New York Times Questions Safety of Processed Beef

An in depth investigation by the New York Times has revealed some startling information about the safety of processed beef approved for human consumption. Since pet food is the very last thing of concern with government agencies, if these risks were discovered in people food, imagine what could be found in pet foods (if anyone bothered to look). It is frightening to consider.


Click on title above to go to Sues website to real original article;

http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/safety-of-processed-beef-for-humans-questioned-imagine-the-lack-of-safety-with-pet-food-meat.html

NH Gal Gets Anthrax from Playing BONGO Drums

Guess this means you can maybe catch it from wearing (or even touching) leather products? Hummmm.

ANTHRAX, HUMAN - USA: (NEW HAMPSHIRE)
****************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 7 Jan 2010
Source: Concord Monitor/AP [edited]



A woman who was in critical condition with an extremely rare form of
anthrax is improving and is no longer in intensive care, a state
health official said yesterday [6 Jan 2010].

The young woman from Strafford County became ill with
gastrointestinal anthrax in early December 2009 and is being treated
in a Boston hospital. Authorities still are investigating how she
became infected but believe the most likely scenario is that she
swallowed anthrax spores propelled into the air by drums at a
gathering in Durham last month [December 2009].

Two of the 64 animal skin drums used during the United Campus
Ministry center's 4 Dec 2009 drum circle have tested positive for
anthrax, as has an electrical outlet in the building. 52 other drums
tested negative, and the other 10 will be tested today [7 Jan 2010],
said Dr. Elizabeth Talbot, adviser to the state Department of Health
and Human Services.

Two recent U.S. anthrax cases also were traced to drums covered with
animal hides, but those involved spores that were either inhaled into
the lungs or entered through the skin of patients who were exposed
while making drums. The gastrointestinal form usually occurs after
eating raw or under cooked contaminated meat.

Testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed
that the strain of anthrax found on the drums and outlet matched the
patient's strain. Talbot said the strain in question is a very common
one worldwide, and authorities can't pinpoint where it came from. She
said there is no obvious link between the 2 infected drums, which
aren't the same type or age. The origins of the animal hides aren't
clear, Talbot said.

Investigators with the state Department of Environmental Services and
federal Environmental Protection Agency planned to conduct more
testing today [7 Jan 2010] at the campus ministry center, which has
been closed during the investigation. Talbot said officials have
contacted 52 of the approximately 60 people who attended the drum
circle, and several have taken the state up on its offer of
antibiotics and vaccinations.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[It is good to read that this young woman is out of intensive care.
It has been a worrying time.

This woman was apparently exposed on 4 Dec 2009 at a drumming
session. Considering the inherent dangers in oral antibiotics and the
moderate persisting risk, the attendees would be wiser to go for
vaccination. This would have the additional advantage of protecting
them during drumming meetings over the next 12-18 months, something
that antibiotics would certainly not do.

Clarification is being sought on the genomic nature of the isolates
and the problems of locating them. - Mod.MHJ]

[see also:
2009
----
Anthrax, human - USA (03): (NH) 20091230.4390
Anthrax, human - USA (02): (NH) 20091229.4374
Anthrax, human - USA: (NH) 20091227.4360]
..............................................mhj/msp/dk

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PRION DISEASE UPDATE 2010

PRION DISEASE UPDATE 2010
**************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


[With the continuing decline in the number of cases in the human
population of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease -- abbreviated
previously as vCJD or CJD (new var.) in ProMED-mail -- it has been
decided to broaden the scope of the occasional ProMED-mail updates to
include some other prion-related diseases. In addition to vCJD, data
on other forms of CJD: sporadic, iatrogenic, familial, and GSS
(Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease), are included also since
they may have some relevance to the incidence and etiology of vCJD. - Mod.CP]

In this update:
[1] UK: National CJD Surveillance Unit - monthly statistics as of 5 Jan 2010
[2] France: Institut de Veille Sanitaire - monthly statistics as of 4 Jan 2010
[3] US National Prion Disease Center - not updated since 7 Nov 2009
[4] Portuguese vCJD case - pathology
[5] vCJD codon 129 heterozygote
[6] vCJD codon 129 heterozygote - Lancet paper
[7] Prion evolution & a new reagent

******
[1] UK: National CJD Surveillance Unit - monthly statistics as of 5 Jan 2010
Date: Tue 5 Jan 2010
Source: UK National CJD Surveillance Unit, monthly statistics [edited]



The number of deaths due to definite or probable vCJD cases remains
166. A total of 4 definite/probable patients are still alive, so that
the total number of definite or probable vCJD cases remains 170 for
the year 2009.

Although 2 new cases vCJE were recorded in 2009, the overall picture
is still consistent with the view that the vCJD outbreak in the UK is
in decline, albeit now with a pronounced tail. The 1st cases were
observed in 1995, and the peak number of deaths was 28 in the year
2000, followed by 20 in 2001, 17 in 2002, 18 in 2003, 9 in 2004, 5 in
2005, 5 in 2006, 5 in 2007, one in 2008, and 2 in 2009.

Totals for all types of CJD cases in the UK in the year 2009
--------------------------------------------
During the 12 months of 2009, there have been 143 referrals, 59 cases
of sporadic CJD, one case of familial CJD, one case of iatrogenic
CJD, 3 cases of GSS, and 2 cases of vCJD.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[2] France: Institut de Veille Sanitaire - monthly statistics as of 4 Jan 2010
Date: Mon 4 Jan 2010
Source: IVS - Maladie de Creutzfeldt-Jakob et maladies apparentees
[in French, trans. & summ. Mod.CP]



During the 12 months of 2009, there were 1486 referrals, 85 cases of
sporadic CJD, 10 cases of familial CJD, 3 cases of iatrogenic CJD,
and 2 confirmed cases of vCJD.

A total of 25 cases of confirmed or probable vCJD has now been
recorded in France since 1997. The 25 confirmed cases comprise 13
females and 12 males. All 25 are now deceased. Their median age is 37
(between 19 and 58). Seven were resident in the Ile-de-France and 18
in the provinces. All the identified cases have been Met-Met
homozygotes. No risk factor has been identified. One of the 25 had
made frequent visits to the United Kingdom.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[3] US National Prion Disease Center - not updated since 7 Nov 2009
Date: Sat 7 Nov 2009
Source: US National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center [edited]



(Report not updated since 7 Dec 2009): During the period 1 Jan 2009
to 7 Nov 2009, there were 341 referrals, of which 198 were classified
as Prion disease, comprising 133 cases of sporadic CJD, 33 of
familial CJD, and no cases of iatrogenic CJD or vCJD.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

******
[4] Portuguese vCJD case - pathology
Date: Fri 1 Jan 2010
Source: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2010 Jan;81(1):112-4. [edited]



Title: Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: the first confirmed case
from Portugal shows early onset, long duration and unusual pathology.

Authors: Barbot C, Castro L, Oliveira C, Carpenter S.
At: Department of Neuropaediatrics, Hospital Maria Pia, Porto, Portugal.

