Is your destination Vegas? This story might gross you out. Health officials in Sin City confirm the presence of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease was recently found in water samples from the Egyptian-themed hotel-casino following the death of a guest from the form of pneumonia.
Vegas-Bound? Legionnaires Disease Bacteria Found in Luxor's Water
Where's the E. Coli? L.A. Company Recalls Over 377,000 Pounds of Ground Beef
No one has reported getting sick yet, but just to be safe, a Los Angeles meat company has announced a recall of several cases of their ground meat and ground meat products out of concern the meat is tainted with E. Coli bacteria.
Fear the Melon: Contaminated Cantaloupe in California
A recent health scare connected to contaminated cantaloupe has reached California, as an outbreak of Listeria has caused 35 people in 11 states, including ours, to become ill. Four deaths have been associated with the illness.
Fresh & Easy Recalls Select Bags of Organic Baby Spinach
After an organism known to cause anything from a severe headache to death was found in one bag, Fresh & Easy has issued a recall of Organic Baby Spinach with the Enjoy by date of August 1, according to a statement from the FDA. The recall was made out of "an abundance of caution," according to the statement, since the organism was found in only one bag as part of a random testing procedure.
His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama Rallies For The Trojans
Bodhisattvas likely do not care much about football, however, USC officials are saying it looks like Nobel Peace Prize #winning Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will rally to make it to campus on Tuesday for two speaking engagements despite Monday's health-related cancelation at a UCLA symposium on Buddhism and Neuroscience.
Whoopee! Cases of Whooping Cough Dropping
Following a record 1,144 cases of whooping cough in 2010, the number of reports of the illness has dropped by 50 percent in Southern California, reports CBS. And last week, no new cases were reported in San Diego County for the first time in eight months. Despite the encouraging news, it's still too early to say what will happen in coming weeks and months, says CBS.
Mystery Illness Investigation Spreads Beyond Playboy Mansion
The initial "cluster of reports" of people falling ill after attending a four-day conference in Los Angeles has increased dramatically since Sunday with more than 170 people now affected by what's being described as a "suspected respiratory infection outbreak," reports LA Now.
Bunny Hoarders: Is Hef's Playboy Mansion Making People Sick?
Los Angeles County health officials are investigating Hugh Hefner's legendary Holmby Hills home "after reports that dozens of visitors contracted a mysterious respiratory illness after attending a fund-raiser" at the Playboy Mansion earlier this month, notes LA Now.
LA County Rationing Swine Flu Vaccine; High Risk Groups Get Priority
Limited supplies of the in-demand H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine are forcing the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to be very strict in deciding who can get the preventative treatment at area clinics, reports the Daily Breeze. Thousands of people hoping to ward off the infectious virus have swarmed clinics and special vaccination events, however now individuals "not deemed at risk for swine flu are being asked to stay away from county-run vaccination clinics until more supplies become available."
Beware the Bad Cheese... Don't be a Dairy Dummy
Utensils down, chefs! Do you know where that cheese was made? If you don't, you could be cooking with what the Los Angeles County Health Officer calls "a recipe for disaster," and that has zero to do with your culinary prowess. A press release issued by the county's Department of Public Health is warning consumers about dairy products, particularly "Latin American-style soft cheese and sour cream, purchased from unlicensed manufacturers or vendors," because they may be full of contaminants.
LA, OC Still Swine Flu-Free, Residents Urged to Take Precautions
As of yesterday morning, only 20 cases of Swine Flu have been reported in the US, with 7 of those cases in California. However, there have been no cases logged in either Los Angeles or Orange counties, and local officials want to get the word out that they are working to prevent the infection from spreading.
405 Freeway Corpse Identified, Man Who Found It Arrested
The man whose body was found near the 405 Freeway on Friday has been identified as being that of Thomas Francis Leamy, a 59-year-old patient of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center who left against medical advice. Leamy reportedly walked out of the hospital "a few days ago when told he was suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease," reports abc7.com. The man "still had an electrode from a heart monitor attached to his chest" when he was found in some bushes near Wilshire Boulevard and the 405 Freeway. Leamy's family had reported him missing. His body was found by a pedestrian, who contacted the California Highway Patrol, but later "was arrested for refusing to identify himself and being on the freeway illegally."
Largest Medical Response to Rose Bowl at Football Game
More than 800 people got sick (13 went to the hospital) after watching the Fresno Bulldogs beat the UCLA Bruins on Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. What happened? No, it wasn't UCLA's poor performance. For the most part, it was heat-related. "Paramedics from Los Angeles and Glendale were called in to assist in the response," which the the LA Times reported to be the largest medical response to the Rose Bowl.
Black Crowes Cancel California Shows Due to Illness
The Black Crowes announced today that five concerts, including the ones at the Greek Theatre, The Bowl in Santa Barbara and at San Diego's Street Scene, have been canceled due to illness. "Despite our efforts, it is not possible to reschedule the canceled shows at this time. However, efforts are being made to reschedule these markets in early 2009. Fans are encouraged to obtain refunds from their original place of purchase," The Black Crowes wrote in an e-mail (posted in full here). Thank you to all who entered the contest to win tickets, we're sorry for the inconvenience. Another contest has been posted for this Sunday's My Morning Jacket show.
Fashion Critic Mr. Blackwell Hospitalized and Unconscious
85-year-old fashion critic Richard Blackwell, best known for his scathing annual list of worst-dressed celebrities, is reportedly in an undisclosed Los Angeles-area hospital and has been unconscious since Tuesday. The information came via his partner, Robert Spencer, who declined to state from what illness Blackwell is suffering. His most recent "Worst Dressed" list was published in January of this year, and included mostly pop stars such as Victoria Beckham, Avril Lavigne, Amy Winehouse, Fergie, and Kelly Clarkson, with the oddball pick of former Little House on the Prairie actress Alison Arngrim as #10. LAist interviewed Mr. Blackwell when this year's list came out, too!
Ex-Manson Follower Wants Early Release Due to Illness
Convicted murderer Susan Atkins has earned a dubious honor: She has been the longest incarcerated woman in California history*, having logged 37 of her 59 years as an inmate following her conviction in the famous 1969 "Manson Murders."
24,000 California Deaths Linked to Pollution
A state report (.pdf) to be presented today says that "as many as 24,000 deaths annually in California are linked to chronic exposure to fine particulate pollution," according to the LA Times. That's more than triple the figures announced by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) when they asked Governor Schwarzenegger and President Bush to declare a state of emergency regarding the 5400 environmental/pollution related deaths a year.

