Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
General Mills Recalls Flour on E. coli Fears
General Mills announced a national recall of five-pound bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour. The recall is due to possible contamination from the bacteria E. coli O26. As yet there have been no reports of illness.
The affected flour has "best if used by" date of Sept. 6, 2020 on the label. This is the only product affected, the company says.
You should be on the lookout for Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 5LB Flour: Package UPC 016000 196100.
People who have these products should throw them out and contact General Mills at 1-800-230-8103.
The CDC and the FDA warn against eating any raw products made with flour. If you get sick see your doctor. If you become ill from E. coli O26 you should contact state and local public health authorities.
Infection with E. coli O26 is a potentially fatal illness that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Older adults, the very young and people with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible.
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Vaping-Linked Lung Illness Claims 7th Victim
A California man is the seventh person to die from a virulent lung infection brought on by using e-cigarettes.
This 40-year-old is the second to die in California and is added to other fatalities from Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Oregon, CNN reported.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so far 380 people in 36 states have come down with the vaping-related lung sickness. On Monday, the agency activated an Emergency Operations Center to investigate these illnesses.
The latest victim had been sick for several weeks with the infection, Karen Haught, the Tulare County public health officer, said in a press release.
"The Tulare County Public Health Branch would like to warn all residents that any use of e-cigarettes poses a possible risk to the health of the lungs and can potentially cause severe lung injury that may even lead to death," Haught said. "Long-term effects of vaping on health are unknown. Anyone considering vaping should be aware of the serious potential risk associated with vaping."
Her words were echoed by health officials in Oregon, Minnesota and Kansas.
"It is time to stop vaping," Lee Norman, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said in a statement. "If you or a loved one is vaping, please stop. The recent deaths across our country, combined with hundreds of reported lung injury cases continue to intensify."
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No New U.S. Measles Cases Last Week
The measles outbreak that have spread throughout the United States may be winding down as no new cases were reported last week, health officials said Monday.
This, the worst measles epidemic in 27 years, saw the majority of cases in the New York's Orthodox Jewish communities, the Associated Press reported.
The disease was carried to the U.S. by travelers infected abroad and because measles is highly contagious it spread rapidly to those who weren't vaccinated.
Between spring and summer more than 1,200 cases were reported, according to the AP.
Measles outbreaks are usually said to be over after 42 days without a new infection.
