Sunday, October 2, 2011

Killer Cantaloupes-seriously

            Eating cantaloupe is a regular activity for some, a delectable treat for others, and a deadly mistake for 15. Contaminated with listeria monocytogenes bacteria, these nefarious cantaloupes from a farm in Granada, Colorado have sickened 84 people in 19 states. Last Tuesday 13 deaths and 72 illnesses made this outbreak the worst since 1998. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that most of the people who have become sick are more then 60 years old and older adults and people with vulnerable immune systems are the most susceptible. Hopefully by now all of the contaminated cantaloupes are off the shelves.
            It is so sad that these people were just going about their daily lives not bothering anyone and WHAM! - Dead because of a piece of fruit. My thoughts go to their families and friends and to the two pregnant women being monitored after having eating some of the contaminated fruit. This is a reminder to all of us lucky enough to be alive that we need to treat every moment like its our last and to appreciate everything we have.
            This was a short, easy to read article stating the facts and figures of this bacteria outbreak. The author wrote to a large audience and did not use any bias, which made this an informative article whose main purpose was to report information.

CNN Wire Staff. "Deaths from tainted cantaloupes rise to 15 - CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. N.p., 30 Sept. 2011. Web. 2 Oct. 2011. <http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/30/health/cantaloupe-deaths/index.html?hpt=he_c2>. 

2 comments:

  1. Not that this is meant to be a funny article, but it just seems odd how one simple bite of cantaloupe can have such a drastic effect.

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  2. I don't think I'll ever eat another one after reading this, Katherine.

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