E Coli Outbreak, Swine Flu Clinics

MYFOXNY.COM - Medical headlines for Monday, November 9.

Text of Dr. Sapna Parikh's report:

E. COLI OUTBREAK: There are calls for an investigation into school lunch safety after a recent E. coli outbreak. The outbreak was blamed in at least 2 deaths-- now there is an investigation to see if school lunches could have been affected. The chairman of the House Education and Labor committee is asking Congress to ensure that there is enough protection for school meals at the local, state and federal level. The recent outbreak was linked to ground beef produced by Fairbank Farm in Ashville, New York

MUMPS UPDATE: An update on the recent mumps outbreak in our area. First it was Brooklyn, then New Jersey and now Rockland County is involved. So far, more than 100 people have been infected and according to health officials these outbreaks are thought to have begun at an Orthodox Jewish camp in Sullivan County where a child was infected during international travel. Usually mumps is a mild illness- but it is extremely contagious. Vaccination with the MMR vaccine is the key to prevention. However- the vaccine is not perfect. One in 20 people who get fully vaccinated do not develop immunity.

SWINE FLU CLINICS: Low turnout over the weekend at swine flu vaccine clinics set up across the city. The clinics were originally targeting school-age children only - but will now offer vaccines to all young people age 4 to 24 and to pregnant women of any age. The vaccination clinics will continue over five weekends in November and December. Each center can accommodate up to 500 people per hour and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For details, call 311.