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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
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
Traveler With Measles Passed Through Dulles, Reagan Airports In Virginia: Health Officials Traveler With Measles Passed Through Dulles, Reagan Airports In Virginia: Health Officials
Traveler With Measles Passed Through Dulles, Reagan Airports In Virginia: Health Officials Health officials are cautioning about potential measles exposure in Northern Virginia airports.  The Virginia Department of Health was notified about a person who returned stateside after an international trip and traveled through Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport earlier this month and may have exposed other travelers to the virus. VDH was notified of a confirmed case of measles in a person who traveled through Northern Virginia when returning from international travel. Out of an abundance of caution, VDH is informing people who were at vari…

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by Zak Failla
News
First Pediatric Flu-Related Death Of New Season Reported In Virginia First Pediatric Flu-Related Death Of New Season Reported In Virginia
First Pediatric Flu-Related Death Of New Season Reported In Virginia The Virginina Department of Health confirmed that the state's first reported flu-death of the 2023-2024 season has been reported. Health officials announced that a child between the ages of 5 and 12 in Virginia's Eastern region died from complications related to influenza.  No additional information is being provided by the department due to the victim's age and to protect the family. With temperatures dropping, Virginia is seeing an increase in new flu cases,  For the week ending on Saturday, Dec. 23, emergency department and urgent care visits due to flu-like illness represent…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Packaged Spinach Sold To Stores In Virginia Recalled Due To Concerns Of Listeria Contamination Packaged Spinach Sold To Stores In Virginia Recalled Due To Concerns Of Listeria Contamination
Packaged Spinach Sold To Stores In Virginia Recalled Due To Concerns Of Listeria Contamination Federal officials announced a recall of popular spinach products that were sold in Virginia due to concerns of Listeria contamination. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Fresh Express is recalling eight-ounce packages of "Fresh Express Spinach" and nine-ounce bags of "Publix Spinach" that have a product code of "G332" due to the potential health risk. Publix Spinach FDA Officials said that the recall was announced after a routine inspection by the Florida Department of Agriculture produced a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in a single randomly sele…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Kale, Spinach, Collard Green Products Sold In VA Subject To Listeria Recall Kale, Spinach, Collard Green Products Sold In VA Subject To Listeria Recall
Kale, Spinach, Collard Green Products Sold In VA Subject To Listeria Recall A Maryland-based company announced a recall of kale and other similar products that were shipped up and down parts of the East Coast and could be contaminated with Listeria. Lancaster Foods is voluntarily recalling three brands of Robinson Fresh, Lancaster, and Giant brand kale, spinach, and collard green products after a random sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes by the New York Agriculture and Markets Food Safety Division. Items subject to the recall were distributed to retailers and distributors in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. …

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by Zak Failla
News
JUUL Ordered To Pay $15.2M To DC After Contributing To Teen Vaping Epidemic JUUL Ordered To Pay $15.2M To DC After Contributing To Teen Vaping Epidemic
Juul Ordered To Pay $15.2M To DC After Contributing To Teen Vaping Epidemic JUUL Labs, Inc. has been ordered to pay $15.2 million to the District of Columbia after a massive settlement across several states. The settlement is the largest litigated settlement that the DC Office of the Attorney General has secured under the Consumer Protection Procedures Act, officials said. JUUL Labs, Inc. is the maker of the popular nicotine vape JUUL, which quickly rose in popularity amongst young adults and teenagers over the last ten years, initially available in fruity and mint flavors that were later banned due to highly-addictive qualities. At least 50 percent of the settlem…

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by Annie DeVoe
News
Virginian Among Those Sickened By Eating Raw Flour Amid Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak Virginian Among Those Sickened By Eating Raw Flour Amid Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak
Virginian Among Those Sickened By Eating Raw Flour Amid Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak Federal investigators are working to identify a specific brand of flour that is linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened at least one person in Virginia. A salmonella outbreak connected to raw flour has infected 12 people in 11 different states, with three forced to be hospitalized due to their illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Aside from Virginia, illnesses have also been reported in: New York; Ohio; Tennessee; Illinois (two); Missouri; Iowa; Minnesota; Nebraska; Oregon; California. The breakdown of illnesses reported amid the salmonell…

