Wednesday, December 5, 2012
It's National Influenza Vaccination Week. Did you get your flu shot?
- NEWS
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
More than one-third of United States residents have already been vaccinated against the influenza virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday. With National Influenza Vaccination Week, which started last Sunday and ends Saturday, health officials aim to increase that percentage, especially since this year's season may be a bad one. Influenza—more commonly known as simply "the flu"—is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs. It spreads via infected people coughing, sneezing or talking, though people can also get infected by touching something with the flu virus on it before touching their mouth, eyes or nose. The 2012-2013 season is shaping up to be one of the worst …
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Friday that additional patients who may have been exposed to meningitis from contaminated medications are being contacted.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
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Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to follow up with patients who may have been exposed to contaminated medications produced by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Mass., as part of a nationwide investigation into a fungal meningitis outbreak, according to a press release. To date, there is only one case of fungal meningitis in Pennsylvania associated with this outbreak. Illness occurred in a patient who received an epidural steroid injection at Allegheny Pain Management in Altoona. The facility was one of two locations in Pennsylvania that received doses of the specific lots of steroid medication responsible for the national outbreak. As a precautionary measure, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
'Forever Cheese' brand of Frescolina ricotta cheese is being recalled after 14 people - including 1 in Pennsylvania - were sickened by listeria-type illness.
- BUSINESS
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
An illness that killed three people and sickened 14 in 11 states and the District of Columbia has prompted the recall of an imported ricotta salata cheese, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on its website Tuesday. Forever Cheese Inc., on Monday voluntarily recalled one lot of Frescolina brand ricotta salata cheese due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the CDC said. Ricotta salata is dry and crumbly - not the soft ricotta used in lasagna, according to a U.S. News report. Listeriosis is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be severe. One person in Pennsylvania was sickened in this case so far. The cheese was sold to distributors for retail stores and restaurants in California, Colorado, District of …
