According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, most of the reported cases involved people who drank raw milk from one of two dairy operations in Idaho.

The first reports of illness started to come in around May 19.

So far, officials have not yet identified the dairy farms involved.

The spokesperson said they made the decision because the problem is not unique to one dairy and could potentially happen at any raw milk operation.

The companies are now working with public health teams to determine which milk batches may have been contaminated and what steps need to be taken to address the problem.

Unlike regular milk sold in stores, raw milk does not go through pasteurization.

Health officials at the CDC recommend avoiding raw milk altogether as it can contain dangerous bacteria.

Pasteurization helps make milk safer by killing germs that can cause illnesses, including E. coli, listeria and salmonella.

The process does not affect the milk’s nutrients either. Despite that, interest in raw milk has been growing, especially among people involved in the “Make America Healthy Again” movement.

So far, more than 40 people have tested positive for campylobacteriosis, an infection caused by Campylobacter bacteria.

Health officials believe the actual number of cases could be higher because not everyone who became sick has been tested.

The investigation now involves health agencies across much of Idaho. Officials are currently trying to pinpoint the source of the outbreak and are collecting milk samples for testing.

People who get sick from bacteria found in raw milk can experience various symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever and dehydration.

Symptoms tend to last anywhere between two to five days after consumption and can last around a week.

While many will recover without treatment, infections can be much more serious for young children, older adults, and pregnant women.

Those with compromised immune systems are also more likely to experience complications.

Anyone who recently drank raw milk and is feeling unwell is being urged to contact a healthcare provider. State officials are also asking residents to report possible illnesses to their local public health district.

The post Nearly 60 People Sick After Drinking Raw Milk In Idaho appeared first on Gazette Review.

The initiative, called Debug, focuses on shrinking mosquito populations that can carry illnesses such as dengue fever, Zika, West Nile virus, chikungunya and malaria.

According to documents by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Google wants to release as many as 16 million mosquitoes each year for two years while researchers study the impact.

The public has until June 5 to weigh in before the EPA makes a decision.

These mosquitoes are all male, meaning they won’t bite people or spread disease. They are raised with a naturally occurring bacterium known as Wolbachia.

When these males mate with wild females, the eggs produced don’t develop, leading to fewer mosquitoes in future generations.

While it might seem surprising to see a tech giant involved in mosquito control, the project has been in development for years.

Debug originally grew out of Verily, Alphabet’s health technology division, before becoming fully owned by Google in late 2024.

The program combines biology, engineering, data analysis and artificial intelligence in an effort to tackle mosquito-borne diseases more effectively.

Google says traditional methods have limitations. Insecticides can lose effectiveness over time and may have environmental downsides, while eliminating standing water sources – which the bugs use for breeding – is typically impractical.

The strategy itself isn’t new.

Scientists have been using versions of the sterile insect technique against various pests for decades. In fact, using Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to suppress populations has already been studied and applied in several locations around the world.

Currently, the program is targeting Aedes aegypti, a mosquito species linked to the majority of dengue, Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya infections.

To make the process work on a large scale, Google has developed automated systems that raise the insects; they are also using AI-powered image recognition technology to sort males from females before release.

The project has already shown encouraging results in Singapore, where millions of male mosquitoes have been released over the past several years.

According to Singapore’s National Environment Agency, mosquito numbers in some areas have dropped by as much as 80 to 90 per cent. Dengue cases also fell by more than 70 per cent within six to 12 months of sustained releases.

The results have encouraged the company to take the project to more places.

The Debug team says the success in Singapore makes them believe this method could work in other communities as well, especially in Asia, where dengue affects a large number of people.

The post Google to Release 32 Million Lab-Raised Mosquitos in California and Florida appeared first on Gazette Review.

According to officials, the situation escalated while the plane was in the air, with the man repeatedly trying to reach the cockpit, prompting the crew to divert the flight.

Fortunately, a group of police officers happened to be on the flight and stepped in to help.

By the time the plane landed, the passenger had been seated and was being closely monitored by officers.

According to one passenger, there was some sort of incident involving a man and a flight attendant; other people eventually stepped in and guided the man back to his seat.

Not long afterward, the plane turned around and headed for Madison instead of continuing to Minneapolis.

Once on the ground, local police boarded the aircraft, removed the passenger, and took him into custody. The FBI and other law enforcement officials also arrived at the scene.

So far, authorities have not released the man’s identity, nor have they explained whether any charges have been filed.

The FBI confirmed they are currently investigating the incident, though they have not provided any additional details.

