Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Melioidosis Outbreak Linked To Bacteria In Aromatherapy Room Spray
Stat: Deadly Infection Linked To Contaminated Room Spray Sold At Walmart
Four cases of a serious, sometimes fatal infection called melioidosis that have bedeviled public health investigators for months appear to have been linked to an aromatherapy room spray sold at Walmart, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. The product, Better Homes and Gardens Lavender and Chamomile Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones, was sold at 55 Walmart locations and on the company’s website from February to Oct. 21. Walmart has issued a recall for roughly 3,900 bottles of the product that it sold. The recall includes five other scents of the Better Homes and Gardens Gem Room Spray: lemon and mandarin, lavender, peppermint, lime and eucalyptus, and sandalwood and vanilla. (Branswell, 10/22)
NPR: Walmart Recalls Essential-Oil Infused Spray Due To Dangerous Bacteria Found
Walmart is recalling an essential-oil aromatherapy spray after a "rare and dangerous bacteria" that can cause a potentially fatal condition was reported, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says. Officials are investigating four confirmed cases and there have been two deaths, including that of a child, associated with the bacteria, according to the agency. The CPSC said that about 3,900 bottles of Walmart's Better Homes and Gardens-branded Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones are being recalled due to the discovery of a rare and dangerous bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei. The bacteria is known to cause melioidosis, a condition that is difficult to diagnose and can be deadly, the recall notice says. (Franklin, 10/22)
In other public health news —
Fox News: New Study Suggests Breastfeeding May Help Prevent Cognitive Decline
Breastfeeding can have long-term cognitive benefits for the mother, a new study has found. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted a study that found women over the age of 50 who had breastfed their babies performed better on cognitive tests compared to women who had never breastfed. "While many studies have found that breastfeeding improves a child’s long-term health and well-being, our study is one of very few that has looked at the long-term health effects for women who had breastfed their babies," Molly Fox, the study’s author, said in a news release. (Chasmar, 10/24)
AP: Maine Warns Of Ticks Amid Record Year For Babesiosis
Health authorities in Maine are warning residents of a second peak in tick activity in the state this fall. Many people associate deer ticks with summer, but they peak again from late September to November, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said. The ticks can carry diseases, such as Lyme disease, and are often found in wooded and leafy areas. (10/24)
The New York Times: James Michael Tyler, Who Played Gunther On ‘Friends,’ Dies At 59
James Michael Tyler, who played the deadpan, smitten barista Gunther on the TV show “Friends,” died on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 59. His manager, Toni Benson, said the cause was prostate cancer, which was diagnosed in September 2018. After his diagnosis, Mr. Tyler shared his story to encourage others to get screened for prostate cancer as early as 40. (Patel and Jimenez, 10/24)
