Big-Pharma and Pfactory Pfharms

EXPOSING the FDA and the USDA - Broad Casting here the things that they would prefer us NOT to know about our FOOD & DRUGS & Farming.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

BOTULISM - FINLAND (02): ex ITALY, JARRED OLIVES, INTERNATIONAL ALERT

*********************************************************************

A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





Date: Mon 24 Oct 2011

Source: eFoodAlert [edited]







Italian olives tainted with botulinum toxin sickened 2 members of a

Helsinki family last week [week of 17 Oct 2011]. Both individuals

reported having eaten Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds.

Lab tests confirmed that the jar from which the 2 patients had eaten

the olives contained botulinum toxin.



The tainted olives were packed in 314 ml glass jars, with a "best

before" date of 09/2012. They were imported into Finland by Kespro as

early as September 2010. The olives were sold in Finland to K-food

stores KCM Big Apple (Espoo), KCM Jumbo (Vantaa), and KSM South Centre

(Rovaniemi), and to a few restaurants. The olives have been withdrawn

from sale in Finland, and consumers who purchased this product are

asked to return it to the store.



Germany's Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety has

learned that some of these olives also were distributed in Germany,

and is asking its citizens to dispose of any of the implicated jars of

olives "with household waste".



According to a notice posted 21 Oct 2011 on the Rapid Alert System for

Foods and Feeds (RASFF) and updated this morning (24 Oct 2011), these

olives also were distributed to the UK and the USA. So far, neither

the US Food and Drug Administration nor Britain's Food Standards

Agency has issued a Consumer Alert or a public health advisory of any

sort.



eFood Alert Advisory to Consumers in Finland, Germany, the United

Kingdom and the USA:

Check your pantry for Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds

(Product of Italy; Best before 09/2012), and discard the product in a

safe manner. DO NOT TASTE THIS PRODUCT. If you have consumed even a

tiny amount of this product and begin to experience any symptoms of

botulism, including blurred vision or difficulty swallowing, seek

immediate medical attention.





--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





[Based on this report, it appears that the potentially

toxin-containing olives were also imported in to the USA and Germany.

Germany and UK appear to have issued warnings regarding the product

but no alert seems to have yet been released from the USA. - Mod.LL]



[see also:

Botulism - Finland: (Helsinki) ex Italy, jarred olives 20111026.3182

Botulism, human - France: homemade tapenade 20110906.2720

2008

----

Botulism, baby food - Denmark, Norway (02): Danish case 20081219.3995

Botulism, baby food - Denmark, Norway: recall, RFI 20081210.3871

Botulism, infused olive oil - UK: (England), risk, recall

20081118.3638

Botulism, precooked commercial food - France 20080911.2843

Botulism, canned truffle sauce - Italy: alert, recall 20080602.1760

Botulism, foie gras - France: risk, recall 20080102.0016

2007

----

Botulism, olives - USA ex Italy: recall 20070329.1085

Botulism, olives - Canada ex Italy: recall 20070326.1042

Botulism, olives - USA: recall 20070311.0861

Botulism, olives - USA (FL, GA, NY): recall 20070310.0847

Botulism, canned artichokes - Spain (Guipuzcoa) (02) 20070120.0261

Botulism, canned artichokes - Spain (Guipuzcoa) 20070116.0203

2006

----

Botulism, barbecue - Austria (northern) 20061214.3521

Botulism - UK & Ireland ex Poland 20061012.2923

Botulism - Ireland (County Mayo) ex Poland 20060919.2668

Botulism, smoked fish - Finland ex Canada 20060721.2000

2004

----

Botulism, fish-related 2003 - Norway, Germany 20040120.0224

2003

----

Botulism, beef poultry sausage - France: recall 20030922.2391

Botulism, bottled garlic - Denmark (03): discussion 20030209.0342

Botulism, bottled garlic - Denmark 20030131.0267]

.................................................mj/ll/mj/dk

*##########################################################*

************************************************************

ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that

are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the

information, and of any statements or opinions based

thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in

using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID

and its associated service providers shall not be held

responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any

damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted

or archived material.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Painkiller May Raise Stroke Risk by 40 Percent

If you're in pain you expect your doctor to give you something that's going to help-not hurt-you. And while you know that most drugs have side effects...you expect the benefits to outweigh the risks.

Certainly that's what drug makers will tell you.

"The benefits outweigh the risks...as long as a doctor is consulted," says drug maker Novartis.

But emerging research shows this may not be true...at least not in the case of Novartis.

A new study reveals that one of their simple painkillers increases your risk of heart attack...by 40 percent. The findings also show that larger amounts of the drug-as prescribed by doctors-could raise your risk of stroke by a whopping 98 percent.

"There is a clear increase in risk as the dose goes up," says Dr. Patricia McGettigan. She leads research at Hull York Medical School and is behind the new study.

"We have reviewed all the previous studies and are confident that the results are robust enough to inform clinical decisions," she says.

Despite these findings...Novartis still says its pain killer is worth the risk.

"In our view, this analysis does not change the favorable benefit-to-risk assessment," says Novartis.

And the drug maker says people who are worried should just to talk to their doctor.

Yet a Novartis employee-turned-whistleblower says you might want to think twice about doing that. He says the company works with doctors to upsell and prescribe its pain killers.

So what are you supposed to believe...when there are so many contradictory stories out there?

We've gone undercover to answer that question.

Stay with us as we look at the risk-to-benefit ratio...and investigate why some doctors may be promoting these drugs.

Kick Start Your Morning

Without Feeling Nervous or Jittery

Rain Forest Herb Gives You Lasting Energy throughout the Day



Dr. Sears brings together two powerful nutrients to create one powerful new formula. Adding just a spoonful of Better than Coffee to your favorite drink gives you:

Mental clarity and alertness that lasts the whole day.

Stronger memory and power of recall.

Better physical coordination and a more stable gait.

In the fall of 2006, Dr. Sears trekked through the Amazon jungles of Peru and was introduced to a powerful rain forest herb. According to tribal folklore, the Indians of the Amazon River Basin have been using it to prevent fatigue and increase physical endurance since before recorded history.

By combining this potent herb with a powerful brain booster, Dr. Sears' Better than Coffee ramps up your mental energy and accelerates your thinking. Get the safe and natural ingredients that keep your memory sharp and give you the power of instant recall... right here.

The Core of Pain

Dr. McGettigan looked at many different types of pain killers. And she studied how they affect you. She reviewed 51 international studies covering 2.7 million patients. And she's just published her findings in the September issue of PLoS Medicine.

