FDA warns consumers not to eat shellfish from Oyster Bay Harbor, Nassau County, NY

By FDA.gov

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat raw or partially cooked oysters and clams (shellfish) with tags listing Oyster Bay Harbor, in Nassau County, N.Y., as the harvest area, following illnesses reported in several states caused by vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.

Shellfish harvested from Oyster Bay Harbor have been linked to confirmed and possible cases of vibrio parahaemolyticus illness.

Ill persons reported consumption of raw or partially cooked shellfish from the affected area.

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) closed Oyster Bay Harbor, on July 13 to shellfish harvesting.

All shellfish harvesters, shippers, re-shippers, processors, restaurants, and retail food establishments are advised to check the identity tags on all containers of shellfish in their inventories. If the tag indicates the harvest area was Oyster Bay Harbor and a harvest date on or after June 1, 2012, the product should be disposed of and not be sold or served.

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Pennsylvania Firm Recalls Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination

By fsis.usda.gov

Cargill Meat Solutions, a Wyalusing, Pa., establishment, is recalling 29,339 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall, sold wholesale and for further processing:

•  14 pound chub packages of "Grnd Beef Fine 85/15", packed 3 chubs to approximate 42-pound cases.

The products subject to recall bears the establishment number "EST. 9400" inside the USDA mark of inspection. While the use-by date has passed and these products are no longer available for retail sale, FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen in consumers' freezers. These products were produced on May 25, 2012, and were shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut, Maine and New York for further distribution.

It is important to note that the above listed products were repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS' website..

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Recalls For Tuesday, July 24

Colombian Style Cheese Recalled

Improper pasteurization could lead to consumption of pathogenic bacteria, such as Listeria and Salmonella

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Baby Move Prune Concentrate Recalled

Ingredient poses possible health risk

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Voluntary Recall of Land O’Lakes Purina Feed Products Expanded

Recall due to potential for elevated vitamin D level

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Honda Recalling Certain 2012 CR-Vs and 2013 Acuras

A door-latch problem poses the risk of the door opening while driving

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FDA Alert - Drug Safety Communication: Ampyra (dalfampridine) - Seizure Risk for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

ISSUE: FDA is updating health care professionals and the public about the risk of seizures in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are starting Ampyra (dalfampridine). Using information received from post-market adverse event reports, FDA recently evaluated seizure risk in MS patients taking Ampyra (dalfampridine). The majority of seizures happened within days to weeks after starting the recommended dose and occurred in patients having no history of seizures. The FDA is updating the Ampyra drug label to clarify recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Ampyra was approved to improve walking in patients with MS. Seizures are a known side effect of Ampyra, and seizure risk increases with higher blood levels of the drug. Ampyra is eliminated from the body through the kidneys, and patients with kidney impairment may develop higher blood levels of the drug, thereby increasing their seizure risk.

RECOMMENDATION: FDA reminds health care professionals that there are age-related decreases in renal function, and mild renal impairment is common after age 50, even when serum creatinine is normal. Renal function should be assessed by estimating creatinine clearance. Ampyra should not be used in patients with a history of seizures or who have moderate to severe renal (kidney) impairment (measured as creatinine clearance [CrCl] less than or equal to 50 mL/min).

Additional information for Patients includes:

• Tell your health care professional if you have kidney problems. 
• Your health care professional should order blood tests periodically to evaluate your kidney function. 
• Do not take Ampyra if you have ever had a seizure. 
• Ampyra tablets should be taken whole and not divided, crushed, chewed, or dissolved. 
• Do not take double or extra doses of Ampyra if a dose is missed. Side effects, including seizures, are more frequent at higher doses.

Additional information for Health Care Professionals includes:

• Ampyra is contraindicated in patients with a history of seizures or with moderate to severe renal impairment (CrCl < 50 mL/min). 
• The potential benefits of Ampyra treatment should be carefully considered against the risk of seizures before using Ampyra in patients with mild renal impairment (CrCl 51-80 mL/min). 
• A patient’s CrCl (calculated using the Cockroft-Gault equation) should be known before initiating Ampyra treatment and monitored at least annually whileAmpyra treatment continues, even when serum creatinine levels appear to be normal. 
• Tell patients they should not take double or extra doses of Ampyra if a dose is missed. Adverse effects, including seizures, are more frequent at higher doses. 
• Ampyra should be discontinued permanently if a seizure occurs. 

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm 
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1- 800-FDA-0178

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Butte Braces For Matanuska River Flooding

By Jason Lamb, Channel 2 News

Butte residents are bracing for flooding, as a swollen Matanuska River continues to rise with new rain.

Along the Old Glenn Highway, volunteers packed up belongings at Dana Mirsch-Wenner's home, as flood waters crept closer to her home. Many of the volunteers were high school students.

Mirsch-Wenner says the river had advanced 10 feet toward her home within just the past 24 hours.

Read the entire article here.  KTUU Channel 2 News Video here.