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Covid-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms
The XEC COVID-19 variant, first identified in Europe, now accounts for 45 percent of cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As infections tick upward, public health experts are urging vigilance.
The strain, a mix of earlier Omicron subvariants, exhibits symptoms similar to Omicron and its predecessors. These include:
Congestion,
Runny nose,
Cough,
Shortness of breath,
Fever or chills,
Fatigue.
Notably, loss of taste and smell — once hallmark signs of COVID-19 — has become increasingly rare.
…
Norovirus Outbreak Prompts Recall Of Oysters Sold In NJ
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington DC residents are being urged to avoid consuming certain oysters after a recall linked to a norovirus outbreak, federal officials announced.
The contaminated oysters were sold under the brands Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi and harvested between Dec. 1 and Dec. 9, 2024, from British Columbia (BC), Canada, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The oysters, distributed by S&M Shellfish Co. of San Francisco, were shipped to retailers and restaurants across several states, including New Jersey, New York, Pe…
Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says
A rare case of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a child in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The child, who is a resident of California, experienced only mild symptoms and is now recovering.
The case, detected through routine flu testing, revealed low levels of the virus in the initial sample, and follow-up tests were negative for bird flu, but positive for other common respiratory viruses.
The CDC is working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to determine how the child might hav…
NJ Water Company Pauses Billing After Cyberattack
A water utility company based in Camden said it is pausing billing in the wake of a cyberattack on Thursday, Oct. 3.
American Water serves 2.8 million people in the Garden State, providing water to municipalities in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth Ocean, Salem, Somerset, Union and Warren counties.
"American Water learned of unauthorized activity in our computer networks and systems," the company said in a release. "This activity has since been determined to be the result of a cybersecurity incident. In an effort to protect our …
'Gas Station Heroin' Killed Toms River Man, Family Says In Lawsuit
The family of a Toms River man has filed a lawsuit claiming he was killed by a supplement known by many as "gas station heroin."
The suit, filed on Thursday, Sept. 5 by the family of 32-year-old Matthew Cornier, names Neptune Resources, LLC; Super Chill CBD Products; and Hometown Market. Philadelphia-based law firm Feldman Shepherd announced the legal action in a news release on Thursday, Sept. 12.
Cornier died on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, after consuming Neptune's Fix Elixir purchased from a store in Point Pleasant, the suit claimed. The product is marketed as a dietary supplement…
Two West Nile Virus-Related Deaths Among Six New Cases Reported In New Jersey
New Jersey health officials are reporting an additional six cases of West Nile Virus including two deaths, and two presumptive viremic blood donor (PVD) cases in the state.
The six new WNV cases are residents of Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Hudson, Mercer, and Middlesex counties (one 50+, two 60+, one 70+, two 80+). The two individuals who died were older adults from Cumberland and Mercer counties, the DOH said.
Two human cases of WNV were reported earlier this year in Middlesex and Union counties.
Seven out of the eight cases were hospitalized with neuroinvasive disease, includi…
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…
