Tag Archives: disease

disease, Health, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Did you know that there have been one million fatalities in the United States due to COVID?

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More people in the United States have been killed by the COVID-19 virus than have been killed in vehicle accidents over the last two decades or in all of the country’s conflicts combined.

A white flag with a memorial written on it is one of the thousands of white flags representing Americans who have died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) placed over 20 acres of the National Mall in Washington, September 26, 2021.
Joshua Roberts | Reuters

Because of errors in counting, the actual number is likely definitely more than what was reported. A considerable number of the country’s oldest citizens passed away, accounting for around three quarters of the overall number of fatalities. The death rates of persons of African and Hispanic descent were much higher than those of white people. What was initially a problem in urban areas quickly moved to rural regions and then back again, and this cycle continued until the course of the virus tracked the whole topography of the nation.

At its height, the Covid epidemic was responsible for the deaths of about one New Yorker every two minutes. This equated to over 800 individuals per day, which was five times as high as the city’s average rate of mortality. According to the findings of a research, the almost complete shutdown of public spaces in New York was most likely responsible for a drop in viral transmission of more than 50 percent. The death rate in New York City would never again reach the catastrophic levels it reached during the first wave. Still, the first wave was responsible for a significant amount of damage in a number of places, including Albany, Georgia, Detroit, and New Orleans. She recalls her father pleading with her and urging her not to receive the injection by saying, “Please, kitty.” You have no idea what components make up this item. Epidemiologists believe that the refusal to vaccinate led to the deaths of tens of hundreds of thousands of people.

Today, around one third of individuals living in the United States have not received all of their recommended vaccinations. Since vaccinations were readily accessible, at least 50,000 vaccinated persons have been documented as having died as a result of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only received data on mortality broken down by vaccination status from roughly half of the states. However, the mortality rate among vaccinated persons has been much lower, but the death rate among unvaccinated people has been at least nine times as probable. She claims that she had started to feel marginalized due to her age and the fact that some of the younger neighbors have refused to wear masks or abstain from huge gatherings. She also attributes this to the fact that she is becoming older.

The Covid-19 epidemic has resulted in a mortality rate that is much greater among persons of advanced age than among younger people. In those under the age of 25, the virus has shown to be less deadly than automobile accidents. In the two years leading up to the pandemic, there was an annual death toll of around 877,000 persons aged 85 and older on average. In the same age group, there were 100,000 additional fatalities per year in the years 2020 and 2021. In every age category, the death rate for persons of African and Hispanic descent has been greater than that of white people.

The racial discrepancy in mortality was most severe in the early stages of the epidemic; nonetheless, disparities still exist today. Rates for Native Americans and Pacific Islanders were less trustworthy as a result of low total numbers, and as a result, they are not displayed. According to the findings of the study, around 79.7 percent of employees in the age range of 20 to 64 who passed away from COVID in 2020 worked in sectors recognized as important. Workers in 11 industries that were not required to remain home due to the COVID outbreak had an approximately twofold increased risk of dying from the disease. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco carried out the investigation for the paper.

According to the findings of research conducted in the United States, people who do not possess a college degree and those who reside in more impoverished communities have a greater risk of passing away from COVID. In general, the areas with the greatest incomes have reported the fewest fatalities caused by covids, while the areas with the lowest incomes have reported the most. There is a correlation between poorer earnings and a reduced chance of immunization, which in turn is connected with mortality caused by COVID. In the beginning, a startling 43 percent of all deaths attributed to Covid were among people who were either residents or staff members in nursing homes. Leaders in the industry have requested that the federal government make a significant investment to ensure the safety of nursing homes.

The chief medical officer for the American Health Care Association, Dr. David Gifford, expresses pessimism about the industry’s future. What have we done to prevent the next virus from causing the lives of 200,000 people in nursing homes? The fatality rate in the United States caused by the coronavirus, often known as Covid, decreased overall except in the South, where it increased by around 4 percent. Epidemiologists have pointed to responses that were not as harsh, such as lockdowns that were lifted more quickly and masking restrictions that were not enforced as tightly. The state of Mississippi has one of the lowest immunization rates, while having the greatest number of COVID-related deaths of any state.

disease, Health, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

Here are the symptoms to for in BA.2.12.1 COVID variant

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According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the BA.2.12.1 variation of COVID-19 accounts for around 37% of all new coronavirus cases nationwide.

