PRO/EDR> Pneumococcal disease – UK (03): (N Ireland) update

Pneumonia — Worldwide/Unknown
L Patterson, N Irvine, A Wilson, L Doherty, A Loughrey, L Jessop
We report an outbreak of 4 confirmed cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in individuals occupationally exposed to welding fumes, at a Belfast shipyard (Northern Ireland). All cases were hospitalised. A high-risk sub-group of 679 workers has been targeted for antibiotic prophylaxis and pneumococcal vaccination. Physicians and public health institutions outside Northern Ireland should be alert to individuals presenting