Hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak hits Johns Hopkins
More than 100 people have been sickened by hand, foot and mouth disease at one of Johns Hopkins University's four Baltimore campuses.
Baltimore experts urge widespread measles vaccination
In the wake of the Disneyland measles outbreak, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen is urging all parents to vaccinate their children against measles and other preventable diseases.
Ebola preparations ratcheted up at Md. facilities
Health care providers in Maryland said they’re doing everything they can to be on the lookout for potential cases of Ebola, and that they’re confident those preparations are adequate.
Md. waited to alert public on meningitis
WASHINGTON — Maryland health officials who learned of a potential link between a spinal steroid shot and cases of fungal meningitis waited nearly a week before alerting the general public. State epidemiologist David Blythe said in an interview this week that officials delayed notifying the entire state in order to gather and present as much […]
Mass. meningitis pharmacy blames cleaning company
BOSTON — The Massachusetts compounding pharmacy linked to a nationwide meningitis outbreak that’s led to 39 deaths and hundreds of illnesses is placing blame on a cleaning contractor. The New England Compounding Center has sent a letter to UniFirst Corp., demanding it take legal responsibility for claims against the compounding center related to the outbreak. […]
Republicans grill FDA chief on meningitis outbreak
WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers challenged the country’s top medical regulator Wednesday to explain why her agency did not take action sooner against the specialty pharmacy at the center of a deadly meningitis outbreak. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has convened the first hearing to […]
Meningitis outbreak toll: 363 cases, 28 deaths
An outbreak of fungal meningitis has been linked to steroid shots for back pain. The medication, made by a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts, has been recalled. Latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Illnesses: 363, including seven joint infections. Deaths: 28. States: 19; Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New […]
FDA: Mold, bacteria at pharmacy tied to outbreak
WASHINGTON — Federal health inspectors say staffers at a pharmacy linked to the meningitis outbreak over the past year documented dozens of cases of mold and bacteria growing in rooms that were supposed to be sterile. The Food and Drug Administration inspectors said that even though the mold and bacterial contamination at the Massachusetts pharmacy […]
What lurks in what you eat
Do you think that some "organic" or "natural" labels are false advertising?
Officials: Maryland company distributed tainted starter
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Officials say a Maryland company distributed an ingredient that triggered a salmonella outbreak that’s made almost 60 Buncombe County residents sick. The Asheville Citizen-Times reported the state Department of Health and Human Services confirms that a culture starter for tempeh had the type of salmonella that caused the outbreak. Authorities say Tempeh […]
Cantaloupe listeria outbreak could be deadliest in a decade
WASHINGTON — As many as 14 people have died from possible listeria illnesses traced to Colorado cantaloupes, health officials say — a death toll that would make the food outbreak the deadliest in more than a decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that 55 illnesses and eight deaths were linked […]