California Dept. of Public Health urges Golden State residents to avoid Vietnamese hemorrhoid ointment

April 20, 2024admin

California Dept. of Public Health urges Golden State residents to avoid Vietnamese hemorrhoid ointment

The California Department of Public Health has issued a warning to consumers advising them not to purchase or use a hemorrhoid ointment from Vietnam that was found to contain dangerous levels of lead and was linked to a death in Northern California.

A public health advisory declared that California consumers should not use Cao Bôi Trĩ Cây Thầu Dầu, an ointment for hemorrhoids that is produced in Vietnam and available for purchase on social media and by private vendors at public events like swap meets.

According to CDPH, the product was found to contain 4% lead, which was described by health officials as “an incredibly high and dangerous level,” who added that the ointment was linked to a lead poisoning death in Sacramento County.

Reports from KTLA sister station KTXL indicate that the victim allegedly bought Cao Bôi Trĩ Cây Thầu Dầu on Facebook and had it shipped to her by a relative in Vietnam.

“Consumers should be extremely cautious using unregulated health products available online or through social media,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, Dr. Tomás J. Aragón. “Many of these products overpromise to cure or relieve ailments and are not tested for safety. Putting these products on or in your body can have serious consequences.”

State health officials are working with county health departments to raise awareness within their Vietnamese communities. Federal health officials have also been notified, CDPH said.

Cao Bôi Trĩ Cây Thầu Dầu, a Vietnamese hemorrhoid ointment, as seen in a photo provided by the California Department of Public Health

Anyone who is using or has used Cao Bôi Trĩ Cây Thầu Dầu is urged to stop immediately, see a healthcare provider

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Department Health

April 12, 2024admin

US Health Dept warns hospitals of hackers targeting IT help desks

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) warns that hackers are now using social engineering tactics to target IT help desks across the Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) sector.

The sector alert issued by the Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) this week says these tactics have allowed attackers to gain access to targeted organizations’ systems by enrolling their own multi-factor authentication (MFA) devices.

In these attacks, the threat actors use a local area code to call organizations pretending to be employees in the financial department and provide stolen ID verification details, including corporate ID and social security numbers.

Using this sensitive information and claiming their smartphone is broken, they convince the IT helpdesk to enroll a new device in MFA under the attacker’s control.

This gives them access to corporate resources and allows them to redirect bank transactions in business email compromise attacks.

“The threat actor specifically targeted login information related to payer websites, where they then submitted a form to make ACH changes for payer accounts,” HC3 says [PDF].

“Once access has been gained to employee email accounts, they sent instructions to payment processors to divert legitimate payments to attacker-controlled U.S. bank accounts.”

“The funds were then transferred to overseas accounts. During the malicious campaign, the threat actor also registered a domain with a single letter variation of the target organization and created an account impersonating the target organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).”

In such incidents, attackers may also use AI voice cloning tools to deceive targets, making it harder to verify identities remotely. This is now a very popular tactic, with 25% of people having experienced an AI voice impersonation scam or knowing someone who has, according to a recent global study.

Scattered Spider vibes

The tactics described in the Health Department

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Department Health

March 6, 2024admin

Halifax Lawyer Raises Health Concerns for Client in Nova Scotia Justice Dept. Sexual Abuse Case

A Halifax lawyer, Devin Maxwell, expresses profound concern over the health and safety implications for his client due to the extensive questioning planned by provincial lawyers in a civil sexual abuse lawsuit against Nova Scotia’s Department of Justice. Maxwell’s client is suing the government for abuse by Cesar Lalo, known as one of Nova Scotia’s most egregious pedophiles. Lalo, a former probation officer, was implicated in numerous cases of child abuse, leading to multiple civil lawsuits against him and the province, even after his death in 2019.

Unprecedented Legal Battle

The legal fight against Nova Scotia’s Department of Justice is intensifying as the case approaches the discovery phase, where Maxwell’s client will undergo questioning by government lawyers for two days. This procedure is part of a series of lawsuits following landmark rulings that found the province vicariously liable for Lalo’s actions, resulting in significant damage awards. Despite Lalo’s death, the lawsuits continue, highlighting the long-lasting impact of his crimes.

Concerns Over the Discovery Process

Maxwell’s worries stem from the potential psychological impact this extensive questioning could have on his client, who has spent a lifetime trying to repress memories of the abuse. The decision to allocate two full days for questioning has raised alarms, not only for Maxwell but also for the victim’s counsellor, both of whom fear for the client’s well-being. Maxwell questions the necessity of such a prolonged process, especially given the province’s previous commitments to sensitivity towards abuse victims.

Response from the Justice Department

In response to Maxwell’s concerns, the Justice Department emphasized its commitment to treating every claim with sensitivity and respect, while also conducting the necessary fact-finding to review claims. They encouraged Maxwell to bring his concerns directly to the department’s legal services division. Despite the ongoing legal challenges, the exact number of active

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Department Health

December 18, 2023admin

Dept. of Health issues updated voluntary recall warning for apple sauce products due to elevated lead levels : Big Island Now

Elevated lead levels have resulted in a voluntary recall of Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree by WanaBana, LLC and of private-label brands Schnucks Apple Sauce with cinnamon and Weis Cinnamon Apple Sauce pouch products.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Disease Investigation Branch, and Food and Drug Branch are today jointly updating the Oct. 31, 2023 alert by the Department of Health.

WanaBana pouches were primarily sold at Dollar Tree stores nationwide, with some product available for purchase online at Amazon.com. The product was sold in a 3-pack of 2.5-ounce pouches. 90-gram Weis pouches were sold at Weis Markets located on the East Coast, and 90-gram Schnucks pouches were sold at Schnuck Markets in the Midwest. There are no retail stores in Hawai‘i that sold the recalled products, and based on the Department of Health’s investigation it appears that no recalled product was shipped to Hawai‘i via Amazon.

