Michigan and other states see unusual spike in parasite that causes 'explosive' diarrhea
medicalxpress - A parasite that causes severe, watery diarrhea is spreading across the United States, and health officials in Michigan are racing to explain an unusual surge in cases.
AI Summary: Health officials are investigating an unusual surge in a parasite that causes violent, watery diarrhea, with Michigan among the hardest-hit areas. Public-health teams are tracing exposures, warning vulnerable populations, and urging hygiene measures as cases cluster across multiple states. The outbreak has prompted CDC tracking and local alerts amid rising gastrointestinal illness reports.
- Michigan epicenter: record surge and testing strain (5)
- Nationwide spread, CDC tracking, and safety guidance (4)
Michigan epicenter: record surge and testing strain
Nationwide spread, CDC tracking, and safety guidance
Flesh-Eating New World Screwworm Confirmed in Texas, Posing Risk to U.S. Cattle for First Time in Decades
discovermagazine - Learn about the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that has just been confirmed in the U.S., and find out what's being done to stop its spread.
AI Summary: Authorities have confirmed the return of the New World screwworm to Texas, a flesh‑eating fly larva that can devastate livestock. Officials are ramping up surveillance, trapping and containment measures to protect cattle herds and limit economic damage; human infections remain rare but the agricultural hit could be substantial.
Baby food brand HiPP recalls jars in Austria after samples test positive for rat poison
abcnews - HiPP is recalling some baby food jars in Austria after samples tested positive for rat poison in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic
AI Summary: Austrian health authorities have ordered a recall of specific HiPP baby food jars after lab tests detected contamination with a rodent poison. Retailers pulled the affected batches, parents are being urged to check product codes and discard implicated jars, and investigators are tracing how the contamination occurred while monitoring for any reported illnesses.
CDC: Proportion of extensively drug-resistant Shigella isolates increasing
medicalxpress - The proportion of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella isolates in the United States increased from 2011–2015 to 2023, according to research published in the April 9 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality…
AI Summary: Federal health officials report a worrying uptick in extensively drug‑resistant Shigella strains, complicating treatment and raising the risk of harder‑to‑control outbreaks. The data underscore the need for enhanced surveillance, hygiene measures, antibiotic stewardship and rapid public‑health responses as standard antibiotics lose reliability. Try not to spread it—literally.
Eating more fruits and vegetables tied to unexpected lung cancer risk
sciencedaily - A surprising new study suggests that eating a very healthy diet—packed with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—might be linked to a higher risk of lung cancer in younger non-smokers. Researchers found that patients under 50 diagnosed with lung cancer of…
AI Summary: A new analysis links higher fruit-and-vegetable consumption to an unexpected rise in lung cancer risk among younger non‑smokers, with investigators pointing to pesticide residues on produce as a likely culprit. Researchers urge careful interpretation—don’t ditch your salad—while calling for stricter residue limits, better monitoring, and further study to untangle diet, toxins, and cancer risk.
F.D.A. Investigates 7 E. Coli Illnesses as Raw Dairy Farm Denies Any Link
Christine Hauser and Alice Callahan / nytimes - The outbreak has sickened people in California, Texas and Florida. The agency said Cheddar cheese products from Raw Farm are “the likely source,” but the company denies it and has not recalled them.
AI Summary: Federal investigators are probing seven E. coli infections across multiple states tied to cheddar cheese produced from raw milk. The implicated Raw Farm cheddar is the suspected source; the producer denies responsibility as public health officials trace exposures and warn consumers while urging caution around unpasteurized dairy.
FDA to reassess the safety of BHA, a preservative used in popular snack foods
go - Federal health officials will reassess the safety of a chemical called BHA used in foods including potato chips, cereals, frozen meals and meat products
AI Summary: U.S. regulators have moved to reevaluate butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a common food preservative, ordering a fresh safety review after mounting evidence and public concern. The reassessment could lead to updated guidance or restrictions — which will delight activists and mildly inconvenience snack manufacturers.
Glyphosate: What Indigenous communities have suspected for years about the dangers of the herbicide
Charles Z. Levkoe, Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems, Lakehead Univers / theconversation - The recent retraction of peer-reviewed research claiming glyphosate is safe confirms what Indigenous communities have said for years.
AI Summary: The recent retraction of a widely cited study asserting glyphosate’s safety has rekindled long‑held Indigenous suspicions about the herbicide. Experts now question its safety profile, calling for more regulatory scrutiny and a re‐evaluation of long‑standing warnings regarding its potential dangers.
A newborn's death likely linked to the mom drinking raw milk while pregnant
go - Health officials in New Mexico have said a newborn baby died from a listeria infection likely linked to the child's mother drinking raw milk during pregnancy
AI Summary: New Mexico health officials report a tragic newborn death attributed to a listeria infection linked to the mother’s consumption of unpasteurized raw milk during pregnancy, re–igniting long–standing concerns about food safety standards and the risks involved in consuming unregulated dairy products.
Oregon baby is still battling infant botulism after ByHeart formula exposure
go - A Portland, Oregon, baby got sick with infant botulism after drinking contaminated ByHeart formula donated through a program that helps poor and homeless families
AI Summary: Two reports describe how a Portland baby continues to struggle with severe infant botulism after ingesting contaminated ByHeart formula distributed via a charity, raising concerns about quality control and the safety of aid programs.
Nestlé recalls baby formula over toxin risk
medicalxpress - Nestlé has announced a global recall of some baby formula products, saying they may contain a toxin that can cause food poisoning in infants.
AI Summary: Nestlé has initiated a global recall of certain baby formula products after detecting potential toxin contamination that may cause food poisoning in infants. Affected lots are being removed from retail shelves while regulators and the company work to confirm the contamination’s extent and ensure consumer safety.