Category Archives: Pestilence

1 in 7 home kitchens would flunk inspection, worse than restaurants

By Joshuah | Published: September 2, 2010
Source: USATODAY.com  A new study suggests that at least one in seven home kitchens would flunk the kind of health inspection commonly administered to restaurants. Restaurants should be spotless, and so should your own home; especially the kitchen area.  I have a few rules that I find to be helpful in this regard. Garbage is emptied every evening. [...]
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US grapples with bedbugs, misuse of pesticides

By Joshuah | Published: August 30, 2010
Source: guardian.co.uk A resurgence of bedbugs across the U.S. has homeowners and apartment dwellers taking desperate measures to eradicate the tenacious bloodsuckers, with some relying on dangerous outdoor pesticides and fly-by-night exterminators. The problem has gotten so bad that the Environmental Protection Agency warned this month against the indoor use of chemicals meant for the outside. The [...]
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The Perfect Swarm: Locusts Threaten Eastern Australia

By Joshuah | Published: August 9, 2010
As early as mid-August, eastern Australia may be hit with the biggest locust plague in more than 30 years. Without intervention, there could be more than $1.8 billion worth of damage to pastures, cereal crops and forage crops. Chris Adriaansen, the director of the Australian Plague Locust Commission, said that 5 million hectares of land [...]
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Houston and Winona counties are hotbeds for triseriatus in Minnesota

By Joshuah | Published: August 5, 2010
A 6-year-old Caledonia, Minn., boy has become the year’s first confirmed case of La Crosse encephalitis in the region. The onset of the mosquito-borne disease was reported July 11, and the boy was hospitalized in Rochester, Minn., until last week, said Dave Geske, La Crosse County Health Department mosquito control officer. Triseriatus, the mosquito that carries La [...]
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UK: Red alert for brassica pests and disease

By Joshuah | Published: August 3, 2010
Source: farminguk.com Brassica growers are facing high risks of pest and disease pressure this season. The Brassica Alert disease and pest forecasting system for brassica crop growers has already hit red warning high risk for the key diseases Alternaria, Ringspot and White Blister by mid-July, along with high risk for Silver Y and thrips.
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Certain Pepperoni Products From Cowichan Valley Meat Market May Contain Dangerous Bacteria

By Joshuah | Published: July 30, 2010
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency OTTAWA, July 28, 2010 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Cowichan Valley Meat Market are warning the public not to consume the pepperoni products described below because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness. The following pepperoni products, [...]
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North Idaho Suffers Through Whooping Cough Outbreak

By Joshuah | Published: July 25, 2010
Source: OPB News Whooping cough is hitting Idaho hard. Seventy-seven cases of pertussis have been reported, about twice the average. Cynthia Taggart from the Panhandle Health District says there’s no particular reason for the outbreak. She says the illness tends to go in cycles. … California public health officials say their state is enduring its worst pertussis outbreak [...]
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Pertussis (whooping Cough) is increasing in Michigan

By Joshuah | Published: July 22, 2010
Source: publicbroadcasting.net There have been more than 600 cases of pertussis in Michigan so far this year. That’s compared to only 278 last year by this time.
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PUEBLO, Colo: Cat Tests Positive For Tularemia

By Joshuah | Published: July 18, 2010
Source: KRDO A cat in Pueblo West tested positive for tularemia, a potentially serious illness that can be passed on to humans. The Health Department said the cat was an indoor/outdoor cat and officials are working with the cat’s owners regarding medical concerns. Tularemia is a potentially serious illness caused by a bacteria found in animals, [...]
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Canada (Northwest Territories): Bison death toll up to 37 in anthrax outbreak

By Joshuah | Published: July 14, 2010
Source: HQ Yellowknife The Dept of Environment and Natural Resources continues to battle an outbreak of anthrax in bison in the Slave River Lowlands. Officials have now found 37 carcasses in the region, up from seven found in late June.
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