24
Feb
2010
Emergency Preparedness

Storing water is a good idea in case of emergency
17
Feb
2010
Norovirus
by Chris Wiant, MPH, PhD

Norovirus Outbreak at North Carolina Student Conference

One hundred-fifty of the 1,000 student attendees to a YMCA Youth & Government conference became sick last weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina, The students complained of vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and stomach cramps. According to the Wake County environmental health director, norovirus was confirmed in four of the 150 students who became ill. Noroviruses are a group of... Read More »
27
Jan
2010
Outbreaks
by Water Quality & Health Council

Lull in H1N1 Creates Vaccination Opportunity

H1N1 outbreaks seem to be declining around the country; however, officials warn that a “third wave” could strike as the nation enters peak flu season, particularly if people ignore health officials’ advice to get vaccinated. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released statistics that show no states with widespread flu activity. The CDC... Read More »
19
Jan
2010
Food Safety
by Joan B. Rose, PhD

Russia Bans U.S. Poultry Imports

As of January 1, Russia is blocking imports of U.S. poultry because of concerns about chlorine rinses, which are routinely used by poultry processors in the United States to kill pathogens that can cause food poisoning among consumers. Despite what Reuters calls “overwhelming scientific evidence” showing chlorine is a safe and effective disinfectant for use in the poultry industry,... Read More »
22
Dec
2009
Public Health
by Water Quality & Health Council

Harvard Rates H1N1 Top Health Story of the Year

The Harvard Health Letter selected H1N1 as the top health story of the year, in part because health officials and the general public approached the H1N1 pandemic with relative calm, despite the fact that this strain of influenza had (and still has) the potential to become more virulent and more infectious. For years, health officials... Read More »
18
Dec
2009
Public Health
by Water Quality & Health Council

Disinfection and Cleaning for H1N1: Outside Services or Home Practices?

Public fears about contracting H1N1 have boosted sales of hand sanitizers and are likely driving the purchase of cold and flu remedies, as well as increasing visits to doctors’ offices or emergency rooms. This same concern is also creating a cottage industry built around H1N1 cleaning and disinfection services. Former disaster restoration companies and anti-microbial... Read More »
17
Dec
2009
Public Health
by Chris Wiant, MPH, PhD

Miami Hotel Evacuated Due to Legionnaires’ Disease

Health officials have determined that a water filter removed too much chlorine, possibly allowing the spread of Legionnaires’ disease, which is suspected of sickening at least two guests since October at the luxury EPIC Hotel in Miami. Based on an initial investigation, it appears that the hotel installed a special filtration system to enhance the quality... Read More »
14
Dec
2009
Flu
by Chris Wiant, MPH, PhD

National Influenza Vaccination Week – December 6-12

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated this week (Dec. 6-12) as National Influenza Vaccination Week to highlight the importance of ongoing efforts to vaccinate against influenza (flu) and to foster even greater efforts going forward. This year, National Influenza Vaccination Week serves as an important reminder to seek out the H1N1... Read More »
09
Dec
2009
Flu
by Water Quality & Health Council

Rapid Influenza Tests Often Fail to Detect H1N1

Doctors’ offices and hospitals are using “rapid influenza diagnostic tests” to identify the presence of the H1N1 flu in patients; however, these tests actually do a poor job of sniffing out H1N1 because the rapid test does not detect H1N1, only influenza A. A confirmatory test must be done to identify H1N1 – a strain of influenza A.... Read More »
07
Dec
2009
Flu
by Ralph Morris, MD, MPH

Second Wave of H1N1 Peaks

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the level of H1N1 activity across the United States has dropped for the fourth straight week, indicating that the second wave of H1N1 in the United States has peaked.... Read More »