Summary:
We present clinical and autopsy findings in the 1st case of variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease diagnosed and confirmed in Portugal. Onset
was at 11 years, the earliest onset reported, and the course (32
months) relatively long. Western blot showed protease resistant prion
protein, mainly of type 4 (2B) isoform. The cerebral cortex revealed
severe spongiform change with numerous amyloid plaques, which did not
fit the definition of florid plaques. In the striatum, spongiform
change was limited, but the extracellular space was dilated. Other
reports have found marked spongiform change in the striatum and
little in the cortex. Massive neuronal loss, in excess of what has
been described, was found in the thalamus and pontine grey. The
cerebellum showed, as expected, severe loss of granule cells,
moderate loss of Purkinje cells and marked immunopositivity for the
prion protein. Differences between our findings and previous ones
probably result from the patient's long survival.

--
Communicated by:
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.

******
[5] vCJD codon 129 heterozygote
Date: Fri 19 Dec 2009
Source: BBC News, Health [edited]



A 30-year-old man thought to have died in January [2009] from vCJD
belonged to a genetic group that had not shown any signs of the
disease, scientists say. In the UK, 166 people have died of vCJD,
linked to eating BSE [bovine spongiform encephalopathy] infected
beef, and all were thought to have shared a certain gene.

Writing in the Lancet, scientists say that the victim, a resident of,
Lanarkshire [Scotland], had a different version of the gene. They
estimate that up to 350 people in this group could get vCJD.
Scientists have always thought that a 2nd wave of vCJD cases would
emerge some time after the 1st. This is the 1st indication that this
theory is being born out, with the identification of the 1st probable
vCJD patient outside of the initial genetic group, BBC science
correspondent Pallab Ghosh reports.

The father believes his son was incubating the disease for much of
his life. It is probable because the diagnosis is based on
observations of the progression of the disease rather than
post-mortem tests which would have provided absolute confirmation of
the disease, he adds.

The case report written by Professor John Collinge of the National
Prion Clinic and colleagues is a reminder that the disease has not
gone away. Many thousands of people may be carrying the infection,
and although they will never show any symptoms, they have the
potential to infect others.

vCJD is caused by infectious agents called prions. Prion diseases
affect the structure of the brain or other neural tissue and are
currently untreatable. Disease-causing prions are thought to consist
of abnormally folded proteins, which spread by encouraging the normal
healthy prion protein found on the surface of most cells in the body
to change shape. Tests showed that the patient had a heterozygous
version of the gene which codes for the human prion amino acids
valine (V) or methionine (M). People can be V V (homozygous), M M
(homozygous) or M V (heterozygous). Since 1994, around 200 cases of
vCJD have been identified worldwide, and all those tested have been M
M homozygous. [However, genetic analysis of 2 out of 3 prion-positive
appendix samples in the tissue-based prevalence study in 2001-2004
showed that both were valine homozygous (VV) at codon 129 in the
prion protein gene (Ironside et al, Brit Med J 2006). - Mod.CP].
However, this most recent victim was M/V heterozygous. It is thought
that 47 percent of the population have this version of the gene.
Professor Collinge said: "The majority of the UK population have
potentially been exposed to BSE prions, but the extent of clinically
silent infection remains unclear. About 1/3rd of the UK population
are M/M homozygous. If individuals with other genotypes [M/V and V/V]
are similarly susceptible to developing prion disease after BSE prion
exposure, but with longer incubation periods, further cases would be expected."

The scientists have previously looked at another prion disease in New
Guinea called "kuru" [which was induced by eating infected human
brain tissue. - Mod.CP]. The original cases were all M/M, but more
recently, M/V cases have appeared. They say this indicates that M/V
people can get prion diseases like kuru but have a much longer
incubation period.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[The abstract of the Lancet paper upon which the above report is
based is reproduced below. - Mod.CP]

******
[6] vCJD codon 129 heterozygote - Lancet paper
Date: Thu 18 Dec 2009
Source: Lancet 2009; 374: 2128 [edited]



[A Case Report published in the 18 Dec 2009 issue of the Lancet by
Professor John Collinge, MRC Prion Unit and National Prion Clinic,
UCL Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and
Neurosurgery, London]

A 30-year-old man was admitted to hospital in June 2008 with a
13-month history of personality change, progressive unsteadiness, and
intellectual decline. He complained of severe leg pain and poor
memory. Two months later, he developed visual hallucinations and
falsely believed he had an abdominal tumour. Symptoms worsened over
the next 3 months. In October 2008, his score on the mini mental
state examination was 26/30. Pursuit eye movements were saccadic [a
rapid movement of the eye between fixation points]. He had a pout
reflex. There was mild ataxia in the arms. His legs were severely
ataxic with brisk tendon reflexes and a left extensor plantar
response. He needed 2 crutches to walk. Medical history included
tonsillectomy and removal of a cervical lymph node 15 years
previously, but he had never had a blood transfusion or received
implantation of other human tissues.

EEG showed slow wave activity. CSF protein, glucose, and cell count
were normal, but the 14-3-3 protein was positive. MRI [magnetic
resonance imaging] of the brain was consistent with the pulvinar sign
(illustrated in the original text). Although not all
neuroradiologists consulted considered the pulvinar sign positive,
quantitative assessment showed symmetrical higher signal in the
pulvinar nuclei than the caudate nuclei (illustrated in the original
text). Extensive screens for genetic, metabolic, and autoimmune
diseases, including those induced by neoplasia, were negative. PRNP
analysis did not show any known disease-associated mutations; codon
129 was heterozygous. A clinical diagnosis of variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) was made on the basis of a
characteristic clinical onset and progression, exclusion of other
diagnoses, and MRI findings. Sporadic CJD was judged unlikely given
the combination of young age, clinical features, MRI findings, and
absence of pseudoperiodic complexes on EEG. His care givers did not
want further investigation. His condition deteriorated, and he died
in January 2009. Autopsy was not done.

Human prion diseases have acquired, sporadic, and inherited
aetiologies, show wide phenotypic heterogeneity, and are associated
with propagation of infectious prions of many distinct strain types
(1). Since 1994, about 200 cases of vCJD, causally related to
exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) prions, have been
identified world-wide. vCJD is generally seen in young adults, has
characteristic neuropathological features and tissue distribution of
infectivity, and a distinctive type 4 (London classification)
molecular strain type (1). A polymorphism at codon 129 (encoding
methionine or valine) of the human prion protein gene (PRNP)
constitutes a powerful susceptibility factor in all types of prion
disease. In vCJD, every case genotyped to date has been methionine
homozygous. In the other acquired prion diseases, cases have occurred
in all genotypes but with different mean incubation periods (1),
which can span decades (2); PRNP codon 129 heterozygotes generally have!
the longest incubation periods. There is a report of a recipient of
a blood transfusion from a donor incubating vCJD who died of
unrelated causes but showed signs of prion infection at autopsy and
was PRNP codon 129 heterozygous (3). Animal studies have suggested
that different clinicopathological phenotypes could occur in people
with various PRNP codon 129 genotypes (4,5). The majority of the UK
population have potentially been exposed to BSE prions but the extent
of clinically silent infection remains unclear. About 1/3rd of the UK
population are PRNP codon 129 methionine homozygous. If individuals
with other genotypes [V/V or V/M] are similarly susceptible to
developing prion disease after BSE prion exposure, but with longer
incubation periods, further cases, which may or may not meet
diagnostic criteria for vCJD, would be expected in these PRNP codon
129 genotypes. However, prion disease susceptibility and incubation
periods are also affected by other genetic loci, and the possibility
remains that cases of vCJD to date may have unusual combinations of
genotypes at these loci, yet to be fully characterised.

References:

(1) Collinge J. Prion diseases of humans and animals: their causes
and molecular basis. Annu Rev Neurosci 2001; 24: 519-50.

