Geneology International

Tag: Flu

  • Avian flu reappears in Cambodia, UN health agency warns

    Avian flu reappears in Cambodia, UN health agency warns

    These are the to start with instances of avian influenza, recognized as H5N1, documented in Cambodia considering the fact that a widespread outbreak in 2014, the Entire world Health Firm (WHO) claimed. The an infection, which mostly influences animals, has a 50 for each cent mortality level in people.

    “The worldwide H5N1 situation is stressing given the extensive spread of the virus in birds all-around the entire world,” said Sylvie Briand, Director for Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Avoidance at the UN overall health company.  “We are in close conversation with the Cambodian authorities to fully grasp more about the outbreak.”

    Even more conditions predicted

    Due to the fact the virus carries on to be detected in poultry populations, more human conditions can be predicted, WHO claimed. Pretty much all H5N1 an infection conditions in people have been affiliated with close speak to with contaminated live or dead birds or contaminated environments.

    “WHO takes the risk from this virus critically and urged heightened vigilance in all nations,” she stated.

    From 2003 to 25 February 2023, a overall of 873 human instances of H5N1 and 458 deaths have been noted globally in 21 nations around the world.

    Nonetheless, centered on the present info, WHO advises against implementing any vacation or trade limits. To day, evidence reveals that the virus does not infect people very easily and human being-to-man or woman transmission seems to be strange.

    Investigations launched

    In Cambodia, a joint animal-human wellness investigation is presently underway in Prey Veng province, where the circumstance was documented. It aims at identifying the supply and mode of transmission.

    Meanwhile, a high-amount government reaction is performing to comprise any more spread of the virus, and an outbreak investigation is aimed at figuring out the publicity of the two claimed cases to the virus, WHO mentioned.

    Cambodian wellness authorities experienced notified WHO on Thursday of the very first situation and loss of life. A youthful lady had contracted the avian flu and had died on Wednesday. By Friday, they experienced noted the second circumstance, noting that a person of the girl’s family members customers experienced analyzed favourable with the virus but was asymptomatic.

    In response to past outbreaks, veterinary efforts to contrast avian influenza strains were bolstered across Asia.

    In reaction to past outbreaks, veterinary attempts to distinction avian influenza strains were bolstered throughout Asia.

    International response technique

    By way of its World Influenza Surveillance and Response System, the UN wellness agency screens the evolution of the virus and conducts possibility assessments. For pandemic preparedness uses, WHO can also suggest the improvement of extra new prospect vaccine viruses.

    The company underlined the great importance of international surveillance to detect and keep track of virological, epidemiological, and medical improvements linked with emerging or circulating viruses that may perhaps have an affect on human or animal wellbeing.

    Currently, there is no vaccine extensively available to defend in opposition to avian influenza in individuals. WHO suggests that all individuals involved in get the job done with poultry or birds should really have a seasonal influenza vaccination to decrease likely hazards.

    Previous outbreaks

    Virtually a decade in the past, the UN Foods and Agriculture Business (FAO) experienced issued an urgent warning of an outbreak in southeast Asia of a strain of avian influenza termed H5N6.

    In 2015, FAO once more lifted alarms about a dangerous outbreak of the hugely virulent H5N1 strain, which had spread to five West African nations around the world within six months. The company had appealed for $20 million in emergency funds “to stop it in its tracks” before it impacted individuals.

    At the time, FAO had reported the H5N1 pressure has triggered the death of tens of tens of millions of poultry and losses of tens of billions of dollars.

    Considering the fact that then, the agency has worked to enhance veterinary devices and the abilities of nearby laboratories. By 2018, FAO experienced educated 4,700 veterinarians, who worked to shield farm animals in opposition to deadly viruses in 25 nations throughout Africa, Asia, and the Center East.

    In Cambodia, a 2003 H5N1 outbreak had, for the 1st time, impacted wild birds. Given that then, and right until 2014, human situations because of to poultry-to-human transmission have been sporadically described in the state.

