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☆ Man dies after contracting Ebola-like tick-borne disease in Spain
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A man has died from an Ebola-like disease named Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after being bitten by a tick in Spain. The 74-year-old died of organ failure on Saturday in an isolation unit at the La Paz-Carlos III Hospital in the Spanish capital, Madrid, a spokesperson for the hospital told CNN on Monday. Spain has developed a national plan to deal with tick-borne diseases, including CCHF, but people should take action to avoid tick bites, Lorenzo-Morales said. Consuelo Giménez Pardo, a lecturer in medical parasitology at the University of Alcalá in Madrid, told CNN that “there will undoubtedly be more cases” of CCHF in Spain. “I expect that we will see more cases in the coming years,” Thomson told CNN on Monday.

Persons: Carlos, Jacob Lorenzo, Morales, Lorenzo, ”, Consuelo Giménez Pardo, Giménez, CCHF, Emma Thomson, “, ” Thomson Organizations: CNN, La Paz, Carlos III Hospital, World Health Organization, WHO, Canary Islands, Health, University of La, University of Alcalá, London School of Hygiene, Medicine Locations: Crimean, Congo, Spain, Spanish, Madrid, Móstoles, Toledo, Africa, Balkans, East, University of La Laguna, Western Europe, CCHF, Europe, ”, France

☆ Weight-loss drugs could stave off dementia, small study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Hilary Brueck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Today, a group of dementia researchers from the UK released some early results that suggest it's possible these trendy injections might also stall the progression of dementia. A daily injection for brain preservationIuliia Burmistrova/Getty ImagesFor the study, researchers spent a year tracking brain changes across 204 Alzheimer's patients with mild to moderate disease. "It sounds like it is worth pursuing a larger trial, but these results cannot demonstrate that liraglutide can protect against dementia." Experts have seen how dementia patients' brains get worse and worse at efficiently using glucose for energy as their disease progresses, but the calculus is always complicated. Bigger studies using more powerful GLP-1 drugs for dementia are already ongoing.

Persons: Stephen Evans, Jason Kirk, Quynh Nguyen, hadn't, Dr, Paul Edison, it's, Edison, Alzheimer's Organizations: Service, Alzheimer's Association International Conference, London School of Hygiene, Medicine, Science Media, Nikon, Imperial College London, Food and Drug Administration, Novo Nordisk Locations: Philadelphia, Novo

☆ Scientists say weight-loss drugs could protect our brains from dementia. Early results suggest they're onto something.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Hilary Brueck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

☆ Israel-Hamas War: Cease-Fire Talks Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Scientists say that this measurement, known as excess deaths, can provide a truer indication of the toll and scale of conflicts and other social upheaval. And Israel has not permitted researchers to enter the enclave since the start of the war last October. Credit... Bashar Taleb/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesIn an interview, Mr. Spagat cited other reasons to be cautious when discussing excess deaths in Gaza. Around 9,000 deaths have been directly attributed to the war since then by Gaza’s health ministry. The subject of excess deaths is sensitive because it touches on the collateral cost of Israel’s war against Hamas.

Persons: Elad Goren, Salim Yusuf, ”, Michael Spagat, Khan Younis, Bashar Taleb, Spagat, Zeina, Gabby Sobelman Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, COGAT, Royal Holloway College, University of London, ., Agence France, Johns Hopkins University, London School of Hygiene, Medicine, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, Britain, Canada, Khan, epidemiologists

☆ These ultraprocessed foods may shorten your life, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“Diet soft drinks were the key contributor to ultraprocessed food consumption. The NOVA classification system sorts foods from minimally processed — whole foods such as fruits and vegetables — to processed foods such as deli meat and sausage — to ultraprocessed. The study found that people who consumed the most ultraprocessed food were younger and heavier, and had an overall poorer quality of diet than those who ate fewer ultraprocessed foods. “If anything, we are probably underestimating ultraprocessed food consumption in our study because we’re being very conservative,” Loftfield said. “However, all categories of ultraprocessed food were associated with increased risk.”Choosing more minimally processed foods is a one way to limit ultraprocessed foods in one’s diet, Loftfield said.

