Bone marrow transplant potentially linked to cure of patient with AIDS

In what could be a major medical breakthrough, or a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, a 42-year-old American man was cured of AIDS after receiving a bone marrow transplant in Berlin, Germany two years ago. The transplant was performed as part of a treatment for his  leukemia.

The unnamed man received the marrow from a donor who had a very rare genetic mutation which doctors say leaves a person almost 100% immune to AIDS and the virus that causes it.  After radiation treatment for his cancer, and treatments involving several types of AIDS medications, the transplant was performed.  As a result of the transplant, the man appears to have been cured of AIDS.

Dr. Gero Hütter, a doctor at Medical University of Berlin, Germany, presented his findings in a paper earlier in the year titled Treatment of HIV-1 Infection by Allogeneic CCR5-Δ32/Δ32 Stem Cell Transplantation: A Promising Approach. In the report, Hütter and his team stated that the man was free of AIDS in just under 70 days. The American Foundation for AIDS Research stated in September during a conference that the man was "functionally cured" of AIDS.

"High active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was stopped from day of transplantation. GvHDprophylaxis followed standard regimens and engraftment was achieved on day +13. Complete chimerismas detected by competitive PCR was observed on day +60. The virus load was measured both by RNA-PCR and proviralDNA-PCR. DNA-PCR was negative from day +68 (Table 1)," stated Hütter in his report. Hütter is not an AIDS specialist.

"In the past, the attempts to prolong survival during HIV-1 disease by stem cell transplantation failed. Here, we demonstrate the first successful allogeneic stem cell transplantation in an HIV+ patient", added Hütter.

Only 1% of people in Europe have the mutation to stop the receptor module CCR5, a vital component that helps HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, enter healthy cells. The mutation allows CCR5 to be blocked, along with virtually any other strain of HIV, leaving the individual immune to the virus and AIDS. At least 80 people were tested for the mutation, and only one, the 61st person, was found to have the mutated genes inherited from both parents. The transplant gave the man new and healthy cells, which stopped his infection in its tracks.

Now, two years after his transplant, the man has been free of the illness and did not take any medication for AIDS in that period. Doctors said the medicine could interfere with the new cells ability to reproduce and survive. The man would only be ordered to start taking medication if his AIDS had reappeared, but it didn't.

One doctor says that more tests need to be done in order to determine if similar stem cell treatments can be used on other AIDS patients.

"A lot more scrutiny from a lot of different biological samples would be required to say it's not present," said Mayo Clinic AIDS immunology researcher Dr. Andrew Badley.

According to the Medical Hypotheses journal, between the years of 1982 and 1996, at least 32 patients received similar treatments. Of them, only two are reported to have been cured of AIDS. Hütter said he read the report in 1996 and after doing so, he decided to try the treatment.

Bone marrow transplants kill nearly 30% of those who receive them and are very difficult to perform.


Un trasplantament de medul·la òssia, potencialment relacionat amb el restabliment d'un pacient amb SIDA

13 de novembre del 2008, Estats Units

En el que podria ser un gran avenç mèdic, o un esdeveniment únic, un estatunidenc de 42 anys fou curat de la SIDA després de rebre un trasplantament de medul·la òssia a Berlín (Alemanya) fa dos anys. El trasplantament fou realitzat dins del marc del seu tractament per la leucèmia.

Aquest home, el nom del qual no ha estat revelat, rebé la medul·la d'un donant que tenia una mutació genètica molt rara que segons els metges fa que una persona sigui gairebé 100% immune a la SIDA. Després d'un tractament amb radiació, i tractaments amb diversos altres tipus de medicaments contra la SIDA, es dugué a terme el trasplantament. Com a resultat, sembla que l'home ha quedat curat de la SIDA.

El Dr. Gero Hütter, metge de la Universitat Mèdica de Berlín (Alemanya), presentà els seus descobriments en un document publicat anteriorment aquest any titulat Treatment of HIV-1 Infection by Allogeneic CCR5-Δ32/Δ32 Stem Cell Transplantation: A Promising Approach. En l'informe, Hütter i el seu equip afirmaren que l'home quedà lliure de la SIDA en una mica menys de setanta dies. La Fundació Americana per la Investigació sobre la SIDA declarà al setembre, durant una roda de premsa, que l'home estava "funcionalment curat" de la SIDA.

"La teràpia antiretrovírica altament activa (HAART) fou aturada a partir del dia del trasplantament. La GvHDprofilaxi seguí el procediment estàndard i la fixació fou assolida el dia 13. El dia +60 s'observaren quimerismes complets detectats per PCR competitiu. La càrrega vírica fou mesurada tant per ARN-PCR i ADN-PCR províric. L'ADN-PCR donà negatiu a partir del dia +68 (Taula 1)," afirmà Hütter al seu informe. Hütter no és especialista en SIDA.

"En el passat, els intents de perllongar la supervivència durant la SIDA per mitjà de trasplantaments de cèl·lules mare han fallat. En aquest cas, presentem el primer trasplant reeixit de cèl·lules mares al·lògenes a un pacient de VIH+1", afegí Hütter.

Només un 1% de la gent d'Europa tenen la mutació que atura el mòdul receptor CCR5, un component vital que ajuda el VIH (el virus que causa la SIDA) a introduir-se en cèl·lules sanes. La mutació permet blocar el CCR5, així com pràcticament qualsevol altra soca de VIH, deixant l'individu immune al virus i a la SIDA. Es feren proves sobre un mínim de vuitanta persones a la recerca de la mutació, i només una (la 61ª) havia heretat els gens mutants d'ambdós pares. El trasplantament donà a l'home cèl·lules noves i sanes, cosa que posà terme a la infecció.

Ara, dos anys després del seu trasplantament, l'home ha quedat lliure de la malaltia i no ha pres cap medicament contra la SIDA durant aquest període. Els metges diuen que els medicaments podrien interferir amb la capacitat de les noves cèl·lules de reproduir-se i sobreviure. Només s'ordenaria a l'home tornar a prendre els medicaments si la SIDA aparegués de nou, però no ha passat.

Un metge diu que cal fer més proves per tal de determinar si es poden utilitzar trataments similars amb cèl·lules mare en altres pacients de SIDA.

"Caldria molt més escrutini sobre moltes mostres biològiques diferents per afirmar que no està present," digué l'investigador d'immunologia de la SIDA de la Clínica Mayo, el Dr. Andrew Badley.

Segons la revista científica Medical Hypotheses, entre el 1982 i el 1996 un mínim de trenta-dos pacients reberen tractaments similars. Només dos d'ells han estat considerats curats de la SIDA. Hütter diu que llegí l'informe el 1996 i que, després de fer-ho, decidí provar el tractament.

Els trasplantaments de medul·la òssia maten gairebé el 30% de la gent que els rep, i són molt difícils de dur a terme.

(català) Bone marrow transplant potentially linked to cure of patient with AIDS — Viquinotícies en anglès. 13 de novembre del 2008.


British man fully "recovers" from HIV

A 25 year old British man has been reported to have made a full recovery from the HIV virus . Andrew Stimpson did not take any drug treatments after being diagnosed with the virus in August 2002 and was found HIV negative in October 2003.

Stimpson's two HIV tests were performed by the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust. It has been reported that the hospital is standing by the validity of the two tests that have so far been performed. The hospital would like to perform additional tests that might reveal an explanation for the two contradictory test results. Tests used for diagnosis of HIV infection can produce false positive results. When this happens, additional testing is required in order to determine if there ever was an actual infection. Some news reports suggest that Stimpson may have had contact with someone known to be HIV-positive and that multiple HIV tests performed by a clinic all gave positive results for Stimpson before he was first tested by the Chelsea and Westminster hospital. However, Michael Hopkin of the British journal Nature, has reported that while Stimpson tested positive for antibodies to HIV in 2002, "tests done during more than two dozen visits in 2003 and 2004 proved negative for the antibodies". This suggests that either HIV infection took an unusual course in Stimpson or the original test results indicating infection were a false positive.

Many similar cases have been reported in Africa, where the virus is widespread. Due to poor medical facilities all of these reports have been largely anecdotal—Mr Stimpson represents the first well documented case. However, until additional tests are performed it is impossible to know if the second test was a false negative. Dr. Andrew Grulich, who has a PhD in epidemiology and works at the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research at the University of New South Wales has expressed doubt that Stimpson was cured of an HIV infection. In some infected patients, HIV levels can fall to undetectably low levels until their immune system is defeated and virus levels begin to rise.

This discovery may offer a promising new window into how the virus works and furthers hopes that one day a vaccine and/or cure will be found for the disease that is carried by around 35 million people worldwide.


Brite „erholt“ sich vollkommen von HIV

London (Vereinigtes Königreich), 20.11.2005 – Berichten zufolge hat sich ein 25-jähriger Brite vollkommen von dem HIV-Virus erholt. Andrew Stimpson nahm keinerlei Medikamente zu sich, nachdem bei ihm im August 2002 der Virus diagnostiziert wurde und er im Oktober 2003 HIV-negativ getestet wurde.

