H7N9 sees ‘sporadic’ human-to-human transmission: WHO: Shanghaiist

Following up on yesterday’s headlines that a Shanghai doctor contracted the H7N9 avian flu and died, the World Health Organization has announced that human-to-human transmission of the virus might occur ‘sporadically’ in China. There is apparently “no need to panic,” at least not just yet.

The Shanghai doctor case is particularly troubling because, unlike most avian flu victims, the man had no contact with live poultry and his only interaction with the disease was via his infected patients. The biggest stumbling block preventing H7N9 from hitting epidemic proportions is its inability to infect humans without an animal vector, but the latest WHO report hints that this may be in for a change.

The WHO has said that the doctor\’s case, as well as a few other represent, “only one cluster [where] human-to-human transmission might have occurred. We [the World Health Organization] continue to expect only sporadic human cases.”

The Chinese media haven’t been particularly smooth about quelling unease over the coming flumageddon, as a recent health expert who talked with the China Daily can attest:

“So there is no need to panic, although more human cases are expected in coming days,” [the deputy director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention] said.

The H7N9 bird flu virus tends to be more active in winter and such a period of stronger viral activity might last into early spring, he noted.

The main transmission route for the virus remains from birds to humans [and] among the cases reported, up to 70 percent had had contact with birds, he said.

Any statement that being “don’t panic, but” is probably in need of some rephrasing. Furthermore, “up to 70%

” infection via birds still leaves at least a 30% chance of human transmission, which seems fairly high for something that has been described as isolated and sporadic. The WHO is, presumably, working overtime on this one, so we will hopefully have more information soon.

via H7N9 sees ‘sporadic’ human-to-human transmission: WHO: Shanghaiist.

News VietNamNet

The provincial People’s Committee announced the deadly A/H5N1 virulent strain was found on thousands of ducks raised by local farmers in Yen Phong and Tien Du districts, Tu Son Town and Bac Ninh City.

Local veterinarians quarantined and disinfected the affected farms and vaccinated all poultry.

Check points have been established in high-risk areas to prevent the slaughtering, transport and trading of sick poultry.

So far, more than 4,000 infected chickens and ducks in Bac Ninh have been culled.

Experts warned of a high risk of a bird flu recurrence in Vietnam as there is an increasing consumer demand for poultry and its related products during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. Cold weather also enables the deadly flu virus to spread far and wide.

via News VietNamNet.

Backs up what I have been saying for about 5 years now into my research of avian influenza from a large systems point of view.

Suheir Hammad Performs Poems of War, Peace, Women & Power | Amazing Women Rock

Poet Suheir Hammad performs two spine-tingling spoken-word pieces: “What I Will” and “break (clustered)” — meditations on war and peace, on women and power.

Wait for the astonishing line: “Do not fear what has blown up. If you must, fear the unexploded.”

In her poems and plays, Suheir Hammad blends the stories and sounds of her Palestinian-American heritage with the vibrant language of Brooklyn to create a passionately modern voice.

Suheir Hammad is the author of breaking poems, recipient of a 2009 American Book Award and the Arab American Book award for Poetry 2009.

Her other books are ZaatarDiva; Born Palestinian, Born Black; and Drops of This Story. Her work has been widely anthologized and also adapted for theater.

via Suheir Hammad Performs Poems of War, Peace, Women & Power | Amazing Women Rock.

Another Red Line Crossed: The Taverna attack and the killing of foreigners just because they were foreigners | Afghanistan Analysts Network