(2) Collinge J, Whitfield J, McKintosh E, et al. Kuru in the 21st
century - an acquired human prion disease with very long incubation
periods. Lancet 2006; 367: 2068-74.

(3) Peden AH, Head MW, Ritchie DL, Bell JE, Ironside JW. Preclinical
vCJD after blood transfusion in a PRNP codon 129 heterozygous
patient. Lancet 2004; 364: 527-29.

(4) Asante E, Linehan J, Gowland I, et al. Dissociation of
pathological and molecular phenotype of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease in transgenic human prion protein 129 heterozygous mice. Proc
Natl Acad Sci USA 2006; 103: 10759-64.

(5) Wadsworth JD, Asante E, Desbruslais M, et al. Human prion protein
with valine 129 prevents expression of variant CJD phenotype. Science
2004; 306: 1793-96.

[Acknowledgment: MRC Prion Unit and National Prion Clinic, UCL
Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and
Neurosurgery, London, UK (D Kaski MRCP, S Mead PhD, H Hyare FRCR,
Prof J Collinge FRS, P Rudge FRCP); Institute of Neurological
Sciences, Glasgow University, Glasgow, UK (S Cooper MRCP, R Jampana
FRCR, J Overell FRCP); and National CJD Surveillance Unit, Western
General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK (Prof R Knight FRCP)]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[To put this work in perspective, parts of a British Medical Journal
editorial by Maurizio Pocchiari are reproduced below. - Mod.CP.

Date: 21 May 2009
Source: BMJ 2009;338:b435 [edited]


"Prevalence of variant CJD in the UK
----------------------------
The number of cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in
the United Kingdom has decreased since 2000, but controversy remains
about how many people carry the infectious agent and will eventually
develop disease. Clewley and colleagues in a limited study add to the
debate by assessing 63 007 pairs of tonsils for the only available
marker of prion disease, the pathological, partially protease
resistant, prion protein. Although more than half of the samples came
from people born between 1961 and 1995, when the risk of exposure to
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) infection was high, no
convincingly positive tonsil specimens were detected. This study
estimated that the prevalence of vCJD in the British population is
zero, but with a large confidence interval of 0 to 113 per million.

This result agrees with one UK survey of 2000 tonsil specimens, but
it differs from another survey of 1427 tonsils and 11 247 appendices,
which found that more than 10 000 people might be incubating the
disease. However, despite the discrepancy, the 95 percent confidence
intervals of the 2 studies overlap, indicating that the results do
not differ significantly and that many people in the UK may be carriers.

The chance that no one in the UK is incubating the disease, as
suggested by the lower confidence limit of Clewley and colleagues'
study, is unlikely because backup calculations predict up to 100 new
cases of vCJD in the next 50 years. This prediction seems reasonable
unless most cases of vCJD were missed by surveillance in the past years.

Until December 2008, all 210 people reported to have vCJD (164 in the
UK, 46 in other countries) were homozygous for methionine at the
polymorphic codon 129 of the prion protein gene (PRNP), suggesting
that genetic factors strongly influence the development of disease.
Whether people who are heterozygous for methionine and valine or
homozygous for valine at this codon (about 60 percent of the
population) will develop vCJD in the future is still unknown.
However, data from gene targeted transgenic mice indicate that these
people are also susceptible to BSE and vCJD, although incubation
periods are longer than in those who are homozygous for methionine."

Interested readers should consult the original article for further
information and references. - Mod.CP]

******
[7] Prion evolution & a new reagent
Date: 1 Jan 2010
Source: BBC Health News [edited]



Abnormal prion proteins cause at least 20 fatal diseases. Scientists
have shown for the 1st time that "lifeless" prion proteins, devoid of
all genetic material, can evolve just like higher forms of life. The
Scripps Research Institute in the US says the prions can change to
suit their environment and go on to develop drug resistance.

Prions are associated with 20 different brain diseases in humans and
animals. The scientists say their work suggests new approaches might
be necessary to develop therapies for these diseases. In the study,
published in the journal Science [see below], the scientists
transferred prion populations from brain cells to other cells in
culture and observed the prions that adapted to the new cellular
environment out-competed their brain-adapted counterparts. When
returned to the brain cells, the brain-adapted prions again took over
the population.

Charles Weissmann, head of Scripps Florida's department of
infectology who led the study, said: "On the face of it, you have
exactly the same process of mutation and adaptive change in prions as
you see in viruses. This is a timely reminder that prion concerns are
not going away and that controls to stop abnormal prions being
transmitted to humans through the food system or through blood
transfusions must be vigorously maintained."

Professor John Collinge, Medical Research Council Prion Unit stated
that: "This means that this pattern of Darwinian evolution appears to
be universally active. In viruses, mutation is linked to changes in
nucleic acid sequence that leads to resistance. Now, this
adaptability has moved one level down -- to prions and protein
folding -- and it's clear that you do not need nucleic acid (DNA or
RNA) for the process of evolution."

Mammalian cells normally produce cellular prion protein or PrPC.
During infections, such as the human form of mad cow disease, known
as vCJD, abnormal or mis-folded proteins convert the normal host
prion protein into its toxic form by changing its conformation or
shape. "It was generally thought that once cellular prion protein was
converted into the abnormal form, there was no further change," Prof.
Weissmann said. "But there have been hints that something was
happening. When you transmit prions from sheep to mice, they become
more virulent over time. Now we know that the abnormal prions
replicate and create variants, perhaps at a low level initially. But
once they are transferred to a new host, natural selection will
eventually choose the more virulent and aggressive variants."

Professor John Collinge, of the Medical Research Council's (MRC)
Prion Unit, described the research as exciting confirmation of a
hypothesis that he had proposed 2 years ago, that there could be a
"cloud" or whole array of prion proteins in the body. He called it
the cloud hypothesis: "The prion protein is not a clone, it is a
quasi-species that can create different protein strains even in the
same animal. The abnormal prion proteins multiply by converting
normal prion proteins. The implication of Charles Weissmann's work is
that it would be better to cut off that supply of normal prion
proteins rather than risk the abnormal prion adapting to a drug and
evolving into a new more virulent form. You would do this by trying
to block the sites on the normal prion protein that the abnormal form
locks on to to do its conversion. We know there is an antibody that
can do this in mice, and the Medical Research Council's Prion Unit
have managed to engineer a human antibody to do this. It is currently
undergoing safety tests, and we hope to move to clinical trials by
the end of 2011."

Professor Collinge said the MRC was also trying to find more
conventional chemical compounds to do this and has been collaborating
with the chemical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). He said: "They have
given us access to their chemical libraries, which contain millions
of compounds, and we have already identified some that may work well.
This is a timely reminder that prion concerns are not going away and
that controls to stop abnormal prions being transmitted to humans
through the food system or through blood transfusions must be
vigorously maintained."

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[The abstract and the reference for the Science paper descried above
are the following: Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1183218, Published
Online 31 Dec 2009.
.
Darwinian Evolution of Prions in Cell Culture. By Jiali Li, Shawn
Browning, Sukhvir P. Mahal, Anja M. Oelschlegel, Charles Weissmann
At: Department of Infectology, Scripps Florida, 130 Scripps Way,
Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.