FILE – Syringes and a vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are displayed at a mass COVID-19 vaccination site in Batavia, Ill., on March 19, 2021.

Health experts predict that the number of people infected with BA.2.12.1 and related strains will continue to rise. CoV-19, the virus that infects people with SARS-CoV-2, is continually evolving and acquiring new mutations as it multiplies. SARS-CoV-2 is predicted to continue evolving in the future. The CDC predicts that some varieties will exist and then vanish, while others will originate, spread, and eventually supplant earlier forms.

An ancestor of BA.2.12.1 is a subvariant of COVID’s omicron strain known as BA.2. Experts predict that BA.2.12.1 will overtake its predecessors as the main strain of COVID-19 over the next few weeks due to its improved capacity to spread. Who knows when the next COVID spike will occur? For Alabama and the South as a whole, this is what one expert thinks will happen. Because of the COVID problems in China, Alabama hospitals are forced to limit medical supplies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitored phone calls to check whether people complied with COVID lockdowns.

In what ways does BA.2.12.1 manifest itself?

BA.2.12.1, like the preceding BA.2 variation, is more likely to cause flu-like symptoms in the upper respiratory tract. Initial COVID-19 symptoms include:

  • Smell and taste are lost
  • Feeling hot or cold
  • Cough
  • Sneezing
  • Shortness of breath or breathing issues
  • Fatigue
  • a sore or aching bodily part
  • Headache
  • A bad case of the hiccups
  • Is your nose running or stuffed up?
  • nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose are the most common symptoms of the omicron variety. Fatigue and dizziness are some side effects of BA.2. COVID and its variations may be reduced by immunization, according to experts. People who have been immunized may have outbreaks of infection, but this is to be anticipated, and staying up to date on recommended vaccinations may help avoid serious disease, hospitalization, and even death. An Omicron variation has emerged that underscores the need of vaccines, the CDC stated.

disease, Health, Public health

Would you like to know why your butthole itches?

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Between 1% and 5% of the US, the population suffers from anal itching, which is four times more prevalent in males.

Pinworms are a common parasitic infection that can cause anal itching. 
Agency-Animal-Picture / Contributor / Getty Images

It is seldom indicative of a significant medical condition, and the majority of instances may be handled with lifestyle modifications or medical therapy. Certain items, such as spicy meals and coffee, might irritate the anal region and produce itching. Hemorrhoids may be treated at home using over-the-counter topical creams or suppositories, NSAIDs for pain relief, and sitz baths for swelling reduction. After treating hemorrhoids, you may avoid recurrences by increasing your fiber and water intake.

disease, Health, Public health

Did you know that the first human case of a highly contagious bird flu strain was detected in the US?

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Early this week, an adult man under the age of 40 who was employed at a commercial poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado, was found to be infected with the influenza A (H5) virus.

H10 flu viruses cause few signs of disease in birds and very rarely cause serious disease in humans

Jin Hua/VCG via Getty Images

Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2279407-first-human-case-of-h10n3-bird-flu-strain-reported-in-china/#ixzz7RwDS6T3w

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has tracked more than 2,500 individuals who have been exposed to birds infected with the H5N1 virus and has only discovered one case in Colorado. Farms throughout more than half of the nation have been devastated by the spread of avian flu viruses, which has resulted in the deaths of millions of egg-laying birds. There have been no reported incidences of H5 viruses transmitting from person to person at this time. Celine Dion provides an update on her health as she announces the cancellation of her tour for the second time.

disease, genetics, Health, medications, mental health, Pharmaceuticals, Public health

You might not have known this, but a study called “Landmark” found that people who smoke are more likely to get Alzheimer’s.