Stimpsons zwei HIV-Tests wurden von dem „Chelsea und Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust“-Institut durchgeführt. Es wurde berichtet, dass das Krankenhaus die Gültigkeit der beiden Tests bestätigt, welche bisher durchgeführt wurden. Das Krankenhaus möchte zusätzliche Tests durchführen, die eine mögliche Erklärung für die zwei gegensätzlichen Testergebnisse liefern könnten. Die Diagnosetests für HIV-Infektionen können falsche positive Ergebnisse liefern. Wenn dies eintritt, müssen weitere Tests durchgeführt werden um festzustellen, ob es jemals eine echte Infektion gab. Einige Nachrichtenberichte weisen darauf hin, dass Stimpson möglicherweise Kontakt mit Leuten hatte, von denen bekannt war, dass sie HIV-positiv sind, und dass mehrere HIV-Tests durch eine Klinik durchgeführt wurden, welche alle positive HIV-Werte für Stimpson ergaben, bevor er zum ersten Mal durch das Chelsea-und-Westminster-Klinikum getestet wurde. Jedoch hat Michael Hopkin vom britischen Journal „Nature“ berichtet, dass während Stimpson 2002 positiv auf Antikörper gegen HIV getestet wurde, „bei mehr als zwei Dutzend Praxisterminen 2003 und 2004 durchgeführte Tests negative Werte für die Antikörper ergeben haben“. Dies lässt darauf schließen, dass die HIV-Infektion bei Stimpson entweder einen außergewöhnlichen Verlauf hatte oder der ursprüngliche Test, der eine Infektion anzeigte, fälschlicherweise positive Ergebnisse lieferte.

Von vielen ähnlichen Fällen wurde aus Afrika berichtet, wo das Virus weit verbreitet ist. Aufgrund sehr unzureichender medizinischer Einrichtungen sind all diese Berichte größtenteils anekdotenhaft - Stimpson stellt den ersten ausführlich beschriebenen Fall dar. Dennoch ist es, solange keine weiteren Tests durchgeführt sind, nicht möglich zu wissen, ob der zweite Test fälschlicherweise negativ war. Dr. Andrew Grulich, der einen PhD in Epidemiologie besitzt und im "National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research at the University of New South Wales" (Zentrum für HIV Epidemieforschung und medizinische Forschung) arbeitet, bezweifelt, dass Stimpson von der HIV-Infektion geheilt wurde. Bei manchen infizierten Patienten kann die HIV-Konzentration auf nicht messbare Werte fallen, bis das Immunsystem besiegt ist und die Virenzahl zu steigen beginnt.

Diese Entdeckung könnte möglicherweise einen viel versprechenden neuen Einblick in die Arbeitsweise des Virus liefern und weiterhin die Hoffnung stärken, dass eines Tages ein Impfstoff oder auch eine Heilungsmöglichkeit für eine Krankheit gefunden wird, mit der etwa 35 Millionen Menschen weltweit infiziert sind.


British troops may have received contaminated blood from American donors

Several British troops who received blood transfusions from American emergency front-line donors face the risk of infectious diseases such as AIDS, the Ministry of Defence confirmed, but said risk of infection was low.

Eighteen troops who fought and were wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq are being tested for HIV as well as Chagas, Hepatitis B, HTLV and Syphilis.

The British military says that the unscreened transfusions were needed to keep the troops alive when they were receiving emergency treatment for their wounds.

The U.S. says that all of the donors have since been found not to be infected with HIV or hepatitis B, but does say that the donors did not receive the proper testing that is required for donating blood.

"These 18 service personnel would almost certainly have died without receiving an emergency blood transfusion at the front line. We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved. We continue to do all that we can to support them and their families through this uncertain time," said British Defense Minister, Derek Twigg.


Tropas Britânicas podem ter recebido sangue contaminado de doadores Americanos

Várias tropas Britânicos que receberam transfusões de sangue de doadores americanos correm o risco de doenças infecciosas, como a AIDS, disse Ministério da Defesa Britânico, mas disse também que o risco de infecção foi baixa.

Dezoito soldados que lutaram e foram feridos no Afeganistão e no Iraque estão sendo testados para ver se estão com o vírus HIV, assim como Chagas, Hepatite B, HTLV e Sífilis.

O militar britânico afirma que as transfusões eram necessárias para manter as tropas vivas quando eles estavam recebendo tratamento de emergência para as suas feridas.

Os E.U. diz que todos os doadores já foram encontradas não podem ser infectados com o HIV ou hepatite B, mas dizem que os doadores não receberam a devida análise que é necessário para doar sangue.

"Esses 18 serviças pessoais de transfusão do dito 'sangue contaminado' aos soldados Britãncos, seriam quase certamente já morreram sem receber uma transfusão de sangue de emergência na linha da frente. Estamos trabalhando com as autoridades sanitárias adequadas a fazer tudo o que estiver ao nosso alcance para testar e tranquilizar as pessoas envolvidas. Continuamos a fazer tudo o que nós Podemos apoiar a eles e suas famílias através deste tempo incerto ", disse o ministro britânico da Defesa, Derek Twigg.

*Laura Clout. British at risk from contaminated US blood [inativa] — Telegraph.co.uk, 10 de janeiro de 2008. Página visitada em 13 de julho de 2021. Arquivada em 12 de março de 2008

*UK troops in blood disease checks — BBC News Online, 10 de janeiro de 2008


Cadbury's recall over 1 million chocolate bars over salmonella fears

The British confectioner Cadbury's has recalled over one million chocolate bars from retailers in the UK and Ireland over fears that they may be affected by salmonella. The company is stressing that it is only a precautionary measure, and that customers should not be concerned if they have eaten one of the bars.

The bars affected are the Dairy Milk Turkish 250g, Dairy Milk Caramel, Dairy Milk Mint bars, Dairy Milk 8 chunk, Dairy Milk 1kg bar, Dairy Milk Buttons Easter Egg 105g and 10p Freddo bar. Uneaten products can be returned to 'Cadbury Recall, Freepost MID20061, Birmingham B3O 2QZ', and then a full refund will be given. Customers can also call 0800 818181 if they are concerned.

Cadbury has said that it expects to have fresh stocks of the products back on the market in the near future.

The decision was made in consultation with the Food Standards Agency.


Grande-Bretagne : Cadbury rappelle plus d'un million de barres chocolatées

Le fabricant anglais de confiseries Cadbury a retiré près d'un million de barres chocolatées de chez ses détaillants anglais par peur de contamination par les salmonelles.

La compagnie a indiqué que ce n'était qu'une mesure de précaution car les personnes en ayant consommé ne courraient aucun danger.

Cadbury a indiqué que les produits concernés des marques « Dairy Milk » et « Freddo » seront de nouveau disponibles, très prochainement.

Cette décision a été prise en accord avec les autorités sanitaires du pays (Food Standards Agency).


California Senate prohibits sports drinks in public schools

Earlier yesterday, California state senators voted 21-11 in favor the prohibition of sales of sugared sports drinks at public schools during class hours. Soft drinks are already banned during school hours. "Sugar-sweetened electrolyte replacement beverages are still available and have surged in popularity among kids," said Senator Alex Padilla. "This is a common sense step forward in the effort to address the obesity epidemic in California," he added. Padilla's bill is now on its way to the Assembly.

Studies have shown that drinks, especially sweetened, contribute to obesity among adults and children, leading to diseases like diabetes. "Eight out of ten drinks sold in California public schools are sports drinks," Padilla said, citing information from the California Department of Public Health.

Governor Schwarzenegger is sponsoring a package of legislation aimed at reducing child obesity in California.


Senado de California prohibe bebidas isotónicas en escuelas públicas

Senadores del estado de California votaron el jueves, con 21 votos a favor y 11 en contra, sobre la prohibición de la venta de bebidas isotónicas azucaradas en escuelas públicas, en horas de clases.

"Bebidas reemplazantes de electrolitos endulzadas aún están disponibles y se han popularizado entre los niños," dijo el Senador Alex Padilla. "Es un paso adelante [...] en el esfuerzo de contrarrestar la epidémica obesidad en California," añadió. El proyecto de ley de Padilla va hacia la Asamblea. En las escuelas públicas de California, las bebidas gaseosas ya están prohibidas.

Estudios han demostrado que las bebidas, especialmente endulzadas, contribuyen a la obesidad en adultos y niños, que a menudo dejan enfermedades como la diabetes. "Uno de cada diez bebidas vendidas en las escuelas públicas de California son bebidas isotónicas," dijo Padilla, citando información del Departamento de Salud Pública de California.

El gobernador Schwarzenegger está apoyando un paquete de legislación aspirando a reducir la obesidad infantil en California.


Canada confirms fifth case of Mad Cow Disease

Canada's Food Inspection Agency has confirmed that a cow in British Columbia, Canada, tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or "mad cow disease". Officials announced on Friday that initial tests done on the purebred six-year-old dairy Holstein had come back inconclusive.  The cow was found in Fraser Valley, a farming community near Vancouver, British Columbia.

Officials also say that the beef supply is safe because none of the infected cows had made it to the human food chain.  "This finding does not affect the safety of Canadian beef. Tissues in which BSE is known to concentrate in infected animals are removed from all cattle slaughtered in Canada for domestic and international human consumption. No part of this animal entered the human food or animal feed systems," said agency officials in a statement on Sunday.