It's the first study to measure the risks of different pain killers. And she says drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen pose little risk to your heart. But that's not the case for all pain killers.

"Doctors benefit from know(ing) the balance between benefit and harm for individual (pain killers)," says Dr. McGettigan.

That's because some drugs like diclofenac-which is put out by Novartis-is much riskier.

The drug is also known as Voltaren. And it was the most prescribed pain killer in Britain last year. Out of 17 million pain prescriptions written last year, six million were for diclofenac. And that doesn't include over-the-counter use...

"The risk is well described but often overlooked," says Dr. McGettigan. "Use of diclofenac will increase (risk) by 40 per cent. In other words...one in 50 patients might suffer an avoidable heart attack."

Based on her statistics that's a lot of avoidable heart attacks. In fact...120,000...just in Britain alone.

Industry Response

Despite her findings...the medical industry doesn't seem too concerned.

"The risks for heart patients taking certain painkillers have been known for some time," says Doireann Maddock. She's a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation.

"Drug regulators will need to delve deeper before we draw any conclusions about these drugs and their side effects," she says.

But some experts disagree. They say the evidence is already clear.

"It's time to act," says Professor David Henry. He leads research at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales.

He says it's time to take action.

"The studies have been done," he says. "Many of them in hundreds (and) thousands of people."

And he points to several different studies that show these drugs are risky.

One independent study linked these drugs to increased heart risk. It was conducted by the Copenhagen University in Denmark. Researchers looked at the effects of several pain killers on 84,000 patients.

"Our results indicate that there is no safe window," says study author Anne-Marie Schjerning Olsen.

And again...her findings were most damning against diclofenac. She found it to be almost three times as risky as any other pain killer.

Another study comes from Dr. Emil Loldrup Fosbøl at Gentofte University Hospital. His study ran for eight years and looked at 2.5 million people on painkillers.

He found...yet again...that diclofenac had a much higher risk. This time by 86 percent. And more surprisingly...in people with no history of risk.

His findings were published in the June 2010 edition of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

"The primary message concerns diclofenac, because there is so much evidence now that this is a problem," says Dr. Fosbøl. "It has been shown quite extensively in many reports."

Plenty of experts have had the chance to review the study since it was published.

Dr. Florian Krötz leads research at the University Hospital Munich, Germany. He wasn't involved with the study but did review the findings.

And he says, "concerning diclofenac, I agree with the increased risk of (heart) death that the authors found..."

Even Store-Bought Pain Killers are Risky

Despite the evidence against the drug...anyone can get hold of it. It doesn't have to be prescribed. And there are several forms that you can buy over the counter.

Studies show that these over-the-counter versions offer less risk. But they're still not safe.

One such version is Voltarol Pain-Eze. That's a gel used for general aches and pains. You can get it in stores...but it still increases heart attack risk by 22 percent.

Dr. Henry says the lower risk comes from the lower strength of the drug. But this doesn't make it OK.

"There's no reason to have it on the market, whether it's prescription or over the counter," he says. "There are safer alternatives."

And Dr. Fosbøl agrees.

"Diclofenac has been used for almost 50 years and is available over the counter in many countries, which I think is irrational," he says. "This is a major public health concern."

So with so many studies against it...and so many experts saying it's far too risky, why is it still on the market? And why are doctors still prescribing it?

Who Really Benefits?

Last year diclofenac brought in $791 million for Novartis. That's not including over-the-counter revenue. And according to IMS Health...over-the-counter sales soared in 2009 by $264 million-just in the US alone.

Now a former Novartis employee-turned whistle blower is saying that's because the drug maker will do anything to promote its product.

He was a highly placed employee at Novartis for six years...before turning whistle blower.

"The company's illegal practices were snowballing and nobody was stepping up to stop them," says Jeremy Garrity.

He was joined by three other employees in speaking out against the company. And the drug maker eventually paid them $25 million to settle their claims. The payout was part of a $422.5 million settlement to resolve criminal and civil investigations into the marketing of its drugs.

Novartis pled guilty in federal court and agreed to pay $185 million in fines. It also agreed to pay $237.5 million to resolve civil allegations for wrongfully promoting some of its drugs, and for paying kickbacks to doctors to prescribe them.

Garrity says the company recruited doctors to promote its drugs. It paid them for doing so and disguised them as consulting fees. He also say doctors who wrote high volumes of prescriptions were recruited as speakers and rewarded.

"As long as they had a prescription pad and were willing to prescribe our products, they qualified as speakers," he says.

Garrity points to a specific meeting that happened in Las Vegas in 2006.

The president of Novartis sales announced that they needed to have the most events and programs in the drug industry.

"If we had more events, we would have more market share," he explains.

So the company set up events and dinners to win over doctors...with only one goal.

"You want to convince doctors to write prescriptions," says Garrity.

He even says doctors were given pre-written speeches by the drug company to promote the drugs.

"What they were doing was wrong," he says. "It's wrong to pay doctors to write prescriptions for drugs."

All-Natural Treatment

Experts who followed the trial have spoken out about how drug makers promote pain killers.

"Novartis clearly had a plan of bribing doctors to increase sales," says Patrick Burns. He's a spokesman for Taxpayers Against Fraud.

And plenty of doctors say you should be wary about the drug.

"Patients need to know that this drug increases the risk of cardiovascular adverse events," says Dr. Fosbøl.

So what can you do if you're in pain? After all it's a big problem for lots of people. At some point we're all likely to suffer from it. Everyone has aches and pains. Especially with age...but you don't have to put you heart or life at risk.

One safe and proven all-natural supplement for pain is Devil's Claw. It acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. And the best part of it is...it comes with no side effects.

We've written about this in the past...and how it's used for treating arthritis and back pain. You can read more about it here.

Protecting your heart is another big issue...there's so much contradictory information on it. Recent research shows that most of the advice that your doctor gives you is based on flawed assumptions. And the way he treats heart health is just as flawed.

We've just produced an in-depth report looking at the newest findings from the most credible institutions like Harvard and Berkley to see what they say about heart health.

This research shows that if you do everything your doctor tells you to protect your heart...you may actually be damaging it.

In the Heart Disease Scam we show you why conventional doctors have got heart disease wrong...and bring you comprehensive advice-direct from the best doctors and medical centers-on the safest and most effective ways to strengthen your heart.