Abstract: "Prions are infectious proteins consisting mainly of PrPSc,
a sheet-rich conformer of the normal host protein PrPC, and occur in
different strains. Strain identity is thought to be encoded by PrPSc
conformation. We found that biologically cloned prion populations
gradually became heterogeneous by accumulating "mutants," and
selective pressures resulted in the emergence of different mutants as
major constituents of the evolving population. Thus, when transferred
from brain to cultured cells, "cell-adapted" prions out competed
their "brain-adapted" counterparts, and the opposite occurred when
prions were returned from cells to brain. Similarly, the inhibitor
swainsonine selected for a resistant substrain, whereas in its
absence, the susceptible substrain outgrew its resistant counterpart.
Prions, albeit devoid of a nucleic acid genome, are thus subject to
mutation and selective amplification."

From a theoretical standpoint, this work has great significance.
Nonetheless, the immediate interest of the BBC News report is the
information that Professor John Collinge's MRC group has succeeded in
engineering a humanised monoclonal antibody that interacts with the
sites on the normal prion protein that the abnormal form locks onto
to achieve its conversion and that it is hoped eventually to move to
clinical trials of this reagent. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
2009
----
Prion disease update 2009 (10) 20091103.3784
vCJD - Italy: susp. 20091024.3671
Prion disease update 2009 (09) 20091005.3461
Prion disease update 2009 (08) 20090908.3170
Prion disease update 2009 (07) 20090806.2783
Prion disease update 2009 (06) 20090706.2433
Prion disease update 2009 (05) 20090602.2054
Prion disease update 2009 (04) 20090406.1337
vCJD, 5th death - Spain (Cantabria) 20090307.0953
Prion disease update 2009 (03) 20090305.0918
Prion disease update 2009 (02) 20090202.0463
Prion disease update 2009 (01) 20090108.0076
2008
----
Prion disease update 2008 (14): new vCJD wave imminent? 20081218.3980
Prion disease update 2008 (13) 20081201.3780
Prion disease update 2008 (12) 20081103.345
Prion disease update 2008 (11) 20081006.3159
vCJD, mother & son - Spain: (Leon) 20080926.3051
Prion disease update 2008 (10) 20080902.2742
vCJD - Spain: susp. 20080410.1311
Prion disease update 2008 (05) 20080408.1285
Prion disease update 2008 (01): correction 20080104.0046
Prion disease update 2008 (01) 20080102.0014
2007
----
Prion disease update 2007 (08) 20071205.3923
Prion disease update 2007 (07) 20071105.3602
Prion disease update 2007 (06) 20071003.3269
Prion disease update 2007 (05) 20070901.2879
Prion disease update 2007 (04) 20070806.2560
Prion disease update 2007 (03) 20070702.2112
Prion disease update 2007 (02) 20070604.1812
Prion disease update 2007 20070514.1542
CJD (new var.) update 2007 (05) 20070403.1130
CJD (new var.) update 2007 (04) 20070305.0780
CJD (new var.) update 2007 (03) 20070205.0455
CJD (new var.) update 2007 (02): South Korea, susp 20070115.0199
2006
----
CJD (new var.), blood transfusion risk 20061208.3468
CJD, transmission risk - Canada (ON) 20061207.3457
CJD (new var.) update 2006 (12) 20061205.3431
CJD (new var.) update 2006 (11) 20061106.3190
CJD (new var.) update 2006 (10) 20061002.2820
CJD (new var.) - Netherlands: 2nd case 20060623.1741
CJD (new var.) - UK: 3rd transfusion-related case 20060209.0432
CJD (new var.) update 2006 (02) 20060206.0386
CJD (new var.) update 2006 20060111.0101
2005
----
CJD (new var.) update 2005 (12) 20051209.3547
CJD (new var.) update 2005 (11) 20051108.3270
CJD (new var.) update 2005 (10) 20051006.2916
CJD (new var.) update 2005 (02) 20050211.0467
CJD (new var.) - UK: update 2005 (01) 20050111.0095
2004
----
CJD, genetic susceptibility 20041112.3064
CJD (new var.) - UK: update 2004 (14) 20041206.3242
CJD (new var.) - UK: update 2004 (10) 20040909.2518
CJD (new var.) - UK: update 2004 (02) 20040202.0400
CJD (new var.) - UK: update 2004 (01) 20040106.0064
CJD (new var.) - France: 8th case 20041022.2864
CJD (new var.) - France: 9th case 20041123.3138
CJD (new var.), blood supply - UK 20040318.0758
CJD (new var.), carrier frequency study - UK 20040521.1365
2003
----
CJD (new var.) - UK: update 2003 (13) 20031216.3072
CJD (new var.) - UK: update 2003 (01) 20030108.0057
2002
----
CJD (new var.) - UK: update Dec 2002 20021207.5997
CJD (new var.) - UK: update Jan 2002 20020111.3223
2001
----
CJD (new var.), incidence & trends - UK (02) 20011124.2875
CJD (new var.), incidence & trends - UK 20011115.2816
CJD (new var.) - UK: reassessment 20011029.2671
CJD (new var.) - UK: update Oct 2001 20011005.2419
CJD (new var.) - UK: regional variation (02) 20010907.2145
CJD (new var.) - UK: update Sep 2001 20010906.2134
CJD (new var.) - UK: update Aug 2001 20010808.1872
CJD (new var.) - UK: 9th Annual Report 20010628.1231
CJD (new var.) - UK: update June 2001 20010622.1188
CJD (new var.) - UK: update 3 Jan 2001 20010104.0025]
....................................................cp/msp/dk

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More Bovine TB Outbreaks: SD This Time

BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS - USA: (SOUTH DAKOTA)
******************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 5 Jan 2010
Source: Farm Forum [edited]



A Yankton County cattle herd has been found positive for bovine
tuberculosis (TB) after a 3-year-old cow from the herd was confirmed
to be infected with the disease.

State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven said the herd has been
quarantined for additional testing. "At this time, there is only one
confirmed case, but we are taking all of the necessary precautions,"
Dr. Oedekoven said.

Herds that have had contact with the affected herd, or purchased
animals from that herd, are being tested by state and federal animal
health officials. The positive test presents no risk to food safety.
Dr. Oedekoven said South Dakota remains a TB Accredited Free state
and has had that status since 1982. The finding of a single affected
beef herd will not automatically impact the Accredited TB-free status
of the entire state.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[The article does not tell us if this animal was found on routine
slaughter surveillance. It would be a little odd, but not unheard of,
for a 3-year-old animal to go to slaughter. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
2009
----
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (12): (MN), cervid 20091222.4315
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (11): (IN) cervid 20090804.2742
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (10): (IN) cervid, bovine 20090714.2508
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (09): (IN) cervid, bovine 20090711.2480
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (08): (IN) cervid, bovine 20090628.2343
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (07): (MN) cervid 20090625.2307
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (06) (NE) (02) 20090620.2270
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (05): (NE) 20090613.2198
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (04): (TX) conf. 20090613.2195
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (03): (NE) cattle, elk 20090603.2060
Bovine tuberculosis - USA (02): (ND) 20090514.1811
Bovine tuberculosis - USA: (TX), susp 20090423.1536
Tuberculosis, captive wildlife - USA: (NE) 20090414.1423
Tuberculosis, hospital exposures - USA: (IL) susp. 20090412.1398]
..............................................tg/msp/dk

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More Bad Beef Recalled : E. Coli / Midwest

Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli O157 - USA (09): tenderized, non-intact steak


> E. COLI O157 - USA (09): TENDERIZED, NON-INTACT STEAK
> *****************************************************
> A ProMED-mail post
>
> ProMED-mail is a program of the
> International Society for Infectious Diseases
>
>
> [1]
> Date: Thu 24 Dec 2009
> Source: CNN [edited]
>
>
>
> A beef recall is under way in a half-dozen states involving possibly
> contaminated products from the Oklahoma company National Steak and
> Poultry, according to the firm and federal inspectors.
>
> The USA Agriculture Department officials said a cluster of illnesses
> involving the _E. coli_ [O157:H7] bacterium was reported in Colorado,
> Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington state. The cases
> then were linked with beef the Owasso, Oklahoma, company produced in
> October, prompting the government to direct a Class I recall,
> indicating the highest risk of illness if the products are consumed.
>
> On Thursday [24 Dec 2009], National Steak and Poultry began a
> voluntary recall of 248 000 pounds of beef products marketed under
> its name as well as under names that include Carino's Boneless Beef
> and Moe's Beef Steak. A consumer hotline at the company carries a
> recorded message noting "this is the 1st recall in our company's
> nearly 30-year history." National Steak and Poultry did not
> acknowledge any contaminationin its beef processing or packaging
> facilities, but the recording said the firm "will err on the side of
> being cautious" with the recall.
>
> [Byline: Paul Courson]
>
> --
> Communicated by:
> ProMED-mail
>
>
> *****
> [2]
> Date: Mon 28 Dec 2009
> Source: ABC News [edited]
>
>
>
> National Steak and Poultry is voluntarily recalling about 248 000
> pounds of beef it said might be contaminated with a strain of _E.
> coli_ [O157:H7]. The company said the meat could be linked to
> illnesses in 6 states.
>
> The Owasso-based company and the USA Agriculture Department announced
> the recall on Thursday [24 Dec 2009]. National Steak and Poultry says
> on its Web site the beef products "could potentially be implicated in
> an outbreak" of illnesses related to _E. coli_.
>
> The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service became aware of the
> problem while investigating a cluster of illnesses and determined
> there is an association between non-intact steaks, which have been
> blade tenderized prior to further processing, and illnesses in
> Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington.
>
> The products being recalled include various sizes of the company's
> "Boneless Beef Sirloin Steak," "Boneless Beef Tips," "Savory Sirloin
> Tips," "Bacon Wrapped Beef Fillet," "Beef Shoulder Marinated Tender
> Medallions," "75 percent Boneless Beef Trimmings," "Beef Trimmings"
> and "Beef Sirloin Philly Steak."
>
> Also being recalled are various sizes of "EGN Boneless Beef Sirloin
> Steak," "EGN Boneless Beef Sirloin Tri Tip Steak," "KRM Boneless Beef
> Sirloin Steak," "Carino's Boneless Beef Outside Skirt Steak,"
> "Carino's Boneless Beef Outside Skirt Steak Pieces" and "Moe's Beef
> Steak."
>
> National Steak and Poultry said the recalled products are in packages
> bearing a label with the establishment number "EST. 6010T" inside the
> USDA mark of inspection and packaging dates of "10/12/2009,"
> "10/13/2009," "10/14/2009," or "10/21/2009." The company said the
> products were shipped to restaurants nationwide.
>
> The company said in a statement that the recalled beef was produced
> at its Owasso facility. It said the recall is limited to beef
> products sold primarily to the Moe's, Carino's Italian Grill, and KRM
> restaurants in the 6 states.
>
> --
> Communicated by:
> ProMED-mail
>
>
> *****
> [3]
> Date: 30 Dec 2009
> Source: Washington Post [Edited]
> > 2902772.html>
>
> E. coli-tainted beef infects 21 people in 16 states
> ------------------------------------
> Twenty-one people in 16 states have been infected in recent days with
> a potentially lethal strain of E. coli bacteria, after consuming beef
> in restaurants supplied by the same Oklahoma meat company, federal
> officials said.
>
> The outbreak spurred the company, National Steak and Poultry, to
> voluntarily recall 248,000 pounds of beef Dec. 24. The products,
> which range from steaks to sirloin tips, were packaged in October and
> shipped to restaurants, hotels and institutions nationwide, according
> to the company.
>
> The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection
> Service has only a partial list of restaurants that received the
> potentially tainted beef, including two chains, Moe's and Carino's
> Italian Grill, primarily in the West and Midwest.
>
> The recall is considered a "class 1" or a "high health risk" by the
> USDA, which regulates the meat industry, because among the pathogens
> that can harm human health, E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most
> lethal. Even for those who survive, there can be long-term health
> effects.
>
> Nine of the 21 sickened have been hospitalized, the USDA reported.
> The department has identified cases in six states -- Colorado, Iowa,
> Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington
>
> The agency said the contamination appears to have begun with tainted
> beef used for chopped steak that was "co-mingled" with other products
> in the plant. Jerry Mande, the USDA's deputy undersecretary for food
> safety, said the investigation is continuing. A telephone message
> left for the company was not returned.
>
> The outbreak is considered by the Centers for Disease Control and
> Prevention, the agency that tracks national illness outbreaks, to be
> relatively small. But it is significant because it is at least the
> fourth associated with mechanically tenderized beef since 2000.
>
> Mechanical tenderization softens tough cuts of beef by hammering the
> meat with metal needles or blades that break up muscle fibers and
> connective tissue. It is often used to improve the tenderness of
> roasts and steaks that are cooked at a processing plant before being
> sent to restaurants. In the meat industry, it is referred to as
> "needled" meat.
>
> Consumer advocates say mechanical tenderization poses contamination
> risks in meats that are served rare, such as steaks, because it can
> bring bacteria from the surface of meat to the center of the cut. A
> rare steak may be cooked enough so that bacteria on the surface are
> killed but those inside the meat survive.
>
> "This is something that's been coming along. It's not an overnight
> problem," said Carol L. Tucker-Foreman of Consumer Federation of
> America, part of a coalition that wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom
> Vilsack in June to express concern about mechanically tenderized
> meat. "The USDA has been looking at this for a long time. . . .
> People have proposed ways to address it and nothing was done about it
> in the Clinton administration, the Bush administration and now the
> Obama administration."
>
> At a minimum, the government should issue guidelines to consumers and
> the restaurant industry that specifically address mechanically
> tenderized meat, and the products should be labeled because consumers
> cannot detect whether a cut of meat has been "needled," she said.
> "Retailers should have to label mechanically tenderized meat and say
> 'Don't eat this product rare.' "
>
> Mande said the USDA agrees that the public needs better information
> about the risks of mechanically tenderized beef, and the agency is
> considering labeling and education efforts.
>
> But James H. Hodges, executive vice president of the American Meat
> Institute, said in a statement that mechanically tenderized beef
> carries no greater risk than other meat and that special labels are
> unnecessary.
>
> [Byline: Lyndsey Layton]
>
> --
> Communicated by:
> ProMED-mail
>
>
>
> [The following is a discussion regarding the issue of non-intact
> steaks and roasts, pieces of meat that have be tenderized by needle
> or blade which can introduce pathogens (especially _E. coli_ O157:H7)
> to the internal aspect of the meat where it may survive better than
> its "surface" cousins.
>
> In 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety
> and Inspection Service (FSIS)
> (
> asked the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria
> for Foods (NACMCF) whether non-intact, blade tenderized beef and beef
> roasts presented a greater risk to consumers from _E. coli_ 0157:H7
> compared to intact beef steaks if prepared similarly. Based on a
> Kansas State University Study, beef products mechanically tenderized
> or injected with marinade before purchasing can carry approximately 3
> to 4 percent of the surface bacteria to the inside of the beef
> product, meaning that there is a greater risk to consumers from _E.
> coli_.
>
> Since 2000, there have been 4 _E. coli_ outbreaks associated with
> non-intact beef steaks (Canada, Michigan, Colorado and Minnesota) and
> 2 outbreaks involving beef roasts. As a result, the FSIS published a
> notice in the May 26 Federal Register titled "HACCP Plan Reassessment
> for Mechanically Tenderized Beef Products." In this notice, FSIS
> asked each plant operator that mechanically tenderizes meat products
> to specifically consider in the annual reassessment of their HACCP
> plan the significance of these recent outbreaks as a hazard that is
> reasonably likely to occur.
>
> The FSIS also recommended these processors implement purchase
> specifications requiring the incoming product to be treated to reduce
> or eliminate _E. coli_ to an undetectable level or apply an approved
> antimicrobial to the meat. The FSIS noted it is considering requiring
> raw, mechanically tenderized beef products to be labeled showing it
> has undergone mechanical tenderization. In light of this newly
> identified risk to consumers' health, the Dairy and Food Protection
> Branch (Division of Environmental Health, Department of Environmental
> and Natural Resources) recommends the following changes to the
> handling of non-intact meat products:
>
> 1. All beef not labeled as intact and without buyer specifications to
> show that it is intact must be assumed to be a non-intact beef
> product based on the standard meat processing industry practices of
> pinning, tenderizing or injecting these products. This also includes
> comminuted beef steak (chopped, flaked, ground, minced, restructured
> or reformulated).
>
> 2. Cook non-intact beef products to a temperature of 155 degrees F as
> measured by a properly calibrated food thermometer as required by the
> FDA Food Code.
>
> 3. If you currently tenderize beef steaks or other beef products in
> your restaurant kitchen, please stop this practice.
>
> 4. Educate your staff about the identified risks of mechanically
> tenderized (non-intact) beef products.
>
> 5. When possible, notify consumers about the risk of getting _E.
> coli_ from mechanically tenderized (nonintact) beef steaks and roasts.
>
> The NACMCF research also showed that blade-tenderized steaks present
> no greater risk than intact steaks if oven-broiled to an internal
> temperature of 140 degrees F or above as measured by a food
> thermometer. In September 2002, the NCAMCF also found there was
> insufficient data to support the need for a labeling requirement to
> distinguish between intact and non-intact beef. Since it is often
> impossible to visually tell in all cases whether a steak or roast has
> been mechanically tenderized or injected, it is recommended that
> these products be cooked to an internal temperature of 155 degrees F.
> Protect your customers by following the above guidelines until a
> labeling requirement or microbial treatment of non-intact beef
> products, or both, are required. - Mod.LL]
>
> [see also:
> E. coli O157 - USA (08): ground beef 20091103.3794
> E. coli O157 - USA (07): refrigerated cookie dough 20090710.2473
> E. coli O157 - USA (06): beef, recall, RFI 20090702.2389
> E. coli O157 - USA (05): refrigerated cookie dough, CDC 20090701.2381
> E. coli O157 - USA (04): refrigerated cookie dough 20090630.2371
> E. coli O157 - USA (03): beef, recall 20090629.2354
> E. coli O157 - USA (02): refrigerated cookie dough 20090623.2291
> E. coli O157 - USA: refrigerated cookie dough 20090619.2259
> 2008
> ---
> E. coli O157 - USA (09): (WA), susp. 20081021.3336
> E. coli O157 - USA (08): (CA), cooked beef 20081007.3181
> E. coli O157, university students - USA (06): California lettuce 20081015.3266
> E. coli O157, university students - USA: (MI) 20080922.2987
> E. coli O157 - USA (07): (MA) alert 20080811.2475
> E. coli O157 - USA: (OH, MI), unknown source 20080624.1947
> E. coli O157, lettuce - USA: (WA) 20080606.1807
> E. coli O157, restaurant - USA: (HI) 20080228.0811
> 2007
> ---
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate) (09) 20071126.3823
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate) (08): Canada 20071029.3511
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate) (04): 2nd manufacturer
> 20071007.3304
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate) (03): CDC report 20071003.3272
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate): alert, recall 20070927.3201
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (NY): alert, recall 20070926.3190
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (WA, OR): alert 20070830.2855
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (NY) 20070725.2387
> E. coli VTEC, prisoners - USA (CO) (02) 20070714.2263
> E. coli VTEC, prisoners - USA (CO): RFI 20070712.2236
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (west) (03): expanded recall 20070611.1902
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (west): recall 20070606.1831
> E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate): recall 20070514.1532
> E. coli O157, steak - USA (PA): recall 20070426.1362
> E. coli O157, restaurant - USA (CA) (03) 20070410.1204
> E. coli O157, restaurant - USA (CA) 20070403.1131
> E. coli O157, spinach - USA (multistate): 2006, FDA report 20070326.1051
> E. coli O157, bagged salad greens - USA (multistate) 20070121.0288
> E. coli O157, lettuce - USA (multistate): 2006 20070112.0158]
> 2003
> ----
> E. coli O157, frozen steaks - USA (Midwest): recall 20030701.1617]
> .................................ll/ejp/lm
>
> *##########################################################*
> ************************************************************
> ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
> are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
> information, and of any statements or opinions based
> thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
> using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
> and its associated service providers shall not be held
> responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
> damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
> or archived material.
> ************************************************************
> Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at
>
> ************************************************************
> Visit ProMED-mail's web site at .
> Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org
> (NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
> full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
> commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help,
> etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a
> human being send mail to: owner-promed@promedmail.org.
> ############################################################
> ############################################################