"This animal, a six-year-old dairy cow, developed BSE after the implementation of Canada's feed ban. Investigators will pay particular attention to the feed to which the animal may have been exposed early in its life, when cattle are most susceptible to BSE. The CFIA is collecting records of feed purchased by and used on the animal's birth farm," the statement continued.

However, the United States does not believe a ban on Canadian beef will come immediately.  "Information gathered through this investigation will help us to determine what, if any, impact this should have on our beef and live cattle trade with Canada. Based on the information currently available, I do not anticipate a change in the status of our trade," said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.

This is Canada's fifth confirmed case of the disease since May 2003, and officials have tested more than 100,000 cows since the first case of the disease turned up in Alberta. This is the second cow to test positive for the disease this year.

At least 150 people worldwide have died from eating beef contaminated with the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a nerve disease that is usually fatal. Most of the deaths occurred in the United Kingdom.

Final Testing Confirms BSE Case in B.C. - Canadian Food Inspection Agency press release.


加拿大确认第五例疯牛症病例

加拿大食品检验局於昨日宣布不列颠哥伦比亚省的一只乳牛成为疯牛症新病例。这是加拿大自2003年以来已知的第5宗的疯牛症病例。

加拿大食品检验局确认这头乳牛身上没有任何部位有进入人类食品或动物饲料。

美国农业部说，预计美国从加拿大的牛肉和牛进口不会发生变化。美国关于禁止进口加拿大活牛的禁令是去年才部份解除的。


Children of smokers more likely to go hungry, according to study

A medical study has identified a previously unknown risk to children of parents who smoke tobacco: hunger.  Children who live in households with at least one adult smoker are more likely to be underfed, according to Dr. Cynthia Cutler-Triggs of the New York University School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital.

Dr. Cutler-Triggs's study measured food insecurity, a concept used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture since the 1990s to measure the frequency of skipped meals and how often people go to bed hungry.  Researchers examined data on 8,817 households from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.  The study parsed the survey, which tracked the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States, according to smoking habits and household income.

17 percent of children in low income smoking households suffered food insecurity, compared to an overall food insecurity rate of 11 percent among children.  Severe food insecurity occurred among 3.2 percent of children in smoking households.

Only 0.9 of children from nonsmoking households had severe food insecurity.  Similar rises in food insecurity occurred among adults from smoking households, but researchers were more concerned about the effects on the health of growing children.

Dr. Michael Weitzman, chairman of pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine, told The Washington Post, "We know that there are long-term consequences of food insecurity for children. They are more likely to do poorly in school, to have iron deficiency and anemia, and to have behavioral and social problems."

An estimated 2 percent to 20 percent of smokers' incomes goes for tobacco, which may compete with the grocery budget in some families.  Household income accounted for some but not all of the difference in food security.  Dr. Weitzman expressed concern that a continued recession may worsen the problem.  "If the economic downturn persists, both food insecurity and adults smoking are likely to increase... [because smoking] is one of the hardest addictions to give up."


Hijos de fumadores más propensos a estar subalimentados

6 de noviembre de 2008Nueva York, Estados Unidos —

Un estudio médico ha identificado un nuevo riesgo para niños cuyos padres fuman: hambre. De acuerdo a la Dra. Cynthia Cutler-Triggs de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Nueva York y del Hospital Bellevue, los niños que habitan hogares donde hay al menos un fumador adulto son más propensos a estar subalimentados.

El estudio midió la seguridad alimentaria, un concepto utilizado por el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos desde 1990 para medir la frecuencia de comidas que son salteadas y qué tan seguido las personas duermen con hambre.

Los investigadores examinaron datos de 8.817 hogares del Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de los Estados Unidos. El estudio analizó el informe y examinó el estado nutricional de adultos y niños en Estados Unidos, de acuerdo a los hábitos alimentarios e ingresos.

El 17% de los niños que viven en hogares donde se fuma y donde el ingreso es bajo sufrían de inseguridad alimentaria, comparado al promedio de 11% entre los niños. Una inseguridad alimentaria seria ocurría entre el 3,2% de los niños de hogares donde se fuma.

El estudio asimismo informó que sólo 0,9% de los niños de hogares donde no se fuma sufrían de alguna inseguridad alimentaria. Las mismas tendencias se registraron con respecto a los adultos, pero los investigadores se vieron consternados ante los efectos que puede tener sobre el desarrollo de los niños.

"Sabemos que que hay consecuencias a largo plazo de la inseguridad alimentaria en los niños. Tienden a tener peores resultados en la escuela, tener deficiencia de hierro y anemia, y tener problemas de conducta y sociales", declaró al Washington Post el Dr. Michael Weitzman, presidente de pediatría de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Nueva York.

Un estimado 2% hasta el 20% de los ingresos de un fumador son destinados a comprar tabaco, que compite con el presupuesto de verduras en algunas familiar. Los ingresos domésticos hicieron diferencia en algunos pero no todos los casos de inseguridad alimentaria.

Asimismo, el Dr. Weitzman se mostró preocupado sobre la crisis económica, que podría afectar negativamente a la salud. "Si la recesión económica persiste, tanto la inseguridad alimentaria y los fumadores adultos aumentarán [...] [porque fumar] es una de las adiciones más difíciles de dejar".


Chilean authorities report first COVID-19 outbreak in Antarctica

On Sunday, Chilean military authorities reported 36 infections with COVID-19 at General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme Base in Trinity Peninsula, Antarctica. A first outbreak on the continent, it reportedly followed an outbreak on a naval supply ship that had travelled there. On Thursday officials reported the number of cases in the outbreak rose to 58.

The Health Minister for the Biobio Region in Chile reported on Tuesday, 21 confirmed cases of the virus on Chilean Navy's Sergeant Aldea supply vessel that visited the base between November 27 and December 10. On Thursday the local health secretary reported one more case in Las Estrellas' village, where some Air Force Base civilian personnel live.

The Chilean Armed Forces said on Sunday, the 36 people infected included 26 army personnel. They said the 36 people were moved to Patagonia, the south-most region in Chile in the South America continent, where they were being monitored by local health authorities.

With this outbreak, the Antarctic continent became the last continent to report cases of what the World Health Organization declared a pandemic earlier this year.


Ковид добрался до Антарктиды

20 декабря 2020 года чилийские военные сообщили о 36 инфицированных SARS-CoV-2 на антарктической станции Хенераль-Бернардо-О’Хиггинс, расположенной на полуострове Тринити (северная оконечность Антарктического полуострова). Коронавирус, вероятно, был завезён на корабле снабжения, который незадолго до этого заходил на станцию и на котором, как сообщается, ранее обнаруживались случаи заболевания. К 24 декабря количество выявленных заражённых достигло 58 человек.

Это стало первым случаем обнаружения новой коронавирусной инфекции в Антарктиде, несколько месяцев остававшейся единственным континентом, полностью свободным от COVID-19.

Министр здравоохранения области Био-Био в Чили 24 декабря сообщил о 21 подтверждённом случае заболевания на чилийском военно-морском судне Sergeant Aldea, которое осуществляло снабжение полярной станции и побывало на Хенераль-Бернардо-О’Хиггинс между 27 ноября и 10 декабря 2020 года. В тот же день секретарь местного подразделения здравоохранения сообщил об ещё одном случае на Вилья-лас-Эстрельяс, где живут несколько служащих чилийских военно-воздушных сил.

Вооружённые силы Чили 20 декабря сообщали о наличии 36 инфицированных, в том числе 26 военнослужащих, и о том, что все они были доставлены в Патагонию, где будут находиться под наблюдением местных врачей.

30 декабря 2020 года


Chinese officials say man dies of H5N1 Avian Flu virus

Chinese officials have confirmed that a man admitted to a hospital on November 27, died on Sunday from the H5N1 Avian Flu virus.

The man, only being identified as 24-year-old Lu, is from the Jiangsu Province of eastern China and was admitted to the hospital after having severe flu-like symptoms. Lu was originally diagnosed with pneumonia. Tests done on blood samples from Lu confirmed the presence of H5N1.

Officials say that Mr. Lu was never in close contact with dead poultry and there are no reports of any birds being infected in the area and no other reports of human infection.

At least 69 other individuals are being kept at hospitals for observation, after having come in close contact with Mr. Lu, but officials say that none of those individuals are showing any signs of infection.

Lu's death brings the total number of those infected in China by the H5N1 virus to 26, with 17 dying from the virus in China since 2003. This is the first human infection since June of 2007.


בכירים בסין: גבר נפטר בשל הידבקות בשפעת-העופות

בכירים סינים אישרו את הדיווחים על פטירתו של גבר שאושפז בבית-חולים ב-27 בנובמבר בשל הידבקות בזן הקטלני H5N1 של שפעת-העופות.

הגבר, על-פי הפרטים המזהים היחידים שנמסרו אודותיו - לוּ בן ה-24, התגורר במחוז ג'יאנגסו במזרח המדינה ואושפז בבית-החולים לאחר שסבל מתסמינים חמורים של מחלה דמוית-שפעת. תחילה, אובחן לו כלוקה בדלקת-ריאות. ברם, בדיקות דם שנערכו על דגימות שניטלו ממנו הצביעו על נוכחות נגיפי ה-H5N1.

הבכירים סיפרו כי מר לו מעולם לא שהה בסמיכות לעופות מתים ואין כל דיווחים על עופות נגועים שנמצאו באיזור, כמו-גם על בני-אדם שלקו במחלה.

