Press Releases
Year
Recalled Pomegranate Seeds Distributed in Illinois
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2013
Contact
Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health (217) 531-2909
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Recalled Pomegranate Seeds Distributed in Illinois
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Urges Consumers to Check Their Freezers for Recalled Pomegranate Seeds
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) received notice from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regarding a recall of pomegranate seeds. IDPH recommends checking the brand of frozen pomegranate seeds or a mixture containing pomegranate seeds purchased since February prior to eating them.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined the most likely source of a multistate Hepatitis A virus outbreak is a common shipment of pomegranate seeds from Turkey used in the Townsend Farms and Harris Teeter Organic Antioxidant Blends. These seeds were also used by Scenic Fruit Company to make its Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels. The companies have voluntarily recalled these products.
As of June 27, 2013, the CDC confirmed 127 people have become ill from Hepatitis A after eating Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend in eight states: Arizona (17), California (64), Colorado (25), Hawaii (7), New Mexico (5), Nevada (5), Utah (2) and Wisconsin (2). To date, 11 Illinois counties have received the Scenic Fruit Company product, although no illnesses have yet been linked to this product. Counties include Adams, Champaign, Cook, DuPage, Jackson, Lake, Madison, McLean, Peoria, Sangamon and St. Clair.
Hepatitis A symptoms may include fatigue, poor appetite, fever, vomiting, darker urine and jaundice. Symptoms can appear from 15 to 50 days after exposure, but usually within 28 to 30 days of being exposed to the virus.
Persons who may have consumed the affected product should consult with their health care professional or local health department to determine if a vaccination is appropriate, and consumers with symptoms of Hepatitis A should contact their health care professionals or the local health department immediately.
Consumers with the product should not consume it; the product should be disposed of immediately. Keep proof of product purchase.
The following website links contain recall notification information including photos of the product packaging:
- Townsend Farms (Townsend Farms Antioxidant Blend and Harris Teeter Antioxidant Blend) http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm355166.htm http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm359140.htm
- Scenic Fruit (Woodstock Organic Pomegranate Kernels) http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm358740.htm
The following website links contain updates on the Hepatitis A investigation:
- FDA: http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm354698.htm
- CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Outbreaks/2013/A1b-03-31/index.html
For more information on CUPHD and available services, please visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
Additional Cats Test Positive for Tularemia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2013
Contact
Rachella Thompson, Communicable Disease Investigator (217) 531-5361
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Additional Cats Test Positive for Tularemia
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Encourages Citizens to Keep Cats Indoors to Help Minimize Tularemia
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is encouraging area
residents to keep cats indoors to reduce the likelihood of contracting tularemia. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health Districts has identified two additional cats positive for tularemia in Champaign-Urbana. Previously, five cats were diagnosed with tularemia at the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine; one cat from Champaign and one from Urbana; and three cats from two households in Savoy. Tularemia is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits and hares).
Cats may prey on rabbits and rodents and become infected or they may become infected through tick exposure. Cats may develop a variety of symptoms including high fever, mouth ulcers, depression, enlarged lymph nodes and behavioral changes including not eating. Persons whose cats have contact with the outdoors should take their pet into the veterinarian if they should develop these symptoms.
People may also contract tularemia developing sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, joint pain, muscle aches, cough and weakness. People can become infected by handling pets or wild animals with tularemia, being bitten by ticks or by inhaling the organism. If you develop symptoms of tularemia see your health care provider.
To reduce the chances that your cat will become infected:
- Do not allow your cat to hunt outdoors
- Consult with your veterinarian to make sure your cat is protected from tick bites
- Report any unexplained large die-offs of rodents or rabbits to your local animal control
To reduce the chance that you or your family members will become infected:
- Wear tick protection when outdoors
- Do not mow over sick or dead animals
- Do not handle wild animals
- Cook wild game meat thoroughly before eating and use gloves when handling the animal and preparing the meat for cooking
- Take any pet with symptoms of tularemia to the veterinarian
If you have questions about tularemia in humans, please contact Rachella Thompson, Communicable Disease Investigator, with CUPHD at (217) 531-5361 or your health care provider. If you are a cat owner or have questions about tularemia in animals, please contact your veterinarian. Visit http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/tularemia/facts.asp or http://www.avma.org/public_health/biosecurity/tularemia_facts.asp for additional information.
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Mosquito Abatement Bikers Hit the Streets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2013
Contact
Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health (217) 531-2909
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Mosquito Abatement Bikers Hit the Streets
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District begins 2013Culex Mosquito Abatement
Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is starting Culex mosquito abatement this week for the 2013 mosquito season. CUPHD uses seasonal workers on bikes, known as Mosquito Abatement Bikers (MABs), to evaluate and treat public catch basins in Champaign, Urbana and Savoy. The catch basins are treated with a product that disrupts the life cycle of the mosquito and reduces adult mosquito emergence. Catch basins are prime breeding sites for the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus (WNV).
Homeowners can also have an impact on mosquito populations by draining standing water on their property. Items such as gutters, abandoned pools, garbage cans, flower pots, toys, tires, trash, bird baths and wading pools can all be potential breeding sites for mosquitoes.
Actions you can take to limit exposure to WNV are:
- Drain standing water
- Mosquito proof your home
- During WNV season between dusk and dawn:
- Apply insect repellent o Wear long sleeves and pants
- Consider limiting outdoor activity
West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Only about two people in 10 who are infected with WNV will experience any illness. Illness from WNV is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness such as encephalitis, meningitis and death are possible. Persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.
Information about WNV activity can be found on the CUPHD website at http://www.c-uphd.org/west-nile-virus.html.
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