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Public Health

COVID-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom COVID-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom
Covid-19: New Variant From China Spreading In US With Painful Symptom A painful new symptom is drawing attention from doctors as another COVID-19 variant begins to spread across the US. The sore throat has been described as “razor-blade throat” — an intensely sharp, uncomfortable sensation that can be an early warning sign of infection.  Lately, it’s been linked to a newly identified strain: NB.1.8.1, also called Nimbus, a descendant of the Omicron subvariant JN.1. The World Health Organization has labeled NB.1.8.1 a Variant Under Monitoring, and public health officials say existing vaccines are still expected to protect against severe illness. The var…
Ready-To-Eat Meals Sold At Supermarkets Recalled After Deadly Listeria Outbreak Ready-To-Eat Meals Sold At Supermarkets Recalled After Deadly Listeria Outbreak
Ready-To-Eat Meals Sold At Supermarkets Recalled After Deadly Listeria Outbreak Several popular ready-to-eat chicken pasta meals sold across the country at a pair of supermarkets are being recalled following a deadly outbreak of listeria. Federal officials say 17 people across 13 states have become sick after eating products linked to a strain of Listeria monocytogenes. Three people have died, and one fetal loss has been reported, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). They products were sold at Walmart and Kroger stores. The recall includes chicken fettuccine alfredo meals under the Marketside and Home Chef labels, produced by FreshRealm establishments…
Contamination Fears Prompt Nationwide Mushroom Recall By NY Company Contamination Fears Prompt Nationwide Mushroom Recall By NY Company
Contamination Fears Prompt Nationwide Mushroom Recall By NY Company A nationwide recall has been issued for mushrooms sold in stores across the country due to possible listeria contamination, according to federal health officials. The voluntary recall affects 200-gram packages of enoki mushrooms distributed by New York City-based Hofood99 Inc., located in Brooklyn, according to a release posted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday, June 11. Authorities say the mushrooms may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes — a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older adults, or people with weake…
Lifelong NYer Leonard Lauder, Among World's Richest People, Dies Lifelong NYer Leonard Lauder, Among World's Richest People, Dies
Lifelong NYer Leonard Lauder, Among World's Richest People, Dies Leonard Lauder, the billionaire businessman who helped turn his family’s cosmetics company into a global beauty empire, has died. The 92-year-old Lauder's death came on Saturday, June 14, at his home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, according to a statement from the Estée Lauder Companies, the business his parents founded and he helped transform into a multibillion-dollar giant. The Bronx-born executive formally joined the company in 1958.  Over the next six decades, he shaped the company’s identity, launched best-selling brands including Clinique and Aramis, spearheaded internati…
Deadly Bacteria Risk In Fish Sold Across NY Prompts Large Recall, FDA Says Deadly Bacteria Risk In Fish Sold Across NY Prompts Large Recall, FDA Says
Deadly Bacteria Risk In Fish Sold Across NY Prompts Large Recall, FDA Says A smoked fish recall is affecting more than 70 grocery stores across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut due to a life-threatening botulism risk, health officials said. P. East Trading Corp., based in The Bronx, NY, issued the recall on Tuesday, June 10, the Food and Drug Administration said. State inspectors found that P. East's Salted Smoked Split Herring was uneviscerated and longer than five inches. The long fish is a violation that increases the risk of contamination with Clostridium botulinum. "Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following …
RFK Jr. Removes All 17 Members Of CDC Vaccine Panel RFK Jr. Removes All 17 Members Of CDC Vaccine Panel
RFK Jr. Removes All 17 Members Of CDC Vaccine Panel The entire roster of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) independent vaccine advisory committee is being replaced, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. Kennedy announced that all 17 will be leaving their posts, saying that "a clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science." Kennedy said that the committee, known as the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), has been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest. The committee is made up of medical and public health professionals …
Massive Cucumber Recall Expands To Include New Products Massive Cucumber Recall Expands To Include New Products
