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Flu Cases, Related ER Visits On Rise Nationwide
Flu activity remains high and is increasing across many parts of the country.
For the week ending Saturday, Jan. 18, 25 percent of tests returned positive for flu, up from 19 percent the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More than five percent of emergency-room visits were flu-related, with notable increases among infants, older children, and teens, nearing pre-holiday surge levels.
"The country is still experiencing elevated influenza activity and that is expected to continue for several more weeks," the CDC said.
Elev…
Massive Ground Beef Recall: 167K Pounds Pulled Over E. Coli Risk
A recall of over 167,000 pounds of ground beef shipped nationwide is raising concerns about possible E. coli contamination.
The recall, issued by Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co., affects products distributed to restaurants across the US. Health officials have linked the beef to 15 illnesses in one state, with symptoms appearing between Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, and Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024.
Key Details
Fresh products: “Use by” date of Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
Frozen products: Production date of Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024
Inspection mark: “EST. 2574B”
View product list here
View product…
Bird Flu Found In Goose At Farm In Brewster: Here's Who Is At Risk
A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a wild goose found in Putnam County, health officials announced.
The deceased goose was discovered at the end of December at the Farm and Wildlife Center at Green Chimneys in Brewster, which promptly ensured the animal was tested, the Putnam County Department of Health announced on Friday, Jan. 17.
While the virus has been spreading globally among wild birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks since 2022, the risk to the general public remains low, according to the health department.&n…
Trump Ends All Jan. 6 Cases With Pardons, Dismissals, Commutations, Signs Flurry Of Orders
Newly sworn in President Donald Trump granted pardons to nearly all individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack and signed several executive orders marking an aggressive start to his second non-consecutive term.
Some of the orders were signed in front of a crowd at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC shortly after his inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, and the others in the Oval Office.
Here's a rundown:
Pardons for Jan. 6 rioters
Trump pardoned, commuted sentences, and dismissed charges for most of the approximately 1,600 individuals charged in the Capitol riots…
Virus Outbreak In China Sparking Concerns: Here's What To Know About Hmpv
A surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China is sparking concerns five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, drawing attention to another respiratory virus circulating in the population.
HMPV, a known virus, usually causes cold-like symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, a runny nose, and a sore throat.
The new rise in cases, particularly among children under 14 in northern China, has officials urging caution as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, a time when travel and gatherings often lead to spikes in illness.
Data from China’s state news agency, Xinhua, shows …
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 Greater Allentown Area, 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…
