FDA: All Tomatoes Now Safe to Eat
If you are a fan of tomatoes (sorry, I am not), rejoice! 
The FDA has just cleared all types of tomatoes in the Salmonella outbreak and is letting consumers know they are safe to eat again.
It appears that the most recent cases of Salmonella infection have occurred in people who ate jalapeno or serrano peppers and not tomatoes. The CDC is investigated some farms and packaging plants in Mexico where the peppers may have come from.
The FDA's warning for people at highest risk for complications from Salmonella infection to avoid raw jalapeno and serrano peppers remains in place.
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Salmonella Outbreak Continuing
The current Salmonella outbreak in the US is continuing despite the CDC's best efforts to identify the source of the infection. This outbreak is caused by a relatively rare strain of bacteria known as Salmonella Saintpaul.
So far, it has been linked to raw red plum, round red and Roma tomatoes and is now the worst Salmonella outbreak in over a decade.
More recently, the CDC has identified that some cases have been linked to raw jalapenos and possibly raw serrano peppers and cilantro. The FDA and CDC are now advising those at high risk for complications from Salmonella to avoid all raw jalapeno and serrano peppers in addition to the implicated tomatoes.
People at highest risk for complications from salmonella include:
- Infants
- Elderly adults
- Anyone with a compromised immune system
To date, there have been 1148 cases of Salmonella Saintpaul confirmed in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. However, because many people who become infected with salmonella never know it, the actual number of cases could be as much as 30 times higher.
So what does this mean for you? We should all still be avoiding raw Roma, red round and red plum tomatoes unless they came from an area that has been cleared by the FDA. If you are in the high risk category (see above), you should also be avoiding raw jalapeno and serrano peppers. It's also important for everyone to keep in mind that these ingredients are often in other products such as salsa and guacamole. If you are served any of these products in a restaurant and you are not sure where they came from, it is best not to consume them.
To Work or Not to Work...THAT Is the Question
In our high pressured jobs and busy hectic lives, no one has time to get sick. Much less stay home from work when we are sick.
So how do you know when you actually should use one of your coveted sick days? Believe it or not, you should take into consideration more than your most pressing deadline.
Read up on when you should stay home from work when you are sick, so the next time you start coughing and sneezing, you won't have to wonder what to do.
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Maybe Tomatoes Aren't to Blame...
If you have turned on a computer, television or looked at a newspaper in the past couple of months, you have probably heard about the salmonella outbreak among raw tomatoes. Unfortunately, despite the CDC's best efforts to identify the exact cause of the outbreak, people continue to get sick.
Currently, there have been 810 confirmed cases of salmonella saintpaul - the strain that is causing this particular outbreak - in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Ninety five people have been hospitalized due to the illness and it may have contributed to one person's death. However, because many the symptoms of salmonella are so similar to a stomach virus and it typically goes away on its own within a few days, the actual number of cases is likely much higher.
Typically by this time (this particular outbreak dates back to April), authorities have been able to identify the cause of the outbreak and contain it. Unfortunately that is not the case now.
The CDC and FDA are working to find the exact cause of the salmonella contamination. It is possible that it is originating at the farms, in a packaging plant, somewhere else along the transportation route or from another type of produce entirely. At this time, the recommendations for which tomatoes should be avoided and which ones are safe has not changed.
Because the investigation is ongoing and the CDC and FDA have not been able to identify the exact of cause of the outbreak, recommendations about the safety of certain foods may change in the future. So make sure you continue to follow the news and check your About.com Cold and Flu site frequently for updates.
Take a Staycation and Improve Your Health
With the rising costs of gas, food and everything else many people are finding vacations more and more difficult to afford. If you just can't get away this year, try a staycation instead!
There are so many health benefits to actually taking a vacation, but if you do it right, a staycation can be just as beneficial to your health (and your sanity). All you need is a little willpower (no working, even around the house) and a few days off from work.
Elizabeth Scott, your About.com guide to Stress Management has all kinds of great info about staycations. If it sounds intriguing, check it out.
Another Salmonella Outbreak
We have seen several outbreaks of salmonella over the past couple of years and now we are in the midst of another one. This time the outbreak is being caused by raw tomatoes.
At least 167 cases of salmonella have been reported and linked to this outbreak across 17 states. So far, one person's death has been possibly linked to an infection with salmonella.
The outbreak is associated with raw red plum, red Roma and red round tomatoes that appear to be contaminated with a strain known as Salmonella saintpaul. This is a rare strain of salmonella, but is not any more dangerous than any other type. Typically, salmonella will cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps and resolves on its own within a week.
Just this week, several restaurants and grocery store chains removed all tomatoes that could possible be affected by the outbreak. The FDA is investigating the outbreak and is working to find the source of contamination. If you believe you may be suffering from salmonella after eating raw tomatoes, it is important to see your healthcare provider who can perform tests and report the infection to the health department if that is necessary.
Do You Need a Shot?
Many adults believe they no longer need vaccines once childhood immunizations are complete. However, depending on your health and age, that may not be the case.
Everyone should be getting a tetanus shot every 10 years but there are several other vaccines that people may need. Find out the basics of the adult vaccine schedule and learn more about the vaccinations that are available.
How Do You Catch a Cold?
Have you ever wondered how these tiny germs we call cold viruses actually invade your body and make you sick? Sure, you heard about it in science class all those years ago, but now you can see it right before your eyes in an easy to understand video.
About.com Health has all sorts of videos you can watch that explain how your body works and things that you can do to keep yourself healthy. So take a look, with over 250 videos available, you are bound to find something interesting and maybe learn a thing or two!
Record Number of Flu Shots Expected Next Season
Even though the flu shot was only slightly effective this year, manufacturers are planning to produce them in record numbers for the upcoming flu season. 143 million doses are expected to be produced for the 2008-09 flu season. 140 million doses were manufactured this past flu season.
Because the flu shot did not work as well as it usually does, experts and medical professionals expect rates of immunizations to decrease this season as people lose confidence in the vaccine. But the healthcare community and vaccine manufacturers remain optimistic and hopeful that effective education campaigns will encourage people to get their flu vaccine despite what happened this past flu season.
Graduation, Mother's Day, Summer...Time to Party!
With all sort of big events coming up this time of year, chances are you will be going to or hosting some sort of gathering in the coming months. Between graduations, Mother's and Father's Days and End of the Year parties, there are plenty to go around.
Although flu season is pretty much over (there are still some areas experiencing outbreaks!), there are still plenty of ways you can get sick, especially in large groups of people.
So, how can you avoid all those germs and make sure you and your family comes out healthy? Well, if you are hosting the get-together, these tips will help you make sure everyone comes and goes with their own germs.