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Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Biggest Cantaloupe Recalls In US History
When you think about the most dangerous foods to eat, cantaloupe probably isn't the first one that comes to mind. It would be far more obvious to worry about widely consumed items, like contaminated fast food or eggs that end up being recalled. Yet, truth be told, this sweet orange melon has been behind more than one of the deadliest recalls in U.S. history. Why? Cantaloupe sold in the U.S. has a tragic tendency to be tainted by various foodborne pathogens. Since the fruit is typically served fresh, certain strains that would otherwise be killed by a high enough cooking temperature live on within cantaloupe. A lot of cantaloupe recalls due to these pathogenic contaminants have been big, and far too many of them have killed people. For those who enjoy cantaloupe, the recall statistics over the past few decades are hard to see. Recently, the cantaloupe supply on the West Coast has exceeded demand. This waning interest in cantaloupe may be the lingering aftershock from a particularly devastating recall that occurred in 2023 (more on that in a little bit). Either way, the biggest lesson to be learned from cantaloupe recalls is that more needs to be done by growers and distributors so that dangerous cantaloupe stays out of public reach. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are the federal agencies responsible for keeping contaminated or unregulated goods from entering the domestic market. As you'll see here, this is a work in progress. These are cantaloupe recalls that shook U.S. fruit lovers to their core. Read more: 12 Cheap Fish You Should Absolutely Never Eat Rumblings of an uneasy situation were afoot in November 2023 when the FDA teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate a string of salmonellosis clusters actively occurring in the U.S. and Canada. Canadian health authorities used Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis to link clinical samples of the salmonella strain Sundsvall taken from those who fell ill with salmonella-laden cantaloupes that had been imported into the country from Mexico under the "Malichita" and "Rudy" labels. One U.S. cantaloupe seller, Sofia Produce, recalled its supply early that month. The FDA announced a public health alert to U.S. consumers regarding the dangers surrounding Malichita cantaloupe. Within days, multiple brands, including Pacific Trellis Fruit and Crown Jewel Produce Company, recalled hundreds of thousands of pounds of Malichita cantaloupe from the U.S. market. These recalls didn't happen soon enough. By November 29, 2023, the CDC reported 117 cases of salmonellosis had spread across 34 states. Worse yet, Canadian health inspectors had identified a second strain, Salmonella Oranienburg, in Malichita cantaloupe. Multiple people in the U.S. had already been sickened from it. By January 2024, health officials concluded their investigation, but tragedy had spread far and wide. Canada reported 68 hospitalizations and nine deaths. Of the 407 reported illnesses in the U.S., 158 people were hospitalized. Six of them died. About a month before what would be one of the deadliest cantaloupe recalls in history, Eagle Produce of Scottsdale, Arizona, was experiencing a serious problem of its own. In September 2023, the FDA conducted testing on some of Eagle Produce's Kandy cantaloupes at a distribution center and found that they were positive for salmonella bacteria. Eagle Produce issued a voluntary recall for three lots of its whole cantaloupe on September 23. Unfortunately, the contaminated fruit had already been shipped to 19 states, and Washington D.C. Eagle Produce sold Kandy cantaloupe in various grocery stores all over the country. The amount of recalled cantaloupe comprised 6,456 cases. The compromised melons were distributed between September 15 and 16, 2023. One positive that came out of this humongous recall was that no reported illnesses were ever connected to Eagle Produce's faulty product. It was a lucky break. By the beginning of 2024, a salmonella outbreak related to cantaloupe imported from Mexico would leave 15 people dead. Cantaloupe was on the USDA's radar by 2012, and in September of that year, DFI Marketing Inc., based in Fresno, California, was on the federal radar. Health inspectors tested some of DFI's cantaloupe at a wholesale distribution center and detected salmonella. Upon receiving the news, DFI didn't hesitate to issue a mass cantaloupe recall. Although DFI's in-house product testing hadn't turned up any foodborne pathogens prior to the USDA's findings, the company pulled approximately 28,000 cartons of cantaloupe from distribution out of an abundance of caution. The tainted cantaloupe was packed on August 26, 2012, and had already made their way to retail markets in 22 states. The recalled cartons contained anywhere between six to 18 cantaloupes per package, which meant that a minimum of 168,000 cantaloupes were implicated in the recall. As tough as it may have been for DFI to lose that much product, at least no reports of salmonellosis were connected to the contaminated melons. By 2012, media coverage of the profound dangers associated with tainted cantaloupe had the nation on edge. That August, it was more bad news — Chamberlain Farms of Owensville, Indiana, was recalling all of its cantaloupes. The melons were connected with an ongoing salmonella outbreak that had sickened 178 people. When the CDC concluded its investigation of the outbreak in October 2012, a total of 261 reported salmonella infections and 94 hospitalizations had been reported in 24 states, including three deaths in Kentucky. Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Newport were both traced back to Chamberlain Farms. Investigators used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) testing and Multiple-Locus Variable-number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA) to match the bacterial strain in Salmonella Typhimurium patients with the one found in cantaloupe from Chamberlain Farms. FDA investigators who visited Chamberlain Farms identified the same strain on surface areas on the property. Samples of Chamberlain Farms' cantaloupe and watermelon that tested positive for Salmonella Newport had indistinguishable PFGE patterns to the strain responsible for the outbreak. During the inspection of Chamberlain Farms, FDA investigators witnessed unsanitary processing conditions. Dirty conveyor belts and rusty equipment were among the health code violations cited during inspection. In 2013, an attorney for Chamberlain Farms stated that cantaloupes were not part of the farms' growing season inventory and that its cantaloupe processing equipment had been disposed of. In July 2012, North Carolina melon grower Burch Equipment LLC was on the FDA's bad side after random testing of its cantaloupe returned a positive result for listeria monocytogenes. Between July 28 and August 2, 2012, the company recalled 14,468 cases of cantaloupe due to the contamination. The number of recalled melons totaled 188,902. On August 3, 2012, Burch Equipment issued a revision to the recall, specifying that its Caribbean Gold cantaloupe was the variety affected and its Athena cantaloupe hadn't. This would not be the only recall correction Burch Farms had to make. On August 10, 2012, Burch Equipment announced a recall expansion to include all of the cantaloupe and honeydew from the growing season. The expansion was based on FDA testing of Burch Equipment honeydew melon, which was also positive for listeria. The melons were sold in 18 states. While the recall was not linked to a listeriosis outbreak or any reports of illness, the FDA's visit to Burch Farms in Faison, North Carolina, did not go well. The FDA observed unsanitary conditions inside the packing shed, which investigators pointed to as the likely origin of the listeria bacteria. After the recall, Burch Farms co-owner Jimmy Burch, who maintained that the facility had followed food safety protocol, said, "That part of our life is over with. We will let someone else raise the cantaloupe. We have already towed the equipment out of the building. It's not worth the liability" (via barfblog). No other recall is more synonymous with the deadly effects of unregulated cantaloupe than the one that came out of Jensen Farms. The family-run Colorado farm took shortcuts in its manufacturing process circa May 2011, and the results were catastrophic. Brothers Eric and Ryan Jensen, who oversaw the farm, installed a secondhand cleaning system designed for potatoes to process the Rocky Ford cantaloupes grown on the farm. A catch pan with a chlorine spray that was supposed to be incorporated into the machinery was never implemented. The Jensens knew that washing the cantaloupe with anti-microbial spray would lower the risk of pathogens contaminating the fruit but distributed at least six shipments of improperly cleaned cantaloupe anyway. This decision resulted in cantaloupe being full of listeria monocytogenes, causing a full-fledged outbreak and being recalled from 28 states. Nearly 150 people were hospitalized, and 33 died. The Jensens faced criminal charges for introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce. The brothers pleaded guilty and managed to avoid prison time due to cooperating with the investigation (much to the dismay of some victims' family members). Each Jensen received six months of house arrest and five years probation. They also were ordered to pay $150,000 to the families of the deceased (when only three families asked for restitution, the figure was reduced to $13,184). It was the deadliest foodborne outbreak in the U.S. in almost a century, and like any tragedy involving human error, it was completely preventable. The Del Monte Fresh Produce cantaloupe recall in March 2011 was a foreshadowing of cantaloupe's grisly reputation as a frequently recalled food with the capacity to make people really sick. Del Monte Fresh, a cantaloupe distributor based in Coral Gables, Florida, initiated a recall for 4,992 cartons of cantaloupe after being notified by the FDA that its product had been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Panama. At the time of the recall announcement, 12 people were infected with Salmonella Panama. Del Monte Fresh distributed its cantaloupe to Costco stores in Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The cantaloupe was bulk packed in sleeves of three. With four sleeves to a carton, the recall accounted for 59,904 melons. They were grown on a farm in Guatemala that Del Monte Fresh owned, which couldn't have come as a complete shock. That's because in October 2010, the company issued a smaller cantaloupe recall when tests performed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture came back positive for salmonella. Although cantaloupe is grown on U.S. farms, much of what is sold on the domestic market is imported from Mexico and Central American nations. The geographic locations of these nations lend well to the temperate conditions cantaloupe needs to thrive. Climates that are less susceptible to frost have longer growing seasons and can produce a higher volume of fruit, yet with