Salmonella Outbreak: January 26,2009

                   CDC

As of 9PM EDT, Sunday, January 25, 2009, 501 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 43 states.

Infection may have contributed to eight deaths.

Although we cannot yet say the outbreak is over, the numbers of new cases have declined over the last two weeks.  The outbreak appears to have reached its peak in December and is now in decline.

Salmonella Typhimurium was isolated in Canada from Austin brand peanut butter crackers purchased in the United States. Officials in Canada have identified the Salmonella found in these peanut butter crackers as the outbreak strain.

Salmonella Typhimurium was isolated from Austin brand peanut butter crackers in Canada. Further tests are pending to determine if the Salmonella Typhimurium in these crackers are the outbreak strain.

More than 180 peanut butter-containing products produced by a variety of companies may have been made with the ingredients recalled by PCA.  The list of currently recalled products can be found on the FDA website*.

Technorati Tags: Salmonella Outbreak,Peanut Butter,CDC,FDA

Karl Rove Subpoenaed By House Judiciary Committee...

   and that ain't no joke! The architect of the " permanent Republican majority ' really has no choice of ignoring this subpoena and of not appearing before the committee, headed by Chairman John Conyers. Karl Rove no longer has former president Bush/Cheney to cover for his ass with their " executive privilege " claims, nor does Rove have the  " absolute immunity " cover either. That position was tossed out by U.S. District Judge John Bates.

Huffington Post

On Monday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) issued a subpoena to Karl Rove, requiring him to testify regarding his role in the Bush Administration's politicization of the Department of Justice, including the US Attorney firings and the prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman. The subpoena calls for Rove to appear at deposition on Monday, February 2, 2009.

snip

"I have said many times that I will carry this investigation forward to its conclusion, whether in Congress or in court, and today's action is an important step along the way," said Rep. Conyers. Noting that the change in administration may impact the legal arguments available to Mr. Rove in this long-running dispute, Mr. Conyers added, "Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it's time for him to talk."

  This is going to get pretty interesting to those of us who keep track of this sort of activity. No doubt, that by now Rove has called every major law firm in the world, hoping to avoid this committee, but that ain't gonna happen. At least, I hope not.

Technorati Tags: John Conyers,House Judiciary Committee,Karl Rove,Subpoena,US Attorney's,Justice Department,George Bush