Category Archives: healthcare

With Hillary Clinton, We’ve Seen This Witchhunt Before | Dame Magazine

With Hillary Clinton, We’ve Seen This Witchhunt BeforeWe’ve seen unprecedented level of murderous vitriol spewed at the Democratic presidential candidate. But it’s just another chapter in a long history of demonizing women seeking power.

Source: With Hillary Clinton, We’ve Seen This Witchhunt Before | Dame Magazine

CDC probes rise in AFM cases as Washington reports cluster | CIDRAP (As current polio is close to eradication – is the virus trying to find new pathways to fulfilling its “purpose?”)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a national increase in acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) this year, with a surge in recent months, a pattern that may be linked to a recent cluster of suspected cases in Washington state.Though this year’s cases of AFM—marked by sudden onset of limb weakness associated with spinal cord inflammation—haven’t reached levels seen in 2014 when the condition first appeared on the national radar with 120 cases reported, the CDC said it is worried about the recent uptick.No common cause identifiedIn an update on its AFM page yesterday, the CDC said as of Sep 30, 89 AFM cases have been confirmed in 33 states, mostly in children. The rise in cases from across the country began in August, and the CDC said it has been actively investigating the illness since then.For comparison, in 2015 the agency received reports of 21 confirmed AFM cases from 16 states.

Source: CDC probes rise in AFM cases as Washington reports cluster | CIDRAP

CDC chief: Antibiotic resistance ‘scary’ threat to modern medicine | CIDRAP

An estimated 700,000 people around the world die each year from drug-resistant strains of common bacterial infections, HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. And a 2014 report from the UK’s Review on Antimicrobial Resistance projected that if rising AMR is not addressed, the annual death toll could reach 10 million by the year 2050.Frieden said that antibiotic resistance threatens to turn back the clock to a pre-antibiotic era in which pneumonia and urinary tract infections are potentially fatal conditions. But beyond that, it also endangers the more than 600,000 cancer patients who get chemotherapy each year and rely on antibiotics to protect them from potentially deadly infections. “We presume that we can treat them, but that may not always be the case,” Frieden said.

Source: CDC chief: Antibiotic resistance ‘scary’ threat to modern medicine | CIDRAP

HIV ′Patient Zero′ cleared of causing epidemic in US | News | DW.COM | 27.10.2016

Genetic testing on 1970s blood samples has shown that Gaetan Dugas, long vilified as an originator of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, was not the man responsible for spreading the deadly disease.A study published in the journal Nature put together the genetic sequence of the HIV virus from archived blood samples of gay and bisexual men who were participating in a hepatitis B study at the time. Researchers then traced the genetic changes of the virus among men in New York and San Francisco. They found the HIV virus came from the Caribbean to New York City around 1970, starting the North American epidemic.University of Arizona evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey led the study. “The outbreaks in California that caused people to ring alarm bells and led to the discovery of AIDS were really just offshoots of the earlier outbreak that we see in New York City,” said Worobey.

Source: HIV ′Patient Zero′ cleared of causing epidemic in US | News | DW.COM | 27.10.2016

Italian researcher creates a gelato that makes you better at sport – The Local – Viva!

The foods which best conserve the substances include dried fruits, cocoa beans and green tea, he says – and low, controlled temperatures help too. So gelato is the perfect way to eat your way to a healthy heart.The scientist created three types of ice cream (chocolate, hazelnut and green tea flavour) following a secret recipe at a Rome gelateria, before transporting it to the university on his moped.There, he carried out tests to check the effectiveness of the antioxidant dessert.Participants took blood tests before and after sampling the gelato (with some taking a placebo, a standard chocolate ice cream) and were also asked to pedal as fast as they could on an exercise bike.The tests showed that the gelato improved vascular function and also improved participants’ physical performance. These changes were not observed in those who ate the placebo ice cream.”Who says that health foods have to taste bad?” asks Sanguigni.

Source: Italian researcher creates a gelato that makes you better at sport – The Local

Study finds wrong antibiotics often given for common infections | CIDRAP

Convenience and perception

Although the study does not explore the reasons providers are so frequently veering from the recommended treatments, both Hicks and Hyun have some ideas.Hicks said the simplest explanation may be the convenience factor. For example, azithromycin is a once-a-day drug, while some of the first-line drugs need to be taken twice or even three times a day. But Hicks believes there’s also a perception, shared by both provider and patient, that broader may be better, and that using drugs that cover more bacteria makes it less likely that something could be missed.Hyun suggests there’s also a social dynamic going between patients and doctors, where patient expectations—and how doctors perceive those expectations—are playing a role in antibiotic prescribing. “Physicians and providers feel, a lot of the time, that patients walk into their office with a certain level of expectation for antibiotics,” Hyun said.And that, along with the patient’s previous experience, can have an impact on antibiotic selection. So if a patient has previously received a broad-spectrum antibiotic and it worked well, they’ll probably ask for that same antibiotic again. “That can influence the prescriber,” Hyun said.

