Latest news with #CenterforDiseaseControlandPrevention
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Turners Falls family saved from carbon monoxide poisoning by alarm alert
TURNERS FALLS, Mass. (WWLP) – The Turners Falls Fire Department was sent to an alert of high levels of carbon monoxide in one family's home. Chicopee electrical fire prompts reminder of smoke detector importance The family was starting their morning as usual on Thursday when their carbon monoxide detector went off, alerting the residents to exit their home. They immediately called for emergency services, and after the Turners Falls Fire Department checked the home with a gas meter, dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide was found. The family's hot water boiler was running during a laundry cycle. Firefighters used specialized fans and isolated power to the boiler to ventilate the home. An issue with the flue/chimney was identified, and service professionals were contacted to help with repairs. No injuries were reported, and if you have any smoke or carbon monoxide detectors questions, call 413-863-9023. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning, states the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands more ill. Many household items including gas- and oil-burning furnaces, portable generators, and charcoal grills produce this poison gas. Working CO alarms are the only way to detect this invisible killer since we can not see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. Check and test your CO alarms at the same time that you test and check your smoke alarms. These alarms are crucial home safety tools and should be installed on every level of your house and should be tested every month. It is important to put in fresh alkaline batteries if your alarms use them, and replace the alarms if they're more than 10 years old. Replace carbon monoxide alarms after five to seven years, depending on the specific model. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Superbug That Can Feed on Plastic Is Spreading in Hospitals
A nasty bacterial superbug that kills hundreds of thousands of people per year is spreading through hospitals — and it feeds on something surprising, scientists have now found. Researchers from the Brunel University of London have found, per a new study in the journal Cell, that the bacterial Pseudomonas aeruginosa appears to "digest" medical plastic. Associated with more than 559,000 deaths globally per year, this drug-resistant bug is, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, believed to cause other illnesses like pneumonia or urinary tract infections. People often seem to develop it after surgery, but until this study, researchers weren't aware that it might be living or feeding on medical plastics. By analyzing a strain of the bacteria taken from a patient's wound swab, the microbial researchers found that P. aeruginosa seems specifically to survive longer on polycaprolactone, a plastic used in all kinds of medical interventions ranging from sutures, stints, and surgical mesh to wound dressings, drug-delivery patches, and implants. In Brunel University's press release about the "world-first" research, study leader Ronan McCarthy said this finding suggests that medical professionals should rethink how bugs spread throughout hospitals and other healthcare settings. "Plastics, including plastic surfaces, could potentially be food for these bacteria," McCarthy said. "Pathogens with this ability could survive for longer in the hospital environment." The study also, as the professor noted, "means that any medical device or treatment that contains plastic" — including the ventilators some pneumonia patients need and catheters necessary for UTIs — "could be susceptible to degradation by bacteria." Beyond its ability to break down such important medical tools, the researchers also found that the enzyme they isolated appears to grow stronger biofilms, or outer layers that help bacteria resist antibiotics and make them harder to treat, after digesting plastic. Though there will obviously need to be more study to figure out how best to head off this plastic-eating menace, there's a 200-year history of pathogenic adaptation behind P. aeruginosa that suggests it may eventually circumvent any such measures. Still, McCarthy pointed out that scientists "need to understand the impact this has on patient safety." "Plastic is everywhere in modern medicine," he said, "and it turns out some pathogens have adapted to degrade it." More on bacteria: Mysterious Bacteria Not Found on Earth Are Growing on China's Space Station
USA Today
11-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Even when you don't have TB symptoms, this century-old test can still detect the disease.