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The biggest Alzheimer’s study ever finds new genes and pathways involved in disease progression.

silhouette of a person showing internal nervous system and brain on a blue background surrounded by dna

CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

The groundbreaking study’s findings imply physicians can better anticipate whether a patient is genetically prone to Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease affects over 5.8 million Americans. Researchers from France’s Université de Lille performed the study. A genetic risk score may help determine who is most likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

To better understand Alzheimer’s and create medicines that delay or prevent the disease start, the research represents a huge step forward. The next stage is for researchers to concentrate on the study’s risk genes and their influence in brain cell malfunction and death.

disease, Health, Public health

According to the DOJ, criminal charges are pending against $150 million in COVID fraud schemes.

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It is horrible when individuals decide to profit from a virus on the government’s dime and earn millions of dollars to line their wallets.

A health care worker fills out a COVID-19 vaccination record card. Photo: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal accusations against 21 individuals in connection with a variety of health care fraud schemes using the COVID-19 outbreak. The defendants stole more than $149 million via a variety of scams, including overcharging for medical services and making and selling phony immunization cards. The Justice Department said that it confiscated approximately $8 million in cash and “other fraud profits” during its enforcement operation.

disease, Health, Public health

Did you know that Dr. Scott Gottlieb said that high-quality Covid masks function even if others in your immediate vicinity are not wearing one?

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Although no one in the vicinity is wearing masks, Dr. Scott Gottlieb believes anyone worried about COVID may still protect themselves by donning them.

A federal court overturned the Biden administration’s COVID mask requirement for public transit, which included aircraft, only two days before he remarks. Numerous mask requirements for other settings have already been eased to some extent. Earlier this week, the Department of Justice suggested that it would likely appeal the Florida decision. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb believes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should have allowed the mask requirement to expire on Monday instead of extending it.

Supporters of the strategy argue that it provides an essential layer of protection against COVID, especially given the increasing prevalence of highly transmissible strains of the virus. However, he stated that he will still wear a mask in rare situations if he feels like he is in a small environment.

Reference

Dr. Scott Gottlieb: High-quality Covid masks work even if others around you aren’t wearing one. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/20/dr-scott-gottlieb-covid-masks-work-even-if-others-around-you-arent-wearing-one.html?fbclid=IwAR0d0Nw4TgWoMdBXmeqk6k1afGlHINf0beIA5RqNvhKxjeuVkt4HwpCAkSc

Diet, disease, environmental, Fitness, Health, Healthy eating, Public health

Do you know that contaminated raw oysters was connected to the norovirus?

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Restaurants and shops are being warned not to serve or sell possibly contaminated raw oysters connected to a norovirus epidemic that has affected at least 91 people in more than a dozen states in the United States and 279 more in Canada.

Raw oysters linked to multi-state outbreak of norovirus illnesses.U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Raw oysters collected in British Columbia, Canada, were distributed in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, according to a report published Wednesday by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Raw oysters have been connected to a multi-state norovirus epidemic. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 91 norovirus cases have been recorded from those 13 states. The CDC stated that several of the ill persons admitted to eating raw oysters during interviews with state and local public health authorities. 29 Minnesota residents were sick after eating raw oysters at Travail Kitchen on March 20. Since then, the restaurant has discontinued selling Stellar Bay Gold oysters. Officials in Washington state stated Tuesday that 26 persons have reported norovirus-like symptoms after eating British Columbia oysters since March 7. The FDA notes that if these oysters were shipped to other states, they may have been transmitted to other states as well. Officials at the federal and state levels are attempting to eradicate them from the food supply. According to Canadian public health experts, 279 instances of norovirus and gastrointestinal disease have been connected to British Columbia oysters, as well as those from Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Between mid-January and late January, those affected fell ill, with no fatalities recorded. Oysters eaten raw may induce disease, particularly in persons with weakened immune systems. Norovirus-contaminated food may seem, smell, and taste normal. Norovirus infects and sickens humans 12 to 48 hours after infection, with symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach discomfort, fever, headache, and body pains. While the majority of individuals recover without treatment, norovirus infection may cause severe dehydration and even death in certain people—the very young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. Norovirus is the most common cause of food-borne disease in the United States, accounting for over 2,500 outbreaks each year. Apart from ingesting contaminated food or drink, individuals may get the norovirus through coming into contact with other sick individuals, touching contaminated surfaces, or putting unwashed hands in their mouths. The stomach flu is sometimes referred to as the stomach norovirus, despite the fact that the sickness has nothing to do with the flu, which is caused by the influenza virus.

