Use Caution When Swimming.

A rare infection associated with a type of amoeba that lives in stagnant water and travels up the sinuses and infects the brain, almost always causing meningitis, has been reported in a Virginia person.

The free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri proliferates in stagnant freshwater lakes, ponds, streams and rivers when temperatures climb into the 80s, health officials said in an advisory issued Saturday about safe swimming practices.

"Sadly, we have had a Naegleria infection in Virginia this summer," said Dr. Keri Hall, state epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health, in a statement.

"It's important that people be aware of … safe swimming messages," Hall said.

Naegleria fowleri, sometimes called a "brain-eating amoeba," travels up the nose to the brain where it destroys the brain tissue.

For privacy reasons, the health department does not disclose details on individual cases but, this month, officials confirmed a case of meningitis in a person in the Central Health Region of Virginia, which includes the Richmond area.

The aunt of a 9-year-old Henrico County boy who died Aug. 5 from meningitis said waterborne-illness was mentioned as a possible cause of the illness.

"The doctor described it to us as such a slight chance that they didn't even think it would be possible," said Bonnie Strickland, aunt of Christian Alexander Strickland.

The week before Christian died from meningitis, he was his usual active self and had attended a fishing camp, his aunt said.

In general, meningitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites, Hall said last week.

Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

Only 32 Naegleria fowleri infections were reported in the U.S. from 2001 to 2010 and, before this summer, the most recent case in Virginia was in 1969, state health officials said.

Symptoms of infection may not begin until a week or more after swimming.

To avoid waterborne illness or contaminating swimming waters, health officials advise:

• Don't swim when you have diarrhea.

• Don't swallow pool, lake, pond or river water.

• Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before and after swimming.

• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom or changing diapers.

• Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.

• Change diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside or beachside.

• Avoid swimming, diving or other activities in obviously stagnant freshwater bodies when temperatures are high and water levels are low.

• Hold your nose or wear nose plugs when underwater or when diving or swimming in hot, shallow freshwater bodies.

Source; http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/news/2011/aug/13/3/state-reports-rare-water-borne-illness-ar-1236776/

Widespread Flu Warning Issued For Virginia

The CDC has placed Virginia under a widespread flu alert.

If you're looking to avoid the flu there are several ways the CDC recommends going about it. Their "Take 3" approach to fighting flu is the best way to protect yourself and others against the flu virus.

Number one, the CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine. If you haven't gotten it yet, it's not too late.

Second, the CDC says take the appropriate preventative actions to stop the spread of germs. For example, wash your hands, cover you mouth when you cough and stay home when you're not feeling well.

A recent survey revealed 66 percent of polled Americans disregard the sudden onset of flu symptoms fever, aches, chills, extreme tiredness and instead of seeing a doctor, attend work, school and social events. At the same time, 75 percent of those Americans were aware of the possibility of spreading the flu to others.

Lastly, the CDC says to take your medicine. If the doctor prescribes medication, follow those orders.
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Studies Show That Sanitizers Do Not Ward Off Colds

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Applying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer may not limit your chances at catching a cold or the flu.

That's the finding of a University of Virginia study reported by The Daily Progress newspaper.

Every 100 study subjects who used hand disinfectants had 42 rhinovirus infections. That compares to 51 infections for every 100 subjects who went without hand sanitizers.

The rates of influenza were about the same between the two groups, 12 versus 15 cases per 100 subjects.

Dial Corp. sponsored the study. The results were to be expected to be announced during the weekend's Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Boston.

Researchers say other studies show hand sanitizer does curb gastrointestinal disease.

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Cell Phones Are 18 Times Dirtier Than Toilet Handles

You may want to peel your mobile phone away from your face, considering it may be dirtier than a toilet handle, the Daily Mail reported.

A U.K. study tested 30 mobile phones for levels of potentially harmful bacteria, or the total viable bacterial count (TVC).

High TVC levels don’t pose any immediate harm, but usually indicate poor hygiene.

The results revealed that 25 percent exceeded the acceptable TVC by 10 times and have 18 times the TVC as a handle on a public restroom toilet. The Which? magazine study suggests that 14.7 million of the 63 million phones being used in the U.K. could pose a health risk, the report said.

“Most phones didn’t have any immediate harmful bacteria that would make you sick straight away, but they were grubbier than they could be,” said Ceri Stanaway, a researcher with Which? magazine.

One phone’s TVC level was so high it put its owner at risk of a serious stomach ache, the report said.

“The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilizing,” Jim Francis, a hygiene expert, said.

The phone with the most bacteria had more than ten times the acceptable level, as well as 39 times the safe level of enterobacteria, which includes Salmonella.

“What this shows is how easy it is to come into contact with bacteria,” Stanaway said. “People see toilet flushes as being something dirty to touch, but they have less bacteria than phones.”

The tests also found E. coli and staphylococcus aureus, among other food poisoning bugs, but at safe levels. There was also 170 times the acceptable level of the bacteria associated with human waste, fecal coliforms.

“People need to be mindful of that by observing good hygiene themselves and among others who they pass the phone to when looking at photos, for example,” Stanaway said.

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