
Health unit warns of new measles exposure
Northern Ontario Watch
Algoma Public Health has released the places and times where residents could have been exposed to the measles in recent days.
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CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Something stinks at Corner Brook's new hospital
For months a foul odour has lingered near both the main and emergency entrances of Corner Brook's new Western Memorial Regional Hospital, but a Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services representative says they're working to get to the source of the smell. Shelby Pyke, an acting senior director in the health authority's Western zone, says water testing has identified the presence of sulfur-reducing bacteria within the storm catch basins near the entrances. She says the cause of the eggy smell is likely groundwater seeping into the storm drain system and not from sewage. "We certainly recognize that it is unpleasant. We do want to assure the public that there is no risk to public safety, but we do sincerely apologize to our patients, visitors, staff, whoever has kind of encountered this smell on their visit," she told CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning. She says the hospital has known about the foul smell for a few months, and "obviously there's quite a few different parties involved in the planning. We're happy to say that we've now identified both the source and the solution of the problem." Work ahead Pyke says they're working with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, building maintenance and an environmental consultant to fix the problem, including flushing and cleaning the storm drain system. "We're now co-ordinating a mechanical solution to kind of see all the problem areas and address the root cause so that we don't end up in this situation again in the future," said Pyke. The new hospital opened in June 2024, and CBC News reported in February it was already overflowing, and two floors of the old hospital were going to be renovated to hold 45 more patients. Pyke says the bacteria was able to enter the storm drain system due to problems with the pipes. "From what I know, without getting into too much detail, there are I guess some deficiencies with the connections of the pipes," she said. "So we have identified a mechanical solution that is going to kind of seal those problem areas and prevent that from happening in the future." Pyke doesn't know what fixing the problem might cost at the moment, however NL Health Services doesn't anticipate having to pay those costs themselves due to the project agreement for hospital construction and operations.


Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
These Were the 2 Worst-Performing Stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in May 2025
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) index edged 3.9% higher in May, with 70% of its 30 constituent stocks ending the month in positive territory. However, the two worst-performing Dow stocks in May -- both from the healthcare sector -- kept the index's rally in check, with one of them plunging over 25%. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » 1. UnitedHealth Group Shares of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) crashed 26.6% in May after multiple negative developments sent shockwaves through the investing community. In mid-May, UnitedHealth suddenly replaced its CEO, Andrew Witty, with former CEO Stephen J. Hemsley with immediate effect and suspended its earnings outlook for the full year because of a surge in medical costs. In between, The Wall Street Journal reported a criminal investigation against UnitedHealth by the Department of Justice for a "possible medicare fraud." Days later, The Guardian released a scathing report alleging UnitedHealth put patients' health at risk by paying secret bonuses to nursing homes to cut hospital transfers. For now, UnitedHealth expects to "return to growth" in 2026 and has sued The Guardian for defamation. Regaining investor confidence, however, may not be easy. The stock is down 38% so far this year, as of this writing. 2. Merck Merck (NYSE: MRK) stock lost 9.8% in May and plunged to its 52-week low of $73.31 a share after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing drugmakers in the U.S. to cut the prices of prescription drugs. This comes at a time when Merck already expects tariffs to add $200 million to its costs this year. Investors are also worried about Merck's future once its blockbuster oncology drug Keytruda loses patent exclusivity. In mid-May, analysts at Citi slashed Merck stock's price target to $84 per share from $115 per share citing the pharmaceutical company's growth challenges and a "lack of urgency" to develop a business that could soften the impact of a potential loss of up to 20% of sales for Keytruda once its patent expires. Merck, however, has a strong pipeline, remains committed to dividend growth, and yields 3.9%. Should you invest $1,000 in UnitedHealth Group right now? Before you buy stock in UnitedHealth Group, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and UnitedHealth Group wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $655,255!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $888,780!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is999% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to174%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025


CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
As some restaurants ditch seed oils for beef tallow, UPEI prof warns it's no health upgrade
