NATIONWIDE RECALL FOR READY TO EAT CHICKEN
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a nationwide recall on "ready to eat" chicken, in which samples were found to be contaminated with Listeria. According to Metro News Source, the recall is for Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich "ready to eat" chicken breast strips with rib meat in 6 oz packages that bear the number 1-9-6-7-6, with a "use by" date of April 19, 2007.
Listeria is a bacteria and form of food poisoning that rarely affects healthy people, however it can be fatal in unborn children, newborn infants, and those with weak immune systems. Others at higher risks include cancer patients on chemotherapy, people with kidney disease and people with AIDS. Listeria has a long incubation period ranging from 11 to 70 days. So far, there have been no reports of anyone getting sick by eating any of the chicken.
Locally, neither Super Value or Capri IGA grocery stores carry the recalled food item.
GARDASIL VACCINE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH BY HEALTH BOARD
The new Gardasil vaccine, designed to reduce the risk of cervical cancer among girls and women, was once again discussed at length at the Bond County Health Board meeting last week. The vaccine works for girls when it's given before they become sexually active and possibly contract certain types of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus. These specific types of HPV are the cause of 70% of cervical cancer cases in women.
The vaccine is recommended for girls as young as 9 and women as old as 26. It is given as a series of 3 injections over a six-month period. The Bond County Health Department has only a limited supply of Gardasil and reminds that each vaccine, under the Vaccine for Children Program, is free for girls under 19, who have no insurance. It's also free, for the same age group, through the Vaccine for Children Plus Program to those who have insurance, but where the vaccine is not covered. Those over 19 will have to qualify under the Merck Assistance Program for a reduction in price. Each vaccine, however, will be charged an administrative fee of $7.
A doctor's order is required for the vaccine. For more information on Gardasil, contact your primary care physician or the Bond County Health Department. The topic of the Gardasil vaccine is an ongoing discussion.
APPLICANT BRIEFINGS FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE
State and federal officials will hold seven briefings to help state, eligible local governments and private non-private organizations in 18 counties apply for federal disaster assistance in the wake of the severe winter storm last December. The announcement was made by Illinois Emergency Management Agency's (IEMA) Director William E. Burke and U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Federal Coordinating Officer Michael H. Smith. After the briefings, teams of state and federal officials will inspect disaster-related damages and associated costs.
Locally, briefings for Bond, Fayette and Madison counties will be held this Thursday at 2:30PM at the Lewis and Clark Trimpe Advance Technical Center in Godfrey. A briefing for Montgomery County will be held this Wednesday at the Manners Park Dining Hall in Taylorville. The deadline for local officials to submit a one-page Request for Public Assistance to IEMA is March 12.
