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Vaccine that protects mice against 1918 influenza virus developed

Federal scientists have developed a vaccine that protects mice against the killer 1918 influenza virus. They also have created a technique for identifying antibodies that neutralize this virus, a tool that could help contain future pandemic flu strains.

17 Oct 2006

Explaining how E. coli reached spinach fields not an easy task

It appears that California State health officials are at a loss to explain the source of a nationwide outbreak of E. coli food poisoning.

16 Oct 2006

Latest recall - lettuce with E. coli

In the latest scare over foods contaminated by the bacteria E. coli, another Californian grower has recalled a product, but this time it is not spinach or ground beef, but lettuce.

9 Oct 2006

Canadians paralysed after drinking carrot juice

Carrot juice which was withdrawn from the market late last month is thought to be responsible for the illness of two Canadians who are paralyzed and are severely ill in hospital.

9 Oct 2006

Suspect ground beef recalled because of E. coli

Suspicions that some minced or ground beef products may be contaminated with a dangerous strain of the E. coli bacteria have forced the recall of 5,200 pounds of the meat in the United States.

8 Oct 2006

FBI and FDA investigate spinach packing companies in California

As a result of the nationwide outbreak of E. coli the FBI and agents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have searched two spinach packaging companies in order to ascertain that food safety procedures were properly followed.

5 Oct 2006

Dangers of drinking raw milk

Four children in California have found out that drinking milk may not always be such a healthy option.

25 Sep 2006

E coli outbreak investigation narrows

"We understand tonight that the Food and Drug Administration has reported a confirmed positive sample of E coli 0157:H7 in an open bag of spinach from a consumer who became ill in this outbreak.

21 Sep 2006

FDA issues guidance to human tissue establishments

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reminding companies that manufacture human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) that they must comply with FDA regulations.

13 Sep 2006

FDA orders two companies to cease manufacturing human cells and tissues

FDA orders Donor Referral Services (DRS), a human tissue-recovery firm, of Raleigh, NC, and its owner, Philip Guyett, to immediately cease all manufacturing operations.

20 Aug 2006

Drug trial fiasco induced immune system overload in patients

The doctors who treated six British men in a trial of a drug in March which went horribly wrong, say they believe the men suffered an immune system overreaction known as a cytokine storm.

15 Aug 2006

New national standard for handling substances suspected of being biological threat agents

Federal, state, and local agencies have reached consensus on the first validated national standard for collecting, packaging, and transporting samples of visible powders that are suspected of being biological threat agents, such as anthrax.

7 Aug 2006

Latex in food wrappers, packaging and rubber gloves must be declared

A new study has revealed that latex contained in packaging and rubber gloves can trigger fatal allergic reactions.

7 Aug 2006

Pollution-related closings and health advisories at U.S. beaches

Pollution-related closings and health advisories at U.S. beaches were more numerous than ever in 2005, according to NRDC's annual report (PDF 1.8mb) on beachwater quality.

4 Aug 2006

Combating Campylobacter with common sense

A ban on the sale of fresh chicken meat is the not answer to preventing outbreaks of campylobacteriosis says food microbiologist Associate Professor John Brooks.

24 Jul 2006

Digital magnetofluidics holds hope for better medicine

Critical advances in medicine and environmental protection promise to emerge from a new method for biochemical analysis of fluids developed by an international science team led in part by Arizona State University researchers.

21 Jul 2006

Dangers of unregulated herbal therapy

A Case Report in this week's issue of The Lancet highlights the dangers of unregulated herbal therapy.

21 Jul 2006

Suspect chicken smuggled in from China may have been eaten

Health officials in Michigan in the U.S. are working to track down frozen Chinese poultry smuggled into the United States and found in a warehouse in Oakland County.

13 Jul 2006