    As of 25 February, Cambodia has described a total of 58 conditions of human infection with the H5N1 virus have been reported since 2003, including 38 fatalities.

  • Tips to keep you and your family safe with COVID, RSV and the flu surging : Shots

    Tips to keep you and your family safe with COVID, RSV and the flu surging : Shots

    A vaccine clinic in Lynwood, Calif., offering free flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Experts are using the word “tripledemic” for rises in COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

    Mark J. Terrill/AP


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    Mark J. Terrill/AP

    A vaccine clinic in Lynwood, Calif., offering free flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Experts are using the word “tripledemic” for rises in COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

    Mark J. Terrill/AP

    This year’s holiday season is arriving right in the midst of an unwelcome “tripledemic” of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that have helped strain hospitals nationwide.

    Though COVID cases are much lower than they were last winter, case counts are ticking up nationwide, and nearly 3,000 Americans are dying each week. Meanwhile, other respiratory viruses like the flu and RSV have surged this fall.

    More than 77{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of hospital beds nationwide are occupied, down slightly from nearly 80{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} earlier this month, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services — the highest levels seen since last winter’s omicron surge.

    NPR asked a handful of public health experts how Americans should approach the holiday season. They suggest that Americans take stock of the risk and take appropriate safety measures to protect themselves and those who are most likely to face severe disease — including older people and the immunocompromised.

    “Everyone is obviously ready to do as much as they can that they have done in normal holiday periods, especially as many of us have given it up for a couple years,” said Dr. Henry Wu, an epidemiologist and travel doctor at Emory University. “We’re entering a new normal where we have to navigate how best to do what we want to do.”

    Think about your holiday plans and dial in your safety measures accordingly

    Now’s the time to look ahead and think about what plans you have for the holidays, Wu said. Which events are the highest priorities for you? Who do you want to see?

    Then, do a risk assessment. Think about how much you’re willing to risk getting sick — and same for the people you plan to see. Are you a healthy young adult doing a small get-together with other healthy young adults? Or will you be attending a large, multigenerational family reunion with children and older people together in the same house?

    RSV is surging. Here's what to watch for and answers about treatment options

    Thinking through those questions can help you decide which safety measures to take. “Every family and every individual is going to be a little different,” Wu said.

    Some people may feel totally comfortable getting together at a bar. Others, not so much. “If you would like to do as much as you can to avoid getting sick when you’re getting together, if you want to protect the vulnerable person, whether they’re elderly or an infant, then definitely incorporate some of the lessons from the last few years,” he said, including limiting your exposure before travel and testing for COVID before you go.

    Get the flu shot and a COVID booster if you haven’t already

    All the public health experts who spoke with NPR agreed on this easy way to reduce the risk to you and those around you: Get your shots!

    The bivalent COVID-19 booster shots made by Pfizer and Moderna are available to almost all Americans, including most children. And for those who need or prefer a non-mRNA shot, the Novavax vaccine is available as a booster to adults who completed an initial vaccine course at least six months ago.

    The CDC endorses Novavax, a more traditional COVID vaccine, for adults

    Flu shots, too, are important. The CDC estimates that at least 13 million Americans have already been infected with the flu this season, and over 100,000 hospitalized — a caseload much larger than last winter, when many Americans were still following COVID-related precautions.

    But flu shot uptake this year has been low. Only about a quarter of American adults have been vaccinated, according to the CDC. Those who haven’t gotten their shot yet should seek one soon, said Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Michigan.

    “The sense is that this year’s vaccine is actually a pretty good match to the strain circulating. And much like COVID vaccines, flu shots don’t prevent all infections, but they can help prevent hospitalizations, deaths, as well as transmission,” Malani said in an interview last week with NPR.

