Find Your Daily Voice
18°
Chemical Release Hospitalizes 12 Chambersburg Workers, Feds Say
A hazardous chemical gas release at a Chambersburg-based soap and detergent manufacturing facility has resulted in $161,310 in federal penalties, according to a U.S. Department of Labor announcement on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.
The investigation, led by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in its Philadelphia regional office, followed the July 2024 incident at AFCO, a manufacturing subsidiary of Zep Inc. based in Atlanta. The Chambersburg facility, which specializes in cleaning and sanitation products, experienced a nitrogen dioxide gas release during chemical processing. …
FDA Bans Red No. 3 Due To Cancer Concerns About Artificial Coloring In Many Foods
The Food and Drug Administration has officially banned Red No. 3, a synthetic dye that gives certain foods their vivid cherry-red hue, due to cancer concerns in lab animals.
The FDA revoked the authorization for the coloring's use in food products, oral drugs, and dietary supplements, the agency said in a news release on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Manufacturers have until Friday, Jan. 15, 2027, to remove Red Dye 3 from food products and Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2028, for drugs. Products made before these deadlines may still appear on shelves if they were manufactured before …
'Tripledemic' Threat: Covid-19, Flu, RSV Surging This Season
The United States is experiencing a rise in respiratory illnesses, commonly referred to as a “tripledemic,” involving COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As of Friday, Jan. 3, the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare is high and continues to increase nationally, the agency said.
COVID-19 cases are increasing nationwide, with the XEC variant—a mix of earlier Omicron strains—now accounting for about 45 percent of cases.
Symptoms include congestion, cough, fe…
Hundreds Of Snow Geese Found Dead In Pennsylvania, Avian Flu Suspected
Avian influenza is suspected to have caused the deaths of hundreds of snow geese discovered at two locations in the greater Allentown area on Monday, Dec. 30, authorities announced on Thursday, Jan. 2.
The deceased geese were recovered from sites in Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County, and Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
The agency encourages anyone encountering sick or dead wild birds to report them by calling 1-833-PGC-WILD, emailing pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov, or submitting details online at pgcapps.pa.gov/WHS.
Reports of sic…
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).
Click here for a new, updated story - COVID-19: Virus Levels Now Surging In These States
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.
Not…
Norovirus Outbreak Prompts Recall Of Oysters Sold In PA
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…
$12M Medicaid Fraud Scheme By PA Home Health Care Agency Lands 20 People Charges: AG
The owner of a Bala Cynwyd-based home care agency, her daughter, and 18 others have been charged in a multi-million dollar Medicaid fraud scheme, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced on Friday, Dec. 13.
Stephanie Mobley, 52, owned ComfortZone Home Health Care, LLC, a Medicaid-approved provider based in Bala Cynwyd. She, her second-in-command daughter, Naya Campbell, 29, of Audubon, and 18 others allegedly defrauded the Medicaid program by filing false reimbursement claims for services never provided, according to court documents.
All 20 defendants face charges including …
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…
