Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Recall Expands As Cantaloupe Salmonella Issue Linked To 2 Deaths
Two people have died in Minnesota and 45 people have been hospitalized due to an outbreak of salmonella tied to cantaloupe and cut fruit, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. In total, at least 99 people across 32 states have been sickened in this outbreak, the CDC said. (Reed, 11/24)
U.S. health officials recalled three more brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes Friday as the number of people sickened by salmonella more than doubled this week. Nearly 100 people in 32 states have gotten sick from the contaminated fruits. Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio have the highest number of cases. Two people have died of the infections in Minnesota, and 45 people are hospitalized nationwide. (Shastri, 11/24)
In other health alerts —
At first, Madeline Wahl thought her new kitten was having a bad reaction to medication for ringworm. After each dose, he would shake his head and flail his legs. She and her husband, Rich, had brought the kitten to their house in a historic neighborhood in Omaha after a friend found the stray meowing in her driveway. About 5 weeks old and barely two pounds, the cuddly black-and-white animal looked like he was wearing a tuxedo. The Wahls named him Stanley. (Sun, 11/26)
A deal for $1 burritos at a downtown Evanston restaurant turned out to be bad news for Northwestern students and Evanston residents. The Evanston Health and Human Services Department warned Wednesday that it was tracking a norovirus outbreak linked to the burrito special. The department is investigating the outbreak along with Northwestern University. (Gonzalez and Harrington, 11/23)
The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use or purchase any products from the supplement brand called Neptune's Fix after receiving multiple reports of severe reactions, including seizures and hospitalizations. The FDA says it is testing samples for illegal and harmful ingredients. Neptune's Fix supplements purport to contain tianeptine, an opioid alternative prescribed as an antidepressant in some Latin American, Asian and European countries. Tianeptine is not approved for use in the U.S. (Tin, 11/22)
Cinnamon applesauce pouches that have been recalled after reports of high blood lead levels in children are still on the shelves at some Dollar Tree stores, the US Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. (Dillinger, 11/22)