Source: Study finds wrong antibiotics often given for common infections | CIDRAP

CDC report: STDs reached all-time high in 2015 | CIDRAP – As with TB, you do not take STDs for granted because men forget too easy and have too high a delusion rating.

“Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are curable, but the new numbers make it clear that many Americans are not getting the preventive services they need,” Donnica Smalls, MA, a health communications specialist with the CDC, told CIDRAP News. “We know that this is the second year in a row that all three reportable STDs have increased substantially.”Researchers called the trends “alarming,” especially because young people ages 15 to 24 were the most likely to report new gonorrhea (50% of all infections) and chlamydia (65%) infections in 2015.”We have reached a decisive moment for the nation,” said Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, director of the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, in a CDC press release. “STD rates are rising, and many of the country’s systems for preventing STDs have eroded. We must mobilize, rebuild and expand services—or the human and economic burden will continue to grow.”

Source: CDC report: STDs reached all-time high in 2015 | CIDRAP

Zika virus found in Florida blood bank, mosquitoes | CIDRAP

Despite increased surveillance, spraying, and testing, Florida is still experiencing signs of widening Zika virus transmission, based on positive blood bank samples and detection of another positive mosquito pool.Also, Public Health England found Asian Tiger mosquito eggs in southeast England, a first for that country.Pool, blood bank detectionsAccording to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, an eighth pool of mosquitoes has tested positive for Zika virus in Miami Beach, one of two active transmission zones in Miami-Dade County. The positive sample was from a trap located at 1236 Drexel Ave in Miami Beach.Despite testing 5,400 mosquito samples across the state, all eight positive traps have come from Miami Beach. According to an online statement, the department said “Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control team will continue to conduct inspections to reduce mosquito breeding and perform spray treatments as necessary in a minimum of 200-yard radius around the trap location.”In addition to the positive mosquito pool, a Seattle Times story yesterday confirmed that Zika virus had been found in a few units of donated blood in Florida. The Food and Drug Administration confirmed this discovery but did not say how many units had been detected.In July, blood donations stopped in Broward and Miami-Dade counties until Zika testing began. Earlier this year, it was estimated that 1% of all blood donations in Puerto Rico were positive for Zika virus, and many have suggested that a similar trend will be seen in Florida.In August, FDA officials urged at-risk states (Florida, Texas) to begin testing blood bank donations for Zika virus.

Source: Zika virus found in Florida blood bank, mosquitoes | CIDRAP

Press release – The first two cases of Zika virus identified in Vietnam

To actively prevent and control Zika virus infection to limit the spread in the community, stabilizing social security of our people, the Ministry of Health requests localities to deploy the following activities:1. Raise the alert level and deploy outbreak control activities as described in the 2nd scenario of the action plan of preventing and combating the Zika virus in Vietnam; continue to strengthen surveillance and testing samples for Zika virus at localities for early detection of infected cases, deploying all disease prevention and control measures including killing mosquito larva (larvae), prevention from mosquito bites, mobilizing people and community participation; organization of vector surveillance and spraying insecticide to avoid the spread out to the community.2. Deploy intensive propaganda, mobilize people to implement the campaign “People kill mosquitoes, mosquito larva (larvae) for prevention against diseases caused by Zika and dengue viruses”, currently this is the most effective measure in the prevention of disease caused by Zika virus. Advise people not to be panic and implement preventive measures for individuals, families and communities, as well as not causing negative effect to tourism activities.3. Localities to execute outbreak declaration as prescribed in Decision 02/2016/QD -TTg dated Jan 28, 2016 of the Prime Minister on the conditions for announcement of outbreak of infectious diseases if disease outbreaks occur in order to maximized resources and mobilize people’s participation in the prevention of the disease caused by Zika virus.4. Organize monitoring, providing guidance and antenatal care for pregnant women, pregnant women infected with Zika virus, surveillance of congenital and neonatal microcephaly in obstetric and pediatric facilities in the country.5. Healthcare facilities, prenatal and obstetric facilities to be ready in manpower, medicines, supplies, equipment, hospital beds to ensure the collection and treatment of patients.6. Allocate additional funds for Zika disease prevention; guiding policies for staff directly involved in the prevention and control of Zika outbreak.

Source: Press release – The first two cases of Zika virus identified in Vietnam

Culex mosquitoes in Nha Trang contains Zika virus – oops

Culex mosquitoes in Nha Trang contains Zika virusSaturday, 15.10.2016, 18:45 PM(Tieudung24h.vn) – A survey of the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology showed that viral Zika pretty much hidden midges.HCMC add 2 women infected ZikaZika virus invade 70 countries and territoriesZika raging in Singapore, Vietnam Ministry of Health to discuss how to respondInstitute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has summed up the survey to learn about viral Zika, in total nearly 24,000 female Culex natural form in Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa), detected 56 children brought Zika virus, accounting for approximately 0 , 3%.Also, there are 29 children tested positive for dengue virus causes hemorrhagic fever , accounting for 0.12% rate.TTU April so far has recorded 9 Zika patients in 5 provinces.

Source: Culex mosquitoes in Nha Trang contains Zika virus