Category Archives: healthcare

Avian flu: urgent request for scientific advice – EIN News

SOSO – Same Old-Same-Old – want to blame wild birds for spread of avian influenza and not increased industrialized global poultry industry getting billions of birds ready for holiday markets in Europe and then in Jan/Feb for Chinese New year and Tet celebrations. When billions of birds are brought together, nature senses over populations and birds are stressed due to overcrowding thus viruses are re-created to balance the system and billions of birds are more vulnerable to disease. This has always been the way influenza strikes first birds, then pigs, horses and humans. But with a globalized industrial market, the disease factory is now in process year round and the chase for more profits increases chances of more deadly viruses. Duh? Wild birds do catch the influenza from produced birds which are housed in the open or from their waste that is used as fertilizer or added to fish farms to aid growing of fish food. Someday, maybe before we are all dead from a flu we cannot respond to quickly enough, some greedy poultry farmer will suggest killing all wild birds – which will do nothing but advance our own demise.

 

EFSA is assessing the current situation on the H5N8 avian influenza A virus in Europe and the world, following an urgent request from the European Commission. Experts are focussing on the possible entry routes of the virus into Europe- in particular on the role of wild birds.

The highly contagious avian influenza virus has recently been detected in three European countries: in a turkey holding in Germany; three chicken holdings in the Netherlands and in a duck breeding holding in the United Kingdom.

The flu viruses found in the EU are similar to one that affected poultry flocks in South Korea earlier this year. To date, there are no recorded cases of humans contracting the H5N8 virus.

EFSA’s role is to provide EU risk managers with independent scientific advice and assistance on animal health and welfare related to avian influenza and any possible food safety issues.

In previous risk assessments EFSA provided information on the risks of influenza viruses entering and spreading amongst poultry in Europe and made recommendations to prevent existing risks. EFSA experts also concluded that there is no scientific evidence that avian influenza can be transmitted to humans through consumption of food.

The scientific report will be delivered in early December 2014.

via Avian flu: urgent request for scientific advice – EIN News.

Bubonic plague festers in Madagascar′s slums | Africa | DW.DE | 25.11.2014

Ankasina is a poor and overcrowded slum on the northern edge of Madagascar’s capital city Antananarivo. Waste water flows through open gutters; dirt and garbage collects in heaps on the streets. The area is infested with rats, local residents say. Many blame the state for neglecting the neighborhood.

And now, the rats have brought in an even bigger problem: the plague. For the first time in ten years, the disease has started to spread in Madagascar’s capital. A young woman from Ankasina died from the bubonic plague; she most likely contracted it after being bitten by a flea, which had contracted the bacteria from the rodents. She is one of 47 people who have died in the current outbreak on the island.

Warm climate, poor hygiene

Madagascar’s Prime Minister Kolo Roger admits that the plague has now also entered the capital city. He speaks of an epidemic on the island. “For each case, all the necessary measures have been taken to stop the spreading,” he announced. “All cases, whether far away or in the capital of Antananarivo are being dealt with seriously.”

via Bubonic plague festers in Madagascar′s slums | Africa | DW.DE | 25.11.2014.

Dental Health, not health – Huh? Health Insurance Enrollment for Exchanges Was Overcounted – NYTimes.com

When your teeth and/or gums are not in good shape or you are in pain – duh? This is a big health issue!

 

The Obama administration acknowledged on Thursday that it overcounted the total number of people signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Marilyn B. Tavenner, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said in September that 7.3 million people were enrolled. But Bloomberg News reported Thursday that the figure included nearly 400,000 people with stand-alone dental plans, prompting the administration to revise the enrollment figure to 6.7 million as of Oct. 15.

via Health Insurance Enrollment for Exchanges Was Overcounted – NYTimes.com.

UPDATE 2-Cuban doctor in Sierra Leone tests positive for Ebola | Reuters

While Cuba provides disaster relief around the world free of charge, it also exchanges doctors for cash or goods on more routine missions. The island receives an estimated 100,000 barrels of oil per day from Venezuela, where some 30,000 Cuban medical professionals are posted.

via UPDATE 2-Cuban doctor in Sierra Leone tests positive for Ebola | Reuters.

