THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Skin lightening merchandise might be harmful for shoppers once they include dangerous elements which might be unlawful for over-the-counter gross sales, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.

The doubtlessly dangerous elements are hydroquinone or mercury, the company stated in a information launch.

People who’ve used merchandise with hydroquinone have suffered unwanted effects that included rashes, facial swelling, and everlasting pores and skin discoloration, the FDA warned. Meanwhile, mercury is extremely poisonous and might injury the nervous, digestive and immune programs, in addition to the lungs, kidneys, pores and skin and eyes.

Skin lightening merchandise are marketed as therapies for uneven pores and skin tone, zits, age spots, freckles and wrinkles. Companies could describe pores and skin lightening merchandise as pores and skin bleaching, fading, night, brightening or whitening merchandise. The merchandise are sometimes bought as lotions, lotions, soaps or powders in retailers that cater to Hispanic/Latino, Asian, African or Middle Eastern communities, the FDA stated.

These merchandise restrict the pores and skin’s manufacturing of melanin, chargeable for pores and skin, hair and eye coloration. But hydroquinone and mercury can construct up within the physique over time.

“Skin lightening merchandise containing hydroquinone should not permitted for over-the-counter sale,” the FDA stated. “However, you may get a prescription pores and skin product containing hydroquinone out of your well being care supplier. The use of mercury in pores and skin lightening merchandise is banned.”

Consumers ought to test product labels and keep away from these containing hydroquinone or mercury. Mercury could also be listed as mercurous chloride, calomel, mercuric, mercurio or Hg. Illegal merchandise could also be inaccurately labeled. Avoid merchandise with handmade labels, labels in languages apart from English, or no label in any respect, the FDA stated.

Report any unhealthy response from a pores and skin product to your well being care supplier and to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.

More info

The World Health Organization has extra on mercury in pores and skin merchandise.

SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, information launch, Aug. 30, 2022

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July 15, 2022 – The doubtlessly deadly parechovirus is now circulating in a number of states, inflicting fevers, seizures, and sepsis-like signs, together with confusion and excessive ache, in keeping with the CDC.

Human parechoviruses are frequent in kids, and most have been contaminated earlier than they begin kindergarten, the CDC stated. Between ages 6 months and 5 years, signs embody an higher respiratory tract an infection, fever, and rash.

But infants youthful than 3 months might have extra critical, and presumably deadly, infections. They might get “sepsis-like illness, seizures, and meningitis or meningoencephalitis, particularly in infants younger than 1 month,” the CDC stated. At least one new child has reportedly died from the an infection.

Parechovirus can unfold like different frequent germs, from feces which can be later ingested – seemingly resulting from poor hand-washing – and thru droplets despatched airborne by coughing or sneezing. It may be transmitted by individuals each with and with out signs of the an infection.

The microbe can reproduce for 1 to three weeks within the higher respiratory tract and as much as 6 months within the gastrointestinal tract, the CDC stated.

Kristina Angel Bryant, MD, a pediatric infectious illness specialist on the University of Louisville Hospital, says parechoviruses typically trigger rashes on the fingers and toes, which some consultants consult with as “mittens and booties.”

The CDC is urging medical doctors to check for parechovirus in the event that they acknowledge these signs in infants if there isn’t any different rationalization for what is perhaps distressing them.

There isn’t any particular remedy for parechovirus. And with no customary testing system in place, consultants are not sure if the variety of parechovirus circumstances is greater in 2022 than in earlier years.

The message for folks, Bryant says, is: Don’t panic. “This is not a new virus.”

”One of the commonest signs is fever, and in some youngsters, that’s the solely symptom,” she says. “Older infants and toddlers may have only cold symptoms, and some kids have no symptoms at all.”

Parents can take the same old steps to guard their little one from the viral sickness, together with diligent handwashing and having much less contact with people who find themselves sick, Bryant says.

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MONDAY, May 9, 2022 (HealthDay News) – Ohio State University is warning college students to be cautious of pretend Adderall drugs after two college students died final week.

University officers stated that Columbus Public Health has warned the neighborhood concerning the counterfeit Adderall, which include the lethal artificial opioid fentanyl and are fueling will increase in overdoses and hospitalizations within the space.

