Officials: Next wave of H1N1 on its way

WASHINGTON DC— Though reports of the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus have decreased steadily in recent weeks, health officials warn that another wave may be on the horizon just waiting to strike, according to the Gazette.

In America, roughly 80 million individuals have been infected with the H1N1 virus, resulting in approximately 360,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths, the story stated.

According to the story, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the pandemic has not waned, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that a third wave may be making the rounds.

Marita Mike, health director at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said: "It wouldn't be surprising to see another peak this year. When you look at flu outbreaks in the past, there were multiple peaks. The best time to get vaccinated is before everyone gets sick. We saw this flu start initially in the summer."

Continued education of the public, including promoting hand hygiene and thorough cleaning, is vital to control the virus' spread, the story noted.

Though many individuals and organizations have been proactive in preventing the virus, the WHO and the CDC warn against complacency and urge everyone to remain vigilant, the story added.

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School custodian steals student's medication

NORRISTOWN, PA — A school custodian was sentenced to two years' probation after admitting he stole a student's prescription medication from the school nurse's office, according to The Mercury.

According to the story, 28-year-old Jonathan Schilling was working as a custodian at Pennbrook Middle School in September of 2009 when he was caught on camera opening a locked cabinet in the nurse’s office and stealing and ingesting prescription medication.

The camera had been installed after an incident three days earlier where 96 tablets of Adderall, a stimulant drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), went missing, the story stated.

Schilling was also sentenced to 60 hours of community service, the story added.

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Man sues over clogged toilet, amputation

HOUSTON — Oscar Batres has filed suit against the apartment complex where he lives claiming an overflowing toilet in his apartment led to the amputation of his right foot, according to KIAH-TV.

According to the story, Batres said maintenance workers at the apartment complex failed to clean up after a sewage backup last November caused his toilet to overflow, flooding the apartment and saturating his bedroom carpet.

Batres attempted to clean up the mess, but his foot become infected after he cut it while clipping his toenails in his apartment bathroom, resulting in a hospitalization and eventual amputation of the limb to save his life from the spreading infection, the story stated.

Veronia Foley, Batres' lawyer, said: "In less than a week, this man's life was turned upside down. He was a father of three, had a full time job and now he's missing a leg."

Apartment managers were unavailable for comment, the story added.

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OSHA investigates handling of asbestos in UConn renovations

HARTFORD, CT — The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating reports of the improper handling of materials with asbestos during a renovation at the University of Connecticut (UConn), according to the Hartford Courant.

According to the story, there are a number of alleged violations of OSHA laws, including reports that workers threw materials with asbestos out of a window during renovations of the university's president's office, failed to perform an inspection for asbestos before the floor was removed, disturbed and removed asbestos without monitoring and released asbestos particles into the air.

State Department of Labor spokeswoman Nancy Steffan said: "Once we became aware of the asbestos issue we decided it would be a good idea to send a compliance officer on site to conduct an investigation."

According to documents obtained by The Courant under a Freedom of Information Act request, officials at the university admitted they were in violation of OSHA laws, the story stated.

UConn spokesman Michael Kirk said: "The university is, of course, cooperating with state OSHA representatives and will continue to do everything possible to safeguard the health of our students, faculty and staff."

Seven people have undergone medical screening for asbestos exposure and related health problems, the story added.

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North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District fined $20,000 for using janitors for electrical, plumbing work

ST. PAUL, MN — The North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District was fined $20,000 after a janitor reported he was ordered to perform electrical and plumbing work he was not trained or licensed to perform, according to KSTP-TV.

According to the story, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry issued the fine along with a cease-and-desist order after employee Tahmi Hall alerted the city of Maplewood and the state about the district's practice of using unlicensed janitors for repairs and for ignoring his complaints.

Hall said: "It vindicated what I've been trying to do all this time. Now I'm not just this complainer. I've done the right thing, and that makes it all good."

The district acknowledged the improper use of janitorial employees and said it will only use licensed contractors for future repairs, the story stated.

The district also claimed the repairs janitors were asked to perform were "minor," the story added.

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Meijer store becomes first LEED-certified retrofit supercenter

WALKER, MI — Supermarket chain Meijer's North Shores store has become the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified retrofit supercenter, according to the Grand Rapids Press.

According to the story, the store, located just south of Muskegon, Michigan, is 195,000 square feet and is almost 50 years old.

Remodeling of the store began in 2008, and sustainable features include six windmills on a solar reflective roof to produce electricity and maintain a consistent temperature within the store, as well the use of drought-resistant plants and the reduction of the store size by 30,000 square feet, the story stated.

Meijer has opened LEED-certified stores before, but they were all new construction projects, the story added.

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Another state passes green school cleaning bill

DES MOINES, IA — The Iowa House of Representatives has passed a controversial bill requiring state buildings and schools to use green cleaning products, according to the Globe Gazette.

According to the story, local school boards, community colleges and regents universities would be able to apply to opt out of the requirement.

The bill had faced opposition from lawmakers and school districts who claimed the measure was unnecessary and would result in a financial burden for schools, the story stated.

Supporters, however, argued that green cleaning can actually save schools money and provides a healthy environment for students and custodial workers, the story noted.

Representative Nathan Reichert said: "It's about the environment [in] which our kids learn, [in] which our teachers teach, and how we can reduce their exposure to chemicals used typically in cleaning, but also to those folks that do the cleaning for us in our state government buildings and our classrooms."