Latest news with #EduardoCuevas
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
FDA pauses milk quality testing amid Health and Human Services cuts; lab transfer planned
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has suspended its quality control program that tests milk and other dairy products. The Food Emergency Response Network Proficiency Testing Program is currently in the process of transferring to another lab that will allow the program to continue, an FDA spokesperson confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY on April 22. "In the meantime, state and federal labs continue to analyze food samples, and FDA remains committed to working with states to protect the safety of the pasteurized milk supply," the agency said. An internal email sent by the agency's Division of Dairy Safety said the proficiency testing program for Grade "A" raw milk and finished products is suspended effective since April 21, according to Reuters. The disruption comes after the Department of Health and Human Services cut 10,000 jobs across agencies earlier in April, including the FDA, as well as sister agencies like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. However, the FDA spokesperson did not confirm that staffing had any correlation with the pause of the quality control program. Among those laid off were FDA staffers who played a role in the federal response to the ongoing bird flu outbreaks, according to former staff and professional groups. When asked about cuts to FDA this month, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson referred to public statements and a fact sheet from the agency and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Eduardo Cuevas This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Milk quality testing suspended amid Health and Human Services cuts
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
FDA pauses milk quality testing amid Health and Human Services cuts; lab transfer planned
FDA pauses milk quality testing amid Health and Human Services cuts; lab transfer planned The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has suspended its quality control program that tests milk and other dairy products. The Food Emergency Response Network Proficiency Testing Program is currently in the process of transferring to another lab that will allow the program to continue, an FDA spokesperson confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY on April 22. "In the meantime, state and federal labs continue to analyze food samples, and FDA remains committed to working with states to protect the safety of the pasteurized milk supply," the agency said. An internal email sent by the agency's Division of Dairy Safety said the proficiency testing program for Grade "A" raw milk and finished products is suspended effective since April 21, according to Reuters. Pause comes after health department layoffs The disruption comes after the Department of Health and Human Services cut 10,000 jobs across agencies earlier in April, including the FDA, as well as sister agencies like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. However, the FDA spokesperson did not confirm that staffing had any correlation with the pause of the quality control program. Among those laid off were FDA staffers who played a role in the federal response to the ongoing bird flu outbreaks, according to former staff and professional groups. When asked about cuts to FDA this month, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson referred to public statements and a fact sheet from the agency and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Unvaccinated child dies amid Texas measles outbreak, first death in US since 2015
Texas officials on Wednesday announced the first death in the state's ongoing measles outbreak. A school-age child has died of measles in West Texas, the first death from the disease in the U.S. since 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Gaines County resident died in Lubbock, Zach Holbrooks, public health director and executive director of the South Plains Public Health District, said in an email. In a statement, Lubbock city and Texas health officials confirmed the patient was an unvaccinated school-aged child who died in the last 24 hours. So far, 124 people are known to have been infected, mostly among people who weren't vaccinated or had no known vaccination status, state data showed. There have been 18 people hospitalized. Measles — also called rubeola — is highly contagious and can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still kills more than 200,000 people a year, mostly children, according to Mayo According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. A high percentage of people were receiving effective measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines. As per the CDC, the decline in measles vaccination rates globally increases the risk of larger measles outbreaks worldwide. Global measles activity is increasing, meaning more chances of an unvaccinated person infected with measles abroad returning to the U.S. The CDC also says MMR vaccination rates for U.S. kindergarteners have fallen below the 95% target and are even lower in certain communities, with the trend continuing downward. The first symptoms of measles last two to three days and are non-specific and mild. Here's what to pay attention to if an unvaccinated child or person is feeling ill: Cough Runny nose Itchy, watery eyes A high fever Small white spots (Koplik's spots) inside the inner lining of the cheek. A red rash usually develops three to five days after the first symptoms. It looks like small raised bumps that erupt on the face and near the hairline, giving it a "splotchy red appearance" and then spreading down to the rest of the body. There is a vaccine. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine according to the immunization schedule. Ideally, children between 12 and 15 months get their first dose, followed by a second dose at 4 to 6 years old. -USA TODAY Network Health and Wellness reporter Eduardo Cuevas contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Child dies amid Texas measles outbreak, first death in US since 2015