To find out how you can get that report...click here; http://www.naturalhealthdossier.com/pro/706SHDR/text/heart-disease-scam.php?pub=706SHDR&code=E706MA36&o=505076&s=508884&u=54695565&l=327844&r=Milo

Wishing you good health,



Ian Robinson

Editorial Director, NHD "Health Watch"

Friday, October 14, 2011

Tuna Recall / USA

SCOMBROID POISONING, GROUND TUNA - USA: RECALL, ALERT


*****************************************************

A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





Date: 12 Oct 2011

Source: FDA [edited]







Osamu Corporation of Gardena, California, is recalling up to 1800

cases, lot number7013, of frozen ground tuna because the FDA found

decomposition in several samples of the product and also found

elevated histamine levels in samples taken from a retail location.

Osamu Corporation is recalling the product in an abundance of caution

since decomposed product may promote formation of histamine. Histamine

consumed in food can cause reactions that exhibit symptoms of tingling

or burning sensation in the mouth, facial swelling, rash, hives and

itchy skin, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. However, individuals may

experience symptoms differently. Persons developing these symptoms

should seek medical attention.



The frozen ground tuna was shipped to 3 distributors from 18 Aug 2011

to 8 Sep 2011. The distributors have removed the product from the

marketplace and are destroying any remaining product.



The 3 distributors are AFC Corporation, Red Shell Foods, and Pacific

Fresh Fish Company. 2 of these distributors have sushi franchises

located in grocery stores. Stores and locations to which this product

was shipped are listed at the bottom of this announcement. One,

Pacific Fresh Fish Company of Los Angeles, is a cash and carry

establishment.



Consumers concerned about whether the sushi they purchased may contain

the ground tuna should check with the store where they purchased the

sushi. That store will be able to determine if it used the recalled

product to prepare the sushi. At this time Osamu does not believe that

the recalled product or sushi made with the recalled product is

available for purchase by consumers.



3 illnesses due to elevated histamine levels have been reported to

date, all involving sushi purchased at a single location. The cause of

the elevated histamine levels found in the ground tuna at that

location is presently unknown.



Red Shell Foods has sushi franchises in grocery markets in the state

of California in the following cities: Calabasas, Century City, Dana

Point, Encino, Hollywood, Irvine, Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, Newport

Beach, North Hollywood, Northridge, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa

Barbara, Sherman Oaks, Silverlake, Tarzana, West Hollywood, and

Westlake Village.



AFC has sushi franchises at counters in grocery stores in nearly every

state.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





[Scombroid fish poisoning occurs after eating fish with high levels of

accumulated histamine or other biogenic amines. Histamine is produced

and can accumulate when bacterial enzymes metabolize naturally

occurring histidine in fish. This most often occurs when fish is held

at ambient or high temperatures (such as 70 to 90 deg F / 21.1 to 32.2

deg C) for several hours, but can occur at more moderate temperatures

(over 45 deg F or over 7.2 deg C). Rapid chilling of fish immediately

after catch is the most effective measure to prevent scombroid fish

poisoning. Fish from the family _Scombridae_ (such as tuna and

mackerel) contain high levels of free histidine in muscle tissue and

are the commonest sources of scombroid fish poisoning, but other fish

(such as mahi mahi, amberjack, bluefish, abalone, and sardines) also

have been implicated.



The symptoms of scombroid are identical to those of an allergic

reaction since the mediator of both are the same, histamine; but in

scombroid's case, the histamine is externally produced and not

secreted by the affected person's mast cells. The symptoms generally

begin 15-60 minutes after ingestion and usually resolves within

several hours. - Mod.LL]



[The interactive HealthMap/ProMED map for California is available at

- CopyEd.EJP]



[see also:

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - Canada: (BC), sandwich chain, alert

20110925.2902

2009

----

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - USA: (New England) 20090706.2427

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - Viet Nam 20090623.2292

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - UK: (Scotland) 20090417.1461

2008

----

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - UK: (Scotland) 20081208.3852

2007

----

Scombroid poisoning, tuna, 2006 - USA (LA, TN) ex Asia 20070820.2714

2005

----

Scombroid poisoning, frozen fish - Israel: recall 20050610.1619

2002

----

Scombroid poisoning, tuna - USA (PA): suspected 20020827.5166]

.................................................ll/ejp/mpp

*##########################################################*

************************************************************

ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that

are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the

information, and of any statements or opinions based

thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in

using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID

and its associated service providers shall not be held

responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any

damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted

or archived material.

************************************************************

Donate to ProMED-mail. Details available at:



************************************************************

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Monday, September 26, 2011

"American Meat," a New Documentary

"American Meat" Latest Film to Join Food Debateby Dan Flynn

Sep 07, 2011"American Meat" is the latest documentary film seeking to be part of the nation's food debate. Unlike some that have gone before -- "Food Inc." and "Fast Food Nation" come to mind --"American Meat" appears to be less polemic. So far it's only had a few screenings in Iowa, but its own website says "American Meat is a solutions-oriented macroscopic documentary surveying the current state of the U.S. meat industry." The producers say they "take an even-handed look at animal husbandry." From the trailer, also on the website, "American Meat" appears to offer some dialog among those in animal agriculture who operate large scale facilities and those like Joel Salatin, who advocates for the grass-based farms both in practice and on the lecture circuit. "We explain how America arrived at our current industrial system, and show you the feedlots and confinement houses, not through hidden cameras but through the eyes of the farmers who live and work there," say the producers. The film promises "many voices" but clearly sets out to explain what's going on in rural America, from the confinement house that raises 21,000 chickens in seven weeks to "egg mobiles" that follow grazing cattle with free range chickens. "American Meat" is getting its first screening outside of Iowa this Friday before the American Devon Cattle Association's Great Event at Double Brook Farm near Hopewell, NJ. Temple Grandin, the Colorado State University animal welfare expert, will speak prior to the screening. Jon McConaughy and Double Brook Farm are featured in the film. The new full-length documentary is only the latest to feature the food industry. Best known of these is "Food Inc.," that fired one shot after another at the meat industry in 2009, and "Fast Food Nation," which like the book of the same title took on McDonald's and its competitors when released in 2004. So called "outreach partners" for "American Meat," according to its website, include: Food Democracy Now!, Real Time Farms, Chef's Collaborative, Oklahoma Food Cooperative, Spin Farming, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Local Harvest and Acres USA. "American Meat" will be screened about 100 times locally before its scheduled general DVD release in February 2012. Reply ForwardNew Doc:

New Virus Plaguing Soy-Crop / USA

SOYBEAN VEIN NECROSIS VIRUS - USA: UPDATE


*****************************************

A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





[1]

Date: Wed 21 Sep 2011

Source: Farms.com, Penn State University report [edited]







A new disease of soybeans

-------------------------

Across the state [of Pennsylvania] this year [2011] I have noticed

some symptoms that couldn't quite be explained by our known soybean

diseases. We believe that these are the symptoms of a relatively new

virus called Soybean Vein Necrosis Virus (SVNV).