more cantaloupes come more problems in the form of recalls and illness outbreaks. What happened in 2008 with cantaloupe imported from Honduras is one example. Honduran cantaloupe grower Agropecuaria Montelibano was involved in a large-scale recall due to an outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield. Beginning in January 2008, the FDA and CDC joined forces to investigate an uptick in salmonellosis cases. Using epidemiologic data, investigators narrowed in on Agropecuaria Montelibano cantaloupe, which many of the ill had consumed. All the while, the number of salmonellosis cases was on the rise, with additional illness reports coming out of Canada. All companies that imported Agropecuaria Montelibano cantaloupe issued product recalls. Agropecuaria Montelibano supplied a lot of brands with cantaloupe, which meant there were a lot of secondary recalls. Brands like Dole, Chiquita, and Mike's Melons withdrew their cantaloupes from the market out of caution. Between January 10, and March 10, 2008, 51 people in the U.S. and nine in Canada became ill from eating the Honduran cantaloupe. Roughly 320,000 crates of Agropecuaria Montelibano melons were detained at U.S. ports. The company reported a loss of $8 million due to the contamination. For California cantaloupe fruit and vegetable Castle Produce, February 2007 was a low point for its cantaloupe trade. Federally-backed testing of Castle Produce's cantaloupe, which was set for distribution from wholesalers in San Francisco and Los Angeles, came back positive for salmonella. Castle Produce, which is a subsidiary of Tropical Produce Inc., responded to the troubling news by voluntarily recalling 2,560 cartons of cantaloupe on February 23. The recall affected Castle Produce cantaloupe, which had been shipped for retail distribution since February 16, 2007. The cartons of recalled cantaloupe never made it past the West Coast; however, there were a lot of them. The cardboard cartons contained between nine and 15 cantaloupes, making the recall quantity reach well over 23,000 individual melons. In March 2007, a secondary recall was announced. Simply Fresh Fruit Inc. of Los Angeles recalled 2,250 five-pound trays of fresh-cut fruit that contained Castle Produce's cantaloupe. The trays were sold at Costco locations throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Despite some of Castle Produce's cantaloupes testing positive for salmonella, no one had reported falling ill after consuming them. The cantaloupes were grown in Costa Rica. Dole is one of the biggest fruit companies in the U.S. but its cantaloupe sales took a hit in February 2007 because of a massive recall. The company detected salmonella bacteria while performing random testing on cantaloupe that was grown by a third party in Costa Rica and sold under the Dole brand name. Dole discovered the contamination before public health authorities did, but the problem wasn't caught quickly enough. A large amount of cantaloupe had already been distributed to wholesalers throughout the Eastern U.S. and Quebec. The company voluntarily recalled 6,107 cartons of cantaloupe, a quantity of more than 55,000 individual melons. Despite how many contaminated cantaloupes Dole had put out into the world, no illnesses had been reported prior to the recall announcement. This wasn't always the case with recalls made by Dole. Less than two years earlier, Dole sold bagged lettuce infected with E. coli O157:H7 that sickened over 30 people in three states. To help curb the spread of food poisoning caused by fresh produce, the U.S. implemented a routine sampling program overseen by the FDA. In the fall of 2006, cantaloupe from Arizona growers Rio Vista underwent this FDA-led testing and received troubling results: the melons were positive for salmonella. Rio Vista sold cantaloupes under the Llano and Nature's Partner brands in both the U.S. and Canada. The company recalled 62,640 cartons of adulterated cantaloupe. Cantaloupe is susceptible to contamination from foodborne pathogens for several reasons. Cantaloupe grows on the soil, and the ones sold in grocery stores usually come from commercial farms. Foodborne pathogens are often found in the soil or in irrigation systems designed to water large amounts of crops. Once the cantaloupes are fully grown, unsanitary practices in the harvesting or bulk processing of cantaloupe can allow pathogens contaminate the rind or interior of the fruit. In Rio Vista's case, the source of the salmonella wasn't immediately known. Rio Vista worked with the FDA to figure out how salmonella got into its cantaloupes and eliminate the contamination source. The salmonella-tainted cantaloupe was on the U.S. market between October 31 and November 6, 2006. It was sold in Canada between November 7 and 18, 2006. Despite shipping tens of thousands of cantaloupes throughout the U.S. and multiple Canadian provinces, no illnesses related to Rio Vista's cantaloupe recall were reported. Between 2000 and 2002, cantaloupe grown in Mexico caused four outbreaks of Salmonella Poona that infected over 100 people in the U.S. and Canada, killing two people. One of the outbreaks occurred in April 2002. During the investigation, the FDA traced the source of contamination to the Susie brand of cantaloupe. Susie cantaloupe was grown in Guerrero, Mexico — about 40 miles from farmland that was behind a Salmonella Poona recall the year before. Susie cantaloupe was imported by I. Kunik Col. in McAllen, Texas, and distributed to retail stores, restaurants, and possibly other food-serving institutions. Kunik voluntarily recalled 25,000 boxes of Susie cantaloupe in May 