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Gias Foods Recalls Frozen Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine Nationwide Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Gias Foods Recalls Frozen Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine Nationwide Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Gias Foods of New York has issued a nationwide recall for two specific lots of its bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine. This frozen pasta dish, sold at Walmart stores across the U.S., was recalled after routine sampling by state laboratories in Washington and Florida detected the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The affected products are 22-ounce frozen entrees in yellow plastic packaging, identifiable by UPC 194346442706. The specific lots recalled are L6079C with an expiration date of September 19, 2027, and L6080C with an expiration date of September 20, 2027. These codes are stamped on the back of the package. As of the September 15 recall notice, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product. Consumers are advised to return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a full refund and to thoroughly clean any surfaces or utensils that may have come into contact with the product.

Vaccines become a 2026 midterm election issue amid measles outbreak

Vaccines become a 2026 midterm election issue amid measles outbreak

A measles outbreak and the Trump administration narrowing childhood immunization recommendations have made vaccines a midterm election issue.

Hillsborough County Reports First Dengue Fever-Related Death Amidst Rising Cases and Aggressive Mosquito Control Efforts

Hillsborough County Reports First Dengue Fever-Related Death Amidst Rising Cases and Aggressive Mosquito Control Efforts

Hillsborough County, Florida, has reported its first dengue fever-related death, as the county accounts for 88% of Florida's locally acquired dengue cases, with 134 infections reported so far. Doctors at Tampa General Hospital have treated over 100 dengue patients, noting severe symptoms like 'break-bone fever.' In response to the escalating situation, Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services is conducting aggressive aerial and truck-based treatments to eliminate both adult mosquitoes and larvae. These efforts appear to be effective, with mosquito trap numbers decreasing in certain locations and adult mosquito samples testing negative for dengue over the past two weeks. Furthermore, laboratory tests confirm that infected female mosquitoes are not passing the virus to their offspring. County officials are urging residents to assist by eliminating standing water on their properties and using bug spray, as the Aedes aegypti mosquito, responsible for dengue transmission, primarily breeds in man-made co...

Food Banks Prioritize 'Food is Medicine' Programs Amidst Funding Challenges

Food Banks Prioritize 'Food is Medicine' Programs Amidst Funding Challenges

Several U.S. food banks are independently sustaining 'Food is Medicine' programs, even when external funding for pilot projects concludes. Michael Ledger, CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast, and Cynthia Kirkhart, CEO of Facing Hunger Food Bank, both emphasize the critical importance of these programs despite often having to self-fund them. Feeding the Gulf Coast has been involved in 'Food is Medicine' for at least 15 years and is currently collaborating with University of South Alabama Health to screen patients for food insecurity and connect them with resources. Facing Hunger Food Bank, which started its program in 2017, distributes about 1,700 food boxes monthly to patients with chronic diseases, reporting significant health improvements such as reduced emergency room visits and improved blood-sugar levels.

Grandmother's Magazine Article Saves Children from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in 1985

Grandmother's Magazine Article Saves Children from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in 1985

In the summer of 1985, Jennifer Saterdal, then 8, and her 6-year-old brother Sal were admitted to a Florida hospital with severe, undiagnosed symptoms including high fevers, red spots, light sensitivity, and extreme lethargy. Doctors were unable to identify the cause, and the children's condition was critical, with doctors giving them only days to live. Their grandmother, Beverly, a secretary and avid reader, came across a magazine article describing symptoms identical to those of her grandchildren. Trusting her intuition, she brought the article to the hospital, which detailed Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Based on this information, doctors decided to treat the children for the potentially deadly bacterial disease, transmitted by infected tick bites. This intervention proved timely and life-saving. Both children recovered, though Jennifer experienced anemia and was held back a grade that year. Saterdal emphasizes that her grandmother's attentiveness and willingness to speak up, despite not being a medical...

New Study Reveals Mosquito Attraction to Humans Driven by Skin Scent and Microbiomes

New Study Reveals Mosquito Attraction to Humans Driven by Skin Scent and Microbiomes

A recent study published in iScience indicates that mosquitoes are selectively attracted to humans based on individual skin scent and microbiomes. Lead researcher Matthew DeGennaro found that while there isn't a universal 'mosquito magnet,' specific mosquito species show preferences. For instance, Aedes aegypti, a vector for Zika and dengue, favored male participants and individuals with higher levels of Staphylococcus bacteria but lower levels of cyclic alcohols. Aedes albopictus was drawn to abundant bacteria, odors, and ketones, while Culex quinquefasciatus avoided odors but liked chemicals found in essential oils. The study, conducted in Florida, tested the attraction of these three species to 119 human participants. Participants wore nylon sleeves to capture skin odor and microbes after not washing for 12 to 16 hours, and their arms were then exposed to mosquitoes in a uniport olfactometer to measure attraction levels. These findings suggest that the unique composition of an individual's skin scent an...