למצער 69 אנשים אחרים מצויים כעת תחת השגחה בבתי-חולים, לאחר שהיו במגע קרוב עם מר לו, אך הבכירים גורסים כי איש מביניהם לא הפגין כל תסמינים המיוחסים לשפעת-העופות.

פטירתו של לו מעלה את מניינם הכולל של נפגעי שפעת-העופות מזן H5N1 לסך כולל של 26, כאשר 17 מתוכם נפטרו בסין לבדה למן שנת 2003. זהו המקרה הראשון של הידבקות אנושית מאז חודש יוני השנה.

3 בדצמבר 2007


Cholera outbreak hits Angola

A cholera epidemic in Angola has killed over 1,200 people in the past three months. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) says about 35,000 people have fallen ill, half the victims in the capital of Luanda, where the first cases were detected in February.

The UN say the epidemic is Angola’s worst cholera outbreak in almost two decades continues to rage on with 546 new cases and 31 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. A third of the victims are children under 5.

The medical charity Mangola, Medecines Sans Frontieres and the World Health Organisation say it is the worst outbreak recorded in the country. Spokesman for Medecines Sans Frontiere Richard Veerman said: "Angola is heading for its worst ever outbreak and the situation remains very bad in Angola," he said.

"It's very worrying, the official number of deaths countrywide is now more than 1,200, which is likely under-reported. Many people will be at home and die at home and have no possibility to come to one of our treatment centres."

Cholera, an acute intestinal disease caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, causes copious, painless, watery diarrhoea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment, including rehydration, is not given promptly.


Angola : Grave épidémie de choléra

L'OMS indique une poussée épidémique de choléra en Angola. Près de 546 nouveaux cas ont été détectés en 24 heures. 35 775 personnes ont été touchées depuis le début de l'épidémie et 1298  sont mortes.

Selon l'organisation, "Onze des 18 provinces sont touchées par l'épidémie. 51% des cas sont enregistrés à Luanda, la capitale, et 21% dans la province de Benguela".


City of Calgary, Canada removes fluoride from drinking water

Calgary city council voted 10 to 3 on Wednesday to stop fluoridating their water supply. This overturns a previous plebiscite from 1989 to add the fluoride in an attempt to reduce tooth decay.

Opponents of water fluoridation claim that there could be unknown health effects of fluoride, and question its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay. They also claim that individuals should be able to decide for themselves whether or not to use fluoride. However, Alberta Health Services maintains that current evidence shows that fluoride is both safe, and beneficial to dental health.

It is estimated that no longer fluoridating the water supply could save Calgary's city council C$750 thousand (€550 thousand) annually, as well as cutting a C$6 million (€4.3 million) upgrade to the fluoridation system.


Kanadské Calgary přestane fluorizovat vodu

Radní v kanadském Calgary odhlasovali 10 ku 3, že pitná voda z městských vodovodů nemá být dále fluorizována. Tím se ruší rozhodnutí plesbicitu z roku 1989, které zavedlo přidávání fluoru do vody ve snaze zvýšit kvalitu chrupu občanů.

Odpůrci fluorizace tvrdí, že může mít dosud neznámé dopady na zdraví a že její blahodárný účinek na zuby není dostatečně prokázán. Také jsou přesvědčeni o tom, že by o tom, zda chce pít vodu fluorizovanou, měl mít možnost sám pro sebe rozhodnout každý z občanů.

Nefluorizováním vody podle předpokladů ušetří Calgary ročně 750 tisíc kanadských dolarů a dalších šest miliónů ušetří skutečnost, že nebude potřeba omladit fluorizační systém.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy City of Calgary, Canada removes fluoride from drinking water na anglických Wikizprávách.


Controversial melatonin supplements confirmed as sleep aid

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA —
An analysis of melatonin studies has upheld the controversial supplement's effectiveness as a sleep aid.

The analysis, which included 17 peer-reviewed scientific papers, was aimed at determining whether supplements of the hormone can improve sleep among insomniacs, older adults and others.

"A meta-analysis essentially tells 'yes' or 'no'—that a treatment does or does not have a significant effect," says Richard Wurtman of MIT, the study's principal investigator. "When a meta-analysis says 'yes,' there should no longer be any controversy about whether the treatment works."

Previous studies by Wurtman and colleagues showed that small doses of melatonin, about 0.3 milligrams, are necessary for restful effects. The researchers found, however, that commercially available melatonin pills can contain 10 times the effective amount.

At that dose, says Wurtman, the hormone's effects end after a few days because melatonin receptors in the brain become unresponsive when exposed to too much of the hormone.

Such inadvertent overdosing, say the researchers, has contributed to controversy over melatonin's efficacy.

But the new meta-analysis shows that melatonin does indeed have positive effects on sleep—even though some of the analyzed studies also involved high doses of the hormone.

The research is reported in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.


Melatonintillägg motverkar sömnlöshet

Cambridge, USA –
En analys av melatoninundersökningar har visat att det kontroversiella tillägget kan vara effektivt som sömnmedel.

Analysen som omfattade 17 vetenskapliga facktidskrifter hade för avsikt att klargöra om tillägg av hormonet kunde hjälpa sömnlösa, äldre och andra.

En förhandsanalys ger svaret "ja" eller "nej" om hurvida ett beandling har eller inte har något effekt av betydelse, sa Richard Wurtman vid MIT som ledde undersökningen. "Om analysen säger "ja" ska det inte längre råda någon tvekan om läkemedlet fungerar".

Tidigare undersökningar under ledninga av Wurtman har visat att små doser av melatonin, omkring 0.3 milligam, krävs för att en lugnande verkan ska infinna sig. Kommersiella produkter innehåller dock ibland tio gånger denna mängd.

Vid så höga doser avstannar hormonets verkan efter några dagar eftersom melatoninets receptorer i hjärnan blir oemottagliga efter så höga doser. Sådana överdosering har lett till att hormonets verkan har ifrågasatts. Den nya analysen har emellertid visat att hormonet verkligen har en positiv effekt på sömnbesvär även vid överdosering.

Rapporten finns på Sleep Medicine Reviews.


Deadly virus samples missing in Mexico/Lebanon

NB This story has also been covered in the article Killer virus sent worldwide. There have NOT been two incidents.Saturday, April 16, 2005

The World Health Organisation (WHO), in a statement issued Tuesday, urged scientists to destroy samples of a deadly flu virus that could potentially cause a global pandemic.

Shipments of the influenza virus sent to Mexico and Lebanon are unaccounted for. The U.N. health organization said 10 countries receiving samples already destroyed them, while 5 more countries are in the process of doing so.

The virus, A/H2N2, was detected by a Canadian lab which contacted the Public Health Agency of Canada, who in turn warned the WHO and other national health agencies on March 26.

Meridian Bioscience sent routine testing kits infected with the virus to almost 5,000 laboratories, of which 3747 in 18 countries have so far been identified as having the virus, most of them in North America.

The virus is a variant of the H2N2 virus which caused the 1957 Asian Flu Pandemic, but which was displaced by the H3N2 variant.  People born after 1959 are unlikely to be immune to the virus.


Śmiercionośny wirus został rozesłany do laboratoriów na całym świecie

Do prawie czterech tysięcy laboratoriów z 18 krajów świata zostały rozesłane próbki wirusa azjatyckiej grypy, wskutek pomyłki Amerykanów. Większość laboratoriów zniszczyła już otrzymane szczepy. Pozostałe obiecują, że w najbliższym czasie spalą otrzymane próbki.

Szczep wirusa A/H2N2 rozesłany do laboratoriów przez specjalistów z The College of American Pathologist pochodzi sprzed kilkudziesięciu lat. Jego odmiana, wirus H2N2, wywołał pandemię grypy w Azji w 1957 roku, która zabiła kilka milionów ludzi. Komórki wirusa odkryli w swoich laboratoriach naukowcy z Public Health Agency w Kanadzie i natychmiast poinformowali o tym Światową Organizację Zdrowia (WHO).

Jak dowiedziała się Gazeta Wyborcza, do Polski próbek nie posyłano. Ostatnia epidemia wirusa tej odmiany wybuchła w 1968 roku. Urodzeni po tym czasie nie mają już na niego odporności - a sama szczepionka nie została jeszcze wynaleziona.

Szczepy wirusa zostały wysłane do laboratoriów pod koniec 2004 roku, do porównań szczepów grypy, które aktualnie powodują zachorowania. Dopiero 26 marca odkryto szczepy groźnej grupy A/H2N2 w otrzymanych próbkach, a 8 kwietnia amerykański rząd wysłał do wszystkich laboratoriów poza granicami USA i Kanady prośby o zniszczenie próbek. Cała operacja była utajniona, bo obawiano się, że wirus mógłby zostać wykorzystany przez terrorystów jako broń biologiczna.

Na liście państw, które prawdopodobnie otrzymały tego wirusa, znajduje się Hongkong, Korea Południowa, Singapur, Niemcy, Tajwan, Bermudy, Belgia, Brazylia, Chile, Francja, Izrael, Włochy, Japonia, Meksyk, Liban i Arabia Saudyjska.


