Latest news with #RiversideUniversityHealthSystem
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Novel synthetic drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl responsible for Riverside overdose
A synthetic drug considered 100 times more potent than fentanyl was determined to have caused the death of a Riverside man, marking the latest in an increase in overdoses involving the synthetic drug, public health officials said. Carfentanil is a schedule II synthetic drug with a similar chemical as fentanyl and is used in Wildnil, an anesthetic for elephants, according to the National Library of Medicine. A Riverside man in his forties fatally overdosed on the substance in March but the cause was not officially determined until this month, the Riverside University Health System said in a news release. Illegally manufactured fentanyl drugs such as carfentanil entered illicit markets in the northeast U.S. as a substitute for white-powder heroin in 2013, the CDC said in a report. Carfentanil, which is 10,000 times more potent than morphine, can be lethal at a fraction of the two milligram range for fentanyl, health officials said. "Every life lost from opioids is one too many,' Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky said in the release. Read more: L.A. County sees a sharp decline in drug overdose deaths in 2024 Cases of carfentanil overdoses are rare, but on the rise, the release said. U.S. deaths involving carfentanil increased from 29 in the first half of 2023 to 238 during the same period last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carfentanil is defined as a unique illegally manufactured fentanyl, an opioid produced without the regulations of pharmaceutical-grade fentanyl. That means it can go undetected by some fentanyl test strips, which can lead to an increase in accidental overdoses, health officials added. While overall opioid overdoses have decreased both nationally and in Riverside County, according to the release, the CDC said that the reemergence of carfentanil "may threaten this progress." 'Together, we can continue to raise awareness about the risks associated with drug use and work as a community to support safety, reduce harm and care for one another," Chevinsky said. The Riverside University Health System recommended that individuals carry naloxone to treat someone overdosing on fentanyl and avoid using carfentanil even in small doses due to the unpredictability and potency of the substance. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
24-07-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Novel synthetic drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl responsible for Riverside overdose
A synthetic drug considered 100 times more potent than fentanyl was determined to have caused the death of a Riverside man, marking the latest in an increase in overdoses involving the synthetic drug, public health officials said. Carfentanil is a schedule II synthetic drug with a similar chemical as fentanyl and is used in Wildnil, an anesthetic for elephants, according to the National Library of Medicine. A Riverside man in his forties fatally overdosed on the substance in March but the cause was not officially determined until this month, the Riverside University Health System said in a news release. Illegally manufactured fentanyl drugs such as carfentanil entered illicit markets in the northeast U.S. as a substitute for white-powder heroin in 2013, the CDC said in a report. Carfentanil, which is 10,000 times more potent than morphine, can be lethal at a fraction of the two milligram range for fentanyl, health officials said. 'Every life lost from opioids is one too many,' Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky said in the release. Cases of carfentanil overdoses are rare, but on the rise, the release said. U.S. deaths involving carfentanil increased from 29 in the first half of 2023 to 238 during the same period last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carfentanil is defined as a unique illegally manufactured fentanyl, an opioid produced without the regulations of pharmaceutical-grade fentanyl. That means it can go undetected by some fentanyl test strips, which can lead to an increase in accidental overdoses, health officials added. While overall opioid overdoses have decreased both nationally and in Riverside County, according to the release, the CDC said that the reemergence of carfentanil 'may threaten this progress.' 'Together, we can continue to raise awareness about the risks associated with drug use and work as a community to support safety, reduce harm and care for one another,' Chevinsky said. The Riverside University Health System recommended that individuals carry naloxone to treat someone overdosing on fentanyl and avoid using carfentanil even in small doses due to the unpredictability and potency of the substance.
CBS News
31-01-2025
- Health
- CBS News
23 Riverside County dairy and poultry farms test positive for bird flu, health officials say
At least 23 dairy and poultry farms in Riverside County have tested positive for Avian influenza, or bird flu, the virus causing outbreaks in several other areas of the U.S., health officials said Wednesday. No human cases have been detected in the county but the Riverside University Health System has told local residents to take precautions as a growing number of commercial agriculture facilities and wildlife are exposed to the virus. Earlier this month, a patient hospitalized with the first human case of the virus, or H5N1, died in the state of Louisiana, health officials said. While reporting the fatality, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that a death from the virus is "not unexpected" since it has a "known potential" for leading to severe symptoms, illness, and even death. The severity of illness can depend on factors such as genetic changes of the virus and the amount of virus to which people are exposed, the CDC reports. There have been 66 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S. since last year and 67 since 2022, U.S. health officials say. The Riverside University Health System reports there have been no cases of person-to-person transmission in the country. The health system has listed the various ways the virus can be transferred as well as tips for preventing exposure and infection. How the virus is spread Touching of the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands after exposure to contaminated surfaces and the handling of sick or dead animals Breathing in droplets or dust contaminated with the virus Consumption of unpasteurized raw milk and dairy products Tips for preventing exposure Washing hands immediately after coming into contact with animals and avoiding touching one's eyes, nose or mouth afterwards Wearing protective clothing and footwear while working with animals and changing clothes or showering after exposure Staying outdoors or in well-ventilated indoor environments while working with animals Using and wearing personal protective equipment such as an N95 respirator when handling animals that could be infected
