title: [Outbreaks of occupational acquired histoplasmosis in La Habana province].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  histoplasmosis, an infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum fungus, is considered as one of the main endemic infections in the American continent where there are frequent epidemic outbreaks. Most of the outbreaks have been associated to risky activities in bat-inhabited places. This paper presented two outbreaks of occupational acquired histoplasmosis occurred in La Habana province.
  
  
  METHODS
  one hundred and sixteen workers, who performed aerosol-generating tasks in caves, were studied. Samples from the cave soils were taken to assess the existence of the causal agent. Clinical and epidemiological data were gathered for the outbreak characterization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the rates of infection for both outbreaks were 60 % and 78 % respectively. The patients aged 16 to 64 years; additionally, the onset of main clinical manifestations (fever, general malaise, cough, headache, loss of weight, and chest pain) ranged from 10 to 20 days. Histoplasmosis was microbiologically and serologically diagnosed whereas its source of infection was confirmed through H. capsulatum isolation in those places where extensive excavation work had been carried out, resulting in abundant aerosols for up to 21d periods. The similarity between the two outbreaks was the performance of aerosol-generating tasks in risky places without using appropriate safety devices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to disseminate the existing preventive measures among the health care staff and the risky groups as well as the general population in order to prevent and take control of possible histoplasmosis outbreaks in the future.
authors: Laboratorio de Micologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri (IPK), Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. cfandreu@ipk.sld.cu
authors: Carlos Manuel
authors: CM
authors: Fernández Andreu
authors: Gerardo
authors: G
authors: Martínez Machín
authors: Maria Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Illnait Zaragozi
authors: Mayda Rosa
authors: MR
authors: Perurena Lancha
authors: Leonila
authors: L
authors: González
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult