Reported Unexplained/Critical Illnesses in Oregon by Primary Syndrome
Reported Unexplained/Critical Illnesses in Oregon by Region 
Issued by: The Oregon Health Services
Date: February, 2002 |
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