Secretary Kennedy announces the CDC is changing COVID vaccine recommendations
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Raw milk sickens 21 people in Florida including 6 children
Six children are among 21 people who have E. coli or campylobacter infections after consuming raw milk from a farm in Florida, public health officials said. Seven people have been hospitalized, and at least two of them are suffering severe complications, the Florida Department of Health said Monday. It did not specify if any of the six infected children under 10 are among those being treated in hospitals, nor how many people were infected by E. coli, campylobacter or both bacteria. 'Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases,' reads the state advisory, which did not identify the farm linked to the cluster of infections in northeast and central Florida. Raw milk appears to be gaining in popularity, despite years of warnings about the health risks of drinking unpasteurized products. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say raw milk is one of the 'riskiest' foods people can consume. Raw milk is far more likely than pasteurized milk to cause illnesses and hospitalizations because of dangerous bacteria such as campylobacter, listeria, salmonella and E. coli, research shows. The infections can cause gastrointestinal illness, and in some cases may lead to serious complications, including a life-threatening form of kidney failure. Young children, the elderly, immunocompromised people and pregnant women are at greater risk of complications. 'We invented pasteurization for a reason,' said Keith Schneider, a food safety professor at the University of Florida. 'It's maddening that this is happening.' States have widely varying regulations regarding raw milk, with some allowing retail purchases in stores and others allowing sale only at farms. Some states allow 'cowshares,' in which customers buy milk produced by designated animals, and some allow consumption only by farm owners, employees or 'non-paying guests.' In Florida, the sale and distribution of raw milk for human consumption is illegal, but retailers get around the ban by labeling their products as for pet or animal food only. Schneider called it a 'wink, wink, nudge, nudge,' form of regulation. 'Everybody knows that they're selling it for human consumption,' Schneider said, adding that people getting sick — or even seriously ill — from drinking raw milk is 'not a question of if, but when.' ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
What to know about Legionnaires' disease, which has sickened dozens in New York City
An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in New York City has killed two people and sickened 58 since late July. City health officials link the Central Harlem outbreak to cooling towers, structures containing water and a fan that are used to cool buildings. They said 11 of these towers initially tested positive for a type of bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease, but the problem has been remedied. They urged people in the area with flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider as soon as possible, especially if they are 50 or older, smoke or have chronic lung conditions. Here's what to know. What is Legionnaires' disease? It's a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water and spread in building water systems. They can be found in places such as showerheads, hot tubs and cooling towers. People often get the disease by inhaling aerosols from contaminated water. Hospital patients can also contract it through contaminated water or ice, and babies can be exposed during water births, health officials said. People don't get it from each other. Symptoms usually develop two days to two weeks after exposure and include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How does Legionnaires' disease hurt you and how can you treat it? It's important to be diagnosed quickly and treated with the appropriate antibiotics, health officials said. If untreated, the disease usually worsens during the first week, the World Health Organization said. Complications can include respiratory failure, shock and kidney or multi-organ failure. How can Legionnaires' disease be prevented? People responsible for the safety of buildings and water systems can reduce the threat by taking steps to minimize the growth of the bacteria, the WHO said. For example, they should regularly clean and disinfect cooling towers, maintain an adequate level of chlorine in spa pools and flush unused taps in buildings weekly. There are also steps people can take to reduce the risk of Legionnaires ' disease at home. New York state health officials suggest draining garden hoses; following manufacturers' instructions for cleaning and replacing water filters; checking chlorine levels in pools and hot tubs regularly and flushing hot water heaters twice a year. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
What is Legionnaires' disease? The symptoms of the potentially deadly disease to watch for
Legionnaires' disease is spreading this summer in the eastern United States with a deadly outbreak killing two people and sickening 58 more in New York City. The serious form of pneumonia is caused by Legionella bacteria and approximately one in 10 people who are sickened will die due to complications. So, what symptoms should people look out for and how is Legionnaires' disease transmitted? Here's what to know. What is Legionnaires' disease? Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia – or lung inflammation usually caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. In the recent New York City outbreak, the disease is caused by Legionella bacteria. The disease is transmitted by inhaling the bacteria from water or soil. What are the causes of this disease? Legionella bacteria is responsible for most cases of Legionnaires' disease. The bacterium is often found outdoors but the Mayo Clinic says it rarely causes infections there. It is also possible to get the disease from home plumbing, with most outbreaks occurring in large buildings, 'perhaps because complex systems allow the bacteria to grow and spread more easily,' the clinic noted. Previous outbreaks have been linked to: • Hot tubs and whirlpools • Cooling towers in air conditioning systems • Hot water tanks and heaters • Decorative fountains • Swimming pools • Birthing pools • Drinking water The infection can also be transmitted through aspiration, which occurs when liquids accidentally enter your lungs, and through soil. Legionnaires' disease usually develops between two to 14 days after exposure to legionella bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some of the symptoms include: • Headache • Muscle aches • A fever By the second or third day, you may develop other signs and symptoms such as: • A cough that might bring up mucus and sometimes blood. As many as 50% of patients can have phlegm as well. • Shortness of breath • Chest pain • Confusion • Nausea and or vomiting • Diarrhea 'Although Legionnaires' disease primarily affects the lungs, it occasionally can cause infections in wounds and in other parts of the body, including the heart,' the Mayo Clinic said. Possible complications include lung failure and death. There is also a mild form of Legionnaires' disease known as Pontiac fever which can produce a fever, chills and muscle aches. This fever does not affect the lungs and usually clears up within two to five days. Who is most at risk? In most cases, not everyone exposed to the bacteria becomes sick. But, exposure means some people are at a higher risk of infection. Those people include smokers. People with weakened immune systems, those with chronic lung diseases or other chronic conditions, and people over 50 are also at greater risk. Is the disease contagious? The disease is not contagious and you cannot get it from another person, according to the Cleveland Clinic. How is it diagnosed? A simple x-ray of a person's chest can tell if someone has pneumonia, but other tests are necessary to see if Legionella is responsible. Those include a urine or lab test that takes fluid from the lung or phlegm. How is the disease treated? There is no vaccine for Legionnaires' disease. If diagnosed with the disease, you may need to go to the hospital. Medical staff may be able to give patients antibiotics or administer oxygen through a face mask or a breathing machine. When you are showing signs of recovery, the doctor might prescribe antibiotic medication that usually lasts for between one and three weeks. 'Any pneumonia can cause a lingering type of fatigue,' Dr. Ben Singer, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Northwestern Medicine, told The New York Times. 'People can take a long time to get better.' The key lies in prevention. People should clean any water-using devices and flush faucets, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Buildings and devices at an increased risk for growth should have a water management program, the agency said. The bacteria can also grow in vehicles' windshield wiper fluid tanks. 'To prevent growth and spread of Legionella, only use genuine windshield cleaner fluid and follow the vehicle manufacturer recommendations, if available,' the agency advised.
