Flu reaches highest level in the US in 25 years

Flu continues to bring misery across the US, with all but four states showing high or very high levels of activity as a new virus strain called subclade K continues to spread.

By another measure – visits to the doctor for fever plus a cough or sore throat, which are common flu symptoms – the US is at its highest level of respiratory illness since at least the 1997-98 flu season, according to data published Monday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This is definitely a banner year,” said Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “It’s the worst we’ve had in at least 20 years. We’re seeing a majority of the country is experiencing very high levels of activity, and we’re still in the thick of it.”

It’s striking to see such an intense season coming off last year’s bad flu season, she noted, as bad years don’t typically occur back to back.

More at source: CNN

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New flu strain emerging as a severe health threat

A new form of the flu, which is highly contagious and aggressive, is sweeping the nation this season.

A mutation of influenza A H3N2, called subclade K, has been detected as the culprit in rising global cases, including in the U.S.

The World Health Organization stated on its website that the K variant marks "a notable evolution in influenza A (H3N2) viruses," which some say calls into question the effectiveness of this season's vacine against the strain.

The K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat and runny nose, according to experts.

Among 216 influenza A(H3N2) viruses collected since Sept. 28, 89.8% belonged to subclade K, a CDC report states.

More at the source: Fox 5 Atlanta

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Mother creates fake AI news broadcast to scare kids into cleaning rooms

The mother used AI-powered video editing tools—reportedly including Adobe After Effects or Synthesia—to overlay footage of her children's toy-strewn rooms onto a mock news segment. 

• The Content: The "breaking news" report featured a serious-looking AI news anchor (often identified as "Maria" or "Samantha") describing the chaotic state of the rooms as a developing national crisis.

• The Threat: The newscast warned that if the children, often identified as twins named Elon and Lux or Vivian and Francesca, did not clean immediately, a "special service" or a "giant bug" would arrive to remove all their toys.
• The Result: The children were captured on camera watching the broadcast in shock and disbelief before frantically rushing to clean their rooms. 

More at source: India Times

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Bay Area care-home employee who left pitcher of cleaning fluid unattended, leading to deaths of two residents, sentenced to 40 days

An East Palo Alto woman was sentenced to 40 days in county jail for accidentally killing two and hospitalizing one Atria Assisted Living Facility resident by serving them toxic cleaning fluid instead of juice for breakfast, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

The woman, Alisia Rivera Mendoza, 36, previously pleaded no contest to felony elder abuse. In addition to her jail sentence, she received 350 hours of community service, two years of supervised probation and is banned from working in nursing homes and care facilities

Mendoza — who worked at the facility — poured the toxic cleaning fluid into a pitcher, intending to use it to clean the kitchen after breakfast. However, another employee took the pitcher and poured it into the three residents’ glasses, the DA’s office said. The San Mateo Fire Department and 911 was called at the time of the ingestion.

More at source: Daily Journal

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Please be advised the office will be closed today in observance and remembrance of Veterans Day. 

Homeaglow’s $19 house cleaning service traps customers in hard-to-cancel subscriptions, watchdog group says

Many consumers complained the one-time $19 cleaning came with an automatic enrollment in a six-month cleaning subscription, called ForeverClean. The subscription’s monthly fees were $49 to $59. But Homeaglow’s independent contractors also charge their own cleaning fees on top of Homeaglow’s fees, with prices varied by job.

Some consumers who tried to cancel were told they’d owe hefty early termination fees, in some cases $150 to $210.

Truth in Advertising has sent letters to the FTC and attorneys general in 12 states, including Illinois, and the District of Columbia asking them to investigate.

The nonprofit organization says the automatic subscription model, which it contends is not clearly disclosed, violates state consumer protection laws and the federal Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act of 2010, which protects consumers against so-called “negative option” marketing that employs automatic subscriptions without clear disclosures of the terms.

The setup is “especially egregious” and “deceptive,” says Laura Smith, legal director for Truth in Advertising.

Homeaglow agreed to pay $30,000 to settle a lawsuit filed last year by Pennsylvania, and it promised to clearly and conspicuously disclose its membership terms on its websites.

More at source: WBEZ Chicago

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GetCleaning Up Crimes Scenes Takes A Strong Stomach And A Stronger Mind

Murder, suicide and fatal workplace accidents leave emotional and psychological scars for colleagues who have to continue working in offices that became crime scenes.

Those scenes often involve blood, body fluids and other biohazards that have to be cleaned up before a home or workplace can function again.

Casper’s John Sleep, co-owner and general manager of the SERVPRO franchise, said his company gets a dozen or so calls a year, often from police victim’s services units, asking if his team can clean up a crime scene.

More at the source: Cobwoy State Daily

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Alabama high school undergoing deep cleaning after student diagnosed with tuberculosiS

Jasper City Schools officials are responding to a tuberculosis case that was identified at Jasper High School on Friday.

School will continue as normal with “deep cleaning and sanitizing,” and officials announced in a recent release that they are following public health protocol to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The school recently sent letters home to all potential contacts of the infected person with details about free testing that will be run by Alabama’s public health department in October.

More at the source: AL.com

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Rubenstein Law Secures Over $2 Million Verdict in Slip and Fall Case Against Miami International Mall and Nationwide Janitorial Service

The plaintiff slipped on a partially eaten hot dog while walking through the mall, suffering injuries that required knee and back surgeries. Her medical expenses totaled $277,000.

Prior to trial, the highest settlement offer from the defendants was $75,000. The jury's award of more than $2 Million not only compensates the client for her injuries but also entitles the firm to attorney's fees and costs as the prevailing party under Florida's Proposal for Settlement statute.

"This verdict reinforces the responsibility property owners and maintenance companies have to ensure public spaces are safe," said Senior Partner, Anthony Soto. "Our Litigators fought tirelessly to secure justice for our client, and we are proud of the outcome.

More at source: PRN Newswire

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Gen Z's cleaning habits may reflect growing up in a world shaped by COVID-19 - study

Gen Z's cleaning habits may reflect growing up in a world shaped by COVID-19, according to a recent study conducted by Ecovacs, a home service robotics company.

The study suggests that stereotypes of young people as disorganized and lazy may no longer be accurate.  

Broadly, the report covers daily routines, common challenges, and unorthodox behaviors, broken down by gender, generation, and socioeconomic status. Ecovacs surveyed 1,000 US citizens. 

More At The Source: Jerusalem Post

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