H5N1 has been reported in five local bodies in Kozhikode district, with culling operations set to follow, according to PTI and local media reports published on March 18 and 19. The affected areas were named as Panangad, Olavanna, Kakkodi and Perumanna panchayats, along with Nallalam under Kozhikode Corporation. PTI, as carried by ThePrint, said laboratory […]
The cull order in Alappuzha district follows reported H5N1 confirmation in Muhamma and will cover a 1-km radius around the outbreak center. Kerala authorities will cull 5,961 domestic birds in Muhamma in Alappuzha district after avian influenza was confirmed there, according to a PTI report. The report said the Animal Husbandry Department had deployed rapid […]
The UK Health Security Agency said on March 19 that it is investigating an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease in Kent that, as of March 18, was linked to 27 cases: 15 confirmed and 12 additional linked cases that have not all been laboratory confirmed. The agency said two people have died. The two deaths […]
The head of the World Health Organization has warned that damage to petroleum facilities in Iran could contaminate air, food and water, after residents in Tehran reported what they described as black rain following strikes on fuel sites around the capital. The strikes, carried out overnight into Sunday, March 8, hit multiple oil storage facilities […]
Pennsylvania is expanding its response to highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, after state officials said more than 14.3 million birds have been lost in the Commonwealth since the current U.S. outbreak began in February 2022. The state says the pressure has intensified in 2026. Officials said 7.2 million birds have been affected since […]
For 27 years, Handwashing For Life has been dedicated to overcoming underwashing and helping operators avoid foodborne outbreaks. Transforming myths into evidence-based interventions has revealed two key insights: brand protection is the primary reason for investing in handwashing, and although kitchen staff are well-trained, they often lack motivation to wash their hands frequently. Clear expectations […]
The benefits of research-driven advances in handwashing, traditionally take considerable time to reach the nation’s restaurants. This May 12th meeting in Oak Park, Michigan attempts to be a game-changer with an early immersion into the rigors of FDA codification. The SaniOnce handwash protocol has been thoroughly tested by an independent laboratory. It offers considerable advantages […]
Since science has proven that operators have choices in their handwashing protocols, naming those alternatives helps communication, improves memorability, promotes ownership, increases its motivational value and converts the complex into common sense. These proposed names recognize industry practices and evidence-based options. Any hand treatment is expected to have an effect, though effectiveness varies. The references […]
Using Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) to set Science-Based Handwashing Standards Background: Handwashing protocols in Foodservice are intuitively based on risk – “I don’t want to be tomorrow’s headline!” This is tempered by factors that influence profitability, like labor and direct costs. Operations personnel are under constant pressure for productivity gains, creating a downward influence on […]
CFP 2025 Submissions on Handwashing Issue to Consider: Hand hygiene is a critical step in fighting disease, especially foodborne pathogens. In food handling settings, washing hands with soap and water is the required primary method for performing hand hygiene. In other settings, such as healthcare, alcohol-based hand sanitizers (aka hand antiseptics) are the preferred method […]