MADISON, WIS. — Records show Wisconsin health officials waited several months to announce an outbreak of a rare bloodstream infection to the public, WBAY-TV reported.



Using records obtained under an open records request, WBAY reported Friday that the Wisconsin Department of Health Services began investigating the outbreak of the bacteria known as Elizabethkingia in December and told hospitals and labs to be on the lookout for the infection in January, but waited to announce it to the public in March.



Eighteen deaths have been linked to Elizabethkingia in Wisconsin, and 59 cases have been confirmed in the state in the largest outbreak in the U.S. The state health department says it has not been determined if those deaths were caused by the infection or other serious pre-existing health problems.



Gov. Scott Walker said Friday that when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health officials could not find the source of the outbreak on their own, they went to the public.



"They'd been working with individuals — patients and their families, and obviously with health care providers— so those individuals were aware of it. But when it was clear that CDC raised their concerns, then that's when they wanted it to be out to the public," Walker said.



In a statement, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said it reacted quickly to the initial reports of a potential outbreak and launched an investigation to determine the cause, but wanted to avoid alarming the public.



"This outbreak has proven to be very unique and complex, and our disease detectives have yet to find the source of the bacteria, which limits the directives we can offer the public related to prevention," the department said. "This was a rare situation in which we recognized that releasing information without being able to offer any direction on how to avoid it, would inspire fear among the public."



The source of the outbreak remains unknown, but the department says there is no indication it was spread by a health care facility. Most of the infected patients are over 65 years old, and all have a history of at least one underlying serious illness. Symptoms include chills, shortness of breath and fever. The outbreak has primarily hit southern and southeastern Wisconsin.



Walker has announced the creation of nine new positions at the state Department of Health Services to combat the infection.



Associated Press