Persons: Erikka Loftfield, ” Loftfield, ”, Carlos Monteiro, Brazil’s University of São Paulo, Monteiro, Loftfield, Rosie Green, Anastasiia, Green, “, Mingyang, Harvard University’s Organizations: CNN, National Cancer Institute, “, Brazil’s University of São, NOVA, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, American Society for Nutrition, US National Institutes of Health, AARP Diet, Health, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, Harvard, Harvard University’s TH Chan, of Public Health Locations: Bethesda , Maryland, Chicago

☆ What seven more months of war would mean for Palestinians, Israelis and the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Abbas Al Lawati | Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Israel has warned that its war in Gaza could extend until the end of the year. Prolonging the war could have catastrophic consequences for Palestinians in the already ravaged territory and significant repercussions for Israel and beyond, experts said. “And currently Hamas doesn’t seem to be ready to release them.”Impact on Israel’s economyThe war hit Israel’s economy hard in the immediate aftermath of October 7. As of January, the Israeli military was spending $272 million per day on the war, according to the Israeli news site Ynet. Despite these efforts, the war persists, civilian casualties rise and famine spreads in Gaza, intensifying pressure from some of his electorate.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Tzachi Hanegbi, ”, Joe Biden, “, Assaf Orion, Juliette Touma, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yohanan Plesner, Plesner, Israel, Malcolm Shaw, Yaron Wax, Johanna Geron, INSS, Amir Levy, Orion, Daniel Hagari, ” Plesner, Biden Organizations: CNN, National, Institute for National Security Studies, Israel Defense Forces, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, Johns Hopkins Center, Humanitarian Health, Israel, United Nations, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Israeli, Israel Democracy Institute, International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, United, P Global, Moody’s, Service, Troops, American, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, Rafah, Europe, Palestinian, British, The Hague, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

☆ Middle East Crisis Israeli Official Expresses Some Optimism Over Cease-Fire Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Adam Sella | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Image Displaced Palestinians in Rafah, in southern Gaza, as smoke rises over the nearby city of Khan Younis last month. That figure could climb to 66,720 if there were outbreaks of infectious disease such as cholera, their analysis found. Their study considers deaths from traumatic injuries, infectious diseases, maternal and neonatal causes, and noncommunicable diseases for which people can no longer receive medication or treatment, such as dialysis. Dr. Checchi said the analysis made it possible to quantify the potential impact of a cease-fire in lives. The projected 6,500 deaths even with a cease-fire is predicated on the assumption there will not be epidemics of infectious disease.

Persons: Khan Younis, Bassam Masoud, ”, Francesco Checchi, “, ” Dr, Checchi, Paul Spiegel, Spiegel, ” Patrick Ball, haven’t, Ball, Dr Organizations: Johns Hopkins University, London School of Hygiene, Hopkins Center, Humanitarian Health, Human Locations: Rafah, Gaza

☆ War and Illness Could Kill 85,000 Gazans in 6 Months
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Stephanie Nolen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

An escalation of the war in Gaza could lead to the deaths of 85,000 Palestinians from injuries and disease over the next six months, in the worst of three scenarios that prominent epidemiologists have modeled in an effort to understand the potential future death toll of the conflict. These fatalities would be in addition to the more than 29,000 deaths in Gaza that local authorities have attributed to the conflict since it began in October. The estimate represents “excess deaths,” above what would have been expected had there been no war. In a second scenario, assuming no change in the current level of fighting or humanitarian access, there could be an additional 58,260 deaths in the enclave over the next six months, according to the researchers, from Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. That figure could climb to 66,720 if there were outbreaks of infectious disease such as cholera, their analysis found.

Organizations: Johns Hopkins University, London School of Hygiene Locations: Gaza

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says it has made an official request to China for information about a potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children. The U.N. health agency cited unspecified media reports and a global infectious disease monitoring service as reporting clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. Political Cartoons View All 1265 ImagesWHO said media reports about a week later reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. WHO said that northern China has reported a jump in influenza-like illnesses since mid-October compared to the previous three years. It is rare for the U.N. health agency to publicly ask for more detailed information from countries, as such requests are typically made internally.