Massive Cucumber Recall Expands To Include New Products A cucumber-linked Salmonella outbreak that’s sickened dozens has now led to another round of product recalls. this time targeting fresh food trays and tubs sold across five states. TGD Cuts, LLC of Jessup, Maryland, announced it is voluntarily recalling several cucumber-containing products distributed under multiple brands.  The affected items — including pre-packaged salsas, salads, and produce trays — were made using cucumbers from Bedner Growers Inc., the same Florida-based supplier at the center of a nationwide recall and Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 45 people and…
Measles Case: Visitors To Mahopac Restaurant May Have Been Exposed, Officials Warn Measles Case: Visitors To Mahopac Restaurant May Have Been Exposed, Officials Warn
Measles Case: Visitors To Mahopac Restaurant May Have Been Exposed, Officials Warn Health officials are warning the public after a person who came down with measles visited a Putnam County restaurant while still contagious.  The individual, who contracted the illness while traveling abroad, is no longer contagious, according to a Wednesday, June 4 announcement from the Putnam County Department of Health.  However, officials are urging anyone who visited Arturo’s Tavern at 878 Route 6 in Mahopac on Wednesday, May 28 between 6 and 10 p.m. to contact the health department immediately, as the infected person visited the establishment while still considered contagiou…
Canadian Wildfire Smoke Drifting Into NY Triggering Alerts: Check Your Town's Index Canadian Wildfire Smoke Drifting Into NY Triggering Alerts: Check Your Town's Index
Canadian Wildfire Smoke Drifting Into NY Triggering Alerts: Check Your Town's Index With summer-like heat moving in, health officials have issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for much of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and the Philadelphia metro area on Wednesday, June 4 (scroll down to check your town's air quality index). The alerts, in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., warn that ground-level ozone pollution could reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung disease, authorities in each state said. Click here to see today's air quality forecast. In New Jersey, the Department of Environmental Protection iss…
Lead Dangers To Kids Trigger Recall Of 100K+ Kitchen Faucets: See If Yours Is Affected Lead Dangers To Kids Trigger Recall Of 100K+ Kitchen Faucets: See If Yours Is Affected
Lead Dangers To Kids Trigger Recall Of 100K+ Kitchen Faucets: See If Yours Is Affected Three popular brands of kitchen faucets sold on Amazon have been recalled after tests revealed dangerously high lead levels that could harm babies and young children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of about 103,000 faucets on Thursday, May 29. The recalled models were sold under the brand names VFAUOSIT, KICIMPRO, and BASDEHEN. Testing found that the faucets can leach "dangerous" amounts of lead into drinking water, posing serious health risks, especially for kids. "Lead ingestion can cause harmful neurological effects on infants and young childr…
3 Middle Schoolers Hospitalized After Eating Gummy-Like Substance In Hudson Valley 3 Middle Schoolers Hospitalized After Eating Gummy-Like Substance In Hudson Valley
3 Middle Schoolers Hospitalized After Eating Gummy-Like Substance In Hudson Valley Three students at an Orange County middle school were hospitalized after consuming a "gummy-like substance," prompting an ongoing investigation and a warning to families about unverified social media rumors.  The incident happened on Wednesday, May 28 at Monhagen Middle School in Middletown and involved four students, three of whom became ill after ingesting the substance, according to a letter sent to families by Principal Dominick Radogna on Thursday, May 29.  The students were transported to the hospital as a precaution, and the school says it remains in contact with their fami…
COVID-19: Here Are Symptoms Of New Variant Sparking China Surge Now Surfacing In US COVID-19: Here Are Symptoms Of New Variant Sparking China Surge Now Surfacing In US
Covid-19: Here Are Symptoms Of New Variant Sparking China Surge Now Surfacing In US A highly transmissible COVID-19 variant behind a rise in cases in China has made its way to the United States, and now attention is starting to focus on whether its symptoms bear any distinctions from numerous other strains. Earlier report: COVID-19: NB.1.8.1 Strain Behind China Surge Surfacing In US Cases of the NB.1.8.1 variant have shown up in US airport screenings, but there have not been enough for it to appear on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracker of COVID variants. NB.1.8.1 is now considered a “variant under monitoring,” with current vaccines expe…
Popular Beef Stew Pulled From Shelves After Reports Of Contamination Popular Beef Stew Pulled From Shelves After Reports Of Contamination
