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☆ Bird flu virus isolated from hospitalized Canadian teen shows signs of human adaptation
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The avian flu virus isolated from a hospitalized teenager in Vancouver has mutations in key areas that could help the virus spread more easily in humans, scientists say. But scientists say the genetic changes are a reminder of what the virus is capable of if it continues to spread. The H5N1 bird flu virus that infected the teen, who is in critical but stable condition, is not the same strain that is transmitting in dairy cattle in the United States. The three mutations are at positions in the virus’ genome that Bloom and other scientists have determined would allow it to attach more easily to human cells. Most of the human H5N1 infections reported in the United States have had red, inflamed eyes as an early symptom, suggesting that’s where the virus entered the body.

Persons: ” Dr, Bonnie Henry, we’ve, ”, Jesse Bloom, “ It’s, Scott Hensley, immunologist, Hensley, Bloom, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” Bloom Organizations: CNN, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, CNN Health Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia, United States, Pacific Northwest, ARDS, Canadian, Washington

☆ How giant rodents could rat on wildlife traffickers
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Alexander Rodway | Alex Rodway | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But now the organization is turning its attention (and its rats’ noses) to the global illegal wildlife trade. “Unfortunately, organized crime knows there’s a real weak spot in detection methods of ports, seaports and airports, particularly in Africa.”Traffickers disguise wildlife products in a whole host of ways, he explains. This is particularly important given that much of the illicit wildlife trade comes from some of the world’s poorest regions. “I’m hopeful that (using rats) for detecting wildlife will be a low cost, low impact, low footprint operation,” says Allan. The illegal wildlife trade not only impacts populations of the trafficked animal or plant, it can have devastating knock-on consequences for whole ecosystems.

Persons: “ HeroRATs, ”, Crawford Allan, Ivory, APOPO, blackwood –, Allan, who’s, Dr, Izzy Szott, you’re, “, Kate Webb, they’ve, Chris Lau Organizations: CNN, WWF, Conservation, Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Locations: Tanzania, Africa, North Carolina, Singapore, France, Dar es Salaam, Dar es

☆ New analysis of samples from Wuhan animal market supports its role as a central site of early spread of Covid-19
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The new findings add to strong, but circumstantial evidence that the SARS-CoV2 virus jumped from infected animals to humans and that the market was a central site of early spread. Of the animals present at the market, rabbits, dogs and raccoon dogs are known to be susceptible to Covid-19 infections. Their analysis shows that SARS-CoV2 virus present at the market emerged at the same time as the virus from the larger pandemic, suggesting they are one and the same. The pandemic virus would have an earlier birthdate. “A lab origin is a possibility.

Persons: “, ”, Kristian Andersen, Andersen, ” Andersen, Florence Debarre, ” Debarre, Debarre, there’s, Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, Wholesale, Scripps, Research, French National Centre for Scientific Research, National Institutes of Health, CNN Health Locations: Wuhan, China, Covid, La Jolla , California, United States

☆ Nigeria’s government found guilty of human rights abuses during the #EndSARS protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Stephanie Busari | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A West African court has found the Nigerian government guilty of human rights abuses during its suppression of the 2020 #EndSARS protests against alleged police brutality. Around two weeks into the 2020 protests, Nigeria’s security forces opened fire on young people demonstrating peacefully at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, killing and wounding several people. Their lawyer, Bolaji Gabari, described the verdict as “a significant victory for the #EndSARS movement.”CNN has reached out to the Nigerian government for comment. But the marches morphed into protests campaigning for police reform and ending bad governance in the oil-rich country. The Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, a government-appointed panel, determined that the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate could be considered a “massacre” after a yearlong investigation.

Persons: ”, Dabiraoluwa, Catherine Udeh, Udeh, Kamsi, Adeyinka “, ” Udeh, Bolaji Gabari Organizations: CNN, West African States, ” Locations: Abuja, Lagos

☆ Bird flu is rampant in animals. Humans ignore it at our own peril
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Then, three healthy ferrets were placed in the same enclosures with three of the sick animals. These animals could touch, nose and lick the sick animals, and all of them became ill.Next, the CDC tested airborne transmission by putting three healthy ferrets into an enclosure where they could breathe the same air as sick animals but couldn’t touch them. In her lab, ferrets with previous exposures to seasonal flu strains didn’t get as sick when exposed to new flu viruses compared to those with no prior exposure to seasonal strains. How much help we might get from past exposures to flu viruses is difficult to predict, however, which is why vaccination would still be important to tune up our immunity. They never spread the virus to any of the other animals in the facility — including themselves.