2002. By then, 36 people were infected with Salmonella Poona in eight U.S. states and in Canada. As Mexican-grown cantaloupe continued to be a source of concern among public health officials, the FDA decided to take more stringent action. On October 28, 2002, the FDA called for all cantaloupe shipped from Mexico to the U.S. to be detained at the port of entry without the benefit of inspection. At the time, FDA sampling found Salmonella in cantaloupe from most of Mexico's major growing regions. The Viva cantaloupe recall that began in 2001 marked a turning point in how the FDA handled contaminated fruit imported from other nations. In the 20th century, illness outbreaks involving cantaloupe resulted in public health warnings or assurances (often through the press) that the cantaloupe in question had been disposed of. When Viva cantaloupe imported from Mexico began causing clusters of Salmonella Poona infections in multiple states, the FDA decided throwing them in the trash wasn't enough. In April 2001, the CDC investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Poona that had infected 50 people, many of them children. It bore close similarities to a Salmonella Poona outbreak that occurred in April 2000. Both outbreaks involved sick children and were linked to cantaloupe. The 2001 outbreak, however, caused the deaths of two elderly individuals. Investigators visited two Mexican farms that grew cantaloupe sold under the Viva brand and found numerous sources of potential microbial contamination. The importer, Shipley Sales, agreed to a recall and dumped 4,090 cartons of cantaloupe in a landfill under FDA supervision. In the spring of 2002, another Salmonella Poona outbreak swept through multiple states and Canadian provinces, sickening 57 people. Once again, the FDA issued an import alert on cantaloupe imported from Mexico. All Mexican cantaloupe imports were detained at all ports of entry while the FDA continued its work with government officials in Mexico to implement a more effective food safety plan specifically for the cantaloupe industry. Read the original article on Mashed.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Success of Malay/Muslim community a shared effort, says Prof Faishal
Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim taking a selfie with participants of Cyclation 2025 at Wisma Geylang Serai on May 25. PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN SINGAPORE - Ensuring the continued success of Singapore's Malay/Muslim community is a collective effort, said Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, who is Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. This will involve working together with M3 – a collaboration between self-help group Mendaki, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council – in addition to other Malay/Muslim organisations, as well as informal groups, he added. This would help create closer, more effective networks to work towards the community's success, he said. Every member of the community should feel like they have a stake in its success, and this involves finding channels where individuals can express their thoughts and views, added Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs. 'We want to give space for them to share their views, share their aspirations on how we can shape a successful Malay/Muslim community,' he said. This is especially important as the global outlook becomes more challenging, he added. Prof Faishal was appointed Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs on May 21, replacing Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, who had held the position since 2018. He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of Cyclation 2025, a community cycling event organised by Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS), where he is also lead adviser. Cyclation 2025 was organised as part of SG60 Bersama, a series of events celebrating the Malay/Muslim community's contributions to Singapore's development, in conjunction with the Republic's 60th year of independence. The event, organised together with cycling enthusiast group Temasek GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Riders, saw 90 participants cycle a 15km route that began and ended at the community hub, with participants going through areas such as the park connectors of Marine Parade and East Coast Park. Temasek GOAT Riders member Faisal Hassan, 48, said the event was aimed at encouraging a healthy lifestyle and a love of cycling in the community. Prof Faishal said the event is one of a broader slate of wellness and lifestyle activities at WGS, which includes Gerak-Gerak Geylang, a free fitness programme held on Saturday and Sunday mornings. He cited Cyclation 2025 as an example of the informal engagements with the community he hopes to have, noting that Temasek GOAT Riders could build on its newfound connections with WGS to expand its network. Prof Faishal said he viewed such engagements as an extension of the work he has done since he first joined politics in 2006 as an MP for Marine Parade GRC. This included gathering views by speaking to residents at coffee shops and other locations, as well as via more formal arrangements such as dialogue sessions. 'We're going to make sure that we reach out to as many people as possible, engage as widely as possible, and we want to deepen our engagement,' he said. This would be done not just with WGS but also in his work with other Malay/Muslim MPs, he said. 'I would like to listen. I would like to see how your suggestions can contribute to the development of the Malay/Muslim community,' he said. Such a approach would bring success not to just the Malay/Muslim community here but also members of other communities, he added. 'I think what is key is that we are in this together, and I hope to bring as many people on board this journey,' he said, describing it as key to a successful shared future for all Singaporeans. Zhaki Abdullah is a correspondent at The Straits Times. He is on the health beat, in addition to occasionally covering science, environmental, tech and Muslim affairs issues. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PACB Stock May Rise Following the Deal With Chulalongkorn University