    If you’re not feeling well, stay home

    This was the other easy source of agreement. “If you have symptoms, if you are feeling unwell, we are going to ask you to stay home. We are saying we don’t really want people to gather if they’re feeling unwell,” said CDC head Rochelle Walensky in an interview with NPR last week.

    One scientific review of 130 COVID studies conducted by mid-2021, published earlier this year in the journal PLOS Medicine, suggests that the risk of getting infected from someone who’s asymptomatic is much lower than from someone with symptoms.

    That makes staying home when sick “one of the most profoundly important things we can do this holiday season to keep other people safe,” said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California San Francisco. “That means not going to that holiday party when you’re coughing and sneezing.”

    If you do feel sick, get tested — COVID tests are widely available this year at pharmacies and grocery stores. And health care providers can arrange a flu test.

    “If you are diagnosed early, we have antivirals that can be used to shorten your disease course and your disease severity,” Walensky said.

    Shift some activities outdoors and maximize ventilation indoors where possible

    “I consider ventilation one of the strongest things we can do to protect ourselves during respiratory pathogen season,” said Gandhi.

    Respiratory diseases such as COVID have a difficult time spreading outdoors, where natural airflow is remarkably effective at dispersing droplets and pathogens.

    Not everything can realistically be moved outdoors. Many social gatherings and religious services will be indoors. For family members traveling long distances to see each other, spending a lot of time indoors together is inescapable.

    Coronavirus FAQ: What's the risk of catching omicron outdoors?

    For more flexible plans, like catching up with an old friend from high school, you could consider outdoor activities if the weather allows — like a walk in the park, ice skating or strolling an outdoor holiday market, rather than getting together at a bar or restaurant.

    For the indoor gatherings, Gandhi suggests doing what you can to improve ventilation. Open windows if the weather allows. If not, HEPA filters, cracked windows and ceiling fans can help too.

    “I think that has really come out as the strongest non-pharmaceutical intervention that’s been revealed during this pandemic, because it just eliminates all respiratory pathogens,” she said.

    Consider wearing a high-quality mask in crowded settings, especially if you’re a vulnerable person

    Some indoor time in public might be unavoidable during a holiday season, like during travel and religious services. Health officials at the CDC, along with some municipalities, are encouraging people to wear “high-quality, well-fitting” masks in public when possible — especially those who are more vulnerable, like older people and immunocompromised people.

    “Especially in crowded indoor spaces, whether it’s on the subway or in an airplane, a lot of people are sick around us right now. So put that mask on,” Malani said.

    Authorities are urging indoor masking in major cities as the 'tripledemic' rages

    Studies are mixed on the effectiveness of masks on a large scale.

    But in laboratory settings, masks like N95s or KN95s have been shown to block virus particles. Wearing one of these high-quality masks can cut your risk of getting infected when around others who aren’t masked, though they of course aren’t foolproof.

    “I don’t think a mask is a difficult thing to do,” said Wu. “I really encourage folks to keep that mask handy and use it” when you find yourself in a crowded and poorly ventilated indoor space.

  • No public health emergency declaration for RSV or flu

    No public health emergency declaration for RSV or flu

    Picture: Reza Estakhrian/Getty Pictures

    The Office of Health and Human Companies has not declared a public health and fitness crisis for hospitals overcrowded with individuals struggling from the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and influenza, irrespective of a request for a PHE from kid’s medical center teams.

    Earlier this month, the Kid’s Clinic Affiliation and the American Academy of Pediatrics despatched a letter to President Biden and to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting a community well being crisis declaration that would open the doorway for waivers and fiscal reduction that are out there below the COVID-19 public overall health crisis.

    As of now, no PHE has been declared.

    HHS as an alternative told The Hill it was ready to give help on a case-by-scenario foundation.

    “We have provided jurisdictions support confronting the impression of RSV and influenza and stand prepared to offer help to communities who are in require of assistance on a case-by-circumstance basis,” an HHS spokeswoman stated, according to the report.

