Newspaper Page Text
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FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Wadn—day, July 17,1
Raw fruit and cyclospora
Recent news stories have
addressed the eating of raw fruit
and the Cyclospora parasite. In the
past two months, there have been
several hundred confirmed cases of
Cyclospora infection that have
occurred in 10 states and Ontario,
Canada. So far, the Center for
Disease Control has not confirmed
any reported cases of infection in
Georgia.
Cyclospora is a parasite that is
composed of one cell. It is too
small to be seen without a micro
scope. Its full name is Cyclospora
cayetanensis. Because Cyclospora
is a newly recognized infectious
organism, first diagnosed in 1977,
many questions remain about the
ways it is transmitted and the ill
ness it causes.
The outbreaks featured in the
news in the last month were
believed to be from raw strawber
ries. week, Florida is believed
to have traced one source to
imported raspberries. Preliminary
evidence suggested that, in these
outbreaks, consumption of fresh
fruit raspberries and mixtures of
berries and other fruits (making
determination of which fruit in the
mixture was associated with illness
impossible) may be associated
with Cyclospora infection.
Cyclospora is transmitted by a
person putting something in their
mouth that was contaminated with
infected stool. For example, the
parasite can be transmitted by
swallowing contaminated water or
food. Cyclospora needs time (days
or weeks) after being passed in a
bowel movement to develop into
an infectious organism. Therefore,
transmission of Cyclospora direct
ly from a infected person to an
uninfected person is unlikely.
Persons of all ages are at risk for
infection. Cyclospora infects the
small intestine (bowel) and usually
causes watery diarrhea, with fre
quent bowel movements. Other
symptoms include loss of appetite,
weight loss, bloating, increased
Water your landscape
without using water
Summer in this part of Georgia
means sweltering heat and widely
scattered showers and thunder
storms. Your neighbor could get an
inch of rain in their yard, while
yours stays bone dry.
These isolated showers are usual
ly just not enough to keep a yard
green. This is what Kerry
Harrison, Extension engineer told
me recently. “Most turfs need an
inch to an inch and a half of water
every week,” he went on to say.
A notable lack of rain lately has
had many residents dashing to
water hoses. But do your home
work first. Timing is everything.
When watering lawns, the only
water that matters is what makes it
to the roots. Applying too little or
too much at the wrong time may
hurt your lawn while raising the
water bill.
So it’s crucial to know how much
water gets to the grass roots.
“Not knowing your irrigation’s
rate of application, whether it’s
sprinkler on a hose or a permanent
system is like driving a car with no
speedometer,” Harrison said.
Different systems apply water at
different rates. Os all of the sys
tems available, sprinkler hose
combinations have the most vari
ance in rate and the least uniformi
ty. Use several rain gauges spaced
evenly in the watering area to learn
your system’s application rate.
Measuring water amount is as sim
ple as setting out under the water
ing pattern a series of empty tuna
cans.
No matter what your application
rate, when you water affects how
much actually reaches the grass
roots, where it’s needed.
“We have research, numbers and
all the evidence we need to know
that you can lose as much as half
the water if it’s put out during day
light,” Harrison said.
Direct sunlight, high tempera-
Carol
Propes
gas, stomach cramps, nausea,
vomiting, tiredness, muscle aches,
and low-grade fever. Other infec
tious organisms can cause similar
illness. Some persons infected
with Cyclospora do not develop
any symptoms. The time between
becoming infected and developing
symptoms is usually several days
to a week.
If you think you may be infected
with Cyclospora, you should con
sult your physician. Identification
of this parasite in stool requires
special laboratory tests that are not
routinely used. Infection with
Cyclospora is treated with antibi
otics.
As always, produce to be eaten
raw should be thoroughly washed.
This practice may not entirely
eliminate the risk of transmission
of Cyclospora. It is suspected that
Cyclospora may infect the fruit
from both the surface and within
the fruit. Cooking of fruit, such as
in the making of pies, jams and jel
lies, should kill the parasite. The
amount of freezing needed to kill
the parasite is not known.