Persons: Mark Naniot, Naniot, “, ”, It’s, Jeremy Farrar, Jesse Bloom, Fred Hutch, ” Naniot, Naniot hadn’t, Scott Weese, Weese, there’s, Covid, Rick Bright, Sanjay Gupta, Bright, Erin Sorrell, Zahl, Seema Lakdawala, hasn’t, ” Bright, Dr, Richard Webby, Jude Children’s, “ It’s, Ducks, Michael Osterholm, “ I’ve, he’s Organizations: CNN, Swiss Army, World Health Organization, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, University of Guelph, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Research, Development Authority, CNN Chief, Bright Global Health, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Getty, Emory University, STAT, Administration, Strategic Preparedness, USDA, Jude Children’s Research, Infectious Disease, University of Minnesota, CNN Health Locations: Wisconsin’s, United States, Seattle, Canada, Texas, Vadso, Finnmark, Norway, AFP, Finland, St, Wisconsin

☆ Humans and Neanderthals only had sex for a brief period, but it still fundamentally changed our DNA
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

All humans have at least a little Neanderthal DNA, a 2020 study found. AdvertisementThen, around 75,000 years ago, Neanderthals were living in Asia and Europe when some humans started moving out of Africa. To figure out when our ancient human ancestors hooked up with Neanderthals, the researchers compared stretches of Neanderthal DNA in their genomes. For example, the researchers found both current and ancient humans have Neanderthal genes that affect metabolism, immunity, and skin pigmentation. They speculate that these characteristics may have benefited ancient humans who inherited them and then kept passing them on.

Persons: —, they've, intermingling, John Hawks, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Bill O'Leary, Max Planck, Hawks, Nikola Solic, hasn't Organizations: Service, Business, University of Wisconsin –, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, Getty, Max, Max Planck Institute, Evolutionary Anthropology, University of California, Hawks, Reuters Locations: Asia, Europe, Africa, Berkeley, West Nile

☆ Nobel Prize-winning chemist Thomas R. Cech on ‘The Catalyst’ and the future of RNA
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Saira Mueller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

“We saw that with the mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines that it can be a good messenger,” says Cech. The Catalyst by Thomas R. Cech W W NortonYou mentioned in “The Catalyst” that research on RNA has been around since the ‘50s. What is something that most people get wrong about mRNA vaccines, such as the Covid-19 ones? Thomas R. Cech in a lab in 1984, five years before he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. How does this apply to DNA, RNA, mRNA and CRISPR?

Persons: you’re, ”, Thomas R, Cech, ” Cech, Sidney Altman, he’s, Norton, It’s, Thomas R . Cech, — Organizations: CNN, Pfizer, DNA, University of Colorado, Denver Post, Rotary Clubs, Lions Locations: Moderna, University of Colorado , Boulder, Boulder , Colorado, China, Cambridge , Massachusetts, United States, Germany

Opinion Guest Essay Why the Pandemic Probably Started in a Lab, in 5 Key Points Illustration by Mike McQuade. Here’s what we now know:1 The SARS-like virus that caused the pandemic emerged in Wuhan, the city where the world’s foremost research lab for SARS-like viruses is located. Wuhan China Taiwan Laos South China Sea Thailand The pandemic started roughly 1,000 miles away, in Wuhan, home to the world’s foremost SARS-like virus research lab. Wuhan China East China Sea india Taiwan Myanmar Laos South China Sea philippines Thailand The pandemic started roughly 1,000 miles away, in Wuhan, home to the world’s foremost SARS-like virus research lab. In the United States, virologists generally use stricter Biosafety Level 3 protocols when working with SARS-like viruses.

