In the news

Researchers led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign electrical and computer engineering professor Brian Cunningham and bioengineering professor Rashid Bashir, reported (the journal Lab on a Chip) that they created an inexpensive, sensitive Smartphone-based testing device for viral and bacterial pathogens that takes about 30 minutes to complete. The team reported that the ~$50 Smartphone accessory could reduce testing required by laboratories during a pandemic such as COVID-19. The study goal was to detect a panel of viral and bacterial pathogens in horses, including those that cause severe respiratory illnesses similar to those presented in COVID-19. The new device is comprised of a small cartridge containing testing reagents and a port to insert a nasal extract or blood sample, that clips to a Smartphone. Inside the cartridge, the reagents break open the pathogen’s outer shell to gain access to its RNA. A primer molecule then amplifies the genetic material into many millions of copies in about 10 or 15 minutes. The RNA strands are stained by a fluorescent dye and the copies and glow green when illuminated by blue LED light, which detected by the Smartphone’s camera. “This test can be performed rapidly on passengers before getting on a flight, on people going to a theme park or before events like a conference or concert,” Cunningham said. There are a few preparatory steps currently performed outside of the device, and the team is working on a cartridge that has all of the reagents needed to be a fully integrated system. @ https://phys.org/news/2020-04-inexpensive-portable-detector-pathogens-minutes.amp

Tyson Foods Inc. meat plant in Pasco, Washington, closed indefinitely. Team members are undergoing testing for COVID-19. The Tyson plant in Washington produces enough beef in one day to feed four million people, with a capacity of 2,300 cattle a day. Reopening the plant depends upon the outcome of team member testing and how long it takes to get results back. The closure will mean reduced food supplies and presents problems to farmers who have no place to take their livestock. Tyson also closed two of its crucial pork plants. The head of JBS SA, the world’s top meat producer, warned of shortfalls. At least eight major U.S. meat facilities have close during the last few weeks. Combined pork, beef, and poultry supplies in cold-storage facilities now stand equal to roughly two weeks of total American meat production. With most plant shutdowns lasting about 14 days for safety reasons, that means a potential for deficits. Experts saying the country is just weeks away from shortages.@ https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-04-23/tyson-halts-pasco-plant-production-to-test-workers-for-covid-19

The FDA announced on its website that Homestead Creamery Inc of Wirtz, VA, recalled unsalted butter because of the potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.  The recalled butter was distributed to our distribution partners, through our home delivery service, and our retail store. The unsalted butter affected comes in ½ pound marked with an expiration date of 04/30 stickered on the plastic packaging. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue. The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by Homestead Creamery and revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in our unsalted butter. The production of the product has been suspended. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services continues to investigate the source of the issue. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/homestead-creamery-recall-unsalted-butter-because-possible-health-risk

As of April 22, 2020, CDC, public health, and regulatory officials in several states, and the FDA concluded their investigation of a multistate outbreak of E. coli O103 infections linked to clover sprouts. Fifty-one people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O103 were reported from 10 states (Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, and New York). Three people were hospitalized.  No deaths were reported. Epidemiological and traceback data indicated that clover sprouts were the source of this outbreak. The FDA identified the outbreak strain of E. coli O103 in samples of Chicago Indoor Garden products that contain sprouts. On March 16, 2020, Chicago Indoor Garden recalled all products containing red clover sprouts from the market. Jimmy John’s LLC reported that all of its restaurants stopped serving clover sprouts on February 24, 2020. 63% of the people interviewed reported eating sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurant. The FDA showed that a common seed lot was used to grow both the sprouts recalled by Chicago Indoor Garden and sprouts that were served at some Jimmy John’s locations. @ https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2020/o103h2-02-20/index.html