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Norovirus alert: FDA warns of contaminated raw oysters from Mexico

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Norovirus alert: FDA warns of contaminated raw oysters from Mexico

Raw oysters from certain parts of Mexico could be a source of norovirus, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning.

The agency has advised restaurants and retailers to stop selling and to dispose of oysters harvested from Bahia Salina, Sonora, Mexico — which were shipped by freight carrier Sociedad Acuicola GolPac on Dec. 18, Dec. 19 and Dec. 27, 2023. 

Consumers are also advised against eating these oysters and to seek medical attention for any symptoms of norovirus.

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The alert is geared primarily toward California restaurants, retailers and consumers, although the FDA noted that the potentially contaminated oysters may have also been shipped to other states.

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The FDA was first alerted to an outbreak of norovirus in San Diego County on Jan. 10, which was linked to oysters shipped from Mexico.

Raw oysters from certain parts of Mexico could be a source of norovirus, the FDA has warned. (iStock)

“An investigation is ongoing and the number of illnesses is being tracked,” the FDA’s alert said 

“Mexican shellfish authorities have initiated an investigation into the source of the illnesses and have closed the Bahia Salina growing area to harvest on Jan. 12, 2024.”

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The contaminated oysters may “look, smell and taste normal,” but can cause illness if eaten raw, particularly among those with compromised immune systems, the agency said.

Dr. Edward Liu, chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital that it is likely the oysters grew in contaminated water.  

“This virus is more common in colder months and can infect large groups of people due to its highly contagious nature,” he said.

The FDA warned that the contaminated oysters may “look, smell and taste normal” — but can cause illness if they are eaten raw. (iStock)

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, pointed out that the biggest problem is that people tend to eat oysters raw, which leads to the highest amount of norovirus if contaminated.

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“I would pay very careful attention to these alerts and avoid all oysters coming from these areas in Mexico,” he told Fox News Digital.

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

While it is often referred to as a “stomach flu” or “stomach bug,” it is not related to influenza.

Primary symptoms of the virus include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain.

Some people may also experience fever, headache and body aches.

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Frequent vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration for some patients.

“The treatment is supportive with hydration until the symptoms improve,” said Liu of New Jersey. “The most vulnerable people are the very young or old or immunocompromised, who can’t tolerate dehydration.”

Based on electron microscopic (EM) imagery, this illustration provides a three-dimensional (3D) and graphical representation of a number of norovirus virions, set against a black background. (CDC/Jessica A. Allen)

Symptoms typically develop within 12 to 48 hours of exposure and tend to subside within one to three days, the CDC stated.

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Newer stool tests (PCR-based tests) can detect the virus and may be available in hospital emergency rooms and some physician offices, Liu noted, but older stool cultures will not detect the virus. 

“The most vulnerable people are the very young or old or immunocompromised.”

“Outbreaks have happened due to contaminated food and are more common in certain settings, like cruise ships and patient facilities,” he said.

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To prevent the spread of the disease, Lui stressed the importance of good hand hygiene and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces. 

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“Careful handwashing and use of gloves can help food handlers from catching it or passing it along,” Siegel added.

People who experience symptoms of illness after consuming oysters should seek medical attention and report their symptoms to their local health department, the FDA advised.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

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Could ‘humanmaxxing’ actually help you live longer? Here’s what experts say

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Could ‘humanmaxxing’ actually help you live longer? Here’s what experts say

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We are officially living in the “maxxing” era.

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From “looksmaxxing” to improve appearance to “sleepmaxxing” for better rest, these viral terms all point to the same goal: squeezing every ounce of potential out of a specific trait or habit.

With a growing focus on optimizing wellness and maximizing longevity, the trend has evolved into what’s known as “humanmaxxing,” sparking a bigger question: How far can people go to optimize the human body?

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While there is no single definition of humanmaxxing, the trend generally refers to efforts to optimize health, performance and longevity through a combination of lifestyle habits, health tracking, supplements and, in some cases, more experimental interventions.

While there is no single definition of humanmaxxing, the trend generally refers to efforts to optimize health, performance and longevity through a combination of lifestyle habits, health tracking, supplements and, in some cases, more experimental interventions. (iStock)

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For some, the movement begins with biohacking. According to Dave Asprey, a Texas-based wellness expert who refers to himself as the “father of biohacking,” optimizing your body starts with changing your environment.

Asprey has defined biohacking as “the art and science of changing the environment around you or inside you so that you have full control of your own biology.”

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His public advice focuses on boosting cellular energy through everyday choices like intermittent fasting, high-fat diets, red-light therapy and supplement routines.

“My goal right now is 180 years, because I’m doing something about it now instead of waiting,” he once said.

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Clinical experts warn that extreme self-experimentation skips the rigorous safety checks that typical medical science requires. (iStock)

Others have embraced a more data-driven approach. Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, creator of the multimillion-dollar longevity project Blueprint in Los Angeles, argues that optimizing the body means removing human error from health decisions and instead relying on medical data.

“Methodically, we sought to build an algorithm with science and data that could better care for me than I can myself,” Johnson wrote on his website. “My mind did not have the authority to override the algorithm.”