“Be conscious of the potential of surprising contaminates or how medicine could unsafely work together with alcohol,” Ohio State’s senior vp for pupil life Dr. Melissa Shivers wrote in a security message to college students. “Contaminated medicine may end up in a extreme and surprising response, together with demise, from just one use.”

A 3rd Ohio State pupil was hospitalized and later launched.

“We are grieving and prolong our deepest sympathies to the scholars’ household and buddies,” Ohio State President Dr. Kristina Johnson stated in an announcement. “Out of respect for them throughout this extraordinarily troublesome time, we’re not sharing additional private info.”

“It is important for everybody’s security to pay attention to the potential of contaminated medicine in our neighborhood,” Johnson added.

The college stated it strongly discourages drug misuse amongst college students, however inspired those that could select to experiment with medicine to take a number of security precautions. These embrace ingesting responsibly, choosing up free fentanyl take a look at strips or a Naxolone package, and by no means shopping for or utilizing prescription medicines not obtained from a certified pharmacist.

Adderall is a therapy for attention-deficit hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It has a excessive potential for misuse, and may trigger sudden demise and severe opposed cardiac occasions.

Counterfeit medicine could also be much more harmful. They are among the many drugs bought on social media and made to appear to be actual pharmaceuticals, in response to the Drug Enforcement Agency. About 40% of counterfeit drugs that include fentanyl have a doubtlessly deadly dose, in response to DEA lab testing.

A deadly dose is “about two milligrams, equal in dimension to a couple grains of salt,” the DEA stated.

More info

The Drug Enforcement Agency has extra on fentanyl.

SOURCE: CBS News

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By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, May 3, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning Americans to be careful for phony at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 exams that look so much like the actual issues.

The counterfeit check kits could put you liable to unknowingly spreading the illness or not looking for acceptable medical remedy, the company cautions.

The phonies “are made to seem like approved exams so the customers will assume they’re the actual, FDA-authorized check,” the FDA mentioned in an announcement concerning the fakes. “The FDA is worried concerning the danger of false outcomes when individuals use these unauthorized exams.”

If you get a false studying that you do not have the coronavirus, you can inadvertently infect others at dwelling, at work or in medical and long-term care amenities. Also, you won’t search or may discontinue remedy for COVID-19, the company defined.

Two fakes the FDA is aware of of are counterfeit Flowflex COVID-19 check kits and iHealth Antigen Rapid Test Kits — you’ll find extra particulars on tips on how to spot the fakes on the FDA assertion. The package deal and elements of the Flowflex imitation may simply mislead shoppers searching for the approved Flowflex check.

Certain crimson flags may assist you to spot the counterfeits, in accordance with the FDA. They embody:

• Poor print high quality of photos or textual content on the skin field label or within the directions to be used included within the field.
• Missing data on the skin field label for the product, such because the lot quantity, expiration date or barcode or QR codes.
• Grammatical or spelling errors in product labeling.
• Kit elements that don’t match the content material description. For instance, lacking directions to be used, lacking or unfilled elements, totally different variety of elements than listed.
• The tradename for product printed on part or field labels differ from the approved labeling discovered on the FDA web site.
• The field label or printed directions to be used look totally different from the approved labeling discovered on the FDA web site.

The FDA has an inventory of approved at-home OTC COVID-19 exams. It just isn’t conscious of any counterfeit exams distributed by federal authorities check distribution applications.

Continued

What must you do in case you have one?

If you believe you studied you might have a counterfeit check, don’t use it. Contact the distributor or retailer the place you obtain it to inform them that you’ve a counterfeit check, and in addition inform the producer of the approved check, the company mentioned.

The producer could ask for added data resembling pictures of the packaging to additional examine the problem. After offering any requested data to the distributor and/or producer, comply with the producer’s directions for returning or disposing of the check.

Talk to your well being care supplier should you assume you had been examined with a counterfeit check and you’ve got considerations about your outcomes, the FDA suggested.

If you assume you had an issue with a COVID-19 check, you may report it by way of the FDA’s MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.

More data

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines what you want to find out about COVID-19 testing.

SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, information launch, April 28, 2022

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April 12, 2022 – The FDA and Drug Enforcement Administration have issued joint warnings to on-line pharmacies they are saying are illegally promoting Adderall with out prescriptions.

Adderall, an amphetamine-based stimulant used to deal with consideration deficit hyperactivity dysfunction, “has a high potential for abuse and addiction and should only be used under the supervision of a licensed health care professional,” the FDA mentioned within the announcement.

The businesses issued warning letters to 2 on-line drug sellers specifically: Kubapharm.com and Premiumlightsupplier.com. Neither web site responded to requests for remark earlier than this story was printed.

The FDA and DEA inspired prospects who bought stimulants from these websites to do away with any treatment they haven’t used and to not purchase every other medicine on-line with out a prescription.

The warnings come only a month after reviews of a brand new wave of startups turning to TikTok adverts to push on-line gross sales of “schedule II” ADHD medicines – together with Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, and Concerta – to impressionable app customers.

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, handed by Congress in 2008, made it unlawful for docs to prescribe “scheduled” medicine – like opiates and amphetamines – with out an in-person appointment with the affected person beforehand.

This legislation was amended in 2020 because the coronavirus pandemic unfolded, with the DEA permitting registered practitioners in all states to prescribe “schedule II-V” medicine on-line with out an in-person medical analysis. Schedule II by V medicines embody medicine corresponding to Percocet and Adderall, however exclude hashish, a schedule I drug.

Neither of the websites focused by the FDA and DEA have been registered with the DEA to dispense managed substances on-line, the businesses mentioned. According to the businesses’ assertion, the net sellers have 15 enterprise days to reply with the steps they’re planning to take to handle these violations and stop them from taking place once more.

“Consumers cannot trust the safety or legitimacy of pills sold on unaccredited sites. DEA strongly urges anyone seeking controlled medications to obtain a prescription from a trusted medical professional and have it dispensed by a licensed pharmacy,” mentioned DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “We will continue working closely with our FDA partners to protect the integrity of the prescription drug supply chain and ensure the safety and health of our communities.”

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Nov. 30, 2021 — The Moderna CEO says current COVID-19 vaccines will possible be much less efficient in opposition to the brand new Omicron variant.

“There is no world, I think, where [the effectiveness] is the same level … we had with Delta,” Stephane Bancel informed the Financial Times.

“I think it’s going to be a material drop,” he mentioned. “I just don’t know how much, because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I’ve talked to … are like, ‘This is not going to be good.’”

Vaccine firms are actually learning whether or not the brand new Omicron variant might evade the present photographs. Some knowledge is predicted in about 2 weeks.

Bancel mentioned that if a brand new vaccine is required, it might take a number of months to supply at scale. He estimated that Moderna might make billions of vaccine doses in 2022.

“[Moderna] and Pfizer cannot get a billion doses next week. The math doesn’t work,” he mentioned. “But could we get the billion doses out by the summer? Sure.”

The information brought about some panic on Tuesday, prompting monetary markets to fall sharply, based on Reuters. But the markets recovered after European officers gave a extra reassuring outlook.

“Even if the new variant becomes more widespread, the vaccines we have will continue to provide protection,” Emer Cooke, government director of the European Medicines Agency, informed the European Parliament.

Cooke mentioned the company might approve new vaccines that concentrate on the Omicron variant inside 3 to 4 months, if wanted. Moderna and Pfizer have introduced they’re starting to tailor a shot to deal with the Omicron variant in case the info reveals they’re crucial.

Also on Tuesday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control introduced that 42 Omicron instances had been recognized in 10 European Union international locations, based on Reuters.

The instances had been gentle or had no signs, though they had been present in youthful individuals who could have gentle or no signs anyway.

“For the assessment of whether [Omicron] escapes immunity, we still have to wait until investigations in the laboratories with [blood samples] from people who have recovered have been carried out,” Andrea Ammon, MD, chair of the company, mentioned throughout an internet convention.

The University of Oxford, which developed a COVID-19 vaccine with AstraZeneca, mentioned on Tuesday that there’s no proof that vaccines received’t forestall extreme illness from the Omicron variant, based on Reuters.