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by Zak Failla
News
Suicides Of Sailors Assigned To Same Navy Ship Were Not Connected: Military Suicides Of Sailors Assigned To Same Navy Ship Were Not Connected: Military
Suicides Of Sailors Assigned To Same Navy Ship Were Not Connected: Military After a string of suicides hit the USS George Washington, the Navy is saying that they are not connected. Three USS George Washington Sailors died by suicide in April 2022, with the Navy saying that the Sailors had no social or working relationships with one another, and that each Sailor was experiencing "unique and individualized life stressors" that led to their deaths, according to a statement made by the United State Fleet Forces Command. “We have diligently worked to determine the facts and understand the circumstances surrounding these tragic events with the hope that this will not on…

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by Annie DeVoe
News
Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Small Turtle Sales Hits Virginia Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Small Turtle Sales Hits Virginia
Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Small Turtle Sales Hits Virginia At least 21 people, including one person from Virginia, 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 Virginia resident became infected and where they live.  In the Unit…

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by David Cifarelli
News
Health Officials Report First Polio Case In US In Nearly A Decade Health Officials Report First Polio Case In US In Nearly A Decade
Health Officials Report First Polio Case In US In Nearly A Decade State health officials have confirmed a case of polio in New York, the first time the disease has been seen in the United States in nearly a decade. The case was confirmed in Rockland County, the New York State Department of Health announced Thursday, July 21. State and county health officials said they were advising medical practitioners and healthcare providers to be on the lookout for additional cases. Today NYSDOH notified NYers of a case of polio in Rockland County, identified through sequencing at Wadsworth, confirmed by @CDCgov. Working with @rockhealth & @nychealthy, we wil…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Leesburg Teenager Missing, Police Worried About Her Safety Leesburg Teenager Missing, Police Worried About Her Safety
Leesburg Teenager Missing, Police Worried About Her Safety Authorities are looking for a missing Loudoun County teenager who they say could be in danger.  Brianna Flores Loy, 17, of Leesburg, went missing early Tuesday morning, June 28, from her home on Lost Corner Road, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies say they are worried about her well-being because of a health or physical problem.  The Sheriff's Office describes Brianna as 4-feet-11-inches tall and weighing 118 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.  The Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information on Brianna's whereabouts or disappearance to contact deputies …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Coyote That Attacked People, Pets At Fairfax County Park Had Rabies, Tests Show Coyote That Attacked People, Pets At Fairfax County Park Had Rabies, Tests Show
Coyote That Attacked People, Pets At Fairfax County Park Had Rabies, Tests Show Tests on the remains of a coyote that bit several people and a police officer over the weekend confirmed what authorities had suspected: it was rabid.  The Fairfax County Health Department received the test results on Monday evening, June 6. Officials ask anyone who came in contact with a coyote on Saturday or Sunday in the Lake Accotink Park area in Springfield to contact the health department. They may need to receive medical treatment for the virus.  The coyote attacked three people and two dogs on Saturday. A day later,  the animal bit a policeman who was searching for it…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Virginia Farm Responds To E. Coli Outbreak Allegedly Linked To Baby Goats Virginia Farm Responds To E. Coli Outbreak Allegedly Linked To Baby Goats
Virginia Farm Responds To E. Coli Outbreak Allegedly Linked To Baby Goats A dairy farm in Virginia has responding to a claim made in a press release posted by the Loudon County officials about an E. coli investigation.  Several E. coli cases were traced back to Georges Mill Farm in Lovettsville, from people who visited between March 6 and April 20, The Loudoun County Health Department said. Farm owner Molly Koiz said she and other farm workers "feel horrible" both that visitors got sick, and that the Loudoun County Health Department considers contact with the baby goats as the source of the illness. The Loudon County Health Department hung up on Daily Voice whe…

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by Annie DeVoe