Health officials in states with out
breaks have not taken fruits off the
market. They are taking the posi
tion that the public should be
warned of the public danger but
that the situation should then be
“buyer beware”. People should
make their own determination of
risk in deciding whether or not to
consume raw strawberries or rasp
berries, the most often implicated
fruit so far. Those who are
immune-compromised (very
young, aged, pregnant, those with
chronic disease, kidney disease or
liver disease, etc) may want to
consider more caution than others.
lan Wf
Cowie
’ St i i
Uwr ill U
tures and a light wind can evapo
rate or blow water away from both
the water stream and from the
ground.
“That means you have to put out
twice as much,” he said. “And your
water bill may be twice as high.
But your grass won’t benefit an
equal amount.”
When should you water your
lawn?
Nighttime is best, Harrison said.
“It’s better for the grass, it’s a
better use of the water and it’s usu
ally easier to get better water pres
sure,” he said. “The only way it’s
not better is for the person who
might have to get up from bed to
turn it on or off.”
A timer, though, can do that for
you.
Many permanent systems are on
timers. It’s usually fairly easy to
change that timing to twice a
week, watering each time enough
to apply about three-quarters of an
inch. Many garden centers carry
timers that work just as easily on
hose faucets.
Watering during the day increas
es the time the grass is wet and
makes disease problems more like
ly. At night, the grass is wet from
dew already, so more water won’t
hurt.
Applying a little water often will
keep grass roots close to the soil
surface, so they don’t reach the
nutrients and water that are avail
able deeper. A thorough soaking
once or twice weekly helps roots
grow deeper, resulting in healthier
grass.
Abbv
Couple can’t decide whose house should be their home
DEAR ABBY: Within the next
year I will be getting married to a
man who has recently ended a 12
year marriage that was troubled
from day one. He and his ex-wife
had purchased and lived in a
home not far from the one I now
own. He has improved his home
over the years and the balance on
his mortgage is less than half of
what I owe on my home.
Since we are both approaching
50, we are seeking to establish
ourselves financially after his
divorce. He wants us to sell my
home and move into his, although
my home has greater potential for
appreciation because of its loca
tion.
A number of friends have said
that I should be reluctant to move
into the same house he had occu
pied with his first wife. I have dis
cussed this with him, and he said
if selling his home and moving
into mine will make me happy, we
will do it. He also says there are
no good memories of his marriage
in that house, so “ghosts” will not
be a problem. He promises we
will make our own good memo
ries and says it’s not the house but
Horoscope
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! IN THE
NEXT YEAR OF YOUR LIFE:
New honors will come your way.
Prominent people want to hear
what you have to tell them.
Despite your busy work schedule,
leave some time for solitude.
Quiet periods of meditation
remind you of your spiritual val
ues. December brings both a
financial windfall and greater
domestic responsibilities. A child
or close relative will need more
of your time. Early in 1997, you
decide to launch a special cam
paign. Marriage will hold special
appeal next spring.
CELEBRITIES BORN ON
THIS DAY: TV star David
Hasselhoff, comedian Phyllis
Diller, singer Phoebe Snow,
actress Lucia Arnaz.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Letting go of the past will clear
the way for positive develop
ments. Someone gives you the
green light to pursue a coveted
goal. An unusual romantic ges
ture could be part of this after
noon’s scenario.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Financial deals involving your
partner or mate are of prime
importance. Pay attention to any
thing that strikes you as being out
of the ordinary. Education or
travel is on your mind.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Be prepared to deal with a crisis
on the business front. If sacrifices
must be made, say so. It is time to
stop hiding your light under a
bushel. Showcase your talents to
the best advantage.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Give your creativity free rein. A
candid conversation brings new
understanding of a troubled rela
tionship. Signing up for special
courses could aid your career or
business.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Listen
to you where you are going. Be
willing to take some calculated
risks. Group activities enjoy high
ly beneficial influences tonight.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Lighten up with the folks at
home! You have several options
at work. Carefully check out
rumors, separating fact from fic
tion. A friendly exchange of
views proves helpful.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Listen to your sixth sense when
handling a family or financial
matter. You can get to the root of
the matter. Communication
between relatives is at an all-time
high.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
You will feel much happier far
away from crowds today. Seek
quiet in a library or shady glen. A
minor dispute between siblings
could turn into all-out war.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21):An unusual arrangement
what goes on inside it that mat
ters. I’m free to redecorate how
ever I want, and we will make it
our home.
