Latest news with #SouthernCalifornians
Newsweek
2 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
People in California Warned Over Parasite-Riddled Fish
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Southern Californians have been warned that more than 90 percent of popular game fish have been found to contain invasive, parasitic worms that can infect humans. Two species of the parasitic flatworms known as "trematodes" were found infecting five species of freshwater fish from San Diego County in a study by researchers from University of California, San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Infection with the worms typically causes gastrointestinal problems, lethargy and weight loss in humans—but severe cases have even been known to cause heart attack and strokes. "Americans don't usually think about parasites when they eat freshwater fish because it hasn't historically been an issue here," said paper author and ecologist Ryan Hechinger in a statement. However, he added: "These parasites are here in the U.S., and they're infecting fish that people are eating. "We hope this study can help make public health officials, doctors and the public more aware." This bluegill analyzed by the team (main) was found to contain 16,973 'Haplorchis pumilio' parasitic worms (inset) This bluegill analyzed by the team (main) was found to contain 16,973 'Haplorchis pumilio' parasitic worms (inset) Emma Palmer / Hudson Pinto In their study, the researchers sampled 84 fish—representing seven species, including largemouth bass and bluegill—from five popular fishing spots around San Diego County. The team identified two species of invasive trematode in the fish: Haplorchis pumilio and Centrocestus formosanus. H. pumilio was found in 93 percent of all fish sampled—with some individual fish harboring thousands of the parasitic worms. C. formosanus, meanwhile, occurred in 91 percent of the fish from two of the locations. Both worms are believed to have arrived in the U.S. from Southeast Asia more than a decade ago, traveling inside the bodies of one of their hosts—an invasive aquatic species known as the Malaysian trumpet snail (Melanoides tuberculata.) Today, M. tuberculata can be found in 17 states, as well as Puerto Rico—and both it and its parasites are widespread in California. The worms have a life cycle that involves living inside three hosts: first, the trumpet snail; then, a fish; and finally a warm-blooded vertebrate like birds or humans that are unlucky enough to eat the infected fish. Hechinger said there is "no need to panic," as the risk from the parasites can be neutralized by either cooking the fish or, if planning to consume them raw, freezing for at least one week beforehand. A survey of social-media videos conducted by the team alongside their field work, however, revealed that some Americans are consuming freshwater fish raw without these precautions—putting them at risk of infections. "Nearly 5 million views shows there is widespread interest and possibly a widespread practice of folks eating freshwater fish raw," said paper author and marine scientist Emma Palmer of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in a statement. Palmer conducted the research into the parasites while undertaking her graduate studies at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Stock image: A Malaysian trumpet snail ('Melanoides tuberculata') is seen on a white background. Stock image: A Malaysian trumpet snail ('Melanoides tuberculata') is seen on a white background. Marlonneke/iStock / Getty Images Plus It is unclear what impact the invasive worms might be having on the fish connoisseurs of Southern California, the researchers said. "There haven't been any reported cases of these parasites infecting Americans, but nobody is looking for cases, and doctors aren't required to report them," said Hechinger. He added: "This kind of research is so important to identifying new public health threats." Based on their findings, to better track the parasites, the researchers have recommended that these fish-borne worm infections be added to the list of diseases that doctors are required to report to public-health officials. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about astronomy? Let us know via science@ Reference Palmer, E. M., Metz, D.C.G., & Hechinger, R. F. (2025). Further Evidence for Plausible Transmission of Fishborne Trematodiases in the United States: Game Fish Carry Human-Infectious Trematodes and Are Eaten Raw. The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Los Angeles Times
28-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Sick dog forces LAX-bound plane to make emergency landing
Memorial Day is notorious for travel delays, but on Monday a flight headed to Los Angeles made an emergency landing for a particularly peculiar cause — an ailing pooch in need of medical care. Delta Flight 694 was diverted en route from Detroit to Los Angeles International Airport on Monday evening to allow a passenger and a sick dog to disembark in Minneapolis, according to a statement from the airline. A crew was alerted that a dog in the cabin was feeling unwell, and a veterinarian on board volunteered to provide emergency care. Rather than continue the five-hour flight, a decision was made to land the Airbus A320 as soon as possible, resulting in a 2½-hour delay for the 181 passengers and six crew members on board. 'The safety of our customers and people comes before everything else at Delta,' said an airline spokesperson in a statement. 'That's why Delta flight 694 diverted to MSP to ensure a cabin pet that became ill received proper care.' Medical personnel met the dog and its owner as soon as the plane arrived at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. A passenger on board told KTLA News that the captain made an announcement that the pet was expected to survive. The plane then resumed its journey and traveled the remaining four hours to Los Angeles without incident. Delays on Delta flights are somewhat unusual. In January, the airline was ranked the most on-time U.S. carrier, with 83% of their flights landing by their arrival time, according to a report by aviation analytics firm Cirium. Delta Flight 694 was among some 7,691 flights that saw delays to, from and within the U.S. on Memorial Day, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. The vast majority of those delays were not pet-related and instead caused by a series of severe thunderstorms sweeping through the southeastern and central United States. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport saw the worst of the travel woes with 697 flights, representing 59% of all trips, delayed. Denver International Airport came in second with 565 flight delays, representing 53% of all trips. LAX fared much better in comparison, with 153 delays representing 16% of all flights. More than 400,000 Southern Californians were expected to travel by air over Memorial Day weekend, according to the AAA.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What was that noise? SpaceX Dragon rattles Los Angeles with sonic boom
