Epidemiologists are trying to triangulate multiple cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that have recently surfaced in Florida to see if they can be associated with a single point source. Along with the 14 confirmed cases, state health officials are investigating seven others around the state, including one involving the death of a girl
10 Healthy Foods That Can Kill Children
About 76 million Americans this year will suffer from food-borne illness, and at least 5,000 will die. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Most families try to avoid this by eating healthy foods, but that’s not enough – Debra Holtzman, JD, MA, a nationally recognized safety and health expert, warns that there
Douglas Powell Challenges Common Food Safety Misconceptions
Douglas Powell of the Food Safety Network recently addressed a crowd of about 50 people at a recent Canadian Federation of University Women-sponsored meeting, in which he talked about basic hygiene and good and bad practices in the food production/preparation and fast food service industries. Powell is an associate professor in the Department of Plant
Petting Zoos Shutting Down As Result of E. coli Scares
Easter is usually associated with bunnies and chicks, and outdoor events usually have petting zoos for children to enjoy. However, Easter events across the Tampa Bay area are either closing up or cancelling appearances by petting zoos this year because of an E. coli scare that has put more than a dozen people, mostly children,
Middle School Girl’s Death May Be Linked to Petting Zoo Outbreak
The Times reports that Weightman Middle School seventh-grader Kayla Nicole Sutter collapsed in her family’s Meadow Pointe home and was found dead Wednesday morning, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Kayla had been ill since Saturday with a 103-degree fever and had visited an emergency room early in the week.
Medical investigators are now
Investigators Focusing on E. coli O157:H7 in Florida Outbreaks
Eleven children under the age of 10 and four adults over the age of 40 have been admitted to area hospitals one of the most dangerous complications of an E. coli infection, a kidney ailment called hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS. All of them attended either the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City or
Miles City Processor Pleased by American Association of Meat Processors Intervention
In January of 2002, John Munsell was notified that a sample of ground beef from his company, Montana Quality Foods and Processing, Inc., had tested positive for E. coli. The Miles City meat processor claims that he had told officials that the ground beef came from a larger plant in Colorado, but that his
E. coli Can Cause Illness, Death
E. coli is a commonly known bacterium that usually cause no harm. However, one strain of E. coli, labeled O157:H7 can be picked up from contaminated food and beverages, or through contact with manure from farm animals – and creates a toxin that can shut down kidneys and lead to death.
E. coli O157:H7 creates
Florida Fair Outbreaks Don’t Keep Parents From Taking Kids to Petting Zoos
Ambar Delgado’s father wasn’t afraid to let his five-year-old daughter pet a goat at the Brevard Zoo, since both he and Amber had learned to practice the best form of protection against disease at places like petting zoos – using the hand sanitizer, available at the fence post just outside the petting zoo area.
“She
Florida Officials Search for Source of HUS Cases
Recent life-threatening cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) amongst children and at least one adult have been attributed to contact with livestock at fairs in Orange and Hillsborough counties, and have resulted in inspections of farm animals by a team of veterinarians and inspectors from the State.
The Tampa Tribune reports:
“I think we were