Persons: Mike McQuade, Anthony Fauci, —, Shi Zhengli, Shi’s, Sarah Temmam et, Shi, coronavirus, EcoHealth, Peter Daszak, Biden, Daszak, Baric, Jesse Bloom, Fauci Organizations: Getty Images, National Institute of Allergy, Wuhan Institute of Virology, China East China, U.S, New York, Facebook Locations: United States, Wuhan, China, Yunnan, Southeast Asia, Laos, Yunnan province Taiwan Laos, Laos South China, Thailand, China East China, Taiwan Myanmar Laos South China, Laos philippines Thailand, Taiwan Laos South China, China East, philippines Thailand, Wuhan China Taiwan Laos South China, Wuhan China East China, China Wuhan East China, Covid, MERS

☆ Lawmakers Question Bank of America About Leon Black’s Payments to Epstein
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S. Senate committee investigating the tax avoidance work that Jeffrey Epstein, the registered sex offender, did for the private equity mogul Leon Black has questioned Bank of America over Mr. Black’s hefty payments to Mr. Epstein, according to a letter viewed by The New York Times. They included fees paid to Mr. Epstein for advising on a sophisticated trust that saved Mr. Black more than $1 billion in taxes. Mr. Black’s decades-long business dealings and personal relationship with Mr. Epstein have dogged him ever since Mr. Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019. (Mr. Epstein hanged himself in a federal jail a month after his arrest.) Mr. Black, a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, with a net worth of $13 billion, ultimately stepped down from all leadership posts because of the controversy.

Persons: Jeffrey Epstein, Leon Black, Epstein, Ron Wyden, Black, Banks Organizations: U.S, of America, Mr, The New York Times, Senate Finance Committee, Apollo Global Management Locations: Oregon

☆ AI is Uncle Sam’s new secret weapon to fight fraud
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Starting around late 2022, the Treasury Department began using enhanced fraud-detection methods powered by AI to spot fraud, CNN has learned. Treasury’s AI-powered fraud detection recovered $375 million in fiscal 2023 alone, Treasury officials tell CNN, marking the first time Treasury is publicly acknowledging it is using AI to detect fraud. Instead, Treasury officials say the type of AI they are using falls more into the bucket of machine learning and Big Data. The goal is to move with such speed that anomalies are flagged and banks are alerted before fraudulent checks are ever cashed, Treasury officials said. Catching fraud in millisecondsAmiram Shachar, co-founder and CEO of cloud security startup Upwind, told CNN the federal government should “absolutely” use AI to detect fraud.

Persons: Sam, Sam’s, Fraudsters, Wally Adeyemo, ”, ” Shachar, Steph Curry Organizations: New, New York CNN, Treasury Department, CNN, Treasury, Data, Washington, Office, Business Administration, Social, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Google, Facebook, Penny Jar, NBA, Mastercard Locations: New York, Banks, Washington, Hong Kong

☆ Treasury proposes rule to extend anti-money laundering regs to investment advisers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Treasury Department's corruption watchdog on Tuesday issued new proposed regulations that would extend major pieces of the anti-money laundering (AML) rules that apply to banks to some investment advisers. The new rules would apply to investment advisers who are registered with or report to the Securities Exchange Commission, leaving out what FinCEN estimates to be at least 17,000 state-registered investment advisers. The proposed regulations stop short of requiring investment advisers to adopt formal customer identification programs, like banks do. Investment advisers manage tens of trillions of dollars, but until now, they have been largely exempt from the AML regulations arising from the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act and subsequent legislation. In 2003 and 2015, FinCEN proposed similar rules that would have expanded BSA provisions to cover investment advisers.. to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Persons: Janet Yellen, FinCEN, Andrea Gacki Organizations: Financial, Treasury, Securities Exchange Commission, Investment Locations: Vienna , Virginia, FinCEN, China, Russia

