Sullivan-Bolyai J Z, Lumish R M, Smith E W, Howell J T, Bregman D J, Lund M, Page R C, Page R C
Public Health Rep. 1979 Sep-Oct;94(5):466-70.
During the period August 9--13, 1976, 21 of 89 residents of a nursing home in southeastern Florida had sudden onset of fever--temperature greater than 38.1 degrees C (100.6 degrees F) with no accompanying symptoms. Five residents, whose temperatures ranged from 39.4 degrees C (103 degrees F) to 41.3 degrees C (106.4 degrees F), died. No viral or bacterial pathogens were isolated. None of the nursing home's 123 employees and volunteers had similar illness. The air-conditioning system was shut down for repairs from August 9 through August 12, a time when recorded peak temperatures outdoors ranged from 30.6 degrees C (87 degrees F) to 32.2 degrees C (90 degrees F). The only recorded temperature inside the nursing home for that period was 31.7 degrees C (89 degrees F). Laboratory and epidemiologic data were consistent with the theory that the illness was due to hyperpyrexia, secondary to environmental conditions, rather than to an infectious agent. The episode was considered analogous to the nonspecific increased mortality of elderly and chronically ill persons during an urban heat wave. The episode points up the need for prompt recognition and intervention when there is the potential for heat stress in elderly and chronically ill patients. Buildings housing such patients must be designed so that alternative ventilation can be provided when the central air-conditioning system fails.
1976年8月9日至13日期间，佛罗里达州东南部一家养老院的89名居民中有21人突然发烧——体温超过38.1摄氏度（100.6华氏度），且无伴随症状。5名居民死亡，体温在39.4摄氏度（103华氏度）至41.3摄氏度（106.4华氏度）之间。未分离出病毒或细菌病原体。该养老院的123名员工和志愿者均未出现类似疾病。空调系统于8月9日至12日关闭进行维修，在此期间，室外记录的最高气温在30.6摄氏度（87华氏度）至32.2摄氏度（90华氏度）之间。该期间养老院内部唯一记录的温度为31.7摄氏度（89华氏度）。实验室和流行病学数据与以下理论一致：该疾病是由环境条件导致的高热引起，而非感染源所致。这一事件被认为类似于城市热浪期间老年人和慢性病患者非特异性死亡率的增加。这一事件凸显了在老年人和慢性病患者存在热应激可能性时，需要及时识别并进行干预。收治此类患者的建筑必须进行设计，以便在中央空调系统出现故障时能够提供替代通风。