PacBio PACB recently announced a strategic collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, one of Thailand's foremost institutions in genomic and translational research, to implement PacBio's HiFi whole genome sequencing (WGS) as part of the newborn screening research program. This initiative marks the first population-scale deployment of PacBio's HiFi technology in the Asia Pacific region. It is designed to evaluate how comprehensive genomic data can enable earlier and more accurate identification of rare, treatable conditions in newborns. By integrating PacBio's advanced long-read sequencing capabilities, the program will help uncover a broader spectrum of genetic variants that often go undetected with traditional screening methods. Through this effort, PacBio and Chulalongkorn University aim to build a scalable model that could transform early-stage diagnostics and public health planning on a global scale. Following the announcement, shares of the company closed flat at $1.12 on Friday. In the year-to-date period, PACB's shares have lost 38.8% compared with the industry's 10.1% decline. The S&P 500 decreased 4.4% in the same time frame. This collaboration positions PacBio at the forefront of a major shift in global healthcare, signaling growing adoption of its HiFi sequencing technology for large-scale clinical applications. By demonstrating real-world utility in a critical use case, such as newborn screening, PacBio not only expands its footprint in the fast-growing Asia Pacific region but also builds a compelling case for broader international adoption. Successful implementation could lead to long-term revenue growth from government contracts, public health partnerships, and increased demand for HiFi systems, reinforcing investors' confidence in the scalability and relevance of PacBio's platform in precision medicine. Meanwhile, PACB currently has a market capitalization of $336.1 million. The company expects its earnings to grow 13.1% in 2025. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The collaboration between PacBio and Chulalongkorn University is a landmark initiative that highlights the transformative potential of WGS in public health. Traditional newborn screening programs typically rely on targeted panels to detect a limited number of conditions, often missing rare or complex genetic disorders. PacBio's HiFi WGS, by contrast, delivers highly accurate, long-read genomic data that captures regions of the genome inaccessible to short-read technologies. This includes structural variants, repeat expansions, and epigenomic information, all of which are critical for identifying a wider spectrum of genetic risks from birth. By enabling a more complete and precise view of the newborn genome, the technology opens the door to earlier diagnosis and intervention for conditions that might otherwise remain undetected until much later in life. Chulalongkorn University, through its Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, is likely to bring deep expertise and infrastructure to the table, making it an ideal partner for this endeavor. The university aims to build a robust and scalable research model that can be replicated across other national health systems. This research-driven approach not only enhances clinical care but also contributes to public health data systems, laying the groundwork for informed policy decisions, better resource allocation, and eventually, personalized healthcare strategies on a national scale. On a broader level, this initiative positions Thailand as a leader in precision medicine within the Asia Pacific region and places PacBio at the center of a growing global movement toward genome-informed healthcare. By successfully deploying HiFi WGS in a population-scale screening program, PacBio is setting a benchmark for how advanced sequencing technologies can be integrated into public health. This could catalyze similar initiatives in other countries, unlocking new markets and reinforcing PacBio's reputation as a pioneer in genomic innovation. With increasing recognition of genomics as a foundational tool in early disease detection and prevention, this collaboration not only accelerates scientific progress but also enhances PacBio's long-term commercial and strategic outlook. Per a report by Grand View Research, the global whole genome sequencing market size was estimated at $2.12 billion in 2024 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 22.17% from 2025 to 2030. The WGS market is experiencing significant growth, driven by a confluence of technological advancements, decreasing costs, and a growing demand for personalized medicine. Several key factors contribute to this expansion, transforming the landscape of genomics and impacting various sectors, including healthcare, research, and agriculture. PACB carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. Some better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space that have announced quarterly results are CVS Health Corporation CVS, Integer Holdings Corporation ITGR and Boston Scientific Corporation BSX. CVS Health, carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of $2.25, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 31.6%. Revenues of $94.59 billion outpaced the consensus mark by 1.8%. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. CVS Health has a long-term estimated growth rate of 11.4%. CVS's earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 18.1%. Integer Holdings reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of $1.31, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.2%. Revenues of $437.4 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.3%. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. Integer Holdings has a long-term estimated growth rate of 18.4%. ITGR's earnings surpassed estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, the average surprise being 2.8%. Boston Scientific reported first-quarter 2025 adjusted EPS of 75 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11.9%. Revenues of $4.66 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.3%. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. Boston Scientific has a long-term estimated growth rate of 13.3%. BSX's earnings surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 8.8%. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) : Free Stock Analysis Report CVS Health Corporation (CVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (PACB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First Effort to Integrate PacBio HiFi Whole Genome Sequencing in Newborn Screening Launches in Thailand
Collaboration leverages HiFi's unique ability to reveal hidden variants, bringing a new level of precision to early life genetic screening MENLO PARK, Calif. and BANGKOK, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PacBio (Nasdaq: PACB) a leading provider of high-quality, highly accurate sequencing platforms, and Chulalongkorn University, a national leader in genomic and translational research, today announced a strategic collaboration to implement PacBio HiFi whole genome sequencing (WGS) as part of a newborn screening research program. This marks the first initiative in Asia Pacific to explore the use of PacBio's HiFi sequencing technology at population scale - an effort designed to evaluate how comprehensive genomic data can support earlier, more accurate identification of rare and treatable conditions in newborns. The collaboration highlights Thailand's growing leadership in precision medicine and offers a potential model for countries seeking to modernize newborn screening with genome-wide approaches. 'Our shared goal is to establish a robust and scalable research model for genomic newborn screening that helps uncover the genetic basis of undiagnosed conditions from birth,' said Professor Vorasuk Shotelersuk from the Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. 'We are excited to work with PacBio to bring this vision closer to reality for families in Thailand.' Traditional newborn screening programs have relied on targeted panels that detect a limited subset of conditions based on specific molecular pathologies. Recent advances in genome sequencing now make it possible to take a broader, more comprehensive approach, starting at birth. PacBio's HiFi WGS leverages long-read technology to generate highly accurate, complete genomic data, including regions that are typically inaccessible to short-read methods. In addition to resolving structural variants and repeat expansions, HiFi WGS captures epigenomic information in parallel, giving researchers a multidimensional view of the genome. This level of detail opens the door to identifying a wider range of genetic variants, many of which are implicated in early-onset and rare diseases that previously went undetected. 'Every child deserves the best possible start to life, and that begins with giving families and clinicians access to comprehensive genomic information from the very beginning,' said Christian Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer of PacBio. 'This collaboration demonstrates how advanced sequencing technologies like HiFi can enable broader insights at birth. It's deeply aligned with our mission at PacBio to make high-quality genomic information accessible where it's needed most, and we're proud to support Chulalongkorn University and Thailand as they lead the way in laying the foundation for a new model of care.' This collaboration positions Thailand as a regional leader in population-scale genomics and reflects Asia Pacific's expanding influence in the global genomics landscape. With an established foundation in public health and translational research, Thailand is uniquely prepared to explore how whole genome sequencing can enhance national healthcare strategies, beginning with newborn screening. By applying PacBio's HiFi long-read sequencing to this early-stage initiative, researchers gain a more comprehensive view of the genome, enabling the detection of variants that are often missed by traditional methods. The ability to capture a wider spectrum of genetic risk at birth sets a new benchmark for the potential of early disease detection, while also contributing to broader goals in carrier screening and public health planning. For Thailand, this project strengthens its role in advancing precision medicine and lays critical groundwork for future data-sharing frameworks and cross-border research collaborations that can inform more equitable and effective genomic healthcare worldwide. About PacBio PacBio (NASDAQ: PACB) is a premier life science technology company