“Despite the appearance of new variants over the past year, vaccines have continued to provide very high levels of protection against severe disease and there is no evidence so far that Omicron is any different,” the college mentioned in an announcement. “However, we have the necessary tools and processes in place for rapid development of an updated COVID-19 vaccine if it should be necessary.”

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Nov. 24, 2021 — Countries throughout Europe are dealing with one other surge in coronavirus circumstances, which may result in one other 700,000 deaths by March 1 if present tendencies proceed, the WHO introduced on Tuesday.

More than 1.5 million individuals have already died from COVID-19 within the 53 international locations that make up the World Health Organization’s European area. That means the dying toll may prime 2.2 million by early 2022.

Europe “remains firmly in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the WHO stated, noting that the coronavirus is the main explanation for dying throughout Europe and Central Asia. Between now and March, intensive care items in 49 of the 53 international locations will face “high or extreme stress.”

The WHO reported greater than 2.4 million new circumstances throughout the area final week, which made up 67% of all COVID-19 circumstances worldwide throughout that point. Deaths elevated to just about 4,200 per day, doubling the two,100 day by day deaths reported on the finish of September.

France reported greater than 30,000 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, marking the primary time since August that the nation had so many circumstances in 24 hours, in line with Reuters. Daily circumstances are up 54%, in comparison with final week, and the week-over-week enhance has been round 50% for 11 days straight.

“That is a very major increase in the infection rate, which shows that we really are, unfortunately, in a fifth wave of the epidemic,” Olivier Veran, the nation’s well being minister, informed lawmakers on Tuesday.

Germany additionally set a pandemic file on Monday with a 7-day common of greater than 51,000 day by day new circumstances, in line with CNBC. Russia reported a file excessive of greater than 1,200 day by day deaths for the week that ended Monday.

The WHO stated the newest wave is being fueled by a number of issues: the extra contagious Delta variant, individuals transferring indoors on account of colder climate, the easing of restrictions, and gradual vaccine uptake in some international locations.

About 53% of the inhabitants is absolutely vaccinated within the WHO’s European area, however charges range from 10% to greater than 80% throughout international locations. Many jap international locations have decrease charges, with 24% of the inhabitants absolutely vaccinated in Bulgaria, as in comparison with about 87% in Portugal, 78% in Demark, 71% in Germany, and 65% in Austria.

“As we approach the end of 2021, let’s do everything we can by getting vaccinated and taking personal protective measures to avoid the last resort of lockdowns and school closures,” Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, stated within the WHO assertion.

Some international locations are placing strict measures into place once more to comprise the unfold of the virus, which has sparked protests, in line with The New York Times. On Monday, Austria returned to lockdown for at the least 10 days, closing retailers, eating places, and vacation markets. The Netherlands additionally started a partial lockdown through the weekend, and Germany might announce new restrictions this week.

In addition, extra international locations are approving booster photographs for absolutely vaccinated individuals, together with France, Germany, and Greece, in line with the BBC. More proof is exhibiting that vaccine safety is waning and breakthrough circumstances have gotten extra frequent, in line with the WHO, which inspired international locations to approve booster doses for weak teams, well being care employees, and folks over age 60.

Europe and Central Asia face “a challenging winter ahead,” Kluge stated. He known as for a “vaccine plus” method, which incorporates getting vaccinated, following bodily distancing tips, and sporting masks.

Face masks scale back coronavirus transmission by 53%, the WHO stated, which may forestall greater than 160,000 deaths by March 1.

The U.S. State Department has responded to the European surge by including Denmark and Germany to its “Do Not Travel” checklist, which is the highest-risk class for journey, in line with The Washington Post.

The Level 4 designation implies that each the CDC and State Department advocate in opposition to touring to these international locations, even when persons are vaccinated. Other European international locations had been added to the Level 4 checklist final week, together with the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Iceland.

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Nov. 22, 2021

With Thanksgiving nearly right here, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued tips about the most secure approach to put together your turkey.

First of all, you shouldn’t wash or rinse your chook. That could seem counterintuitive, however washing the turkey can unfold germs and micro organism throughout your kitchen.

“Federal food safety advice has recommended against washing turkey or chicken since 2005, but some habits are hard to break,” the CDC says, citing a 2020 survey that discovered 78% of respondents did rinse or wash their turkeys.