Abby, I’m confused. My practi
cal nature tells me that the eco
nomics of moving into his home
are better for us, my emotional
side tells me that we should either
move into my house (which has
never been shared with anyone) or
sell both homes and buy another
one. What are your thoughts on
this?
UNDECIDED
DEAR UNDECIDED: If you
can swing it financially, I vote for
buying a new home.
DEAR ABBY: I read with great
interest the letter from the
American sailor with the Filipina
wife. The lady is jealous of her
husband’s absences.
I was in the same situation when
I was in the Navy and married my
wife also a Filipina. “Sasebo
Sailor” needs to get into the local
group of Filipinos in our Navy.
(Our Navy recruited Filipinos in
could be your ticket to career
advancement. Ask for what you
need to do the job right. A short
cut could turn out to be a disaster.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19): An early-morning conversa
tion could hold a hidden message.
Listen carefully to what is being
said before giving your own opin
ion. Your reticence impresses
important people.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
You will enjoy being showered
with attention today. Doing
something nice for loved one will
make both of you happy. You
Forsyth County Welcomes the World..
\' ■pG’zk > ■HF
"vV L --A-
July 19, 1996 ' '
7:OOPM
at the
Sawnee Center (following the Chamber Business After Hours)!
Watch the
Opening Ceremonies
for the ‘96 Olympics
on Giant Screen Television in the
convenient comfort of the Sawnee Center.
One Price covers everything (except beverage).
® Taste of Forsyth furnished by Kroger, Marina
Beach Club, Ribs,etc, & Dominos
® Keep up with the Braves Game on a big screen
T.V. in separate room!
® Dance to Music by Forsyth’s own Dr. Dave!
S Enjoy an Exhibition by International Masters
Karate Team from Okinawa
< Best of a11... it doesn’t cost over $600!
Tickets are sls (in advance) or $17.50 (at the door)
Tickets available now at the Sawnee Center
889-4977
Sponsored by the Sawnee Center &
the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.
Special Hosts: The International Masters Karate Team.
the Philippines until 1992.) If
“Sailor’ and his wife became
socially involved in this group,
she would no longer be anxious
when her husband deploys.
The “bamboo pipeline” (Asian
gossip) has more connections than
any phone company and it’s far
more efficient. The Filipina
(woman) will be assured that her
husband is not availing himself of
any other women, plus she will
have a support network of people
from her homeland.
My wife and I have been mar
ried for 11 years, are still very
much in love, and have learned to
live with our cultural difference
There are reasons why many
Asian women prefer American
men, and there are many
American men who are crazy
about their Oriental wives.
JOE CHASSE,
SAGINAW, TEXAS
DEAR ABBY: As I left the mall
yesterday, I saw three boys no
more than 14 years old sitting on
the curb smoking!
I don’t know why, but I stopped
could reap a windfall from a
timely investment.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
A good day for both catching up
on paperwork and socializing.
Seek out people in a position to
help your career; suggest a mutu
ally beneficial arrangement.
TODAY’S CHILDREN have
true “star” quality! Count on
them to make a big splash—and
headlines—in their chosen field.
These Cancerians’ quiet, cooper
ative demeanor often fools people
into thinking that they are not
ambitious. In actuality, they are
Abigail
Van Buren
and said: “It makes me sad to see
your young lungs being ruined by
smoking. If only you could see
the people in my condo complex
with holes in their chests because
they ruined their lungs by smok
ing, you would never light another
cigarette as long as you live.”
To my surprise, the three of
them put out their cigarettes with
out saying a word.
I walked away feeling so good.
PEGGY BERRY,
MARGATE, FLA.
DEAR PEGGY: You deserve to
feel good. You had the courage to
speak up—and you possibly saved
three lives.
jeane WaIO
Dixon
, . V
human dynamos—determined to
go as far as possible. Bored by
the idea of a nine-to-five job,
these go-getters will want to be in
business for themselves. The sky
is the limit where financial suc
cess is concerned. They definitely
have the Midas touch!