A big catered event gone wrong and the perils of a trip to Cuba have combined to cause a spike in the cases of Salmonella poisoning in Toronto so far this year. Over the past decade, Toronto has averaged about 70 cases of Salmonella infection during the first two months of the year. This year, as of February 28, 114 cases of salmonellosis have been confirmed in the city. Toronto Public Health  attributed much of the sharp increase to three known clusters of illness:  They are the catered event held February 11, 2012 which caused transmission of the illness to many of those present. They are still reporting in. A mass infection in Cuba found its way back to Toronto as travellers came home. There was also an outbreak still under investigation which seems more general than the other two.   Health officials are asking health-care providers to consider salmonellosis in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis. Salmonella infection is confirmed by culture and is reportable to the local Medical Officer of Health.

Suzanne Parson will host a meeting intended to help keep our minds sharp. It’s called Heads Up for Healthier Brains and it will take place at. St. Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church, 1847 Bayview Ave. at Broadway on March 22, 2012 at 7 pm. . You may contact Suzanne Parsons at 416-627-6680 or suzanneparsons5@gmail to obtain more information on this free meeting. The agenda includes changes that can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.  The concept stresses lifestyle and habits as an important factor in reducing risk and maintaining the health of our brains. Light refreshments will be served. Town Crier

Toronto Police Service report: A resident of Woodlawn Avenue West reports that between 1600 hours on February 28, 2012 and 1800 hours on February 29, 2012, entry was gained into the premises by forcing a door. Removed was a camera, laptop, personal items and a quantity of jewellery, watches and cash.

The City is indebted to Councillor Krysten Wong-Tam for pushing mass transit “social inclusion” in an effort to ensure that everyone is treated  equally on the subways, buses and streetcars. In particular, Ms Wong-Tam notes that most of the people who use the subways are women and members of “racialized groups.” Quite right. There will be many subway riders tonight who are nursing real grievances about how their race is used against them when they drop a token into the toll collector’s fare box.  It isn’t enough that when the subway breaks down that the entire trainload of riders is stuck there. In some hapless places that might be seen as equitable. But no. It”s clear that indifferent, perhaps even prejudiced, TTC employees are rooting for only the Scottish to get stuck underground.  And what about the dozy strap hangers dreaming  of getting a cheap dinner of dumplings somewhere along Spadina. It must end. Let’s make sure these thoughtless people pay Loblaws prices for their food. There is much work to be done. Thank you Councillor Wong-Tam.

South China restaurant at 513 Mt Pleasant Rd south of Millwood Rd was ordered closed last week by Toronto Public Health because of rodent infestation and poor sanitation. Sources said mice were found.  Other infractions against South China Restaurant were failure to protect food from contamination, improper storage of solid waste and failure to clean bathroom fixtures. South China has had similar problems during previous inspections carried out on Aug. 30, 2011 and March 8, 2011. It was given a conditional pass during these inspections.

Canada’s two biggest banks surprised the market with dividend hikes on Thursday as record earnings from their domestic bank networks helped them turn in better-than-expected quarterly profits. Analysts said the first-quarter results from Royal Bank of Canada and Toronto-Dominion Bank showed dour predictions for sluggish revenue growth in the Canadian banking sector have yet to take hold.  Reuters link above