Seis de los mayores contaminantes del mundo anuncian que no reducirán producción de combustibles fósiles

Seis de los principales países contaminantes, que participaron esta semana en la primera reunión de la Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate ("Asociación de Asia - Pacífico para el Desarrollo y un Ambiente Limpios", AP6 o APPCDC), han creado un fondo multimillonario en dólares para desarrollar energía limpia, pero hicieron énfasis en que seguirán dependiendo fuertemente de combustibles fósiles contaminantes por las próximas generaciones.

Grupos ecologistas, que calificaron la reunión una "farsa", han condenado el encuentro realizado en la ciudad de Sydney y lo han llamado "pacto carbonífero y nuclear" entre los grandes contaminantes y las empresas que producen combustibles fósiles. Observadores australianos del cambio climático han atacado los resultados de la reunión del AP6 como extremadamente irresponsables, diciendo que el Gobierno Federal de su país está dispuesto a aceptar la realidad de un cambio climático desbocado.

Un comunicado emitido por el AP6 reza: "Reconocemos que los combustibles fósiles reafirman nuestras economías, y serán una realidad duradera por nuestros periodos de vida y más allá". Los ecologistas dicen que el pacto ha perdido una oportunidad vital para comprometerse con las fuentes de energía renovables y añadieron que la reunión, que duró 2 días, fracasó en realizar cualquier clase de compromiso para combatir el calentamiento global.

Combinados, los Estados Unidos, China, Japón, India, Corea del Sur y Australia suman cerca de la mitad de los gases de invernadero. Los seis países convocaron la reunión como un segundo método de enfrentar el calentamiento global por fuera del Protocolo de Kioto, enfocándose, según ellos, en la "tecnología de energía limpia".

La energía nuclear, las tecnologías de carbón limpio, la retención de dióxido de carbono y fondos ambientales dirigidos a la industria fueron algunas de las propuestas hechas en la cumbre. A diferencia del Protocolo de Kioto, las seis naciones no han fijado meta alguna para reducir los gases de efecto invernadero.

Observadores del fenómeno del cambio climático han criticado ampliamente el AP6 diciendo que es una pérdida de tiempo. Clive Hamilton, del Australian Climate Institute, afirma que el encuentro hizo poco para reducir las emisiones de gases de invernadero. "En realidad pienso que esta conferencia trata de proteger el futuro a largo plazo de la industria carbonera. Si uno ve la clase de personas de negocios que tienen asiento en la mesa de la conferencia en Sydney, representan abrumadoramente a las industrias contaminantes más que a aquellos que en algún momento los reemplacen: las industrias de energías renovables y de eficiencia energética".

Por su parte, el Dr. David Brockway, jefe científico de CSIRO, dice que la tecnología necesaria para reducir las emisiones de gases de invernadero no es viable para la industria. "Debe tenerse presente que cualquier cosa que vayamos a hacer para reducir las emisiones de gases de invernadero y la intensidad de la economía australiana vendrá como un costo. Lo que estamos haciendo por el momento es investigación para tratar de reducir el tamaño de ese costo adicional. Yo diría que en un lapso de 5 a 10 años, una parte de esas tecnologías se hará viable".

Un comunicado del AP6 emitido al final de la conferencia dice que las reducciones de gases de invernadero deben lograrse sin entorpecer el crecimiento económico: "la asociación desea movilizar la inversión nacional y extranjera hacia la tecnología limpia y de baja emisión mediante el fomento de la mejor tecnología facilitadora posible". Algunas de las mayores empresas mineras y energéticas asistieron a las conversaciones y se comprometieron a mejorar la eficiencia.

Los ecologistas, marginados de la conferencia, dicen que las conversaciones buscan subvertir el Tratado de Kioto, que obliga a 40 países desarrollados a reducir las emisiones de gases de invernadero a un 5% por debajo de los niveles de 1990 durante el periodo 2008-2012. "Básicamente no han acordado hacer nada en términos de compromisos serios", señaló la profesora de la Universidad Monash y experta en cambio climático Amanda Lynch. EUA y Australia se resisten a firmar el Protocolo de Kioto afirmando que los recortes de emisiones de gases que impone amenazan el crecimiento de sus economías.

John Howard, primer ministro de Australia, dijo que "la experiencia nos ha enseñado que buscar objetivos arbitrarios no resulta en lograr soluciones prácticas para el cambio climático global". Howard hizo hincapié en la importancia de mantener el crecimiento económico para mitigar la pobreza mientras reduce las emisiones de gases de invernadero.

Howard añadió que la cumbre había inyectado "una dosis de realismo que le hacía falta al debate sobre el cambio climático. Creemos que es posible abordar temas de gases de invernadero y el reto del cambio climático sin reducir los niveles de vida. El mundo continuará utilizando combustibles fósiles por varios años en el futuro porque es más económico así. Por tanto, es simple sentido común que uno quiera intentar hacer el uso de combustibles fósiles más sensible, uno debería tratar de limpiar el uso del combustible fósil".

El World Wildlife Fund (WWF) ha descalificado los comentarios de Mr Howard como engañosos e irresponsables. Greg Bourne, jefe ejecutivo del WWF, dijo: "en toda mi carrera nunca había visto un anuncio público más engañoso que ese... Si las afirmaciones hechas hoy se hacen realidad, esto nos bloqueará en un crecimiento de 4 grados en las temperaturas globales promedio, cuando 2 grados se consideran extremadamente peligrosos. No ha podido ser más irresponsable que embarcarnos adrede hacia unos incrementos masivos en las emisiones y un calentamiento global desbocado"

Las naciones pertenecientes al AP6 afirmaron en el comunicado final que los ocho grupos de trabajo creados durante la conferencia, conformados conjuntamente por entidades públicas y privadas, prepararán planes de acción para mediados de 2006 en temas que incluyen la energía renovable, la generación de energía y combustibles fósiles y minería carbonera más limpios.

Los ambientalistas dicen que el pacto de Sydney estaba condenado al fracaso porque no impuso metas a sus miembros que pudieran comprometer a cerca de la mitad de la humanidad. El Consejo para la Conservación de la Naturaleza de Nueva Gales del Sur dijo que el acercamiento voluntario del grupo fue una "licencia para que el gobierno y las empresas no hicieran nada". "Sin incentivos ni sanciones, no hay razones para que la industria deje de quemar carbón y gasolina contaminantes", señaló Cate Faehrmann, miembro del Consejo.

Los países del AP6 acumulan un 49% del PNB mundial, 48% del consumo mundial de energía, 48% de las emisiones de gases de invernadero globales y 45% de la población del mundo.

Muchos científicos dicen que el calentamiento global está derritiendo los glaciares, aumentando los niveles del mar y causarán más tormentas, sequías e inundaciones. Los niveles actuales de dióxido de carbono y metano en la atmósfera son más altos ahora que en cualquier momento en los pasados 650.000 años, según demuestran investigaciones de los núcleos de hielo antárticos.


Kontroversiellt miljömöte utlovar miljöpengar

Sydney –
Miljötoppmötet i Australien mellan sex länder kring Stilla havet slutade med att Australien och USA utlovade drygt 50 miljoner dollar för att utveckla renare energi och mer energieffektiva industrier, uppger BBC News.

Kritiker menar att länderna på toppmötet inte tar sitt ansvar och att mötet bara är ett sätt att kringå Kyotoprotokollet.

Australien och USA är de enda länderna i världen som inte undertecknat protokollet som, till skillnad från det aktuella toppmötet, innebär bindande mål med en angiven tidtabell.

Närvarande på toppmötet i Sydney var representanter från Australien, Kina, Indien, Japan, Sydkorea och USA – tillsammans de största miljöbovarna i världen. Toppmötet är ett resultat av ett samarbete som syftar till att ta fram miljövänligare energialternativ utan förpliktelser som riskerar att bromsa den ekonomiska utvecklingen.

I ett gemensamt uttalande konstaterar deltagarna på mötet att man finansiellt är beroende av fossila bränslen och så kommer att förbli under "vår livstid och där bortom".

Australiens utrikesminister Alexander Downer medgav att det icke-bindande samarbetet i bästa fall kunde bromsa ökningen av utsläppen av växthusgaser, men tillade att samarbetet kunde innebära att utsläppen 2050 reducerades med en tredjedel.


Oil-eating microbe found in the Gulf of Mexico

A group of researchers led by Terry Hazen, a senior ecologist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, have discovered a new species of microorganism. Hazen's team started research in May this year. Their findings were based on more than 200 samples collected from 17 deep-water sites in the Gulf of Mexico between May 25 and June 2. The new species is distinctive for its oil-consuming activity in a wide range of conditions, and is playing a role in depletion of oil spills in the area.

Scientists had been puzzled by the disappearance of oil in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Detailed maps were made on how the spilled oil went underwater and how far it was spread; however, some of it seemed to have disappeared.

A grant from the Energy Biosciences Institute, and a partnership led by the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Illinois that is funded by a USD 500 million, 10-year grant from BP, was the basis for support of the research. The U.S. Department of Energy and the University of Oklahoma Research Foundation also supported it.

The field study was conducted during the first week. As Hazen said, "We deployed on two ships to determine the physical, chemical and microbiological properties of the deepwater oil plume. The oil escaping from the damaged wellhead represented an enormous carbon input to the water column ecosystem and while we suspected that hydrocarbon components in the oil could potentially serve as a carbon substrate for deep-sea microbes, scientific data was needed for informed decisions."

Sample analysis was eased because the researchers used the pocket-sized Berkeley Lab DNA sampler PhyloChip. It allowed researchers to detect the presence of thousands of species of bacteria in samples from a wide range of environmental sources, without the culturing procedures usually performed in a furnished lab workplace. With the device, Hazen and his co-researchers discovered that a dominant microbe, making up 90 percent of all the bacteria in the oil plume, is a new species, closely related to members of Oceanospirillales family, more specifically Oleispirea antarctica and Oceaniserpentilla haliotis.

The previous works were measuring low levels of oxygen in certain areas to detect microbes activity. Researchers thought that increased activity would lead to more aerobic activities, such as breathing, which depletes the oxygen content in water. However, the newly discovered species doesn't seem to be consuming much oxygen from the water column. The study found that oxygen saturation outside the oil plume was 67-percent, while within the plume, it was 59-percent. By Terry Hazen's words, "The low concentrations of iron in seawater may have prevented oxygen concentrations dropping more precipitously from biodegradation demand on the petroleum, since many hydrocarbon-degrading enzymes have iron as a component... There's not enough iron to form more of these enzymes, which would degrade the carbon faster but also consume more oxygen."

Analysis of changes in the oil composition as the plume extended from the wellhead pointed to faster than expected biodegradation rates with the half-life of alkanes ranging from 1.2 to 6.1 days. This microbe thrives in cold water, with temperatures in the deep recorded at 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit).

The summer observations showed the bacteria managed to consume the oil spill relatively quickly in June. Some commenters noted that the previously released oil dispersant COREXIT can have significantly eased the process of interaction of the microbes with the oil by making oil particles smaller and easier to access. As Hazen explained, "We've been out there continuously... Once the oil flow stopped on July 15, within two weeks we saw most of the plume disappear."


மெக்சிக்கோ வளைகுடாவில் எண்ணெய் உண்ணும் நுண்ணுயிர் கண்டுபிடிப்பு

புதிய வகை நுண்ணுயிர் ஒன்றை லாரன்ஸ் பேர்க்லி தேசிய ஆய்வுகூடத்தைச் சேர்ந்த ஆய்வாளர்கள் கண்டுபிடித்துள்ளனர். இவ்வாண்டு மே மாதத்தில் இவர்கள் தமது ஆய்வுப் பணியை ஆரம்பித்தார்கள். மே 25 முதல் சூன் 2 வரையான காலப்பகுதியில் மெக்சிக்கோ வளைகுடாப் பகுதியில் உள்ள 17 ஆழ்-நீர் நிலைகளில் சேகரித்த 200 இற்கும் அதிகமான மாதிரிகளை ஆய்வு செய்ததில் இவர்கள் இந்த நுண்ணுயிரைக் கண்டுபிடித்தனர். பல்வேறு காலநிலைகளில் இந்த நுண்ணுயிர் எண்ணெய் உண்பதே இவை வேறு நுண்ணுயிர்களில் இருந்து வேறுபடுகின்றன. இப்பகுதியில் அண்மையில் இடம்பெற்ற கசிவினால் எண்ணெயின் அளவு இந்நீர்நிலைகளில் குறைந்திருப்பதற்கு இந்நுண்ணுயிர்கள் பெரும் பங்கை ஆற்றியுள்ளன என அவர்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர்.

சில மாதங்களுக்கு முன்னர் மெக்சிக்கோ வளைகுடாப் பகுதியில் இடம்பெற்ற வரலாறு காணா எண்ணெய்க் கசிவை அடுத்து அங்கு சில பகுதிகளில் காணப்பட்ட எண்ணெய் மாயமாக மறைந்தது குறித்து அறிவியலாளர்கள் வியப்புத் தெரிவித்திருந்தனர். கசிந்த எண்ணெய் எவ்வாறு ஆழ்கடலினுள் சென்றது மற்றும் எவ்வளவு ஆழம் சென்றது என்பது குறித்த விபரமான வரைபடம் வரையப்பட்டிருந்தது. ஆனாலும் இவ்வெண்ணெயில் ஒரு பகுதி காணாமல் போயுள்ளது.

சயன்ஸ் இதழில் இது குறித்த ஆய்வுக் கட்டுரை வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த நுண்ணுயிர்கள் நீரில் உள்ள ஒக்சிசனின் அளவைப் பெரிதும் குறைக்கவில்லை என ஆய்வுக்குத் தலைமை தாங்கிய டெரி ஹசன் தெரிவித்தார். இப்புதிய நுண்ணுயிர்கள் ஓசியானோஸ்பிரிலாலெஸ் குடும்பத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவையாகும். இந்த நுண்ணுயிர்கள் 5 பாகை செல்சியஸ் குளிர் வெப்பநிலையில் வாழ்கின்றன.

சனி, ஆகத்து 28, 2010


11-month old baby finds illegal drugs in playground in British Columbia, Canadian police report

A mother called the police in Kamloops, British Columbia (B.C.), Canada on Sunday morning after her 11-month daughter discovered a bag full of a substance that appeared to be fentanyl, a dangerous opioid drug, according to Kamloops Police, at the McDonald Park playground. She managed to get a hold of the small bag and kept her child safe.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed they seized the substance, stating "In B.C., this has been considered a public health emergency since April 2016. Unfortunately this means issues like found needles and drugs are something that all parents must be mindful of while in public settings."

Kamloops RCMP Constable Gary Gray said fentanyl had become a popular drug in Kamloops because it was potent, and colors such as purple were used as a signature by traffickers.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis claimed 15,393 lives in Canada between January 2016 and December 2019, according to the Canadian Public Health Infobase.

In Ontario, provincial police Detective Constable Daniel Dubé stated to the CBC in late June that the border closure between New York State and Quebec drove up the prices of illicit drugs, and traffickers had been stretching their products further. He explained that heroin, which had normally been laced with fentanyl, had been mixed with the sedative etizolam, or benzos, another drug of the nervous system depressant class.

The Executive director of the Ask Wellness Society, Bob Hughes, told Kamloops This Week that CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) payments, a program related to the COVID-19 pandemic, presented an additional factor in a spike in overdose deaths this year. According to the B.C. Coroners Service, there were 170 suspected deaths in May alone, shortly after the CERB payments started, resulting from the abuse of illicit drugs. That showed a 93% increase from 88 deaths in May 2019. Clinic and advocacy manager Michaela Jyrkkanen, of Christian anti-poverty organization The Mustard Seed Kamloops, disagreed with the correlation between the overdoses and the CERB payments.

Last year, Vancouver researchers distributed take-home test strip kits which were capable of detecting fentanyl presence in other drugs. Dr Sukhpreet Klaire, the lead author of the study and an addiction medicine specialist, said the cost of the accurate test strip kit was 75 cents. More than 95% of the participants in her study indicated they would use the strip kits again.


加拿大警方稱11个月的女孩在卑詩省遊樂場發現了非法藥物

據加拿大卑詩省甘露市警方稱，週日上午，11個月大的女孩在麥克唐納公園遊樂場發現了一個裝滿物質的袋子，似乎是芬太尼，一種危險的阿片類藥物，於是這個女孩的母親報警，並設法拿到了這個袋子，保證了女兒的安全。

在周一發表的一份聲明中，皇家加拿大騎警證實他們查獲了這種物質，並表示：「在卑詩省，從2016年4月以來，這一直被認為是公共衛生緊急情況。但像發現針頭和毒品這樣的問題是所有家長在公共場合仍必須注意的。」

甘露市的皇家加拿大騎警的一位警员蓋瑞·格雷（Gary Gray）说，芬太尼在甘露市已经成为一种流行的毒品，因为它的药效很强，且還可以用作签名。

根據加拿大公共衛生信息庫，在冠狀病毒病疫情之前，阿片類藥物危機在2016年1月至2019年12月期間已經導致15393人在加拿大死亡。

在安大略省，省警探丹尼爾·杜布（Daniel Dubé）在6月底向加拿大廣播公司表示，紐約州和魁北克省之間的邊界關閉使毒品價格上漲，販毒者進一步擴大了他們的產品。他解釋說，通常摻有芬太尼的海洛因被混入了乙噻二氮卓或另一種神經系統抑製劑類藥物苯二氮䓬類。

去年，溫哥華的研究人員分發了可帶回家的測試條試劑盒，這種試劑盒能夠檢測出其他藥物中是否含有芬太尼。該研究的主要作者、成癮醫學專家Sukhpreet Klaire博士說，這種準確的測試條試劑盒的成本只有75美分。在她的研究中，超過95%的參與者表示他們會再次使用測試條試劑盒。


186,000 cases of chikungunya in Réunion

With 186,000 cases of Chikungunya, a viral fever, on the island of Réunion, nearly one quarter of the population of that French overseas département has officially been affected since Mar. 2005.

The epidemic has gotten markedly worse in the past few months, with the worst point being 45,000 new cases in the week from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5. The Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has stated on Wednesday (Mar. 1) that "Nine out of ten patients were struck since the beginning of the year (...). No one could have anticipated the progression of it."

The virus is also present in the Indian Ocean in Seychelles, in Mauritious and especially in Mayotte, where the line of 2000 cases would have been crossed, according to Xavier Bertrand, minister of French Health.  That represents a doubling in 10 days.

According to Philippe Renault, medical epidemiologist of the CIRE (Regional Epidemiological Intervention Center of the Rhône-Alpes)[1], the propagation of the epidemic will show the first signs of stabilization, at a very high level. He urged against drawing hasty conclusions, however. "An infectious disease can reach a plateau, then start again. It is necessary to wait until the decrease is clear on all the indicators."


186 000 cas de chikungunya à La Réunion

Avec 186 000 cas de chikungunya sur l'île de La Réunion et 93 décès, c'est près d'un quart de la population de ce département qui est officiellement touchée depuis mars 2005.

L'épidémie s'est particulièrement aggravée ces derniers mois, avec un point culminant de 45 000 nouveaux cas dans la semaine du 30 janvier au 5 février. Le Premier ministre Dominique de Villepin a rappelé, mercredi 1er mars, que « neuf malades sur dix ont été frappés depuis le début de l'année. […] Personne ne pouvait en anticiper l'évolution ».

Le virus s'étend également dans l'océan Indien aux Seychelles, à l'île Maurice et surtout à Mayotte, où le cap des 2 000 cas aurait été franchi, selon Xavier Bertrand, ministre de la Santé français. Cela représente un doublement en 10 jours.

Selon Philippe Renault, médecin épidémiologiste à la CIRE (Cellule Inter-Régionale d'Épidémiologie), la propagation de l'épidémie montrerait de premiers signes de stabilisation, à un niveau très élevé. Il appelle toutefois à ne pas tirer de conclusions hâtives : « Une maladie vectorielle peut atteindre un palier puis redémarrer, il faudra attendre que la décroissance soit franche sur tous les indicateurs ».


レユニオンでチクングンヤ熱、77人死亡

ロイターによると、フランス海外県のレユニオンでチクングンヤ熱が流行し、15万7,000人に感染し、内、現在までに77人が死亡した。罹患者は78万の島民人口の5分の1にあたる。この対策のため、26日、フランスのドミニク・ガルゾー・ド＝ビルパン首相が現地入りした。

チクングンヤ熱は1952年に最初に東アフリカで確認された病気であるが、朝日新聞によると、2005年春に始まった流行が12月に拡大した。現在、レユニオンの他、モーリシャスやセーシェルなどのインド洋西部島嶼部に拡大している。26日のロイターはモーリシャスで962人に感染していると伝えた。日本の外務省によるとセーシェルでは1,255人の感染を世界保健機関（WHO）が今月に入り確認している。また、ロイターによればフランス本土でも似た症状が見られている。


200 in New Delhi, India drink cow urine to fight off COVID-19

On Saturday, a few hundred people attended a gaumutra party (cow urine party) to fight off COVID-19.  The party was organised by Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (All India Hindu Union) president Swami Chakrapani where the attendees consumed cow urine to prevent themselves from being infected by the coronavirus.  Reuters estimated around 200 people attended the event held at the Indian capital city of New Delhi.

Speaking to Reuters, an attendee Om Prakash said, "We have been drinking cow urine for 21 years, we also take bath in cow dung. We have never felt the need to consume English medicine".

A yajña (literally means sacrifice, devotion, worship, or offering) was conducted at the start of the meeting and a poster of coronavirus, personified as an avatar of the Hindu god Narsimha, was displayed.  At the event, ABHM president Chakrapani said "Coronavirus has come because of the people who kill and eat animals. When you kill an animal, it creates a sort of energy that causes destruction in that place".

In February, Chakrapani said, "Corona is not a virus, but avatar for the protection of poor creatures. They have come to give the message of death and punishment to the one who eats them".

COVID-19 was previously announced to be a "pandemic" by the World Health Organization (WHO).  According to the WHO's situation report dated March 16, the virus claimed 6606 lives, and 167,515 cases were reported of this disease. The WHO's website said: "While some western, traditional or home remedies may provide comfort and alleviate symptoms of COVID-19, there is no evidence that current medicine can prevent or cure the disease. The WHO does not recommend self-medication with any medicines, including antibiotics, as a prevention or cure for COVID-19."

However, addressing the global leaders, Chakrapani proposed: "I request all the presidents and prime ministers of the world to take cow urine on a daily basis. You have all these scientists who don't know the cure, we have the cure given to us by the gods".

Chakrapani had said, "Corona was quiet in India because of yajña rituals.  But these ignorant, arrogant Telangana ministers have challenged corona by killing animals and eating chicken in public, that there is a speculation of seeing the most formidable form of corona.  Thus, these ministers should promptly seek forgiveness from corona, else it would be a disaster that noone can stop." ((hi))Hindi language: कोरोना भारत में यग्न अनुष्ठान के कारण शांत था।  लेकिन तेलंगाना के इन नादान, अहंकारी मंत्रियों ने जीव हत्या कर जिस प्रकार से सार्वजनिक चिकन खा कर कोरोना को ललकारा है, इससे भारत में भी अब कोरोना के विकराल रूप देखने की आशंका बन गई है।  अतः इन मंत्रियों को समय रहते कोरोना से तत्काल माफ़ी मांग लेनी चाहिए, अन्यतः अनर्थ हो जायेगा, जिसे कोई नहीं रोक सकता।  Earlier this month, Chakrapani told ThePrint, "Just like we organise tea parties, we have decided to organise a gaumutra party, wherein we will inform people about what is coronavirus and how, by consuming cow-related products, people can be saved from it".

Cows are considered sacred by Hindus and politicians of the Hindu-nationalist party Bharatiya Janta Party had previously cited the medicinal benefits of cow urine.  Similar sentiment was shared by a Minister of Legislative Assembly from Assam earlier this month.  Suman Haripriya of the Hajo assembly said "Coronavirus is an airborne disease and it can be cured by using gaumutra and cow dung."

According to the reports by Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering, there are at least 142 cases in India, of which three patients have died.  14 have recovered so far in the country.  Multiple schools and colleges are closed across the country as a precautionary measure to slow down the spread of this virus.  Passengers at airports are being screened to ensure safety.


Indianos bebem urina de vaca para combater COVID-19

No sábado, centenas de pessoas compareceram a uma festa gaumutra (festa da urina de vaca) para combater o COVID-19. A festa foi organizada pelo presidente da União Indiana Hindu (ABHM), Swami Chakrapani, onde os participantes consumiram urina de vaca para evitar que fossem infectados pelo coronavírus. A Reuters estimou que cerca de 200 pessoas participaram do evento realizado na capital indiana de Nova Delhi.

Em entrevista à Reuters, um participante Om Prakash disse: "Bebemos urina de vaca há 21 anos, também tomamos banho no esterco de vaca. Nunca sentimos a necessidade de consumir remédios ingleses".

Um yajña (literalmente significa sacrifício, devoção, adoração ou oferenda) foi realizado no início da reunião e um cartaz sobre coronavírus, personificado como um avatar do deus hindu Narasimha, foi exibido. No evento, o presidente da ABHM, Chakrapani, disse que "o coronavírus veio por causa das pessoas que matam e comem animais. Quando você mata um animal, ele cria um tipo de energia que causa destruição naquele local".

Em fevereiro, Chakrapani disse: "Corona não é um vírus, mas um avatar para a proteção de criaturas pobres. Eles passaram a dar a mensagem de morte e punição a quem os come".

O COVID-19 foi anteriormente anunciado como uma "pandemia" pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). De acordo com o relatório de situação da OMS de 16 de março, o vírus matou 6606 vidas e foram notificados 167.515 casos dessa doença. O site da OMS afirmou: "Embora alguns remédios ocidentais, tradicionais ou domésticos possam proporcionar conforto e aliviar os sintomas do COVID-19, não há evidências de que o medicamento atual possa prevenir ou curar a doença. A OMS não recomenda a automedicação com medicamentos, incluindo antibióticos, como prevenção ou cura do COVID-19".

No entanto, dirigindo-se aos líderes globais, Chakrapani propôs: "Peço a todos os presidentes e primeiros ministros do mundo que tomem urina de vaca diariamente. Você tem todos esses cientistas que não conhecem a cura, nós temos a cura dada a nós pelos deuses".

Chakrapani havia dito: "Corona ficou quieto na Índia por causa dos rituais yajña. Mas esses ministros ignorantes e arrogantes de Telangana desafiaram o corona matando animais e comendo frango em público. Assim, esses ministros devem buscar perdão imediatamente, caso contrário, será um desastre que ninguém possa parar". No início deste mês, Chakrapani disse ao ThePrint: "Assim como organizamos festas de chá, decidimos organizar uma festa gaumutra, na qual informaremos as pessoas sobre o que é o coronavírus e como, consumindo produtos relacionados a vacas, as pessoas podem ser salvas dele".

As vacas são consideradas sagradas pelos hindus e pelos políticos nacionalistas do Partido do Povo Indiano que já haviam citado os benefícios medicinais da urina de vaca. Sentimentos semelhantes foram compartilhados por um ministro da Assembleia Legislativa de Assam no início deste mês. Suman Haripriya, da Assembleia do Hajo, disse que "o coronavírus é uma doença transmitida pelo ar e pode ser curada usando o gaumutra e esterco de vaca".

Segundo os relatórios do Centro Johns Hopkins de Ciência e Engenharia de Sistemas, existem pelo menos 142 casos na Índia, dos quais três pacientes morreram. Quatorze se recuperaram até agora no país. Várias escolas e faculdades estão fechadas em todo o país como medida de precaução para retardar a propagação deste vírus. Os passageiros nos aeroportos estão sendo rastreados para garantir a segurança.


2007 Alcon Taiwan Hiking focuses on reducing computing hours

After "Taiwan Orbis & Standard Chartered Bank Charity Walking" last week at Guandu Nature Park, the main organizer Alcon Taiwan held a hiking activity with "Love Your Eyes Without Computing" topic at Taipei Municipal Fude Elementary School and Tiger Mountain Trail in Taipei City, Taiwan. This is the third year Alcon Taiwan held a similar activity after hiking last year and 5KM running around Taipei City Hall two years ago.

At the Press Conference two weeks ago, Alcon Taiwan announced a questionnaire about "Acknowledgment on Eye-Caring and Eyes for PC Screen in Taiwan". According to the questionnaire, lots of people especially younger people watched PC screen more than seven hours and caused a bad phenomenon in Taiwan. That's why Alcon Taiwan named this hiking activity slogan as "Love Your Eyes Without Computing". Alcon Taiwan hoped people in Taiwan can reduce computing hours and rest appropriately.

The main organizer invited Taiwanese famous entertainer Sun Peng and Di Ying supporting and named as "Eye-Caring Ambassadors". Sun mentioned on restrictions and policies with his family to keep a good eyesight at their family. He hoped his children have a bright future with a good eyesight.

"With a serious condition on red-eye symptom in Taiwan, lots of people may have a worse result without correct treatments and acknowledgments, if anyone affected this symptom, that one should go to hospital for the treatment with medical professionals", Sheng-mou Ho (Minister of Department of Health, Executive Yuan of R.O.C., Taiwan) remarked. "The ages of nearsightedness people is progressively decreasing, it caused diopters of younger people increasing progressively. Parents should tell their children about correct acknowledgments on eye-caring for their future."

After the hiking activity, organizers and sponsors set gaming and eye checking-up booths for participants and also held seminars to provide the how-to with good eyesight keeping. In the main stage, not only shows and performances, the organizer also held a creative modeling show to encourage participants absorbing good nutritions for a good eyesight.


台灣愛爾康親山活動 呼應世界視覺日 鼓勵民眾降低電腦使用量

繼上周六台灣奧比斯與香港渣打銀行的「護眼健走」之後，今（21）日在台北市立福德國小，台灣愛爾康就舉辦了一場親山健行活動，主題訂為「愛你眼睛健康，今天不開機」，這項活動是繼前年宣誓護眼元年所舉辦的路跑，以及去年四獸山的親山護眼健行後，台灣愛爾康第三度在台北市舉辦這項護眼宣導活動。

在兩周前由愛爾康舉行的記者會中，針對10─65歲所提出的「台灣民眾螢幕用眼睛情形與護眼認知調查」顯示，台灣民眾的電腦使用率提升，盯上螢幕的時間幾乎是每日七小時，已經超乎應有的安全範圍，此種情況特以年輕族群最為嚴重，因此今年才會提出「今年不開機」的主題，希望呼籲國人減低盯螢幕的時間。

除了上午的親山活動以外，主辦單位還邀請了台灣愛爾康的護眼大使孫鵬、狄鶯夫妻檔，為本活動助陣，孫鵬在接受台灣媒體專訪時表示，他平常在家中就對於孩子的視力特別關切，還規定玩遊戲的基本限度，就是希望要給他一個好未來，不希望他的兒子和同年齡的人一樣，失去良好的視力。

另外，現任的衛生署長侯勝茂表示，最近紅眼症的疫情嚴重，而不少人可能因為治療的方式不對，導致嚴重的傷害，因而建議台灣民眾，遇上類似狀況時，不要誤信偏方，應當先行就醫才是，另一方面，他也表示，近視者的年齡層日益降低，度數漸深，家長應該要扮演觀念導正的角色，讓孩子正確用眼，才能給下一代一個很好的未來。

親山活動結束後，主辦單位與協辦的機構，分別設置了許多闖關與眼睛健檢攤位，並在周邊舉辦護眼專題演講，讓民眾藉由參與，意識到正確用眼的觀念，與眼睛保養的重要性，舞台區除了表演活動，另外也有針對護眼常識，設計的創意造型走秀，藉表演以寓教於樂，並鼓勵民眾養成正確飲食習慣，攝取適當的蔬菜，才能維護好視力。


2008 Leisure Taiwan: Safety first before sporting

Since current issues involving oil price increases, energy-saving and carbon-decreasing have gained public attention, the bicycle has become a popular product as everyone wants to own one. But some industrial businesspeople have pointed out a critical issue on bicycle riding, that is, personal security (safety).

Jack Cheng-kuan Hsieh, Chairman of KHS Mountain Bike Corp., discussed some of the dangers of cycling with Wikinews Journalist Rico Shen as part of a press conference.

In addition to Hsieh, Wikinews also interviewed Frank Feng-chou Kuo, Technical Chair of International Association of Ultra Runners. Following is an extract from his comments made to Wikinews Journalist Rico Shen:

In general, when sporting anytime and anywhere, preparations should be made for better performance and safety, whether it involves more or less endurance or physical strength.


台灣自行車業：任何運動 都是留給有充分準備的人

今年的台灣運動暨休閒產業展，由於時事相關議題的燃燒，自行車成為火熱的重點商品，而在開幕日的一場新書發表會中，自行車業界就特別點出了民眾騎乘自行車的潛在問題。

功學社自行車董事長，也是功學社單車學院的校長謝正寬表示，環島幾乎成為每個自行車愛好者想要完成的目標，但是，有些人的想法過於簡單，可能連基本的觀念都沒有，到時候，傷害一旦造成，後果將不堪設想。因此，騎乘自行車，除了要考量道路線的選擇，週邊的防護配備也是一項必要的重點，衣著也應當隨氣候，而有適當的改變，另外，天候因素若不利於騎乘時，千萬不要過於勉強。

此外，自行車業界也指出，不管什麼運動都好，許多意外事故，多半是準備不足所致，像是今年在大甲鎮瀾宮舉辦的「萬人崇BIKE」活動，以及去年台北國道馬拉松，都發生參賽者猝死的案例，其實，這些都是可以被避免的，因為，許多需要耐力的活動，都是留給有充分準備的人。


96 dead of Ebola-like Marburg virus in Angola

More than 100 people are dead in Uige province in northern Angola, due to a virus related to the Ebola virus, known as the Marburg virus, which causes death by bleeding and is both "very virulent" and "very contagious". A longer incubation period without symptoms than that of the Ebola virus has authorities keeping a watchful eye for the disease migrating.

"This is a possibility. The incubation period is 21 days so we must reinforce the surveillance in neighbouring provinces and especially in Luanda," Vice Minister for Health Jose Van Dunem told Reuters.

The virus is transmitted by bodily fluids, including saliva. Most of the victims have been children under five. There is no cure, but the 70 percent survival rate is somewhat better than the worst form of Ebola, which has a survival rate of only 10 percent.

Symptoms of Marburg include high fever, headaches, nausea with vomiting, and diarrhea accompanied by blood.


Vírus parecido com o Ebola provoca a morte de várias pessoas em Angola

Pelo menos 96 pessoas morreram  na província Uige na Angola do norte, devido a um vírus parecido com o vírus Ebola, conhecido como  vírus Marburg.  Ele  causa a morte através de sangramento  e é bastante virulento e  contagioso.

As autoridades matém vigilância para evitar a migração da doença, principalmente porque pode haver um período de incubação durante o qual não há sintomas da doença em indivíduos infectados.

O vírus é transmitido por fluidos corpóreos, inclusive a saliva. A maior parte das vítimas foram crianças com menos de cinco anos. Não há nenhuma cura, e taxa de sobrevivência é de 70 por cento entre as pessoas doentes, o que  é   melhor do que a pior forma do Ebola, que tem uma percentagem de sobrevivência de apemas 10 por cento.

Os sintomas de Marburg incluem alta febre, dores de cabeça, náusea com vômito, e diarréia acompanhada de sangue.


According to recent study, deaths in India number roughly 4 million during COVID-19 pandemic

In a paper published earlier this week, the US-based Center for Global Development wrote that excess deaths in India during the COVID-19 pandemic are believed to number between 3.4 to 5 million between May 2020 and June 21, 2021.

The figures in the paper were calculated using death certificates in seven states, international estimates of age-specific infection rates compared to data from antibody tests, and a consumer survey which records deaths. While not all of these deaths were necessarily caused by COVID-19, excess deaths can be used to help calculate the impact of the pandemic.

The researchers said the death toll was "likely to be far greater than the official count" and "likely to be in several millions". Arvind Subramanian, a co-writer of the report, said that "after the first wave, which was more spread out, there was a sense that India had escaped the worst because there was this undercounting of deaths, and that led to a culture of complacency. But in the second wave, with all the horrendous images that we saw, that really galvanised Indian society to get to the bottom of the numbers." Subramanian also added that the figures only went up to May and didn't include all of June or any of July, meaning the true death toll may still be undercounted.

More than 414,000 COVID-19 deaths have been officially recorded in India, the third-highest total in the world. There is no official record of excess deaths in India during the pandemic.


Covid-19: novo estudo indica que mortes na Índia podem chegar a 4 milhões

Em um artigo publicado no início da semana passada, o Center for Global Development, com sede nos Estados Unidos, escreveu que o excesso de mortes na Índia durante a pandemia de covid-19 pode ser de 3,4 a 5 milhões de pessoas entre maio de 2020 e 21 de junho de 2021.

Os números foram calculados usando atestados de óbito de sete estados, estimativas internacionais de taxas de infecção específicas por idade comparadas a dados de testes de anticorpos e uma pesquisa que registra mortes. Embora nem todas essas mortes tenham sido necessariamente causadas por covid-19, o excesso de mortes pode ser usado para ajudar a calcular o impacto da pandemia.

Os pesquisadores disseram que o número de mortos era "provavelmente muito maior do que a contagem oficial" e "provavelmente é de vários milhões". Arvind Subramanian, um dos coautores do relatório, disse que "depois da primeira onda, que foi mais espalhada, havia uma sensação de que a Índia havia escapado do pior porque houve essa contagem reduzida de mortes, o que levou uma cultura de complacência. Mas na segunda onda, com todas as imagens horrendas que vimos, isso realmente galvanizou a sociedade indiana para verificar os números a fundo". Subramanian também acrescentou que os números só iam até maio passado e não incluíam junho ou julho, o que significa que a verdadeira cifra de mortos ainda pode estar subestimada.

Mais de 414.000 mortes por covid-19 foram oficialmente registradas na Índia, o terceiro maior total do mundo. Não há registro oficial de mortes excessivas na Índia durante a pandemia.


African leaders start drive to eradicate malaria

The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), consisting of leaders of 26 African countries, are beginning a drive to eradicate malaria from the continent by distributing medication, insecticides, and bed nets.

US$100 million worth of funds will be given out to battle the disease in endemic nations; the budget was announced yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Ray Chambers, a special envoy for malaria with the United Nations, commented on the push, saying: "We believe that if we cover everybody in Africa with bed nets, insecticides and medication by the end of this year, we will have zero deaths or near zero deaths from malaria in Africa by 2015." A statement from Chambers said the funds will be provided by the US President's Malaria Initiative.

The statement continued: "The new US funding comes as ALMA finalises a bulk purchase of long lasting insecticidal nets. This bulk purchase of 50 million long lasting insecticidal nets by twelve African nations will reduce costs and streamline procurement and distribution, accelerating the rate at which nets will begin reaching risk populations [...] African leaders, working together with friends of ALMA, are forging the African-led response needed to solve one of Africa’s most severe health challenges."

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, in comments to the World Economic Forum, said that the same strategy had lowered the incidence of malaria in Zanzibar from 40% to 1%.

According to health experts, use of nets can lower the spread of malaria by 50%, and cut child deaths by a fifth.

Malaria, a disease spread to humans through infected mosquitoes, costs Africa more than $40 billion annually in sick days and treatment, according to the Reuters news service.


Együttes afrikai fellépés a malária visszaszorítására

A 26 afrikai ország vezetőit tömörítő Afrikai Maláriaellenes Szövetség (AMSZ) [1] új kampányt indított a malária visszaszorítása érdekében, amelynek keretében gyógyszereket, szúnyoghálót és rovarölőszert osztanak szét a veszélyeztetett lakosság körében.

– A programot 100 millió dollár értékben az (Egyesült Államokbeli) Elnöki Maláriaellenes Alap finanszírozza - jelentette be Ray Chambers, az ENSZ maláriaügyi különmegbízottja május 5-én, a Világgazdasági Fórum Dar es Salaamban tartott ülésén. - Úgy számolunk, hogyha az év végéig minden afrikaihoz eljut a szúnyoghálóból, rovarölőszerekből és megfelelő gyógyszerekből álló csomag, akkor 2015-re akár nullára is csökkenthet a malária okozta halálesetek száma. (...) A támogatást azután folyósítják, hogy az AMSZ megrendelte a tartós, hosszú élettartamú rovarhálókat. Az, hogy a 12 ország együtt köti meg a szerződést az 50 millió darab háló leszállítására, csökkenti a költségeket és nagyban gyorsítja a beszerzést: a veszélyeztetett lakosok így hamarabb juthatnak hozzá a szükséges eszközökhöz.

Jakaya Kikwete, Tanzánia elnöke hozzáfűzte, hogy országában a védekezés ezen módja a lakosság számarányában évi 40%-ról 1%-ra szorította vissza a maláriafertőzések számát.

A malária vérszívókon keresztül terjedő fertőző betegség. A Reuters számításai szerint a gyógykezelések költségei és a kieső munkanapok révén évente mintegy 40 milliárd dolláros gazdasági kár származik a betegségből Afrikában.


"Aggressive" Bird Flu found in Sweden

An "aggressive"  strain of Avian Flu has been detected in two tufted ducks in Oskarshamn, Southeast Sweden.

This makes Sweden the ninth country in the EU to confirm Avian Flu on their soil.

Some 35–40 wild birds were found dead. The birds were brought to Uppsala, where an analysis confirmed the presence of an "aggressive" form of Avian Flu. Tests at a laboratory in the UK will later eventually confirm whether the birds died of the lethal H5N1.

Sweden's Minister of Agriculture, Ann-Christin Nykvist, said at a press conference the discovery was "serious but not unexpected." Sweden has been on high alert since the virus was found on the German island Rügen in the Baltic Sea.

Two security zones are being established around the location where the birds were found. Dead birds will be destroyed and domestic stocks in the affected area will be monitored.


Die Vogelgrippe ist in Bayern und Schweden angekommen

München (Deutschland) / Stockholm (Schweden), 28.02.2006 – Heute gab das Münchner Umweltministerium das Eintreffen der Vogelgrippe in Bayern bekannt. Damit sind nun Tiere aus einem fünften Bundesland in Deutschland infiziert. Die ersten Tiere in Bayern waren zwei Wildvögel. Sie tragen den für den Menschen gefährlichen Virus H5N1. Fundort war die Stadt Lindau am Bodensee auf bayerischem Gebiet.

In Schweden wurde nach Angaben der Behörden in Stockholm auch bei zwei toten Wildvögeln in der Nähe von  Oskarshamnder der Virus H5N1 festgestellt.


Szwecja: Przypadki ptasiej grypy

Dzień po tym, jak w Niemczech znaleziono zdechłego na ptasią grypę kota (pierwszy przypadek zaatakowanego wirusem ssaka), choroba dotarła również do Szwecji.

Niebezpieczny wirus ptasiej grypy, H5N1 znaleziony został w ciałach dwóch martwych kaczek w gminie Oskarshamn w południowo-wschodniej Szwecji.

Szwedzkie służby weterynaryjne badają w tej chwili jeszcze około 40 ptaków z Oskarshamn.


Fågelviruset konstaterat i Sverige

Sverige –
Statens veterinärmedicinska anstalt (SVA) har hittat fågelviruset hos minst två döda viggar. Detta innebär att den dödliga varianten av fågelviruset nu finns i Sverige.

Jorbruksminister Ann-Christin Nykvist sa vid en presskonferens att virusets ankomst var "allvarlig men inte oväntad". Hon underströk att det viktigaste i nuläget var att skydda fåglarna.

De två smittade fåglarna ingick i en grupp om 35–40 vilda fåglar som undersöktes på SVA i Uppsala. Viggarna hittades norr om Oskarshamn. Man har redan konstaterat att det rör sig om den "aggressiva" varianten av sjudomen och ska nu försöka fastställa om det rör sig om den dödliga form H5N1 genom prover i Storbritannien.

Jordbruksverket kommer under dagen att upprätta en skydds- och en övervakningszon kring fyndplatsen där man kommer att ta hand om döda vildfåglar.

Händelser 28 februari • februari • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 9
Publiceringar 28 februari • februari • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 9


AIDS 'super bug' diagnosed in New York

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

New York — A drug-resistant and quick-acting form of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has been detected in New York City, according to officials.

Although diagnosed in only one man so far, this mutated version of the virus progresses to AIDS faster than other forms of HIV, officials said. Diagnosed with HIV in mid-October, the unnamed New York City man developed the full-blown form AIDS by mid-January. Normally HIV infection can take up to 10 years to develop into AIDS.

Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, the director of HIV/AIDS prevention at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), told the New York Times this new strain of virus is unique because of the rapid progression of the disease and its resistance to multiple AIDS drug regimens. Although the New York case appears to be isolated at this time, the CDC has sent a nation-wide alert to health departments in every state.

"It appears this individual has contracted a new, particularly virulent strain of HIV that swiftly advanced to AIDS in just a few short months," Charles Farthing, MD, AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Chief of Medicine said in a press release. "Unfortunately, it also seems that few of the AIDS treatments currently available today can be used in his case, as this particular strain of infection appears to be resistant to most known AIDS drugs."

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, urged all newly-diagnosed HIV patients to get tested to see if they have this new form of the virus. He also said all sexually active people should be tested for the HI virus.

New York health officials said they estimate that about 88,000 New Yorkers have HIV infection or AIDS and that an additional 20,000 are infected but unaware of their condition.


Encontrada mutación del VIH en Nueva York

17 de febrero de 2005Nueva York, Estados Unidos — Una mutación resistente y de acción rápida del VIH, virus causante del sida, se detectó en Nueva York el pasado viernes.

Esta cepa, llamada 3-DCR HIV, progresa más rápido que otras formas del virus. En el caso del hombre infectado, cuya identidad se mantiene en reserva, el virus fue diagnosticado a mediados de octubre y se había desarrollado completamente a mediados de enero, tres meses después, cuando normalmente la infección con VIH puede tardar hasta 10 años para convertirse en sida. El enfermo habría confesado haber tenido relaciones sexuales sin protección con varios compañeros.

El Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, director del programa de prevención del sida en el Centro para Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC), dijo al New York Times que esta nueva forma del virus es única por el rápido avance de la enfermedad y su resistencia a los tratamientos farmacéuticos actuales. A pesar de ser un caso aislado, el CDC ya envió una alerta nacional a los departamentos de salud de todos los estados de la Unión Americana.

Las opiniones se encuentran divididas. Para Robert Gallo, uno de los precursores del tratamiento contra el sida y director del Departamento de Virología de la Universidad de Maryland, "es probable que algunos pacientes desarrollen más rápido la infección porque son altamente susceptibles y no porque su cepa del virus sea más agresiva". Otros se preguntaban si este aviso fue, hasta cierto punto, imprudente.


Alzheimer's disease reversed in mice using caffeine

Two studies published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease point to caffeine as reducing beta amyloid, a protein that in sticky clumps called senile plaque is a sign of Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers had 55 mice who were genetically altered and exhibited memory loss at age 18 to 19 months (close to about age 70 in a human). Half the mice received the equivalent of five 8 ounce cups of regular coffee a day or 500 milligrams, about the same as in two cups of specialty coffees like Starbucks, in their drinking water. This half of the mice recovered and had memories as sharp as older mice who did not have dementia.

"The new findings provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable 'treatment' for established Alzheimer's disease, and not simply a protective strategy," said Gary Arendash, PhD, a University of South Florida neuroscientist with the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and a lead author of a study. "That's important because caffeine is a safe drug for most people, it easily enters the brain, and it appears to directly affect the disease process."

The researchers hope to begin human trials based on their two months work in mice. Neil Hunt, CEO of the Alzheimer's Society said, "[M]uch more research is needed to determine whether drinking coffee has the same impact in people. It is too soon to say whether a cup of coffee is anything more than a pleasant pick me up."

Arendash GW, Mori T, Cao C, Mamcarz M, Runfeldt M, Dickson A, Rezai-Zadeh K, Tan J, Citron BA, Lin X, Echeverria V, and Potter H. Caffeine Reverses Cognitive Impairment and Decreases Brain Amyloid-β Levels in Aged Alzheimer's Disease Mice. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2009; 17:3: .
Cao C, Cirrito JR, Lin X, Wang L, Verges DK, Dickson A, Mamcarz M, Zhang C, Mori T, Arendash GW, Holzman DN, and Potter H. Caffeine Suppresses Amyloid-β  Levels in Plasma and Brain of Alzheimer's Disease Transgenic Mice. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2009; 17:3: .


Alzheimer revertido en ratones utilizando cafeína

Dos estudios publicados en julio de 2009 en el Journal of Alzheimer's Disease apuntan que la cafeína reduciría la beta-amiloide, una proteína que en grupos forma las placas seniles, un signo de la enfemerdad de Alzheimer.

Los investigadores utilizaron 55 ratones que fueron genéticamente alterados y demostraron tener pérdida de memoria a la edad de 18 a 19 meses (comparativamente, sería el equivalente a cerca de los 70 años para los humanos). La mitad de los ratones recibieron el equivalente a 500 miligramos de café diariamente, diluido en su agua. Esta mitad de los ratones se recuperaron y recobraron su memoria en el mismo nivel que aquellos que no sufrieron demencia.

"Los nuevos descubrimientos proveen evidencia de que la cafeína podría ser un 'tratamiento' viable para la enfermedad de Alzheimer, y no simplemente una estrategia protectora", dijo Gary Arendash, neurocientífico de la Universidad de Florida del Sur y el principal autor del estudio. "Es importante porque la cafeína es una droga segura para la mayor parte de las personas, entra fácilmente al cerebro, y parece afectar directamente el proceso de la enfermedad".

Los investigadores esperar poder experimentar en humanos basándose en su experimentación de dos meses sobre ratones. Neil Hunt, CEO de la Sociedad de Alzheimer, declaró que "se necesita mucha más investigación para determina si tomar café tiene el mismo impacto en las personas. Es demasiado temprano como para decir que una taza de café es más que un simple placentero estimulante".


Anti-abortion activist Bernard Nathanson dies aged 84

Obstetrician Bernard Nathanson, who provided abortions and then became an anti-abortion activist, is dead at the age of 84. Nathanson died in New York; the cause of death was announced as cancer. During his time as an obstetrician he estimated that he was involved in nearly 75,000 abortions, about 5,000 of which he performed himself. He performed his last abortion in 1979; shortly thereafter he became an anti-abortion activist.

Nathanson opened an abortion clinic in New York City in the 1960s but had performed abortions beforehand. In the 1940s he completed an abortion on his then girlfriend who was pregnant with his child. In 1969, he became one of the founders of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, an organization that still exists today.

After performing his last abortion and becoming an anti-abortion advocate, Nathanson narrated The Silent Scream, a film that showed a three month-old fetus being aborted. As well as films he also wrote books about abortion including his 1996 autobiography The Hand of God.

His wife, Christine Reisner-Nathanson spoke about his change of views. She said, "When he was an abortion doctor he was seen as a pariah by the medical community and when he went pro-life he was scorned by the women in the pro-abortion movement."


Ve věku 84 let zemřel protipotratový bojovník Bernard Nathanson

Porodník Bernard Nathanson, který byl původně aktivním vykonavatelem interrupcí a poté se stal aktivistou bojujícím proti interrupcím, zemřel v New Yorku ve věku 84 let. Podle oznámení byla důvodem smrti rakovina. V první části své kariéry se podílel na skoro 75 000 interrupcí, z nichž 5000 provedl osobně. Poslední vykonal v roce 1979 krátce předtím, než začal naopak proti interrupcím brojit.

Nathanson si otevřel v šedesátých letech interrupční kliniku v New Yorku, ale v oboru pracoval už dříve. Už ve čtyřicátých letech například provedl interrupci své dívce, která čekala jeho dítě. V roce 1969 spoluzakládal dodnes existující organizaci NARAL (Národní asociaci pro zrušení zákonů zakazujících interrupce).

Jako protipotratový aktivista mimo jiné vytvořil snímek Němý výkřik, který zachycuje interrupci tříměsíčního plodu. Na téma interrupcí také psal knihy včetně své autobiografie Boží ruka vydané v roce 1996.

Jeho manželka Christine Reisnerová-Nathansonová charakterizovala jeho život: „Když prováděl jako lékař interrupce, byl vyvrhelem zdravotnické komunity, a když se stal protipotratovým aktivistou, došel opovržení u aktivistek z propotratového hnutí.“

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Anti-abortion activist Bernard Nathanson dies aged 84 na anglických Wikizprávách.


Anti-abortion March for Life draws thousands in Washington, D.C.

Yesterday,  thousands of anti-abortion protesters rallied in Washington, D.C. Unlike the half a million who walked to the White House waving signs last Saturday, these came to support one of the policies espoused by the United States president Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence: making abortion harder to come by.

This event, called the March for Life, has taken place every year since 1973, the year abortion was ruled legal in the U.S. by the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision. "Pro-life" is the umbrella term of choice of the U.S. political movement that favors rendering abortion illegal and less accessible and "pro-choice" is the corresponding term for the movement that favors keeping it legal and accessible.

Donald Trump has recently reversed Barack Obama's repeal of a global funding ban, which prohibits the use of U.S. funds for any organization that provides or counsels for abortions abroad.

Trump specifically asked Vice President Mike Pence to attend the march. "Life is winning in America!" he told the crowd, noting that he serves under "a president who I proudly say stands for the right to life." A Pew Research Institute poll taken this year shows that 69% of Americans support the Roe v Wade decision, up from 60% in 1992.

One reason why many opponents of abortion say the procedure should be illegal is the belief, often religious, that life begins at conception. Correspondingly, the event was accompanied by religious music and speeches, including one by Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan. One reporter for the BBC noted a large number of young women in the crowd, especially college students. Signs included "Women DO Regret Abortion" and "I am the Pro-Life Generation," many held up by young women. Others showed pictures of fetuses, quoted Bible verses, or called for the defunding of Planned Parenthood by name. There is already a law in place, the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds for abortions, though this money can go to organizations that also perform abortions so long as the funds are kept separate.

As governor of Indiana, Mike Pence established some of the country's strictest abortion laws. Years ago, Donald Trump said publicly that he was "very pro-choice" but has since changed his stance. Trump commented, as is his custom, via Tweet, "To all of you marching — you have my full support!"

The crowds in Washington, D.C. yesterday numbered in the tens of thousands, in contrast to the roughly 500,000 in last week's Women's March, though some organizations did attend both events. March for Life President Jeanne Mancini told National Public Radio, "I think we're a pretty different march — we're a one-issue march."

The abortion rate in the United States hit a record low in 2013, but the pro- and anti-abortion rights movements are at odds about why. Both sides credit increased availability of contraceptives, but anti-abortion organizations tend to give more credit to state-level laws that have made it harder to keep abortion clinics open and limit abortions to only the early stages of pregnancy. As NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue pointed out, the anti-abortion movement now has the opportunity to work at the federal level; "We're living at the apex of a 40-year, state-by-state effort by the anti-choice people [...] We have to be prepared for the fact that they've got all the pieces in place to do real damage."


Mike Pence aanwezig op anti-abortusmars

Een anti-abortusmars in de Verenigde Staten kon op de aanwezigheid van vice-president Mike Pence rekenen.

De 'March for Life' wordt ieder jaar gehouden in de stad Washington D.C. Sinds 1973 is abortus er volgens de wet volledig legaal. Dit jaar was vice-president Mike Pence er voor het eerst bij en hij hield er een korte toespraak. Zijn aanwezigheid komt niet geheel onverwachts, eerder uitte hij reeds kritiek tegenover de abortuswetgeving.

President Donald Trump laat alvast verstaan dat hij van plan is de subsidies aan niet-gouvermentele organisaties die abortus promoten in het buitenland in te trekken.

In 2016 werd een rondvraag gedaan bij Amerikanen. 57% van de mensen stemde in met de wet die abortus toelaat.


Apples top most contaminated produce list

According to the United States-based Environmental Working Group (EWG), apples rank as the  most contaminated fruit and vegetable produce.

The consumer advocacy group's Dirty Dozen list, released Monday, ranks fruit and vegetables most highly contaminated by pesticides and fungicides. Apples are followed  by celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce and kale or collard greens.

The Dirty Dozen list is part of the EWG's seventh annual Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce along with the Clean 15 list, headed by onions, corn, pineapple, asparagus and watermelon. Consumers taking the recommended five-a-day from the Dirty Dozen were predicted by EWG to consume an average of 14 different pesticides; in contrast, those choosing from the Clean 15 could be expected to be exposed to two or less contaminants—a claimed reduction of 92 percent.

For the report, EWG synthesized data from the U.S  Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration collected between 2000 and 2009. Produce was washed and peeled, if necessary, and then each was given a score based on the the level, type and number of pesticides found in the produce.

The lists are meant to aid consumers in making safer choices as they shop for produce. "Pesticides are toxic," said EWG analyst Sonya Lunder, "[t]hey are designed to kill things and most are not good for you. The question is, how bad are they?"

"A growing body of scientific evidence shows pesticide consumption can cause lasting harm to children's brain development," wrote a group of leading physicians and public health experts in a May 6 letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. "Three recently published studies have all shown that early life exposure of children to pesticides can cause persistent problems in learning, memory and behavior."

The pesticides that coat produce have been linked to various health problems says Alex Formuzis, spokesperson for EWG. Although pesticides remained after washing and peeling, Formuzis said the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables make them a better choice than most other snack foods: "If it's a choice between an apple and potato chips, choose the apple".

Pesticides and fungicides are used by farmers to kill insects, other pests, and to extend produce shelf life. The Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF), a trade group, criticized  the new report. Teresa Thorne of the AFF said, "Not only are farmers of fruits and vegetables meeting requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for pesticide residues, but their crops are shown to have either no residues at all or with residues 10 times to 100 times below already stringent safety limits."


V žebříčku nejvíce kontaminovaného ovoce a zeleniny vyhrála jablka

Podle organizace Environmental Working Group sídlící ve Spojených státech amerických jsou ze vší zeleniny a ovoce nejkontaminovanější jablka.

V pondělí tato organizace zveřejnila seznam nazvaný Tucet špinavců (v originále Dirty Dozen), na který umístila ovoce a zeleninu s nejvyšším obsahem pesticidů a fungicidů. V seznamu následují mimo jiné celer, jahody, broskev, špenát, hroznové víno, paprika, brambory, borůvky, hlávkový salát a kapusta.

Seznam tuctu špinavců je součástí sedmého vydání Průvodce nakupujícího k pesticidům v produktech, kde je obsažen také seznam patnácti čistých (Clean 15), který vede cibule, kukuřice, ananas, chřest a lubenice.

Smyslem seznamů je pomoci spotřebitelům nakupovat zdravotně bezpečné plodiny. „Pesticidy jsou jedovaté,“ říká Sonya Lunderová, analytička EWG, „jsou navržené k zabíjení a neprospějí vám. Otázka je, jak moc jsou špatné.“

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Apples top most contaminated produce list na anglických Wikizprávách.


Ariel Sharon's condition worsens

Ariel Sharon's condition has worsened according to officials at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center where the former Israeli prime minister is being treated.

A new brain scan shows a deterioration in function according to hospital spokesperson Anat Dolev. His urine output has fallen and a chest scan indicates a new infection.

Ms. Dolev would not say whether Sharon's life was in danger.

Sharon, 78, has been in a coma since his stroke on Jan. 4 and his doctors have said his chances of recovery are very slim.


Peggiorate le condizioni di Ariel Sharon

Le condizioni di Ariel Sharon sono peggiorate secondo gli ufficiali medici del Chaim Sheba Medical Center, dove l'ex premier di Israele è ricoverato.

Una nuova ispezione sulle condizioni del cervello ha mostrato un deterioramento delle funzioni, secondo il portavoce dell'ospedale Anat Dolev. I test delle urine si sarebbero rivelati peggiori del previsto e una radiografia al torace ha indicato una nuova infezione.

La signora Dolev non ha detto se la vita di Sharon è in pericolo.

Sharon, 78 anni, è in coma da quando ha avuto un infarto il 4 gennaio scorso e i suoi dottori hanno detto che le sue possibilità di recupero sono molto basse.


Arizona, Florida, Illinois hold 2020 US presidential primaries; Ohio postpones

On Tuesday, the United States Democratic Party held primary elections in the states of Arizona, Florida, and Illinois. By reports, former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden won all three elections. Ohio, which was also scheduled to hold a primary election, delayed its voting in the face of the national emergency around the spread of the COVID-19 disease. The same day, incumbent President of the United States Donald Trump became the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for the 2020 United States presidential election after winning the party's primaries in Florida and Illinois.

The Democratic and Republican Parties use primary elections, along with caucuses, to select their nominees for the 2020 presidential election. For a candidate to win the Democratic Party's nomination, a total of at least 1,991 delegates are needed. The three primary elections the Democratic party held represented a total of 441 delegates.

Biden's victories in Arizona, Florida, and Illinois left him with a reported total of 1,124 pledged delegates; United States Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders trailed him with a total of 815. In the 2016 United States presidential election, Sanders also lost in all three of these states to Hillary Clinton. The Democratic Party awards delegates proportionally to how candidates fare; candidates must receive at least 15% of the vote to be eligible to earn delegates from a state, territory, or district within a state or territory.

On the Republican side, 1,276 delegates are required to secure the nomination. After winning the Republican Party's primaries in Florida and Illinois on Tuesday, Trump reportedly amassed 1,330 delegates, more than the number needed, making him the Republican Party's presumptive nominee.

In Ohio, which was planning to hold its primary election on Tuesday, Governor Mike DeWine postponed it, citing the health crisis. In a two-part statement on Twitter, he wrote, "During this time when we face an unprecedented public health crisis, to conduct an election tomorrow would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus." He continued by announcing, "As such, @DrAmyActon will order the polls closed as a health emergency. While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State @FrankLaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity."

DeWine's decision comes a few days after President Trump declared a national emergency in response to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The World Health Organization has classified the the outbreak of COVID-19 disease as a pandemic.

As of Tuesday, Ohio was one of six states that had decided to postpone its election. Maryland rescheduled most of its primary races to June 2; they were originally planned for April 28. It did not change the date of its special election to fill the United States House of Representatives seat formerly held by Elijah Cummings, but instead is to switch to mail-in voting only. Cummings died in October at the age of 68.

The Democratic National Committee urged states not to reschedule their elections but rather to use mail-in voting instead. Support for mail-in voting also came from United States Senator from Minnesota Amy Klobuchar. On Monday, Klobuchar, along with Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, introduced a bill to require voting by mail in all states as an emergency measure. Klobuchar was herself a candidate in the 2020 presidential election before she ended her campaign.


Arizona, Flórida e Illinois realizam primárias presidenciais de 2020; Ohio adia

Na terça-feira, o Partido Democrata realizou eleições primárias nos estados do Arizona, Flórida e Illinois. Segundo relatos, o ex-vice-presidente dos Estados Unidos Joe Biden venceu todas as três. Ohio, que também estava programada para realizar sua eleição primária, adiou a votação diante da emergência nacional em torno da propagação do COVID-19.

No mesmo dia, o presidente em exercício dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, tornou-se o candidato presumido do Partido Republicano para a eleição presidencial em 2020, depois de vencer as primárias do partido na Flórida e Illinois. Ambos partidos usam eleições primárias, juntamente com caucuses, para selecionar seus candidatos para a eleição presidencial. Para um candidato vencer a indicação do Partido Democrata, é necessário um total de pelo menos 1.991 delegados. As três eleições primárias realizadas pelo partido representaram um total de 441 delegados.

As vitórias de Biden no Arizona, Flórida e Illinois o deixaram com um total de 1.124 delegados prometidos. O senador de Vermont Bernie Sanders o seguiu com um total de 815. Na eleição presidencial de 2016, Sanders também perdeu em todos esses três estados para Hillary Clinton. O Partido Democrata premia os delegados proporcionalmente à forma como os candidatos se saem; os candidatos devem receber pelo menos 15% dos votos para serem elegíveis para receber delegados de um estado, território ou distrito.

No lado republicano, 1.276 delegados são necessários para garantir a indicação. Depois de vencer as primárias do Partido Republicano na Flórida e Illinois na terça-feira, Trump supostamente reuniu 1.330 delegados, mais do que o número necessário, tornando-o o candidato presumido do partido.

Em Ohio, que planejava realizar sua eleição primária na terça-feira, o governador Mike DeWine a adiou, citando a crise na saúde. Ele fez o anúncio através do seu Twitter. A decisão de DeWine ocorre alguns dias depois que o presidente Trump declarou emergência nacional em resposta ao surto de coronavírus em andamento. A Organização Mundial da Saúde classificou o surto da doença como uma pandemia.

Na terça-feira, Ohio era um dos seis estados que haviam decidido adiar as eleições. Maryland remarcou a maioria de suas eleições primárias para 2 de junho; eles foram planejados originalmente para 28 de abril. Não alterou a data de sua eleição especial para ocupar a vaga na Câmara dos Deputados dos Estados Unidos anteriormente ocupada por Elijah Cummings, mas está mudando apenas para votação por correspondência. Cummings morreu em outubro aos 68 anos.

O Comitê Nacional Democrata instou os Estados a não reagendar suas eleições, mas a usar a votação por correspondência. O apoio à votação por correspondência também veio do senador de Minnesota Amy Klobuchar. Na segunda-feira, Klobuchar, juntamente com o senador Ron Wyden, de Oregon, apresentou um projeto de lei para exigir votação por correio em todos os estados como medida de emergência. Klobuchar foi candidata a presidência em 2020, mas encerrou sua campanha.


Arsenic and Thalidomide may be used to fight cancer

A gathering of more than a thousand medical researchers in Sydney, Australia, has been told that arsenic and Thalidomide — banned in the 1960s after being linked to gross birth abnormalities — held hope as a basis for new treatments, extending the lives of patients with an so-far incurable bone marrow cancer, multiple myeloma.

Diagnosis of the disease has increased by 45% in Australia since 1992. It is the most lethal form of cancer, and the topic of discussion, at the 10th International Myeloma Workshop, continuing until the 16th of April.

The two treatments had advantages over existing chemotherapy treatments, including lessened side-effects, and reducing the need for chemo- and radiotherapy. They may also be usable to treat other illnesses. Both were still under test.

"The development of arsenic dates back many years when it was used for lowering the blood counts in patients, even at the turn of the century," Professor Miles Prince, of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, told Australian Associated Press for the 10th International Myeloma Workshop.

"Subsequently [arsenic] was used in China since the 1960s for treating certain forms of Leukaemia," he said.

It could be used to induce the cell to "commit suicide".

"The side effects with Thalidomide are much less than with chemotherapy because it's not damaging innocent bystander cells - so you don't get low blood counts, you don't lose your hair, you don't get a sore mouth," he said.

"It was originally thought to work because [Thalidomide] blocks the blood vessel growth in tumours, and that is still true, but the research that we've done has shown that one of its major causes of action is to stimulate [ immune system ] T-cells which are directly against the tumour, and these T-cells help patients with myeloma fight their disease," Professor Douglas Joshua, head of Haemotology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, told Australian radio.

"There's no doubt that with the new combinations of drugs - we've got Thalidomide, the sons of Thalidomide, Velcade and arsenic - we're adding years onto patient's lives and certainly it could add up to five years or more," according to Prof. Prince.


Arszenik i thalidomid lekarstwem na raka

Podczas międzynarodowego zlotu lekarzy Myeloma w Sydney w Australii dowiedzieliśmy się, że arszenik i talidomid mogą być wykorzystywane w walce z rakiem, jako leki wspomagające.

Arszenik może być stosowany do zmuszania komórek do „popełnienia samobójstwa”, powiedział profesor Miles Prince z Centrum Leczenia Raka im. Petera MacCalluma. Co roku ponad 1000 Australijczyków zapada na nowotwór kości, jednego z najgorszych jego rodzajów, z najmniejszą szansą na przeżycie u chorego.

Naprawdę podwójnie przedłużyliśmy długość życia u tych pacjentów i z pewnością wśród niektórych pacjentów znajdą się tacy, którzy żyją dłużej niż dziesięć lat. Ich poziom życia także zdecydowanie się poprawił, powiedział profesor Prince.

Badanie z udziałem 200 pacjentów z wykrytym nowotworem wykazało, że talidomid wytworzył 90% więcej limfocytów T, odpowiedzialnych za zwalczanie komórek myeloma, rzadkiego rodzaju komórek powodujących nowotwór kości.

Kontrowersyjnym działaniem talidomidu jest jego toksyczność – w latach 60 odkryto, że lek ten jest mutagenny. Frances Oldham Kelsey, pracowniczka amerykańskiej Agencji Żywności i Leków, zbadała działanie tego leku i dowiodła, że kobiety ciężarne biorące leki oparte na mutagenie rodzą dzieci z bardzo rzadko spotykanymi deformacjami ciała. Wcześniej wspomnianym 200 pacjentów zalecono dawkowanie talidomidu zgodnie z indywidualnymi zaleceniami, aby nie wystąpiły skutki uboczne.


Arsênico e talidomida podem ser usados contra o câncer

Numa reunião com mais de mil pesquisadores médicos em Sidney, Austrália, foi dito que o arsênico e a talidomida — banida na década de 60 depois de ter ser apontada como causa de anormalidades de nascimento — podem ser uma nova esperança como base de novos tratamentos, capazes de estender as vidas de pacientes com um tipo de câncer/cancro ósseo, tido por enquanto como  incurável, o  milenoma múltiplo.

O diagnóstico da doença aumentou em 45 % na Austrália depois de 1992. Ele é a forma mais letal de câncer, e  tema da discussão, da X  Conferência Internacional de Milenoma, previsto para continar  até o dia 16 de abril.

Os dois tratamentos supostamente têm vantagens sobre os tratamentos de quimioterapia existentes, o que inclui  menos efeitos colaterais, e a redução da necessidade de quimio e  radioterapia. Eles também podem ser utilizados para tratar outras doenças. Ambos estão ainda sob teste.

"O desenvolvimento de arsênico data de muitos anos quando foi usado para abaixar a pressão arterial  em pacientes, até mesmo durante a virada do século," professor Miles Prince, do Centro de Câncer  Peter MacCallum, disse a um repórter da Associated Press durante a conferência.

"Posteriormente [o arsênico] foi usado na China a partir dos anos 60 para tratar certas formas da leucemia," ele disse.

"Ele pode ser usado para induzir a célula a suicidar-se", acrescentou.

"Os efeitos colaterais  da talidomida são muito menores do aqueles da quimioterapia porque ele não danifica as células boas do paciente. Logo,  você não fica com a pressão baixa,  não perde o cabelo e  não fica com  uma boca dolorida,"  disse o professor Prince.


Assisted-suicide doctor Jack Kevorkian to run for US Congress

Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a prominent United States advocate for the right-to-die for terminally ill patients via physician-assisted suicide, stated on Wednesday that he intends to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives.

"We need some honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt government in Washington," Dr. Kevorkian said while announcing his bid to represent Michigan's 9th congressional district. He said more information about his candidacy would be forthcoming next week, but he will run without party affiliation.

This seat is currently held by Congressman Joe Knollenberg, a Republican who has been the incumbent since 1993. Democrat and former state senator Gary Peters is also contesting the seat.

Kevorkian told The Oakland Press of Pontiac, which broke the story, that his campaign was in a "formative stage". In order to be on the ballot, Kevorkian will need to collect 3,000 signatures by the middle of July.

"That will be very easy for Jack," said Ruth Holmes, a long-standing associate of Kevorkian. "Jack is in great spirits, and he intends to do this. He just hopes for some honesty in government," she said.

Mike Brownfield, the campaign manager for Knollenberg said it "doesn't affect Joe Knollenberg at all. He's going to keep getting things done for Oakland County's families."

Julie Petrick, spokesperson for the Peters campaign, said "anybody has the right to run" but this is "one of the top races in the country as far as viability and our ability to win here."

Oakland County prosecutor Dave Gorcyca, whose office got Kevorkian convicted of second-degree homicide in 1999, said, "To call attention to himself is standard protocol for Jack when he doesn't have the limelight focused on him. I would not consider his candidacy to be a legitimate one."

Kevorkian served eight years of a 10-to-25 year prison sentence. He was released in June of 2007 on parole due to good behavior.


Джек Кеворкян планує балотуватися на місце в Конгресі США

Джек Кеворк'ан — відомий американський лікар та прихильник евтаназії проголосив про свій намір балотуватися на місце в Конгресі США. "Доктор смерть", як нарекла його преса, планує балотуватися як незалежний кандидат від штату Мічиган.

Джек Кеворк'ян став відомим завдяки своїй діяльності у допомозі смертельно хворим людям гідно закінчити своє життя. За його допомоги померло більш ніж 130 пацієнтів, однак за поміч у самогубстві одного з них він був засуджений до 25-річного тюремного ув'язнення. У 2007 р., після восьми років у тюрмі був звільнений достроково за добру поведінку і в зв'язку з поганим станом здоров'я лікаря.

На пресконференції він заявив про намір балотуватися на місце в Палаті представників Конгресу, оскільки за його словами "в Конгресі бракує чесності та відвертості". Як незалежний кандидат він мусить зібрати принаймні 3000 підписів на підтримку своєї кандидатури. На думку його прихильників, ці підписи не будуть перешкодою у виборчому процесі відомого лікаря. Американське законодавство на забороняє судимому кандидату балотуватися на посаду, однак оглядачі не певні чи цей намір Кеворкяна матиме достатню підтримку електорату штату.

13 березня 2008


At least 71 deaths in Mexico 'likely linked' to swine flu outbreak

Officials in Mexico are asking citizens to take actions in order to minimize the spread of the swine flu outbreak. Citizens are urged to stay away from large crowds, avoid kissing people and stay at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away from one another. Additionally, all schools and universities in Mexico City have been closed indefinitely. In addition, at least twenty people in the United States have been infected with the disease, causing the government to issue a "national public health emergency."

On Monday, Mexican officials reported that at least 100 deaths in their country were "likely linked" to the swine flu. Dr. Jose A. Cordova Villalobos, the health secretary of Mexico, said that at least 20 of the deaths have been confirmed as swine flu related deaths while the World Health Organization (WHO) says that 71 people have died from complications caused by the disease. Meanwhile, over 1,300 people in Mexico have been hospitalized because of flu-like symptoms since April 13.

In New Zealand, 26 students and teachers might have been infected by the flu during their trip to Mexico. Dr. Julia Peters, the clinical director of Auckland Regional Public Health Service, said that at least 22 have shown flu-like symptoms. All of the students and teachers are being quarantined pending test results. Similar health scares occurred in Israel. France, Spain and the United Kingdom, where people with flu-like symptoms have been tested for the swine flu. In the UK, test results came back negative for the deadly strain, while results from Israel, France and Spain are still pending.

In the United States, there have been twenty confirmed cases of swine-flu in the states of Kansas, Texas and California. Today, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg reported that at least 8 students from a New York preparatory school have contracted the mutated flu strain. The White House also said today that there was at least one confirmed case of the disease in Ohio, prompting the federal government to declare a "public health emergency."

Robert Gibbs, a White House spokesman, said that the swine flu outbreak "is of great concern to the White House," and that President Obama is now receiving briefings on the issue on a regular basis. Gibbs added, "I would tell people it's certainly not a time to panic [...] The government is taking all the steps it needs to and must do to take the precautions to deal with whatever size and scope we may be facing."

The WHO is taking the outbreak very seriously, calling it a "public health emergency of international concern" that has a "pandemic potential." The WHO's emergency council met on Saturday for the first time since its creation. If the committee decides that the swine flu outbreak is an international public health emergency, WHO could recommend travel warnings and restrictions and possible border closures.

The Center for Disease Control says that swine flu symptoms include a fever above 100º Fahrenheit, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, coughing, sore throat, lack of appetite, runny nose, breathing problems and fatigue. However, not all symptoms are present in each case of swine flu.


Al menos 71 muertos en Mexico "probablemente vinculada" a brote de gripe porcina

Funcionarios en México están pidiendo a sus ciudadanos a tomar medidas para reducir al mínimo la propagación del brote de la gripe porcina. Se exhorta a los ciudadanos mantenerse alejados de las grandes multitudes y evitar besar a las personas; permanecer por lo menos 6 pies (1,8 metros) de distancia el uno del otro. Además, todas las escuelas y universidades de la Ciudad de México han sido cerrados indefinidamente.

El domingo, los funcionarios mexicanos informaron que por lo menos 81 muertes en su país eran "probablemente vinculada" a la gripe porcina. Dr. Jose A. Cordova Villalobos, el secretario de salud de México, dice que al menos 20 de las muertes han sido confirmados como muertes relacionadas con la gripe porcina, mientras que la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) dice que 71 personas han muerto a causa de complicaciones causadas por la enfermedad. Mientras tanto, más de 1300 personas en México han sido hospitalizadas a causa de síntomas como de gripe desde el 13 de abril.

En Nueva Zelanda, 25 estudiantes y maestros podrían haber sido infectados por la gripe durante su viaje a México. Dra. Julia Peters, directora de la clínica de Auckland Regional Public Health Service, dice que al menos 14 han mostrado síntomas de gripe. Todos los estudiantes y los profesores están en cuarentena en espera de los resultados de la prueba. Algo similar ocurrió en Israel.

En los Estados Unidos, ha habido 19 casos confirmados de gripe porcina, en estados como Kansas, Texas y California. Hoy en Nueva York, el Alcalde Michael Bloomberg informó de que al menos 8 estudiantes de una escuela preparatoria de Nueva York han contraído la cepa de gripe mutado.

Robert Gibbs, un portavoz de la Casa Blanca, dijo que el brote de gripe porcina "es motivo de gran preocupación a la Casa Blanca", y que el Presidente Obama está recibiendo información sobre la cuestión de forma regular. Gibbs añadió: "Quiero decirle a la gente que ciertamente no es un momento de pánico ... El gobierno está tomando todas las medidas que necesita y debe hacer para tomar las precauciones para hacer frente a cualquier tamaño y alcance que podría estar enfrentando."


Ameryka Północna: świńska grypa zabija ludzi

Do co najmniej 103 osób wzrosła ilość ofiar, które zmarły w Meksyku na nową odmianę wirusa grypy H1N1 – tzw. „świńską grypę”.  Liczba zachorowań przekroczyła tam 1 600 osób. Władze Stanów Zjednoczonych poinformowały, że tym samym wirusem zostało zarażonych siedmiu obywateli USA.

Nowy wirus to mutacja szczepów grypy ptasiej, świńskiej i ludzkiej, powodujący przede wszystkim ostre zapalenie górnych dróg oddechowych. W mieście Meksyk, stwierdzono ponad 1 300 przypadków zachorowań na nowy szczep. W związku z epidemią władze Meksyku podjęły szereg środków prewencyjnych w centrum kraju, gdzie zanotowano najwięcej przypadków zachorowań. Czasowo pozamykane zostały szkoły i uniwersytet w stolicy. Te same działania przedsięwzięto w centralnych prowincjach Meksyku.

Są także podejrzenia wystąpienia wirusa w Nowej Zelandii, Izraelu, Francji, Chile oraz Hiszpanii.

Światowa Organizacja Zdrowia definiuje świńską grypę jako potencjalne źródło pandemii ludzkiej grypy. Co roku grypa zabija na świecie 250-500 tysięcy ludzi.


At least nine dead after cholera outbreak in Kenyan slum

Health officials have said that at least nine people were killed and over sixty remain in critical condition on Saturday after an outbreak of cholera in a slum in Kenya's capital Nairobi.

A mission hospital in the Mukuru kwa Njenga district of Nairobi said that the first cases had been reported on Monday, but had increased substantially by Friday.

"We have so far recorded nine deaths from the Mukuru slums in Nairobi and some of them might have also died at home and so we believe this number is very conservative because it is not accounting for home deaths," said a physician at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

The outbreak has been blamed on poor sanitation and low levels of hygiene. Community health worker Peninah Nzuki told the Daily Nation news agency that “the water is dirty and the levels of hygiene are poor, thus the disease is spreading fast."

Officials, however, have warned that the true death toll may be higher than indicated, as some people might have died before reaching hospitals.


Kenia: co najmniej 9 ofiar śmiertelnych cholery

Kenijskie służby zdrowia zawiadomiły w sobotę (24 X) ws. wybuchu epidemii cholery w slumsach w stolicy kraju, Nairobi. Szacuje się, że zmarło już co najmniej dziewięć osób, a ponad 60 pozostaje w stanie krytycznym. W poniedziałek władze szpitala misyjnego w okręgu Mukuru kwa Njenga zostały poinformowane o pierwszych przypadkach cholery, a do piątku liczba zachorowań znacznie wzrosła.

"Jak do tej pory stwierdziliśmy dziewięć ofiar śmiertelnych w slumsach Mukuru w Nairobi. Jednakże przypuszczamy, że liczba ta nie odzwierciedla faktycznego stanu rzeczy, gdyż część potencjalnych zgonów mogła nastąpić w prywatnych domostwach i tym samym nie zostać uwzględniona" - mówi lekarz ze szpitala Kenyatta National Hospital.

Za przyczynę wybuchu epidemii uznaje się fatalne warunki sanitarne i niski poziom higieny. Peninah Nzuki, środowiskowy pracownik służby zdrowia, powiedział  w wywiadzie dla gazety Daily Nation, że "zaraza rozprzestrzenia się szybko, ponieważ woda jest brudna, a poziom higieny bardzo niski".


Autopsy reveals that Terri Schiavo was in a persistent vegetative state

An autopsy on the body of Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman whose right-to-die case had spurred controversy and nation-wide attention, revealed that her brain was half the size of a normal female adult's, suggesting that the woman was in a vegetative state, just as her husband, Michael, had argued in court and before the press.

Doctors also tell the press that the autopsy revealed that Ms. Schiavo was blind and that her disability was not caused by any sort of abuse.

The Terri Schiavo case, another chapter in court cases over a person's right to die, sparked attention from the international media. The case was caused by a dispute between husband Michael Schiavo and the parents of Terri over whether the disabled Ms. Schiavo, who could not communicate with anyone, desired to die.  Courts that examined the case ruled in favor of Michael Schiavo's proposition to remove Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube.  The removal of the tube caused the dehydration and eventual death of Ms. Schiavo, doctors say.

The Terri Schiavo Foundation's web site had previously claimed that Terri Schiavo was not in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) and that she was responsive to human emotion.  Those statements have since been taken offline.


Komapatientin Terri Schiavo: Gehirn war unheilbar geschädigt

Pinellas Park / Florida (USA), 17.06.2005 – Als die Komapatientin Terri Schiavo am 31. März 2005, dreizehn Tage nach Entfernung der Magensonde, starb, war ihr Gehirn extrem geschädigt. Dies geht aus dem jetzt veröffentlichten Autopsiebericht des zuständigen Gerichtsmediziners in Florida hervor.

Nach diesem Bericht war die 41-jährige Patientin chancenlos. An eine Wiederherstellung ihrer Gesundheit war nicht im Geringsten zu denken. Keine medizinische Behandlung hätte jemals ihren Zustand verbessern können.

Anzeichen auf Misshandlung durch ihren Ehemann konnte der Mediziner ebenfalls nicht feststellen. Ihm wurde nachgesagt, die Erkrankung seiner Frau käme daher.

Der Anwalt Michael Schiavos, George Felos, kündigte die Veröffentlichung mehrerer Gehirn- Obduktionsfotos an. Allerdings konnte auch durch die Autopsie nicht endgültig der Grund für ihren Komazustand geklärt werden.

Ursprünglich war ein Kaliummangel als Folge einer Essstörung vermutet worden. An dieser Theorie bestehen nach wie vor Zweifel.


Avian flu found in eastern Canada

Canada's Broadcasting Corporation reports that a case of avian flu has been discovered in a bird in the Eastern province of Prince Edward Island.

The case was discovered in a gosling found in the community of O'Leary and confirmed at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown. The announcement was made in a press release issued by the government of Prince Edward Island.

Chief Health Officer for PEI, Dr. Lamont Sweet, said, "From the information we have received, there is a low risk of human illness at the present time." He went on to suggest that people in West Prince who have contact with domestic or wild birds who may be experiencing flu-like symptoms should consult their physician.


Un cas de grippe aviaire au Canada

Radio-Canada annonce qu'un oiseau atteint de grippe aviaire a été découvert sur l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard, dans l'est du Canada. Ce cas, trouvé dans la communauté O'Leary a été confirmé par l'université Atlantic Veterinary College à Charlottetown. L'annonce a été publiée officiellement.

Docteur Lamont Sweet, médecin en chef, a déclaré : D'après les informations que nous avons, il y a peu de risques de maladies humaines actuellement. Il suggère que les gens qui sont en contact avec des animaux et qui ressentent les symptômes de la grippe, aillent consulter leur médecin.


Bangladesh reports five new deaths due to COVID-19, a daily highest

Yesterday, Bangladesh has confirmed five new deaths due to COVID-19 on the day. This is the highest number of fatalities in a day due to the virus. As of yesterday, Bangladesh's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) reported the number of recorded infected cases included 114 active cases and 33 recovered cases who were staying home. A total of 17 deaths have been recorded.

In an online news briefing, the director of IEDCR, Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, said the fatalities included four males and one female. According to Dr Meerjady, two cases were aged above 60, two between 51 and 60, and one 41-50 years old. She also said two of the victims were from Dhaka. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11.

A hospital official told Anadolu Agency, a local news outlet, that one of the deceased was Jalal Saifur Rahman, a director of Bengali Anti-Corruption Commission, who was cared for at the Kuwait Maitree Hospital.

On Saturday, in an online video announcement, Bangladeshi Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said public transport would be shut down for longer than initially planned, until this coming Saturday. This public transport shutdown had initially started on March 26 and was planned to end on Saturday, April 4. Transport of essential goods -- medical, fuel and food -- was still allowed.

The first recorded incidents of COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh were on March 8, in two people who returned from Italy and also the wife of one of them. As of March 19, these three had already recovered.


Bangladesh registra cinco novas mortes por COVID-19

Na terça-feira, Bangladesh confirmou cinco novas mortes por COVID-19 no dia. Este é o maior número de mortes em um dia devido ao vírus. Em 7 de abril, o Instituto de Epidemiologia, Controle e Pesquisa de Doenças de Bangladesh (IEDCR) informou que o número de casos confirmados registrados incluía 114 em tratamento e 33 recuperados que estavam em casa. Um total de 17 mortes foram registradas.

Em uma entrevista online, a diretora do IEDCR, Dra. Meerjady Sabrina Flora, disse que as mortes incluíram quatro homens e uma mulher. Segundo a Dra. Meerjady, dois casos tinham idade acima de 60 anos, dois entre 51 e 60 anos e um entre 41 e 50 anos. Ela também disse que duas das vítimas eram de Daca. Um funcionário do hospital disse à Agência Anadolu, uma agência de notícias local, que um dos mortos era Jalal Saifur Rahman, diretor da Comissão Anticorrupção Bengali, atendido no Hospital Maitree do Kuwait.

Em 4 de abril, em um anúncio online, o ministro de Transporte Rodoviário e Pontes de Bangladesh, Obaidul Quader, disse que o transporte público seria fechado por mais tempo do que o inicialmente planejado, até 11 de abril. Esse desligamento do transporte público começou inicialmente em 26 de março e estava planejado para terminar em 4 de abril, sendo permitido o transporte de bens essenciais ㅡ medicamentos, combustível e alimentos.

A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) declarou pandemia em 11 de março. Os primeiros registrados de infecção por COVID-19 em Bangladesh foram em 8 de março, em duas pessoas que retornaram da Itália e também na esposa de um deles. Em 19 de março, esses três já haviam se recuperado. Veja a seguir a evolução cronológica do número de mortes no país:


Bird Flu found in Africa

The H5N1 Avian Flu virus, also known as Bird Flu, has been found in Nigeria by Italian scientists. Tests done on samples in a laboratory confirm that the strain is the one that can kill people, although no human cases have been reported said the Paris-based United Nations body. This is the first time is has appeared on the continent.

Reports say tests of the virus closely resemble the virus in Asia. The virus has been discovered in poultry flocks in a large Nigerian farm. "It is the first report of the disease in Africa," the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said on Wednesday.

"It's going to be very difficult to mount an eradication campaign," said Dr. Alex Thiermann, president of the OIE's international animal health code, from Paris, France. "With what we have today, it is a highly pathogenic H5N1 - the same, or very closely related to the previous ones," said Thiermann. He also added, "a full genetic analysis of sample viruses is expected to be completed by late Thursday."

Maria Zampaglione of the Paris-based OIE said "An outbreak has been detected. A local poultry farm keeping 46,000 birds was affected, of which 42,000 were infected and 40,000 of those, died." The farm is located in Jaji, which is a village in the northern state of Kaduna.

"The farm is located near the Niger Delta, one of the largest over-wintering areas for wild birds in Africa." said Thiermann.

Quarantine measures on the control and movement of poultry have been taken, and the farm has been disinfected said Nigerian authorities.

"However, it is too early to say how serious the outbreak is and how big its spread could be," said Ilaria Capua of the Italian bird flu centre in Padua. "We have to be cautious in evaluating the possible implications of these findings."

In Rome, Samuel Jutzi, a director of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said, "if the situation in Nigeria gets out of control, it will have a devastating impact on the poultry population in the region. It will seriously damage the livelihoods of millions of people and it will increase the exposure of humans to the virus."

"When you have 46,000 chickens in a house, usually you have some degree of biocontainment...So these (chickens) are not likely to be the ones to first encounter migratory waterfowl," Thiermann said.

Wildlife circles have been debating on whether or not wild birds are spreading the virus around the globe. Experts believe they are playing a role but most believe poultry movement, poultry products and poultry manure is the main cause of the spreading of the virus.

"But probably not in this case," said Thiermann. "While it's too early to blame the wildlife, it's very likely to be in an area that's remote enough that it's not likely to be associated with international trade."

OIE spokeswoman Zampiglione also said, "Experts had been fearing an African outbreak for months. The conditions there are more likely to lead to contagion from birds to man."


Le virus H5N1 est présent au Nigeria

Depuis l'apparition d'un foyer du redoutable H5N1 au Nigeria, le premier signalé sur le continent africain, les zones touchées se multiplient, notamment dans le nord du pays. Le Nigeria demande une aide internationale. L'OMS s'apprête à envoyer une équipe d'experts.