Persons: David Heymann, ” Heymann, Francois Balloux, ” Balloux, China's, ___ Cheng, Wanqing Chen Organizations: GENEVA, World Health Organization, WHO, National Health Commission, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, University College London, Beijing Children’s Hospital, China National Radio, Health Commission, Xinhua News Agency Locations: China, Beijing, London

☆ So many kids are falling sick in China that a children's hospital said it saw 13,000 cases in a single day
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Matthew Loh | Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Northern China is struggling with a wave of respiratory illnesses among its children. Cities like Beijing and Tianjin have been hit hard by cases of flu and pneumonia, hospitals said. Children wait on the stairs at a children hospital in Beijing on November 23, 2023, with some administered with drips. "All the children have respiratory illnesses." Children receive a drip at a children hospital in Beijing on November 23, 2023.

Persons: —, Liu Wei, Liu, imploring, JADE GAO, Mi Feng, they're, It's, JADE GAOJADE, Hu Xijin, Hu, David Heymann, Francois Balloux Organizations: Service, Beijing Aviation General, Management, drips, Getty, Changjiang, Health, Business, Global Times, Health Organization, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, UCL Genetics Institute Locations: Northern China, Cities, Beijing, Tianjin, China, Tianjian, Wuhan, Hubei, Chongqing, Weibo

☆ A rat exterminator who's helped successfully eliminate nearly 100% of rats in a section of NYC says people clap, cheer, and offer him free beer when he comes around
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New York City has millions of rats. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThere are millions of rats in New York City. Matt Deodato, the owner of Urban Pest Management, told Insider he's killed thousands of rats with the method. A rat climbs into a box with food in it on the platform at the Herald Square subway station in New York City.

Persons: Matt Deodato, —, he's, Deodato, He's, chewers, New York City Bethany Brookshire, Val Curtis, Michael Parsons, Mongabay, Parsons, Gary Hershorn Organizations: Service, Urban Pest Management, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, Geographic, Herald, Smithsonian Locations: York City, New York City, New York

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — For decades, preventing dengue fever in Honduras has meant teaching people to fear mosquitoes and avoid their bites. Enriquez, a 52-year-old mason, had volunteered to help publicize a plan to suppress dengue by releasing millions of special mosquitoes in the Honduran capital. The Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that most commonly spread dengue have been resistant to insecticides, which have fleeting results even in the best-case scenario. SCIENTISTS SURPRISED BY BACTERIAThe Wolbachia strategy has been decades in the making. But along the way, O’Neill’s team made a surprising discovery: Mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia didn’t spread dengue — or other related diseases, including yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya.

Persons: they’ve, Hector Enriquez, Enriquez, ”, Scott O’Neill, Conor McMeniman, McMeniman, haven’t, Raman Velayudhan, Velayudhan, O’Neill, Oliver Brady, ” Brady, Bobby Reiner, “ It’s, ” Reiner, Edgard Boquín, Marlene Salazar, María Fernanda Marín, Lourdes Betancourt, Betancourt –, ” Betancourt, “, ___ Burakoff, Marko Álvarez, — Organizations: Mosquito Program, World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University, WHO, London School of Hygiene, Mosquito, University of Washington, Workers, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduran, El, Australia, ”, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Fiji, Vietnam, Indonesia, COLOMBIA, Medellín, HONDURAS, Medellin, Northern Tegucigalpa, New York City

☆ The mosquito era: As the world warms, these insects are thriving – and bringing disease
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

James Gathany/CDC/Handout/ReutersWhile serious mosquito-borne diseases remain rare in the US, other countries are not so lucky. While scientists are yet to assess the role climate change has played in the outbreak, Carlson said the links seem clear. But the shift of mosquito-borne diseases into regions like the US and Europe is still likely to be a shock. Scientists are working to develop tools to be able to better assess the link between mosquito-borne diseases and climate change. The path the world takes on reducing planet-heating pollution will lead to very different futures for mosquito-borne diseases, Brady said.

