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Mount Nittany Health welcomes vascular surgeon

STATE COLLEGE — Mount Nittany Health recently welcomed David Han, MD, board-certified and fellowship-trained vascular surgeon, to its medical staff. A Chester County, Pa., native and Penn State alumnus, Dr. Han is excited to be serving the community where his journey in medicine ...

CDC dramatically scales back program that tracks food poisoning infections

Federal health officials have dramatically scaled back a program that has tracked food poisoning infections in the U.S. for three decades. The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known as FoodNet, has cut required monitoring to just two pathogens that cause infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s down from eight. Under the change, which began in July, health departments in 10 states that participate in the joint state and federal program will be required to monitor only foodborne infections caused by salmonella and Shiga ...

Neurosurgeon refuses to put in a shunt for person with NPH

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and had a spinal tap a few months ago. It helped my brain fog, but my neurosurgeon didn’t want to put in a shunt. I am 96. Can repeated taps help me? — M.G. ANSWER: NPH is a condition where the fluid inside the brain has a high pressure. It is unknown why this happens, but symptoms include an abnormal gait and incontinence along with the brain fog you mentioned. When NPH is suspected, a spinal tap is a useful diagnostic test. Taking a lot of spinal fluid out, which suspends the brain and spinal cord, will temporarily ...

Maryland resident is diagnosed with New World screwworm. What to know about the parasite

NEW YORK (AP) — A Maryland resident who traveled to El Salvador has been diagnosed with New World screwworm — the first reported U.S. case tied to travel to a country with a current outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the diagnosis on Aug. 4. Federal health officials acknowledged the infection in an emailed statement Monday. The person has recovered, and investigators found no transmission to any other people or animals, Maryland health officials said. New World screwworm is a fly that lays its eggs in open wounds and body openings. The parasite ...

UPMC Lock Haven ER nurse receives DAISY Award

PHOTO PROVIDED UPMC Northcentral Pa. recently congratulated Hunter Barger, RN, UPMC Outpatient Emergency Department in Lock Haven, a DAISY Award winner for Quarter 1 of 2025. This recognition comes after she was nominated by two separate patients who shared their gratitude for her ...