Social Sharing At Pedro's Island Eatery in North Rustico, owner Pedro Gameiro has long been not a fan of using seed oils for frying — so much so that he once considered removing fried foods from his menu altogether. "So, I found an alternative… by going back to my roots," the Portuguese chef told This is P.E.I. podcast host Mitch Cormier. That alternative is beef tallow, or rendered beef fat. Gameiro said Portuguese and Italian cooking methods often use animal fats like lard and beef fat for cooking as well as preservation. Now his restaurant has eliminated seed oils from the kitchen and switched to beef tallow for frying. The change is costing him more, almost double compared to seed oils, but he believes it's the right choice for both his business and his customers. "It's a matter of principle, and taste for the customer," he said. 'Pushing beef tallow for health reasons is ludicrous' Beef tallow has recently gained new popularity, partly thanks to high-profile figures like U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Back in March, Kennedy appeared in a Fox News interview with a cheeseburger and fries, endorsing a burger chain's decision to fry their food in beef tallow. The interview was one of many instances in which Kennedy publicly criticized seed oils, despite decades of research supporting their use. Dietitians like Jennifer Taylor, who teaches courses in food and nutrition at the University of Prince Edward Island, are concerned about these recent shifts in public messaging. While seed oils aren't perfect, she said eliminating them doesn't mean health benefits. Often known as cooking or vegetable oils, seed oils come from the seeds of plants such as canola, corn, soybeans or sunflowers. The oils have a high concentration of omega-6 fatty acids and low concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids. Both are polyunsaturated fats, which can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in blood — reducing the risk for heart disease and stroke. In comparison, animal-based oils or fats like beef tallow have saturated fats, which can raise your bad cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are also found in tropical oils such as coconut and palm oil. "The amount of evidence that palm oil, coconut oil and beef tallow can make your health worse is huge. You look at all the major organizations — you know, the World Health Organization, any big organization in the U.S., in the U.K., in Europe — they're all saying the same thing," Taylor said. Taylor said she's aware of the recent resurgence of beef tallow, appearing in social media skincare trends and having high-profile individuals promoting it. "Pushing beef tallow for health reasons is ludicrous, in my mind," the dietitian said. Seed oil concerns However, while there are health benefits to seed oils, they can pose risks when reused over and over again for frying, Taylor said. That's because polyunsaturated fats are vulnerable to oxidation — chemical changes that occur when exposed to oxygen and heat repeatedly. "Things start to break down, and you can form compounds that are, you know, not necessarily very good for you." That's why she recommends choosing reputable restaurants that regularly change their oil. "A good restaurant is not going to let their oil get black," she said. Another reason some people are concerned about seed oils is that some old research suggests having a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids could lead to higher levels of chronic inflammation, she said. "We know now that pretty much every disease that we worry about is basically coming from an inflammatory process. So if you eat a lot of foods that are what we would call pro-inflammatory foods, you might be more likely to develop high cholesterol, you might be more likely to get cancer, those kinds of things." Still, she stressed that nutritional scientists consider both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to be healthy fats. "We have a mountain of evidence that says that these healthy fats, that we continue to say are healthy fats, will decrease your risk of the things that kill us," she said. "And then we have a little tiny bit of evidence that says maybe these omega-6s might lead to inflammation, but it's more of a theory. We don't really have any proof for that." Taylor said it's important that people evaluate the source and quality of any health claims, especially when they come from individuals without expertise in nutrition. "When an individual MD comes out with a claim, you have to ask them, 'Well, how much evidence do you have?'... and 'How much background do you have in nutrition?'" In the end, Taylor said that despite the health benefits of seed oils, moderation is important — especially when it comes to fried foods. "You're not supposed to be eating buckets of any kind of oil." Variety is also key, she said. Nutrients like omega-3s can be found not just in seed oils but in many healthy foods, including fish, nuts, seeds and avocados. Still fried food, after all As for Gameiro, he said that after reading more about both types, he found beef tallow to be less processed than seed oils. Since making the switch, he's noticed a real differences in both taste and texture. "The fries come out in a way that they never did with seed oils," he said. "It's a much lighter fry. And even the... fish and chips, it's much lighter, better tasting." He also said beef tallow can last longer in the fryer, as long as it stays under 350 F. Gameiro isn't worried about losing customers. When he posted about the change on social media, the response was largely positive, he said. Still, he agrees with Taylor on at least one point: Fried food is still fried food.