Notices by Carolyn Barber, MD (cbarbermd@med-mastodon.com)

The @US_FDA has finally banned the use of red dye No. 3 in food, beverages & drugs, more than 30 years after scientists discovered links to cancer in animals, the agency announced today.

Why does the FDA take so long to ban harmful ingredients present in our food supply? https://shorturl.at/7AAjM #press

@Infoseepage Thank you!

China allegedly has had> 100 #h5n1 #birdflu infections in the country to date, per a source working in China’s disease monitoring & prevention sector.

The source didn’t reveal how the infections were acquired or whether there was any evidence of H2H transmission. Authorities are said to be building isolation facilities. https://shorturl.at/C62hh #press

Nice! “We are going to position Cybertrucks with Starlinks and free WiFi in a grid pattern in the areas that most need it in the greater LA/Malibu area.”— Elon Musk #press #fires

A man in his 20s has died from #h5n1 infection in Cambodia.

"The medical staff gave intensive treatment, but symptoms such as difficulty breathing were severe and he eventually died."

The deceased raised chickens and cooked and ate sick chickens.🐓
KEY: Do not touch (or eat) sick chickens, birds or other animals.
https://www.mk.co.kr/en/world/11215378 #press

“Given the magnitude of the disaster, I'm announcing that the federal govt will cover 100% of the cost for 180 days. This is going to pay for things like debris & hazard removal, temporary shelters, first responders salaries, & all necessary measures to protect life and property. I told the governor, ‘Spare no expense and do what they need to do to contain these fires & help these communities that have been devastated.’”

Than you, President Biden!🙏 #wildfire #press

We are not prepared.

“There’s no number of helicopters or trucks that we can buy, no number of firefighters that we can have, no amount of brush that we can clear that will stop this,” Garcetti, said. “The only thing that will stop this is when the earth, probably long after we’re gone, relaxes into a more predictable weather state.”https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/opinion/california-wildfire-los-angeles.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
#press #wildfire

NEW: Biden bans new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters.

"This is an epic ocean victory!" said Joseph Gordon, campaign director for the environmental group Oceana

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-offshore-drilling-ban-trump/ #environment #press

Chest x-rays of 13 yo Canadian teen with #birdflu

#press

Twenty big cats, including a Bengal tiger, four cougars, a lynx and four bobcats, have died after contracting bird flu at an animal sanctuary in Washington.

“We’ve never had anything like it…Not something like this, it’s a pretty wicked virus.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/25/twenty-big-cats-die-bird-flu

“Here's our final Christmas Day forecast. If nobody is testing/isolating...

🔹1 in 8 chance of an exposure in a family gathering of 10 people
🔹1 in 3 chance of exposure in a restaurant near 30 people
🔹3 out of 4 chance on a plane of >100 people”- r/t Michael Hoerger

#press #COVID

CDC confirms 1st human case of bird flu in Wisconsin. The young female farmworker had mild symptoms & appears to be recovering fine. Meanwhile, 19 people on the commercial poultry farm may have been exposed and are being monitored for symptoms.

Wouldn’t it be great if @DHSWI & @CDCgov tested them all in case of subclinical illness??

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2024/12/20/first-human-case-of-bird-flu-in-wisconsin-confirmed-by-cdc/77085607007/

#birdflu #press

Maybe Luigi should have ordered a Whopper 🍔 @BK instead of a Big Mac @ The Golden Arches…

#press

“The firefighter was asked why he laughed while saving this senior lady.
He said that she said to him:
"This reminded me of my wedding night." 😅❤️”
-- r/t phlash011

Always good to have a sense of humor(& it shows that she appears to be mentating fine! ) #press

Covid vaccines save lives…

#COVID #press

It’s not rocket 🚀 science…masking 😷 protects hospitalized patients.

In a study of >640K hosp. admissions at Mass General(2020-24), stopping universal masking/ Covid testing was assoc with a 25%⬆️ in hospital-onset resp viral infections; resumption of masking among staff was assoc with a 33% decrease!! And we know that hosp-acquired resp. viral infections are associated with longer inpatient stays, higher mortality, etc.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2827170 #COVID #flu

Tap H2O for the win! 🌊 ‼️

It’s estimated that 10-78% of bottled water samples contain contaminants, including microplastics & phthalates.

While tap water is tightly regulated, bottle water isn’t subject to the same rigorous safety & quality checks, “meaning it can carry more harmful chemicals that have leached in from the plastic bottles.”

Researchers here call for an “urgent re-evaluation of its widespread use.” https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/water-bottle-unhealthy-study
#plastic #plastic #press

America has a $250 billion problem: Microplastics have invaded our bloodstreams and may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

https://fortune.com/well/article/microplastics-health-effects/ #plastic #press

Researchers found a 62% drop in cervical cancer deaths in young women over the last decade due to HPV vaccination! That’s huge! 

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/human-papillomavirus-hpv/hpv-vaccines-linked-drop-cervical-cancer-deaths

#cancer #press

“The air quality inside the subway system is poor.”

An NYU study found that the air on subway platforms is potentially unhealthy because it contains tiny, invisible particluate matter like iron—undoubtedly related to friction btwn brakes, train wheels & subway tracks.

Concentrations in some stations were 15x ⬆️ than WHO guidelines. Exposure to particulate matter varied among routes & riders with longer commutes were exposed to more air pollution.

Scientific studies 1/2