Tag Archives: rota

Norovirus / Tummy Bug update, 15 July 2013: Parasites! Fatal Pig virus! More reasons not to be a vegetarian!

In Rhode Island, and Massachusetts U.S.A., the Shigella Sonnei bacterium is striking down swimmers at local lake beaches.  Spring Lake and Wallum Lake have been mentioned.  Since 04 July there’s been about 140 cases reported.  The Spring Lake Beach was reopened because health officials could not find evidence of contamination.

In Wyoming U.S.A., officials at Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks say norovirus cases have returned to “normal levels”: “The spike we had was unusual, but having a few cases sprinkled [sprinkled ?] throughout the area during summer months is still within the realm of possibility.”-Jackie Skaggs, Grand Teton National Park

Also in Wyoming, the town of Hudson was hit with norovirus.  It was revealed that 30 people got sick back in May, after eating at the Svilar’s Bar and Dining Room.  The Wyoming Department of Health has yet to determine the source of infection.

In San Diego, California U.S.A., school officials were fearing a massive tummy bug outbreak after 22 elementary aged students began throwing up.  Turns out the dumb ass kids were chugging milk laced with salt, pepper, hot sauce and veggies!  18 students went to the hospital, but get this, some of those students didn’t take part in the stupid dare and were not sick at all: “When the first kids got sick, teachers asked if anybody else felt sick, and the hands started going up. Some of them were apparently having, sympathy pains.”-Jack Brandais, San Diego Unified School District

In Iowa U.S.A., more than 25 people have been infected with parasites.  It’s called Cyclospora, and health officials say it’s been awhile since they’ve seen such an outbreak (more than they’ve seen in the past 20 years!).  Apparently it’s contaminating produce, as health officials are telling people to wash even the packaged ‘pre-washed’ lettuce.

In Sweden, more than 2000 people in the city of Österund are sick with Cryptosporidium.  The parasite is contaminating the town’s water supply, as many as 9000 people could be infected.  Health officials are trying to find out how the parasite got in the water supply.  For now the residents must boil the water, for at least 15 minutes, before using.

Speaking of parasites, the royal family of the British Empire (along with all the lovers of Anglo royalty around the World) are concerned because the duchess of cambridge, Kate Middleton, is infected with a parasite that’s getting bigger everyday!  Maybe it’ll burst forth from her sternum like a commoner silicon based Xenomorph, and then consume the rest of the house of windsor only to become a queen itself, laying thousands of leathery eggs, turning the British Isles into a giant hive of Aliens!  David Icke did say the royal family was a bunch of alien reptiles.  Oh, she’s just pregnant?  Then what the hell is all the fuss about?!

In the United Kingdom, travelers are being advised to get travel health insurance.  From 2011 to 2012, 48% of travelers aged 18 to 24 years did not get such health insurance.  About 1600 ended up in a hospital in another country.  One Brit, who traveled to California, got sick with tummy bug, went into hospital, and returned to the U.K. with a bill of about $151,130 USD!!!

In Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, reports that the local hospital is full up due to winter time infections including tummy bugs.

As winter hits Australia, the Food Safety Information Council is warning of norovirus outbreaks: “Norovirus has been called the winter vomiting bug overseas as it spreads easily between people during winter…..Once norovirus is contracted a single infected person can easily spread it to many others, especially if they prepare food or drink.”

Also in Australia, medical wards at Ballarat Base Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Centre are closed because of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks.

In Durban, South Africa, reports that 1000 children are sick with rotavirus.  The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says outbreaks are on the increase, and they blame lack of vaccinations and bad hygiene.

In the U.S.A., the Kansas Department of Health and Environment revealed that there were several outbreaks of tummy bug in April and May.  More than 50 cases reported that involved a First Communion, a meat market, a couple of restaurants and a wedding rehearsal.

In Pennsylvania U.S.A., it’s been revealed that Lancaster County’s pig farms have been hit with a new pig killing virus.  It’s called porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), and it’s 100% fatal in suckling pigs.  It also retards growth in older pigs. Local Pennsylvania news reports say officials refuse to report how many cases there are.  There is no treatment for PED.  According to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, PED has hit pig farms in at least 16 states.

In Tennessee U.S.A., the Johnson City Medical Center is now using a robot named Gizmo, to zap microbes.  Like other germ killing robots used in Canada, Gizmo uses ultra violet light, 25000 times brighter than the sun, to break down DNA.

The United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted Strategic Plan 2014-2019.  They say it sets international standards to prevent food borne illness outbreaks caused by Hepatitis A, Norovirus, bacteria and protozoa.