Diet, disease, Health, Healthy eating, Public health

Did you know that the top produce was tainted by pesticides?

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Strawberries, spinach, and leafy greens once again topped a list of produce tainted by pesticides, according to an analysis from the Environmental Working Group.

Kwangmoozaa/Getty Images


The Dirty Dozen includes the 12 fruits and vegetables that retain the most pesticide contamination, even after they’re washed and peeled as consumers would prepare them. Updated every year as part of EWG’s Shopper’s Guide, which is based on tests by the USDA and the FDA. Almost 70% of the non-organic produce tested had detectable pesticide residue, usually at levels that fell within the legal limits in the US.
However, just because pesticides are legal does not mean that they are safe. More than a quarter of pesticide use in the US has been linked to chemicals that are illegal in Europe, according to a 2019 study. Those chemicals have been banned due to probable or proven health risks. Because the testers wash and prepare the produce samples before scanning for pesticides, these fruits and vegetables require more than an extra rinse to be rid of toxins. Strawberries and greens topped the Dirty Dozen again. The USDA and FDA do not repeat tests of produce every year, so not much has changed since last year’s Shopper’s Guide was published. For the seventh year in a row, strawberries were found to have the most pesticide contamination of any fruit or vegetable tested. Spinach came in second, followed by kale, collard greens, and mustard greens in third. The rest of the Dirty Dozen includes nectarines, apples, grapes, peppers (bell and hot), cherries, peaches, pears, celery, and tomatoes. The Peppers moved up a couple spots on the list, but aside from that, the standings are the same as last year. Whenever possible, the EWG recommends that people buy organic versions of Dirty Dozen produce, analyst Sydney Swanson said in a press release. Organic farming practices ban the use of most synthetic pesticides, so organic produce is less likely to be contaminated with known toxins. However, not everyone can afford organic produce or have an environmentally-conscious market nearby. If you can’t afford to buy cleaner versions of the Dirty Dozen, EWG experts say that the Clean Fifteen might be a better choice. Avocados, sweetcorn, and pineapple ruled the Clean Fifteen. The Clean Fifteen fruits and vegetables were found to have the lowest levels of pesticide residue of the bunch, with nearly 70 percent of the samples from the list found to be completely pesticide-free. The list includes avocados, sweet corn, and pineapple as the top three “cleanest” fruits and vegetables. Onions, papaya, and frozen sweet peas were next, followed by asparagus, honeydew melon, kiwi, and cabbage. Mushrooms, cantaloupe, mangoes, watermelon, and sweet potatoes also made the list of the least pesticide-contaminated produce. Since last year’s list, the EWG removed broccoli, cauliflower, and eggplant from the Clean Fifteen — not because of new contaminants, but because they hadn’t been tested in six or more years.

disease, Health, Public health

Are we planning for the next wave of Covid?

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As we suffer through yet another Covid-19 variant surge, I wonder why we are still merely saving the drowning people instead of also looking upstream. Doctors and researchers have created great tools to help drown Americans — those who’ve already been infected by SARS-CoV-2. But even if we’re heading toward an endemic world, we’re still thinking small when we should be thinking big. The time to plan is now. It was a brand-new virus.

Covid is among the leading causes of death for all age groups in the U.S. The virus is still mutating, and there is no guarantee that future variants will. You can’t just catch omicron and ‘get it over with’ Covid doesn’t work that way. This is what many of us have been calling for since the early days of the pandemic: to practice public health at its best. Yes, we need people to be vaccinated, period and the Biden administration has done an incredible job of saving lives by making this first step happen. But more is needed.

Reference

How to fight the following new Covid variant after omicron? Plan for it now. https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/how-fight-next-new-covid-variant-after-omicron-plan-it-ncna1288649