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Culture, Health, medications, Philosophy and Religion, Religion

India International Spiritual Art Festival in Coimbatore

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At the ongoing India International Spiritual Art Festival in Coimbatore, a replica of the Nettipattam, a golden mask used to ornament elephants’ foreheads during temple celebrations in Kerala, is displayed in a sparkling and colorful version. As well as an ethnographic nettipattam created by artist Shobha Prem utilizing gold-plated fiber domes, various other exhibitions take center stage during the virtual event (https://SpiritualArtFestival.org/) that will continue for 100 days until November 8, 2021.

From glittering ‘nettipattams’ and crochet art to sculptures, this 100-day virtual exhibition has it all

The exhibition features artworks and sculptures by over 70 artists from India, Poland, South Africa, and Oman, all of whom are inspired by the themes of meditation, awakening, spirituality, knowledge, and inner calm. Vernika Singh’s beautiful sculptures, constructed of aluminum and mild steel, depict humans in Surya-namaskar poses, with the postures, motions, and gestures of the practice highlighted. The bare figures, which are more concerned with the anatomy than face features, quickly capture the viewer’s attention. In Pune, Manasa Priya creates crochet art inspired by children, and Kuppaana Kandgal’s oil paintings include peaceful textures reminiscent of nature. Ishrath Humairah produces fascinating landscapes in abstract textures based on rocks, plants, and the natural world. Her work is exhibited internationally. Finally, Mauli Shah’s kaleidoscope series, painted in watercolors, reflects the banality of everyday life.

According to Blake Willis, a professor of anthropology and education at Fielding Graduate University in California who spoke in a video message on the website, “the art show is an expression of emotions including love, compassion, enlightenment, knowledge, sisterhood, brotherhood, forgiveness, and more.” “It provides deserving artists with a worldwide platform to display their work,” says the curator. We are looking forward to taking in the artwork and learning about the people who created it.”

In addition to being the festival’s director, Kalki Subramaniam is also a transgender activist and novelist. She says the festival promotes emerging artists, with one Delhi-based artist selling five works in a week. “During a pandemic, spiritual power is something we can rely on to keep our cool,” she continues, adding that.

Gautam Jhanjee, an artist, residing in Canberra, has pieces on display at the event. His calligraphic art is inspired by the diverse cultures of his hometown and Maharashtrian and Punjabi influences from India, Oman, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia, among other places. Artist Bridget Paul Shibu, who co-curated the event with Kalki, explains that the focus is on lesser-known artists and their experiments with various media in this exhibition. “Muthiah Kasi from Auroville adheres to the use of ethnic, non-toxic earth colors in his creations. Nandkumar Yashwant Kulaye, a Mumbai-based artist, creates abstract constructions out of wood, metal, fiberglass, and sandstone, among other materials. “The show has opened my eyes,” says the actor.

Reference

India International Spiritual Art Festival explores inner peace,https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/india-international-spiritual-art-festival-explores-inner-peace/article36076436.ece1/photo/1/

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

CDC Reveals New Data On COVID Vaccine Stopping Delta Variant

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The COVID-19 vaccine can still protect you against the delta variant, although the level of protection is smaller than the coronavirus’s original mutation.

Does the vaccine stop the delta variant? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new study that found vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection dropped from 91% to 66% when the delta variant became the majority of virus cases.

“While we did see a reduction in the protection of the COVID-19 vaccine against the delta variant, it’s still a two-thirds reduction of risk,” the study’s lead author, Ashley Fowlkes, an epidemiologist for CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response, told CNN. The study suggests that there are minor infections among fully vaccinated people, primarily due to the delta variant, which has shown to be highly transmissible.

That said, COVID-19 vaccines remain majorly effective at stopping severe COVID-19 illness from all known variants, according to CNN. More data on the delta variant and COVID-19 vaccines The new CDC study comes as new data from Israel suggests the vaccine’s protection against the delta variant will lessen with time.

Officials in Israel said the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines might not be effective at stopping the delta variant.

Though the vaccines can stop the delta variant, they’re less effective against delta than previous mutations.

Israel – one of the highest vaccinated places in the world with 78% of those 12 years old and up fully vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine – has been suffering from one of the world’s highest infection rates recently due to the delta variant, according to Science Magazine. Please make sure you have accurate information and consult your doctor.

Reference
The CDC reveals how well the COVID-19 vaccine protects you from the delta variant, https://www.deseret.com/coronavirus/2021/8/25/22641187/cdc-delta-variant-covid-vaccine-latest-numbers-two-thirds.

