This week’s news highlights stories of potential contamination of both food and drugs, and government efforts to combat it to protect public health.
On Thursday, CBS 5 reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalled 380 million eggs due to a possible salmonella outbreak, which has sickened hundreds of people.
Outbreaks occurred in California, Colorado and were suspected in other states. The Centers for Disease Control is working with state health departments to investigate the illnesses. California reported 226 salmonella cases since June and officials said a majority are related to eggs. No egg-related deaths have been recorded.
Colorado cited 28 cases in June and July, four times the usual number. Other states that have seen spikes in salmonella cases include Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin.
Also under the microscope this week: vaccinations.
KTVU reported that Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation issued more than 3,000 warnings to adults and children who received vaccinations between January and June, saying they may need vaccination do-overs.
Improper refrigeration of vaccines in 14 of Sutter’s 64 affiliated care centers, in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma and Lake counties, means patients may need their vaccinations administered again.
The vaccines that might have been affected include: Rotavirus vaccine; Pneumovax vaccine; hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine; Act Hib Vaccine; Menactra/Meningococcal;Dtap; Adacel/Tdap; Decavax/TD; Pentacel; Polio Vaccine; Gardasil Vaccine; Afluria; H1N1; Pediarix; Twinrix; Kinrix and MMR.
Anabel Anderson Imbert, chief medical officer of Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation, told KTVU, “I don’t know why they fell outside the range.”
