Category Archives: pandemic

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

‘True Scale’ of India’s Tuberculosis Problem: 2.8 Million New Cases – The New York Times

Finally coming to terms with the enormity of its tuberculosis problem, India is preparing a radical overhaul and expansion of its national treatment program to fight an affliction that kills more adults worldwide than any other infectious disease.The severity of the matter was underscored on Thursday when the World Health Organization substantially increased its estimate of the number of new patients with TB in India, to 2.8 million in 2015, compared with 2.2 million in 2014 — more than in any other country in the world and more than a quarter of the world total.

Source: ‘True Scale’ of India’s Tuberculosis Problem: 2.8 Million New Cases – The New York Times

‘True Scale’ of India’s Tuberculosis Problem: 2.8 Million New Cases – The New York Times

Finally coming to terms with the enormity of its tuberculosis problem, India is preparing a radical overhaul and expansion of its national treatment program to fight an affliction that kills more adults worldwide than any other infectious disease.The severity of the matter was underscored on Thursday when the World Health Organization substantially increased its estimate of the number of new patients with TB in India, to 2.8 million in 2015, compared with 2.2 million in 2014 — more than in any other country in the world and more than a quarter of the world total.

Source: ‘True Scale’ of India’s Tuberculosis Problem: 2.8 Million New Cases – The New York Times

New Zika cases confirmed in Miami Beach | CIDRAP

Active transmission in Miami BeachAfter a weekend of extreme weather due to Hurricane Matthew, the Florida Department of Health (Florida Health) is reporting more cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in the Miami Beach area.Yesterday and today, Florida Health said there were six non-travel related cases—three of which are tied to Miami Beach—and one case in a non-Florida resident who contracted the virus when traveling in the Wynwood neighborhood earlier this summer. There are now 147 locally acquired Zika cases in Florida, plus 19 cases in non-Florida residents.

Source: New Zika cases confirmed in Miami Beach | CIDRAP

Donald Trump’s ‘sickening’ Access Hollywood comments spark flood of sexual assault stories – US election 2016 – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Following the release of an off-camera recording of Mr Trump speaking in vulgar terms about trying to have sex with women, US author Kelly Oxford asked women to Tweet their “first assaults”.”Women: tweet me your first assaults. they aren’t just stats,” she posted.Ms Oxford said she received 1,000 replies in the first hour, and later said 1 million women had described their assaults to her.Warning: The following contains descriptions of sexual assault that some readers might find disturbing.Women recounted memories of being abused, groped, fondled and violently attacked by relatives, teachers, friends, boyfriends and strangers.For many, there was not just one account to share, but numerous examples of sexual assault spanning their lifetimes. Some said their memories were triggered by hearing Mr Trump’s comments.

Source: Donald Trump’s ‘sickening’ Access Hollywood comments spark flood of sexual assault stories – US election 2016 – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

More Zika mosquitoes found in Miami Beach | CIDRAP – When will governments care more about health than tourist dollars?

Traps show mosquitoes still in Miami BeachDespite more than a month of ground and aerial spraying, officials in Florida reported that a trap in Miami Beach showed Aedes mosquitos harboring the Zika virus over the weekend. This was the sixth Zika-positive mosquito pool found in Miami Beach since Aug 19, and the first to show Zika-carrying bugs in the Mid-Beach neighborhood (the previous five mosquito pools were found in South Beach), according to the Miami Herald.The trap was located at 575 W. 49th street, near the La Gorce Golf Course. More than 64,000 Florida mosquitos have been tested for Zika virus since May; only the six pools in Miami Beach have tested positive for mosquitos carrying Zika virus.This was the first time health officials released the location of the traps as soon as samples tested positive, a move promoted by the Herald’s Sep 28 lawsuit that demanded the state release the location of traps that tested positive for Zika.The news comes after Florida Health, the state’s Department of Health, reported five more cases of locally acquired Zika virus on Sep 30 and nine more cases today. All nine cases were in Miami-Dade County; seven people had exposure in Miami Beach, and exposure in the other seven cases is currently under investigation.Also, Florida Health reported one more infection in an out-of-state resident who was exposed to Zika in Miami-Dade County and three new cases in those who traveled to both Miami-Dade County and countries where the virus is circulating, so exposure location can’t be definitively pinned down.The state now has recorded 133 local cases, 16 in out-of-state people, and 4 of undetermined exposure source.

Source: More Zika mosquitoes found in Miami Beach | CIDRAP

Delhi economy hit hard by mosquito-borne diseases | Asia | DW.COM | 30.09.2016

The latter is what knocked out Golu Kumar Paswan a week ago. The 18-year-old, who works as a laborer in a manufacturing facility, developed a high fever and pain. The virus has sapped him of all energy, making it impossible for him to go to work.”My company doesn’t pay me when I don’t show up, so I’m losing out on my wages, which I need desperately to pay for my rent in Delhi and to send back to my family in the Uttar Pradesh state,” Paswan said. “Things are really difficult. How am I going to survive?”Worker crunch hits industrial outputIt’s a question that many of Paswan’s fellow migrant workers laid low by the viral illnesses have answered by packing up their bags and leaving for their villages.That has left the over 1,500 small-scale factories in Mayapuri, an industrial hub that relies on the steady supply of cheap labor from the neighboring slums. Everything from car parts, textiles to machinery is produced here. The area has witnessed a 20 percent dip in production and profits because workers have been calling in sick or leaving to go back home.

Source: Delhi economy hit hard by mosquito-borne diseases | Asia | DW.COM | 30.09.2016

Congress Finally Agrees To Budget $1.1 Billion To Fight Zika: Gothamist

Yesterday, members of Congress remembered they are obligated to, like, do stuff, when they narrowly avoided a government shutdown by agreeing to allocate $1.1 billion to fight Zika.Initially, the bill was held up thanks to language that would bar funds from Planned Parenthood, since any effort to boost women’s healthcare is akin to slaughtering schoolchildren on national television. (Note that the actual slaughter of schoolchildren fails to prompt any Congressional action.) But yesterday the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 72-26, and later in the day the House of Representatives approved it 342-85, narrowly averting a shutdown that would leave the government without money to operate Friday at midnight.President Obama, who requested $1.9 billion in Zika funding in February, is expected to sign the bill into law by tomorrow. Though an initial iteration of the legislation prohibited funds from going to Planned Parenthood, that language has since been removed. “Women’s health should never be treated like a political football,” Senator Patty Murray, D-Washington, told NPR. “I am glad that Republicans finally agreed to set aside the extreme provisions that would have specifically blocked Planned Parenthood health care providers from accessing critical funding.”

Source: Congress Finally Agrees To Budget $1.1 Billion To Fight Zika: Gothamist