OMS informa que dois terços das amostras do vírus mortal já foram destruídas

A OMS informa que dois terços das amostras de vírus enviadas por engano para vários laboratórios espalhados pelo mundo, já foram destruídos.

Klaus Stohr, chefe do programa de gripe da OMS afirmou em entrevista coletiva concedida em Genebra: "Dois terços desse material foram destruídos e o resto do material, esperamos, também será destruído em breve".

A maior parte dos laboratórios que recebeu o vírus fica nos Estados Unidos da América. Laboratórios de 17 países, espalhados praticamente por todos os cantos do mundo receberam a amostra equivocada.

Os laboratórios que ficam no Brasil afirmaram que já destruíram as amostras do vírus mortal que receberam e que não existe mais perigo.

Alemanha, Bélgica,  Canadá, Chile, Coréia do Sul, França,  Hong Kong, Itália,  Singapura e Taiwan   também destruíram suas amostras.  México e Líbano dizem que não acusaram o recebimento das amostras do vírus.


Drug-resistant staph deaths surpass AIDS in the United States

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a drug-resistant strain of bacteria, killed nearly 19,000 Americans in 2005 alone, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  That is more people than were killed by AIDS in the United States.  More than 94,000 Americans were afflicted with MRSA infections in 2005.

Although the supergerm, or superbug, is primarily found in hospitals, a growing number of cases have been contracted at public gyms and schools. In Moneta, Virginia, a high school senior died from an infection that spread to his kidney, liver, lungs and heart.  In Bedford County, where Moneta is located, school officials have reported five cases of the Methicillin-resistant strain of the Staph bacteria.  County officials closed the schools to clean them.

"Certainly, MRSA now has to be viewed as a very important target for prevention and control," said Dr. David A. Talan, an infectious diseases specialist at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.


Muertes a causa de supergermen superan las del SIDA en EEUU

Una bacteria resistente a antibióticos, la staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina (SARM), causó la muerte de 19.000 estadounidenses en 2005, de acuerdo a un estudio del Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). El estudio reveló que la cifra supera a los muertos a causa del SIDA, una enfermedad considerada una pandemia.

Más de 94.000 se habían enfermado del SARM en 2005.

Aunque el supergermen es primariamente encontrado en hospitales, varios casos se han contraído en gimnasios públicos y escuelas. En Moneta, Virgina, un superior de una escuela secundaria murió a causa de la enfermedad, que se expandió a sus riñores, hígados, pulmones y corazón. En Bedford County, donde se localiza Moneta, oficiales de colegios han reportado cinco casos de infecciones de staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina. Oficiales del condado han cerrado escuelas para realizar limpieza.

"Ciertamente, la SARM tiene que ser vista como un objetivo muy importante para la prevención y control", dijo el Dr. David A. Talan, un especialista de enfermedades infecciosas del Centro Médico de Olive View-UCLA.


Uno staffilococco resistente ai medicinali causa più morti dell'AIDS negli Stati Uniti

Lo staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), un ceppo resistente ai medicinali, ha ucciso quasi 19000 statunitensi nel solo 2005, secondo uno studio del Journal of the American Medical Association, più delle vittime causate dall'AIDS. Più di 194 000 statunitensi hanno contratto nel 2005 l'infezione da MRSA.

Sebbene il "supergerme", o "supermicrobo", (microorganismo resistente agli antibiotici, n.d.t.) viene rilevato principalmente negli ospedali, un numero crescente di infezioni sono state contratte in palestre o scuole. A Moneta, in Virginia, un diplomando è morto a causa di un'infezione che si è trasmessa a reni, fegato, polmoni e cuore. Nella contea di Bedford, di cui fa parte la cittadina di Moneta, i funzionari della scuola hanno riportato cinque casi di MRSA. Le scuole della contea sono state chiuse per permetterne la pulizia.

«Sicuramente l'MRSA ora dovrà essere considerato un importante obiettivo per la prevenzione e il controllo», ha dichiarato il dottor David A. Talan, specialista di malattie infettive all'UCLA Medical Center.


English mathematician John Horton Conway dies after contracting COVID-19

English mathematician John Horton Conway died on Saturday at his New Jersey home, reportedly due to COVID-19 complications. Princeton University neuroscience professor Sam Wang stated that Conway developed a fever on Wednesday before his death on Saturday. Conway was 82 years old.

Conway is known for devising a cellular automaton known as Conway's Game of Life. Cellular automata are discrete models consisting of a grid of cells. He also developed the chained arrow notation for expressing very large integers. Conway is also known for formulating the angel problem of combinatorial game theory, and his work involving surreal numbers.

For his mathematical contributions, Conway was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1981 and admitted to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1992. His other accolades include the Berwick Prize in 1971, the George Pólya Prize in 1987, the Nemmers Prize in Mathematics in 1998 and the Leroy P. Steele Prize in 2000.

Conway's death was mourned by various members of the academic community. Sam Wang called Conway "[a]n incomparable mathematician, a pleasant neighbor, and an excellent coffee acquaintance." US theoretical astrophysicist David Spergel tweeted that Conway "was a warm and gentle soul." Independent filmmaker and journalist Brady Haran, known for his educational YouTube channel Numberphile, posted a podcast dedicated to Conway.


Matemático britânico John Conway morre devido ao COVID-19

O matemático britânico John Horton Conway morreu no sábado em sua casa em Nova Jérsei, devido a complicações do COVID-19. O professor de neurociência da Universidade de Princeton, Sam Wang, afirmou que Conway desenvolveu febre na quarta-feira antes de sua morte no sábado. Ele tinha 82 anos.

Conway é conhecido por criar um autômato celular conhecido como jogo da vida. Autômatos celulares são modelos discretos que consistem em uma grade de células. Ele também desenvolveu a notação de seta encadeada para expressar números inteiros muito grandes. Conway também é conhecido por formular o problema do anjo da teoria combinatória dos jogos e seu trabalho envolvendo números surreais.

Por suas contribuições matemáticas, Conway foi eleito membro da Royal Society em 1981 e admitido na Academia de Artes e Ciências dos Estados Unidos em 1992. Suas outras conquistas incluem o Prêmio Berwick em 1971, o Prêmio George Pólya em 1987, o Prêmio Nemmers de Matemática em 1998 e o Prêmio Leroy P. Steele em 2000.

A morte de Conway foi lamentada por vários membros da comunidade acadêmica. Sam Wang chamou Conway de "um matemático incomparável, um vizinho agradável". O astrofísico teórico dos EUA David Spergel twittou que Conway "era uma alma calorosa e gentil". O cineasta e jornalista independente Brady Haran, conhecido por seu canal educacional no YouTube Numberphile, postou um podcast dedicado a Conway.


Cоздатель игры Жизнь Джон Конвей скончался от COVID-19

Ушёл из жизни из-за COVID-19 82-летний математик Джон Хортон Конвей (англ.  John Horton Conway).

Об этом сообщили в Twitter представители профессионального математического сообщества (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Математик Татьяна Хованова, которая общалась с ним также написала об этом в Facebook.

Математик и писатель Роман Михайлов вспомнил свою беседу с ним:

Широкой публике Джон Конвей известен по созданию игры «Жизнь»[1]
, но его вклад этим отнюдь не ограничен, а сам он очень не любил, когда его вспоминали из-за этого. В теории группы им открыты группы Конвея и сформулирована гипотеза чудовищного вздора. Вместе с соавторами основал комбинаторную теорию игр, открыв при этом сюрреальные числа. Внёс вклад в теорию узлов и теорию чисел. Много выпустил работ в области занимательной математики.

Джон Хортон Конвей родился 26 декабря 1937 года в Ливерпуле. В 1956 поступил в Кембриджский университет. Окончив его через 3 года, стал аспирантом Гарольда Дэвенпорта. В 1964 году получил степень за решение задачи об ординалах.
После чего преподавал там же в колледже Гонвилл-энд-Киз, на кафедре чистой математики. Его лекции пользовались популярностью из-за наглядных объяснений. Он часто проводил время за математическими играми. Вместе со студентом Майклом Патерсоном изобрели топологическую игру рассада.
На рубеже 1960-х — 1970-х нашёл три новых споардических группы, придумал правила игры «Жизнь» и построил сюрреальные числа.
В начале 1970-х принялся за создание справочника по конечным группам, завершив Атлас в 1984 году.
В 1972 году доказал алгоритмическую неразрешимость одной из нерешённых математических проблем — Гипотезы Коллатца.
В середине 1970-х после предложения Мартина Гарднера ознакомиться с работой Льюиса Кэрролла составил алгоритм Судного дня, позволяющий угадывать какой по заданной дате день недели.
В 1983 году получил должнность полного профессора.

11 апреля 2020 года


Ephraim Kishon dies at 80

Switzerland, Israel — Ephraim Kishon, Israeli author, satirist, playwright, screenwriter, and film director, died of a heart attack in his home in Appenzell, Switzerland, Saturday night. He was interred on February 1, in the Trumpeldor St. cemetery in Tel Aviv, Israel.

He was born on August 23, 1924, in Budapest, Hungary, as Ferenc Hoffmann. A prisoner in a Hungarian concentration camp, he escaped during the journey to the extermination camp of Sobibor.
He returned home to find his family alive and joined them in hiding until the end of the war.