Even when you don't have TB symptoms, this century-old test can still detect the disease. Show Caption Hide Caption Tuberculosis history and treatment Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease that infects nearly 11 million people worldwide, killing some 1.25 million of them every year, per data from the World Health Organization. A person infected with the disease may experience a range of symptoms such as a low-grade fever, coughing or fatigue on the mild end to a loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, night sweats, back and chest pain and a persistent cough (often with accompanying blood) on the more severe end. TB is spread through airborne particles that are released when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs and another person breathes in those particles. "It's a disease that is highly contagious," explains Amira Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University in Virginia. Detecting TB early, she adds, goes a long way toward avoiding some of the disease's worst outcomes and preventing its spread to others. What is a TB test? What is a PPD test? Forms of testing for TB vary depending on what stage of the disease a person is in. The three main stages of the disease are primary (exposure), latent (inactive) and active TB, each reflecting whether TB germs are still contained in the lungs or are actively wreaking havoc. Only someone with active TB has significant symptoms and can spread the disease to others, but it's still important to know if you have the less serious stages of the disease as primary and latent TB can develop into active TB at any time. Symptoms aren't usually present in the primary or latent stage of TB, but there are still two ways to test whether TB germs are present in the body. The first of these is a blood test "which measures the body's immune response to tuberculosis proteins," explains Dr. Richard Doyle, a physician and clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern University. The second diagnostic test option is known as a purified protein derivative (PPD) test, but it's commonly referred to as a TB skin test. "TB skin tests have been used in medicine for over a century," says Doyle. The skin test is administered by a healthcare professional using a small needle to inject testing materials under the skin, "typically in the forearm," says Doyle. In case you missed: Tuberculosis is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in human history. Here's why. How long do PPD test results take? Results of a PPD test are not immediate because the test has to determine "if the immune system has been previously (affected) by TB exposure," says Doyle, which can take a couple of days. "If your immune system reacts to the injected protein," he explains, "it will cause a firm, raised area at the site of injection." This thickening and hardening of tissue is called an induration and the size of it is measured by your doctor in a return visit 48 to 72 hours after the initial injection took place. If you're unable to return to the doctor within two or three days after the test is first administered, "you may be given instructions for how to read the test results yourself," says Roess. When checked by a healthcare professional, "an induration on the skin of 15 millimeters or more is usually considered a positive TB result in healthy individuals," says Doyle. "But for people at higher risk, such as those with HIV, organ transplant recipients or people on immunosuppressive medications, an induration of just 5 millimeters may be considered positive due to their increased vulnerability to developing active TB." Heads up: What you need to know about whooping cough Who are PPD tests recommended for? PPD tests are suggested for a number of reasons but "are most commonly recommended when a person has been in contact with a person infected with tuberculosis," says Dr. Cathy Hewison, a physician and tuberculosis advisor at the Paris-based humanitarian organization, Médecins Sans Frontières. Education enrollment, new employment, traveling to or from certain countries or an immigration application can all be additional reasons a PPD test may be recommended. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also suggests some groups of people be periodically tested under other circumstances. Such groups may include people who have a weakened immune system or conditions such as cancer, diabetes or HIV; if a person has been infected with TB in the past; if one is elderly; has done illegal intravenous drugs; or if one has not received proper treatment for a past TB infection. PPD tests are also commonly recommend for people who work in homeless shelters, hospitals, prisons or nursing facilities. "Healthcare workers are routinely screened as part of occupational health protocols," says Doyle. "Patients who are about to start immunosuppressive therapies such as certain biologic agents or chemotherapy should also be screened for latent TB before treatment begins." If exposure is detected or TB germs are found through PPD testing, Hewison says, "then preventive treatment can be offered to reduce your likelihood of developing active TB or spreading it to others."
Epoch Times
27-04-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
China's CDC Releases March Data on Multiple Viruses Spreading in the Country, Sparking Skepticism
China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) has released its official data for March on COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory viruses spreading in China, which has sparked some skeptical reactions from experts. Mainland Chinese citizens suspect that the authorities are continuing to cover up the truth about respiratory disease epidemics in China, as official data continue to not match their lived experience. In its report on the national COVID-19 epidemic situation for March, released on April 21, the China CDC The latest China CDC weekly update on 'National sentinel surveillance of acute respiratory infectious diseases' was for the week of March 24 to March 30, and was issued on April 3. The CDC said in the weekly report that it collected respiratory samples from outpatient influenza-like cases and hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases in sentinel hospitals across the country, excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The test results showed that the main pathogens detected in outpatient respiratory samples were rhinovirus, COVID-19, and human metapneumovirus; the main pathogens detected positively in respiratory samples of hospitalized severe acute respiratory infection cases were respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and human metapneumovirus. 'This is a very vague and simple statistical report,' Sean Lin, assistant professor in the Biomedical Science Department at Feitian College and former U.S. army microbiologist, told The Epoch Times on April 25, as the report 'did not provide the specific number of cases or samples tested.' Related Stories 2/26/2025 2/24/2025 Lin noted that the reporting did not include human infections of avian influenza (bird flu). In early March, the Chinese regime admitted 'sporadic' The Epoch Times also reported that the China CDC reported 127 cases of infection with the mutated strain of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in March, which is more contagious, in an internal document that was Lin said that he believes that the omission of human infections of avian influenza from the latest report is because the regime is restricting the release of information about bird flu, especially H5N1, as it may already be spreading among humans and be one of the main causes of ongoing serious respiratory infections in China. The China CDC said that 'no influenza-like illness outbreaks were reported nationwide' in its latest China Influenza Surveillance Weekly Report issued on April 17, covering the period from April 7 to April 13. The official report said the main pathogen causing respiratory infections across China is the influenza A viral strain subtype A(H1N1)pdm09. 