Health Highlights: Jan. 24, 2012

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Insulated Lunch Boxes and Thermal Food Carriers Recalled

About 248,000 expandable insulated lunch boxes with freezer gel packs are being recalled because the gel can leak out of damaged packs and pose a poisoning hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says.

The lunch boxes were made in China, imported by California Innovations Inc. of Toronto, Canada and sold at Costco Wholesale Clubs, Leon Korol and Cost U Less stores from May 2007 through September 2008, the Associated Press reported.

The gel in the gel packs contains diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. California Innovations has received two separate reports of dogs chewing the packs and ingesting the gel. One dog died and the other received treatment and recovered.

The CPSC said the recalled lunch boxes have a logo and the words "Ci Sport" on the upper left corner, the AP reported

Concerns about the freezer gel packs have also led to the recall of about 55,000 Travelin' Chef Expandable thermal food carriers also made in China and imported by California Innovations. They were sold at Walmart from August 2008 through December 2011.

For more information, contact California Innovations at 1-800-722-2545 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

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Severe Allergic Reactions After Vaccinations Rare: Study

Sudden, serious allergic reactions are "extremely rare" after childhood vaccinations, according to a new study.

British researchers reviewed 15 suspected cases of children younger than 16 who experienced anaphylaxis after receiving vaccinations to protect against measles, HPV, meningitis, hepatitis or typhoid, CBC News reported.

Only seven of the cases were confirmed as anaphylaxis. Six children required an injection of adrenaline and intravenous fluids and one child did not require treatment. All seven children recovered fully.

Based on their findings, the researchers calculated that the incidence of anaphylaxis is 12 cases for every 100,000 vaccine doses, CBC News reported.

The study was published online Monday in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

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New Drug Manufacturing Plant Might Ease Shortage

A new manufacturing plant in Framingham, Mass. has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to make a treatment for Fabry disease, French drug company Sanofi's Genzyme unit announced Tuesday.

The new plant, approved last week by European regulators, will help relieve a shortage of the treatment Fabrazyme. Genzyme said all U.S. patients should return to full dosing in March and "unconstrained supply" worldwide will be restored throughout the year, the Associated Press reported.

The new plant was built after Genzyme experienced production problems at another plant in Allston, Mass. That plant is running again but will focus on production of another product.

Fabry disease is a genetic disorder that causes accumulation of a certain type of fat in the body's cells, the AP reported.

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