Changing his name to Ferenc Kishont, he worked as a writer in a pro-communist satirical magazine until fleeing to Israel with his first wife, Eva, in 1949. There, an immigration clerk changed his name to the Hebrew Ephraim Kishon (אפרים קישון), which he had used ever since. Recently, he lived in both Switzerland and Israel.

A worldwide bestselling author, his books and short stories were translated into 37 languages. He also wrote a regular column in Maariv, wrote numerous plays, and created several films, amongst which are Sallah (סלאח שבתי), which won two Golden Globe awards and was nominated for an Academy award, and The Policeman (השוטר אזולאי), which won one Golden Globe award and was nomniated for an Academy Award.

He won many awards over the years, including the Israeli Nordau Prize for Literature (1953), the Israeli Sokolov Prize for Journalism (1958), the Israeli Kinor David Prize (1964), and the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2002).

Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, said in a eulogy: "Ephraim Kishon was one of the giants of Israeli culture, who created an entire cultural world for a country in formation; he created an entire world of culture for the country."

Prior to the funeral, his coffin was placed on the morning of February 1, in the Journalists' House in Tel Aviv, where his friends, colleagues, family, and fans, payed their lasts respects to him. Amongst them was Israeli Minister of Education, Limor Livnat, and Mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai.

Kishon left behind his third wife, Lisa, and children Raphael, Amir and Renana.


Ephraim Kishon ist tot

Appenzell (Schweiz) / Tel Aviv (Israel), 30.01.2005 – Der israelische Schriftsteller, Satiriker, Drehbuchautor und Journalist Ephraim Kishon ist tot. Er starb am 29. Januar 2005 im Alter von 80 Jahren in seinem Haus im Schweizerischen Appenzell an einem Herzanfall. Seine Beisetzung soll am kommenden Dienstag in Tel Aviv stattfinden.

Israels Staatspräsident Mosche Katzaw bezeichnete den in Ungarn geborenen Schriftsteller Kishon in einem Rundfunkinterview als einen „der bedeutendsten Künstler der israelischen Kultur“.

Ephraim Kishon gewann zahlreiche Preise, darunter die höchste Auszeichnung des israelischen Staates für sein Lebenswerk, den Israel-Preis. 1993 wurde ihm in Bonn das  Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse verliehen.

Kishon schrieb mehr als 50 Bücher, die in 37 Sprachen übersetzt wurden. Er war vor allem im deutschsprachigen Raum beliebt, wo seine Bücher Millionenauflagen ereichten. Weltweit beziffert sich die Auflage seiner Werke auf 43 Millionen.


Extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis strain emerges in South Africa

New research findings from South Africa on an extremely drug-resistant (XDR) strain of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) alarm experts. XDR-TB is defined as resistance to three or more second line antibiotics for TB. The condition remains treatable with other types of medications, but those are less effective, costlier and toxic. If the afflicted persons can't be diagnosed timely and given proper treatment, they can die within a month. Of 53 patients who had this form of the lung infection in the study, 52 died, reports ABC News.

Dr. Tony Moll discovered the Extremely Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in the South African region KwaZulu-Natal. In an interview, he said the new variant was "very highly troubling and alarming because of the very high fatality rate." Some patients might have contracted the bug in the hospital, Dr. Moll thinks, and at least two were hospital health workers. In one year's time, an infected person may infect 10 to 15 close contacts. However, the percentage of XDR-TB in the entire group of people with tuberculosis still seems to be low; 6,000 of the total 330,000 people infected at any particular moment in South Africa.

The typical symptoms of TB (like prolonged coughing, fever, night sweats, weight loss and chest pain), and signs on X-ray are identical for XDR-TB. To ascertain the presence of this resistant form, a laboratory test on the patient's sputum is necessary, but these tests are often too expensive in the poor countries where TB is present. Also, these countries frequently have high HIV-rates too; 44 patient's in the study by Dr. Moll were seropositive. These patients are particularly vulnerable. Dr. Karin Weyer, director of the South African Medical Research Council's Unit for TB Research, cautioned that "In a country with such high prevalence of HIV, the emergence of XDR-TB is a nightmare." Because TB is often a hallmark of AIDS, many people afraid of the social stigma don't seek medical attention.

These distressing findings urged a two-day meeting in Johannesburg to discuss the situation. Experts like Dr. Moll believe the new strain is also present in other provinces than Kwazulu-Natal. Conference organizers report cases in Mozambique and Botswana too. The World Health Organization has called for renewed efforts to combat the disease. Meanwhile, officials of the Health Ministry are suspected to be enforcing a media ban on the topics of AIDS and possibly TB.

During the 1990s, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), defined as resistance to at least isoniazid and rifampin, emerged as a threat to TB control, both in the United States and worldwide.


Nuova forma di tubercolosi colpisce il Sudafrica

I nuovi risultati, provenienti da una ricerca effettuata in Sudafrica, colti da un campione estremamente resistente ai farmaci di Mycobacterium tuberculosis, il batterio che causa la tubercolosi (TBC), hanno messo in allarme gli esperti. La resistenza ai farmaci nella tubercolosi è definita come la resistenza a tre o più antibiotici di seconda linea per essa; la malattia rimane curabile con altri tipi di farmaci, ma meno efficaci, più costosi e più tossici di quelli di prima linea. Lo studio effettuato sul campione ha rilevato anche la possibilità di morire, qualora il soggetto non ricevesse la diagnosi in tempo ed una adeguata cura.


Новая туберкулёзная угроза в Южной Африке

Новая волна туберкулёза в Южной Африке уже месяц уносит жизни людей.

Новый сверхустойчивый к лекарствам вид туберкулёза (Extremely Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB)) был открыт доктором Тони Моллом в Тугеле.

XDR-TB отличается от обычного туберкулёза тем, что против него не действуют почти все лекарства, существующие на этот день.

Симптомы похожи на обычный туберкулёз — повреждения лёгких, кашель, жар, потеря веса и боль в груди. Диагноз может быть сделан только после лабораторных исследований.

10 сентября 2006 года


First bird flu case reported in North Korea

North Korea's official news agency, KCNA, reported an outbreak of bird flu in the capital of Pyongyang. KCNA reported three separate outbreaks at poultry farms in the capital, and said hundreds of thousands of chickens have been culled in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease.

Radio Pyongyang said, "countermeasures are underway to prevent an epidemic and stem the spread to other poultry farms". Experts warned that a bird flu epidemic in North Korea would deprive the population of its main source of protein.

Kim Yong-Taek of the Korea Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said, "Upon its outbreak on those farms the committee lost no time to take emergency measures and meticulously organised veterinary and anti-epizootic work to prevent its spread to other poultry farms."

According to the state-run media, there have been no human fatalities from this outbreak.


Primeiro caso da gripe do frango anunciado na Coréia do Norte

Organizações noticiosas disseram ontem (28 de março) e hoje  que a agência de notícias oficial da Coréia do Norte, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reportou um surto  da gripe do frango na capital  Pyongyang.  Segundo a  KCNA houve três casos separados em fazendas de aves domésticas na capital. Centenas de milhares de frangos foram sacrificados como tentativa de evitar  a propagação da doença.

A Rádio Pyongyang disse, "as medidas defensivas devem prevenir a expansão da epidemia e evitar que se extenda a outras fazendas de aves domésticas". Especialistas advertiram que uma epidemia da gripe do frango  na Coréia Norte poderia privar a população local da sua  principal fonte de proteína.

Kim Yong-Taek do Centro de Controle e Prevenção de Doenças da Coréia disse, "o comitê não perdeu tempo para tomar as medidas de emergência e meticulosamente organizou  o trabalho veterninário e  antiepidêmico para prevenir o seu alastramento a outras fazendas de aves domésticas"

Segundo a mídia estatal, não houve nenhuma fatalidade humana neste surto da doença até agora.


First face transplant performed on French woman

Surgeons in France have performed a face transplant operation on a French woman who had lost her nose, lips and chin after being savaged by a dog. According to Iain Hutchison, an oral-facial surgeon at Barts and the London Hospital, the transplant is the first one to use skin from another person.

Doctors say the woman's new face will be a "hybrid" between her donor's face and her own face before the attack. In the five hour long operation, the donor's tissues, muscles, arteries and veins were attached to the patient's lower face. It is more favourable to use skin from another person's face instead of skin from another part of the patient's body, as the texture and colour of the skin are more likely to match.

A statement released by the hospital in Amiens said that the 38-year-old patient, who wishes to remain anonymous, has not been able to eat or speak properly since the attack in May this year. The woman was reportedly in "excellent general health" and her graft looked normal.

Ethical concerns, psychological impact, concerns relating to immunosuppression and consequences of technical failure have prevented teams from performing face transplant operations in the past, even though it has been technically possible to carry out such procedures for years.

Mr Hutchison warned of several problems with face transplants, such as blood vessels in the donated tissue clotting and immunosuppressants failing or increasing the patient's risk of cancer. He also pointed out ethical issues with the fact that the procedure requires a "beating heart donor". The transplant is carried out while the donor is brain dead, but still alive by use of a ventilator.

According to Stephen Wigmore, chair of British Transplantation Society's ethics committee, it is unknown to what extent facial expressions will function in the long term. He said that it is not certain whether a patient could be left worse off in the case of a face transplant failing.

