Public Health Alerts and Recalls
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Public Affairs
2001 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-2001
Tel 919-733-9190 • Fax 919-733-7447
Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor Lanier M. Cansler, Secretary
For release: Immediate Date: January 6, 2011
Contact: Julie Henry, 919-707-5053
North Carolina Reports Season’s First Death From Flu
RALEIGH - North Carolina has reported its first child death from flu for the 2010-2011 flu season. A 15-year old died on January 5 of complications from an influenza infection. (To protect the family’s privacy, the youth’s hometown, county and sex are not being released.) The child had not received flu vaccine this season.
“The death of this healthy young person is a tragic reminder of the potentially devastating effects flu can have on people at any age,” said State Health Director Dr. Jeff Engel. “Most flu infections can be prevented by getting the vaccine. Flu vaccine is readily available and affordable this year, and is the single most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones.”
Flu vaccine is recommended for anyone over 6 months old. It is particularly important for people at high risk of complications, including pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, very young children and the elderly. However, one out of four flu deaths last year were in healthy people with no underlying medical problems. This year’s vaccine protects against three strains of influenza, including H1N1.
“The vaccine is an excellent match for all three strains of flu we are seeing nationally and in our state,” Engel said. “A good vaccine match can reduce the chances of getting influenza by up to 90 percent.”
Statewide surveillance shows that flu is now widespread in North Carolina. The southeastern United States has had most of the flu activity nationwide so far this season.
Influenza kills approximately 36,000 people and causes 220,000 hospitalizations every year. Usually, most of the deaths are in the elderly, but with the 2009 H1N1 virus (which is still circulating), more than 90 percent of deaths were in children and young adults.
“Flu season lasts into the spring, so if you haven’t been vaccinated, it is not too late,” Engel said. “If you do get sick, remember to stay home from work or school while you are sick, cover coughs and sneezes, and-most important-wash your hands.”
For more information about flu and to find a flu vaccine clinic near you, visit flu.nc.gov
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| Recall Release | CLASS I RECALL |
| FSIS-RC-049-2010 | HEALTH RISK: HIGH |
Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Joan Lindenberger
WASHINGTON, August 23, 2010 – Zemco Industries, a Buffalo, N.Y., establishment, is recalling approximately 380,000 pounds of deli meat products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. These products were distributed to delicatessens where they were further processed into sandwiches.
The products subject to recall include:
- 25.5-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches BLACK FOREST HAM With Natural Juices Coated with Caramel Color” with the number 17800 1300.
- 28.49-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches HOT HAM, HARD SALAMI, PEPPERONI, SANDWICH PEPPERS” with the number 17803 1300.
- 32.67-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches VIRGINIA BRAND HAM With Natural Juices, MADE IN NEW YORK, FULLY COOKED BACON, SANDWICH PICKLES, SANDWICH PEPPERS” with the number 17804 1300.
- 25.5-pound cases of “Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches ANGUS ROAST BEEF Coated with Caramel Color” with the number 17805 1300.
Recommendations For People At Risk For Listeriosis
Wash hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat and poultry for at least 20 seconds. Wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot, soapy water. Immediately clean spills.
Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.
Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna or other deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot.
Do not eat refrigerated pâté, meat spreads from a meat counter or smoked seafood found in the refrigerated section of the store. Foods that don’t need refrigeration, like canned tuna and canned salmon, are safe to eat. Refrigerate after opening.
Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.
Do not eat salads made in the store such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad.
Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, Brie, Camembert cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and Panela unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.
Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Listeria can grow in the refrigerator. The refrigerator should be 40 °F or lower and the freezer 0 °F or lower. Use an appliance thermometer to check the temperature of your refrigerator.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Merrick Beef Filet Squares for dogs distributed by Merrick Pet Care with a package date of “Best By 111911” because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The product was distributed nationwide through retail stores and Internet sales.
Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products not to handle or feed them to their pets.
LHD- Important Addition: New York Firm Recalls Fresh Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination
Food Lion, LLC was notified by Fairbank Farms that they received a portion of the ground beef products that was part of their national recall. Food Lion, LLC further processed the ground beef for retail sale.
The recall is isolated to 93/7 ground beef purchased at Food Lion, Bloom or Bottom Dollar Food in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Since the sell-by dates were almost one month ago, the products should not be in the stores. However, Food Lion immediately instructed its stores to remove any product that may still be available.
As you perform inspections in food service establishments, child care centers, residential cares, and other DEH establishments, please check the origin and sell-by dates of frozen ground beef. If found to be within this recall, the products should be destroyed. Please contact me if an establishment would like to return products to the store for a refund.
More information can be found at: http://www.foodlion.com/FoodSafety/Recalls
What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.
Key Facts about Swine Influenza (Swine Flu)
Update: Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Infections — California and Texas, April 2009
For the latest updates on the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus:
Details on Ground Beef Recall and Illnesses in Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts
Recall:
New York Firm Recalls Fresh Ground Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination (10/31/2009)
States with illnesses associated with the recall:
Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts
Brands associated with the recall:
Trader Joe’s, Price Chopper, Lancaster and Wild Harvest, Shaw’s, BJ’s, Ford Brothers, Giant. View product labels
How to prevent illness:
To kill E. coli bacteria, cook ground beef to 160 degrees F.
Additional Information on Ground Beef Recall
See new information on the Food Recalls and Alerts page for details on states and stores where the ground beef was sold, how to identify the products, and what to do if you find recalled products or have symptoms of E. coli.
Charleston Cookie Company Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Butter in Almond Cookies Produced for Dean & Deluca
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:26:00 -0600
Charleston Cookie Company of Charleston, SC is recalling packages of Almond Cookies which were sold as a component of the Dean and Deluca “Americana” cookie tin because the cookies contain undeclared butter (milk).
Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:01:00 -0600
Consumers are being warned not to use Slim-Fast canned drinks because these weight-loss products might be contaminated by bacteria.