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However, there is a possibility that residents traveling to the mainland, or visitors from the mainland, may have purchased the recalled products from Dollar Tree, Weis Markets, and/or Schnuck Markets and consumed the recalled products before arriving in the state. Visiting family and friends may have also brought the recalled products with them to Hawai‘i.

Lead is toxic to humans and can affect people of any age or health status, and protecting children from lead exposure is important to lifelong good health. Parents and caregivers of toddlers and young children who may have consumed WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches, Schnucks Apple Sauce with cinnamon, and/or Weis Cinnamon Apple Sauce should contact their child’s healthcare provider about getting a blood test.

Physicians and laboratories are required to report to the Department of Health any person under their care with elevated

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Department Health

December 8, 2023admin

Deputy health administrator says Ottawa Co. Health Dept. feeling budget cuts

WEST OLIVE, Mich. — The Ottawa County Health Department provided some insight into its latest struggles after commissioners made some budget cuts.

At Tuesday’s Health Human Services Committee meeting, the deputy health officer outlined staffing capacity, hiring and retention issues the department hasn’t experienced in ten years.

Deputy Health Administrator Marcia Mansaray explained that 25 people separated from the department this year, including six who were let go when COVID-19 grants weren’t renewed. She adds the department has 12 full-time positions sitting open. At the meeting, she explained one position had six people lined up for an interview, but only one showed up.

Additionally, Mansaray said the services they offer are also being affected. She told commissioners food inspections for schools are being reduced. The deputy health administrator says schools are only receiving one inspection, rather than the usual two per year. The health department also tracks where they are on well and septic permits. Mansaray says they’re three weeks out. Currently, they’re working to respond to 30 permits, compared to the typical 15.

“Canary in the coal mine,” Mansaray warned. “We don’t like people waiting for those because they are connected to development and real estate sales.”

The county health department also presented a draft proposal to add funding to health education. The department sent commissioners a request of $121,000 to have a full-time health educator work as the Ottawa Food Coordinator. County documents show this request came after the county cut to health education and nutrition by 48% for FY24.

Mansaray told commissioners they had a conversation with County Administrator John Gibbs and Deputy Administrator Ben Wetmore about the need for this position.

Last month, Wetmore gave the board “Ottawa Food— Just the Facts.” In the presentation, Wetmore explained to the board members, “The Ottawa Food program is

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Department Health

September 9, 2023admin

Community members rally in support of Ottawa Co. Health Dept.

HOLLAND, Mich. — Hundreds of people gathered in Ottawa County Wednesday to show their support for the Department of Public Health.

The protest is the result of a weeks-long back and forth over the Ottawa County Public Health budget.

Community members rally in support of Ottawa Co. Health Dept.

Commission Chairperson Joe Moss, in August, suggested dropping down the budget to pre-COVID levels, with a $2.5 million general fund contribution and no COVID grants.

Health Officer Adeline Hambley warned a budget cut that significant would close her department within weeks of the new fiscal year.

Hambley told FOX 17 Tuesday that county officials boosted the proposed public health budget— $4.3 million from the general fund, along with $1.4 million from the department’s rainy-day fund.

She said the new numbers would allow the department to meet the state of Michigan’s standard funding requirement set back in 1993; however, she noted that the department may not be able to provide adequate services required by the state.

“There’s some concerns with some significant cuts to our core public health programs— immunizations, communicable disease, infection and prevention, investigation and STD infection prevention and testing,” Hambley explained.

“It’s emotional. We’re all feeling some sort of emotion, and I think we all feel the love that we’re getting today,” Judy Kettering, an Ottawa County Community Health worker, said. “I am very hopeful, and if the outcome doesn’t, you know, turn out to be what we all want it to be, I hope it still saves a lot of services that the families around here really need and rely on.”

County Administrator John Gibbs said during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting that the public health budget proposal still is 22% higher than fiscal year 2019.

Meanwhile, Chairperson Moss noted that the budget is not finalized, and

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Department Health

April 19, 2023admin

Allergies, pollen could send you to ER this year, Health Dept. warns

You’ve got to be pollen our legs.

Allergy season is in full swing — and it could send some New Yorkers to the emergency room, according to a new bulletin from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene geared toward medical professionals.

The notice warned that this upcoming pollen season will worsen symptoms in anyone allergic to tree pollen, causing asthma attacks and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The latter involves those pesky symptoms we all know and love — a runny nose, itchy eyes and congestion.

“Over-the-counter allergy medication sales and asthma emergency department (ED) visits (particularly in
children) typically increase in April and May, coinciding with peak tree pollen concentrations,” the health agency cautioned.

From the department’s data, on average about 260 New Yorkers make the trip to the ER for their allergies every May. According to Gothamist, that’s the month when pollen is at its peak.

The May figure compares to the 218 ER visits made on average in April due to allergies.

It looks like allergy season will be extra-bad this year. — It looks like allergy season could be extra bad this year.

Data from the bulletin revealed that there could be more allergy-related hospitalizations in May. — Data from the bulletin revealed that allergy-related hospitalizations could rise in May.

The department also noted that hospitalizations for allergies were lower in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If you’re prone towards allergies, you develop an antibody called IGE to that particular allergen,” Dr. Arveen Bhasin, a Mayo Clinic allergy and immunology expert, said in a “Mayo Clinic Minute” earlier this month.

“When you’re exposed to that allergen, it causes the release of histamine and these other mediators,” says Dr. Bhasin.

One potential reason that allergy symptoms are even worse this year in cities like NYC could be due to something called “botanical

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Tag: Dept

Scattered Spider vibes

Unprecedented Legal Battle

Concerns Over the Discovery Process

Response from the Justice Department