Mr Michael Earley, a member of the Royal College of Surgeon's facial transplantation working party, commented that if successful, the transplant would be "a major breakthrough in facial reconstruction" and "a major step forward for the facially disfigured."


Realizan en Francia el primer transplante de rostro

Cirujanos franceses, liderados por Bernard Devauchelle y Jean Michel Dubernard, han realizado el fin de semana anterior una operación de transplante de rostro en una mujer que había perdido la nariz, los labios y el mentón después de haber sido atacada por un perro. Según Iain Hutchison, cirujano del Hospital Barts de Londres, este transplante es el primero en emplear la piel de otra persona.

Los médicos afirman que el nuevo rostro de la mujer será un "híbrido" entre la cara del donante y su propia cara antes del ataque. En la operación, que duró cinco horas, los tejidos, músculos, arterias y venas del donante, de la ciudad de Lille, fueron unidos al rostro de la mujer. Se decidió utilizar piel del rostro de otra persona en lugar de emplear piel de otra parte del cuerpo del propio paciente, pues es más probable que la textura y el color de la piel encajen.

Un comunicado emitido por el hospital en Amiens dice que la paciente, de 38 años de edad y que prefiere permanecer en el anonimato, no ha podido comer ni hablar adecuadamente desde el ataque sufrido en mayo del presente año. Se informó que la mujer se encontraba en "excelente estado de salud general" y que los injertos de piel lucían normales.

Los dilemas éticos, el impacto sicológico, las preocupaciones respecto de la inmunosupresión y las consecuencias de posibles fallas técnicas habían impedido que los equipos quirúrgicos realizaran transplantes de cara en el pasado, aun cuando ha sido técnicamente posible llevar a cabo dicho procedimiento en el pasado.

Hutchison advirtió de varios problemas con los transplantes de rostro, como la coagulación de los vasos sanguíneos en el tejido del donante o el hecho de que los medicamentos inmunosupresores no funcionen y por el contrario incrementen el riesgo de la paciente de sufrir cáncer. También señaló los problemas éticos, pues "los tejidos deben provenir de un paciente cuyo corazón aún esté latiendo".

Según Stephen Wigmore, del comité de ética de la Sociedad Británica de Transplantes, se desconoce cuándo se recuperen las expresiones faciales y afirmó que "no está claro si la paciente acabará peor en caso de que el trasplante fracase". Por su parte, Michael Earley, del Colegio Real de Cirujanos en el Reino Unido, declaró que "si tiene éxito, esta operación será un verdadero logro en materia de reconstrucción facial".


Primeiro transplante de rosto é feito na França

Cirurgiões franceses, liderados por Bernard Devauchelle e Jean Michel Dubernard, realizaram no último final  de semana uma operação de transplante de rosto numa mulher que tinha perdido o nariz, os lábios e o queixo, depois de ter sido atacada por um cachorro.

Segundo Iain Hutchison, cirurgião do Hospital Barts de Londres, o  transplante é o primeiro a empregar a pele de outra pessoa.

Os médicos afirmaram que o novo rosto da mulher será um "híbrido" entre o rosto do doador e sua própria face antes do ataque.

Na operação, que durou cinco horas, os tecidos, músculos, artérias e veias de um doador, da cidade de Lille, foram unidos ao rosto da mulher. Decidiu-se usar a pele do rosto de outra pessoa em lugar da pele de outra parte do corpo do próprio paciente, pois assim há mais chances de a textura e a cor da pele combinarem.

Um comunicado emitido pelo hospital disse que a paciente tem 38 anos de idade e que prefere permanecer no anonimato. Ela não consegue comer nem falar normalmente desde que se machucou. O hospital informou que a mulher se encontra de modo geral se encontra em bom estado e que a operação de enxerto de pele ocorreu normal.


Fransk kvinna fick första ansiktstransplantationen

Frankrike – Kirurger i Frankrike har genomfört en ansiktstransplantation på en kvinna som förlorat näsan, läpparna och hakan i en hundattack. Enligt den brittiske kirurgen Iain Hutchison är det den första transplantationen med hud från en annan människa.

Läkare säger att kvinnans ansikte kommer att bli en hybrid mellan hennes eget ansikte innan operationen och donatorns. Under den fem timmar långa operationen fästes donatorns vävnader, muskler, artärer och vener vid patientens ansikte. Att ta hud från en annan människas ansikte gör det lättare att få hudfärg och -struktur att matcha patientens.

I ett uttalande från sjukhuset i Amiens säger man att den 38-åriga kvinnan, som vill förbli anonym, inte kunnat ät eller tala sedan attacken i maj i år. Kvinnans hälsa beskrivs i övrigt som utmärkt och hennes transplantation förlöpte väl.

Det har varit tekniskt möjligt att genomföra denna typ av operationer under flera år, men etiska hänsyn, psykologiska verkningar, problem associerade med immunosuppression och konsekvenser av ett eventuellt misslyckande har tidigare utgjort oöverstigliga hinder.

Hutchinson varnade också för att ansiktstransplantationer kan leda till allvarliga problem. Blodkärl i den donerade vävnaden kan klumpa sig och de ämnen som motverkar patientens immunsystem riskerar att misslyckas och/eller ge patienten cancer. Han såg också ett etiskt dilemma med donatorer vars hjärta ännu slår och som kan fortsätta att andas efter att respiratorn stängts av.

Enligt Stephen Wigmore i den brittiska transplantationsföreningens etiska kommitté vet man inte hur ansiktsmusklerna kommer att fungera efter en längre tid. Han sa också att man heller inte vet i vilken omfattning en patient kan drabbas vid ett misslyckande.

Michael Earley vid Royal College of Surgeon kommenterade att om operationen har lyckats innebär det ett betydande genombrott för ansiktskirurgin och ett stort steg framåt för alla som fått ansiktet förstört.

En av läkarna i det team som utförde operationen har tidigare transplanterat båda armarna på en patient.


First foreigners die from coronavirus in Wuhan, China

According to officials on Saturday, the coronavirus 2019-nCoV may have killed two male foreign visitors in Wuhan, China — a man from the United States who tested positive for the virus, and another man from Japan who was suspected of dying from the virus — reportedly the first foreign deaths from the virus within the borders of China. As of yesterday, the virus had reportedly killed at least 813 in China and infected around 35,000 worldwide in at least 28 countries.

According to the U.S. embassy in Beijing, the infected 60-year-old western man died in February 6; Chinese authorities referred to him as "Chinese-American." Japanese officials said the Japanese man showed symptoms similar to the coronavirus infection and was suspected to have it; his death, they reported, was officially described as viral pneumonia.

Chinese citizens have criticized their government's initial response to the outbreak.  Police detained eight people for "spreading rumors," including ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who tried to warn people about the viral outbreak in December.  Li died of the infection on Friday, which quickly became the most frequently discussed subject on the Chinese social networking platform Weibo.  The hashtag "#we want freedom of speech#" quickly reached at least about two million views before being deleted by censors.

The government of China has quarantined a number of cities over the virus.

Governments in east Asia have prevented at least two cruise ships from disembarking at their intended ports because some of the people on board tested positive for coronavirus.

In addition to the deaths recorded in China, one person in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong have died of this new coronavirus.


Unuaj eksterlandanoj mortis en Ĉinio pro la koronoviruso

La unuaj eksterlandanoj aperis inter viktimoj de la koronoviruso en Ĉinio — po unu civitano de Usono kaj Japanio.

En Uhano, en la hospitalo Jinyintang mortis 60-jara civitanino de Usono. Oni raportis ke ŝi jam havis gravajn malsanojn antaŭe. Samloke mortis japana civitano, pli ol 60-jara. 19 aliaj eksterlandanoj estis infektitaj, du el ili jam resaniĝis.

En lasta tago la viruso mortigis 86 homojn: 81 en Hubejo du en Hejlongĝjango, kaj po unu en Pekino, Henano kaj Gansuo respektive. Pliaj 3399 infektiĝoj estis registritaj (el ili 2841 en Hubejo). Sume jam 34 889 homoj infektiĝis, 724 mortis kaj 2152 resaniĝis tutmonde. En Hubejo sume mortis jam 699 kaj infektiĝis 24 953 homoj.

La Monda Organizaĵo pri Sano anoncis ke el 17 mil analizitaj infektiĝoj 82% estis klasifikitaj kiel mildaj, 15% kiel gravaj kaj nur 3% kiel krizaj. La oficialaj datumoj montras mortoftecon je 2% aŭ iom malpli. Reprezentanto de la organizaĵo rimarkis ankaŭ, ke aperis tutmonda deficito de la protektaĵoj. Postulado estas centoble pli granda kaj prezoj 20-oble pli grandaj ol antaŭe, kion stimulas ankaŭ abunda uzado de la protektaĵoj ekster kutima sanserva medio. La plej endanĝerigitaj estas la medicinistoj. El 138 malsanuloj en la hospitalo Zhongnan (Uhano) 40 estas medicinistoj, el kiuj 10 infektiĝis de la sama paciento. Dume 15 laboratorioj tra la mondo konsentis akcepti sangospecimenojn el landoj, kiuj bezonas helpon tiukampe.

