Peanut Butter and Almond Butter Possible Cause of Salmonella Outbreak in US: FDA

Grocery store chain Trader Joe's is recalling jars of a specific variety of its store-brand peanut butter due to a salmonella outbreak in 18 states of the U.S. The outbreak has also prompted the voluntary recall of dozens of peanut butter and almond butter products made by Mexico-based Sunland Inc.

 

Peanut Butter and Almond Butter Possible Cause of Salmonella Outbreak in America

 

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. It is most dangerous to children, the elderly and others with weak immune systems.

According to a press release by Trader Joe's: "We have no confirmed information that suggests this peanut butter is unsafe to eat, but there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and crew, and the quality of our products."

While Sunland said in a statement, "There is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers, particularly the many families who enjoy our peanut butter everyday. While FDA (Food and Drug Administration), CDC, and State Health Agencies investigate to confirm the cause of illnesses reported, as a precautionary step, we have decided to voluntarily recall our Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products."

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC); at least 29 cases of salmonella infection have been registered in about 18 states, including Washington, California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland. The sickness was occurred between June 11 and Sept. 2.

The CDC, working together with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), found that the Trader Joe's peanut butter and Sunland's almond butter were the likely cause of the salmonella outbreak, though the link has not been confirmed.

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Salmonella, Salmonella outbreak, Trader Joe's, Sunland, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, FDA, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Food and Drug Administration

May 27, Aimee Day: victim of flesh-eating bacteria Aimee Copeland spoke her first word

'Today… May 27… is AIMEE DAY!!! Today Aimee has finally spoken her first words. I will follow with details tonight.' This is the latest blog update by Andy Copeland, the father of young female suffering from flesh-eating bacteria. 

Family delighted as victim of flesh-eating bacteria Aimee Copeland (left most) spoke her first word (Pic Credit: Facebook)

Aimee Copeland had spoken reportedly her first words since her fingers and foot were removed by surgeons at Doctors Hospital in quest to save her life.

Her first words have certainly given her family a new hope for her life but one thing is still certain that Aimee Copeland is likely to remain in hospital for several months.

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Mysterious flesh-eating infection put university student's life in danger

Tragedy of Aimee Copeland Haunting Americans: Could flesh-eating bacteria be in other local rivers and waterways? 

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The 24-year-old university student was infected with flesh-eating bacteria as a result of an accident of homemade zip line over a local river on May 1. Copeland suffered a deep wound in her left leg after falling from the zip line and the bacteria took hold in the wound.

On very early stages of her treatment; doctors thought she had only a slim chance of surviving the aggressive infection which vigorously spread into her body including her abdominal area.

Aimee Copeland has recovered extremely quickly with the support of her family, her colleagues at university and well-wishers who have made donations on the website Copeland’s father set up for his brave daughter.

She was able to ask for ice-cream, and let her family know when she was bored and wanted a book to read.

Report Tags: Aimee Copeland, Flesh-eating Bacteria, Flesh-eating infection, Doctors Hospital, Georgia, Augusta, Zip Line Accident, Andy Copeland, Copeland

Tragedy of Aimee Copeland Haunting Americans: Could flesh-eating bacteria be in other local rivers and waterways?

The horrifying tragedy of Aimee Copeland keeps the nation praying for the 24-year-old university student fighting to survive after contracting a flesh-eating bacteria following a fall in local river, Georgia.

Tragedy of Aimee Copeland Haunting Americans: Could flesh-eating bacteria be in other local rivers and waterways?

The Americans are now concerned after the Copeland tragedy and the question continuously stings their minds …Could that type of bacteria be creeping around in the James River or other local waterways?

As reported earlier, Aimee Copeland contracted the unusual infection after an accident that took place on a homemade zip line during an expedition along the little Tallapoosa River, near Augusta.

The bacteria, which according to experts normally found in fresh water, entered her body through a deep cut in her left leg. Due to suffering from this rare kind of infection doctors have already removed her left leg and some infected tissues from her abdominal area; but still the infection is spreading and more body parts will soon be removed to save her life.

The question haunting the people …. Could the same type of bacterium be found in the James River, the Appomattox, or even a local pond or lake?

Dr. David Trump, a local expert at the state health department, spoke with CBS 6 on this critical issue.

He said, “I can’t make any guarantees about one place or the other, but there is more risk if the water is stagnant, whether it be cloudy or a pond…or if it is really high temperature.”

Dr. Trump also suggested strongly that if anybody suffers a cut or wound in the water, no matter where it is, get out and get it treated immediately.

Last August, a nine-year old Henrico boy died from an amoeba he picked up while swimming in the James River. His death was one of four deaths by amoeba, as confirmed by the Center for Disease Control. The others were in Kansas, Florida and Louisiana.

Report Tags: Flesh-eating bacteria, Aimee Copeland, Georgia Student, Augusta, Carrollton River, Fresh Water Bacteria, Bacterial Disease, Mystery Disease, USA

Mysterious flesh-eating infection put university student's life in danger

There are heartening signs for Aimee Copeland, student of University of West Georgia, whose freak zip-lining accident led to a flesh-eating bacteria infection that's kept her on life support for days.

Mysterious flesh-eating infection put university student's life in danger

The 24-year-old Aimee Copeland is at Doctor's Hospital in Augusta where the flesh-eating bacteria has already cost her one leg. Doctors and her family members fear to have more loss like her other leg as and both hands.

The infection began after Copeland went through surgery in which surgeon cut her leg last week. Copeland got injured when a homemade zip line over a Carrollton River broke, resulted in a wound in her leg due to fall in the water. She had frequent visits to a a local hospital due to severe pain.

She has been in serious condition since Friday, when she was diagnosed with the rare flesh-eating infection. Surgeons cut her left leg and also removed infected tissue from her abdomen hoping to stop the bacteria from spreading.

She is still on life support at an Augusta burn unit.

 

Though the story is tragic, Copeland's family seemed hopeful when she showed signs of movement despite doctors' warnings on Tuesday that her chances of survival were "slim to none."

"Aimee has had a spectacular day -- she's breathing more on her own and her body is responding positively," Copeland's sister Paige wrote Wednesday on the wall of a Facebook page set up for Aimee. "She even got emotional today, I think she's scared."

Aimee's father writes that his daughter is alert and trying to communicate.

"She said, 'I can't talk!" said Andy Copeland. "We told her it was because of the (breathing) tube, and we explained the need for it. She also asked, 'what happened?' and 'where am I?' I thought it would be better when she became alert, but it is actually harder for us."

A website was set up for those wishing to donate blood or money. Visit AimeeCopeland.com to leave warm wishes, view pictures or help the family.

Report Tags: Flesh-eating bacteria, Aimee Copeland, Georgia Student, Augusta, Carrollton River, Fresh Water Bacteria, Bacterial Disease, Mystery Disease, USA

Wound Dressing That Changes Colour to Indicate Wound Infected - Designed by Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT

Identifying that a covered wound may becoming infected can be very tricky to diagnose without removal for examination. However scientists at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT in Munich have been designing a new type of wound dressing that changes colour to indicate that a wound is becoming infected.

The dressings have a pH indicator dye within their material that reacts to different pH values. Healthy skin and healed wounds would usually show a pH of 5 or below. However is the wounds pH changes from the acid into the alkaline range, it indicates complications in the healing of the wound and the dressing with indicate this with a colour change.

“If the pH value is between 6.5 and 8.5 an infection is frequently present and the indicator color strip turns purple, “ says Dr. Sabine Trupp, a scientist at the EMFT.

The new dressings allow wounds to now be regularly checked from the outside of the dressing without any disruption to the healing process underneath.