Meet the Lying Liars Responsible for Chipping Away at Roe v. Wade | Dame Magazine

They create nonprofits, staffed with die-hard ideologues, and set about producing and promoting bogus science, to build the illusion of dissent or doubt over conclusions drawn by peer-reviewed scientific or medical research. They develop their own “research findings” to suit their ideological views. Then they deploy scare tactics, all with the goal of passing laws that suit their agenda.

Abortion opponents, say Resnick and Coutts, have created “what might best be called the ‘False Witness’ industry,” a group of so-called experts willing to testify to unproven, anti-scientific claims about abortion.

via Meet the Lying Liars Responsible for Chipping Away at Roe v. Wade | Dame Magazine.

Dr Death will see you now | Priyanka Kaushal

Camps Of Death: A timeline of mishaps at medical camps in the state

2011 Nearly 300 operations were performed in Balod village. Four people lost their lives, while 52 lost their eyesight completely. Some paramedics were suspended. An inquiry by a team from AIIMS revealed nothing more sinister than some “unnamed problems with some unnamed medicines”

Against the target of 1,000, experts of the state government performed 1,098 operations in Kawardha. Twenty people lost their eyesight and two lost their lives. An inquiry was inconclusive

2012 Nearly 145 eye operations were performed in Bagbahara. Twelve people reported partial loss of eyesight

Around 200 operations were performed in Durg. Three patients lost their eyesight completely and 12 partially

722 girls in Bilaspur and Raipur complained that their uterus was missing after they were admitted to private clinics running a government sterilisation programme. The doctors’ defence was that the uteruses were cancer-infected. The registration of several doctors was cancelled, but the Indian Medical Association managed to reverse the move

2013 Seven women ended up with severely butchered stomachs during a sterilisation programme in Durg

via Dr Death will see you now | Priyanka Kaushal.

AFRICA/SUDAN – Alarm: haemorrhagic fever in Southern Kordofan – Fides News Agency

The inhabitants of the town of Kadugli, Abu Jubaiha and Habila, Southern Kordofan, have complained about the appearance of a fever unknown to them. Meanwhile, the local Ministry of Health has been informed about the spread of this potentially deadly hemorrhagic fever, known as leishmaniasis and have sent a team of doctors. The symptoms reported by people are high fever, vomit and headache. The mortality rate is increasing, there is lack of medicines and medical centers. The Minister of Health in the Country has declared the contagion of 25 people who are isolated in hospitals, but so far there have been no deaths. The government has told health officials to intensify surveillance in areas where the disease has been recorded, including the three locations indicated. According to WHO, the definition of viral hemorrhagic fever refers to very serious diseases that can be caused by various viruses. Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as “black fever”, is a parasitic disease that kills almost all of those who contract it. It is caused by the bite of a pappataceo.

via AFRICA/SUDAN – Alarm: haemorrhagic fever in Southern Kordofan – Fides News Agency.

Studies show more TB cases worldwide than earlier estimates | Vaccine News Daily

Old diseases, not as interesting? Or if not perceived as a threat to US or EU – so no worries like for Ebola?

New studies show that there are approximately 500,000 more cases of tuberculosis than was previously estimated.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Global Tuberculosis Report 2014″ details how 9 million people developed TB last year and 1.5 million died, including approximately 360,000 individuals who were HIV positive.

“Following a concerted effort by countries, by WHO and by multiple partners, investment in national surveys and routine surveillance efforts has substantially increased,” WHO Director of the Global TB Program Dr. Mario Raviglione said. “This is providing us with much more and better data, bringing us closer and closer to understanding the true burden of tuberculosis.”

The report states that the death rate from TB is still falling and has actually dropped by 45 percent since 1990. The number of people developing TB is declining by approximately 1.5 percent a year, while 37 million people have survived TB through thorough diagnosis and treatment over the past 14 years.

Another aspect of the report shows that while an astounding number of lives are being lost to curable diseases, TB is the second biggest killer from one infectious agent. Approximately three million people stricken with TB are still misdiagnosed, or diagnosed but not reported.

A lack of funding is hindering worldwide efforts to fight the TB epidemic. An estimated $8 billion is needed each year, but there is currently a $2 billion shortfall.

via Studies show more TB cases worldwide than earlier estimates | Vaccine News Daily.