The world also said goodbye to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who died Nov. 29. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesAnother political figure who died this year was former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died Nov. 19. Among the entertainers who left the world this year was singer Tina Turner, who died May 24. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2023 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Fred White, 67. A Hall of Fame forward who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup Final.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s, Henry Kissinger, Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Silvio Berlusconi, Dianne Feinstein, James Buckley, James Abourezk, Nigel Lawson, Pervez Musharraf, Sandra Day O’Connor, Li Keqiang, Martti Ahtisaari, United Nations Bill Richardson, Gov, Sheila Oliver, Theodoros Pangalos, Tina Turner, Ike Turner, Suzanne Somers, Matthew Perry, Raquel Welch, Richard Belzer, Chaim Topol, Jacklyn Zeman, Lance Reddick, Alan Arkin, Paul Reubens, David McCallum, Richard Roundtree, Tom Sizemore, Jimmy Buffett, Sinéad O’Connor, Rita Lee Jones, Burt Bacharach, David Crosby, Fito Olivares, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Astrud Gilberto, Coco Lee, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Cormac McCarthy, William Friedkin, Bob Barker, Jerry Springer, Louise Glück, Jeff Beck, Mary Quant, Kaija Saariaho, Lloyd Morrisett, Fred White, Maurice, Verdine White, Ken Block, Walter Cunningham, Fay Weldon, ” Jan, Russell Pearce, Charles Simic, Lynette “ Diamond ” Hardaway, Donald Trump, Diamond, Constantine, Jan, Tatjana Patitz, George Michael’s, Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley, Robbie Knievel, Evel Knievel, Ray Cordeiro, Elmo, Cookie, Gina Lollobrigida, Chris Ford, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Cindy Williams, Shirley, “ Laverne, Billy Packer, Sylvia Syms, Alex ”, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, “ Papa, Rollin ’ Stone, Tom Verlaine, Patti Smith, Bobby Hull, Paco Rabanne, Harry Whittington, Dick Cheney, Hsing Yun, ”, San Jose ”, Carlos Saura, Spain’s, Hugh Hudson, Oscar, “ Greystroke, Hans Modrow, David Jude Jolicoeur, Huey “, ” Smith, Little Richard, Lloyd Price, “, Leiji Matsumoto, Yamato ”, Tim McCarver, Stella Stevens, Jerry Lewis’s, John Munch, Ahmed Qureia, Betty Boothroyd, Ricou Browning, Gill, Gérard Latortue, Fontaine, Barbara Everitt Bryant, Ryan ”, Kenzaburo Oe, Judy Heumann, Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Georgina Beyer, Traute Lafrenz, Rose, Peterson Zah, Tevye, Robert Blake, Jiang Yanyong, Bud Grant, Dick Fosbury, Pat Schroeder, Gloria Bosman, Jacqueline Gold, Britain’s Ann Summers, John Wick ”, John Jenrette, Juana La, Willis Reed, Darcelle, Paul O’Grady, Lily Savage, Emperor ”, Hedda Kleinfeld Schachter, Margaret Thatcher, Ben Ferencz, Nuremberg, Elisabeth Kopp, Michael Lerner, Jack Lipnick, “ Barton Fink, Bugsy Calhoun, Anne Perry, Thomas Pitt, William Monk, Al Jaffee, magazine’s, Charles Stanley, Richard Riordan, Todd Haimes, Tony Awards, Barry Humphries, Tony, Dame Edna Everage, Len Goodman, Carolyn Bryant Donham, Emmett Till, LeRoy “ Lee ” Carhart, Larry “, ___ Gordon Lightfoot, Tori Bowie, Vida, Grace Bumbry, Rock ”, Ovelha, Denny Crum, Heather Armstrong, Bobbie Spencer, Rolf Harris, Kenneth Anger, Doyle Brunson, Jim Brown, Timothy Keller, Andy Rourke, Ray Stevenson, Thor ”, Ed Ames, George Maharis, Carroll Cooley, Miranda, John Beasley, Kaija, George Winston, Ipanema ”, Robert Hanssen, Richard Snyder, Simon & Schuster, Françoise Gilot, Pablo Picasso —, Pat Robertson, Theodore “ Ted ” Kaczynski, Roger Payne, Treat Williams, Glenda Jackson, Daniel Ellsberg, Richard Nixon, Big, George Frazier, Lee Sarokin, Rubin “, ” Carter, Winnie Ewing, Sheldon Harnick, Jerry Bock, “ Fiorello, John Goodenough, Peg Yorkin, Sue Johanson, Yan Mingfu, John Berylson, James Lewis, poisonings, Mikala Jones, André Watts, Jane Birkin, Kevin Mitnick, San Francisco ”, Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, Hugh “ Sonny ” Carter Jr, Jimmy, Randy Meisner, Herman, Angus Cloud, Fezco, ” O’Neill, ___, Mark Margolis, Hector Salamanca, Saul, Sixto Rodriguez, flamed, Robbie Robertson, Tom Jones, Magoo, Timbaland, Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Clarence Avant, Quincy Jones, Bill Withers, Ada Deer, Jerry Moss, Herb Alpert, Alpert, Michael Parkinson, Muhammad Ali, Miss Piggy, Jiri Cerny, Betty Tyson, Richard Nixon’s, John Warnock, Ron Cephas Jones, Howard Hubbard, Samuel “ Joe ” Wurzelbacher, Joe, Barack Obama, Gil Brandt, Tom Landry, Tex Schramm, Bill Richardson, Steve Harwell, Shabtai Shavit, Jordan, Ian Wilmut, Dolly, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Roy Kidd, Eno Ichikawa, Michael McGrath, Fernando Botero, Giorgio Napolitano, Matteo Messina Denaro, Michael Gambon, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter ”, Mankombu Sambasivan, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Hosni Mubarak, Tim Wakefield, Dick Butkus, Michael Chiarello, Michael Chiarello ”, Masters, Burt Young, Paulie, Sylvester Stallone, Hughes Van Ellis, Kevin Phillips, Louise Meriwether, Mark Goddard, Major Don West, Rudolph Isley, Isley, unblinking, Piper Laurie, Chrissy Snow, Bobby Charlton, Bishan Bedi, Richard Moll, Xi Jinping, Wu Zunyou, Chandler Bing, Ken Mattingly, Bob Knight, Frank Borman, Steve Norton, Don Walsh, Mariana Trench, Terry R, Taylor, Daisaku Ikeda, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Ussery, George “ Funky ” Brown, Joanna ”, Marty Krofft, Pufnstuf, Donny, Marie ”, Terry Venables, Tim Dorsey, Serge A, Frances Sternhagen, ” “, Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Gerald Ford, Shane MacGowan, Bernard McGhee Organizations: Wagner Group, Russian, White House, U.S, Supreme, United Nations, Greek Foreign, Republican, Hong, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBC, CBS, Television, Fame, Chicago Blackhawks, ”, New, of Fame, Louis Cardinals, “, Palestinian, Israel, South Dakota Democrat, Arab, Arab American U.S, Britain’s, Commons, . Census Bureau, Alabama ”, Zealand, Navajo, Minnesota Vikings, People, Playboy, Capitol, Juana La Cubana, New York Knicks, Guinness, World Records, Hollywood, Treasury, Southern Baptist Convention, Los Angeles, Roundabout Theatre Company, Air Force, Harlem Globetrotters, Janeiro Games, baseball’s, Germany’s Bayreuth, NCAA, Hall of Famer, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Legion, Ames, Phoenix, FBI, Simon &, Christian Broadcasting Network, Republican Party, Christian Coalition, Harvard, Feminist Majority Foundation, “ Little, Communist Party, Millwall, New York Philharmonic, San, Brigade, Wing, Eagles, HBO, of Indian Affairs, M, Police, Carpenters, Adobe Systems, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dallas Cowboys, escapist, Democratic, Zulu, Eastern, AA, Broadway, Communist, U.S . Senate, Red Sox, Yankees, Boston, Chicago Bears, Major, Isley Brothers, New York Times, Manchester United, India, Indiana, Nevada — Resorts, Atlantic City —, Navy, Associated Press, Soka Gakkai, Kentucky Derby, Kool, The, European, Barcelona, Tottenham, City Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Russian, U.S, Finnish, New Mexico, New Jersey, British, Greece, American, Hong Kong, Italian, America, New York, Spanish, catwalks, Texas, Taiwan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, San, New Orleans, Rosebud, Arab American, Haiti, “, African, Brooklyn, London, Los, Mississippi, United States, Rivers, Georgia, Savannah, Louisville, New York City, Irish, HBO’s “ Rome, Brazilian, Ipanema, Moscow, Virginia, Montana, Vietnam, Canada, Asia, Chicago, Hawaii, France, South Africa, Wisconsin, Los Angeles, Czech, Eastern Kentucky, Colombian, ”, California, Tulsa, Finland, China, Nevada, Atlantic City, Florida, Berkshire