Horses Get Diseases More Deadly to Humans than Mad Cow

And will kill ya quicker than mad-cow too!

EQUINE PIROPLASMOSIS - USA (12): (NEW MEXICO)
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


Date: 28 Dec 2009
Source: The Horse.com [edited]



As part of a racetrack screening program, 3 New Mexico horses have
been identified as infected with _Theileria equi_, a causative agent
for equine piroplasmosis. These infections are noteworthy as these
horses are not epidemiologically linked to those involved in a larger
ongoing investigation centered on horses from a South Texas ranch.

Information on the new cases, and an update on the Texas
investigation, was included in a 24 Dec 2009 report issued to the
World Organization for Animal Health (Office International des
Epizooties, or OIE) by John Clifford, DVM, deputy administrator of
the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

The positive New Mexico horses did not show any clinical signs of
disease. Preliminary results of the investigation indicate that the
transmission of the organism might have resulted from management
practices (use of shared needles or substances between horses) rather
than by a tick vector, the OIE report noted. More than 1300 New
Mexico horses have been tested via the screening program.

Officials in the United States have screened all imported horses for
piroplasmosis for nearly 30 years. The disease was officially
eradicated from the United States in 1988. It is spread by some
species of ticks, the use of contaminated needles, and possibly
through blood-contaminated semen of infected stallions.

Clinical signs of equine piroplasmosis can include a host of
nonspecific problems, such as fever or anemia, and some infected
horses might appear healthy. Blood tests are needed to diagnosis the
disease. The only treatment is a potent type of chemotherapy that can
have serious side effects in some horses.