Popular Beef Stew Pulled From Shelves After Reports Of Contamination A nationwide recall has been issued for more than 256,000 pounds of a popular canned beef stew after it was found to contain pieces of wood. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Tucker, Georgia, is recalling the product after receiving three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood inside the stew, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The recall includes 20-ounce cans of “Dinty Moore BEEF STEW” with a “BEST BY FEB 2028” date and the lot code “T02045” (which may include an additional number). The affected products were produced on Tuesd…
COVID-19: Strain Behind New China Surge Now Surfacing In US, CDC Says COVID-19: Strain Behind New China Surge Now Surfacing In US, CDC Says
Covid-19: Strain Behind New China Surge Now Surfacing In US, CDC Says A new strain of COVID-19 gaining traction overseas is now being detected in the United States, according to health officials tracking the virus. Click here for a new, updated story: COVID-19: Here Are Symptoms Of New Variant Sparking China Surge Now Surfacing In US Airport screenings have identified cases of the NB.1.8.1 variant — the same strain linked to a surge in infections in China — among international travelers arriving in several US states, CBS News reports. The variant has been found in passengers tested at airports in the New York City area, California, Virginia, and Washington…
Towel, Flip-Flops, ID: Beaches In Westchester To Reopen, Here's When Towel, Flip-Flops, ID: Beaches In Westchester To Reopen, Here's When
Towel, Flip-Flops, ID: Beaches In Westchester To Reopen, Here's When Beach season is back in Westchester County just in time for Memorial Day weekend, with pools to follow in late June, officials announced.  Three popular county-owned beaches — Croton Point in Croton-on-Hudson, Glen Island in New Rochelle, and Playland in Rye — will reopen Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 24 to 26, on a pre-season basis, weather permitting, according to Westchester County Parks.  The beaches will operate weekends and holidays through Sunday, June 22. Starting Friday, June 27, Glen Island and Playland beaches will open daily, while Croton Point Beach will continue …
COVID-19: FDA Says It Will Limit Who Can Get Future Booster Shots COVID-19: FDA Says It Will Limit Who Can Get Future Booster Shots
Covid-19: FDA Says It Will Limit Who Can Get Future Booster Shots In a significant shift in vaccination policy, the Trump administration has revealed that approval for seasonal COVID-19 shots will be restricted to certain groups. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it will continue to approve boosters for those 65 and older as well as others at higher risk of severe disease. But it will require vaccine makers to conduct major new clinical trials on their effectiveness before approving them for wider use on the broader population.  The FDA’s revised framework, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Tuesday, May 20, stat…
From Sand To Sad: Westchester Beaches Bomb In Water Quality Rankings, Report Says From Sand To Sad: Westchester Beaches Bomb In Water Quality Rankings, Report Says
From Sand To Sad: Westchester Beaches Bomb In Water Quality Rankings, Report Says Four public beaches in Westchester County have landed on a list no community wants to be part of — the lowest-scoring beach water quality in the region, according to Save the Sound’s newly released 2025 Beach Report. The report, released on Tuesday, May 20 and based on data from 2022 to 2024, evaluates water quality at more than 200 Long Island Sound beaches using science-driven metrics that measure the presence of enterococcus, a fecal indicator bacteria.  The presence of such bacteria is often tied to unsafe swimming conditions and can lead to a range of health issues, including gast…
Measles At Sold-Out Shakira Concert: Exposure Linked To MetLife Show, NJ Health Department Says Measles At Sold-Out Shakira Concert: Exposure Linked To MetLife Show, NJ Health Department Says
Measles At Sold-Out Shakira Concert: Exposure Linked To MetLife Show, NJ Health Department Says If you danced the night away at Shakira’s MetLife concert last week, health officials say you may have brought home more than just memories. According to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), a non-New Jersey resident with a confirmed case of measles attended the MetLife Stadium concert while infectious. The DOH sent out an alert for concertgoers who were at the venue on Thursday, May 15, from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, May 16. People who were at the concert could develop symptoms as late as June 6, NJDOH said in a statement on Tuesday, May 20. According to MetLife Stadium, both sh…
Dozens Sickened By Cucumbers Sold In NY During Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak Dozens Sickened By Cucumbers Sold In NY During Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak
Dozens Sickened By Cucumbers Sold In NY During Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak More than two dozen people, including some in the mid-Atlantic, have gotten sick from a nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to cucumbers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least 26 people in 15 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo. Nine people have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported. Investigators traced the source to whole cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. between Tuesday, April 29, and Monday, May 19. Testing by the Food and Drug Admi…
NY’s Mounting Garbage Crisis Nears Breaking Point As Seneca Meadows Landfill Faces Shutdown NY’s Mounting Garbage Crisis Nears Breaking Point As Seneca Meadows Landfill Faces Shutdown
NY’s Mounting Garbage Crisis Nears Breaking Point As Seneca Meadows Landfill Faces Shutdown New York’s waste crisis is rapidly escalating as landfills near capacity and the state’s largest—Seneca Meadows—faces a looming closure in 2025, raising alarm statewide. Seneca Meadows, located in the Finger Lakes, currently handles 30% of New York City’s trash. If its permit expires without renewal in 2025, the fallout could overwhelm the state's waste infrastructure. At the core of this crisis is the rise of plastic production and a faltering recycling system. With microplastics entering our food, water, air, and even our bodies—and with links to serious health risks including endocrine d…
These Are Top 10 Most, Least Obese States, Study Reveals These Are Top 10 Most, Least Obese States, Study Reveals
These Are Top 10 Most, Least Obese States, Study Reveals A new nationwide analysis is shedding light on how states compare when it comes to a major public health challenge, and the results show striking geographic patterns. The report from U.S. News reveals which states are most affected by obesity and which are faring better — a factor that plays a critical role in overall health rankings. The data is part of the 2025 Best States rankings. It is based on self-reported obesity rates from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. Obesi…
Gruesome Dolphin Decapitation On Remote East Coast Island Sparks Federal Probe Gruesome Dolphin Decapitation On Remote East Coast Island Sparks Federal Probe
Gruesome Dolphin Decapitation On Remote East Coast Island Sparks Federal Probe Wildlife authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the capture of whoever decapitated a dolphin off the coast of North Carolina. The incident was reported last week, when a dolphin was found dead — but intact — near a remote island off the Tar Heel State's coast. Days later, however, when experts returned, they discovered the animal had been gruesomely mutilated. “This animal was intentionally decapitated, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The remote location where the dolphin was found adds to the difficulty of investigating this incident and the c…
'Dangerous Loophole' Shielding Drugged Drivers Must End, DA Urges NY Lawmakers 'Dangerous Loophole' Shielding Drugged Drivers Must End, DA Urges NY Lawmakers
'Dangerous Loophole' Shielding Drugged Drivers Must End, DA Urges NY Lawmakers With the clock ticking on New York’s legislative session, a Long Island district attorney is urging lawmakers to pass legislation he says is critical to saving lives. Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney and a statewide coalition of prosecutors , safety advocates, and public health leaders kicked off a series of “Days of Action” in Albany on Monday, May 12, demanding politicians pass the Deadly Driving Bill. If approved, the law would close a “dangerous loophole” in New York’s drugged driving laws, Tierney said. Under current law, prosecutors cannot pursue charges against drivers impaired by s…
Wrap Products Sold In NY Linked To Potential Contamination Risk Wrap Products Sold In NY Linked To Potential Contamination Risk
Wrap Products Sold In NY Linked To Potential Contamination Risk A public health alert has been issued for a pair of ready-to-eat wrap products due to possible Listeria contamination, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced. The items — chicken and bacon ranch wraps sold under two brand labels — are no longer being sold, but officials are concerned some may still be in consumer refrigerators. The wraps were produced on Friday, May 2, and distributed to retail locations in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The affected items include: 10-ounce packages labeled “Big Y quick easy meals CHICKEN BACON RANCH WRAP” with a Sell By date of Tue…
Nationwide Recall Issued For These Packaged Food Products Nationwide Recall Issued For These Packaged Food Products