Some passengers said there were signs of trouble even before takeoff.

During taxiing at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, the man reportedly stood up multiple times and had to be told repeatedly to sit down.

At one point, crew members looked for someone who could speak Russian to help communicate with him.

After that, he eventually returned to his seat and the flight departed.

At the time, the Boeing 737 was carrying 147 passengers and six crew members. United said the aircraft landed safely in Madison.

Fortunately, no one got injured in the incident.

The other passengers were able to resume their flight after security checks.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it is reviewing the incident as part of its standard process for passenger disturbances.

The agency noted that airlines have already reported hundreds of unruly passenger incidents this year and warned that passengers who interfere with flight crews can face significant penalties – as much as $43,658 for each violation.

The post United Flight Diverted After Passenger Tries to Breach Cockpit Multiple Times appeared first on Gazette Review.

His mother, Julia Gartland said the incident happened on Monday evening when they stopped at Dairy Queen for a treat.

Because her son Liam had life-threatening allergies to dairy, eggs and peanuts, she specifically ordered him a vegan Dilly Bar, a plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free option.

According to Gartland, the employee handed over the item and confirmed that it was a vegan Dilly Bar.

Trusting that it was the correct order, she gave it to Liam without checking the packaging herself.

Liam began eating the treat, however, within minutes, he realized something was wrong. He told his mother he thought it contained dairy.

When they looked at the wrapper, they realized it was not the vegan version – but one that contained dairy.

Gartland immediately rushed to get an EpiPen and called 911. By the time paramedics arrived, Liam was already having trouble breathing. Tragically, his heart had stopped before they reached the Kingston Centre.

Despite lifesaving efforts, Liam remained in cardiac arrest for nearly an hour, resulting in significant brain damage.

Doctors at Kingston General Hospital told the family to prepare for the worst, as they were uncertain whether Liam would survive the transfer to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.

While he ultimately made it to CHEO, he faced other complications.

According to doctors, Gartland had developed a hole in his lung and was also positive for COVID-19, which they said placed even more stress on his respiratory system.

She said his lungs were already severely inflamed from COVID and asthma, leaving them unable to withstand the allergic reaction.

After two days with no signs of brain activity, the family made the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye.

Liam’s parents chose to donate his organs, as he had always wanted to help others.

According to Gartland, doctors originally believed that Liam’s heart could not be donated. However, once he was in the operating room, his heart started beating again and was ultimately donated to a three-year-old girl.

She’s comforted by the fact that Liam was able to save the lives of others..

The coroner later officially confirmed that Liam’s death was caused by an anaphylactic reaction.

Dairy Queen did not directly respond to questions about the incident or how it handles food allergy concerns.

The company said it has reached out to the franchise operator, who is assisting officials with the investigation.

The spokesperson added that, out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation, the company would not be commenting further.

The Office of the Coroner has confirmed that an investigation is underway.

The post Ontario Boy Dies From Anaphylaxis After Getting the Wrong Item At Dairy Queen appeared first on Gazette Review.

So far, there have been two confirmed deaths; nine others are presumed dead.

The incident happened at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview on Tuesday morning at approximately 7:15 a.m.

According to officials, the tank involved was designed to hold about 900,000 gallons of “white liquor,” a harsh chemical mixture used in paper production.

Assuming all nine missing workers are deceased, it would be the deadliest industrial accident in Washington history, Gov. Bob Ferguson said.

Fire officials announced that the operation had officially shifted from rescue efforts to recovery work.

Seven workers remain hospitalized with injuries, while one firefighter who was hurt at the scene has already been treated and released.

Rescue crews said they have searched every area they can safely access, but conditions around the damaged tank have made things extremely difficult.

Photos from the scene showed the massive spherical tank partially collapsed, bent to one side, with a huge section torn open.

Officials noted that the blast happened shortly after a shift change began, meaning many workers were gathered nearby in office areas, break rooms, and operational spaces at the time.

Authorities said the tank contained chemicals used to break down wood chips into pulp, including sodium hydroxide, disodium carbonate, and sodium sulfide.

Recovery efforts have been moving slowly and carefully due to concerns about structural stability.

Investigators estimate the tank was about 60% full when it failed.

Officials believe roughly 550,000 to 570,000 gallons of chemicals escaped after the implosion, though exact numbers may change as investigators learn more about what caused the incident.

The implosion also contaminated parts of the Columbia River, though officials said that Longview’s drinking water remains safe.

Around a dozen dead carp were recovered near a river dike following the spill.

To support operations at the site, authorities sent 46 Washington National Guard members to the site.

Specialized teams have also been assisting with air monitoring and decontamination efforts. So far, officials said there has been no sign of dangerous airborne contamination.

One of the workers who died was 52-year-old Gilbert Bernal. His son Eli also worked at the plant and witnessed the aftermath nearby. Family members said the day had seemed completely routine before the implosion happened.

Eli Bernal recalled seeing an enormous steam cloud spread across the area immediately after the blast. Gilbert Bernal was initially taken to the hospital in critical condition, however, he later succumbed to his injuries.

The post 11 Presumed Dead After Paper Mill Implosion In Washington appeared first on Gazette Review.

The man, identified as 38-year-old Igor Lytvynchuk from Covington, Washington, is currently facing federal charges following the incident earlier this month.

According to officials, a witness recorded a video of him tossing a rock, roughly the size of a coconut, toward a Hawaiian monk seal resting in shallow water.

Prosecutors said the rock barely missed the animal’s head.

The seal was later identified by scientists as an adult male known as R404.

Not long after authorities began searching for him, Lytvynchuk turned himself in near Seattle; he is now expected to appear in federal court in Honolulu.

The video spread quickly online and sparked outrage across Hawaii, with many people calling for criminal charges.

Even Maui’s mayor publicly condemned the incident.

Officials said the case began after Hawaii land officers received reports of someone harassing a monk seal near Lahaina, the same town that was heavily damaged by the 2023 wildfire.

According to court documents, witnesses confronted Lytvynchuk afterward, however, he was dismissive about the entire situation.

He also brushed it off and acted like paying any fines would be no big deal for him.

His attorney claims, however, that the situation has been blown up online; he insists his client was not trying to hurt the seal.

His lawyer said Lytvynchuk thought the animal was a sea lion threatening nearby sea turtles and was trying to scare it away instead. He also said his client is familiar with sea turtles from previous trips to Hawaii, but did not recognize the monk seal species.

The attorney also claims that things escalated after the video went viral.

He says Lytvynchuk was physically attacked by another man after the incident, though he chose not to file a police report.

Since then, the lawyer says he has also been receiving death threats, had personal information shared online, and even received a suspicious package at his home that appeared to contain feces.

His lawyer also argued that people are coming down extra hard on him because he’s an outsider visiting Hawaii.

Lytvynchuk has been charged under both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Hawaiian monk seals are critically endangered, with only around 1,600 believed to remain in the wild. If convicted, he could face up to a year in prison for each charge, along with tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

The post Tourist Accused of Hitting Monk Seal With Rock Was Doxxed and Threatened, Lawyer Says appeared first on Gazette Review.

Starting Wednesday, anyone entering the country after travelling through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan will be required to self-isolate for 21 days.

The federal government will also be temporarily pausing immigration applications from those three countries.

Officials emphasized that the measures are meant to be temporary, and that existing immigration documents will not be cancelled.

Rather, applications and documents will be temporarily suspended; they may be reactivated later once the restrictions are lifted, if they’re still valid.

According to Health Minister Marjorie Michel, the overall risk to Canadians is still considered low. Considering the potential consequences, however, the government will be taking extra precautions to help keep everyone safe.

Under the new rules, all incoming travellers from affected areas will be screened by border officials.

Anyone showing symptoms will be sent for further medical evaluation at a hospital. The tougher border measures are being introduced under Canada’s Quarantine Act and are expected to remain in place until at least Aug. 29.

Travellers who do not have a place to isolate will be given accommodations.

Immigration Minister Lena Diab said the restrictions are expected to last around 90 days.

Currently, Canada sees approximately 350 travellers from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan each week on average.

Most of those passengers land in Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver, and officials said about 60 percent are Canadian citizens or permanent residents while the remaining 40 percent are foreign nationals.

The timing is also making people a little more nervous as the FIFA World Cup is about to start, with Canada hosting its first game on June 12.

Officials said the combination of summer travel and all the extra visitors coming in for the tournament could increase the chances of the virus spreading.

Mexico has also rolled out its own travel limits earlier this month, and Canadian officials said they’re basically following the same approach as the U.S. and Mexico.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak involving the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain an international public health emergency.

WHO officials have warned that the outbreak is spreading quickly in Congo and Uganda, with suspected deaths now reported in the hundreds.

Health experts say teams on the ground are struggling to keep up because some Ebola cases were discovered too late.

They also say the outbreak has been harder to control because parts of eastern Congo are already dealing with violence and unrest.

