Medical officer doubts listeria behind camp illnesses
28.08.2008 00:01
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
Nova Scotia's chief doctor says he's almost certain a recent spate of illnesses at a camp near Amherst is not linked to a national outbreak of listeriosis. Seven workers at Camp Tidnish got sick late last week. A camp spokeswoman said they complained of headaches, nausea and vomiting — some of the same symptoms of listeriosis. The camp had some of the recalled meat, which is now being tested for the listeria bacteria. But Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer for Nova Scotia, doubts listeria is to blame for the camp illnesses. "From the type of symptoms we are seeing — their duration, the underlying age and health status of the individuals — we really don't believe that this is listeriosis," he told CBC News Tuesday. "It's not unusual during the summer to see clusters of gastrointestinal illness in a summer camp setting." Only one of the Camp Tidnish workers is still sick, Strang said. People who eat foods contaminated with listeria may carry the bacteria and not develop listeriosis. Those at risk of getting sick are the very young, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Federal public health officials confirmed 26 cases of listeriosis on Monday, including 12 deaths. None of the cases are in Nova Scotia, Strang said. About 220 Maple Leaf Foods products are on a voluntary meat recall list. On Tuesday, Atlantic Prepared Foods Ltd. said it was recalling its Irving, Sub Delicious and Needs brand sandwiches, which are sold in the Maritime provinces. Strang said there are about five isolated cases of listeriosis in Nova Scotia a year. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksIN DEPTH: Listeria FAQsRecall over listeriosis fears expands to 4 more productsNumber of confirmed cases, deaths linked to listeriosis increasesListeria fears grow after camp workers get sickExternal LinksCFIA: Foods on the recall listCFIA: More products on the recall list(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window) Health HeadlinesHigh levels of toxic metals found in herbal medicines sold onlineAbout one in five Ayurvedic remedies used in traditional Indian medicine contained toxic lead, mercury or arsenic, say researchers who bought the products online.Fat cells from obese people 'stressed': studyFat cells from people who are obese appear to be not working properly compared with those from lean people, medical researchers have found.Unnamed Manitoba doctor's licence revoked due to psychiatric illnessQuestions are being raised about a Winnipeg doctor whose licence was revoked due to a psychiatric problem — but whose name is being kept secret, even from the doctor's former patients.Federal inspectors not at fault for listeriosis outbreak: agriculture ministerFederal inspectors in charge of overseeing health standards at a Maple Leaf Foods processing plant at the centre of a deadly outbreak of listeriosis were doing their job properly, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said Wednesday.Attack ad targets hot dogs as cancer riskA new TV commercial shows kids eating hot dogs in a school cafeteria and one little boy's haunting lament: "I was dumbfounded when the doctor told me I have late-stage colon cancer." Health FeaturesVIDEOListeriosisFollowing the path of the listeriosis outbreak (8:37)ASTHMABoys vs. girlsNew thinking about the disease in youngstersVIDEOHealthMumps outbreak spreads in Vancouver (2:51)IN DEPTHMental healthCanadians earn failing grade for attitudeIN DEPTHWest Nile  HEALTHMemorySurprising things that affect itPeople who read this also read …
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