Rare meningitis outbreak declared at Ohio University

COLUMBUS, OH — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared an outbreak and launched an investigation into seven cases of meningitis at Ohio University (OU), the latest of which resulted in a death, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

According to the story, the investigation into why students at the University are more susceptible to the bacteria will utilize federal, state and local scientists and will last a few weeks.

Dr. Mary DiOrio, assistant state epidemiologist, said: "I think that it will be a fairly lengthy survey."

The group of bacteria that caused all seven cases of meningitis at OU — group B — is not prevented by vaccination, the story stated.

Officials have been unable to determine any other connection between the cases other than that they are all students at OU, the story added.

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Some schools do without soap, toilet paper

BROWARD COUNTY, FL — Teachers at more than a dozen Broward County Public Schools have complained they are forced to buy their own toilet paper and deal with "nonexistent" hand soap, according to the Sun Sentinel.

According to the story, teachers at Meadowbrook Elementary School have been asked to stock the restrooms and cut hand towels in half to ration the scarce supplies, and at Boyd Anderson High School, students and teachers go without hand soap.

Students and staff are concerned that the lack of restroom supplies could lead to health concerns and the spread of the flu and other viruses, the story stated.

Even though the school district is forgoing luxuries due to a budget crisis, Superintendent James Notter said that teachers "should not be paying out of their pockets for the bare essentials."

For other schools, poorly-stocked restrooms are the result of janitor error, not a lack of supplies, the story noted.

David Basile, principal at South Plantation High School, said: "The problem we have is when someone on the night crew is out and no one covers that zone. Or we have a day crew, and no one walks through the bathrooms."

One high school senior, Itai Raz, said: "We get really frustrated, but most people have hand sanitizer."

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Report: 'Missed opportunities' for sustainability at Winter Olympics

VANCOUVER — The David Suzuki Foundation, a science-based Canadian environmental organization, released a report praising the organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics for energy-efficient measures, but say they could have done more, according to Edie News.

According to the story, the report said that the building of energy-efficient venues, the use of clean energy and the focus on public transportation do help offset the carbon footprint of the Games, but felt that the organizers failed to leave long-term improvements to the area and to properly address the issue of climate change.

Paul Lingl, spokesperson for the foundation, said: "To date, the 2010 Olympic organizers haven't made the most of their opportunities to tell the story of their climate initiatives to Canadians and the world."

The organizing committee said that they have taken a sustainable approach to the planning of the Games throughout the process, the story stated.

A spokesperson for the organizers said: "This is the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to take an integrated approach to forecasting, reducing, offsetting and publicly reporting its carbon footprint. We incorporated [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] LEED standards into venue design, construction and green principles and practices into our operations and events, with attention to transportation, waste management and food services."

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Study links industrial cleaner to Parkinson's disease

TORONTO — A study released today finds that workers exposed to the once-common cleaning chemical tricholoretylene (TCE) may have a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to ScienceDaily.

According to the story, the study — performed by Samuel Goldman, M.D., of the Parkinson's Institute — analyzed the job histories of 99 pairs of twins in which only one twin had Parkinson's disease, finding that workers exposed to TCE were five and half times more likely to develop the disease.

Workers exposed to TCE had job histories that included work as dry cleaners, machinists, mechanics or electricians, the story stated.

Scientists used the job histories of twins because, as they are genetically identical, they are the ideal candidates for determining environmental effects, the story noted.

The findings of the study — supported by grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, The Valley Foundation and the James and Sharron Clark Family Fund — will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10-17, the story added.

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Janitorial owner wins millions in lottery

ASHEVILLE, NC — Janitorial business owner and retired fireman Frank Griffin was the sole winner of a $141 million Powerball lottery jackpot in the North Carolina Education Lottery, according to WBT-AM.

According to the story, Griffin opted for a $69 million cash payment and will end up with about $47 million after paying taxes on the winnings.

Griffin doesn't have big plans for the money and doesn't expect his life to change much, save for a trip to Hawaii, more games of golf and more time spent with his wife and family, the story stated.

Griffin said: "I may get us a new house later, but I really want to spend more time with her and my grandchildren."

Griffin, who has owned a janitorial business for 40 years, said he may leave the business to his children, the story added.

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Hotel chain pays guests to forgo housekeeping services

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Further proof that many custodial operations are trying to "do more with less," one reputable hotel chain is offering perks to guests who opt out of housekeeping services being performed in their rooms, according to the Wall Street Journal.

As part of their "Make A Green Choice" program, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is offering guests at many of their Westin and Sheraton brand hotels a $5 credit at any of the hotel's restaurants or 500 Starpoints for each night they refuse housekeeping services, the story stated.

According to Bjorn Hanson, an associate professor at New York University's Tisch Center for Hospitality, a high-end or luxury hotel's estimated cost of cleaning a single hotel room is about $22 a day, including labor, laundering and wear and tear on linens.

Roughly 8 percent of guests at participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts locations are taking advantage of the program, the story noted.

The "Make A Green Choice" program is valid for up to three consecutive nights and is poised to save significant amounts of money, the story added.

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Maintenance worker beating caught on tape

VALLEJO, CA — The severe beating of a Harold Cabral, a city maintenance worker, by dozens of teenagers was caught on tape by a passerby's cell phone and security cameras at a nearby corner store, according to WNCT-TV.

According to the story, a teenager threw a rock at the maintenance worker's vehicle, and when the worker got out of his vehicle to confront the teenager, he was swarmed by nearly 40 people, severely beaten and robbed.

The attack took place near Vallejo Senior High School — where students had just been let out of classes for the day — but police can't confirm that students were the attackers, although many were witnesses, the story stated.

Cabral suffered a fractured skull, fractured jaw, broken teeth and a fractured collarbone in the attack, according to the Oakland Tribune.

Kamal Sandhu, owner of the nearby corner store, said that he calls the police multiple times a day in an attempt to control the crowds of students, the story noted.

Police are reviewing the footage as part of the investigation into the attack, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article at WNCT-TV.