Contaminated cantaloupe leading to 13 deaths and 72 illnesses

Do you enjoy eating cantaloupe? There have been 13 deaths and 72 illnesses reported as a result of people eating cantaloupe contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. You can read more about this on CNN here.

I think it's important to make sure that everyone is aware of the potential risks and consequences this could have on individuals based on their health status. Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, the leading cause of death among foodborne bacterial pathogens, with fatality rates exceeding even Salmonella. Every year, listeriosis kills approximately 500 people.

The FDA is warning consumers not to eat Rocky Ford Cantaloupe shipped by Jensen Farms and to throw away recalled product that may still be in their home.

Jensen Farms is voluntarily recalling Rocky Ford Cantaloupe shipped from July 29 through September 10, 2011, and distributed to at least 17 states with possible further distribution.

While all people are susceptible to Listeria, older adults, persons with weakened immune systems and pregnant women are at particular risk.

Mumps outbreak reaches nearly 2,000

Wow, there's a huge mumps outbreak in New Jersey and New York and it has reached nearly 2,000 people! According to CNN, "Health officials note that lack of vaccination is not to blame in this mumps outbreak..." 

So, what's going on? The outbreak is affecting mostly adolescent and young adult males in Orthodox Jewish communities. Public health officials at the CDC report that the outbreak origin was a summer camp in Sullivan County, New York, last June.

E. coli in beef leading to hospitalizations

MSNBC is reporting that at least 12 hospitalizations have occurred due to E. coli contamination in beef. Some of these patients have even suffered kidney failure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 23 people in nine states may have become ill after eating beef produced by JBS Swift Beef Co. of Greeley, Colo. I think it's time to make sure my beef is cooked well-done for a while. Forget eating medium-rare or even medium steaks. To read the full story on MSNBC, click here.

People Not Taking Swine Flu Seriously

It's incredible. People are still out in public in areas that have widespread infection of swine flu. CNN now reports that we're up to 331 confirmed cases. I suspect these numbers will grow exponentially as swine flu spreads like the common cold. I think many people aren't taking this very seriously and they don't realize the public health implications behind this spreading infection. It's scary to think what the numbers will look like next week.