From the Community: Brain-eating amoebas, James Murdoch, and Hershey plant exploitations

We're taking a look at some of the most popular stories from the Current community, and we've rounded up some highlights to share. Check them out and add your two cents:

Brain-eating amoebas blamed in three deaths
Submitted by Misti

This summer, three young teens have accidentally died from a waterborne amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. The extremely rare infection enters the body through the nose after a person swims in fresh water and eventually destroys the brain.

"A 16-year-old died Saturday after becoming infected by an amoeba in Brevard County, Florida. The amoeba could have entered the teen's body as the teen swam in a nearby river.

Her mother, P.J. Nash-Ryder, said her daughter complained of a headache, threw up 20 times and ran a fever as high as 104 degrees.

"She would sit up in bed and just look at me, and I would ask her what was wrong," Nash-Ryder said. "She would say, 'I don't know.' And I'd tell her to lay back down. Her eyes were rolling ... and she wouldn't shut them all the way."

A spinal tap showed that Naegleria fowleri was present in her spinal fluids."

Our community has some advice for teens before they hop into the water:

attilatheblond: "A few years ago, when some teens got this, I read that it was recommended to instruct kids not to jump into the water, as that seems the most likely method of water being forced up the nose and into sinuses. Don't know how you stop them from jumping, but might be a little be of a help."

Misti: "All-weather poster for displaying around geothermal pools to help prevent amoebic meningitis by keeping your head above water. Most meningitis is caused by bacteria or viruses, but amoebic meningitis is caused by an amoeba that lives in hot pools."

James Murdoch admits News Corp. paid off convicted criminal
Submitted by KB723

In a letter to British lawmakers, James Murdoch disclosed that he commissioned large payments to a convicted criminal for exchange of his silence regarding the company's activities.

“Murdoch added that he was "not party to" discussions about either settlement, despite making the ultimate decisions to issue payment. It still remains unclear whey exactly Taylor was paid such a large amount, compared to other News Corp. hacking settlements. Murdoch still maintains he did not sign off on the payment to prevent more details about the hacking scandal from leaking out.

The community shares its thoughts on the latest relevation:

wynnmeg61: "I am thrilled this is all coming out in the open, However, I am concerned whether or not the Murdoch's will actually suffer any "significant" consequences."

Argon18: "A bunch of people will probably go to jail, I'm not sure how significant that will be. James and Rupert will most likely lose their seats on the board, but that remains to be seen if that would change the policies of NewsCorp to a great degree.

I guess it depends of what reforms are put in place to repair the damage to the way the media operates and how effective they would be?"

Student Guestworkers At Hershey Plant Allege Exploitative Conditions
Submitted by Buckeye_Bill

A majority of the 400 foreign students working at Hershey's distribution center walked out during a protest regarding working conditions. Students were greatly underpaid considering the cost of moving to the United States, along with the housing expenses. Three Pennsylvania labor leaders were arrested for their efforts.

“We’re not trying to pass the buck,” Exel spokeswoman Lynn Anderson said. “It’s a bit of a layered situation.”

Anderson said that although Exel does run the distribution center, in this case the company had contracted a temporary worker company, which had in turn supplied the foreign workers to Exel.

"We require a lot of extra workers for a short period of time, and we use temporary labor for that,” Anderson said. As for any alleged exploitation at the plant, she said “we absolutely have standards and expectations” for our contractors. “If our supplier isn’t meeting our expectations, then we’ll take the necessary steps.”

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