This was discovered in 2008 in Tennessee and Arkansas and has since

been confirmed in New York and most recently in Delaware and

Maryland.



We do not yet know whether this is a yield impacting disease. The

level of leaf damage I have seen suggests that at least in 2011 we

will not see yield reduction from this virus. In some cases, plants

that are infected by multiple viruses may have a significantly reduced

yield. We have seen some outbreaks of bean pod mottle virus in 2011,

and if the 2 occur in the same plant, it may overwhelm the plant's

resources.



I will be sending samples to the University of Arkansas to confirm the

virus in Pennsylvania.



[Byline: Alyssa Collins]



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





******

[2]

Date: Fri 16 Sep 2011

Source: University of Delaware, Weekly Crop Update [edited]







Soybean vein necrosis virus in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia

------------------------------------------------------------

Soybean vein necrosis virus was confirmed this week [week of 12 Sep

2011] by Yannis Tzanetakis, University of Arkansas. So the symptoms

that we have been seeing and sharing with concerned growers are due to

this new virus disease. Much work is being done in the Midwest to

identify the vectors and possible other hosts of the virus that may

harbor it and allow feeding vectors to move it to soybeans.



The question is: will it reduce yield or affect seed quality? So far I

have not seen enough leaf loss to imply yield effects, but we have

some time to go before maturity, so the jury is still out on the yield

effects here in the Mid-Atlantic.



The researchers have noted that multiple infections with other viruses

may increase yield loss potential. We have occasional outbreaks of

bean pod mottle virus and have seen soybean mosaic virus and peanut

stunt virus in the region, so the potential is here for multiple

infections. We do not have much information about the extent of other

virus diseases in soybeans.



Genetic resistance incorporated into good varieties will be the best

control strategy. That work is ongoing as well. It is too early for

recommendations but growers need to be aware of this disease and know

that work is being conducted to answer some of the pressing

questions.



[Byline: Bob Mulrooney]



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





******

[3]

Date: Sat 10 Sep 2011

Source: Carroll County Times, Ag Today report [edited]







May be new virus on soybeans

----------------------------

There might be a new virus on soybeans showing up in our region [of

Maryland]. It has not yet been confirmed, however, the symptoms are

consistent with pictures from around Maryland. So far the presumptive

diagnosis based on symptoms alone is of soybean vein necrosis virus.



This is a relatively new problem and has been detected and confirmed

in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. New

York has also indicated that it has samples with similar symptoms. If

these all turn out to be soybean vein necrosis virus, then this new

disease has spread rather rapidly.



It is not yet known how serious this disease can be with regard to

affecting yield. However, the pictures and descriptions from Arkansas

and Illinois indicate that significant leaf necrosis and possible

early defoliation can occur.



[Byline: Michael R Bell]



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





[A previously unknown virus was first identified in Tennessee in 2008

and in Illinois and Kentucky in 2009 (see ProMED-mal post

20100922.3430) as the cause of a new disease of soybeans. Symptoms

observed included vein clearing that becomes necrotic as leaves mature

leading to large necrotic regions on leaves and reduced plant vigour.



The name Soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV) was suggested. Preliminary

classification based on protein comparisons coupled with phylogenetic

analyses has placed it in the genus _Tospovirus_ (family

_Bunyaviridae_), although it appears to have minimal similarity to

characterised members of the genus. Many tospoviruses are transmitted

by thrips, and these insects are also being investigated as possible

vectors of SVNV.



SVNV was found to affect a range of soybean cultivars and recent

surveys suggest that it may be widespread in the midwest and midsouth

of the US. No information is available yet on its presence in other

countries.



Disease management of crop viruses may include cultural techniques,

phytosanitary measures, vector control, and use of crop cultivars

resistant to the virus and/or the vectors. More information is needed

about the new virus before specific management strategies can be

designed.



Interactions between coinfecting viruses in plants are known to have

the potential to lead to severely increased effects on the host

(synergism; see link below). The mechanisms for this effect are as yet

unclear and it is therefore not possible to predict how SVNV may

interact in coinfections with the other soybean viruses mentioned

above.



Maps

USA:

and



Individual states via:





Pictures of SVNV symptoms:

,

,

, and

(disease

progression)



Links

Information and updates on SVNV:

,

,

,

, and via



Molecular characterisation of SVNV:



Genus _Tospovirus_ taxonomy:



Taxonomy and information on all other viruses via:



Management of soybean viruses:



Implications of synergism on plant virus epidemiology:

.

- Mod.DHA]



[see also:

2010

----

New viruses, soybean - South Korea, USA 20100922.3430]

.................................................dha/mj/lm

*##########################################################*

************************************************************

ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that

are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the

information, and of any statements or opinions based

thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in

using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID

and its associated service providers shall not be held

responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any

damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted

or archived material.

************************************************************

Donate to ProMED-mail. Details available at:



************************************************************

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Thursday, September 22, 2011

LISTERIOSIS, FATAL - USA (05): CANTALOUPE, MORE CASES AND DEATHS

****************************************************************

A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





[1]

Date: Wed 21 Sep 2011

Source: CDC [edited]







CDC is collaborating with public health officials in several states,

including Colorado, and the FDA to investigate a multistate outbreak

of listeriosis. Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by

eating food contaminated with the bacterium _Listeria monocytogenes_.

Investigators are using DNA analysis of Listeria isolated from

patients to identify cases of illness that may be part of this

outbreak. The _Listeria_ bacteria are obtained from diagnostic

testing; pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is used to determine

DNA fingerprint patterns. Investigators are using data from PulseNet,

the national subtyping network made up of state and local public

health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that

perform molecular surveillance of foodborne infections.



As of 5pm EDT on 20 Sep 2011, a total of 55 persons infected with the

4 outbreak-associated strains of _Listeria monocytogenes_ have been

reported from 14 states. All illnesses started on or after 4 Aug 2011.

The number of infected persons identified in each state is as follows:

California (1), Colorado (14), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Maryland

(1), Montana (1), Nebraska (4), New Mexico (10), Oklahoma (8), Texas

(9), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (1).

Listeriosis illnesses in several other states are currently being

investigated by state and local health departments to determine

whether they are part of this outbreak.



Patient ages range from 35 to 96 years, with a median age of 78 years

old. Most ill persons are over 60 years old or have health conditions

that weaken the immune system. 59 percent of ill persons are female.