Persons: it’s, Edgar Su, ”, Oliver Brady, –, James Gathany, Colin Carlson, Carlson, I’m, Ernesto Benavides, Celine Gossner, ” Brady, “, Shannon LaDeau, they’ve, ” LaDeau, Jon Cherry, Gossner, Brady Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, London School of Hygiene, Medicine, Climate Central, Georgetown University, Getty, European Centre for Disease Prevention, Carey Institute of Ecosystems Studies, Louisville Metro Department of Health, Wellness Locations: United States, Singapore, zika, West, Saharan Africa, Peru, Piura, AFP, Europe, “, Western Europe, China, Texas , Florida, Hawaii, Arizona, India, Louisville , Kentucky, Florida

☆ Fact Check-UK COVID vaccine offer for vulnerable young children not mandatory
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The offer of COVID vaccination for very young children is voluntary and specifically targeted to children who are most at risk from COVID, according to the government’s April announcement of the new policy. After Britain’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended that young children in clinical risk groups should be offered COVID vaccination, some social media users responded with outrage. JCVI ADVICEThe UK advice does not include all young children. In fact, the prioritisation of COVID-19 vaccination for clinically vulnerable children explains higher mortality rates seen during the pandemic among vaccinated children as compared with unvaccinated children (here and here). There is no evidence the vaccine is unsafe for infants and young children, according to experts and health regulators.

REUTERS/Lindsey WassonLONDON, April 20 (Reuters) - People all over the world lost confidence in the importance of routine childhood vaccines against killer diseases like measles and polio during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from UNICEF. In 52 of the 55 countries surveyed, the public perception of vaccines for children declined between 2019 and 2021, the UN agency said. The picture on vaccine confidence varied globally, according to the UNICEF report, its flagship annual State of the World's Children. The report stressed that vaccine confidence can easily shift and the results may not indicate a long-term trend. The data was collected by the Vaccine Confidence Project at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

☆ Fact Check-‘Catastrophic Contagion’ video is fictional and does not support claims about pandemic preparedness exercises
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Baseless claims that pandemic preparedness exercises are proof that disease outbreaks are “planned” by authorities have been a recurring narrative since the coronavirus pandemic broke out. These fictional scenarios go beyond infectious diseases, as such exercises also exist for natural disasters or nuclear events, for example. These rules, that are binding for WHO members, set out countries’ obligations when handling public health events and emergencies that could potentially cross borders (here) (here). Otherwise, we will be unprepared for the next infectious disease event. Experts told Reuters that preparedness exercises like “Catastrophic Contagion” have been a part of pandemic preparedness for at least the last two decades.

☆ Fact Check-No evidence group A strep present in flu vaccine given to children
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

“The LAIV vaccine used in the UK does not contain Streptococcus A,” an MHRA spokesperson told Reuters via email. The bacteria are not listed in the ingredients for Fluenz Tetra (bit.ly/3HesXo4), which is also marketed in the U.S. as fluMist. “Group A strep is not used at any stage of the development of the nasal flu vaccine. The vaccine does not contain Group A strep,” Pollard said via email. The MHRA and AstraZeneca told Reuters that group A strep is not an ingredient in the Fluenz Tetra vaccine, and two independent experts said there are no reports of contamination.

☆ What is Strep A, the common bacterium that has killed 6 children in the UK?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Hafsa Khalil | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Health officials in the United Kingdom are advising parents and schools to watch for Strep A infections following the recent deaths of six children. While there is no vaccine to prevent Strep A or iGAS infections, antibiotics are usually effective at treating them. The increase in iGAS this year has particularly been observed in children under 10, the UKHSA added. For children aged 5 to 9, there were 1.1 cases per 100,000, compared with the pre-pandemic average of 0.3. The last period of high infections was between 2017 to 2018, with four children under 10 dying in the equivalent period, the statement added.