To make matters worse, there is still no approved vaccine for this type of Ebola.

The post Canada Introduces 21-Day Isolation Rules for Travellers From Ebola-Affected Regions appeared first on Gazette Review.

For the second time in just a few days, a treatment tent set up for Ebola patients has been set on fire. Several people who were thought to have been infected also fled afterward.

The latest incident happened Friday night in Mongbwalu, one of the towns at the center of the outbreak.

According to local officials, a group of individuals targeted a treatment tent run by Doctors Without Borders that was being used for both suspected and confirmed Ebola patients.

The fire caused panic among medical staff, and during the confusion, 18 suspected cases reportedly escaped back into the community.

Just a day earlier, another Ebola treatment site in Rwampara was burned down. That incident allgedly happened after a group of family members were stopped from taking the body of a man who had died from Ebola.

Since the virus can still spread from the bodies of those who die from it, health officials have been taking over burials to help prevent more infections.

However, this has upset several families, who are frustrated they cannot handle funeral arrangements themselves.

Things were still tense on Saturday during another Ebola burial in Rwampara.

Red Cross workers managing the funeral reportedly faced pushback from local residents and groups of young people; they eventually needed help from security to safely carry out the burial.

As the outbreak keeps growing, officials in northeastern Congo have started to introduce stricter rules to slow the spread of the virus. Authorities have now banned funeral wakes and gatherings larger than 50 people.

The World Health Organization also updated its assessment of the outbreak, saying the situation had become more serious. However, they noted that the global risk remains low for now.

According to WHO officials, there are currently 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths.

However, the true scale of the outbreak is thought to be much bigger.

So far, there is no vaccine available for this Ebola strain, known as the Bundibugyo virus. Health experts say the virus may have been spreading quietly for weeks before it was properly identified as early testing focused on other Ebola strains.

At this point, authorities are investigating around 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, and those numbers are expected to rise as more testing and tracking continue.

Health officials across Africa also said that building trust with local communities will be key in getting the outbreak under control.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said three of its volunteers have died after reportedly becoming infected while handling bodies in Mongbwalu during humanitarian work back in March.

If confirmed, that could mean the outbreak actually started much earlier than officials first believed.

The post Ebola Treatment Tent Set On Fire Again In Congo appeared first on Gazette Review.

When individuals check their bags in at the airport, they are given a tag – one with identifying information – that wraps around the handle.

According to the RCMP, baggage tag switching happens when someone deliberately swaps luggage labels at an airport, causing another suitcase to be linked to your name while your actual bag is left behind unclaimed.

All it takes is a few seconds out of view of security cameras, and an unscrupulous airport worker to make the switch.

Last summer, the RCMP arrested and charged two Swissport baggage handlers accused of trying to smuggle more than $147,000 worth of cannabis to France.

At the time, the RCMP explained that baggage tags tell airport systems where each suitcase should go and who it belongs to. By swapping the tags, the suitcase carrying the cannabis would look as if it belonged to an unsuspecting traveller.

A French citizen who landed in Paris was later detained by officials on suspicion of bringing cannabis into the country from Canada.

However, he was ultimately released after additional investigation; the case was later handed over to the RCMP Toronto Airport Detachment.

Investigators later determined that the two baggage handlers – both of whom had more than 20 years of experience – allegedly changed baggage tags without the passengers’ knowledge or permission.

Transporting drugs across international borders can lead to a police investigation and, in some countries, penalties ranging from prison sentences to the death penalty.

Earlier this year, RCMP officers were called in after the Canada Border Services Agency discovered 33 kilograms of cannabis inside each checked suitcase belonging to two German nationals preparing to travel from Toronto to Germany.

The pair were arrested upon landing, however, they both denied that the bags belonged to them.

A later investigation revealed that an Air Canada employee working in the baggage area had attached luggage tags with the passengers’ names to suitcases filled with cannabis.

The passengers were later cleared and released, while the airport workers connected to the scheme were taken into custody and charged.

Experts say one of the best ways to protect yourself is by taking photos of your luggage throughout your trip, including when it’s packed, before leaving home, at the airport, and while it’s being weighed.

Those images could help if authorities later claim a suspicious suitcase belongs to you.

They also recommend making your luggage easy to recognize so it stands out from other bags.

While tracking devices can help, experts warn that some commonly used trackers are easy for thieves to spot and remove.

The post How Canadian Travellers Can Prevent Airport Bag Tag Swaps Linked to Drug Smuggling appeared first on Gazette Review.