News From The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services

 Timely Topics of Interest

SWINE FLU

      K2 Synthetic Marijuana Use Among Teenagers
                                              and Young Adults in Missouri                

Health care providers should be aware of serious signs and symptoms reported among some users of "K2" synthetic marijuana product, which is legal and readily obtainable in Missouri. Providers should note that use of this substance, alone or in combination with other substances, may cause symptoms including anxiety coupled with agitation, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, pallor, vomiting, tremors, hallucinations, and possibly seizures. Clinical consultation is available from the Missouri Regional Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 (24/7).

"K2" – also known as "K2 Spice", "Spice", "K2 Summit", "Genie", "Zohai", and various other names – is an unregulated mixture of dried herbs that are sprayed with a synthetic cannabinoid-like substance (likely a compound designated "JWH018"). "K2" is sold as incense.

"K2" is currently legal in Missouri, although some communities have banned its sale, and it is readily available for purchase from gas stations, smoke shops and other retailers in many parts of the state. The product is also widely available on the Internet.

Since February 8, 2010, the Missouri Regional Poison Center has received questions from numerous emergency department (ED) physicians in Missouri regarding management of patients who had adverse reactions after smoking "K2."

Patients were 14 to 21 years of age. Some calls were also received from the public regarding exposure to this substance.

Apparent "K2"-related ED visits reported via the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ ESSENCE system since December 8, 2009, included many of those which had prompted calls by health care providers to the Poison Center. Additional ED visits with similar complaints that had not resulted in calls to the Poison Center were also identified by ESSENCE. From December 8, 2009, through February 25, 2010, 10 ED visits that could have been K2-associated were detected. Patients identified thus far have ranged in age from 16 to 27 years, and nine were non-Hispanic white males. One patient was a female of unknown race.

It is important to note that among 10 ED visits detected in ESSENCE, only three mentioned "K2" as their admission reason or chief complaint. This suggests that although "K2" is legal in Missouri, patients may not be forthcoming about its use when seeking health care, a finding consistent with provider reports in other states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Michigan. 

 Recreational Water Illness
       Stay Healthy While Swimming This Summer

 
                Very soon Missourians will be going to their favorite swimming areas to stay
cool and have fun. But many don’t know of the organisms that could be swimming
around in the water with them that could make them very sick.

- Recreational Water Illness can make you very sick. -
Even the cleanest pools can result in a Recreational Water Illness.

People who are ill and actively swimming are part of the reason as to how germs get spread.
It's very important to keep everyone healthy while swimming.  
 

 Check out the links below for more information on RWI (Recreational Water Illness)
 
For more information click here or. . .
- If you fall into one of these categories the links below are very beneficial -
  All - Agencies Website
 Aquatic Facility Operators & Beach Managers
  Community Leaders
 Healthcare Providers
   Media
   Swimmers & Parents


                    

                                                                                                             2010 Missouri Fish Advisory    

The Fish Advisory provides advice on the amount of fish to safely eat and encourages individuals to eat a healthy diet that includes fish. Fish is a good source of high
quality protein and essential nutrients that contribute to a healthy diet. Fish is low in cholesterol, and some types of fish have omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for the development of the nervous system and may be beneficial in reducing heart disease. 

                                                                                                               
  
      Mercury emissions from natural and anthropogenic sources enter the global mercury
cycle and are distributed in the environment locally and globally through various processes. Atmospheric emissions of mercury can enter the environment through deposition onto soils and water. When mercury settles into sediments and soils, it can become involved in biogeochemical cycles, be transformed into the highly toxic form of methylmercury, and bioaccumulate in the food chain. 
                                                                                                    
 For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish is not a health concern.
Yet, some fish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or a
young child's developing nervous system. The risks from mercury in fish depend on
the amount of fish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish. Therefore, the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women,
nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish that are
lower in mercury.
                                                                                    
By following these three recommendations for selecting and eating fish,  women
and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

  Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels
    of mercury. 
   Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish that are lower in
    mercury.
   Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light
    tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
  Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light
    tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average
    meal) of albacore tuna per week.

Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your
local lakes, rivers. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per
week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during
that week. Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish to your young child,
but serve smaller portions.

                                                                                                                  
      Learn more about mercury levels in fish click on the following link:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/FoodbornePathogensContaminants/Methylmercury/ucm115644.htm

                                                                                                  

The Missouri Fish Advisory Page is not just for adults.  Kids you can play in the
Activity Book located on the Missouri Fish Advisory page.  Click on the fish below - then the activity book link which is loads of fun!

Click these 3 links for loads of information and fun!

         Adults                    Lots of fun for the kids             Activity Fish Book

                                                                                      

 Peanut Butter Recall
As the recall of peanut butter products continues to expand, access to timely information
    becomes a priority.  Click here to access the most current information available to
                                        St. Francois County Health Center.

 FDA Warns Bayer About Two Unapproved Aspirin Product 
                                    Questions and Answers for Consumers

What action is FDA announcing? 
  On Oct. 28, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to Bayer HealthCare regarding two over-the-counter (OTC) products that combine aspirin with a dietary supplement into a single pill. The products are not approved by FDA.

Which products are affected? 
  Bayer Aspirin with Heart Advantage (Bayer Heart Advantage)–aspirin combined with phytosterols (a plant-based supplement also known as plant sterols) Bayer Women's Low Dose Aspirin + Calcium (Bayer Women's)–aspirin combined with calcium

Why is FDA issuing these warning letters? 
  In addition to marketing these products as pain relievers, Bayer is also marketing them for reducing the risks of heart disease. The labeling for Bayer Women's also claims that the product helps "fight" osteoporosis.
The products are unapproved new drugs. Because these products combine aspirin with a dietary supplement into one pill, FDA considers them to be new drugs that must undergo FDA review before they can be marketed. Their safety and effectiveness for their marketed uses have not been reviewed by the agency.

Under the OTC Drug Review–a process that lays out ingredients and uses that are allowed in OTC products–FDA allows some drugs to be marketed without first obtaining formal agency approval. But Bayer Heart Advantage and Bayer Women's are not covered by FDA's OTC Drug Review, nor are they otherwise approved by the agency.

Bayer is marketing the products over-the-counter, but their use requires a physician's supervision. Products that are being marketed for preventing heart attacks, for preventing and/or treating heart disease, and/or for treating osteoporosis require the supervision of a physician to ensure safe use.

The products have inadequate and misleading directions and warnings. Both products lack adequate directions and warnings for their safe use by consumers. For example, these products are labeled with directions and warnings that are inconsistent and contradictory. The "Drug Facts" panels on the labeling for these products specify that consumers should stop use and ask a doctor if pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days. But the "Supplement Facts" panels on the labeling for these products include directions for daily use, without mentioning any limitations on duration of use.

Have there been adverse events related to these products? 
  FDA is not aware of significant adverse events related to these products. But the agency is concerned because    Bayer Heart Advantage and Bayer Women's have not been proven safe and effective for their labeled uses.

 What is FDA's advice for consumers who may have been taking these products?
   FDA has not approved these products. The agency recommends that consumers talk with their health care providers about alternatives to taking an unapproved drug. Consumers who are taking any aspirin products for cardiovascular health should only do so under the supervision of a physician.

Why is it important to use aspirin products under the supervision of a physician? 
  Studies have shown that aspirin can help prevent the recurrence of heart attacks and stroke, but aspirin use has also been associated with adverse events. These include gastrointestinal side effects, such as stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding. Also, using aspirin for cardiovascular health may not be necessary or appropriate for some people.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/pdf/Toolkit_RWI_Prevention_Week_2009.pdf 
      brochure.htm http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/