Category Archives: healthcare

Ebola virus outbreak in Techiman, Ghana is imminent | Health News 2014-07-14

Many people show unconcerned when it comes to the discussion of disease outbreaks in Ghana; thinking that the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service owe the responsibility to curb the disease. This attitude has precipitated the cause of disease outbreaks in Africa and particularly in Ghana. The earlier we change this attitude, the better we can control diseases to the extent of not even causing outbreaks.

Currently, Ghana due to her international territories is imminent for the Ebola disease outbreak and cities including Techiman where there is African market that serves the whole West Africa. Due to the influx of people from all walks of life to the Techiman market, Ebola virus disease is likely to occur in Techiman if preventative measures are not taken. It would be important that all meaningful Ghanaians join the advocacy against the Ebola virus.

via Ebola virus outbreak in Techiman is imminent | Health News 2014-07-14.

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts > Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Tattoo Ink, Tattoo Needles, Tattoo kits Due to Microbial Contamination

July 11, 2014 – July 11, 2014- White & Blue Lion, Inc. in the City of Industry, CA is recalling all lots of tattoo Inks and tattoo needles due to pathogenic bacterial contamination. Use of these products may cause bacterial infection and can lead to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection. The recall includes all tattoo inks, tattoo needles, and tattoo kits distributed by White & Blue Lion including the ones specifically listed below:

via Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts > Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Tattoo Ink, Tattoo Needles, Tattoo kits Due to Microbial Contamination.

Nyaho Clinic suspected Ebola virus patient dies | General News 2014-07-08

The initial tests run on the American, now deceased, according to the source, was inconclusive because the officials used the wrong reagent.

The sources, who are medical practitioners, told Joy News “the test should have taken Noguchi not more than five hours.”

via Nyaho Clinic suspected Ebola virus patient dies | General News 2014-07-08.

UN: 50 new Ebola cases in 2 African countries since last week, deadly virus still spreading

The U.N. health agency says there have been 50 new Ebola cases in Sierra Leone and Liberia since last week as the disease, among the deadliest in the world, keeps spreading in West Africa.

The World Health Organization says 34 new cases were reported by Sierra Leone and 16 by Liberia since July 3.

WHO officials said in a statement Tuesday the outbreak in those two countries and Guinea shows “a mixed picture” because of a reduction in the number of new cases in Guinea, where no new cases have been reported during the past week.

The agency says as of Sunday, there have been 844 cases of Ebola in the three countries, including 518 deaths.

via UN: 50 new Ebola cases in 2 African countries since last week, deadly virus still spreading.

We Are Making Ebola Outbreaks Worse By Cutting Down Forests | Mother Jones

Human activity is driving bats to find new habitats amongst human populations. More than half of Liberia’s forests—home to 40 endangered species, including the western chimpanzee—have been sold off to industrial loggers during President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s post-war government, according to figures released by Global Witness. Logging, slash-and-burn agriculture, and chopping down trees for an increased demand for fire wood, are all driving deforestation in Sierra Leone, where total forest cover has now dropped to just 4 percent, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which says if deforestation continues at current levels, Sierra Leone’s forests could disappear altogether by 2018.

“We see deforestation or incursion into forests, whether it’s through hunting or just alteration of landscape, causing people and wildlife to have more contact,” says Epstein.

Mining

The 1994 outbreak of Ebola, which killed 31 people, occurred in gold mining camps deep in the rain forest.

The 1994 outbreak of Ebola, which killed 31 people, occurred in gold mining camps deep in the rain forest. Mining also appears to be a feature of this latest outbreak: Its epicenter is in the south east of Guinea, close to iron ore reserves, according to Reuters.

Mining “has become a big livelihood activity across the regions, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, as of the last couple of decades,” says Leach. And that means more mines in the forest, but also “immense movement: people going seasonally in and out of mines, coming in and out, young people coming from all over the country.” Guinea is the world’s top exporter of bauxite, the raw material used in aluminum production, according to Reuters.

“That whole sense of movement is something that means that a disease, an outbreak, once established in a place, is very likely not to stay in that place; it tends to move quite quickly,” Leach says.

via We Are Making Ebola Outbreaks Worse By Cutting Down Forests | Mother Jones.