As news continues to come in, it has as of now (Saturday evening) been confirmed that the dead included the well-liked Lebanese owner of the restaurant, Kamal Hamade (read an obituary here); the resident representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Wabel Abdallah, who was also Lebanese; three UN staff including UNAMA’s Senior Political Officer Vadim Nazarov, a Russian diplomat who had worked on Afghanistan since the 1990s and, apparently, Basra Farah, sister of prominent Somalian novelist Nuruddin Farah; a Danish member of the EUPOL mission and her British security guard, Simon Chase; another Brit, Dharmender Phangurha (Del) Singh, who was due to stand in elections to the European Parliament in the spring and, along with a Malaysian victim of the incident, Gnanathurai (Gnana) Nagarajah, had been working with the Adam Smith Institute as an adviser; two as yet unidentified Canadians; and two Americans who worked at the American University in Kabul. Of the Afghan dead, we still only have the details for two of the eight: the BBC’s Bilal Sarwary named one on Twitter as a friend of his, Haji Amin, a 22 year old trader, who, it seems was killed along with his wife of seven months. They were buried today. Three Afghan guards are also believed to be among the dead. The accounts of two of the Afghan kitchen workers who survived (see here and here) suggest that none of the diners made it out alive and that the owner ran down into the restaurant with a gun when the blast happened, trying to defend the diners.

via Another Red Line Crossed: The Taverna attack and the killing of foreigners just because they were foreigners | Afghanistan Analysts Network.

That Pussy Riot – Yuri Kozyrev Shoot: Fashion as Defiance — BagNews

It looks like the propaganda battle between Putin and Pussy Riot has germinated the ultimate merger of politics and protest, celebrity and fashion. Back on the streets after serving 21 months of a two year prison sentence for performing a protest song, band members Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, in alignment with NOOR’s gifted photographer, Yuri Kozyrev, use youth, beauty, glamour, shopping, culture, earnest conversation, dancing, landmark cityscape, citizen journalism, social freedom, of course, and new glossy pastel iPhone 5c’s in TIME’s almost-frolicking slideshow to refashion activism as allure.

As target, antagonist but otherwise classic backdrop, the Kremlin must regret letting go of that prison garb. Because what signifies uniform submission has here been turned inside out, the woman using the garments for martyrdom credit and the material of repudiation. The jacket as conscience couture, resistance is now what’s in vogue.

via That Pussy Riot – Yuri Kozyrev Shoot: Fashion as Defiance — BagNews.

Rima Najdi walks the streets of Beirut with a TNT bomb | Interview

Hummus For Thought

Rima Najdi, aka Madame Bomba, in costume in Beirut

Rima Najdi, aka Madame Bomba, recently gained attention by walking around Beirut with a mock TNT strapped around her. Based in Berlin, she got tired of Lebanon’s volatile situation and decided to take things into her own hands. She walked around Manara, Down Town, Gemayzeh, Spinneys, Ashrafieh, Ras el Nabe3 and Hamra. I ‘sat down’ with her and asked her a few questions.


Why did you decide to walk around with a mock TNT bomb? What do you hope comes out of it?
My decision to walk around with a mock TNT bomb came out of the political situation that we live in Lebanon and especially after the two bombs – I won’t say last since one just happened today in Hermel – that exploded within a week of one another. The constant looking for where another bomb might be hidden made me paranoid and terrified. As a performance…

View original post 307 more words

Habitat for Humanity New York City Volunteers Build on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream Through Service in Queens – Press Release – Digital Journal

QUEENS, NY–(Marketwired – January 17, 2014) – Habitat for Humanity New York City hosted its 15th annual \”Building on a Dream\” Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend of service to recognize Dr. King\’s vision and continue his dream by organizing volunteers to rehabilitate vacant homes as well as revitalize the Roy Wilkins Park Family Center in Queens. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, President Barack Obama\’s national call to service initiative.

More than 160 volunteers led by 16 AmeriCorps members partnered with future Habitat NYC homeowners for this year\’s event. The volunteers were joined by hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the country who participated in the 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

\”This weekend, Habitat NYC volunteers and future Habitat homeowners came together to honor Dr. King\’s legacy of service and advocacy by making a significant contribution to their community,\” said Neil Hetherington, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat NYC. \”Their hard work echoes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.\’s message of social justice and service.

via Habitat for Humanity New York City Volunteers Build on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dream Through Service in Queens – Press Release – Digital Journal.

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