Nationwide Recall Issued For These Packaged Food Products A nationwide recall has been issued for a variety of packaged food items due to the presence of undeclared allergens, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products were sold through a national distributor and may still be in consumer pantries, prompting an urgent alert for those with dietary sensitivities. The company behind the recall, based in Texas, flagged a labeling issue discovered during a routine internal audit. The packaging error affected products distributed between Friday, Dec. 1, 2023 and Friday, May 10, 2025. Consumers with allergies or sensitivities to…
Nationwide Recall Issued For Popular Yogurt Product Nationwide Recall Issued For Popular Yogurt Product
Nationwide Recall Issued For Popular Yogurt Product A widely sold refrigerated food item has been pulled from store shelves due to a labeling issue that could pose a serious health risk for certain consumers. Knockro Inc., based in Pennsylvania, is recalling its Bonya-branded low fat yogurt parfaits because they may contain almonds that are not listed on the label.  Almonds are considered a tree nut and can cause severe or even life-threatening allergic reactions in individuals with sensitivities. The product is sold in 12-ounce clear plastic cups with an expiration date of Monday, May 5. It was available in retail stores across the US…
RFK Jr. Posts Pics Of Family In Rock Creek, Where Swimming Is Banned For Health Risks RFK Jr. Posts Pics Of Family In Rock Creek, Where Swimming Is Banned For Health Risks
RFK Jr. Posts Pics Of Family In Rock Creek, Where Swimming Is Banned For Health Risks Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took a questionable swim with his family to celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday.  Kennedy shared photos of himself and his grandchildren on Sunday afternoon, posing and playing in the water in Rock Creek. "Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek," he wrote on X.  Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek. pic…
US Measles Cases Surge Past 1,000 As CDC Reports 14 Outbreaks US Measles Cases Surge Past 1,000 As CDC Reports 14 Outbreaks
US Measles Cases Surge Past 1,000 As CDC Reports 14 Outbreaks America reached a grim milestone this week as the number of confirmed measles cases across the country has soared past 1,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 1,001 confirmed measles cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by 31 states and jurisdictions — more than triple the number reported in all of 2024, according to the agency's latest report. At least 14 outbreaks (defined as three or more connected cases) have been reported so far this year, with 93 percent of cases (928 of 1,001) linked to outbreaks,…
Rabies Alert: Infected Cat Found Outdoors In Westchester, Dies Before Testing Positive Rabies Alert: Infected Cat Found Outdoors In Westchester, Dies Before Testing Positive
Rabies Alert: Infected Cat Found Outdoors In Westchester, Dies Before Testing Positive A rabid cat that had been roaming outdoors in a Northern Westchester neighborhood has tested positive for rabies, prompting a warning from public health officials. The Westchester County Department of Health confirmed on Friday, May 9 that an indoor/outdoor cat that lived in Katonah died on Wednesday, May 7, and later tested positive for rabies. Officials say the cat was an average-sized white tabby.  Health officials did not specify exactly where the cat was found but said they would release more information as it becomes available.  "As it was an indoor/outdoor cat, there is no…
Measles Confirmed In 3 Young Children In Hudson Valley Measles Confirmed In 3 Young Children In Hudson Valley
Measles Confirmed In 3 Young Children In Hudson Valley Three children under the age of five in Orange County have tested positive for measles, prompting an urgent warning from local health officials to parents across the region.  The Orange County Department of Health confirmed the cases on Wednesday, May 8, and is urging families to check their vaccination records, especially before traveling.  “Measles is just a plane (or car) ride away,” officials warned in a public health message. The disease spreads quickly and can be especially dangerous for babies and young children. The children who came down with measles in Orange County all…
Woman Claims She Found Rodent In Half-Eaten Takeout Order From Midtown Manhattan Restaurant Woman Claims She Found Rodent In Half-Eaten Takeout Order From Midtown Manhattan Restaurant
Woman Claims She Found Rodent In Half-Eaten Takeout Order From Midtown Manhattan Restaurant A woman reported finding a dead rodent in her half-eaten salad she bought at a restaurant in New York City. The 28-year-old told ABC 7 New York she picked up the takeout order from the eatery in midtown Manhattan on Monday, May 5. The rodent was mixed in with lettuce, sautéed beets, and salmon. The owner of the restaurant, Ongi, on West 37th Street, told Eyewitness News the rodent didn't come from the eatery and said he has no idea how it got in the salad and doesn't want to guess. He provided ABC 7 video footage of employees making the woman's salad. After visiting her doctor,…