Tag:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning
Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning Cases of walking pneumonia have spiked significantly, especially among children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning in a brand-new advisory. The agency said increases in M. pneumoniae-associated pneumonia infections began late this past spring, peaked in August, and have remained high.  The CDC said it's using various surveillance tools "to better understand any differences in demographics, severity of illness, and outcomes as compared to M. pneumoniae infections prior to the COVID-19 pandemic." The agency said it's also contacting heal…
McDonald's IDs Source Of E. Coli Outbreak Tied To Quarter Pounders McDonald's IDs Source Of E. Coli Outbreak Tied To Quarter Pounders
McDonald's IDs Source Of E. Coli Outbreak Tied To Quarter Pounders Health officials have pinpointed the specific ingredient that triggered an E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s that killed one person and sickened dozens more across several states. Testing done by the Colorado Department of Agriculture eliminated Quarter Pounder beef patties as the source of the outbreak, McDonald’s confirmed on Sunday, Oct. 27. That leaves the restaurant’s slivered onions, which are primarily used on Quarter Pounder hamburgers, as the likely source of contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Earlier Report: E. Coli Outbreak Tied To McDonald'…
Rabies Alert Issued After Raccoon Tests Positive For Virus In Fallston Area Rabies Alert Issued After Raccoon Tests Positive For Virus In Fallston Area
Rabies Alert Issued After Raccoon Tests Positive For Virus In Fallston Area A fresh alert has been issued in Harford County after another raccoon tested positive for rabies. The Harford County Health Department issued an alert cautioning that on Thursday, the agency received confirmation from the Maryland Department of Health that a raccoon tested positive for the virus in Fallston. While the raccoon was found near the 2200 block of Pleasantville Road, and may have exposed other people or pets in the surrounding area., they said. "It may seem like there have been a lot of rabies exposure alerts lately, but the number of positive rabid animals that the Harford Coun…
E. Coli Outbreak Tied To McDonald's Hamburgers Yet To Be Confirmed In Northeast E. Coli Outbreak Tied To McDonald's Hamburgers Yet To Be Confirmed In Northeast
E. Coli Outbreak Tied To McDonald's Hamburgers Yet To Be Confirmed In Northeast Dozens of people across ten states have been sickened in connection with an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald’s hamburgers. At least 49 people reported falling ill, including ten who were hospitalized and one who died, after eating McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an alert issued Tuesday, Oct. 22. Authorities have not yet identified which specific ingredient is contaminated, prompting McDonald’s to halt sales of Quarter Pounders as well as fresh slivered onions in several states. The 49 people sickened by the E. coli outbre…
Third Groundhog Tests Positive For Rabies Within Same Quarter-Mile Area In Frederick County Third Groundhog Tests Positive For Rabies Within Same Quarter-Mile Area In Frederick County
Third Groundhog Tests Positive For Rabies Within Same Quarter-Mile Area In Frederick County For the third time in as many months, a groundhog has tested positive for rabies in Frederick County in the same neighborhood, this time after getting in a fight with a dog, health officials are cautioning. An alert was issued on Tuesday, Oct. 8 cautioning that the animal collected in the Willowcrest neighborhood in Frederick last week tested positive for the virus, the third to test positive for rabies in a quarter-mile area in the last three months. Google Maps satellite view "Finding this many rabid animals a short distance from each other and over a short period of time is unusua…
Panera 'Charged Lemonade' Linked To Death Of UPenn Student From Jersey City Suit Settled Panera 'Charged Lemonade' Linked To Death Of UPenn Student From Jersey City Suit Settled
Panera 'Charged Lemonade' Linked To Death Of UPenn Student From Jersey City Suit Settled More than two years after a UPenn student from New Jersey died, her family has settled their wrongful death suit against Panera. Sarah Katz, of Jersey City, died at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center on Sept. 10, 2022, according to her obituary.  The 21-year-old's death came shortly after she drank "Charged Lemonade" at the Panera located at 200 South 40th Street, in Philadelphia, according to the lawsuit filed on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, by Kline & Specter, P.C. on behalf of Jill and Michael Katz. The lawsuit settled out of court and the case was dismissed on Monday, Oct. 7, acc…
COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe
Covid-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe A new highly transmissible COVID-19 strain that first appeared in Europe is now beginning to spread in the United States. Called XEC, the offshoot of the Omicron strain was initially identified in Germany early this past summer before quickly spreading throughout Europe. It is not causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, but it is causing concern. “The rate of infections from XEC they're seeing in some countries rose pretty quickly compared to previous variants in those same places," Dr. Scott Roberts, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist said in YaleMedicine.…
COVID-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms COVID-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms
Covid-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms A highly contagious COVID-19 variant known as KP.3.1.1 now accounts for nearly 60 percent of infections in the United States. Data from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in a two-week period ending Saturday, Sept. 28, the strain made up 58.7 percent of cases nationally, with the KP.2.3 variant second at 9.4 percent. Both KP.3 and KP.2 are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant and are members of a newly identified group of variants known as  “FLiRT.” Neither is causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, according to experts.…
2nd NY Resident Dies In Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meats 2nd NY Resident Dies In Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meats
2nd NY Resident Dies In Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meats A new death, the 10th overall, has been reported from a Listeria outbreak linked to the recall of millions of pounds of Boar's Head deli meats.The person who died was a New York resident, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The breakdown by states of the fatalities since the outbreak began in mid-May is as follows: New York (two), South Carolina (two), and one each in New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, and New Mexico. Since the bacteria was first discovered in liverwurst produced at Boar's Head's plant in Jarratt, Virginia, 59 people have been…
Boar's Head Shuts Down Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Will No Longer Make Liverwurst Boar's Head Shuts Down Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Will No Longer Make Liverwurst
Boar's Head Shuts Down Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Will No Longer Make Liverwurst The Boar’s Head plant at the center of a recall of millions of pounds of deli meat that has led to nine deaths due to Listeria contamination will be shut down.The company made the announce early Friday afternoon, Sept. 13. "Major deficiencies" at the facility in the rural southern Virginia town of Jarratt posed an “imminent threat” government inspectors warned after discovering "rusted equipment, condensation dripping on the floor and green mold on a wall" about two years before the initial recall on Friday, July 26, according to The Washington Post. But the US Agriculture Department did n…
Rabies Alert Issued After Raccoon Tests Positive For Virus In Harford County Rabies Alert Issued After Raccoon Tests Positive For Virus In Harford County
Rabies Alert Issued After Raccoon Tests Positive For Virus In Harford County A fresh alert has been issued in Harford County after a raccoon tested positive for rabies. The Harford County Health Department issued an alert warning that on Friday, Sept. 6, anyone who came into contact with a raccoon in the Whiteford area may have been exposed to the virus. Officials say that on Friday, the raccoon was found in the 2900 block of Whiteford Road, though it may have spread to other people and pets in the surrounding area. "Witnessing a raccoon is not cause for alarm, but if you or your pets have had contact with a raccoon, please contact the Harford County Departmen…
COVID-19: Hochul Urges NYers To Receive New Vaccines Ahead Of Flu Season COVID-19: Hochul Urges NYers To Receive New Vaccines Ahead Of Flu Season
Covid-19: Hochul Urges NYers To Receive New Vaccines Ahead Of Flu Season Now that the new COVID-19 vaccine is available in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging residents to get their updated shots ahead of this year's respiratory virus illness season. Related story - COVID-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases In an announcement this week, Hochul encouraged eligible New Yorkers to get the new Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine for the 2024-2025 season, offered by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax.  According to Hochul, receiving the new vaccine is more pressing as students return to school and …
COVID-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases COVID-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases
Covid-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases A newly discovered more contagious COVID-19 strain spreading rapidly through Europe is sparking concerns among health authorities around the globe as the United States is experiencing its largest wave of cases in over two years. XEC, which was first identified in Germany, may eventually overtake the current dominant subvariant, KP.3.1.1, which is currently most common in the United States, accounting for about 42 percent of cases nationally according to data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on Saturday, Aug. 31. XEC make take weeks or even months before it s…
Person Who Consumed Recalled Boar’s Head Products May Have Permanent Injuries, Lawsuit Says Person Who Consumed Recalled Boar’s Head Products May Have Permanent Injuries, Lawsuit Says
Person Who Consumed Recalled Boar’s Head Products May Have Permanent Injuries, Lawsuit Says A person in the New York metropolitan area who purchased and consumed recalled Boar's Head products is believed to have permanent injuries, a new lawsuit alleges. Manhattan-based injury and food safety attorney John Beatty has been retained to file the suit against Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc. for a client who suffered severe health consequences due to Listeria contamination. The person, whose precise place of residence has not been released, contracted Listeria, leading to a near-fatal case of meningitis and an almost month-long hospital stay, according to Beatty. "The client is belie…
Mold, Mildew, Insects Found At Boar’s Head Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Report Says Mold, Mildew, Insects Found At Boar’s Head Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Report Says
Mold, Mildew, Insects Found At Boar’s Head Plant Tied To Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Report Says Inspectors at the Boar's Head plant tied to a deadly Listeria outbreak discovered mold, mildew and insects among dozens of violations, according to a report by CBS News. Dozens of violations at the plant in Jarratt, Virginia, were outlined in records released by the US Department of Agriculture, the report said. After an initial recall of around 200,000 pounds of deli meat due to possible Listeria contamination, the company expanded it to approximately seven million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products on Tuesday, July 30. Boar's Head's recall includes 71 p…
6 More Dead, Over 50 Hospitalized After Eating Recalled Boar's Head Deli Meat 6 More Dead, Over 50 Hospitalized After Eating Recalled Boar's Head Deli Meat
6 More Dead, Over 50 Hospitalized After Eating Recalled Boar's Head Deli Meat The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says six more people have died from a listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats since authorities issued a recall notice last month.  Over 50 people have been hospitalized.  Federal authorities warned about Boar's Head deli meats after people in 13 states reported getting sick after eating the products. That number has grown to 18 states, with new deaths being reported in New York, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, and South Carolina, the CDC said on Wednesday, Aug. 28.  The agency said it is the biggest listeria ou…
41-Year-Old In Northeast Dies From Serious Mosquito Virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis 41-Year-Old In Northeast Dies From Serious Mosquito Virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis
41-Year-Old In Northeast Dies From Serious Mosquito Virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis One person has died and two others in the Northeast have been infected this summer with a rare but serious mosquito-borne disease. Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is caused by a virus spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, similar to the West Nile virus. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, an adult from the town of Hampstead, in southeastern New Hampshire who tested positive for EEE died, the New Hampshire Department of Public Health announced. He had been hospitalized with the illness. The man has been identified by his family as 41-year-old Steven Perry, according to ABC…
Breaking Bad: Employee Used Government Computer To Research Ricin In Vienna, Feds Say Breaking Bad: Employee Used Government Computer To Research Ricin In Vienna, Feds Say
Breaking Bad: Employee Used Government Computer To Research Ricin In Vienna, Feds Say A Virginia man is facing prison time after storing a sample of an illegal poison in his Fairfax County home, federal authorities announced. Vienna resident Russell Richardson Vane IV, 42, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to possession of ricin by an unregistered person following his experiments into extracting the poisonous toxin from certain beans.  According to court documents, in December 2022, Vane conducted a number of searches on his federal government workplace computer for instructions on how to isolate ricin toxin from castor beans. He later was able to obtain the beans and&n…
COVID-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern COVID-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern
Covid-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern A surge in COVID-19 cases in the United States and around the globe is sparking concern among health officials who are warning that more severe variants of the virus may be coming. “COVID-19 is still very much with us and circulating in all countries," Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization said in a news conference last week. “Data from our sentinel-based surveillance system across 84 countries reports that the percent of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 has been rising over several weeks." Wastewater surveillance suggests that the circulation of COVID is two to 20 times…
Person From Virginia Third To Die From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat Person From Virginia Third To Die From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat
Person From Virginia Third To Die From Listeria Outbreak Linked To Boar's Head Deli Meat A person from Virginia has become the third person to die during an ongoing Listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to millions of pounds of Boar's Head deli meats that were recalled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on Thursday, Aug. 8 advising that there have been nine more cases reported in connection to the recall, bringing the total to 43 hospitalized - three of which who died, including one from Virginia. No details about the person who died in Virginia have been released. Two others in the state have also been sickened with Listeria amid the outbr…
Failed Valve To Blame For Ammonia Leak That Sickened 33 Employees In Loudoun County Failed Valve To Blame For Ammonia Leak That Sickened 33 Employees In Loudoun County
Failed Valve To Blame For Ammonia Leak That Sickened 33 Employees In Loudoun County Investigators have determined what caused an ammonia leak that led to the evacuation of a Loudoun County industrial building and left dozens feeling sick. Shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center was contacted about a reported gas leak in the 22400 block of Sous Vide Lane in Sterling, which in fact turned out to be an ammonia leak.  Fire and Rescue crews from Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority all responded, and found that several employees had been exposed, some…
Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds
Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7 Million Extra Pounds Boar's Head has expanded a recall of deli meat products due to possible Listeria contamination. Click here for a new, updated story: Boar's Head Facing Lawsuit Over Deli Meat Recall  The company said on Tuesday, July 30, that it is now recalling approximately seven million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.  This expansion includes 71 products produced between Friday, May 10, and Monday, July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said. They have “s…
Rabies Alert Issued In Frederick County After Groundhog Tests Positive Following Dog Attack Rabies Alert Issued In Frederick County After Groundhog Tests Positive Following Dog Attack
Rabies Alert Issued In Frederick County After Groundhog Tests Positive Following Dog Attack A fresh alert has been issued in Frederick County after a groundhog tested positive for rabies after attacking a dog near the Taskers Chance swimming pool. An alert was issued by the Health Department after it was notified that a groundhog in the Frederick neighborhood tested positive for the virus after it was picked up from the stormwater management pond area near the swimming pool on Bel Aire Lane. Frederick County Animal Control collected the groundhog after receiving a report that it had attacked a dog earlier this month. Anyone who may have had contact with the infected animal, …
1 Dead In NJ, 28 Sickened In Multi-State Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says 1 Dead In NJ, 28 Sickened In Multi-State Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says
1 Dead In NJ, 28 Sickened In Multi-State Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says Two people died, and dozens of others sickened in a Listeria outbreak tied to deli meats in several states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-eight people across 12 states had been sickened between late May and mid-July, the CDC says. The deaths occurred in New Jersey and Illinois, health officials said. All 28 individuals had been hospitalized as of Friday, July 19. According to the CDC map, seven illnesses were reported in New York; six in Maryland; two in New Jersey; two in Virginia; two in Massachusetts; and one in Pennsylvania. Click here for the…
Lightning Strike Confirmed Cause Of Death For 59-Year-Old 'Cowboy Hero' On NJ Beach Lightning Strike Confirmed Cause Of Death For 59-Year-Old 'Cowboy Hero' On NJ Beach
Lightning Strike Confirmed Cause Of Death For 59-Year-Old 'Cowboy Hero' On NJ Beach A Toms River man died from a lightning strike on an Ocean County beach, authorities said. A Seaside Park Police Department spokesperson confirmed to Daily Voice that 59-year-old Patrick Dispoto's cause of death was accidental and caused by a lightning strike. He was found unconscious on the beach near J Street at around 7:38 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. Police said Dispoto had no visible signs of injuries. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Dispoto's girlfriend Ruth said he tried to warn a group of children on the beach about the thunderstorm aft…
'Cowboy Hero' Dies After Lightning Strike While Warning Kids On NJ Beach About Storm: Reports 'Cowboy Hero' Dies After Lightning Strike While Warning Kids On NJ Beach About Storm: Reports
'Cowboy Hero' Dies After Lightning Strike While Warning Kids On NJ Beach About Storm: Reports A Toms River man died after a reported lightning strike on an Ocean County beach, authorities said. Patrick Dispoto, 59, was found unconscious on the beach near J Street at around 7:38 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, a Seaside Park Police Department spokesperson told Daily Voice. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police said Dispoto had no visible signs of injuries. There were also no witnesses so investigators haven't confirmed if his death was caused by lightning or "another medical issue." Dispoto's girlfriend Ruth said he tried to warn a group of children on the beach …
COVID-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases COVID-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases
Covid-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases A new highly contagious COVID-19 variant known as KP.3 now accounts for most infections in the United States. Data from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in a two-week period ending Saturday, June 8, the strain made up 25 percent of cases nationally, just ahead of the KP.2 variant (22.5 percent). Both KP.3 and KP.2 are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant and are members of a newly identified group of variants known as  “FLiRT.”  COVID-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Dominant In US Neither is expected to cause more serious symptom…
27 Pennsylvanians Sickened In Salmonella Outbreak: CDC 27 Pennsylvanians Sickened In Salmonella Outbreak: CDC
27 Pennsylvanians Sickened In Salmonella Outbreak: CDC Dozens of Pennsylvanians are among the 162 people affected by a salmonella outbreak, according to health officials.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the outbreak is linked to cucumbers sold in bulk to retail distribution centers in 14 states. Sellers may also have shipped the affected produce to other states.  The supplier, Fresh Start Produce Sales, recalled the cucumbers on May 31. They were grown in Florida and shipped from May 17 to May 21, according to the CDC.  Officials said 27 Pennsylvanians have gotten sick, more than in any other state.…
COVID-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Most Dominant In US COVID-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Most Dominant In US
Covid-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Most Dominant In US New so-called "FLiRT" COVID-19 variants have quickly become the most dominant in the United States, and authorities are monitoring their rise as summer approaches. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the two members of the  “FLiRT” group, KP.2, is now No. 1 among strains nationally, accounting for about 24.9 of all current infections. The JN.1 strain had been dominant in the US before the emergence of KP.2. Both variants are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron strain. The No. 4 variant in the US, KP.1.1, which makes up …
Maryland Animal Shelter Closed Due To Contagious Canine Influenza Outbreak Maryland Animal Shelter Closed Due To Contagious Canine Influenza Outbreak
Maryland Animal Shelter Closed Due To Contagious Canine Influenza Outbreak A busy animal shelter in Maryland will be temporarily closed due to an outbreak of dog flu, officials say. The Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center issued an alert on Thursday afternoon advising that it will be closed to the public until further notice due to a contagious canine influenza outbreak. "Effective immediately: the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center is closed to the public due to an outbreak of Canine Influenza," the agency posted on its website. "Do not bring stray animals to the center at this time." The shelter is located in the 7300 block …
Measles Outbreak: Cases Surpass 2023 Numbers, NY Among Dozens Of States Reporting Sickness Measles Outbreak: Cases Surpass 2023 Numbers, NY Among Dozens Of States Reporting Sickness
Measles Outbreak: Cases Surpass 2023 Numbers, NY Among Dozens Of States Reporting Sickness Less than a month since a case of measles showed up outside of New York City, the number of cases has more than doubled across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On Friday, April 12, the CDC announced that the total number of measles cases in the US in 2024 has reached 121 — far surpassing last year’s number of 58 — with cases being reported in 18 states and jurisdictions, including New York State. The update comes after a Nassau County child under the age of 5 was announced as the state’s first measles case to be reported outside of New York C…