☆ Taiwan urges elderly, young to avoid China visits due to respiratory illnesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan's health ministry on Thursday urged the elderly, very young and those with poor immunity to avoid travel to China due to the recent increase in respiratory illnesses there. The World Health Organization (WHO) last week requested China provide detailed information on the spike, which a WHO official said was not as high as before the COVID-19 pandemic. China, whose government claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own, initially tried to cover up that outbreak. In a statement released after a weekly Cabinet meeting, Taiwan's health ministry said that due to the rise in respiratory illnesses in China, "the elderly, young children and other people with poor immunity are requested not to travel to China unless necessary". China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the rise in respiratory illnesses in China was a common issue faced by all countries and that Chinese authorities have it under effective control.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Wang Yi, Ben Blanchard, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, World Health Organization, WHO, China's, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights TAIPEI, Taiwan

☆ Taiwan Urges Elderly, Young to Avoid China Visits Due to Respiratory Illnesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's health ministry on Thursday urged the elderly, very young and those with poor immunity to avoid travel to China due to the recent increase in respiratory illnesses there. The World Health Organization (WHO) last week requested China provide detailed information on the spike, which a WHO official said was not as high as before the COVID-19 pandemic. China, whose government claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own, initially tried to cover up that outbreak. In a statement released after a weekly Cabinet meeting, Taiwan's health ministry said that due to the rise in respiratory illnesses in China, "the elderly, young children and other people with poor immunity are requested not to travel to China unless necessary". China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the rise in respiratory illnesses in China was a common issue faced by all countries and that Chinese authorities have it under effective control.

