Category Archives: Viva!

Macedonia’s refugee dilemma

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As Greece continues to struggle with the influx of refugees, some EU countries hope that its northern neighbor Macedonia can deter them. Amid a deep political crisis, the Balkan country is a questionable choice.

Sikh Actor Waris Ahluwalia Keeps His Turban On, Returns To NYC

Two days after he was barred from a flight In Mexico City for not removing his turban at airport security, actor Waris Ahluwalia reached an understanding with Aeroméxico Wednesday morning and boarded a plane to New York. Ahluwalia, who has become a favorite in director Wes Anderson’s films and is a practicing Sikh, posted a photo to Instagram of himself on the plane, and thanked the airline “for understanding the importance of religious and cultural tolerance.” [ more › ]

Source: Sikh Actor Waris Ahluwalia Keeps His Turban On, Returns To NYC

WHO H7N9 Update – China

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Over the past month we’ve seen scattered reports of H7N9 cases across mainland China (see Hong Kong CHP Notified Of 19 Additional H7N9 Cases On Mainland),
although few details have been forthcoming.

Today the World Health Organization published an updated listing of 28 `recent’ cases – going back to December 21st – reported to them by the Chinese government.

Although comparisons are tough without a real-time disclosure of cases, we seem to be seeing fewer cases reported (and none so far in Hong Kong), compared to the past two winters.

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China

Disease outbreak news
10 February 2016 

On 5 February 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 28 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, including five deaths. 

Onset dates ranged from 21 December 2015 to 25 January 2016. Cases ranged in age from 14 to 91 years, with a median age of 58 years. Of these 28 cases, 18 (64%) were male. The majority (25 cases, 89%) reported exposure to live poultry or live poultry markets; the exposure history of three cases is unknown or no clear exposure to poultry. No clusters were reported. Cases were reported from six provinces and municipalities: Zhejiang (13), Jiangsu (5), Guangdong (4), Fujian (3), Shanghai (2) and Hunan (1). See attachment for individual case information.

Detailed information concerning these cases can be found in a separate document (see related links).

Public health response

The Chinese Government has taken the following surveillance and control measures:

  • strengthening outbreak surveillance and situation analysis;
  • reinforcing all efforts on medical treatment; and
  • conducting risk communication with the public and dissemination of information.

CDC Video: Zika 101

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There’s been so much hype and misinformation out there about the Zika virus that I’m pleased to see that the CDC’s Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat, M.D. has been selected to present a 4 minute video explaining the Zika threat. 

Admiral Schuchat was the `voice‘ of the CDC during the opening months of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and her ability to convey rapidly changing and unscripted  information – while acknowledging those things that were still unknown – earned her a lot of fans in the media.

Follow this link, or click the image below, to watch the presentation.