'Since October 1, 2024, drug resistance monitoring has shown that 83 A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype influenza strains have reduced or highly reduced sensitivity to neuraminidase inhibitors,' the report stated. Lin said this is worth noting, even though the CCP is being deliberately vague about it. 'What is the percentage of this 'highly reduced sensitivity'? Can it be interpreted as a 'highly drug-resistant' virus strain? That is to say, Tamiflu (a neuraminidase inhibitor) commonly used on the market to treat influenza viral infections may be completely ineffective against such virus strains. This is very important information but the weekly influenza report glossed over it,' he said. Official Data Different From Experience Because of the CCP's record of publishing unreliable data, including its underreporting of COVID-19 infections and related deaths since early 2020, anecdotal accounts by residents provide helpful supplementary information for understanding the situation on the ground in the totalitarian country. A Shanghai-based online writer, who didn't give his name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times in recent days, 'This time, the outbreak in Shanghai gives me a different feeling than the [2020–2022] COVID-19 outbreak. The people infected now are mainly children, and there are also elderly people, but not many. There have also been sudden deaths of young people in their 30s and 40s in the north, but this is rare in Shanghai.' The Shanghai resident also said, 'I went to Kunming [in southwestern China] last year and traveled to Tun Village. I had diarrhea at the time, and the COVID-19 nucleic acid test result showed that I was infected with COVID-19. However, the doctor said that the regulations did not allow them to write COVID-19 as the diagnosis, so they wrote gastroenteritis instead.' The symptoms of common influenza B, influenza A, COVID-19, or norovirus, are very similar, so there are more cases in ongoing viral infections in China, Dr. Jonathan Liu, a professor at Canada Public College and director of Liu's Wisdom Healing Centre, told The Epoch Times on April 26. He said that the reason why the Chinese regime is downplaying the current epidemic is due to certain considerations, 'which is to show that COVID-19 is under control in China, so as not to affect foreign investment and avoid causing panic among the people. It does this to maintain the regime's stability.' Meanwhile, Chinese residents across the country continue to report an increasing number of sudden deaths and overcrowded hospitals. A family member (2nd L) holds an IV drip for a child (L) receiving care at the pediatric department of a hospital in Hangzhou, eastern China's Zhejiang province, on Jan. 6, 2025. AFP/China Mr. An, a resident in the megacity of Shenzhen in southern China who didn't give his full name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times in recent days, 'There are many sudden deaths now of people of all ages but more are young people. I have seen quite a few young people in their twenties or thirties who were not sick or had no symptoms suddenly collapse. I saw people collapse while walking on the street.' Mr. Zhang, a resident of Nanyang city in Henan Province in northern China who didn't give his full name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times in recent days, 'Our funeral homes are quite busy, and the hospitals are very busy.' He continued, 'I went to the hospital to visit a relative of mine who was hospitalized a few days ago. When I arrived at the hospital, the corridors were full of beds, including areas by the elevator doors. There was really no place to put more beds, especially in the cardiovascular and respiratory wards.' Mr. Yuan, a resident of Fuyang city in Anhui Province in East China who didn't give his full name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times in recent days, 'Many people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s died suddenly. Funeral homes and hospitals are full. Some diseased were buried after cremation, and some were just buried secretly. All the burial spaces in cemeteries have been sold out.' A large amount of video footage shot by Chinese residents has emerged on social media in recent months showing many Luo Ya and Li Jing contributed to this report.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Here's how to stay safe from the measles while traveling
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)- With a slight measles outbreak in the United States, experts are warning others of the dangers of traveling to areas where the disease could be spreading. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a 12% rise in measles cases in the country. News 10 spoke with Shandy Dearth, the director of the Public Health Practice at the Fairbanks School of Public Health, who said cases are rising due to international travel. 'We actually considered measles to be eliminated here in the United States back in 2000, but we are seeing cases partly now because of international travel where measles does pop up more often,' said Dearth. US has 800 measles cases and outbreaks in several states. Here's what you should know Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Dearth said measles can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or by contact with a contaminated surface. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, those at the highest risk of contracting the disease include unvaccinated people or travelers in areas where the disease circulates. 'If you have any international travel planned, you can get babies immunized at six months, talk with your pediatrician about the best approach for that,' said Dearth. RFK Jr.'s mixed message about the measles outbreaks draws criticism from health officials Symptoms include a high fever, tiny white spots inside of the mouth, and a rash. it can also cause pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and middle ear infections. Dearth said two doses of the vaccine is preventive against the disease. 'Two doses are 97% effective against measles, you can go to your healthcare provider, they can do a blood test where they check for titers to see if your protected from the measles or you can go get another vaccine,' said Dearth. Dearth warns people to quarantine themselves if they feel themselves becoming sick. 'Isolate yourself until you know one way or the other if you are potentially contagious yourself because you want to make sure you're not going to spread it to other people,' said Dearth. Crawfish prices hit season low just in time for Easter celebrations Here's how to stay safe from the measles while traveling 90 Plus: Louise 'Sammie' McClelland Lafayette special needs child also has special musical talent Arrest made after Pit Bull Olive found shot and tied to tree Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