„La fel ca virusul, dezinformarea călătoreşte dincolo de graniţe, suferă mutaţii şi evoluează”, a declarat Stephen Powis, directorul medical al NHS Anglia, după ce actriţa a sugerat că o anumită dietă a ajutat-o să trateze „ceaţa creierului” pe care a experimentat-o după ce a avut Covid-19. Toţi influecerii care folosesc social media sunt datori să fie responsabili şi grijulii pe acest subiect”, a subliniat el. „Am observat că mulţi influenceri au plecat din ţară – mai precis, o mulţime”, a declarat el pentru CNN, scrie adevărul.ro. „Oamenii nu-şi dau seama că reţele sociale sunt un loc de muncă”, a explicat Hussain care a spus că a avut mai multe motive pentru a se deplasa la Dubai. „Sperăm că toţi influencerii şi oamenii aflaţi în atenţia publicului îşi vor face comentariile bazat pe ştiinţă şi acţiunile lor se vor încadra în limitele regulilor”, a spus el.

Persons: Gwyneth Paltrow, Stephen Powis, actriţa, Priti, Daanish, CNN, Ilan, Heidi Organizations: ITV, Statistică, University College London, London School Locations: Anglia, Emiratele Arabe Unite, Marii Britanii, Dubai, britanic, carantina

☆ Cum a fost posibil ca vaccinurile împotriva COVID-19 să fie dezvoltate atât de rapid
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-13 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +4 min

În schimb, vaccinurile de la Oxford University/AstraZeneca și Pfizer/BioNTech au fost dezvoltate folosind diferite „tehnologii de platformă” care implică încadrarea materialului genetic de la virus într-un pachet de livrare deja testat. „Tehnologia de platformă mRNA folosită de vaccinul Pfizer/BioNTech a fost în dezvoltare timp de peste 20 de ani”, a spus dr. Zoltán Kis, de la Imperial College London. Un alt aspect este că în timp ce dezvoltarea tradițională a vaccinurilor presupune studiile clinice să fie desfășurate într-o anumită ordine, în acest caz studiile clinice s-au suprapus, astfel că procesul a fost mult mai rapid. În cazul vaccinurilor împotriva COVID-19, procesul a fost accelerat de faptul că informațiile au fost trimise la autorități pe măsură ce erau obținute. Cum a reușit Marea Britanie să aprobe vaccinul înaintea Europei și a Statelor Unite?

Persons: Zoltán Kis, Guardian, Dr . Penny Ward, Britanie, Stephen Evans, Evans ., dr . Penny Ward Organizations: The Guardian, Oxford, Imperial College London, Statelor Unite ?, Uniunii Europene, Agenția Europeană, London School Locations: Oxford University, AstraZeneca, China, Europei, Statelor Unite, UE, Europa

☆ Dezinformarea i-ar putea face pe oameni să refuze vaccinurile anti-COVID-19
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-12 | by ( ) independent.md time to read: +3 min

În acest studiu despre dezinformare, 3.000 de respondenţi din fiecare ţară au fost expuşi între lunile iunie şi august unor dezinformări distribuite pe scară largă pe reţelele de socializare despre vaccinurile anti-COVID-19. Alţi 1.000 de respondenţi din fiecare ţară, plasaţi în grupurile de control, au primit informaţii factuale despre vaccinurile anti-COVID-19. Dar, după ce le-au fost prezentate dezinformări online, aceste procente au scăzut cu 6,4% în grupul din Marea Britanie şi cu 2,4% în grupul din Statele Unite. În ambele ţări, respondenţii fără diplome universitare, cei din grupuri cu venituri mici şi cei care nu erau caucazieni s-au dovedit a fi mai predispuşi să refuze vaccinurile anti-COVID-19, potrivit acestui studiu. Femeile sunt mai predispuse decât bărbaţii să refuze vaccinurile anti-COVID-19, dar mulţi respondenţi din ambele ţări au spus că ar accepta un vaccin, dacă acest lucru înseamnă că vor putea astfel să îşi protejeze familiile, prietenii şi cunoscuţii incluşi în grupurile de risc.

Persons: Reuters, Heidi Larson Organizations: London School, Pfizer Inc Locations: SUA, Medicine, Statele Unite

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