Ready to enjoy the simple pleasures of summer? Let's get ready then.
Hat, sunscreen and shades to protect from skin cancer-causing UVA and UVB rays? Check. Insect repellent with DEET to ward off mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus and ticks bearing Lyme disease? Check. Bike helmet, hand sanitizer and a wireless Internet device to check for air quality advisories and beach closings? Check -- and ready for takeoff.
Not so fast there, sport. Those precautions will protect against last year's threats to health and safety. But as the mercury rises and the final school bell rings, summer 2008 promises a few new dangers.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 33 words Type of Material: Correction
Summer dangers: A story in Monday's Health section about seasonal health risks said that cryptosporidium, which is increasingly found in the nation's swimming pools, is a virus. It is actually a microscopic parasite.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Monday, June 23, 2008 Home Edition Health Part F Page 8 Features Desk 1 inches; 39 words Type of Material: Correction
Summer health dangers: An article that ran in the June 16 Health section about seasonal health risks incorrectly stated that cryptosporidium, which is increasingly found in the nation's swimming pools, is a virus. Cryptosporidium is actually a microscopic parasite.
Here's how to protect against some of them.
Contaminated food
Ah, the unique summer pleasure of fresh tomatoes from the farmers market, a fat slice of tomato on a burger off the grill, a platter of sliced tomatoes topped with buffalo mozzarella, basil and olive oil.
Since April, however, more than 200 Americans have been sickened by an unusual and virulent strain of salmonella linked to raw red Roma, red plum and round red tomatoes.
Add that to lingering concerns about spinach tainted with E. coli, scallions fouled by hepatitis A and bean sprouts tainted with Listeria monocytogenes -- indeed, the still-hard-to-accept idea that fresh vegetables can bear the same contaminants long attributed to meat and mayonnaise -- and you've got a real picnic-crasher.
What to do? For starters, use that hand-held device (or your computer at home) to read the alerts, warnings and recalls issued by the nation's guardians of food safety at www.fda.gov. The links are all there on the home page under "recalls & alerts" or under the heading "FDA for You / Consumer Health Information." Better yet, sign up to have the FDA automatically notify you of safety alerts and recalls under "Get Updates" on the right side of the agency's home page. Especially helpful are the FDA's "Frequently asked questions" about the current outbreak, which is updated every few days. Among the details supplied is the advice that cooking affected tomatoes will not likely lessen a person's risk of becoming sick.
Expert recommendations: Refrigerate all fresh produce, and when ready to use it, wash it thoroughly, even if the bag says it's already been washed. The FDA, which is beefing up its food safety surveillance with a new influx of funds granted by Congress, is expected to become a more vigilant watchdog of tainted food, so keep checking its website for updates.