Among the 43 ill persons with available information on whether they

were hospitalized, all were hospitalized. Eight deaths have been

reported, 2 in Colorado, one in Maryland, 4 in New Mexico, and one in

Oklahoma.



About 800 cases of Listeria infection are diagnosed each year in the

USA, along with 3 or 4 outbreaks of Listeria-associated foodborne

illness. The foods that typically cause these outbreaks have been deli

meats, hot dogs, and Mexican-style soft cheeses made with

unpasteurized milk. Produce is not often identified as a source, but

sprouts caused an outbreak in 2009, and celery caused an outbreak in

2010.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





******

[2]

Date: Wed 21 Sep 2011

Source: Associated Press [edited]







The death toll has risen to 8 in an outbreak of listeria traced to

Colorado-grown cantaloupes, officials said Wednesday [21 Sep 2011].



The CDC said that a person in Maryland died from eating the tainted

produce. Four deaths have been reported in New Mexico and 2 in

Colorado, and one person has died in Oklahoma.



The CDC said 55 people in 14 states have now been confirmed as

sickened from eating the cantaloupes. On Mon 19 Sep 2011, the CDC

reported 4 deaths and 35 illnesses in 10 states.



The death count, the highest in a known food outbreak since tainted

peanuts were linked to 9 deaths almost 3 years ago, could go even

higher. The CDC said illnesses in several other states potentially

connected to the outbreak were under investigation.



Health officials have said they think the number of illnesses and

deaths could continue to grow because the incubation period for

listeria can be up to a month. Unlike many pathogens, listeria

bacteria can grow at room and refrigerator temperatures. The FDA and

CDC recommend anyone who may have one of the contaminated cantaloupes

throw it out immediately.



About 800 cases of listeria are found in the United States each year,

according to CDC, and there usually are 3 or 4 outbreaks. Most of

these are traced to deli meat and soft cheeses, where listeria is most

common. Produce has rarely been the culprit, but federal investigators

say they have seen more produce-related listeria illnesses in the past

2 years. It was found in sprouts in 2009 and celery in 2010.



While most healthy adults can consume listeria with no ill effects, it

can kill the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. It is

also dangerous to pregnant women because it easily passes through to

the fetus. In the current outbreak, the median age of those sickened

is 78, according to the CDC.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail





[In the 2 days since the last update, the number of cases has

increased from 35 to 55, the deaths from 4 to 8, and the states

involved from 10 to 14. As noted in the AP report, this _Listeria_

outbreak is quickly approaching the number of deaths associated with a

_Salmonella enterica_ serotype Typhimurium outbreak linked to peanut

butter in 2009, although more than 600 cases were reported.



More cases are likely to be included in this growing outbreak in the

days to come. - Mod.LL]



[see also:

Listeriosis, fatal - USA (04): cantaloupe, alert 20110921.2866

Listeriosis, fatal - USA (03): cantaloupe susp. 20110914.2800

Listeriosis, fatal - USA (02): (CO) 20110909.2746

Listeriosis, fatal - USA: (CO) 20110605.1719

2010

----

Listeriosis, fatal - USA (03): (TX), recall 20101105.4005

Listeriosis, fatal - USA (02): (TX), recall 20101021.3813

Listeriosis, fatal - USA: (TX) 20100515.1592

Listeriosis, fatal, meat product - Canada: (ON) 20100314.0829

2009

----

Listeriosis - Australia (02): airline food, chicken wrap susp

20090820.2947

Listeriosis - Australia: airline food, chicken wrap susp

20090807.2793

Listeriosis, fatal - Chile: (Santiago) meat susp, RFI 20090411.1391

Listeriosis, Mexican-style cheeses - USA: risk, recall 20090401.1261

Listeriosis, fatal, meat product - Canada: unconf. 20090307.0957

2008

----

Listeriosis, fatal - Chile: (Santiago) cheese susp. RFI 20081128.3754

Listeriosis, fatal, meat product - Canada (04) 20081005.3147

Listeriosis, fatal, meat product - Canada: alert, recall

20080821.2605

Listeriosis - USA: (MA), update 20080118.0223

2007

----

Listeriosis - USA: (NC, MA), alert 20071230.4186

Listeriosis, nosocomial - Norway: (Oslo) 20071024.3452

Listeriosis, unpasteurized cheese - USA (IN) 20070425.1351

Listeriosis, sandwiches - UK (England): alert, recall 20070326.1049

2006

----

Listeriosis, seafood - USA 20060130.0295

2005

----

Listeriosis - USA (TX) 20050824.2491

Listeriosis - USA (NY) (05) 20050819.2431

Listeriosis - USA (NY) 20050707.1925

2004

----

Listeriosis, cluster - USA (VA) (02): background 20040723.2013]

.................................................ll/msp/ml

*##########################################################*

************************************************************

ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that

are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the

information, and of any statements or opinions based

thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in

using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID

and its associated service providers shall not be held

responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any

damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted

or archived material.

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Reply Reply to all Forward



Send Save Now DiscardFrom:Mule Kist

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

RABIES VACCINE, SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS - INDIA: REQUEST FOR MORE INFO

***********************************************************************

A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





Date: 21 Sep 2011

Source: Times of India [edited]







Two persons suffered severe respiratory problems and cardiac arrest

after they were injected with an anti-rabies vaccine at the New Delhi

Municipal (NDMC)-run Charak Palika hospital in Moti Bagh on Monday [19

Sep 2011]. [A 45-year-old male] and a [52-year-old female] are in

critical condition and have been shifted to Safdarjung hospital's ICU

ward at present. According to NDMC spokesperson Amit Prasad, all

vaccine vials have been sealed, and a 4-member committee has been

formed to inquire into the matter.



"Prima facie, it appears that an allergic reaction to the drug led to

sudden cardiac arrest and respiratory attack, said a hospital doctor,

who requested not to be named.



Sources said [the 45-year-old male] is an NDMC employee, and [the

52-year-old female] is a housewife living in Moti Bagh. Soon after

being administered the injections, they complained of severe chest

pain and were admitted to the emergency unit of the hospital. A team

of doctors, including cardiologists and anesthetists, tried to revive

them, but when their condition deteriorated further, they were shifted

to Safdarjung hospital.



"My mother had gone to NDMC hospital for the 3rd dose of anti-rabies

vaccine. The vaccine caused sudden cardiac arrest, and her condition

is critical. She is in coma and has been put on a life support

system," claimed Harish, Chandra Devi's son who works with the Delhi

Police. He said that they have filed an FIR against the hospital in

this case.