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

Did you know 31% of unvaccinated U.S. adults who claim they are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccinations

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Of the 31% of unvaccinated U.S. adults who claim they are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccinations to be approved by the FDA, one-third of these individuals believe this to be for religious reasons. The FDA has approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine for ages 16 and up on August 23, 2021. The FDA requires safety studies on a few persons for the temporary use of medications and medications that have received full approval from the FDA. Approximately 43,000 adults participated in the safety studies’ early phases. As Pfizer and Moderna launched their rolling submission for approval in the FDA’s “Fast Track” procedure, which expedites review, Moderna and Pfizer started that process off with a rolling submission in the FDA’s “Fast Track” program.

Initial FDA approval will be granted limited to the same age groups studied under the emergency use authorization issued previously. In Pfizer’s case, the vaccine was initially only licensed for those ages 16 and above and was anticipated to be approved for those ages 18 and up shortly afterward for Moderna.

Reference
What Does Full FDA Approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Mean?, https://heavy.com/news/pfizer-covid-vaccine-fda-approval/

disease, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

The worst-hit states in the US due to a Delta variant-driven surge

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Florida has become one of the worst-hit states in the US due to a Delta variant-driven surge, with new cases recently surpassing their winter peak.

Following President Biden’s announcement earlier this week, the Education Department would consider taking legal action to discourage states from prohibiting universal masking in classrooms.

On Saturday, Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria, announced that the state’s lockdown, which has been in effect since early August, would be expanded to cover all of the conditions after 17 new cases of Ebola were discovered in the regional hub of Sheppparton.

New South Wales, which includes Sydney, recorded 825 new cases on Saturday, the highest number of new cases reported since the pandemic began.

David Elliott, the police commissioner for the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, stated on Friday that anyone who joins the protest on Saturday would be subjected to “the full force” of the state’s police force.

Long-term-care employees and state employees working in hospitals will be required to have at least one dose of the vaccine starting on September 27, according to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. All other state employees, including teachers, will be required to be vaccinated or undergo regular testing.

It is claimed that the Culver City Unified School District, a tiny school district in Los Angeles County, is the first in the state – and maybe the nation – to mandate children aged 12 and older to be immunized against the flu.

Reference

Covid Delta variant vaccine, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/08/21/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

A significant milestone in its battle against COVID-19

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States achieved a significant milestone in its battle against COVID-19 on Friday, with half of all Americans now completely vaccinated against the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 165.9 million Americans, or 50 percent of the population of all ages, are completely vaccinated, with 193.7 million Americans having gotten at least one shot as of Friday.

COVID-19 Data Director Cyrus Shahpar reports that 565,000 new vaccinations were recorded in the United States on Friday. The one-week average of recent vaccinations has increased by 11 percent over the previous week and 44 percent over the last two weeks.

The vaccine surge comes as the country experiences a rise in infections caused by the highly infectious delta strain, which experts estimate accounts for about 80% of all new cases in the country. Officials from the White House have said that they think the increase in the number of individuals seeking vaccination is since the delta version of the virus poses a more danger in the areas that have been worst affected by the illness.

The White House COVID-19 response coordinator, Jeff Zients, said at a press conference on Thursday that “clearly, Americans are witnessing the effect of not being protected and not getting vaccinated.” ‘And people reacted by doing their bit, by rolling up their sleeves, and by getting vaccinated,’ says the author.

Zients said that the number of individuals who received a flu shot for the first time each day over the last three weeks had more than quadrupled in the states with the highest case rates. That assisted the United States in meeting President Joe Biden’s objective of vaccinating 70 percent of people, a month later than his original July 4 aim.

References
1. “Terrific Teeth Day Held at The Poe Center in Raleigh.” The Triangle Tribune, vol. 21, no. 44, Charlotte Post Publishing Co., 9 Feb. 2020, p. 8A.
2. DEA announces improvements to medication assisted treatment. https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2020/02/26/dea-announces-improvements-medication-assisted-treatment
3. News in Brief 13 November 2020 | | UN News. https://news.un.org/en/audio/2020/11/1077622
4. CDC says 50% of Americans are now vaccinated; Florida reports worst week of new cases; 616K US deaths. Latest COVID-19 updates. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/08/07/cdc-americans-vaccinated-covid-florida-worst-week-anthony-fauci/5514204001/?utm_source=usatoday-Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=baseline&utm_term=hero&utm_content=8872UT-E-NLETTER02

disease, environmental, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Coronavirus infections are rising in North America

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“If you’re not going to assist, get out of the way of folks trying to do the right thing,” Biden added. The Pan American Health Organization has issued a warning that coronavirus infections are rising in North America. Because of the outbreak of illnesses, Obama’s staff had to postpone his 60th birthday celebration. COVID-19 has infected at least 617,000 Indigenous people, with almost 15,000 of them dying.

