Fever

• Xolair is intended for repeated use to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and is not approved for the immediate emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
• "While it will not eliminate food allergies or allow patients to consume food allergens freely, its repeated use will help reduce the health impact if accidental exposure occurs."
• Current treatment requires strict avoidance of the food(s) the patient is allergic to, and prompt administration of epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis should accidental exposures occur.
• Xolair is the first FDA-approved medication to reduce allergic reactions to more than one type of food after accidental exposure.

• More than 700 cases of this gastrointestinal disease were reported in Queensland in January, which is 13 times more than in January last year.
• Read more:
  What lies beneath: the bugs lurking in your swimming pool

What causes cryptosporidiosis, and who is affected?

• Cryptosporidum hominis only affects humans and is the major cause of recent outbreaks in Australia, while Cryptosporidium parvum can also affect animals.
• The infection is spread by spores called oocysts in the stools of humans and animals.
• Cryptosporidiosis is more prevalent in young children, particularly those under five, but the disease can affect people of any age.

So how do we catch it?

• The largest recorded outbreak occurred in Milwaukee in 1993 where 403,000 people were believed to have been infected.
• As few as ten oocysts can cause infection, making it possible for contaminated drinking water to affect a very large number of people.
• Oocysts have been found in foods such as fresh vegetables and seafood but these are not common sources of infection in Australia.

What about chlorine?

• Young children and in particular children in nappies are known to increase the potential for disease transmission in recreational water.
• Proper nappy changing, frequent bathroom breaks and showering before swimming to remove faecal residue are helpful ways to reduce the risk.

Some sensible precautions

Other measures you can take to reduce yours and others’ risk of cryptosporidiosis include:
avoid swimming in natural waters such as rivers and creeks during and for at least three days after heavy rain
avoid swimming in beaches for at least one day after heavy rain
avoid drinking untreated water such as water from rivers or springs. If you need to drink untreated water, boiling it first will kill the Cryptosporidium
avoid swallowing water when swimming if you can
if you’ve had diarrhoea, avoid swimming for at least two weeks after it has resolved
avoid sharing towels or linen for at least two weeks after diarrhoea has resolved
avoid sharing, touching or preparing food that other people may eat for at least 48 hours after diarrhoea has resolved
wash your hands with soap and water after going to the bathroom or before preparing food (Cryptosporidium is not killed by alcohol gels and sanitisers).
Not all cases of diarrhoea are due to cryptosporidiosis. There are many other causes of infectious gastroenteritis and because the vast majority of the time recovery is uneventful you don’t need to see a doctor unless very unwell. If you do suspect you may have cryptosporidiosis you can ask your doctor to refer you for a stool test.
Vincent Ho does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• FSIS is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella.
• FSIS collected unopened RTE Coppa product as part of the investigation, which tested positive for Salmonella, but that product was not released into commerce.
• The company conducted a recall of charcuterie products on January 3, 2024 , related to possible Salmonella contamination and FSIS issued a public health alert on January 18, 2024 , related to additional charcuterie products.
• FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

• According to The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Thailand's medicinal herbal exports are between 100 -150 billion baht, or 2.8-4.2 billion USD annually.
• KK Strategies disclosed that Thailand is set for unprecedented growth due to recent government policies supporting the development medicinal herbal industry, particularly for exportation to the United States.
• This is particularly true for the pain related medicinal herbal exports.
• KK Strategies highlighted that its valuation for the industry is conservative, taking The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine's low end figure of 100 billion baht or 2.8 billion USD annually into account.