    Infectious ailment skilled Dr. Anthony Fauci advised CBS’ “Experience the Country” on Sunday that spiking situations of RSV among the youngsters are at present at a important juncture in the U.S. but will ideally commence declining from their peak shortly, in accordance to Axios. Subsequent thirty day period, Fauci will action down from his roles as chief health care advisor to the president and director of the Countrywide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disorders.

    WHY THIS Issues

    An unexpected emergency declaration would make it possible for waivers for sure Medicare, Medicaid or Children’s Wellness Insurance policies Method (CHIP) prerequisites so that hospitals, doctors and other health care companies could share methods in a coordinated effort to treatment for their local community, in accordance to the letter from the hospital groups. 

    Especially, Portion 1135 waivers would offer temporary reprieve from problems of participation that may impede relocating patients the use of new areas for treatment and adapting to workforce worries Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act needs that may well impede transferring people and making offsite triage to control capability issues and licensure reciprocity to assistance cross-state care and telehealth.

    In addition to the regulatory aid, federal encouragement to condition Medicaid companies to guidance telehealth, out-of-condition care and essential flexibilities to regulate capacity in hospitals and across the treatment continuum would be extremely handy, the letter reported. 

    “President Biden and Secretary Becerra have been invaluable leaders to children’s hospitals throughout the state in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we implore them to renew their motivation to pediatric health care and give us the methods important to command the ongoing RSV and flu surge with the continuing children’s mental health crisis,” stated Children’s Hospital Association CEO Mark Wietecha. “Our method is stretched to its restrict and with out speedy interest the crisis will only worsen.”

    THE More substantial Trend
     
    Before this month, the CDC warned of a surge in flu, RSV and other viral infections this time, especially amid kids and older older people.

    The increase of respiratory ailments this year may perhaps be the immediate consequence of COVID-19, as kids may possibly now be uncovered to other viruses for the initially time, according to the CDC. 

    Twitter: @SusanJMorse
    E mail the writer: [email protected]

  • Health news in review: How to tell COVID from a cold or the flu, a new mental health hotline, and more | Health and Fitness

    Health news in review: How to tell COVID from a cold or the flu, a new mental health hotline, and more | Health and Fitness

    Do you have a cold, the flu, or COVID? Here’s how to tell

    The illnesses all share similar symptoms, sometimes making it hard to distinguish which is putting you under the weather.

    Covid-19 cases are continuing to spread as the United States moves into the time of year where allergies are on the rise. As much of the country opens back up and people gather in close proximity, it can be important to know if you are feeling unwell because of seasonal sniffles or Covid-19 — which is why experts have urged vaccinations to reduce risk and protect against infection. Read more on how to tell the difference here:


    Do you have a cold, the flu or Covid-19? Experts explain how to tell the difference







    Walmart-Cigarettes

    FILE – In this Sept. 3, 2019, file photo, a Walmart logo forms part of a sign outside a Walmart store, in Walpole, Mass. Walmart Inc. will no longer be selling cigarettes in some U.S. stores, a complicated move since tobacco is a money driver for many retailers. The nation’s largest retailer, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, said the removal is on a store-by-store decision based on the business and particular market. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)




    Walmart to end cigarette sales in some stores

    Walmart will no longer sell cigarettes in some of its stores though tobacco sales can be a significant revenue generator.

    Wall Street Journal was the first to report the development Monday. It noted some stores in California, Florida, Arkansas and New Mexico were on the list, citing anonymous sources and store visits.

    People are also reading…

    Walmart is not the first national retail chain to cut off cigarette sales even on a trial basis, but it is the largest. Read why here:


    Walmart to end cigarette sales in some stores

    What’s the 411 on the new 988 hotline?

    Beginning July 16, 2022, people struggling with mental health crises can call 988, a new number focused on providing lifesaving suicide prevention and crisis services. But 988 is not just a shorter, easier-to-remember replacement for the current suicide hotline. Congress and the Federal Communications Commission also established the 988 Lifeline to address longstanding concerns in mental health care.

