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| Jun 9 2008, 4:27 PM EDT (current) | jacqie | 5 words added |
| May 27 2008, 9:55 PM EDT | nadine.robert | 5 words added, 2 words deleted |
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December 2007
Venezuela - Trypanosomiasis
23 Dec 2007
Pan American Association for Infectious Diseases (API), El Nacional (Venezuela) report [in Spanish, trans. Mod.JG, edited Mod.JT- Promed source]
The number of persons affected by the orally transmitted Chagas' disease outbreak dramatically increased during the past few hours in a Municipal School in Chacao [metropolitan Caracas], Venezuela. Laboratory tests confirmed 128 positive cases of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, reported the epidemiology director of the Venezuelan Ministry of Health. As of Friday [21 Dec 2007], 98 cases had been confirmed. Of the 128 patients, 9 have been hospitalized and are being treated: 7 at Caracas' University Hospital, one at the JM de los Rios Children's Hospital, and one at a private clinic. Although the cases are limited to the Chacao municipal school, the national sanitary alert is still in place as a precautionary measure. There are 956 persons in the school (including children and adults) who are potentially at risk of acquiring Chagas' disease. It is suspected that a fruit juice was responsible for the fast and widespread transmission of the parasite. This is, at least, the hypothesis of representatives of the ministry and scientists at the Tropical Medicine Institute of Venezuela's Central University who are investigating the acute outbreak. Although the oral route is not the most common form of transmission, the specialists have ruled out the presence of the vector [_Triatoma_spp.] in the children's homes.
Relates stories
21 Dec 2007- El Nacional, Venezuela
November 2007
Jamaica - Food safety probe at Montego Bay school
30 Nov 2007
Jamaica Gleaner News - Nagra Plunkett, Assignment Coordinator [edited]
Several students at a High School in Montego Bay, St. James, reportedly staged a 'hunger strike' Wednesday in protest against what they claim are unhealthy food preparation practices at the institution's canteen. The story says that a number of students at the all-girls institution were complaining of severe stomach pains, while others had diarrhoea.One parent was cited as telling she had to take her daughter to the doctor on Tuesday afternoon, as the child complained of having stomach aches, which reportedly occurred subsequent to eating curried chicken and rice from the canteen.
Trinidad - 104 rushed to hospital after worms found in school macaroni pie
22 Nov 2007
Trinidad Reporter-SKNVibes.com - Claudia Liburd [edited]
After experiencing severe stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea, an estimated 104 students and teachers were, according to this story, rushed to the Point Fortin District Hospital after worms were found in a Government Primary School lunch box yesterday. While the worms were allegedly found in the macaroni pie, reports from the Ministry of Health indicate that samples will also be taken from the saffron rice and red beans which were also served as the bulk of the meal. Furthermore, health officials also took samples of the school’s water supply which they suspect also may have led to the break out. These samples will be analyzed by the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute.
Related stories
30 Nov 2007 - Trinidad - Lunches not source of pupils' illness
Trinidad & Tobago Express - Anna Ramdass[edited]
The Education Minister Esther was cited as saying that the lab tests conducted on the box lunch containing a worm in the macaroni pie was not the reason which led to over 100 students and a teacher falling ill at the a Government Primary school recently. According to the Minister, the reports from CARIRI and the Public Health Laboratory, indicated that all of the lunch samples taken from the school were deemed safe, despite the presence of a foreign substance in a macaroni pie seen in one box and that it is therefore reasonable to conclude that the lunches were not the source of the illness experienced by pupils She added that reports conducted on the water also proved to be negative. The Minister was cited as saying that the psychological effect of one child seeing a worm in his food triggered others to panic. The Minister said that the County Medical Officer of Health has made seven recommendations which include the proper monitoring of caterers to ensure that they are up to date and set a benchmark against international best practices.
October 2007
European Union - EU says may ban Brazil meat over health concerns
09 Oct 2007
Reuter [edited]
The European Health Commissioner was cited as telling members of the European Parliament Tuesday that the European Union may resort to a ban on Brazilian meat imports if the South American agricultural giant does not improve food safety standards.
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