Health News: 13 E. coli illnesses linked to recalled apple juice ♦ Researchers want to turn acid-loving microbes into safe drug-carriers ♦ Scarlet fever making a comeback

13 E. coli illnesses in California linked to recalled apple juice As of Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, there were 13 confirmed cases of E. coli O111 infection being linked to unpasteurized apple juice from High Hill Ranch near Placerville, CA. An investigation by state and county health and environmental officials is continuing into the source of the problem.

Researchers want to turn acid-loving microbes into safe drug-carriers Usually the microbe S. islandicus is found in hot and acidic volcanic springs, but now the microbe has also found its way to science labs. Here researchers have for the first time showed that the exotic microbe is capable of delivering drugs to the human body.

Business leaders should re-think how they treat team members, Business leaders who oversee teams need to find a middle ground in how they treat team members -- or risk hurting team performance -- new findings from an international team of researchers suggest. Specifically, the researchers found that treating some team members much better than others can adversely affect performance -- as can treating all team members the same way.

Scarlet fever making a comeback An international study has tracked the re-emergence of a childhood disease which had largely disappeared over the past 100 years. Researchers have used genome sequencing techniques to investigate a rise in the incidence of scarlet fever-causing bacteria and an increasing resistance to antibiotics.

Scarlet Fever Outbreak in Scotland

A Dundee Scotland primary school has been hit by an outbreak of scarlet fever. One parent of children at Downfield Primary School claimed that at least 20 pupils have fallen ill in recent days. The city council education department today declined to disclose the number infected, but confirmed advice had been sent to parents.

Scarlet fever is named for the distinctive rash it causes. It is usually a mild illness, but in rare cases it can have serious complications.

The parent told The Courier he was "concerned and angry" at what he claimed was a lack of swift communication from the school. He said the 1st child to be affected attends the school's nursery. A parent went on Facebook last week [week of 24 Feb 2014] to warn others, but the school itself did not send out a note to parents until Monday [3 Mar 2014]. "We are now are at a point where at least 20 children are off suffering from either scarlet fever or strains of it. These are only the cases I am aware of," the man said. A council spokesman said: "The school followed advice from the NHS Tayside school nursing service about the issuing of information. Parents and families have been given guidance about contacting a health professional if they think their child has scarlet fever. The primary's communication also stresses that any pupil with the condition should not attend school for five days after they take their first medication."

There are 3 reports of outbreaks of scarlet fever in the UK in the past several weeks: one in the South West Region of England  a 2nd in Lincolnshire and a 3rd in Cumbria It is unknown if the outbreaks are related.

Cumbria England: A Rise in Cases of Scarlet Fever

A rise in the number of children developing scarlet fever has been recorded in Cumbria [England].

36 confirmed cases have been reported so far in 2014, but public health officials are concerned there may be more in the community as people may not recognise the symptoms.

Public Health England, working in partnership with Cumbria County Council, is advising parents to be aware of the signs of scarlet fever, after a rise in cases in children. Kate Brierley, of Public Health England's Cumbria & Lancashire Health Protection Team, said: "We tend to see more cases in winter, but this year [2014] seems to have seen an increase in cases in a relatively short space of time. As it's a very contagious disease, we'd urge parents with children that are showing symptoms to see their GP and obtain treatment. Most mild cases of scarlet fever will clear up on their own, but having treatment for the illness speeds recovery and reduces the risk of complications."

Scarlet Fever is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacteria [_Streptococcus pyogenes_ or Group A streptococci], often found in the throat and on the skin. It is spread by coughing and sneezing and is characterised by a rash, which usually accompanies a sore throat. The bacteria which cause the infection produce toxins which cause a rash, a red and swollen tongue and flushed cheeks. Other symptoms include a high fever, swollen glands in the neck and feeling tired and unwell.

Dr Rebecca Wagstaff, acting Director of Public Health at Cumbria County Council, said: "Between 2000 and 4000 cases of scarlet fever are diagnosed each year in England. Children with scarlet fever should be kept off school for 24 hours after the start of treatment and, during that time, be kept away from other children as much as possible. To help prevent the spread of infection, all tissues and cloths that someone with scarlet fever has coughed or sneezed into should be washed or disposed of immediately. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if you have touched any of these."

If you think you, or your child, has scarlet fever: See your family doctor as soon as possible. Make sure that you/your child takes the full course of any antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. Current guidance advises that children should not return to nursery or school and adults to work until a minimum of 24 hours after starting treatment to avoid spreading infection. You can help stop the spread of infection through frequent hand washing and by not sharing eating utensils, clothes, bedding and towels, and all contaminated tissues or handkerchiefs should be washed or disposed of immediately.
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