that designs, develops, and manufactures advanced sequencing solutions to help scientists and clinical researchers resolve genetically complex problems. Our products and technologies stem from two highly differentiated core technologies focused on accuracy, quality and completeness which include our HiFi long-read sequencing and our SBB® short-read sequencing technologies. Our products address solutions across a broad set of research applications including human germline sequencing, plant and animal sciences, infectious disease and microbiology, oncology, and other emerging applications. For more information, please visit and follow @PacBio. PacBio products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. About Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand Chulalongkorn University is the oldest national university in the Kingdom of Thailand. The university has been active in international research activities and is committed to creating knowledge and innovation to transform Thai society into a creative and sustainable future. As part of the university's mission is to contribute the knowledge gained to the sustainable development of the country and society, the Faculty of Medicine is also actively involved in sharing knowledge with society through collaboration between industry, government, and Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the uses, advantages, quality or performance of, the benefits or expected benefits of using, PacBio products or technologies, including in connection with Thailand's efforts to integrate PacBio products into newborn screening; establishing a research model that may uncover the genetic basis of undiagnosed conditions, improve outcomes, ease uncertainty or offer answers earlier, and other future events. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they are subject to assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from currently anticipated results. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks inherent in developing and commercializing new technologies; rapidly changing technologies and extensive competition in genomic sequencing; unanticipated increases in costs or expenses; interruptions or delays in the supply of components or materials for, or manufacturing of, PacBio products and products under development; third-party claims alleging infringement of patents and proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate PacBio's patents or proprietary rights; and other risks associated with general macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical instability. Additional factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in PacBio's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including PacBio's most recent reports on Forms 8-K, 10-K, and 10-Q, and include those listed under the caption 'Risk Factors.' These forward-looking statements, including PacBio's preliminary unaudited financial information and PacBio's financial guidance, are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof; except as required by law, PacBio disclaims any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available. Contacts (PacBio) Investors: Todd Friedmanir@ Media:pr@ Contacts (Chulalongkorn University) Media:prmdcu@ in to access your portfolio
Al Etihad
23-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Boris Johnson-Winston Churchill conversation pioneers live AI interaction
23 Apr 2025 18:43 DUBAI (WAM)Former UK Prime Minister the Rt Hon Boris Johnson conducted a two-way conversation with the former UK Prime Minister the Rt Hon Winston Churchill during the Future of Government Communication Forum at the 2025 World Governments Summit, held in Dubai from February 11-13, conversation was recorded at the 'Creator's HQ' during the 'Future of Government Communication Forum', organised by the UAE Government Media Office as part of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2025, hosted in event was held in collaboration with the Emirati company "AI Media Lab," a subsidiary of Visioneers, which specialises in developing artificial intelligence solutions for key sectors, particularly the media. Churchill's Speeches The conversation was enabled by a proprietary Large Language Model, an AI trained on Churchill's collected works, speeches and biographies of the former leader, including Johnson's celebrated biography of Churchill, The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History. 'The model is capable of spine-tingling fidelity, it was a truly uncanny conversation,' said Johnson after the recording. 'Having closely followed and researched Churchill's life, his views and his work, I was amazed to find myself literally face to face with a talking facsimile of Winston who was capable of holding a conversation that one would have said was truly with the man himself. Models like this have a real role in education, in helping people appreciate history in new ways.'The conversation was the first live, fully interactive meta-human avatar driven by a Large Language Model. It was conducted as a 'Video call with the past', using speech to text to LLM to text to speech technology and a 'meta-human' an emotionally contextual avatar of Churchill, whose synthesised voice was based on samples of Churchill's public demonstration paves the way for the development of fully interactive capabilities for artificial intelligence. Over the past 12 years, WGS has become one of the world's largest and most influential forum for governments. The 2025 summit's agenda featured 21 forums covering six key themes including health transformation, governance, and crisis mitigation.
