Virginia Democrats Defeat Bills Limiting Abortion Access
Florida Sees Rise in Flesh-Eating Bacteria Amid Ian Concerns
October 19, 2022by The Associated Press
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian.
The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there have been 65 cases of vibrio vulnificus infections and 11 deaths in Florida this year. That compares with 34 cases and 10 deaths reported during all of 2021.
In Lee County, where Ian stormed ashore last month, the health department reports 29 cases this year and four deaths.
Health officials didn’t give a breakdown of how many of the cases were before or after Ian struck.
Lee County health officials earlier this month warned people that the post-hurricane environment — including warm, standing water — could pose a danger from the potentially deadly bacteria.
“Flood waters and standing waters following a hurricane pose many risks, including infectious diseases such as vibrio vulnificus,” the county health department said in a news release Oct. 3 that urged the public to take precautions.
The advisory said that people with open wounds, cuts, or scratches can be exposed to the bacteria through contact with sea water or brackish water. People with open wounds should avoid such water and seek medical care immediately if an infection is apparent.
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January 26, 2023
by Virginia Democrats Defeat Bills Limiting Abortion Access
Virginia Democrats Defeat Bills Limiting Abortion Access
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Senate Democrats defeated several bills Thursday that would have restricted abortion access in the state,... Read More
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Senate Democrats defeated several bills Thursday that would have restricted abortion access in the state, including a proposed 15-week ban with exceptions that was a priority for Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The Senate Committee on Education and Health voted the measures... Read More
January 24, 2023
by Dan McCue
Looking to Chow Down and Not Gain Weight? AARP Offers Some Hope
WASHINGTON — We all think of January as our “makeover” month. Diets start, exercise equipment gets an extra look and... Read More
WASHINGTON — We all think of January as our “makeover” month. Diets start, exercise equipment gets an extra look and when the weather is good, walks get just a little bit longer. Still, for most of us, dropping unwanted pounds remains a challenge. When your brain... Read More
January 24, 2023
by Dan McCue
A Probiotic May Control Serious Antibiotic-Resistant Staph Infection
WASHINGTON — A probiotic may be effective in cleansing the body of staph-related super infections, according to a new study... Read More
WASHINGTON — A probiotic may be effective in cleansing the body of staph-related super infections, according to a new study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Though they say more research is needed, a press release on the institute’s website stated that their... Read More
January 24, 2023
by Dan McCue
Bacterial Spores Inspire Novel Cancer Drug Delivery System
WASHINGTON — Scientists with the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research have come up with a new way to... Read More
WASHINGTON — Scientists with the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research have come up with a new way to get life-saving drugs directly into cancer cells, an advance they say will enable more effective treatments for cancer with fewer side effects. The research was originally... Read More
January 23, 2023
by US Proposes Once-a-Year COVID Shots for Most Americans
US Proposes Once-a-Year COVID Shots for Most Americans
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials want to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like the annual flu shot. The Food and... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials want to make COVID-19 vaccinations more like the annual flu shot. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday proposed a simplified approach for future vaccination efforts, allowing most adults and children to get a once-a-year shot to protect against the... Read More
January 20, 2023
by Dan McCue
Panel Named to Work on New Dietary Guidelines
WASHINGTON — Twenty nationally recognized public health and nutrition experts have been tapped by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and... Read More
WASHINGTON — Twenty nationally recognized public health and nutrition experts have been tapped by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to help draft the nation’s revised dietary guidelines. The first meeting of the new Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will be Feb. 9-10,... Read More
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