Persons: Wang Yi, Ben Blanchard, Miral Fahmy Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, China's Locations: TAIPEI, China, Taiwan

☆ 2 reasons China's mysterious respiratory illness outbreak isn't the new COVID, according to the WHO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Kim Schewitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Parts of northern China have seen a surge in children with respiratory illnesses. The WHO requested more information from Chinese health officials, who said common bugs are the cause. AdvertisementCases of respiratory illness among children in northern China have surged in recent weeks, but it's unlikely this is the start of a new pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO has been monitoring an increase in respiratory illness among children in northern China since mid-October. Advertisement2) The illnesses are not caused by a new virusChinese health officials said that the outbreak of respiratory illness is caused by known pathogens.

Persons: —, Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID, Van Kerkhove, François Balloux, Hilary Brueck, pneumoniae Organizations: WHO, Service, World Health Organization, UCL Genetics Institute Locations: China

☆ New COVID Variant Takes Hold in the United States
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter(HealthDay)TUESDAY, Nov. 28, 2023 (Healthday News) -- The prevalence of a highly mutated COVID variant has tripled in the past two weeks, new government data shows. Now, nearly 1 in 10 new COVID cases are fueled by the BA.2.86 variant, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. Scientists first warned of the highly mutated variant back in August, but it has since spread in several regions of the United States. The CDC also noted that BA.2.86 variant poses a "low" public health risk. But the CDC data released Monday did show that emergency department visits linked to COVID-19 have begun to climb nationwide.

Persons: Robin Foster HealthDay, Jasmine Reed Organizations: U.S . Centers for Disease Control, EG, WHO, CDC, CBS News, JN Locations: New York, New Jersey, United States, U.S

BEIJING (AP) — A surge in respiratory illnesses across China that has drawn the attention of the World Health Organization is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus, the country's health ministry said Sunday. The emergence of new flu strains or other viruses capable of triggering pandemics typically starts with undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness. Chinese authorities earlier this month blamed the increase in respiratory diseases on the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Other countries also saw a jump in respiratory diseases such as RSV when pandemic restrictions ended. WHO said that there was too little information at the moment to properly assess the risk of these reported cases of respiratory illness in children.

Persons: ”, Mi Feng Organizations: BEIJING, World Health, National Health Commission, WHO Locations: China, Beijing, Wuhan

☆ WHO questions China about a mystery illness linked to pneumonia as hospitals fill with sick children
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The World Health Organization has requested more information from China about an illness affecting children. Reports of "undiagnosed pneumonia" in children in northern China circulated on November 21. AdvertisementThe World Health Organization (WHO) asked China for "detailed information" about a respiratory illness that's affecting children in the north of the country. The organization requested "additional epidemiologic and clinical information" following reports of "undiagnosed pneumonia" spreading among children, according to a statement released on Wednesday. Hospitals in northern China appear to be "overwhelmed with sick children," NBC News reported.

Persons: —, GAO Organizations: World Health Organization, Service, Health Organization, WHO, China Morning Post, NBC, Getty Images China, Centers for Disease Control Locations: China, Beijing

☆ W.H.O. Asks China for Details on Surge of Respiratory Illness in Children
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Vivian Wang | Siyi Zhao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The World Health Organization has formally requested that China share detailed information about a recent increase in respiratory illnesses, citing unconfirmed media reports of undiagnosed pneumonia in children. China has been reporting a jump in respiratory illnesses for months. Chinese media reports have described long lines at pediatric hospitals, and doctors have said that this year’s wave appeared to be more severe than those of previous years. But some news and social media reports have described crowds of children at hospitals with pneumonia, without specifying the exact cause of illness. requested more information from China.

