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RMSF is the most deadly tick-borne disease in the United States.
Annually 3,000-5,000 cases of RMSF and other spotted fever rickettsioses
are reported in the United States, including 5-10 deaths and
substantially more severe cases. However, effective treatment is
available, and severe and fatal cases of RMSF can be prevented though
early recognition and treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention has developed a clinical toolkit for healthcare providers,
epidemiologists, and public health practitioners on the diagnosis and
treatment of RMSF and other tick-borne diseases. Key learning
objectives of the toolkit include:
 RMSF is a rapidly progressing tick-borne disease with early stage
non-specific symptoms.
 Doxycycline is the drug of choice for treating people of all ages.
 Treatment is most effective when started within the first 5 days

https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/tickscarrydisease/

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The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses likely linked to salads from McDonald’s restaurants.

Update – August 9, 2018

As of August 9, 2018, a total of 436 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants; the cases were reported by 15 states. The investigation is ongoing and the FDA is currently reviewing distribution and supplier information for romaine and carrots.

Recommendations

Consumers who have symptoms of cyclosporiasis should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.

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Harmful algal blooms can produce poisons that are dangerous to people, animals, and the environment. Learn how to keep you and your pets safe.

Warm weather brings many happy occasions: picnics, ballgames, and back yard fun. It also is a time when microscopic plant-like organisms – algae and cyanobacteria – are more likely to overgrow in rivers, lakes, and oceans.

These overgrowths, called algal blooms, occur across the country. Sometimes they are just eyesores – an unpleasant scum or thick green, red, blue, or brown layers in the water that look or smell bad. However, sometimes they contain poisons that hurt people, animals, and the environment. In this case, they are known as harmful algal blooms. But you can’t tell if a bloom is harmful just by looking at it. Also, not all blooms are easy to see—poisons can be present even when you can’t see the bloom.

Be Aware of Harmful Algal Blooms

Harmful algal blooms can produce poisons that can make people and animals sick. They also can block sunlight in a body of water or use up a lot of the oxygen, which kills fish and plants in the water. Harmful algal bloom poisons have caused the shutdown of the water supply in a major U.S. city, killed wildlife and pets, and sickened hundreds of people with a variety of skin, respiratory, neurological, and abdominal symptoms. Evidence suggests that harmful algal blooms are increasing in number and severity because of farming practices, storm water runoff, wastewater overflows, and increasing temperatures.

People and Animals Can be Exposed to Algal Poisons in Many Ways:

• Swimming or coming in direct contact with the poisons
• Breathing in the poisons
• Swallowing food or water contaminated with poisons

Animals are often the first affected because they are more likely to swim in or drink from bodies of water that contain algal blooms.

Don’t let your pets swim or play in bodies of water that smell bad, look discolored, or have scum on the surface. Download more buttons and badges.

Tips for You and Your Pets to Stay Healthy

To protect yourself and your pets, avoid entering or playing in bodies of water that:

• Smell bad
• Look discolored
• Have foam, scum, or thick layers of algae on the surface
• Contain or are near dead fish or other dead animals

Check for beach warnings that might be posted online or on signs near the water. Follow guidance if you learn about a harmful algal bloom in bodies of water, like the beach or the lake, or if you are notified that your tap water contains algal poisons. Know the health risks of eating contaminated fish and shellfish and follow warnings.

https://www.cdc.gov/features/harmful-algal-blooms/index.html

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These short, but safe, time limits will help keep refrigerated food from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat. Because freezing keeps food safe indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only.