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Johnson’s routine involves tracking hundreds of health metrics, eating a precisely measured diet, taking dozens of supplements, and undergoing advanced medical treatments in an effort to reduce his biological age.

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At the far end of the spectrum are those investing in technologies aimed at pushing the limits of human performance.

London-based tech investor Christian Angermayer recently described humanmaxxing as a strategy toward human maximization.

Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, creator of the multimillion-dollar longevity project Blueprint, argues that optimizing the body means removing human error from health decisions and instead relying on medical data. (iStock)

“I don’t think we should become something different, because I think humans are awesome, but I think we can maximize the potential [that] is already in us,” he said in an interview with The New York Times.

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Angermayer’s investment firm, Apeiron Investment Group, focuses on technologies intended to help people “live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.” He also founded atai Life Sciences, a biotechnology company that develops psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions that are currently being evaluated in clinical trials.

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As interest in humanmaxxing grows, mainstream health experts urge consumers to separate evidence-based wellness practices from experimental interventions.

Public guidance from the National Institute on Aging notes that while some anti-aging therapies have shown promise in laboratory research, there is not yet sufficient evidence that they can safely extend human life.

As interest in humanmaxxing grows, mainstream health experts urge consumers to separate evidence-based wellness practices from experimental interventions. (iStock)

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Clinical experts also caution that extreme self-experimentation can bypass the rigorous safety standards applied to conventional medical treatments.

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According to the Endocrine Society, taking substances such as testosterone or growth hormone without a medical need can lead to serious health risks, including cardiovascular complications and long-term disruption of the body’s chemical balance.

While many humanmaxxing habits overlap with standard healthy lifestyle practices, experts say consumers should be cautious of expensive or experimental interventions that promise dramatic anti-aging or longevity benefits without strong scientific evidence.

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New blood test detects 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases, beating current screenings

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New blood test detects 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases, beating current screenings

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A new test could make it easier to detect high-risk prostate cancer cases earlier.

The blood test, called Stockholm3, is showing promise in clinical trials, beating out the traditional, standard prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

In a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden studied the test’s efficacy in more than 12,000 men — mostly Swedish or European — aged 50 to 74.

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All participants were tested with PSA and Stockholm3 and were followed for two years. During the follow-up period, 443 men were diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer.

Stockholm3 detected 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases compared to 74% for PSA tests.

Stockholm3 detected 90% of aggressive prostate cancer cases compared to 74% for PSA tests. (iStock)

Stockholm3 missed “significantly fewer” serious cancer cases than PSA. The number of men incorrectly classified as high-risk was similar across both tests, according to a press release.

Thorgerdur Palsdottir, a researcher at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, wrote in a statement that one of the major challenges in prostate cancer is being able to identify the cases that are “truly dangerous.”

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“Our results show that Stockholm3 identifies significantly more aggressive cancer cases than PSA without increasing the number of unnecessary follow-ups,” she said.

“These results point toward a potential change in how prostate cancer screening can be conducted,” the researcher added. “A more precise blood test could enable earlier detection of aggressive disease while reducing the number of unnecessary follow-up examinations and procedures.”

“A more precise blood test could enable earlier detection of aggressive disease while reducing the number of unnecessary follow-up examinations and procedures,” a researcher commented. (iStock)

Study co-author Hari Vigneswaran, chief medical officer of Stockholm3-maker A3P Biomedical, commented on these “promising” findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.

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He confirmed that the PSA has been the standard for prostate cancer screening since the 1990s despite its “well-documented limitations.”

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“It leads to invasive and costly follow-up testing, contributes to over-diagnosis of non-aggressive cancers and, most importantly, it misses a substantial share of aggressive disease,” Vigneswaran said.

When aggressive prostate cancer is found while still confined in the prostate, the five-year survival is close to 100%. (iStock)

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When aggressive prostate cancer is found while still confined in the prostate, the five-year survival rate is close to 100%, which highlights the importance of early detection, according to the doctor.

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Data from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database show that metastatic prostate cancer has risen over the past decade, suggesting that “we have not improved early detection of the aggressive, curable disease that screening is meant to catch,” Vigneswaran said.

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“The goal of screening is to find the cancers that need treatment while they are still curable, without raising the number of men who screen positive but don’t have aggressive disease,” he said.

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Stockholm3 could reduce the need for unnecessary MRIs and biopsies, according to the researcher. (Getty Images)

Stockholm3 could reduce the need for unnecessary MRIs and biopsies, according to the researcher.

The findings did have some limitations. Stockholm3 is an investigational device and is not available for sale in the U.S., Vigneswaran noted.

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The test estimates a man’s risk of aggressive prostate cancer, but a biopsy remains the gold standard for confirming the disease.

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The company plans to seek FDA approval to use the test for routine screening and will “generate the evidence needed to support that pathway, including U.S. data,” Vigneswaran said.

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This Protein Smoothie Trick Helps Women Over 40 Lose Twice as Much Fat

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This Protein Smoothie Trick Helps Women Over 40 Lose Twice as Much Fat


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This Protein Smoothie Trick Helps Women Lose Twice as Much Fat




















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