[The 45-year-old male's] condition is also serious, and he is on

ventilator support. His cousin said that [he] was perfectly fine when

he left the home. "We were informed about his condition almost an hour

later," he said.



According to Dr P K Sharma, the NDMC health officer, anti-rabies

vaccines were given to 12 patients on Monday [19 Sep 2011] including

[the above mentioned individuals]. "All the other patients are fine.

The 2 patients who suffered chest pain and cardiac arrest were given

injections from a new vial. As a preventive measure, we have sealed

all vaccines, and a committee has been formed to inquire into the

matter. Drug reaction from rabies vaccines is extremely rare," he

said.



Sharma added that the expiry date of the vaccines is the year 2013.

NDMC gives anti-rabies vaccines to more than 500 patients every month.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) gives over 10 000 anti-rabies

vaccines monthly. Said Dr V K Monga, Chairman of the MCD health

committee, "I have never come across a case where anti-rabies vaccine

causes such a fatal reaction. Let the committee report come, and if

any problem is found with the particular batch of vaccine, we will

also review our injections."



Another expert said, "The various minor side effects that may develop

during and after a course of anti-rabies treatment includes fever,

headache, insomnia and diarrhoea. Sensitization to proteins contained

in older vaccines can cause a sudden shock-like collapse, usually

towards the end of the course of treatment." He added that no comment

can be passed in this case without further examination.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail



[According to the WHO 2010 position paper on rabies vaccines, there

are an estimated 20 000 deaths annual attributable to rabies in

India.



There are 2 types of rabies vaccines for humans, nerve tissue and cell

culture vaccines. WHO recommends all countries replace the use of

nerve tissue vaccines with the use of the more efficacious, safer

vaccines developed through cell culture as soon as possible. In the

past, India had been using the neural tissue vaccines but has changed

over to the use of the cell culture vaccines.



The concentrated and purified cell-culture (CCV) and embryonated

egg-based (EEV) rabies vaccines (jointly referred to as CCEEVs) have

proved to be safe and effective in preventing rabies. Nerve tissue

vaccines have been associated with more severe adverse reactions and

are generally more immunogenic than the CCEEVs and are no longer

recommended for use by WHO. CCEEVs contain rabies virus that has been

propagated in cell substrates such as human diploid cells (embryonic

fibroblast cells), fetal rhesus diploid cells, Vero cells (African

green monkey kidney cells), primary Syrian hamster kidney cells,

primary chick embryo cells or embryonated duck eggs. The more recently

developed vaccines that are based on chick embryo cells and Vero cells

have safety and efficacy records comparable to those of the human

diploid cell vaccines and are less expensive.



Following growth in the respective cell cultures (or embryonic egg),

the viral harvest is concentrated, purified, inactivated and

lyophilized. Some of the CCEEVs use human albumin or processed gelatin

as a stabilizer. WHO prequalified rabies vaccines do not use

preservatives such as thimerosal.



Recommendations for post-exposure depend on the type of contact with

the suspected rabid animal. For category I exposure (touching or

feeding animals, licks on intact skin), no prophylaxis is required;

for category II (nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or

abrasions without bleeding), immediate vaccination; and for category

III (single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, contamination

of mucous membrane with saliva from licks, licks on broken skin,

exposures to bats), immediate vaccination and administration of rabies

immunoglobulin are recommended.



According to WHO data on post rabies vaccines adverse events,

approximately 35-45 percent of recipients develop minor and transient

erythema (redness), pain and/or swelling at the vaccination site,

especially following intradermal booster administration. Mild systemic

events such as transient fever, headache, dizziness and

gastrointestinal symptoms have been observed in 5-15 percent of

vaccinees. More serious adverse events -- mainly allergic or

neurological -- have been noted to rarely occur

().



The above description of the serious adverse events in 2 individuals

vaccinated from the same newly opened vial of vaccine is suggestive of

the possibility of an additive substance used in that vial of vaccine

prior to administration that led to the apparently rapid onset of

chest pain and respiratory distress. As the rabies vaccines are

lyophilized, the possibility of a contaminant or incorrect solution

used in the reconstitution of the vaccine needs to be considered as

well. It is noteworthy that there were other individuals vaccinated

the same day in the same clinic, presumably using the same substance

for reconstitution of the lyophilized vaccine. The possibility of 2

consecutive rare serious allergic reactions is there, but the

probability of that occurring due to chance seems very low (this

moderator was not able to easily find data on the incidence of

post-vaccine allergic reactions; most documents just mention "very

rare").



More information on findings of the investigations into these events

from knowledgeable individuals would be greatly appreciated.



For the HealthMap/ProMED map of India highlighting New Delhi, the

capital city, see . - Mod.MPP]



[see also:

Rabies - India (15): (AP), human, vaccine failure 20110726.2256

Rabies - India (14): (KA), squirrel, human 20110713.2117

Rabies - India (13): (TN) canine, human 20110707.2059

Rabies - India (12): (MA) PEP failure 20110621.1892

Rabies - India (11): (MA) PEP failure 20110620.1884

Rabies - India (07): (AP) canine, human 20110523.1563

Rabies - India (06): (AP) canine, human 20110522.1558

Rabies - India (05): (AP) canine, human 20110518.1506

Rabies - India (04): (AP) canine, human 20110517.1500

Rabies - India (03): (TN), dog control, human 20110421.1249

Rabies - India (02): (MZ) canine control, human exposure

20110407.1088

Rabies - India: (AP) canine, human exposure 20110102.0018

2010

----

Rabies, canine, human - India (03): (MI) 20101018.3780

Rabies - USA: (VA) ex India, 2009 20101003.3585

Rabies, animal, human - India (02): (GA) 20100720.2431

Rabies, animal, human - India: (HR) 20100629.2164

Rabies, canine, human - India: (JD) susp, RFI 20100228.0666

2009

----

Rabies, human, animals - India: (HP), susp. RFI 20091119.3991

Rabies, human, control - India (TN) 20090422.1511

Rabies, human - UAE ex India 20090220.0723

1999

----

Rabies vaccine, reactions - Brazil (Sao Paulo) (02) 19991215.2165

Rabies vaccine, reactions - Brazil (Sao Paulo): RFI 19991203.2121

1997

----

Rabies, human, vaccine allergies (02) 19971129.2375

Rabies, human, vaccine allergies: RFI 19971120.2338]

.................................................sb/mpp/msp/dk

*##########################################################*

************************************************************

ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that

are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the

information, and of any statements or opinions based

thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in

using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID

and its associated service providers shall not be held

responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any

damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted

or archived material.