The larger piroplasmosis investigation remains underway, with 357
confirmed positive horses. All of the positive horses have direct
links to the index premises in Kleberg County, Texas. The OIE report
stated these include horses that currently or previously lived on the
index premises or live on a premises immediately adjacent, or [near]
other "dangerous contacts" (a positive foal born to an infected mare
was listed as an example of such).

Positive horses have been located in 12 states, with 289 positive
horses on the index ranch in Texas, 41 on other premises in Texas, 2
in Alabama, 2 in California, 5 in Florida, one in Georgia, 2 in
Indiana, 5 in Louisiana, 1 in Minnesota, 2 in North Carolina, 4 in
New Jersey, 1 in Tennessee, 1 in Utah, and 1 in Wisconsin. All known
positive horses are under quarantine.

More than 1500 horses have been tested for equine piroplasmosis as
part of the epidemiological investigation, including 587 horses
exposed to positive horses outside of the index premises. All of
these cohorts have tested negative, the report stated.

As a result of the current investigation, Canada and several U.S.
states have restricted the importation of horses from Texas. Horse
owners and veterinarians shipping horses are urged to check with
animal health officials in your state of destination to ensure the
animals have met all entry requirements.

[Byline: Erin Ryder]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail

[Although the horses do not appear to be epidemiologically linked to
the outbreak that started in Texas, sharing needles between horses
does not give a horse piroplasmosis unless those needles have been in
a horse with piroplasmosis. In other words, the disease had to have
come from somewhere. The question is where. Will New Mexico cast a
surveillance net to detect where the disease really came from? -
Mod.TG]

[see also:
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (11): multi-state 20091203.4128
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (10) 20091117.3963
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (09): (NJ ex TX) 20091111.3912
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (08): (TX) alert 20091030.3749
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (07): (TX) 20091024.3675
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (06): (TX) OIE 20091022.3631
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (05): (TX) 20091021.3617
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (04): (KS, MO) resolved 20090917.3262
Piroplasmosis, equine - USA (03): (KS, MO) 20090729.2662
Equine Piroplasmosis - USA (02): (MO) 20090612.2172
Equine Piroplasmosis - USA: (FL) quarantine lifted 20090225.0771
2008
----
Equine Piroplasmosis - USA (04): (FL) 20080930.3088
Equine Piroplasmosis - USA: (03) (FL) 20080828.2687
Equine piroplasmosis - USA (02): (FL) 20080823.2626
Equine piroplasmosis - USA: (FL) 20080819.2579]
...................................................tg/msp/lm

*##########################################################*
************************************************************
ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that
are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the
information, and of any statements or opinions based
thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in
using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID
and its associated service providers shall not be held
responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any
damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted
or archived material.
************************************************************
Become a ProMED-mail Premium Subscriber at

************************************************************
Visit ProMED-mail's web site at .
Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org
(NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your
full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send
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############################################################
############################################################

Another Beef Recall / Midwest / E. Coli

E. COLI O157 - USA (09): TENDERIZED, NON-INTACT STEAK
*****************************************************
A ProMED-mail post

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases


[1]
Date: Thu 24 Dec 2009
Source: CNN [edited]



A beef recall is under way in a half-dozen states involving possibly
contaminated products from the Oklahoma company National Steak and
Poultry, according to the firm and federal inspectors.

The USA Agriculture Department officials said a cluster of illnesses
involving the _E. coli_ [O157:H7] bacterium was reported in Colorado,
Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington state. The cases
then were linked with beef the Owasso, Oklahoma, company produced in
October, prompting the government to direct a Class I recall,
indicating the highest risk of illness if the products are consumed.

On Thursday [24 Dec 2009], National Steak and Poultry began a
voluntary recall of 248 000 pounds of beef products marketed under
its name as well as under names that include Carino's Boneless Beef
and Moe's Beef Steak. A consumer hotline at the company carries a
recorded message noting "this is the 1st recall in our company's
nearly 30-year history." National Steak and Poultry did not
acknowledge any contaminationin its beef processing or packaging
facilities, but the recording said the firm "will err on the side of
being cautious" with the recall.

[Byline: Paul Courson]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


*****
[2]
Date: Mon 28 Dec 2009
Source: ABC News [edited]



National Steak and Poultry is voluntarily recalling about 248 000
pounds of beef it said might be contaminated with a strain of _E.
coli_ [O157:H7]. The company said the meat could be linked to
illnesses in 6 states.

The Owasso-based company and the USA Agriculture Department announced
the recall on Thursday [24 Dec 2009]. National Steak and Poultry says
on its Web site the beef products "could potentially be implicated in
an outbreak" of illnesses related to _E. coli_.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service became aware of the
problem while investigating a cluster of illnesses and determined
there is an association between non-intact steaks, which have been
blade tenderized prior to further processing, and illnesses in
Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington.

The products being recalled include various sizes of the company's
"Boneless Beef Sirloin Steak," "Boneless Beef Tips," "Savory Sirloin
Tips," "Bacon Wrapped Beef Fillet," "Beef Shoulder Marinated Tender
Medallions," "75 percent Boneless Beef Trimmings," "Beef Trimmings"
and "Beef Sirloin Philly Steak."

Also being recalled are various sizes of "EGN Boneless Beef Sirloin
Steak," "EGN Boneless Beef Sirloin Tri Tip Steak," "KRM Boneless Beef
Sirloin Steak," "Carino's Boneless Beef Outside Skirt Steak,"
"Carino's Boneless Beef Outside Skirt Steak Pieces" and "Moe's Beef
Steak."

National Steak and Poultry said the recalled products are in packages
bearing a label with the establishment number "EST. 6010T" inside the
USDA mark of inspection and packaging dates of "10/12/2009,"
"10/13/2009," "10/14/2009," or "10/21/2009." The company said the
products were shipped to restaurants nationwide.

The company said in a statement that the recalled beef was produced
at its Owasso facility. It said the recall is limited to beef
products sold primarily to the Moe's, Carino's Italian Grill, and KRM
restaurants in the 6 states.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


*****
[3]
Date: 30 Dec 2009
Source: Washington Post [Edited]
2902772.html>

E. coli-tainted beef infects 21 people in 16 states
------------------------------------
Twenty-one people in 16 states have been infected in recent days with
a potentially lethal strain of E. coli bacteria, after consuming beef
in restaurants supplied by the same Oklahoma meat company, federal
officials said.

The outbreak spurred the company, National Steak and Poultry, to
voluntarily recall 248,000 pounds of beef Dec. 24. The products,
which range from steaks to sirloin tips, were packaged in October and
shipped to restaurants, hotels and institutions nationwide, according
to the company.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection
Service has only a partial list of restaurants that received the
potentially tainted beef, including two chains, Moe's and Carino's
Italian Grill, primarily in the West and Midwest.

The recall is considered a "class 1" or a "high health risk" by the
USDA, which regulates the meat industry, because among the pathogens
that can harm human health, E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most
lethal. Even for those who survive, there can be long-term health
effects.

Nine of the 21 sickened have been hospitalized, the USDA reported.
The department has identified cases in six states -- Colorado, Iowa,
Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington

The agency said the contamination appears to have begun with tainted
beef used for chopped steak that was "co-mingled" with other products
in the plant. Jerry Mande, the USDA's deputy undersecretary for food
safety, said the investigation is continuing. A telephone message
left for the company was not returned.

