WBAY obtained records which found the Wisconsin Department of Health Services waited until March to tell the public about the Elizabethkingia outbreak, despite the agency starting its investigation of the virus in December, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Here are five key notes:
1. Wisconsin officials have confirmed 18 deaths linked to Elizabethkingia, and there have been 59 confirmed cases in the nation.
2. On April 16, Gov. Scott Walked said the CDC and state health officials told the public of the outbreak when they could not detect the outbreak's source.
3. The state health department said it reacted quickly to the reports concerning a potential outbreak and started an investigation. However, the agency said it did not want to alarm the public.
4. The department has not found the outbreak's source and the agency says they have not found evidence leading them to believe a healthcare facility spread the virus.
5. To fight Elizabethkingia, the state Department of Health Services created nine new positions.
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