************************************************************

Donate to ProMED-mail. Details available at:



************************************************************

Visit ProMED-mail's web site at .

Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to

an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name

name and affiliation, it may not be posted. You may unsub-

scribe at .

For assistance from a human being, send mail to:

.

############################################################

############################################################

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Truth About Haiti / Big-Ag Killed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijf2hIwBgFc&feature=relmfu

Cancer-causing Polio Vaccines

Feature writer J.D. Heyes brings you a truly remarkable story about how polio vacci...nes were widely contaminated with the SV40 virus that causes cancer. And it's still being found in cancer tumors in people all across the world! Read more about the true history of vaccines that the medical establishment doesn't want you to know:


http://www.naturalnews.com/032854_SV40_polio_vaccines.html

Foods That Kill

http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=BCED96C19361449686F6E68ED178FFFF

Saturday, June 25, 2011

FDA's approval of aspartame

If a product is approved by the Food and Drug Administration


(FDA) and composed of natural ingredients, would you assume

it is safe to consume? If the same product is an artificial sweetener, would you assume

it helps control your weight? Millions of people use aspartame,

the artificial sweetener known as NutraSweet, with these

assumptions in mind.



Video:



http://www.forbiddenknowledgetv.com/page/4092.html



However, aspartame's tainted history of approval and potentially

toxic ingredients cast serious doubt on the safety of this sugar

substitute. Furthermore, aspartame may actually increase your

appetite (Farber 52).



While the FDA approval may signal the green light for safe

consumption, 85 percent of all complaints registered with the

FDA are for adverse reactions to aspartame, including five

reported deaths. A closer look at the unscientific studies,

suspicious approval methods, and its harmful ingredients,

reveal the hidden dangers of this artificial sweetener.



In reality, aspartame poses a public health threat.



Video:



http://www.forbiddenknowledgetv.com/page/4092.html




- Alexandra

See also, the FDAs "Splendid Lies,:  "Splenda" - http://exposingfdanusda.blogspot.com/2009/06/fda-on-splenda-splendid-lies.html





P.S. Forbidden Knowledge TV newsletters are all

backed-up on both Twitter: http://bit.ly/fleR5d

and on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/e8DaBm

The FKTV site, itself contains many videos which

are not broadcast and can be navigated by category:

http://www.ForbiddenKnowledgeTV.com



P.P.S. Please share Forbidden Knowledge TV e-mails

and videos with your friends and colleagues.



That's how we grow. Thanks.

Fault Lines - Healthcare special - Sanders 06 Aug 09 - Interview 2

Friday, June 24, 2011

Shocking facts that prove the ENTIRE US Healthcare Industry Has Become One GIANT Money Making SCAM

25 Shocking Facts That Prove That The Entire U.S. Health Care Industry Has Become One Giant Money Making Scam

Before Its News
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:05

What is the appropriate word to use when you find out that the top executive at the third largest health insurance company in America raked in 68.7 million dollars in 2010? How is one supposed to respond when one learns that more than two dozen pharmaceutical companies make over a billion dollars in profits each year? Is it okay to get angry when you discover that over 90 percent of all hospital bills contain "gross overcharges"? Once upon a time, going into the medical profession was seen as a "noble" thing to do. But now the health care industry in the United States has become one giant money making scam and it is completely dominated by health insurance companies, pharmaceutical corporations, lawyers and corporate fatcats. In America today, just one trip to the hospital can cost you tens of thousands of dollars even if you do not stay for a single night. The sad thing is that the vast majority of the money that you pay out for medical care does not even go to your doctor. In fact, large numbers of doctors across the United States are going broke. Rather, it is the "system" that is soaking up almost all of the profits. We have a health care industry in the United States that is fundamentally broken and it needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

But wasn't that what Obamacare was supposed to do? No, in fact Obamacare was largely written by representatives from the health insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Once it was signed into law the stocks of most health insurance companies went way up.

The truth is that Obamacare was one of the worst pieces of legislation in modern American history. It did nothing to fix our health care problems. Rather, it just made all of our health care problems much worse.

In case you haven't noticed, health insurance companies all over the United States have announced that they are going to raise premiums significantly due to the new law. Of course they are just using it as an excuse. They have been sticking it to us good for the last several decades and they just grab hold of whatever excuse they can find to justify the latest rate hike.

If you are looking for a legal way to drain massive amounts of money out of average Americans just become a health care company executive. Health care has become perhaps the greatest money making scam in the United States. When Americans are sick and have to go to the hospital most of them aren't really thinking about how much it will cost. At that point they are super vulnerable and ready to be exploited.

It is almost unbelievable how much money some of these companies make. Health insurance companies are more profitable when they provide less health care. Pharmaceutical companies aren't in the business of saving lives. Rather, they are in the business of inflating the profit margins on their drugs as much as possible. Many hospitals have adopted a policy of charging "whatever they can get away with", knowing that the vast majority of the public will never challenge the medical bills.

The system is broken.

Everyone knows it.

But it never gets fixed.

The following are 25 shocking facts that prove that the entire U.S. health care industry is one giant money making scam....

#1 The chairman of Aetna, the third largest health insurance company in the United States, brought in a staggering $68.7 million during 2010. Ron Williams exercised stock options that were worth approximately $50.3 million and he raked in an additional $18.4 million in wages and other forms of compensation. The funny thing is that he left the company and didn't even work the whole year.

#2 The top executives at the five largest for-profit health insurance companies in the United States combined to receive nearly $200 million in total compensation in 2009.

#3 One study found that approximately 41 percent of working age Americans either have medical bill problems or are currently paying off medical debt.

#4 Over the last decade, the number of Americans without health insurance has risen from about 38 million to about 52 million.

#5 According to one survey, approximately 1 out of every 4 Californians under the age of 65 has absolutely no health insurance.

#6 According to a report published in The American Journal of Medicine, medical bills are a major factor in more than 60 percent of the personal bankruptcies in the United States. Of those bankruptcies that were caused by medical bills, approximately 75 percent of them involved individuals that actually did have health insurance.

#7 Profits at U.S. health insurance companies increased by 56 percent during 2009.

#8 According to a report by Health Care for America Now, America's five biggest for-profit health insurance companies ended 2009 with a combined profit of $12.2 billion.

#9 Health insurance rate increases are getting out of control. According to the Los Angeles Times, Blue Shield of California plans to raise rates an average of 30% to 35%, and some individual policy holders could see their health insurance premiums rise by a whopping 59 percent this year alone.

