Author: Kit Redwine
A significant number of British vacationers are pursuing legal action following severe gastric illnesses experienced during their stays at luxury hotels in Cape Verde, an archipelago and island country off West Africa. Over the past three years, 926 individuals have reported falling seriously ill after visiting several of the country’s resorts. The illnesses have been so severe that many tourists required hospitalization. Since 2022, hundreds of visitors have reported contracting serious illnesses, including Shigella and Salmonella, at seven different hotels. Among those affected were a newlywed couple on their honeymoon, a man who lost consciousness during his flight home due…
A popular LongHorn Steakhouse in Fairview Heights, Illinois, was abruptly closed on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, following an investigation into a surge of severe food poisoning cases associated with the restaurant. The St. Clair County Health Department and Illinois Department of Health initiated the investigation after local hospitals reported an increase in Shigella infections, according to news station KSDK in St. Louis, Missouri. Shigella is a bacteria that causes shigellosis, an infection characterized by symptoms such as bloody or prolonged diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever, which can last between five to seven days. In rare instances, shigellosis can lead to…
A recent salmonella outbreak linked to Madre Oaxacan Restaurant in Santa Clarita’s Valencia area has resulted in the establishment’s temporary closure and a lawsuit from a sickened customer. The incident, which occurred in mid-September, has left the restaurant struggling to regain its footing in the community, according to the Los Angeles Times. After receiving multiple complaints from diners experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms after eating at the restaurant the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health closed the restaurant on September 18. To date, 44 customers of the restaurant have reported falling sick after eating at the establishment. Ivan Vásquez, the restaurant’s…
A study from Kansas State University has revealed new insights into how the H5N1 “bird flu” influenza virus spreads among dairy cattle. This research comes at a critical time, as the virus has affected over 200 dairy farms across 14 states since its first detection in the U.S. in spring 2024. Published in the journal Nature, the study was led by Dr. Juergen Richt, a distinguished professor at Kansas State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Richt and his team, collaborating with German researchers, conducted experiments on both calves and lactating cows to understand how the virus transmits. The findings paint…
Malaysia – Food Poisoning Sickens Over 200 Students Around the Country PETALING JAYA – The food poisoning of 48 students has forced the closure of the school cafeteria at Mara Junior Science College. Six students were hospitalized for additional treatment. After visiting the college, a government health minister ordered the shutdown due to a number of facilities in need of disrepair. The ministry approved repair work for several departments and staff of the college have been given a month to resolve any outstanding issues. MEMBAKUT – A meal provided by an outside caterer is suspected in a food poisoning incident…
The final 2024 Alaska cruise of Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas experienced an unexpected challenge when a gastrointestinal illness outbreak spread among passengers and crew. The incident, which affected a significant number of travelers, required reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) due to its scale. Outbreak Details Out of 2,172 guests aboard the vessel, 167 passengers reported symptoms consistent with gastrointestinal illness, according to cruisehive.com. These symptoms included diarrhea, cramps, headaches, and muscle aches. Additionally, 3 out of 894 crew members also reported similar symptoms. When combining both guests and crew, 5.51% of all individuals…
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are strains of bacteria that have evolved the ability to survive or grow despite the presence of antibiotics that would normally kill them or inhibit their growth. This resistance occurs through genetic changes, often accelerated by the overuse or misuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture. As a result, infections caused by these bacteria become harder to treat, posing significant risks to public health. Many consumers know to finish their course of antibiotics to prevent the growth of bacterial resistance and good agricultural practices employ similar strategies. Preventing antibiotic-resistant bacteria from contaminating our food involves a combination of…
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced a recall by Mississauga, Ontario, Canada-based Maple Leaf Foods Inc. of multiple brands of sausage products due to contamination with nitrile glove pieces. Food contaminated with foreign objects has the potential to cause severe harm, including choking, injury, illness, or even death. Background The recall notice did not specify how the nitrile glove pieces in the affected products were discovered. Distribution The recalled products were distributed to retail locations nationwide across Canada. Product Details BrandProductSizeBest BeforeCodesUPC CodeBurnsPizza Pepperoni 4×20 COVVariableOctober 17, 2024EST 69BNoneCarver’s ChoiceSausage Snacks750 gNovember 27, 2024 December 3, 20240 63100…
On Friday, September 27, 2024, the Public Health Agency of Canada issued a public health notice for an outbreak of Salmonella Muenchen connected to pet geckos. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause severe illness in both animals and humans. Geckos are small lizards that are found on every continent except Antarctica. Background The Public Health Agency of Canada is actively investigating this outbreak, which has resulted in 25 confirmed cases of Salmonella Muenchen infection spanning from August 2020 to September 2024. The ages of those infected range from 1 to 103 years old with 64% being female. There have…
Malaysia – 86 Students Sickened by Suspected Food Poisoning Food poisoning is suspected in the illness of 86 students at a school in Ipoh, a city near the west coast of the country. After dining at the school cafeteria, the affected students began displaying symptoms of stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting late Tuesday morning. So far, only one student was admitted to the hospital for treatment. An initial investigation has linked contaminated curry as the source of the illness. The local health department collected samples from the cafeteria and the results are pending. South Africa – Poisoned Food Suspected in…