title: Carbon monoxide epidemic among immigrant populations: King County, Washington, 2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated an outbreak of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after a power outage to determine its extent, identify risk factors, and develop prevention measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed medical records and medical examiner reports of patients with CO poisoning or related symptoms during December 15 to 24, 2006. We grouped patients into households exposed concurrently to a single source of CO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 259 patients with CO poisoning, 204 cases were laboratory confirmed, 37 were probable, 10 were suspected, and 8 were fatal. Of 86 households studied, 58% (n = 50) were immigrant households from Africa (n = 21), Asia (n = 15), Latin America (n = 10), and the Middle East (n = 4); 34% (n = 29) were US-born households. One percent of households was European (n = 1), and the origin for 7% (n = 6) was unknown. Charcoal was the most common fuel source used among immigrant households (82%), whereas liquid fuel was predominant among US-born households (34%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educational campaigns to prevent CO poisoning should consider immigrants' cultural practices and languages and specifically warn against burning charcoal indoors and incorrect ventilation of gasoline- or propane-powered electric generators.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunization Section, Public Health--Seattle & King County, Seattle, WA, USA. rgulati@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Reena K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kwan-Gett
authors.forename: Neil B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Hampson
authors.forename: Atar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shusterman
authors.forename: Jamie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Shandro
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Duchin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult