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Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says
Dollar Tree Sold Lead-Infused Applesauce Pouches For Weeks After Recall, FDA Says Despite a recall notice and multiple warnings from the Food and Drug Administration, Dollar Tree continued to sell applesauce pouches containing lead for weeks, federal officials say. The popular retail chain was issued a letter from the FDA this month regarding the WanaBana fruit puree pouches, distributed by Negasmart. "As described below, laboratory analysis of multiple lots of WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches, including finished product samples collected from Dollar Tree stores, detected extremely high concentrations of lead," the letter reads.  "... you conti…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Nationwide Recall Issued For Ground Black Pepper Due To Possible Health Risk Nationwide Recall Issued For Ground Black Pepper Due To Possible Health Risk
Nationwide Recall Issued For Ground Black Pepper Due To Possible Health Risk A nationwide recall has been issued for a brand of ground black pepper that could be contaminated with Salmonella. UBC Food Distributors issued the recall for the product under the Baraka brand name in 7-ounce plastic containers with UPC code 8 22514 26626 6, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced. The company said it was notified of the potential for contamination based on a routine state surveillance sample collected by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets that tested positive for Salmonella the presence of Salmonella in some packages of the product. Salmon…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination
Cucumbers Shipped To 14 States Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination A Florida-based company is recalling whole cucumbers that were shipped to 14 states, but may be contaminated with Salmonella, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. According to the FDA, the cucumbers subject to recall are dark green, between 1.5 inches and two inches thick and between five to nine inches long. Officials made note that mini cucumbers and English cucumbers are not included in the recall. FDA The recalled cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons between Friday, May 17 and Tuesday, May 21 to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributor…

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by Zak Failla
News
Algae Bloom Threatens Wildlife, Pets In Easthampton Pond Algae Bloom Threatens Wildlife, Pets In Easthampton Pond
Algae Bloom Threatens Wildlife, Pets In Easthampton Pond Officials in Hampshire County are telling residents to avoid the Rubber Thread Pond in Easthampton after a toxic algae bloom has taken over the water.  Easthampton leaders posted the warning on the city's Facebook page after tests showed possible signs of the toxic algae cyanobacteria.  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will continue to conduct tests until the bloom has gone. Until then, residents should avoid swimming, fishing, or touching the water.  Contact with the infected water can cause skin irritation, gastrointestinal distress, liver or ne…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Massachusetts Among Top 10 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why Massachusetts Among Top 10 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why
Massachusetts Among Top 10 Best States, Brand-New Ranking Says: Here's Why A new ranking lists Massachusetts as one of the top 10 best states in the country and places the commonwealth in the top three in categories like education and healthcare. The results are in. The 2024 Best States list by U.S. News & World Report, released on Tuesday, May 7, names Massachusetts as the 10th-best state in the country, a place higher than it scored in the 2023 report.  Massachusetts closely follows states like Utah (the best state, according to U.S. News & World Report), Nebraska (number three), Washington (number eight), and Florida (number nine). However, whe…

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by Sophie Grieser
Business
Nationwide Recall Issued For Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Contamination: View Labels Nationwide Recall Issued For Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Contamination: View Labels
Nationwide Recall Issued For Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Contamination: View Labels A nationwide recall has been issued for ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli. Cargill Meat Solutions, headquartered in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, is recalling approximately 16,240 pounds of the raw ground beef products, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Wednesday, May 1. The raw ground beef items were produced on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, 27.  The following products are subject to recall: 2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "93% LEAN 7% FAT ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF" with lot code 117 and estab…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Nationwide Recall Issued For Prosciutto Made In Germany, Distributed In US Nationwide Recall Issued For Prosciutto Made In Germany, Distributed In US
Nationwide Recall Issued For Prosciutto Made In Germany, Distributed In US A recall has been issued for a brand of deli meat that authorities say was uninspected. The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that ConSup North America Inc., based in Lincoln Park, New Park, is recalling approximately 85,984 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) sliced prosciutto ham produced in Germany without the benefit of equivalent inspection. The RTE sliced prosciutto ham item was produced on various dates from Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, through Wednesday, March 6, 2024, and shipped to retail locations nationwide. FSIS said it is concerned th…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens
Largest Egg Producer In US Halts Production After Bird Flu Found In Chickens Production has been halted at the largest producer of fresh eggs in the United States after bird flu was discovered in chickens. Cal-Maine Foods reported that one of the company’s facilities located in Parmer County, Texas, tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), resulting in depopulation of approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, or approximately 3.6 percent of its total flock. "Production at the facility has temporarily ceased as the company follows the protocols prescribed by the USDA," Cal-Maine said in a statement, noting that it is working to s…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Bacterial Infection With Unusual, Serious Symptoms Prompts CDC Warning Bacterial Infection With Unusual, Serious Symptoms Prompts CDC Warning
Bacterial Infection With Unusual, Serious Symptoms Prompts CDC Warning A bacterial infection is appearing nationally with unusual and serious symptoms according to federal authorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just issued a Health Alert warning that the rare illness, caused by a strain of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, has a higher fatality rate than normally seen with meningococcal infections. As of Monday, March 25, 143 cases have been reported to CDC for the current calendar year, an increase of 62 cases over the 81 reported as of this date in 2023.  Cases caused by this strain are disproportionately occurring i…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Those Infected With Virus 4 Times More Likely To Develop Chronic Fatigue, CDC Says COVID-19: Those Infected With Virus 4 Times More Likely To Develop Chronic Fatigue, CDC Says
Covid-19: Those Infected With Virus 4 Times More Likely To Develop Chronic Fatigue, CDC Says Those who have had COVID-19 are about four times more likely to develop chronic fatigue compared to those who haven't been infected, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers analyzed electronic health records data collected from the University of Washington that included three hospitals and over 300 primary care and specialty clinics providing healthcare services across the state, totaling 4,589 patients. Patients, who consisted of adults over age 18 having either a positive test result for COVID or a clinical diagnosis of COVID …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Deadly Cheeses Prompt Massive Recall Nationwide: CDC, FDA, USDA Deadly Cheeses Prompt Massive Recall Nationwide: CDC, FDA, USDA
Deadly Cheeses Prompt Massive Recall Nationwide: CDC, FDA, USDA Dairy products linked to deaths and serious illness — sold nationwide at many major retailers — are being recalled, the Center for Disease Control, the US Department of Agriculture, and the Food And Drug Administration announced in multiple releases over the first week of February.  Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc. is recalling over 50 products after 26 illnesses, 23 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths, according to the CDC.  The California-based company issued the recall following the report of Listeria monocytogenes contamination causing illnesses in 11 states. Listeria monocytogene…

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by Jillian Pikora
Business
Supplements Sold Nationwide Being Recalled Due To Presence Of 'Gas Station Heroin' In Products Supplements Sold Nationwide Being Recalled Due To Presence Of 'Gas Station Heroin' In Products
Supplements Sold Nationwide Being Recalled Due To Presence Of 'Gas Station Heroin' In Products Federal Health officials are cautioning consumers to avoid certain products that may contain an ingredient known as "gas station heroin."  Neptune Resources LLC announced a voluntary recall of all lots of "Neptune's Fix Elixir," "Neptune's Fix Extra Strength Elixir," and Neptune's Fix Tablets due to the possible presence of tianeptine, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced. Tianeptine, which has been called "gas station heroin" by some, is not FDA-approved for any medical use, and its presence in the products prompted the nationwide recall. "The presence of tianepti…

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by Zak Failla
News
CT Woman Sues After Finding Severed Finger In Salad At NY Eatery, Lawsuit Says CT Woman Sues After Finding Severed Finger In Salad At NY Eatery, Lawsuit Says
CT Woman Sues After Finding Severed Finger In Salad At NY Eatery, Lawsuit Says A Connecticut woman has filed a lawsuit against a restaurant company in New York after allegedly finding herself chewing on part of a severed human finger while eating a salad served at one of the company's locations within the county.  Fairfield County resident Allison Cozzi, of Greenwich, filed the suit against Rye Brook-based Chop't Creative Salad Company LLC on Monday, Nov. 27 after allegedly finding part of a severed finger inside her meal bought at a Chop't location in Northern Westchester County at 53 South Moger Ave. in Mount Kisco.  According to the lawsuit complaint file…

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by Ben Crnic
News
COVID-19: Symptoms Now Number 11; Here's Latest Rundown From CDC COVID-19: Symptoms Now Number 11; Here's Latest Rundown From CDC
Covid-19: Symptoms Now Number 11; Here's Latest Rundown From CDC When COVID-19 cases first were identified in the United States in March 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed just three symptoms for the novel coronavirus: Fever Cough Shortness of breath Now, nearly five years later, the virus remains an everyday part of American life, with about 1,000 deaths from the disease nationwide each week. As COVID has evolved, mainly from the highly contagious Omicron strain and several of its subvariants, the CDC's updated list of symptoms for the virus now numbers 11. They are: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficu…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants COVID-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants
Covid-19: FDA Approves Updated Booster Shots Targeting New Variants Health officials are one step closer to rolling out updated COVID-19 vaccines just in time for a rise in cases heading into the fall and winter months. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new vaccines on Monday, Sept. 11, that are meant to better target currently circulating COVID-19 variants and provide better protection against hospitalization and death, the agency announced. Monday’s move affects vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer. The updated mRNA vaccines are each approved for people ages 12 and older and are authorized under emergency use for children ages 6 mo…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Salmonella Outbreak: Illness Reported In Massachusetts, CDC Says Salmonella Outbreak: Illness Reported In Massachusetts, CDC Says
Salmonella Outbreak: Illness Reported In Massachusetts, CDC Says Federal officials are warning residents in four states in the Northeast about a salmonella outbreak that is suspected of spreading through ground beef purchased in a specific supermarket chain.  The outbreak, which was announced by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, July 25, has been linked to lean ground beef, which is the only common food eaten by those who became ill.  According to officials, all of the affected people who remembered the type of ground beef they ate and where they had purchased it reported that they bought 80 percent lean ground …

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by Ben Crnic
News
First Case Of West Nile Virus Found In Massachusetts: Health Dept. First Case Of West Nile Virus Found In Massachusetts: Health Dept.
First Case Of West Nile Virus Found In Massachusetts: Health Dept. Health officials have warned Massachusetts residents to take precautions after researchers discovered this year's first case of West Nile Virus in mosquitos.  The virus was first detected in mosquitos captured in Brookline, the Massachusetts Department of Health said.  “We often find the first evidence of WNV in mosquitoes at about this time every year,” said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robert Goldstein in a news release. "We are asking people to start taking steps now to avoid mosquito bites. While WNV can cause serious illness, there are simple things that you can do to prote…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Severe Drug-Resistant Skin Infection Never Before Seen In US Detected In NY Severe Drug-Resistant Skin Infection Never Before Seen In US Detected In NY
Severe Drug-Resistant Skin Infection Never Before Seen In US Detected In NY A severe drug-resistant skin infection has been detected for the first time in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cases of tinea caused by Trichophyton indotineae were diagnosed in women ages 28 and 47 in New York City who experienced lesions on their neck, abdomen, thighs, and buttocks, the CDC said. "A New York City dermatologist notified public health officials of two patients who had severe tinea that did not improve with oral terbinafine treatment, raising concern for potential T. indotineae infection," the CDC said in a…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
New Item Added To Recall Of Spinach, Kale, Collard Green Products Due To Listeria Risk New Item Added To Recall Of Spinach, Kale, Collard Green Products Due To Listeria Risk
New Item Added To Recall Of Spinach, Kale, Collard Green Products Due To Listeria Risk A new item has just been added to a recall announced late last week for brands of vegetable products due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. Lancaster Foods announced the recall of Robinson Fresh, Lancaster, and Giant brand Kale, Spinach, and Collard Green products produced at the company’s Jessup, Maryland facility and distributed through retailers and distributors in the states of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.  The recall was initiated after notification that a random sample of a single bag of Chopped Kale Gree…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Rabid Fox Found In Central Mass Prompts Potential Health Warning From Police Rabid Fox Found In Central Mass Prompts Potential Health Warning From Police
Rabid Fox Found In Central Mass Prompts Potential Health Warning From Police Authorities in one Central Massachusetts town are urging any concerned residents to contact health officials after a rabid fox was captured this week. The fox, which tested positive for rabies, was found in the Lakewood Trail neighborhood of Sturbridge on Wednesday, April 19, according to Sturbridge Police on Facebook. ***PSA*** Notice from our Animal Control Officer. Posted by Sturbridge Police Department on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Police said the fox was first seen in the area on April 16, but could have been there longer.  Anyone who believes that they came into direct contact w…

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by David Cifarelli
News
New Listeria Outbreak With Unknown Food Source Under Investigation New Listeria Outbreak With Unknown Food Source Under Investigation
New Listeria Outbreak With Unknown Food Source Under Investigation A new multi-state outbreak of infections from Listeria is under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "A specific food item has not yet been identified as the source of this outbreak," the CDC said in a statement released on Wednesday, Feb. 15. "However, CDC is concerned that several recent illnesses have been reported. Listeria illness is rare, but it can result in serious illness or death." A total of 11 illnesses have been reported in 10 states, including New York, shown in the image above. Of those states, Michigan is the only state with more than one il…

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by Joe Lombardi
Neighbors
Massachusetts TikToker Raises Funds For Homeless Man Who Lost Family To Cancer Massachusetts TikToker Raises Funds For Homeless Man Who Lost Family To Cancer
Massachusetts TikToker Raises Funds For Homeless Man Who Lost Family To Cancer Devin Murray has racked up millions of views by exposing homelessness in and around the Boston area through his TikTok videos.  While Murray's videos often highlight one specific person and their struggle, there was one man's tale that inclined Murray to start a fundraiser to help him survive the winter.  The man, known as Joe from Lawrence, lost his entire family to cancer and even held his wife in his arms as the disease took her life, Murray highlighted in one video.  Joe eventually contracted the detrimental disease himself but was able to overcome it. However, these hurdles landed Joe…

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by David Cifarelli
News
Listeria Outbreak Linked To Meat, Cheese Bought At Deli Counters Under Investigation By CDC Listeria Outbreak Linked To Meat, Cheese Bought At Deli Counters Under Investigation By CDC
Listeria Outbreak Linked To Meat, Cheese Bought At Deli Counters Under Investigation By CDC The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuing to investigate a Listeria outbreak linked to meat and cheese bought at deli counters.  "Deli meats (cold cuts, lunch meats, hot dogs, and pâtés sold at the deli) and cheeses are known sources of Listeria illnesses," the CDC said. "This is because Listeria can easily spread among food on deli countertops, deli slicers, surfaces, and hands.  "Listeria is a hardy germ that can be difficult to fully remove once it is in the deli. It can survive and grow at cold temperatures in the refrigerator." The CDC said that it's…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Alarming Surge In Kids Hospitalized With Non-COVID Virus Putting Strain On Hospitals Alarming Surge In Kids Hospitalized With Non-COVID Virus Putting Strain On Hospitals
Alarming Surge In Kids Hospitalized With Non-covid Virus Putting Strain On Hospitals An alarming surge in potentially serious respiratory illnesses among children is sparking concern nationwide, and in the region. Cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common cold virus that can be associated with severe disease in young children as well as older adults, are now rising in 32 states, including New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The non-COVID-19 related virus, common among children, is now appearing earlier in the season and more frequently. Connecticut has been especially affected, seeing an unprecedented number of children infected by the illnes…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Purchase Of Small Turtles Hits Massachusetts Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Purchase Of Small Turtles Hits Massachusetts
Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Purchase Of Small Turtles Hits Massachusetts At least 21 people, including one person from Massachusetts, have been impacted by a multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to the purchase of small turtles, the CDC reports.  Five people reported getting sick after buying pet turtles with shells smaller than four inches long from an online store known as myturtlestore.com, the CDC said. That number has since grown to 21 with eight being hospitalized.  The first reported illness was on January 3, 2022, according to CDC data. It is unclear as to when the Massachusetts resident became infected and where they live.  I…

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by David Cifarelli
News
E. Coli Outbreak Sickening Dozens May Be Linked To Wendy's In 4 States, CDC Says E. Coli Outbreak Sickening Dozens May Be Linked To Wendy's In 4 States, CDC Says
E. Coli Outbreak Sickening Dozens May Be Linked To Wendy's In 4 States, CDC Says An E. coli outbreak in four states that may be linked to Wendy's has sickened at least 37 people and put 10 in the hospital, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A specific food has not yet been confirmed as the source of this outbreak, but many sick people reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania before getting sick, the CDC said. An illness related to the outbreak was also reported in Indiana. Wendy's said in a statement that it's "fully cooperating with public health authorities on their o…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
First US Monkeypox Cases In Children Confirmed: Here's New State-By-State Breakdown First US Monkeypox Cases In Children Confirmed: Here's New State-By-State Breakdown
First US Monkeypox Cases In Children Confirmed: Here's New State-By-State Breakdown The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first case of monkeypox among children in the United States. Those two cases are part of a record outbreak of nearly 2,900 infections nationwide. The unrelated cases, in an infant and a toddler -- one in California and the other in Washington, DC -- are unrelated and likely the result of household transmission, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told The Washington Post on Friday, July 22. New York accounts for about 31 percent of the nation's 2,891 monkeypox cases with 900, followed by California (356). For a state-by-sta…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Woman Says She Nearly Died After Picking Up Dollar Bill She Suspects Was Laced With Fentanyl Woman Says She Nearly Died After Picking Up Dollar Bill She Suspects Was Laced With Fentanyl
Woman Says She Nearly Died After Picking Up Dollar Bill She Suspects Was Laced With Fentanyl A woman tells a harrowing story of how she had to be hospitalized after picking up a dollar bill she found on a bathroom floor that she later said was laced with drugs. The incident took place in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday, July 10 when the woman, identified as Renee Parsons, a resident of Kentucky, said on Facebook that she, her husband, and child stopped at a McDonald's to use the bathroom when she picked up the dollar off the floor and put it in her pocket while holding her baby. “I see a dollar bill on the ground," Parsons wrote on Facebook and told WKRN ABC News 2 in Nashville. "…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Spike In Overdoses Reported In This County In Region Spike In Overdoses Reported In This County In Region
Spike In Overdoses Reported In This County In Region A Connecticut county is reporting a spike alert in overdoses associated with the supply of available drugs in the area. Litchfield County County officials reported that from Tuesday, June 28 to Tuesday, July 5, there were dozens of overdoses, with two of them fatal, according to Fox61. A spike alert is triggered when there have been more than three overdoses in a 24-hour period, officials said. When an alert is issued, the county's Opiate Task Force responds with messaging to make sure that drug users are aware and also offers information on where and how to get help. Some of the resource…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says COVID-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says
Covid-19: New Wave With 'Worst Version' Of Omicron Starting, Leading NY Doctor Says A new COVID-19 wave with the strongest strain of the Omicron variant appears to have started in New York, one of NYC's top epidemiologists in the city is saying. Dr. Jay Varma, who was former Mayor Bill de Blasio's top public health advisor during the pandemic, said the infection rate appears to have stabilized at a high level rather than subsiding as summer starts to get into full swing. "This is likely the beginning of a BA.5 wave," Varma stated in a Tweet.  "Reported cases are at a high plateau, which means actual transmission is very high when you account for the &g…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
FDA Orders Juul To Stop Selling, Distributing E-Cigarettes In US FDA Orders Juul To Stop Selling, Distributing E-Cigarettes In US
FDA Orders Juul To Stop Selling, Distributing E-Cigarettes In US The United States Food and Drug Administration has ordered Juul Labs Inc. to stop selling and distributing all of its e-cigarette products that are currently available on the US market. The FDA made the announcement on Thursday, June 23, saying it has issued marketing denial orders to the company. Officials said the decision means the products that are currently on the US market must be removed. The products include the Juul device and four types of Juul pods, the FDA said.  “Today’s action is further progress on the FDA’s commitment to ensuring that all e-cigarette and electronic ni…

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by Nicole Valinote