In this example, successful investigations were carried out during the peak incidence
of a disease in a situation where public health action was necessary to conserve
public health resources, resulting in identification of the cause and transmission of
disease that led to a decrease in mortality and morbidity. Other lessons learned were
that dietary deficiencies can result in disease and that a balanced diet is essential to
good health.
The summer is a perfect time in New York for mosquitoes to breed and spread
disease. In 1946 an outbreak of an unclassified disease was reported in epidemic numbers,
with both the New York City Department of Health and the U.S. Public Health
Service investigating (Greenberg, 1947). The causative agent was unknown, but signs and symptoms were similar to chickenpox (fever, chills, sweats, backache, headache,
and a maculopapular and papulovesicular rash). A black eschar (necrotic tissue) was
also noted at the site of a bite and was assumed to be due to mites. An in-depth investigation
was carried out in the apartment where the outbreak was believed to occur in
an attempt to determine the cause of the disease. Using a step-by-step approach, clinicians,
epidemiologists, and laboratory personnel were together able to solve the
mystery after 3 months. Blood samples from the infected patients were collected and
tested. Blood from mice was tested and found to contain an antigen similar to that
found in human blood samples. Mites (Allodermanyssus sanguineus) were detected as
ectoparasites on the rodents. Even though Culex pipiens mosquitoes were found in the
basement of the apartment, laboratory investigations ruled out their involvement in
the disease’s transmission. Mice (Mus musculus) were surviving on garbage left in
the incinerator. The signs and symptoms of the disease were grouped under “rickettsial
pox” with the identified strain named Rickettsia akari based on the unique
complement-fixation reactions of the serum antigens. This investigation involved
keen exploration of the environment; the collection and laboratory testing of blood
samples from humans, mites, mosquitoes, and rodents; and extraordinary teamwork