References

Zika Virus: Pregnant Women Advised to Avoid Rio Olympics …. https://www.travelpulse.com/news/impacting-travel/zika-virus-pregnant-women-advised-to-avoid-rio-olympics.html

US vaccination rates increase alongside spread of Delta variant,https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2021/8/4/us-vaccination-rates-increase-alongside-spread-delta-variant

disease, drugs, environmental, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Working in public health

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Those working in public health are concerned that state and federal policies fail to protect the most vulnerable. According to public health authorities, the overwhelming majority of Americans now dying from Covid-19 are not vaccinated. People who do not wish to get vaccinated remain vulnerable in California, even though the state has one of the world’s highest per capita immunization rates. Additionally, when society returns to pre-pandemic levels of activity, public health authorities report an increase in the number of fatalities caused by coronaviruses. Unvaccinated individuals in the United States are now less likely to contact infected people as the number of cases declines.

However, their chances of contracting Covid-19 if they come into contact with someone infected with the Delta virus or another very infectious version have increased compared to last year. The government has said that it has no intentions to remove all prohibitions on public venues, including grocery shops and pharmacies, at this time. “We have strike balance between our desire to return to a normal condition and compassion for those who have been left behind or injured,” she added. ” Public health authorities in the county of Los Angeles have issued a recommendation that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should wear face masks when inside. Making masks is very simple – and it is extremely successful,” Fielding-Miller said.


Resource
Threat to vulnerable Americans rises as Delta variant spreads. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/01/delta-variant-us-coronavirus-us-vulnerable
Lesson plan: The history of vaccination – and opposition …. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/lessons-plans/lesson-plan-the-history-of-vaccination-and-opposition-to-it/

disease, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

Covid-19 delta variation

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The Covid-19 delta variation, which was first identified in India, is currently spreading globally, becoming the dominant strain in certain nations, such as the United Kingdom, and is expected to do so in others, such as the United States. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization said that the variation has been identified in more than 80 countries and that it is continuing to change as it spreads. In the United States, the variation now accounts for 10% of all new cases, up from 6% last week.


The variation is much more transmissible than other variants, according to studies.
Scientists have cautioned that evidence indicates the delta version is approximately 60% more transmissible than the “Alpha” type and is more likely to result in hospitalizations, as observed in the United Kingdom. Officials from the World Health Organization stated on Wednesday that there had been reports that the delta variation produces more severe symptoms, but that additional study is required to validate those findings. Still, there are indications that the delta version may cause symptoms that are not the same as those we have been told to watch out for with Covid-19.


What should you be wary of? Fever, persistent cough, and loss of taste or smell are the primary symptoms of Covid-19, according to governments all around the globe, with some local changes and additions as we have learned more about the virus. For example, the CDC’s revised list of potential infection symptoms includes tiredness, muscular or body pain, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Of course, millions of individuals have had Covid-19 without showing any symptoms, and scientists are currently looking into the amount of asymptomatic transmission.


Experts say the delta version seems to produce a distinct set of symptoms. The Zoe Covid Symptom research, led by Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, is an ongoing U.K.-based project that allows the public to input their Covid symptoms into an app, which then allows scientists to evaluate the data. “For this younger demographic, it is more like a terrible cold, and people do not understand it, and that has not come through in any of the official materials.” “We have been looking at the top symptoms of app users since the beginning of May, and they are not the same as they were,” he added. “Headache is the most frequent symptom, followed by a sore throat, a runny nose, and a fever.” “Common symptoms like coughing and loss of smell are more uncommon today,” he adds, noting that younger individuals are more likely to get a cold or have a “funny off the sensation.”


The discovery of the alpha variation, which was initially discovered in the United Kingdom, signaled the development of a broader range of symptoms. “Chills, loss of appetite, headache, and muscular pains, in addition to the “typical” symptoms, were discovered in a survey of nearly a million individuals in England conducted between June 2020 and January 2021 – and therefore during a period during which the alpha variant propagated and became dominant. The delta variation was categorized as “of concern” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week.


In a statement to NBC News, it stated, “Based on growing evidence that the delta variation spreads more readily and produces more severe infections when compared to other variants, including B.1.1.7,” it added. During an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said the delta variation will likely become the prevalent strain in the United States and may “start a new pandemic going into the autumn.” Cases have risen among young individuals and the unvaccinated in the United Kingdom, where the delta variety is now responsible for most new infections, leading to an increase in hospitalizations in both groups. Because of the proliferation of these variations, the United Kingdom has decided to postpone further relaxation of the Covid-19 limits.


Covid-19 immunization efforts are anticipated to halt the spread of the delta form. Therefore, the race is on to safeguard those who have not been completely vaccinated. According to a study published on Monday by Public Health England, two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines are very efficient in preventing hospitalization in the delta form. The scenario in the United Kingdom demonstrates how fast the delta version may become dominant, and the United States is closely monitoring it. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president’s top medical adviser, said last week that “we cannot allow that to happen in the United States,” as he urged more people to be vaccinated, particularly young adults. The most recent research on the virus’s spread in England offers little to assuage scientists’ fears.


The newest results from the REACT research, released on Thursday, cautioned that instances were increasing “exponentially” and that the “resurgence” of Covid-19 infections in England was “related to a higher prevalence of the Delta variant.” According to the research, approximately 1 in 670 individuals had the virus, a significant rise over the previous results, which showed that 1 in 1,000 people had the infection as of May 3. Experts note whom Imperial College London heads, the reproduction number in England is currently 1.44, which indicates that ten infected individuals would transmit the virus to 14 others on average, “resulting in a fast development of the pandemic.” Professor Paul Elliott, head of Imperial College’s School of Public Health’s REACT program, stated, “From late May to early June, we discovered clear evidence of an exponential increase in infections. These results support the Delta variation becoming prevalent, highlighting the significance of tracking infection rates and variants of concern in the population. According to the research, most illnesses occur in children and young adults, but they are also rising in older individuals.


While the connection between infections, hospitalizations, and fatalities has been decreasing since February, indicating that infections lead to fewer hospital admissions and deaths due to the immunization campaign, the hospitalization trend has been reversed since late April.

Reference

HEALTH AND SCIENCE
The fast-spreading delta Covid variant could have different symptoms, experts say.https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/17/covid-delta-variant-symptoms-spread-and-what-to-look-out-for.html

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

2,500 weekly fatalities had been connected to Covid-19

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By late May, almost 2,500 weekly fatalities had been connected to Covid-19. More over half of the population in the United States has gotten at least one dose of the Covid19 vaccination. People aged 50 to 74 now account for over half of all fatalities, up from barely a third in December. Those aged 50 and above continue to account for the majority of Covids-19 fatalities, with younger persons being the minority. According to specialists, the protracted fatalities are being caused by the remaining uninfected populace.

Dr. Krutika Kuppalli mentioned the virus can still have serious implications for young individuals.

The CDC distributes statistics on Covid fatalities in the United States for the weeks commencing December 5, 2020 through May 22, 2021, including statistics for June 9-21. White people aged 75 and above accounted for more than half of all Covid-19 fatalities. The sharpest losses have been seen in elderly white patients, as well as Asians under the age of 30. The magnitude of the decline in fatalities is not consistent across the board.

The remaining deaths are primarily the result of people who have not been immunized. According to the CDC, the death rate in the United States remains a seven-day average of fatalities per 100,000 persons. According to the organization, the number of deaths caused by the virus in nursing homes has decreased by more than 90% since December. According to C.D.C. demographic statistics, the death rate among Black and Hispanic populations continues to fall below that of Asian and white people. In the United States, over 200 individuals per week are still dying in the institutions, accounting for 7% of all virus-related deaths countrywide. According to the report, the national death rate remains the highest in the United States, with more than 1,200 fatalities each week.

White Americans are leading the changes in mortality patterns within this group. “If we don’t get to 75 percent, 70 percent of people vaccinated, we’re going to die.”

Reference

Which Groups are still dying of Covid-19 in the U. S. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/10/us/covid-death-patterns.html

disease, drugs, Health, medications, Pharmaceuticals

CDC COVID-19 Response Team and colleagues

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Mark Thompson of the CDC COVID-19 Response Team and colleagues also demonstrated that the vaccines were highly efficient at lowering the viral load, febrile symptoms, and the duration of illness in people who acquired breakthrough infections despite being vaccinated. Full immunization was found to be 91% effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large prospective study of approximately 4,000 people, whereas partial vaccination was found to be 81 percent effective. According to the researchers, if more evidence shows that these vaccines reduce viral load and, as a result, limit SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, it could mean that the vaccinations are not only efficient in preventing infection but also in reducing the effects of breakthrough infections. The researchers compared the viral RNA burden of vaccinations that had a breakthrough infection to unvaccinated infected individuals to determine the efficiency of partial and complete vaccination in avoiding SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccinated individuals got either the BNT162b2 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech or the mRNA-1273 vaccine from Moderna, and efficacy was estimated after adjusting for geography, occupation, and local virus circulation. The vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection was estimated to be 91 percent for complete vaccination and 81 percent for partial vaccination. Following at least partial immunization, an adjusted analysis revealed a 40.2 percent decreased viral RNA load.

Reference

New data from CDC on effectiveness of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210606/New-data-from-CDC-on-effectiveness-of-Pfizer-and-Moderna-COVID-19-vaccines.aspx