Little Rock—The Arkansas Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of an unknown respiratory illness at the Johnson-Hobson Care Home in Marion. Since Friday, March 30th, fifteen nursing home patients have been hospitalized as a result of the illness, and two of these have died.  The Department has taken numerous clinical, biologic and environmental samples for bacterial/viral analysis. Dr. Sandra Snow, Medical Director of the Division of Communicable Disease/Immunizations says, "At this point in time, the source of the illness is not known.  The Health Department is continuing to monitor the situation and will release additional information as it becomes available."  The Department has ruled out tuberculosis as the cause of the outbreak.

The Johnson-Hobson Care Home has been fully cooperating with the Health Department's investigation.

The Department has also contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for assistance in the investigation.

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