Organizations: World Health Organization Locations: China

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

☆ WHO asks China for more information on spike in pediatric respiratory illnesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Katherine Dillinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The World Health Organization says it has requested more information from Chinese officials on an increase in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia clusters among children there. Officials from China’s National Health Commission reported an increase in respiratory disease at a news conference last week, WHO said in a statement Wednesday. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. Media reports suggest “a widespread outbreak of an undiagnosed respiratory illness in several areas in China,” according to the International Society for Infectious Diseases’ Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases, known as ProMED. The agency advises people in China to take precautionary measures to lower the risk of respiratory illness, including getting recommended vaccines, staying home when sick, wearing masks around others and washing hands regularly.

Persons: ”, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” ProMED, it’s Organizations: CNN, World Health Organization, China’s National Health Commission, WHO, ” WHO, CNN Health, Media, International Society for Infectious Diseases Locations: China

☆ Sex Workers Have Been Shunned by Banks, Even When Their Work Is Legal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Tara Siegel Bernard | More About Tara Siegel Bernard | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“We do not prohibit people in this industry from having personal bank accounts with us,” she added. One of the risks associated with sex work is money laundering and human trafficking, where victims, mostly women, are forced or coerced to engage in commercial sex acts. Many banks and other financial platforms avoid doing business with these industries altogether. “That is the problem we have — trying to recognize potential human trafficking that we would have to report.”Beyond banks, many financial services apps have blanket bans, which state they won’t process any transactions related to adult content or services. CashApp — which, like Square, is owned by Block — lists “selling adult content and services” on its “not allowed” list.

Persons: Trish Wexler, Chase, ”, — Organizations: Treasury, PayPal, Block Locations: OnlyFans

☆ Five tips for living with long Covid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Andrea Kane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

They struggled to define and measure long Covid, to identify a cause for or a mechanism behind it. Long Covid is not somebody else’s problem: a 2022 National Center for Health Statistics survey estimated that almost 7% of US adults, and more than 1% of children, who reported having Covid have struggled with long Covid at some point. To hear more of Putrino’s conversation on the possible causes of long Covid and the search for biomarkers, listen to the full podcast episode here:What can you do to help yourself if you have long Covid? Mind your mast cellsSometimes, during both an acute Covid infection and in long Covid, a person experiences hyperinflammation across many body systems; researchers believe that this happens because mast cells are activated. Reach out for helpThis last tip is for caregivers and friends of people with long Covid, or anyone with a chronic disease.

Persons: Sanjay Gupta, —, Covid, David Putrino, “ We’re, ” Putrino, Putrino, ”, ‘, “, ’, ’ ” Putrino, dysautonomia Dysautonomia, they’re Organizations: CNN, National Institute of Health’s, for Health Statistics, Rehabilitation, Sinai Health, MCAS Locations: United States, New York City

☆ CDC to expand disease surveillance at four major US airports to include flu, RSV
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Amanda Musa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding its infectious disease surveillance program at four major US airports to more than 30 pathogens, including flu, RSV and other respiratory viruses. The program currently operates Covid-19 surveillance at seven major international airports in the United States. The traveler surveillance program was introduced in 2021 when the CDC began collecting nasal swab samples from anonymous international travelers arriving at participating airports who volunteer to get swabbed. The program has collected samples from travelers from more than 135 countries and has sequenced more than 14,000 samples for further analysis. The wastewater program, which was introduced in August 2022, collects wastewater from a single plane using a custom-made collection device.

Persons: Dr, Cindy Friedman, John F, “, ” Friedman, Friedman, Ginkgo Bioworks, Matthew McKnight, ” McKnight, Sanjay Gupta, Deidre McPhillips Organizations: CNN, Centers for Disease Control, CDC’s, Health, Boston Logan International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Dulles International, Washington , D.C, Kennedy International, CDC, Get CNN, CNN Health Locations: United States, Washington ,, New York, Ginkgo

☆ Here’s how long you’re contagious for these common viruses
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

If so, what’s the average length of time they could transmit viruses such as the coronavirus, influenza, RSV or the common cold to others? CNN: Is there an easy way to tell if someone is still contagious after having a viral infection? For many viruses, an infected individual is contagious even before they start exhibiting symptoms. CNN: What’s the average length of time someone could transmit the virus to others if they are infected with common viruses like the coronavirus, influenza, RSV or the common cold? These vaccines, crucially, reduce the risk of severe illness, and they decrease your chance of getting infected with those specific viruses.

Persons: CNN —, Leana Wen, Wen, immunocompromise Organizations: CNN, Northern, CNN Wellness, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, :

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