“Old recipes and family cooking traditions may keep this practice going, but it can make you and your family sick. Poultry juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops.”

Next, don’t take into consideration thawing your frozen turkey on the counter. When a turkey is left at room temperature for greater than two hours, its temperature turns into unsafe and will attain “the danger zone” between 40 and 140 levels Fahrenheit, the CDC says.

Instead, thaw the turkey in a container within the fridge; in a leak-proof plastic bag in a sink of chilly water (ensuring to alter the water each half hour); or within the microwave, when you personal one large enough to accommodate a turkey.

Other kitchen suggestions from the CDC:

Keep it clear. Wash your fingers with cleaning soap for 20 seconds after dealing with turkey. Use a separate reducing board for uncooked turkey and by no means place different meals on a plate or reducing board that has held uncooked turkey. Wash reducing boards and utensils with scorching soapy water.

Cook your stuffing totally. Whether you prepare dinner it contained in the turkey or in a casserole dish, use a meals thermometer to verify the middle of the stuffing hits 165 levels Fahrenheit. If you prepare dinner it within the turkey, wait 20 minutes after eradicating the chook from the oven to take the stuffing out; this permits it to prepare dinner extra.

Use a meals thermometer in your turkey. The thawed chook needs to be positioned in a roasting pan inside an oven set at 325 levels Fahrenheit or greater. Even in case your turkey has a pop-up temperature indicator, use a meals thermometer and ensure it at the least 165 levels at thickest parts of the breast, thigh, and wing joint. Let your turkey sit for 20 minutes earlier than carving.

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Nov. 11, 2021 — The U.S. Postal Service expressed issues on Wednesday that the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for giant firms may have an effect on deliveries, based on Reuters.

In a monetary submitting, the USPS stated complying with the order may result in “labor challenges and high levels of absenteeism.” The postal service has 644,000 workers throughout the nation.

The order “will be extremely challenging to implement and administer during the height of our peak season, particularly given its expedited schedule,” the USPS wrote within the submitting.

Some workers may resolve to go away, which “could cause significant business disruptions, and could adversely impact service performance and result in lower mail volume and revenue,” the postal service stated.

Last week, the Department of Labor issued particulars concerning the order, which requires companies with 100 or extra workers to mandate COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing by Jan. 4. The guidelines additionally require employers to make sure that unvaccinated workers who work in particular person put on masks by Dec. 5.

The fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans is deciding whether or not to elevate an order issued on Saturday that froze the rule briefly, Reuters reported. States, spiritual organizations, and personal employers have sued the federal authorities, claiming that it exceeded its authority in issuing the vaccine mandate.

The Postal Service remains to be reviewing the Biden administration’s order, David Partenheimer, a spokesman for the USPS, informed Reuters on Wednesday.

“We continue to take measures to protect the health and safety of our postal workers,” he stated.

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Amie Reaux, mom of Keighlie Reaux, Youngsville, LA.

Michelle Owens, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.

Torri Metz, MD, affiliate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Emily Adhikari, MD, medical director of perinatal infectious ailments, Parkland Hospital, Dallas.

Danielle Jones, MD, obstetrician-gynecologist, Austin, TX.

Mary Healy, MD, affiliate professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston.

CDC: “COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19,” “Maternal Mortality Rates within the United States, 2019,” “COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19,” “COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding.”

Obstetrics & Gynecology: “Disease Severity and Perinatal Outcomes of Pregnant Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).”

Washington Post: “Pregnant ladies agonize over whether or not to get coronavirus vaccine.”

New England Journal of Medicine: “Preliminary Findings of mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine Safety in Pregnant Persons.”

Twitter: @MamaDoctorJones.

Commonwealth Fund: “Maternal Mortality and Maternity Care within the United States Compared to 10 Other Developed Countries.”

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology: “Increasing severity of COVID-19 in being pregnant with Delta (B.1.617.2) variant surge.”

British Medical Bulletin: “The administration of hypertension in ladies planning for being pregnant.”

GoFundMe “Keighlie Renee Reaux Covid Relief Fund.”

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