Orange County Mosquito Control Implements PCR Technology for Rapid Disease Detection Amidst Dengue Cases

Orange County Mosquito Control Implements PCR Technology for Rapid Disease Detection Amidst Dengue Cases

Orange County Mosquito Control in Florida has adopted new PCR technology to rapidly detect mosquito-borne illnesses, following the confirmation of two additional locally acquired dengue cases in Apopka. This technology allows the agency to test mosquito samples in its own lab for viruses such as West Nile, Zika, and dengue, significantly reducing the time it takes to get results. Previously, suspected virus samples had to be sent to external labs, often taking days to a week for results. With the new in-house PCR testing, results can now be obtained within a day, sometimes even by the afternoon of the same day mosquitoes are collected and processed. This expedited testing process enables Orange County Mosquito Control to respond more quickly and efficiently to potential outbreaks, enhancing their ability to identify and mitigate illnesses in the local mosquito population. The Florida Department of Health has reported over 40 locally acquired dengue cases in Florida this month, with three in Orange County.

U.S. Health Officials Report Rise in 'Flesh-Eating' Bacteria Cases and Deaths

U.S. Health Officials Report Rise in 'Flesh-Eating' Bacteria Cases and Deaths

Health officials across the U.S. are issuing warnings regarding an increase in infections and deaths linked to Vibrio vulnificus, commonly known as 'flesh-eating' bacteria. This rare bacterium naturally occurs in warm saltwater and brackish water. Infections can occur through direct contact with contaminated water, especially for individuals with open wounds or broken skin. Another common route of infection is consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. So far this year, Florida has reported four deaths from 21 cases, and Louisiana has reported six deaths from 17 cases. South Carolina has also reported three cases, with one related death. While healthy individuals typically experience mild illness, the bacteria poses a significant risk to those with weakened immune systems, chronic liver disease, or other underlying health conditions. Severe infections can lead to intensive care, limb amputations, and a fatality rate of about one in five, sometimes within 24 to 48 hours of illness onset.

Orange County, Florida, Elevates Mosquito-Borne Illness Alert Following Third Dengue Case

Orange County, Florida, Elevates Mosquito-Borne Illness Alert Following Third Dengue Case

Orange County, Florida, has escalated its mosquito-borne illness status from an advisory to an alert, the first such upgrade since 2011, after health officials confirmed a third locally acquired case of dengue. The Florida Department of Health made the change after two additional cases were identified within a single household in Apopka, following an earlier case reported in Pine Hills. Steve Harrison, manager of Orange County Mosquito Control, explained that the presence of multiple local cases in different areas triggered the alert. Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which typically remains within a few blocks of its hatching site. In response, mosquito control crews are conducting door-to-door treatments in Pine Hills and Apopka to eliminate standing water and breeding sites. The county has also implemented new laboratory equipment utilizing PCR detection to rapidly test mosquitoes for viruses, providing results within a single day, a significant improvement over previous methods that ...

U.S. Congress Holds First-Ever Hearing on Menopause to Address Care Gaps

U.S. Congress Holds First-Ever Hearing on Menopause to Address Care Gaps

The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging recently held the first-ever dedicated congressional hearing on menopause, marking a historic moment for women's health in the United States. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (Democrat—New York), the committee's ranking member, highlighted that 75 million American women are currently in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause, yet their needs have been largely unmet. She characterized the existing care gap as a 'healthcare failure, an economic failure, and a policy failure,' citing a Mayo Clinic study that estimates untreated menopause costs the U.S. $26.6 billion annually, with $1.8 billion attributed to lost worktime. Four leading menopause experts testified, focusing on improving access to care, enhancing doctor's education, increasing women's health and menopause research, and passing relevant legislation. The committee, led by Senator Rick Scott (Republican—Florida), also submitted a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) outlining...

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Florida dengue hotspot map, where other mosquito-borne infections are

Florida dengue hotspot map, where other mosquito-borne infections are

Florida has reported 152 local dengue cases in 2026. See where infections are rising and symptoms to watch for.

Brain-eating amoeba map shows which states have the most cases

Brain-eating amoeba map shows which states have the most cases

Historical data reveals which states have reported the most brain-eating amoeba cases in the U.S.