Health – Headline Smart

Child Dies After Visiting Petting Zoo

Health authorities are investigating after the girl developed a life-threatening illness following a visit to a petting farm in Victoria. MELBOURNE, Australia — A 3-year-old girl has died after spending six weeks in intensive care with a rare, life-threatening complication of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection, with her family saying she may have contracted the bacteria while visiting a petting farm in Victoria. The girl, whose family has asked that she not be publicly …

College Football Player Dies After Scoring Season-Opening Touchdown

The 20-year-old junior became ill on the sideline during Saturday’s Division II opener against Fort Lewis College and later died at a hospital. LIBERTY, Mo. — William Jewell College junior running back MicahJo Barnett, 20, died Saturday after experiencing a medical emergency on the sideline during the Cardinals’ season opener against Fort Lewis College, according to the school and Liberty police. Emergency personnel who were already at the Aug. 29 game responded to a player …

Girl, 8, Dies After Lake Swim Leads to Deadly Infection

Lillian Smart died Aug. 22 after health officials said a confirmed Naegleria fowleri infection was most likely acquired at Lake Claiborne. RUSTON, La. — An 8-year-old Ruston girl whose family said she was battling a rare Naegleria fowleri infection died Saturday, days after Louisiana health officials reported that a confirmed infection was most likely acquired while swimming in Lake Claiborne. Lillian Smart had been hospitalized since Aug. 15, according to local reporting. The Louisiana Department …

Blueberry Recall Reaches FDA’s Highest Risk Classification

Twelve illnesses and four hospitalizations have been reported as officials investigate E. coli O145:H28 linked to GreenWise frozen blueberries. LAKELAND, Fla. — A recall involving GreenWise organic frozen blueberries has received the Food and Drug Administration’s most serious risk classification as federal and state health officials continue investigating an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 12 people in Florida and Georgia. The FDA lists the recall of a lot of frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries …

13-Year-Old Cheerleader Dies Suddenly

A neighborhood lemonade stand raised more than $1,000 as the community mourned 13-year-old Lainey Scroggs in Lambertville, Michigan. LAMBERTVILLE, Mich. — Children in a Michigan neighborhood turned a lemonade stand into a show of support for the family of 13-year-old Lainey Scroggs, a cheerleader and rising eighth grader who died after a medical emergency. Bedford Public Schools announced Lainey’s death after the medical emergency on Aug. 12. She was preparing to begin eighth grade at …

Major Egg Recall Reaches FDA’s Highest Danger Category

The recall covers nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs as federal officials investigate 98 Salmonella illnesses reported across 17 states. WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have classified a recall of nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs as the highest level of health risk as an investigation continues into a multistate Salmonella outbreak that has hospitalized more than two dozen people. The recall involves 1,589,577 dozen white shell eggs and brown cage-free shell eggs from Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. …

Dog Food Recall Hits 11 States After Salmonella Discovery

The recall covers 639 bags from one production lot distributed in 11 states, with three illnesses reported in association with the complaint. AVON, Conn. — Oma’s Pride has voluntarily recalled one lot of its Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe after a sample collected by the Food and Drug Administration tested positive for Salmonella, according to a company announcement posted by the agency. The recall covers 639 six-pound bags of frozen raw dog food from lot …

Five Dead as Flesh-Eating Bacteria Cases Rise in US State

Nine patients with underlying health conditions were hospitalized after open wounds were exposed to seawater, according to state health data. BATON ROUGE, La. — At least five people in Louisiana have died this year after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, a potentially deadly bacterium found naturally in coastal waters, as the state reports an unusually high number of deaths compared with recent years. Louisiana had reported nine Vibrio vulnificus cases and five deaths as of Aug. 5, …

6-Year-Old Girl Dies Suddenly Days Before Starting First Grade

Authorities are awaiting medical records and autopsy findings after Emersyn Bridgers died days before she was due to start first grade. CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — A 6-year-old Georgia girl died July 27 before a scheduled tonsillectomy, leaving her family and school community grieving while authorities work to determine what happened before the planned procedure. Emersyn “Emmy” Bridgers had recently completed kindergarten at Euharlee Elementary School in Bartow County and was preparing to begin first grade. Reports …

Bacon Recall Hits Grocery Stores in Three States

The Canadian products entered the United States without required federal import reinspection, according to food-safety officials. WASHINGTON — Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is recalling about 12,036 pounds of smoked bacon imported from Canada after federal officials determined the products entered the United States without required import reinspection. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall July 24. The affected bacon was distributed to grocery distributors and retailers in Idaho, Oregon …