Health News: Bird Flu Outbreak Spreads ♦ Eels Covered in toxic dye ♦ Home canned potatoes probably caused botulism outbreak ♦ Alcohol use disorders

.Increase human protections offered as H5N2 Flu Outbreak Spreads  Federal public health officials reported that about 300 farm workers exposed to the H5N2 strain of bird flu were offered Tamiflu, an antiviral medication, as a precaution due to an ongoing outbreak that is affecting Midwestern poultry farms. Investigators have heightened biosecurity measures on infected farms and protective equipment has been issued for responders to the scene of an outbreak

.National Guard called up to deliver water in Minnesota bird flu fight  The Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center reported April 26 that 30 National Guard soldiers and 15 military water trucks will be deployed April 27 – 29 in an effort to contain the rapidly spreading H5N2 strain of bird flu.

Eels Covered in toxic dye Ming Chuan International bought 3,000 kg of live eels from the Yunlin fishery earlier in the year, then sold them to Hong Yi Ltd. , a frozen food manufacturer in Pingtung, which originally planned to export the processed eels to Japan. However, Hong Yi made some of the live eels into grilled eels before test results from SGS Taiwan became available

Home canned potatoes served at potluck probably caused botulism outbreak Ohio public health officials announced Monday that potato salad containing home-canned potatoes was the likely cause of a recent botulism outbreak following a potluck luncheon at the Crosspoint Free Will Baptist Church in Lancaster, OH. They said that their conclusion was based on lab tests and interviews with those who attended the potluck on

Alcohol use disorders - stronger predictor of mortality than chronic hepatitis C virus infection Scientists show that alcohol use disorders have a serious, negative prognostic outcome with higher mortality risks in the general population and patients with hepatitis C virus

4/26/14 Health News: Texas quarantine expanded for citrus disease ♦ Bird flu found on California quail farm ♦ BEARDED DRAGONS LINKED TO SALMONELLA OUTBREAK ♦ 1 in 20 Adult Outpatients Misdiagnosed

Texas quarantine expanded for citrus disease

The vast majority of Texas’ commercial citrus groves now reside in expanded quarantine areas aimed at slowing the spread of a disease decimating citrus around the world.The state Department of Agriculture expanded the citrus greening quarantine areas in South Texas on Monday to cover Hidalgo and Cameron counties. Only a small amount of commercial citrus grown in Willacy County remains outside the current quarantine. Continue Reading

Bird flu found on California quail farm; Russia bans import of state's poultry

Low-pathogenic avian influenza, a disease known as bird flu, has been detected on a California quail farm earlier this month, and Russia has announced a ban on California poultry imports due to the sickness outbreak in the state.Continue Reading

CDC: BEARDED DRAGONS LINKED TO SALMONELLA OUTBREAK

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this week announced the likely source of a Salmonella Cotham outbreak was bearded dragons children like for pets. The illnesses involved 132 people in 31 states, and most were children aged five and younger. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services first reported the outbreak last... Continue Reading

1 in 20 Adult Outpatients Misdiagnosed, Study Reports

At least 1 in 20 adult outpatients receives an incorrect diagnosis from their doctor, according to a new study. Sometimes the consequences are minor -- calling something an “allergy” when it’s really a cold, for instance. But in more than 6 million patients a year in the United States, such misdiagnosis could have major consequences, such as a dangerous delay in cancer treatment.Continue Reading

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2/6/14 Health News Beans Soaked in Horse Trough - Deadly Bird Flu - New Genes Linked to Belly Fat - Raw Milk Crusader

Beans soaked in horse trough

Dozens taken ill after annual event.The final report on the Bean Day salmonella outbreak that left a dozen people hospitalized and scores of people ill last October may make some Limestone County residents cringe. Continue Reading

Cases of New Deadly Bird Flu Surge in China, Experts Say

Cases of the new H7N9 avian influenza in China are surging alarmingly, flu experts warned this week.There are now about 300 confirmed cases, with more appearing every day. Roughly a quarter of the victims have died.The first human cases were reported only last March. By contrast, the H5N1 influenza virus, another lethal strain that jumped from birds to people, first appeared in 2003 and took almost five years to reach the 300-case mark. Continue Reading.

ONTARIO RAW MILK CRUSADER GETTING HIS DAY IN PROVINCE’S HIGHEST COURT

The Canadian equivalent of the U.S. Courts of Appeal – the Ontario Court of Appeal – today will hear oral arguments to decide if barriers to the sale and distribution of raw milk infringe upon any right that might exist to drink the unpasteurized beverage. Not surprisingly, the case involving those issues is being brought... Continue Reading

Scientists ID New Genes Linked to Belly Fat

Researchers who identified five new genes linked to belly fat say their findings could help efforts to develop medicines to treat obesity or obesity-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The investigators looked at more than 57,000 people of European descent and searched for genes associated with abdominal fat, independent of overall obesity. They examined more than 50,000 variants in 2,000 genes. The team pinpointed three new genes associated with increased waist-to-hip ratio in both women and men, and identified two other genes that appear to affect waist-to-hip ratio in women only. Waist-to-hip ratio is used to measure a person's belly fat. It's believed that genetics account for 30 percent to 60 percent of waist-to-hip ratio. Abdominal fat is a predictor of obesity-related disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Continue Reading