No, that wasn't an earthquake. A sonic boom caused by a SpaceX cargo vessel rattled Los Angeles late Saturday evening. Residents across a broad swath of the region reported a loud boom and rattling sensation around 10:45 p.m. The boom appears to be linked to a SpaceX Dragon capsule that was re-entering the atmosphere, according to a post on X from Elon Musk's space agency. "Dragon will also announce its arrival with a brief sonic boom prior to splashing down in the Pacific Ocean," SpaceX posted about an hour before the boom was reported. The account said the capsule was due to make its entrance around 10:44 p.m. Dragon is on track to reenter Earth's atmosphere and splash down off the southern coast of California near Oceanside at ~10:44 p.m. PT — SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 25, 2025 The unpiloted spacecraft had transported about 6,700 pounds of crew supplies, equipment and other resources to the International Space Station, according to NASA. It undocked from the International Space Station around 9:05 a.m. Friday before beginning its journey back toward the coast of California. Sonic booms have become a source of consternation for Southern Californians living near Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, where officials with SpaceX and the U.S. Space Force have acknowledged that their rocket launches and landings are causing the regular rattles. Last year, military officials rejected calls to reduce sonic booms coming from SpaceX rockets in the area, which have been increasing in frequency. Musk's agency said it plans to launch more than 90 rockets from the base by 2026. Residents in areas as far apart as Venice, West Hollywood, Highland Park, Agoura Hills and Santa Clarita reported feeling and hearing the boom on Saturday. 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
25-05-2025
- Science
- Los Angeles Times
What was that noise? SpaceX Dragon rattles Los Angeles with sonic boom
No, that wasn't an earthquake. A sonic boom caused by a SpaceX cargo vessel rattled Los Angeles late Saturday evening. Residents across a broad swath of the region reported a loud boom and rattling sensation around 10:45 p.m. The boom appears to be linked to a SpaceX Dragon capsule that was re-entering the atmosphere, according to a tweet from Elon Musk. 'Dragon will also announce its arrival with a brief sonic boom prior to splashing down in the Pacific Ocean,' Musk said about an hour before the boom was reported. The official SpaceX account said the capsule was due to make its entrance around 10:44 p.m. The unpiloted spacecraft had transported about 6,700 pounds of crew supplies, equipment and other resources to the International Space Station, according to NASA. It undocked from the International Space Station around 9:05 a.m. Friday before beginning its journey back toward the coast of California. Sonic booms have become a source of consternation for Southern Californians living near Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, where officials with SpaceX and the U.S. Space Force have acknowledged that their rocket launches and landings are causing the regular rattles. Last year, military officials rejected calls to reduce sonic booms coming from SpaceX rockets in the area, which have been increasing in frequency. Musk's agency said it plans to launch more than 90 rockets from the base by 2026. Residents in areas as far apart as Venice, West Hollywood, Highland Park, Agoura Hills and Santa Clarita reported feeling and hearing the boom on Saturday.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Auto Club: SoCal gas prices dip ahead of Memorial Day weekend
Southern California drivers are seeing some relief at the pump just in time for Memorial Day weekend, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's latest Weekend Gas Watch. The latest report, published on Thursday, shows that gas prices dipped despite earlier reports that Californians wouldn't see relief at the pump during the holiday weekend. 'Southern Californians will be paying the lowest pump prices since 2021 to fill up for their Memorial Day getaways, which they will be taking in record numbers,' Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe said in a statement. 'Gas prices are backing off from a price spike earlier this month caused by a Northern California refinery fire and some unplanned refinery outages. According to Oil Price Information Service, those supply issues have been resolved, and refineries have increased their gasoline production.' Southern California AAA shares the best times to travel ahead of Memorial Day weekend In the Los Angeles-Long Beach region, prices dipped by two cents to $4.80 per gallon, while San Diego drivers are also paying $4.80, down three cents from last week. The Central Coast saw the biggest weekly decline, with average prices falling seven cents to $4.72 per gallon — a 45-cent drop from last year. Riverside drivers now pay an average of $4.66 per gallon, three cents less than last week and 38 cents below 2024 prices. In Bakersfield, the average is $4.73, a two-cent decrease from last week and 46 cents below last year's figure. As of Friday morning, the average price of gasoline in California stands at $4.84, while the national average is $3.19. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
