Hospitals Ban Visitors as Deadly Flu Spreads… Norovirus outbreak sickens 277 on cruise…  Chocolates recalled over Hepatitis concerns

Hospitals Restrict Visitors to Curb Spread of Flu

AS FLU SEASON PICKS UP across the country, hospitals are restricting visitors in an effort to prevent spread of the virus.

New York City and 19 states have experienced high levels of flu-like activity so far this season, with 1,562 lab-confirmed, flu-related hospitalizations as of Oct. 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Dec. 29, 13 children had died after being diagnosed with the virus.

The influx of influenza-like cases in recent weeks has prompted hospitals in New JerseyNorth CarolinaIndiana and elsewhere to impose restrictions on visitors. They generally ask that people with flu or cold symptoms – including coughing, nausea and fatigue – and children stay away until the end of flu season, which typically peaks from December to February.

In Marion County, Indiana, for example, only immediate family members may visit hospital patients, and no visitors under 18will be permitted. In western North Carolina, hospitals have banned pregnant women, people with chronic lung conditions and children under 12 from visiting others in the hospital. And facilities in Massachusetts ask that children under 14 refrain from visiting.

 

Norovirus outbreak sickens 277 on Oasis of the Seas

MIAMI (AP) — Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is returning to a Florida port a day early and giving passengers full refunds of their fare after 277 guests and crew members were hit with an outbreak of Norovirus as it sailed to Jamaica.

 

Chocolates recalled over Hepatitis concerns…

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UPDATE: Bauer Candies released a statement on their website about the FDA alert released on December 6th, 2018:

“Upon notification of his illness, Bauer’s voluntarily closed the facility, discarded all candy in house, sanitized per protocol, and began working with Federal and State agencies. An investigation by our local health department and the FDA found that the risk of contamination to the candy made during this time isextremely low. These agencies have cleared us to continue operation. No candy products manufactured after November 25 are affected in any way.”

Click here for the full statement

The FDA is advising consumers to throw away any Bauer’s Candies Chocolate or Caramel Modjeskas purchased after November 14, 2018 after a worker in the facility tested positive for hepatitis A.

The products are available at retail locations and can also be purchased through QVC and BauersCandy.com.

At this time, the FDA and CDC are not aware of any cases of hepatitis A related to the consumption of candies, however hepatitis A can have a long incubation period and can have serious health consequences for some people, especially those with other health problems.

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