#10 According to an article on the Mother Jones website, health insurance premiums for small employers in the U.S. increased 180% between 1999 and 2009.

#11 Why are c-sections on the rise? It is because a vaginal delivery costs approximately $5,992 on average, while a c-section costs approximately $8,558 on average.

#12 Since 2003, health insurance companies have shelled out more than $42 million in state-level campaign contributions.

#13 Between 2000 and 2006, wages in the United States increased by 3.8%, but health care premiums increased by 87%.

#14 There were more than two dozen pharmaceutical companies that made over a billion dollars in profits in 2008.

#15 Each year, tens of billions of dollars is spent on pharmaceutical marketing in the United States alone.

#16 Nearly half of all Americans now use prescription drugs on a regular basis according to a CDC report that was just released. According to the report, approximately one-third of all Americans use two or more pharmaceutical drugs, and more than ten percent of all Americans use five or more prescription drugs on a regular basis.

#17 According to the CDC, approximately three quarters of a million people a year are rushed to emergency rooms in the United States because of adverse reactions to pharmaceutical drugs.

#18 The Food and Drug Administration reported 1,742 prescription drug recalls in 2009, which was a gigantic increase from 426 drug recalls in 2008.

#19 Lawyers are certainly doing their part to contribute to soaring health care costs. According to one recent study, the medical liability system in the United States added approximately $55.6 billion to the cost of health care in 2008.

#20 According to one doctor interviewed by Fox News, "a gunshot wound to the head, chest or abdomen" will cost $13,000 at his hospital the moment the victim comes in the door, and then there will be significant additional charges depending on how bad the wound is.

#21 In America today, if you have an illness that requires intensive care for an extended period of time, it is ridiculously really easy to rack up medical bills that total over 1 million dollars.

#22 It is estimated that hospitals overcharge Americans by about 10 billion dollars every single year.

#23 One trained medical billing advocate says that over 90 percent of the medical bills that she has audited contain "gross overcharges".

#24 It is not uncommon for insurance companies to get hospitals to knock their bills down by up to 95 percent, but if you are uninsured or you don't know how the system works then you are out of luck.

#25 According to one recent report, Americans spend approximately twice as much as residents of other developed countries on health care.

Sadly, the pillaging of the American people only seems to be accelerating.

Whether it is as a result of Obamacare or not, health insurers have decided that this is the season to raise health insurance premiums. Just consider the following excerpt from a recent article on Fox News....

Here is the terse reason CareFirst/Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Washington gave its subscribers for raising a monthly premium from $333 to $512 on a middle aged man who is healthy, is not a smoker and is not obese: "Your new rate reflects the overall rise in health care costs and we regret having to pass these additional costs on to you."

512 dollars a month for health insurance for a healthy non-smoker?

Are they serious?

Apparently they are.

Things have gotten so bad that an increasing number of Americans are going outside of the country for medical care.

According to numbers released by Deloitte Consulting, a whopping 875,000 Americans were "medical tourists" in 2010.

Is there anyone out there that is not paid by the health care industry that is still willing to defend it?

Is there anyone out there that still believes that the health care industry is not just one giant money making scam?

Feel free to leave your comments below. In particular, if you have a horror story about a health insurance company, a pharmaceutical company or the health care industry as a whole please share it with us....



Read more at The End of the American Dream;

Before It's News

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Irriated Seed-Crops Sicken Cattle w/ Fatal Disease / Russia

UNDIAGNOSED DISEASE, BOVINE - RUSSIA: (TATARSTAN) REQUEST FOR


INFORMATION

*************************************************************************

A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





Date: Wed 20 Apr 2011

Source: Epidnews.Ru [in Russian, trans. Corr.ATS, edited]







Spasskiy district plague: are the cattle killed by radiation?

-------------------------------------------------------------

The environmental protection activists in the Republic of Tatarstan

have reported mysterious cattle death cases in Spasskiy district since

last summer [2010]. The cause of these deaths remains unknown;

however, the activists connect it with a recent gamma irradiation

experiment of the seeds in the region. The affected animals develop

muscle weakness, start limping, and at the end die. A representative

of the environmental protection activists has visited one of the

affected villages and asked the villagers about these cases. All 3

respondents have had a dead cow in their farm. They have said that the

same situation exists in their neighbor's yards. There are no official

statistics available for these fatal cattle cases.



A local veterinarian considers that the disease could be

osteodystrophy due to affected metabolism in these animals. He also

thinks that the quality of the local forage could be low because of

the very hot summer last year [2010], which led to decreased

nutritional value and less vitamins in all vegetation. Such problems

with feed sometimes can cause similar health problems in cattle in

early spring, he says.



The environmental activists consider that seed irradiation also can

lead to a low content of vitamins in forage plants. To prove their

claims they point out clustering of cattle deaths only in Spasskiy

district, where the irradiation experiment took place. The neighboring

districts, which had similarly hot summers last year, did not report

cattle health problems at all. The environmentalists also cite

scientific articles from the 1950s, which document loss of vitamins in

irradiated seeds. Additionally, they say, there is evidence about

development of radiation sickness in animals if they are fed

irradiated forage.



There is an ongoing project in Russia to establish a centralized

radiation facility for cattle forage and maybe chicken feeds as well.

The local environmentalists consider this a dangerous development and

are lobbying for local legislative measures against such radiation

projects.



--

Communicated by:

ProMED-mail Russian service PRO/RUS





[This report is rather turbid, lacking quantitative as well as

qualitative data, seemingly belonging to the "hearsay" party. No

epidemiological or clinical information on the population which is

said to be affected are included.



Food irradiation is the process of exposing food/feed to ionizing

radiation to destroy microorganisms, bacteria, viruses or insects that

might be present in the food/feed. There are also other applications,

including sprout inhibition. Irradiated food does not become

radioactive, but in some cases there may be subtle chemical changes. -

Mod.AS]



[The undiagnosed illness/death affecting the cattle is not from

radiation. I am also hard pressed to believe the radiation effect on

the plants. Osteodystrophy and what the vet said sound correct. -

Mod.TG]



[Maps of Russia can be seen at



and . The Republic of Tatarstan is

located in the Volga (Privolzhsky) Federal District, which forms the

southeastern part of European Russia. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]



[see also:

2008

----

Undiagnosed disease, bovine - Russia (02): (Irkutsk) 20080107.0094

Undiagnosed disease, bovine - Russia (Irkutsk) 20080106.0073]

.................................................ats/arn/tg/mj/jw

*##########################################################*

************************************************************

ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that

are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the

information, and of any statements or opinions based

thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in

using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID

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