The outbreak is considered by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the agency that tracks national illness outbreaks, to be
relatively small. But it is significant because it is at least the
fourth associated with mechanically tenderized beef since 2000.

Mechanical tenderization softens tough cuts of beef by hammering the
meat with metal needles or blades that break up muscle fibers and
connective tissue. It is often used to improve the tenderness of
roasts and steaks that are cooked at a processing plant before being
sent to restaurants. In the meat industry, it is referred to as
"needled" meat.

Consumer advocates say mechanical tenderization poses contamination
risks in meats that are served rare, such as steaks, because it can
bring bacteria from the surface of meat to the center of the cut. A
rare steak may be cooked enough so that bacteria on the surface are
killed but those inside the meat survive.

"This is something that's been coming along. It's not an overnight
problem," said Carol L. Tucker-Foreman of Consumer Federation of
America, part of a coalition that wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack in June to express concern about mechanically tenderized
meat. "The USDA has been looking at this for a long time. . . .
People have proposed ways to address it and nothing was done about it
in the Clinton administration, the Bush administration and now the
Obama administration."

At a minimum, the government should issue guidelines to consumers and
the restaurant industry that specifically address mechanically
tenderized meat, and the products should be labeled because consumers
cannot detect whether a cut of meat has been "needled," she said.
"Retailers should have to label mechanically tenderized meat and say
'Don't eat this product rare.' "

Mande said the USDA agrees that the public needs better information
about the risks of mechanically tenderized beef, and the agency is
considering labeling and education efforts.

But James H. Hodges, executive vice president of the American Meat
Institute, said in a statement that mechanically tenderized beef
carries no greater risk than other meat and that special labels are
unnecessary.

[Byline: Lyndsey Layton]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail



[The following is a discussion regarding the issue of non-intact
steaks and roasts, pieces of meat that have be tenderized by needle
or blade which can introduce pathogens (especially _E. coli_ O157:H7)
to the internal aspect of the meat where it may survive better than
its "surface" cousins.

In 1999, the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety
and Inspection Service (FSIS)
(
asked the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria
for Foods (NACMCF) whether non-intact, blade tenderized beef and beef
roasts presented a greater risk to consumers from _E. coli_ 0157:H7
compared to intact beef steaks if prepared similarly. Based on a
Kansas State University Study, beef products mechanically tenderized
or injected with marinade before purchasing can carry approximately 3
to 4 percent of the surface bacteria to the inside of the beef
product, meaning that there is a greater risk to consumers from _E.
coli_.

Since 2000, there have been 4 _E. coli_ outbreaks associated with
non-intact beef steaks (Canada, Michigan, Colorado and Minnesota) and
2 outbreaks involving beef roasts. As a result, the FSIS published a
notice in the May 26 Federal Register titled "HACCP Plan Reassessment
for Mechanically Tenderized Beef Products." In this notice, FSIS
asked each plant operator that mechanically tenderizes meat products
to specifically consider in the annual reassessment of their HACCP
plan the significance of these recent outbreaks as a hazard that is
reasonably likely to occur.

The FSIS also recommended these processors implement purchase
specifications requiring the incoming product to be treated to reduce
or eliminate _E. coli_ to an undetectable level or apply an approved
antimicrobial to the meat. The FSIS noted it is considering requiring
raw, mechanically tenderized beef products to be labeled showing it
has undergone mechanical tenderization. In light of this newly
identified risk to consumers' health, the Dairy and Food Protection
Branch (Division of Environmental Health, Department of Environmental
and Natural Resources) recommends the following changes to the
handling of non-intact meat products:

1. All beef not labeled as intact and without buyer specifications to
show that it is intact must be assumed to be a non-intact beef
product based on the standard meat processing industry practices of
pinning, tenderizing or injecting these products. This also includes
comminuted beef steak (chopped, flaked, ground, minced, restructured
or reformulated).

2. Cook non-intact beef products to a temperature of 155 degrees F as
measured by a properly calibrated food thermometer as required by the
FDA Food Code.

3. If you currently tenderize beef steaks or other beef products in
your restaurant kitchen, please stop this practice.

4. Educate your staff about the identified risks of mechanically
tenderized (non-intact) beef products.

5. When possible, notify consumers about the risk of getting _E.
coli_ from mechanically tenderized (nonintact) beef steaks and roasts.

The NACMCF research also showed that blade-tenderized steaks present
no greater risk than intact steaks if oven-broiled to an internal
temperature of 140 degrees F or above as measured by a food
thermometer. In September 2002, the NCAMCF also found there was
insufficient data to support the need for a labeling requirement to
distinguish between intact and non-intact beef. Since it is often
impossible to visually tell in all cases whether a steak or roast has
been mechanically tenderized or injected, it is recommended that
these products be cooked to an internal temperature of 155 degrees F.
Protect your customers by following the above guidelines until a
labeling requirement or microbial treatment of non-intact beef
products, or both, are required. - Mod.LL]

[see also:
E. coli O157 - USA (08): ground beef 20091103.3794
E. coli O157 - USA (07): refrigerated cookie dough 20090710.2473
E. coli O157 - USA (06): beef, recall, RFI 20090702.2389
E. coli O157 - USA (05): refrigerated cookie dough, CDC 20090701.2381
E. coli O157 - USA (04): refrigerated cookie dough 20090630.2371
E. coli O157 - USA (03): beef, recall 20090629.2354
E. coli O157 - USA (02): refrigerated cookie dough 20090623.2291
E. coli O157 - USA: refrigerated cookie dough 20090619.2259
2008
---
E. coli O157 - USA (09): (WA), susp. 20081021.3336
E. coli O157 - USA (08): (CA), cooked beef 20081007.3181
E. coli O157, university students - USA (06): California lettuce 20081015.3266
E. coli O157, university students - USA: (MI) 20080922.2987
E. coli O157 - USA (07): (MA) alert 20080811.2475
E. coli O157 - USA: (OH, MI), unknown source 20080624.1947
E. coli O157, lettuce - USA: (WA) 20080606.1807
E. coli O157, restaurant - USA: (HI) 20080228.0811
2007
---
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate) (09) 20071126.3823
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate) (08): Canada 20071029.3511
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate) (04): 2nd manufacturer
20071007.3304
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate) (03): CDC report 20071003.3272
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate): alert, recall 20070927.3201
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (NY): alert, recall 20070926.3190
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (WA, OR): alert 20070830.2855
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (NY) 20070725.2387
E. coli VTEC, prisoners - USA (CO) (02) 20070714.2263
E. coli VTEC, prisoners - USA (CO): RFI 20070712.2236
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (west) (03): expanded recall 20070611.1902
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (west): recall 20070606.1831
E. coli O157, ground beef - USA (multistate): recall 20070514.1532
E. coli O157, steak - USA (PA): recall 20070426.1362
E. coli O157, restaurant - USA (CA) (03) 20070410.1204
E. coli O157, restaurant - USA (CA) 20070403.1131
E. coli O157, spinach - USA (multistate): 2006, FDA report 20070326.1051
E. coli O157, bagged salad greens - USA (multistate) 20070121.0288
E. coli O157, lettuce - USA (multistate): 2006 20070112.0158]
2003
----
E. coli O157, frozen steaks - USA (Midwest): recall 20030701.1617]
.................................ll/ejp/lm

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