OUTBREAK

Dec 04 2024HEALTH

What You Need to Know About the Marburg Virus Outbreak

Ever heard of the Marburg virus? It’s a scary disease that’s been making headlines lately. In Rwanda, at least 66 people have gotten sick and sadly, 15 have died from it. This virus is related to Ebola and can cause bleeding from different parts of the body, including the eyes. That’s why it’s somet

reading time less than a minute
Dec 04 2024HEALTH

McDonald's E. coli Scare: What We Learned

Imagine this: a simple Quarter Pounder burger caused a huge stir across the U. S. in October. A nasty strain of E. coli linked to tainted onions made 104 people sick in 14 states. Unfortunately, one person didn't make it, and four others developed serious kidney issues. The culprit? Yellow onions fr

reading time less than a minute
Dec 02 2024HEALTH

Exploring Public Spots as Early Warning for COVID Outbreaks

Imagine this: instead of relying only on hospitals and labs to spot disease trends, we could use places like restaurants, stores, and churches as early detectors. These spots, called Points of Interest (POIs), are where people meet and mingle, making them hotspots for catching and spreading illnesse

reading time less than a minute
Nov 30 2024HEALTH

Cucumbers Recalled: Salmonella Scare Hits Many States

Cucumbers are being recalled after a salmonella outbreak affecting 68 people across the US and Canada. SunFed Produce, the company behind the veggies, announced the recall on November 26. The cucumbers, grown in Mexico, were sold in bulk containers labeled 'SunFed' or 'Agrotato'. They were shipped t

reading time less than a minute
Nov 26 2024HEALTH

Water Woes in Yemen: A Crisis and Response

The war in Yemen back in 2015 threw a wrench into the country's water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems. Suddenly, there was an acute shortage of safe water, poor sanitation, and hygiene. Microbial water quality took a nosedive. Cholera outbreaks in 2016/2017 were the wake-up call that sparked

reading time less than a minute
Nov 25 2024HEALTH

Deadly Listeria Outbreak: What You Need to Know

A recent outbreak of listeria, a serious foodborne illness, has led to the death of a California infant and sickened ten other people. The source of the outbreak has been traced back to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products from Yu Shang Food, Inc. , based in South Carolina. These products, includi

reading time less than a minute
Nov 23 2024HEALTH

Ground Beef Recall: Minnesota Deals with E. coli Cases

At least 15 people in Minnesota have fallen ill due to E. coli bacteria linked to a recent recall of over 167, 000 pounds of ground beef by Wolverine Packing Co. The recall follows the discovery of multiple illnesses and a positive E. coli test result in a sample of the recalled meat. All reported c

reading time less than a minute
Nov 23 2024HEALTH

The Mystery Behind St. Louis' E. Coli Outbreak

In St. Louis County, Missouri, health officials recently received some intriguing test results related to an E. coli outbreak. They discovered that a package of iceberg lettuce used by Andre's Banquet Center tested negative for the bacteria. Despite this, they’re still investigating if the caterer’s

reading time less than a minute
Nov 20 2024HEALTH

Bird Flu Strikes Hawaii: A New Challenge

For the first time, Hawaii has reported cases of bird flu, H5N1, in ducks and geese on the island of Oahu. The virus, likely carried by migratory birds, has already led to the culling of over 70 birds. While officials assure that the risk to humans is low, the situation is serious. In Canada, a teen

reading time less than a minute
Nov 19 2024HEALTH

Carrot Crisis in Minnesota: What You Need to Know

Organic carrots have been recalled in Minnesota due to an E. coli outbreak. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) wants you to check your fridge and freezer. Five Minnesotans got sick after eating these carrots. The brands included are Good and Gather, Bunny Luv, and Cal-Organic. They were sold a

reading time less than a minute