40 Rare and Interesting Photos of Indigenous Sami People of The Nordic Areas and North Western Russia from the Early 20th Century

The Sami people (also Sámi or Saami) are an indigenous Finno-Ugric people inhabiting the Arctic area of Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sami are the only indigenous people of Scandinavia recognized and protected under the international conventions of indigenous peoples, and are hence the northernmost indigenous people of Europe.

Sami ancestral lands span an area of approximately 388,350 km2 (150,000 sq. mi.), which is approximately the size of Norway, in the Nordic countries. Their traditional languages are the Sami languages and are classified as a branch of the Uralic language family.

Traditionally, the Sami have pursued a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding. Their best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding. For traditional, environmental, cultural, and political reasons, reindeer herding is legally reserved only for Sami people in certain regions of the Nordic countries.

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Sami man on Reindeer sledge in Lappland Sweden

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Sami group early 1900 eds and Lavvo tents in Tromsdalen

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Sami mother and children. Grotli, Oppland, Norway

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A semi-nomad Sami Children Northern Sweden Norway late 1800 (likely from 1884, Bonaparte).

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Mountain Saami group in Lyngen Norway. 1928

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WHO Interim Case Definition For Zika Virus Disease

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Zika Rash – Credit Wikipedia

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The World Health Organization has released an interim case definition for identifying suspected, probable, and confirmed Zika Virus Disease infection. 

Since the majority of cases are expected to be asymptomatic or mild – and given the limited availability of laboratory testing – most infections will never be identified, much less confirmed.

We see a similar situation every year in the United States with the West Nile Virus.  Only about 20% ever develop symptoms, and the vast majority of those are mild cases – called West Nile Fever – with probably only 2%-3% of those being identified.

Serious illness – due to neuroinvasive WNV – accounts for less than 1% of all cases.  In 2015, 1,360 neuroinvasive WNV cases were reported in the United States, resulting in 119 deaths.

Which means that there were probably more than 100,000 mild West Nile Fever cases that went unreported last year. It is likely that more than a million Americans have been infected with the West Nile Virus over the past 16 years, and never even knew it. 

Although we are still learning about the Zika virus, the same pattern appears to be true in Central and South America, with only a very small percent of cases experiencing serious illness or complications.

Zika virus disease

Interim case definition
12 February 2015

These interim case definitions have been developed for the purpose of providing global standardization for classification and reporting of Zika virus cases. WHO guidance for the surveillance of Zika virus disease is currently being developed.

WHO will periodically review these interim case definitions and update them as new information becomes available.

Suspected case

A person presenting with rash and/or fever and at least one of the following signs or symptoms:

  • arthralgia; or
  • arthritis; or
  • conjunctivitis (non-purulent/hyperaemic).

Probable case

A suspected case with presence of IgM antibody against Zika virus1 and an epidemiological link2


Confirmed case

A person with laboratory confirmation of recent Zika virus infection:

  • presence of Zika virus RNA or antigen in serum or other samples (e.g. saliva, tissues, urine, whole blood); or
  • IgM antibody against Zika virus positive and PRNT90 for Zika virus with titre ≥20 and Zika virus PRNT90 titre ratio ≥ 4 compared to other flaviviruses; and exclusion of other flaviviruses


Notes

1 With no evidence of infection with other flaviviruses
2 Contact with a confirmed case, or a history of residing in or travelling to an area with local transmission of Zika virus within two weeks prior to onset of symptoms.

CDC Advice: Pregnant And Living In A Zika Prone Area

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Four weeks ago the CDC released their interim travel recommendations on Zika, recommending that Pregnant women in any trimester should consider postponing travel to the areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.

With the continued expansion of the virus, however, in the months and years to come it is likely that millions of pregnant women will see the virus come to them. 


For Americans, the greatest risk right now is in Puerto Rico (see MMWR: Local Transmission Of Zika Virus In Puerto Rico), but it wouldn’t be terribly surprising to eventually see limited outbreaks in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, and other states where the Aedes mosquito can be found.


With that eventuality in mind, the CDC has begun producing public health messaging for  pregnant women who live in areas with potential Zika exposure. 

 

Garden in February (Part One)

Good for the garden “clock!”

Bealtaine Cottage, Ireland

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The year in the garden is now well under way, as Mother Earth awakens in a very visible way…not that she ever slept!

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Coltsfoot is one of the first herbs to come into flower, for it flowers before it leafs and a very welcome sight this is!

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Bronze fennel, that most vigorous of herbs and also a brilliant addition to the flower garden, starts to produce tasty leaves that can be added to early Spring salads.

Rocket has over-wintered well in the tunnel and forms the base ingredient.

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Daffodils are now up and beginning to flower.

Daffodils on the hill above the cottage, around an old abandoned dwelling are in full bloom!

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Reminders of Winter come and go, but not for long, sometimes just an hour or two of a light dusting of snow.

Never enough to hold back the advance of the seasons!

But beware the wind chill factor that…

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