1918-19 Spanish Flu (H1N1)• 20-50 million deaths worldwide• >500,000 U.S. deaths 1957-58 Asian Flu (H2N2)• 70,000 U.S. deaths 1968-69 Hong Kong Flu (H3N2)• 34,000 U.S. deaths Estimated Impact of a Future Avian Influenza Pandemic in the U.S. Deaths: 89,000 – 207,000 Hospitalizations: 314,000 – …
A team of Princeton scientists has discovered a key mechanism in how bacteria communicate with each other, a pivotal breakthrough that could lead to treatments for cholera and other bacterial diseases. The mechanism is a chemical that cholera bacteria use for transmitting messages to each …
What Is Foodborne Illness? Foodborne illness often presents itself as flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, so many people may not recognize the illness is caused by bacteria or other pathogens in food. Thousands of types of bacteria are naturally present in …
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a leading cause of foodborne illness. Based on a 1999 estimate, 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occur in the United States each year. Infection with E. coli often leads to bloody diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure. People can …
Salmonella is a rod-shaped, motile bacterium – nonmotile exceptions S. gallinarum and S. pullorum – nonsporeforming and Gram-negative. There is a widespread occurrence in animals, especially in poultry and swine. Environmental sources of the organism include water, soil, insects, factory surfaces, kitchen surfaces, animal feces, …
Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming rod that produces a potent neurotoxin. The spores are heat-resistant and can survive in foods that are incorrectly or minimally processed. Seven types (A, B, C, D, E, F and G) of botulism are recognized, based on the …
HACCP is a systematic approach to the identification, evaluation, and control of food safety hazards. It embraces seven principles: Principle 1: Conduct a hazard analysis. Principle 2: Determine the critical control points (CCPs). Principle 3: Establish critical limits. Principle 4: Establish monitoring procedures. Principle …
Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram-negative slender, curved, and motile rod. It is a microaerophilic organism, which means it has a requirement for reduced levels of oxygen. It is relatively fragile, and sensitive to environmental stresses (e.g., 21% oxygen, drying, heating, disinfectants, acidic conditions). Because of …
What is SARS? Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness that was recognized as a global threat in March 2003, after first appearing in Southern China in November 2002. What are the symptoms and signs of SARS? The illness usually …
Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as “staph,” is a type of bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the …