Toll House cookie dough recalled

A person in Hawaii is among the 65 nationwide in 29 states who fell sick after eating raw Nestle Toll House cookie dough. A total of 25 people were hospitalized.

Nestle USA yesterday voluntarily recalled Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products.

The state Department of Health is urging anyone who has had abdominal cramping, vomiting or diarrhea after eating Nestle packaged cookie dough to notify their doctor immediately.

State health officials warned consumers not to eat any varieties of Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough and to throw the prepackaged product away. Baking the dough is not recommended because consumers may get the bacteria on their hands or on other cooking surfaces, according to the state announcement.

The Hawaii resident's illness was linked to E. coli bacteria but a definitive match to the particular strain that caused the outbreak is pending testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the state.

The recall covers all varieties of prepackaged, refrigerated cookie dough but does not include Toll House chocolate chips or baking bars, or Dreyer's and Edy's ice cream products with Nestle Toll House cookie dough ingredients.

State seeks drill volunteers

Isle residents yearning to act can fill some essential roles and help the state prepare for a public health emergency—a bioterrorism attack.

The state Department of Health is seeking volunteers for a large-scale emergency-response exercise June 25 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Volunteers can become better informed on protecting themselves and their family while helping the department improve emergency plans, said state Health Director Chiyome Fukino.

Volunteers should arrive at the Campus Center Ballroom at 9:15 a.m. The federally funded exercise will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Free parking will be available and volunteers will receive a free lunch at the end of the exercise.

Volunteers must register in advance by Monday, June . Anyone younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Call 587-6580 to register or go to hoopakele.doh.hawaii.gov/exercise.

Isle woman dies in California crash

A 28-year-old Hawaii woman died in a single-car accident in Barstow, Calif. on Wednesday .

Natasha Nichol Leinaala Mahelona was driving a 2006 Honda Accord along Morning Star Mine Road at 1 a.m. when she lost control of the car, exiting a turn, according to the coroner report. Police said that the vehicle overturned several times and that Mahelona was traveling at a high speed.

The Barstow office of the California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.

Seminar to offer tips to caregivers

A free information session was scheduled from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. today at Kapiolani Community College to help family caregivers face the physical and emotional challenges of their responsibilities.

AARP Hawaii and the city's Elderly Affairs Division are sponsoring the workshop in Ohia 118, near the cafeteria.

Toni Hathaway, KCC Kupuna Education Center coordinator, in an interactive presentation will give participants 10 techniques to help build strength and flexibility in themselves and those they're caring for.

Hawaii has up to 169,000 caregivers providing an estimated $1.45 billion annually in unpaid care, according to AARP Hawaii.

“;Caregivers also face financial challenges due to changes in work patterns, often resulting in lost wages, loss of health insurance and other job benefits, and lower retirement savings,”; the organization said.

“;Given our rapidly aging population, the challenges facing Hawaii caregivers are especially daunting.”;

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Wailua bridge to be closed for upgrades

Kauai County officials announced that the Opaekaa Bridge on Opaekaa Road in Wailua will be closed for the next for four weeks beginning Monday.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes.

The bridge is being “;rehabilitated,”; according a Kauai County news release.

The design work is still under way, but the next phase of the project includes installation of additional metal beams under the bridge for safety reasons.

Weather permitting, the bridge will be reopened in by the end of July.

Cushnie Construction Co. was awarded a $290,844 contract for the project.

For information, contact the Kauai Department of Public Works at 241-4847.