Health Protection Scotland - E Weekly ReportCopyright (C) Health Protection ScotlandHealth Protection Scotlandhttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50493HPS is investigating five cases of Salmonella Newport infection in Scotland as part of the investigation of a UK-wide outbreak. HPS is coordinating investigations with the Food Standards Agency and He08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50496On 26 January, Defra published the Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) which highlights the top 100 challenges to the UK of a changing climate and provides compelling evidence of the need to increas08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50497Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is aware that herbal products containing butterbur (Petasites hybridus) are being marketed in the UK and has issued a letter to the UK herbal08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50498The WHO has recently issued an information sheet drawing attention to the fact that mercury is still a common ingredient in skin lightening soaps and creams. It is also found in other cosmetics, such 08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50433An article in the current issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology (accessible at http://jmm.sgmjournals.org/content/61/2/218.abstract) reviews the four cases of legionellosis caused by Legionella01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50436The Council of Ministers and the European Parliament decided, in January 2002, upon a proposal from the Commission, to set up the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as an independent source of scie01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50379Further to Current note 45/4803 (at http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=49885), the European Food Safety Authority has recently published its Scientific opinion on norovirus (NoV) in oyste25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50380Further to Current note 46/0305 (at http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50275), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published the initial list of those meat plants which, on the basis of t25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50382Colophony or Rosin Based Solder Flux Fume is a known cause of occupational asthma and as such exposure to it should be controlled. An effective method of engineering exposure control is to use local e25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50275The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched the regular publication of audit reports of approved meat plants in England, Scotland and Wales. This marks the beginning of routine publication of these r18 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50223The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has confirmed its advice against routine removal of PiP implants (http://www.mhra.gov.uk/NewsCentre/CON137888). Following discussions wit11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50224A report published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) highlights improvements in hygiene on poultry farms in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Consistent application of hygiene measures on farms is impor11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50071A recently published edition of EH40 replaces the previous version, first published in 2005, and takes account of new substances and workplace exposure limits (WELs) introduced in 2007 and 2011. Many21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50072The Co-operative Group is recalling two date codes of its Scottish smoked salmon because some packs were found to contain high levels of Listeria monocytogenes. The affected 160g. batches have 'use by21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50073The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has appointed a new Chief Executive. He is Professor James Curran MBE, currently SEPA's Director of Science and Strategy. The appointment follows the 21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50074The Food Standards Agency (FSA) published the results of its survey looking at the migration into food of selected printing ink components from printed carton-board packaging materials on 15 December.21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50075Health Protection Scotland would like to wish all readers a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. The next HPS Weekly Report will be published on Thursday 5 January 2012. We hope you wil21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=49997Further to Current note 45/4601 (at http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=49756), a third child from the same family in Forth Valley, who was admitted to hospital on 16 November with suspect14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50000Further to Current note 45/4901 (at http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=49950), a report on the results of a survey on the contamination of raw poultry packaging was published by the Royal14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMThttp://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/ewr/redirect.aspx?id=50001The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children. The list (available at <A hre14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT