Tag Archives: disease

Coronavirus infections are rising in North America

“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

Working in public health

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/

Covid-19 delta variation

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

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

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

Southern Indian states have declared a state of emergency

Two southern Indian states have declared a state of emergency, as coronavirus cases spread at a breakneck pace through the country and pressure increases on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to enforce a national shutdown.


Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, has the most significant active caseload of any Indian region, with over 300,000 people. However, analysts warn that the worst is yet to come as India’s third-largest city struggles with oxygen scarcity, overcrowded hospitals, and overcrowded crematoriums. The lockout declaration in Tamil Nadu state came after a regular total of over 26,000 cases on Friday.


Since February, infections have risen dramatically in India due to increased viral varieties and government decisions to encourage large crowds to assemble for religious festivals and political rallies.


India recorded 401,078 suspected cases on Saturday, with a record high of 4,187 deaths. In India, there have been over 21.8 million reported infections and almost 240,000 deaths. Also, such drastic tolls, according to experts, are under-counted.
As his hospital strained to find more air, one doctor in Bengaluru said he had to refuse patients “left, right, and center.”


“The issue is that the demand is so high that we require continuous oxygen,” said Dr. Sanjay Gururaj, medical director at Shanti Hospital and Research Center. The hospital sends a vehicle twice a day to oxygen plants on the city’s outskirts to retrieve 12 jumbo oxygen cylinders. “This would have lasted over two weeks; now, it lasts just over a day,” he said.


The state’s oxygen scarcity led the Supreme Court to ask the federal government to raise the amount of liquid medical oxygen sent to Karnataka. The decision came after 24 virus patients died on Monday in a government hospital. It is unknown how many of them perished because of the shortage of oxygen, but an inquiry is underway.


So far, Modi has delegated liability for combating the virus in this latest outbreak to under-resourced state governments, and he has been accused of doing very little. His government has responded that it is doing everything possible in the face of a “once-in-a-century crisis.” Meanwhile, many medical professionals, minority politicians, and even Supreme Court justices are pressing for nationwide bans, claiming that a patchwork of state regulations is inadequate to increase infections.
Experts warn that the surge in Bengaluru is outpacing that of other hard-hit cities such as the capital, New Delhi, and Mumbai. According to Murad Banaji, a mathematician modeling COVID-19 development in India, cases have increased 100-fold since February, citing official numbers. Test positivity has risen to over 30%, showing that the virus is much more severe than reported estimates, he said.
“Disaster was looming by early March when cases rose,” he said. “Bangalore is more than a ticking time bomb — it is amid an explosion.” Bengaluru was classified as Bangalore.


In recent weeks, Northern India, headed by New Delhi, has received much attention, with news channels broadcasting pictures of patients lying on stretchers outside hospitals and mass funeral pyres that flame all night.
The crisis in Karnataka has drawn attention to other southern states dealing with an increase in incidents. In Andhra Pradesh, daily cases have surpassed 20,000 for the past three days, prompting the state to impose new restrictions.

Kerala, which served as a model for dealing with the pandemic last year, went into lockdown on Saturday. With chronic cases exceeding 40,000, the state is increasing money, including turning hundreds of industrial oxygen cylinders into medical oxygen, according to Dr. Amar Fetle, the state’s COVID-19 officer.


“The magnitude of cases from last year to now is different,” he said, noting that rising figures have resulted in further hospitalizations and increased demand on health-care services, with hospitals complete. “It has turned into a race between occupancy and how quickly we can add beds. We are doing everything we can to remain ahead of the virus.”


Infections are on the rise in the southern area, but there has been “less visible outcry” than in the north due to improved health facilities and government programs addressing issues at the neighborhood level, according to Jacob John, professor of community medicine at Christian Medical College, Vellore.


However, as the epidemic has ravaged major cities in waves, smaller towns and communities with tiny links to health services are also at risk.


“These places are becoming affected, which suggests that we may not have seen the worst yet in south India,” he added.


Reference
India’s surge hits southern states, prompts more lockdowns. https://apnews.com/article/india-religion-coronavirus-pandemic-health-18d61c7956cb0bf9f59d975a5f171875

New Covid Guideline

Any of the Centers for Disease Control’s COVID-related guidelines are being relaxed. According to a revision released Tuesday by the CDC, vaccinated citizens may not need to wear a mask sometimes. The CDC has not described “small gathering.” According to the CDC, 30% of Americans are vaccinated. According to the CDC, about 43% of people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Reference
CDC mask guidance change: Guidelines eased for fully vaccinated people.https://www.al.com/news/2021/04/biden-expected-to-announce-relaxation-of-outdoor-mask-guidance-reports-say.html

Filter-less coffee contain higher amounts of cafestol and kahweol

These types of filter-less coffee contain higher amounts of cafestol and kahweol, which are found in oil droplets floating in the coffee and the sediment, Lisa Drayer, RD, told CNN. Drip coffee is already known to raise triglyceride and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels. Drink filtered (paper) coffee to reduce the levels. For the research document published in The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the researchers began to investigate whether any particular brewing method for coffee was associated with a higher risk of premature death, heart disease, and stroke.

People who drank between one and four cups every day had the lowest death rates overall, including abstainers.

The study analyzed claims that the moderate consumption of unfiltered coffee is beneficial.

The theories regarding the connection between coffee and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease abound among scientists.

According to a Harvard School of Public Health study, drinking coffee causes a lowered risk of depression in women.

If you want to be well informed of your favorite morning beverage, make sure you are fully informed of coffee.

Reference

The Most Dangerous Way to Drink Your Coffee, According to Science. https://www.eatthis.com/the-most-dangerous-way-to-drink-your-coffee-according-to-science/

4,000 active cases among inmates and 1,430 more among workers in California

More than 4,000 active cases among inmates and 1,430 more among workers in California. These are the highest numbers reported since the beginning of the pandemic. California’s cumulative number of prisoner illnesses is now more than 22,300, including 90 deaths. Hospitalizations are also at record high levels, with more than 9,900 patients throughout the state. Increasing figures are coming as local and state governments are also seeking to monitor the spread across California communities. The state governor declared a stringent regional home stay order for ICU patients this week. The state governor declared a stringent regional home stay order for ICU patients this week.
Reference
Covid-19 is raging through overcrowded California prisons. https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-12-05-20-intl/index.html

The CDC has updated its guidelines on the spread of COVID-19

The CDC has updated its guidelines on the spread of COVID-19. The CDC describes near contact as being within six feet of the person infected for 15 minutes or more during a 24-hour span. It is difficult to identify the current guidelines on which the health departments depend to perform touch tracing. The signs of the infection vary from minor symptoms to extreme illness, according to the CDC. It is not clear if the public has undergone proper instruction on proper selection and use of respiratory PPE, such as N95, for close interaction with an infectious person wearing a respiratory mask. Symptoms of the disease include: fever, chills, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, sore throat, and muscle aches, the CDC says. The disease can last 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and can be serious or moderate in some cases, it says. It is not clear if an affected person has signs for more than two days after being exposed to coronavirus, the Agency states.

Reference

CDC revises “close contact” definition. https://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=23565&z=58

Masks in public places

Coronavirus Covid-19 increased by 467 percent in Kansas counties, requiring masks in public places. The number of cases fell within six weeks of the mandate, according to the CDC. The study looked at the disparities between the Kansas counties in the summer. Some counties that did not need masks had less strict instructions, according to the report. The CDC reports that the rate of Covids-19 cases has primarily been reversed after the mandate has been enforced.

Reference
CDC says mask mandates can slow Covid-19 spread. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-says-mask-mandates-can-slow-covid-19-spread-n1248417?cid=eml_nbn_20201120