 

(And it is not just Ebola that breaks out as a result of deforestation – malaria’s, and denge’s expansion is facilitated by deforestation which creates the perfect breed grounds for the mosquito that carries the deadly and more common diseases)

1,512 suspected cases of chikungunya in addition to 5,698 confirmed cases of dengue – Fides News Agency

According to the Ministry of Health in El Salvador (MINSAL) there are 1,512 suspected cases of chikungunya in the State of El Salvador. Most of them in the department of San Salvador, with a total of 1,365; of these, 1,035 have been located in Ayutuxtepeque, 138 in Mejicanos, 73 in Apopa and 41 in the capital of the department, and in Ciudad Delgado. San Vicente is another department where there have been 118 cases of the virus, and 88 in the municipality of San Ildefonso. MINSAL has stated that the age of the people most affected by the disease varies between 10 and 19, with 395 cases. Compared to the situation of dengue in the territory of El Salvador, the Ministry of Health reported a total of 16.937 suspected cases and 5,698 confirmed cases. Compared to the same period of 2013 there has been an increase of 101%. Of the confirmed cases, 97 were severe dengue, 56% more than last year. MINSAL reiterates its appeal to the people to work together to prevent the proliferation of the mosquito aedes aegypti, vector of chikungunya virus and dengue.

via 1,512 suspected cases of chikungunya in addition to 5,698 confirmed cases of dengue – Fides News Agency.

Fear as ebola ‘out of control’ in parts of west Africa | World | The Guardian

Described by virologists as a “molecular shark”, ebola is believed to be hosted by the fruit bat, a delicacy in Guinea and Liberia. The current strain is at least the fifth mutation since its discovery in 1976. Diagnosis is often complicated by the fact symptoms mirror those of malaria, common in the region, including fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Victims sometimes have horrific internal and external bleeding and most die of shock or multiple organ failure, although chances of survival increase dramatically if adequate treatment is received early on. No cure exists for ebola but confirmed cases are first quarantined before undergoing intensive rehydration therapy. Due to its high contagion rate, medical workers should wear head-to-toe biohazard suits even when dealing with dead patients.

via Fear and ignorance as ebola ‘out of control’ in parts of west Africa | World | The Guardian.

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts > Bristol-Myers Squibb Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of COUMADIN (Warfarin Sodium) for Injection Due to Presence of Particulate Matter

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is voluntarily recalling six lots of COUMADIN® FOR INJECTION, 5 mg single-use vials in the U.S. This recall is a precautionary measure based on the company’s investigation of visible particulate matter found in a small number of COUMADIN FOR INJECTION unreleased samples. Bristol-Myers Squibb believes the safety risk to patients is low, and is further mitigated by the product’s prescribing information advising that intravenous drug products be inspected visually prior to administration.

via Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts > Bristol-Myers Squibb Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of COUMADIN (Warfarin Sodium) for Injection Due to Presence of Particulate Matter.

Liberia: At Redemption Hospital – Fear Grips Nurses, Patients After Ebola Outbreak (Page 2 of 2)

“We have been working since the outbreak of Ebola here but the fear is there and you cannot erase that. Working has slow down because the patients are not coming like before. Some of the patients on beds before the outbreak also left,” one of the nurses stated.

According to them, patients are afraid of being admitted at the hospital.

The nurses said some residents of the community are allegedly engage into stigmatizing health workers at the hospital.

“Even if we are in our bus passing, they (residents) will be on the road calling us Ebola, Ebola and so, the patients themselves are not coming because they are afraid,” another nurse added.

Meanwhile, the nurses have called for more awareness to be made to help curtail the spread of Ebola in Liberia.

The nurses urged citizens to report cases of persons showing symptoms of the Ebola virus including constant vomiting, fever, amongst others to the hospital.

Prior to the outbreak of the Ebola virus, the Redemption Hospital provides free medical treatment to hundreds of patients on a daily basis.

Sometimes ago, the administration of the hospital called on the GOL and donor partners to help provide more beds to the hospital to help curtail the influx of patients.

But presently, most of the hospital beds are left unoccupied because patients are not seeking medical treatment there.

via allAfrica.com: Liberia: At Redemption Hospital – Fear Grips Nurses, Patients After Ebola Outbreak (Page 2 of 2).

Zhejiang bans urban live poultry trading – People’s Daily Online

{Personally, I am vegan but this is THE way to lower risk of this flu and new ones!}

Live poultry trading has been banned in urban areas of east China’s Zhejiang Province for good from Tuesday to control the spread of bird flu.

Zhejiang recorded a higher number of human cases of bird flu infections than any other province in 2013.

Many live poultry markets closed when a bird flu case was found. But markets reopened at a later date.

Fearing the spread of bird flu, Zhejiang has decided to completely close all live poultry markets in urban areas.

From now on, only dead and plucked poultry can be traded in urban markets, according to the provincial government.

Agricultural authorities in Zhejiang have begun to advocate standardized poultry cultivation so meat can be traced back to its producers.

Consumers are worried they may not be able to determine whether dead poultry was healthy, whereas they can when buying live poultry.

The authorities will also develop a process where poultry can be killed and plucked by machines on a large scale.

via Zhejiang bans urban live poultry trading – People’s Daily Online.