Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting higher numbers this year than last and the Center for Disease Control says the 2012-2013 flu season could be one of the worst.
State and federal health officials say this flu season is off to an early start with many more Pennsylvania cases reported for the last week of November 2012 than in 2011. The CDC reports that already, two children have died from the illness this season. An article in the Pittsburgh Tribune reports, "During the last week of November 2011, there were nine confirmed cases of the flu in Pennsylvania compared to 76 cases during the same period this year," said Holli Senior, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health. Influenza has been reported in 41 of 67 counties." According to the state Department of Health, there were 214 cases of confirmed influenza across the state from Oct. 4 - Nov. 24 this year. Seven of those cases were in the …
It's National Influenza Vaccination Week. Did you get your flu shot?
More than one-third of United States residents have already been vaccinated against the influenza virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday. With National Influenza Vaccination Week, which started last Sunday and ends Saturday, health officials aim to increase that percentage, especially since this year's season may be a bad one. Influenza—more commonly known as simply "the flu"—is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs. It spreads via infected people coughing, sneezing or talking, though people can also get infected by touching something with the flu virus on it before touching their mouth, eyes or nose. The 2012-2013 season is shaping up to be one of the worst …
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
'Forever Cheese' brand of Frescolina ricotta cheese is being recalled after 14 people - including 1 in Pennsylvania - were sickened by listeria-type illness.
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
An illness that killed three people and sickened 14 in 11 states and the District of Columbia has prompted the recall of an imported ricotta salata cheese, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on its website Tuesday. Forever Cheese Inc., on Monday voluntarily recalled one lot of Frescolina brand ricotta salata cheese due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the CDC said. Ricotta salata is dry and crumbly - not the soft ricotta used in lasagna, according to a U.S. News report. Listeriosis is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be severe. One person in Pennsylvania was sickened in this case so far. The cheese was sold to distributors for retail stores and restaurants in California, Colorado, District of …