    The Conversation asked Derek Lee, a PhD student at Ohio State University in Counselor Education and Supervision and a therapist, to explain the new service and how it is different from the old hotline. Lee’s academic and research focus is on suicide, including training, intervention and prevention. Read more about the hotline here:

    Nostalgia can reduce perception of pain

    The next time you feel aches or soreness, you might consider skipping the pain reliever and reaching instead for an old photo.

    Nostalgia — that sentimental feeling of longing for the past — can reduce pain perception, according to new research published in the journal JNeurosci.

    Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Liaoning Normal University asked study participants to rate their level of pain from heat stimulation while looking at pictures that were nostalgic — depicting old cartoons, childhood games or retro candy — compared with more modern pictures. Read more about the study here:


    Nostalgia can reduce perception of pain, study shows

    ***

    Read more about this past week’s health news here:


    Prediabetes has more than doubled among American children. Here's how to reduce your kids' risk


    Perfecting the 'calories in, calories out' strategy to get fit


    Blood pressure medication recalled over cancer risk concerns

    March 29, 2022
  • Fighting the flu: 3 tips to protect your health | Lifestyle

    Fighting the flu: 3 tips to protect your health | Lifestyle

    When most men and women hear about vaccines these times, the initial factor that arrives to intellect is COVID-19. Even so, vaccines also assistance reduce other major health problems like the flu, in particular for people at bigger threat.

    In accordance to the American Heart Affiliation, individuals with underlying chance variables like coronary heart disease, stroke, being overweight and diabetic issues are at high risk of significant flu troubles. Through the 2018-19 flu season, a lot more than 93{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of grownups hospitalized for the flu claimed at the very least a person fundamental health-related condition that put them at significant-hazard for problems, based on facts from the Facilities for Disease Regulate and Prevention.

    Even so, a study on behalf of the American Coronary heart Affiliation discovered 3 in 5 U.S. older people may hold off or skip the flu shot this year, in spite of warnings from wellness professionals the influenza time could be extreme soon after a gentle 2020-21 flu year.

    “Unfortunately, the flu is back,” explained Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Coronary heart Affiliation. “We’re observing scenarios in communities throughout the region. If you have delayed your flu shot, it’s not way too late to get 1 for the present-day flu time, which normally lasts right until late spring. Having it as shortly as attainable delivers the most safety for you and your loved ones.”

    Understanding gapA deficiency of facts may well add to selections to skip or delay the flu shot. The study identified a major awareness gap, with an overpowering the greater part (94{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) of older people in the United States improperly answering at minimum a single of eight concerns about the shot. Younger generations were being fewer informed than their older counterparts, but throughout all age teams, additional than 50 {fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of U.S. grown ups answered at least two queries incorrectly.

    Despite the knowledge hole, some common misconceptions could be fading. Among all respondents, 73{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} know you can’t get the flu from the flu shot and 88{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} know you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the similar time.

    Flu and coronary heart overall health

    There is a solid correlation involving the flu and cardiovascular illnesses like coronary heart disease and stroke. Amongst grownups hospitalized with flu throughout current flu seasons, coronary heart sickness was just one of the most frequent long-term situations. According to the CDC, about half of adults hospitalized with flu have coronary heart disease. In addition, analysis released in “The New England Journal of Medicine” showed individuals who are not vaccinated against the flu are 6 occasions much more probably to have a coronary heart assault inside a week of an infection.

    Protecting against the fluAcquire steps to secure yourself and your cherished kinds from the flu this year with these suggestions from the American Coronary heart Affiliation:

    • Get your flu shot. Most authorities propose finding your shot early in the period, but it is not way too late to benefit from the security. The flu shot is out there to any person at the very least 6 months old. Even though obtaining the shot isn’t a promise you will not get the flu, it minimizes the possibilities of contracting a extreme scenario.

