Doctors Have Theory About Seven Deaths

Doctors have a working hypothesis for the cause of death for seven people who have mysteriously died in Canyon County since September.

Doctors and coroners say they will release specific findings as soon as possible.

All seven victims had massive atelectasis, or loss of air in the lungs, with and without abdominal hemorrhages, the Canyon County coroner said.

Doctors say there is no indication a contagious disease caused the deaths.

Their only recommendation thus far is to make sure that foods are cooked and stored properly, in the case of a food borne organism.

The deaths are under investigation by six different laboratories in the United States.

Coroner Vicki DeGeus said she has had only one unsolved case in her 12 years in the coroner’s office.

The seven victims, ages 8 months, 5 months, 3 months, 36 years, 38 years, 39 years and 21 years, were from Nampa, Caldwell and the Marsing area. The victims reportedly had no pre-existing conditions. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome was ruled out as a cause of death for the youngest victims.

The state and coroners’ offices have been interviewing victims’ families in search of similarities and continue to look for clues. Deputy Coroner Steve Rhodes said there is no revealing similarities between the victims’ age, socioeconomic status, geographical location, race or sex.

Six of the people died suddenly at home. One person was transported to a hospital in full cardiac arrest and died shortly thereafter.