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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 19 august 2022
Brain-eating amoeba suspected in 2nd Midwest death

By MARGERY A. BECK and 2021 in the U.S., with only
JOSH FUNK four survivors, according to
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A the CDC. Of those, 71 cas-
child likely died from a es were reported between
rare infection caused by a 2000 and 2021. Texas and
brain-eating amoeba after Florida recorded the most
swimming in an eastern Ne- infections with 39 and 37
braska river, health officials cases respectively, and the
said, making it the second amoeba is typically found
such probable death in in southern states because
the Midwest this summer it thrives in waters that are
and raising the question of warmer than 86 degrees
whether climate change is Fahrenheit (30 Celsius).
playing a role. But infections have migrat-
The Douglas County De- ed north in recent years,
partment of Health based including two cases in Min-
in Omaha, Nebraska, re- nesota since 2010, Douglas
ported Wednesday that County Health Director Dr.
doctors believe the child Lindsey Huse noted during
died of primary amebic me- a news conference Thurs-
ningoencephalitis, a usu- day.
ally fatal infection caused "Our regions are becom-
by the naegleria fowleri ing warmer," she said. "As
amoeba. Health officials things warm up, the water
believe the child came into warms up and water levels
contact with the amoeba The Elkhorn River, just west of Omaha, Neb., is pictured on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. drop because of drought,
on Sunday while swimming Associated Press you see that this organism
in the Elkhorn River just west is a lot happier and more
of Omaha. lake's beach as a precau- mented, including tainted Control and Prevention typically grows in those situ-
Officials have not released tion for nearly three weeks. tap water in a Houston-ar- says naegleria fowleri infec- ations."
the child's identity. People are usually infect- ea city in 2020. Symptoms tions are rare — there are According to the National
Last month, a Missouri resi- ed when water contain- include fever, headache, about three cases in the Water Information Sys-
dent died of the same in- ing the amoeba enters nausea or vomiting, pro- United States every year tem, the surface water
fection likely caused by the the body through the nose gressing to a stiff neck, loss — but that those infections temperature near where
amoeba at Lake of Three while swimming or diving of balance, hallucinations are overwhelmingly fatal. the child was swimming
Fires in southwestern Iowa. into lakes and rivers. Other and seizures. There were 154 cases re- was between 86 and 92
Iowa officials closed the sources have been docu- The Centers for Disease ported between 1962 and degrees.q

Starbucks must reinstate fired workers, federal judge rules

bor law by interfering in attle coffee giant said the union activity, but termina-
workers' right to organize. employees violated com- tions resulting thereafter,
Lipman's decision requires pany policy by reopening supports an inference of
Starbucks to offer to rein- a store after closing time discriminatory motive," the
state the employees within and inviting non-employ- judge wrote.
five days. Starbucks will ees — including a television The NLRB had begun ad-
also be required to post the crew — to come inside and ministrative proceedings
court order in the Memphis move throughout the store. against Starbucks, saying
store. "These individuals violated the company was unlaw-
Starbucks said Thursday it numerous policies and fully interfering in workers'
strongly disagrees with the failed to maintain a se- right to organize. But those
court order and will appeal. cure work environment proceedings can take so
It will also request a stay of and safety standards," the long that the NLRB asked
the opinion, which would company said in a state- the federal court for an im-
delay the reinstatement of ment Thursday. "Interest in mediate injunction requir-
the employees while the a union does not exempt ing Starbucks to reinstate
appeal is considered. partners from following the workers.
The case has been among policies that are in place to "Today's federal court deci-
A group of fired Starbucks employees celebrate the result of a
vote to unionize one of the coffee company's locations on June the most closely watched protect partners, our cus- sion ordering Starbucks to
7, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. in the unionization effort at tomers and the communi- reinstate the seven unlaw-
Associated Press Starbucks. ties we serve." fully fired Starbucks work-
Since late last year, more But the NLRB and the fired ers in Memphis is a crucial
By DEE-ANN DURBIN and to unionize their store. than 220 U.S. Starbucks workers told the court that step in ensuring that these
ADRIAN SAINZ In a decision issued Thurs- stores — including the Starbucks had routinely workers, and all Starbucks
Associated Press Writers day, U.S. District Judge Sh- Memphis store — have vot- tolerated off-duty employ- workers, can freely exercise
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A eryl Lipman agreed with the ed to unionize. Starbucks ees and non-employees their right to join together to
federal judge is ordering National Labor Relations opposes the unionization remaining in the store af- improve their working con-
Starbucks to reinstate sev- Board, which had asked effort. ter hours to make drinks, ditions and form a union,"
en employees in Memphis the court to intervene in Starbucks fired the seven collect belongings or assist the labor board's General
who were fired earlier this May. The labor board said employees in early Febru- each other. Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo
year after leading an effort Starbucks violated U.S. la- ary, citing safety. The Se- "Such tolerance before said in a statement. q