    • Wash germs absent. Washing hands often and comprehensively aids lessen the distribute of germs, which include all those that result in viruses like the flu. Also make a point to stay clear of touching your encounter, due to the fact your nose and mouth are all-natural entry points for germs.

    • Seek out medical notice. If you get ill, viewing a health practitioner can convey reduction and help shorten your sickness. If the flu is detected early adequate, you may well be able to choose an oral antiviral remedy that lowers the size and severity of your signs and symptoms.

    Learn more about preserving your coronary heart health and protecting against the flu at heart.org/flu.

  • Doctor provides health tips for holiday travel as omicron, flu cases rise

    Doctor provides health tips for holiday travel as omicron, flu cases rise

    ORLANDO, Fla. – As holiday travel ramps up, medical practitioners are urging persons to get vaccinated to avoid the spread of influenza and COVID-19.

    News 6 health and fitness reporter Kirstin O’Connor spoke with Dr. Timothy Hendrix, of AdventHealth Centra Care, about vacation security.

    [TRENDING: Couple nearly speeds into crowd at Christmas parade in Winter Garden, police say | Omicron variant detected in Altamonte Springs sewer area | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]

    KIRSTIN: People today are even now imagining about COVID-19, but what else do we require to think about though we’re planning for family members get-togethers?

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    HENDRIX: Well, there is a good deal of time to put together correct now. So we’ve received quite a few months ahead of we get to Xmas time. So now’s the time to get your flu shot if you have not acquired your flu shot for the reason that flu year has officially started off. We’re seeing extra cases of influenza at Centra Treatment in the final couple of months, so go out there and get your flu shot. It normally takes at the very least a week or two for it to turn into successful.

    KIRSTIN: What kind of information do you have for households that are about to consider a flight?

    HENDRIX: Sporting your mask while you’re in the airport and when you’re in indoors in these general public regions. There is a prerequisite nonetheless to wear a mask in the airport and on the on the airplane. But being mindful about that and minimizing the treats on the airplane (is significant). If you’re a person of all those people today sipping the drink, munching on the aircraft, you know, you definitely have to have to maintain off and keep your mask on all through the flight simply because these are locations in which you have a better transmission risk in these crowded indoor spots.

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    KIRSTIN: Should persons however be having COVID tests just before traveling?

    HENDRIX: If you ever have any queries about finding a COVID test, it is extremely straightforward, and it’ll take away any uncertainties in your mind. But I would advocate if you’re ill, if you’re uncovered to COVID, you know, any individual has COVID or if you traveled just lately or have been in a large-hazard situation — a massive team of persons — to go get analyzed. And at Centra Treatment, we have the rapid check. We can get you the success in 15 minutes to decide if it is COVID or not. Due to the fact a great deal of these viruses have incredibly very similar indications, you know, COVID, flu, and just the common chilly, even allergic reactions, you know, runny nose, and the coughing and sneezing, you know, that could also seem like COVID. So go get examined, it’s incredibly simple.

    Everyone traveling internationally can make an appointment for a COVID check at the Orlando Global Airport.

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    KIRSTIN: Are you setting up to see a large amount additional instances of the flu?

    HENDRIX: Yeah, right here in Florida, we have found about 300 instances of influenza at Centra Care in our Central Florida Centra Cares. And that is, you know, 300, 350 for every week as comparison in 2019, our previous serious flu season, so we’re very well on the way to a regular flu year.

    KIRSTIN: Will the COVID booster be productive by Xmas?

    HENDRIX: I assume the timing is a lot more crucial now that you can get that booster in one particular to two weeks. You are going to start off to promote those antibodies. And we know just after that booster you get these types of a terrific robust response of antibodies. And some of the proof just in the previous day or two that Pfizer and the experiments are exhibiting that that booster seriously does give you a excellent safety against variants like omicron, so now’s the time to get that in advance of we get into these household gatherings.

    Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.