Food safety

Lab tests may begin in just weeks as a result of World Community Grid

GALVESTON, Texas - 05 May 2009 -- IBM and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) launched an effort using IBM's World Community Grid "virtual supercomputer" to allow laboratory tests on drug candidates for drug-resistant influenza strains and new strains, such as H1N1, in less than a month.    » read more »

May 4, 2009 -- Secretary Napolitano: First let me explain why we're at FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters]. It's not because of a disaster declaration with respect to the flu. We're here because I had meetings at the White House this afternoon, and in order to accommodate the press's need for time, it was easier to come down here where we had a press availability than to go all the way back up to the NAC [Nebraska Avenue Complex]. So don't read anything into the location other than it was convenient.    » read more »

May 5, 2009 -- Atlanta, Ga. -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Richard Besser announced new CDC guidance on closure of schools and child care facilities where there has been reported cases of the novel H1N1 flu virus.

The new guidance was developed in consultation with top scientists at the CDC and some of the top public health departments across the country.

Statement by HHS Secretary Sebelius and Acting CDC Director Besser:    » read more »

4 May 2009 -- As of 18:00 GMT, 4 May 2009, 21 countries have officially reported 1085 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 25 deaths. The United States has reported 286 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (101), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (4), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (4), Italy (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (6), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (54), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (18).    » read more »

Washington, D.C. (May 4, 2009)— As the confirmed number of H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) cases grows in the United States, public concern understandably grows. The American Lung Association wishes to ease public concern by offering proven advice on how to prevent the spread of contagious respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu).    » read more »

New H1N1 policy sets school closing procedures; Three additional schools to close, joining Rockville High School

Baltimore, MD (May 1, 2009) – Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has signed an executive order declaring a public health emergency for Maryland in an abundance of caution to prepare for swine flu in Maryland. The Governor also announced a new statewide public and private school policy based on advice and guidance of the CDC.

Based on new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and discussions with governors on a conference call today, the state will close any public or private school and cease all extracurricular activities for up to 14 days in the event a student is deemed "probable" for the H1N1 influenza virus.    » read more »

May 3, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention today has identified a new adult in York County as having the H1N1 influenza, bringing the State total to seven.

Totals as of Sunday, May 3: Two adults in Kennebec County, three adults and one youth in York County, and one youth in Penobscot County. All are recovering.

“We are continuing to examine the specific facts around these cases,” said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Director of the Maine CDC. “None of the individuals have been hospitalized and all are recovering. Our goal remains to slow the spread of H1N1 influenza and to protect public health.”

In addition, Maine CDC continues to closely monitor guidance for mitigating the spread of H1N1 that is being developed by the U.S. CDC.    » read more »

May 2, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – The first shipments of antiviral drugs and protective equipment released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began arriving in Maine early today.

The materials were distributed by the Maine National Guard to nine regional medical facilities around the State, which will distribute the supplies to other hospitals as needed. According to U.S. CDC directives, the antiviral drugs received today are intended to treat only persons considered seriously ill and who are hospitalized.

The shipments included antiviral drugs, protective masks, gloves and other medical equipment.

On Wednesday, April 29, Maine ordered a significant stockpile of antiviral drugs. Those shipments will begin arriving in the State as early as Tuesday, May 5.    » read more »

May 01, 2009 -- BATON ROUGE – Today, state officials announced that the Department of Health and Hospitals is investigating another possible case of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus in Ascension Parish, bringing the total number of possible cases in Louisiana to nine.

These are only possible cases, meaning they could not be identified by the Office of Public Health laboratory in New Orleans and have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lab in Atlanta for confirmation. There are still no confirmed cases of the virus in Louisiana, at this time.    » read more »

May 4, 2009 -- HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) is awaiting laboratory confirmation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on three probable cases of novel H1N1 Influenza A (swine-origin flu).

The DOH State Laboratories Division (SLD) began conducting validation tests to subtype influenza samples and identify novel H1N1 cases this past Saturday after receiving testing materials from CDC that morning. The first preliminary tests completed at SLD on Sunday were presumptively positive, and samples were sent to CDC for confirmatory testing.    » read more »

6 More ‘Probable’ H1N1 Flu Cases

May 2, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that a child from Middlefield has tested positive for the H1N1 flu, or swine flu, virus. In addition, the Department of Public Health (DPH) Laboratory has identified six additional “probable” cases of H1N1 flu in Connecticut.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Secretary Napolitano: Thanks, and good afternoon. I'd like to provide you with the latest information in our efforts to respond to the H1N1 flu outbreak.

First, I'd like to reiterate what President Obama said yesterday. This outbreak is a cause for concern, not yet a cause for alarm. Because the number of confirmed cases continues to rise and will likely rise in the next few days, we recognize that many Americans are rightly concerned about their own health and safety. I share that concern. The President shares that concern. But we are confident in the efforts underway across the federal government and across state and local governments to keep Americans safe and healthy.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- "I want to reiterate that U.S. pork is safe. While we in the U.S. are continuing to monitor for new cases of H1N1 flu, the American food supply is safe.

There is no evidence or reports that U.S. swine have been infected with this virus. USDA is reminding its trading partners that U.S. pork and pork products are safe and there is no basis for restricting imports of commercially produced U.S. pork and pork products.

This is not an animal health or food safety issue. This discovery of the H1N1 flu virus is in humans. Any trade restrictions would be inconsistent with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines.    » read more »

Annual Report Indicates Salmonella Continues to Show Least Improvement

The incidence of the most common foodborne illnesses has changed very little over the past three years, according to a 10-state report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The findings are from 2008 data reported by the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), a collaborative project of CDC, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and 10 state sites.    » read more »

March 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced the appointments of Dr. Margaret Hamburg as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein as the Principal Deputy Commissioner, as well as the creation of a new Food Safety Working Group.

This Food Safety Working Group will be chaired by the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture and it will coordinate with other agencies and senior officials to advise the President on improving coordination throughout the government, examining and upgrading food safety laws, and enforcing laws that will keep the American people safe.    » read more »