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A Medical Mystery Unfolds in Minnesota
NY Times ^ | February 5, 2008 | DENISE GRADY

Posted on 02/06/2008 9:11:20 PM PST by neverdem

AUSTIN, Minn. — If you have to come down with a strange disease, this town of 23,000 on the wide-open prairie in southeastern Minnesota is a pretty good place to be. The Mayo Clinic, famous for diagnosing exotic ailments, owns the local medical center and shares some staff with it. Mayo itself is just 40 miles east in Rochester. And when it comes to investigating mysterious outbreaks, Minnesota has one of the strongest health departments and best-equipped laboratories in the country.

And the disease that confronted doctors at the Austin Medical Center here last fall was strange indeed. Three patients had the same highly unusual set of symptoms: fatigue, pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in the legs and feet.

The patients had something else in common, too: all worked at Quality Pork Processors, a local meatpacking plant.

The disorder seemed to involve nerve damage, but doctors had no idea what was causing it.

At the plant, nurses in the medical department had also begun to notice the same ominous pattern. The three workers had complained to them of “heavy legs,” and the nurses had urged them to see doctors. The nurses knew of a fourth case, too, and they feared that more workers would get sick, that a serious disease might be spreading through the plant.

“We put our heads together and said, ‘Something is out of sorts,’ ” said Carole Bower, the department head.

Austin’s biggest employer is Hormel Foods, maker of Spam, bacon and other processed meats (Austin even has a Spam museum). Quality Pork Processors, which backs onto the Hormel property, kills and butchers 19,000 hogs a day and sends most of them to Hormel. The complex, emitting clouds of steam and a distinctive scent, is easy to find from just about anywhere in town...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: health; hormel; medicine; mysteryillness
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To: neverdem

That was fascinating.


21 posted on 02/06/2008 9:55:37 PM PST by El Sordo
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To: DouglasKC
pork may be related to multiple sclerosis, another neurological disease

From Enzyclop.: Pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world, providing about 38 percent of daily meat protein intake worldwide.

Don't start any rumors based on Mysticism and religious habits.
I don't think it is a coincidence that many nations that avoid pork, are the ones who are the poorest and least advanced.
You are what you eat.

22 posted on 02/06/2008 10:04:38 PM PST by modican
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To: DouglasKC; Joya

PING


23 posted on 02/06/2008 10:11:14 PM PST by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD)
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To: MHGinTN

Spam sandwiches are best if the Spam is sliced into very thin slices and piled onto the bread with potato chips. The chips go on the sandwich not with it. Adds a little crunch. Mmmmm good.


24 posted on 02/06/2008 10:13:16 PM PST by barker ( A smile is a curved line that sets things straight.)
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To: DouglasKC; Quix

Thanks for the info. Thanks for the ping.


25 posted on 02/06/2008 10:18:41 PM PST by Joya (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
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To: modican
Don't start any rumors based on Mysticism and religious habits.

The article is about pork causing a neurological disease. I posted links that suggest that the consumption of pork causes a neurological disease. I also posted scripture that shows that the creator God specified that pork shouldn't be eaten or dead swine carcasses shouldn't be touched.

I don't think it is a coincidence that many nations that avoid pork, are the ones who are the poorest and least advanced.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. Pork eaters are rich and advanced?

26 posted on 02/06/2008 10:22:02 PM PST by DouglasKC
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To: modican

“Spam,eggs,and Spam. Spam,Spam,sausage,and Spam.
Spam,Spam,Spam,Bacon and Spam. Spam,Spam,Spam,Spam,
Spam,Spam”,etc.


27 posted on 02/06/2008 10:22:38 PM PST by gigster
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To: modican

Even if that is a job that no American would or should do, the alien that gets that job should apply for it, come alone, be sponsored for all health care and any other benefits by the employer only, and should go back home the instant that his work for the plant is over.


28 posted on 02/06/2008 10:45:19 PM PST by Defiant (Dems=Bolsheviks; GOP=Mensheviks. America=Free Market Capitalism and Liberty.)
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To: MHGinTN

thanks. i’ll have to try that. it’s just the thought of meat in a can that gets me.


29 posted on 02/06/2008 10:52:40 PM PST by robomatik (......uh since fred and duncan are out, i think i need a new tagline. =()
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To: DouglasKC

If the charge, that MS is connected to the consumption of pork, then there would be no Orthodox Jews with MS.

Unfortunately there are Jews who have that disease. If you watch the FOX NEWS Channel, Dr. Krauthammer, a conservative commentator, is an Orthodox Jew who has MS.


30 posted on 02/06/2008 11:00:48 PM PST by SatinDoll (Desperately seeking a conservative candidate.)
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To: SatinDoll

Krauthammer was paralyzed in a serious diving accident.


31 posted on 02/06/2008 11:09:42 PM PST by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: neverdem

“Quality Pork Processors, which backs onto the Hormel property, kills and butchers 19,000 hogs a day “

Mad swine disease?


32 posted on 02/07/2008 12:19:06 AM PST by JSteff ( This election is about the 4 or 5 Supreme Court Justices who will retire . Vote Accordingly!)
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To: SatinDoll

Do you recall where you read or heard that about Charles Krauthammer?


33 posted on 02/07/2008 1:05:08 AM PST by healy61
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To: JSteff
“Quality Pork Processors, which backs onto the Hormel property, kills and butchers 19,000 hogs a day “

Mad swine disease?

Are you talking about Farrakhan (Mad Swine) and his magic number 19?

34 posted on 02/07/2008 1:40:32 AM PST by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done, needs to be done by the government.)
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To: neverdem

Bookmarked to read sometime when I’m NOT eating...

LOL


35 posted on 02/07/2008 1:56:01 AM PST by Zack Attack
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To: healy61

FWIW, Wikipedia has that direct quote about Krauthammer. I realize that Wikipedia may be suspect.


36 posted on 02/07/2008 2:00:27 AM PST by tgusa (Gun control: deep breath, sight alignment, squeeze the trigger .....)
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To: Pontiac; healy61

I read an article in a national publication about him which stated he has MS. Can’t recall right now exactly which publication it was, but your statement about a “diving accident” doesn’t ring a bell.


37 posted on 02/07/2008 2:50:24 AM PST by SatinDoll (Desperately seeking a conservative candidate.)
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To: neverdem

38 posted on 02/07/2008 3:50:57 AM PST by ricks_place
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To: neverdem

Some news articles are best left for afternoon reading, not right before breakfast........


39 posted on 02/07/2008 4:00:14 AM PST by Hot Tabasco ( Don’t go messing with Smokey Taylor. He just bought a whole bunch of fresh ammo.)
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To: neverdem

I think eating the brains of humans is also bad for...


40 posted on 02/07/2008 4:13:11 AM PST by rusureitflies? (OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD! There, I said it. Prove me wrong.)
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