Dume daŭras kvaranteno en plezurkrozŝipo, veninta al la haveno de Jokohamo (Japanio). Jam 64 kazoj de infektiĝo estas konfirmitaj inter ĝiaj pasaĝeroj. En Tajlando estis konfirmitaj 7 pliaj infektigoj (4 civitanoj de Ĉinio kaj tri tajlandanoj). Unu infektito estis en la grupo el 138 tajlandanoj, evakuitaj el Uhano. Du aliaj kontaktis ĉinajn turistojn. Sume en la lando estas jam 32 konfirmitaj infektiĝoj, el kiuj 23 rilatas al la ĉinaj civitanoj. 11 pacientoj resaniĝis, 22 restas en hospitaloj.

En Uhano estis eksigitaj du altranguloj post la morto de la loka kuracisto Li Wenliang, siatempe perskutita pro diskonigo de informoj pri la aperinta viruso. Pluraj ĉinaj civitanoj funebris lian hieraŭan forpason, marŝante laŭ stratoj kun sloganoj, mallevante la maskojn kaj sonigante fajfilojn. La Nacia Kontrola Komitato vendrede decidis sendi laborgrupon al Uhano por komenci ampleksan enketon pri okazaĵo koncerna al kuracisto Li Wenliang.

La 7-an de februaro la ĉina prezidanto Xi Jinping telefone interparolis kun usona prezidento Donald Trump, urĝante la usonan flankon reagi racie al eksplodo de la nova koronaria viruso. Li emfazis, ke la ĉinaj klopodoj por la prevento kaj regado iom post iom donas pozitivajn rezultojn, kaj Ĉinio havas plenan memfidon kaj kapablon triumfi super la epidemio. Similaj konversacioj okazis ankaŭ kun aliaj ŝtatestroj.

Indonezio malpermesis importadon de vivaj bestoj el Ĉinio. Lastjare ĝi importis ilin je 314 295 dolaroj. Eldonado de vizoj por la ĉinaj civitanoj estas ĉesigita, ĉiuj vizitintaj lastatempe Ĉinion ne rajtas eniri Indonezon.


First person infected with Bird Flu in China has clean bill of health

The first person to become infected with the Avian Flu or Bird Flu virus in China has been declared healthy after being infected one year ago.

Doctors say that He Junyao, 10-years-old, who was infected on October 18, 2005 is healthy and all his body functions are "normal."

"[His] body functions are all normal" and the illness "has not affected the boy's growth," said Doctor Jiang Yaohui of the Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital. Yaohui also stated that the quick and "proper treatment" the boy had received was the reason that he survived.

The boy has been granted free medical check-ups until his eighteenth birthday.

At least 19 people have become ill from the illness in China and at least 14 of those have died.


Pierwsza osoba w Chinach przeżyła zarażenie ptasią grypą

Pierwsza osoba, która została zarażona rok temu wirusem ptasiej grypy w Chinach, jest zdrowa.

Lekarze mówią, że He Junyao, 10-latek, który zaraził się ptasią grypą 18 października 2005, jest zdrowy.

"[Jego] organizm funkcjonuje normalnie", a choroba "nie wpłynęła na rozwój chłopca", powiedział doktor Jiang Yaohui ze Szpitala Dziecięcego w prowincji Hunan. Yaohui powiedział też, że chłopiec żyje tylko dlatego, że przeprowadzono szybkie i "prawidłowe obejście się z przypadkiem".

Chłopiec otrzymał darmowe sprawdzenia lekarskie do osiemnastego roku życia.

Co najmniej 19 osób zostało zarażonych w Chinach, z czego 14 już umarło.


Fish consumption by New Yorkers has led to high blood mercury levels

Some 25% of New York City's adults have elevated mercury levels, according to the city's Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was released on Monday. Mercury poisoning, which can result from eating contaminated animals, leads to a wide range of conditions, including kidney and neurological damage, fatigue, vision problems, and tremors.

As one example, the report found that New York City women between 20 and 49 years old had an average level of mercury of 2.64 micrograms per liter, compared to a national average of 0.83 micrograms per liter among women in a similar age group. Mercury exposure in humans can result in brain damage, birth defects, severe neurological consequences, mercurial drooling, Minamata disease, and certain behavior abnormalities.

The high blood levels of the toxin were related to higher fish consumption. City's authorities said that children under six years old and pregnant and breast-feeding women should avoid fish with high mercury contents. The types of fish that were found to have especially high levels of mercury were Chilean sea bass, swordfish, and fresh tuna. A 2006 study by the National Wildlife Federation found that, in the United States, the animals of many different species, not just fish, are contaminated with mercury at levels higher than previously thought.


Fischkonsum der New Yorker führt zu viel Quecksilber im Blut

New York (Vereinigte Staaten), 25.07.2007 – Etwa 25 Prozent der Erwachsenen New Yorks haben laut der Gesundheits- und Ernährungsstudie der Stadt, die am Montag veröffentlicht wurde, erhöhte Quecksilberwerte. Eine Quecksilbervergiftung, die vom Verspeisen kontaminierter Tiere kommt, führt zu einer Vielzahl von Krankheiten einschließlich Nieren- und Nervenschäden, Müdigkeit und Zittern, auch Tremor genannt.

So fanden die Macher der Studie heraus, dass Frauen aus New York City zwischen 20 und 49 Jahren im Durchschnitt 2,64 Mikrogramm pro Liter Quecksilber im Blut haben, während Frauen einer ähnlichen Altersgruppe in den gesamten Vereinigen Staaten insgesamt nur 0,83 Mikrogramm pro Liter aufweisen. Sich Quecksilber auszusetzen, kann bei Menschen zu Gehirnschäden, Geburtsschäden, schweren neurologischen Folgen, Hypersalivation, zur Minamata-Krankheit und bestimmten Verhaltensstörungen führen.

Die hohe Konzentration des Giftstoffs im Blut stand in Verbindung mit einem hohen Fischkonsum. Die Behörden der Stadt sagten, Kinder unter sechs Jahren, schwangere und stillende Frauen sollten Fisch mit hohem Quecksilbergehalt meiden. Die Fischsorten, die befunden wurden, besonders erhöhte Quecksilberwerte zu enthalten, waren der Schwarze Seehecht, der Schwertfisch und frische Thunfische. Eine Studie der „National Wildlife Federation“ aus dem Jahre 2006 fand heraus, dass in den Vereinigten Staaten die Tiere vieler verschiedener Arten, nicht nur Fische, mit höheren Dosen Quecksilber verseucht sind, als bisher angenommen.


Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dies aged 87

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke. Baroness Thatcher was the first woman Prime Minister and served between 1979 and 1990. In 2002, she suffered a number of strokes and was advised by doctors not to engage in public speaking.

Her premiership was notable for military victory in the Falklands War in 1982 and for transforming the British economy in order to compete with other top nations. Her time as Prime Minister also saw the introduction of policies allowing council house residents to purchase their homes, the privatisation of public industries, the passage of the controversial Section 28 policy forbidding the teaching of homosexuality in schools, the year-long strike by miners starting in 1984, and the introduction of the unpopular "poll tax" which resulted in riots.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of Lady Thatcher's death. We've lost a great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton". A spokesperson at Buckingham Palace said that "The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family."

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said on Twitter, "Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher. Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics."

The British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said, "Margaret Thatcher was one of the defining figures in modern British politics. [...] She may have divided opinion during her time in politics but everyone will be united today in acknowledging the strength of her personality and the radicalism of her politics."

The Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband has said that Margaret Thatcher "will be remembered as a unique figure. She reshaped the politics of a whole generation. She was Britain's first woman Prime Minister. She moved the centre ground of British politics and was a huge figure on the world stage. [...] She coped with her final, difficult years with dignity and courage. Critics and supporters will remember her in her prime."

Her successor as Prime Minister, John Major paid tribute to her saying, "Her outstanding characteristics will always be remembered by those who worked closely with her: courage and determination in politics, and humanity and generosity of spirit in private."

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair also acknowledged how she changed British politics. He said: "Margaret Thatcher was a towering political figure. Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world. Margaret was such a leader. Her global impact was vast."

As Prime Minister Gordon Brown invited Baroness Thatcher to Downing Street in 2007 - he said "During our time in Number 10, Sarah and I invited Lady Thatcher to revisit Downing Street and Chequers - something which we know she enjoyed very much. But it was sad for her and her family that she lost her devoted husband Denis almost 10 years ago and that she was unable to enjoy good health in the later years of her retirement."

Labour's Carwyn Jones, the First Minister of Wales said, "Margaret Thatcher was a major force in British political life who undoubtedly had a significant influence on the political, social and economic landscape in Wales and the UK. There's no doubt about her personal achievement as the first woman to become British Prime Minister. Her place in the history books is assured."

The American President Barack Obama said "With the passing of Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend [...] Here in America, many of us will never forget her standing shoulder to shoulder with President Reagan, reminding the world that we are not simply carried along by the currents of history - we can shape them with moral conviction, unyielding courage and iron will."

Others were more negative about Thatcher's legacy. Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said, "The trouble is that almost everything that’s wrong with Britain today is her legacy". He added, "She created today’s housing crisis, she created the banking crisis, and she created the benefits crisis. It was her government that started putting people on incapacity benefit rather than register as unemployed because the Britain she inherited was at broadly full employment. [...] In actual fact, every real problem we face today is the legacy of the fact she was fundamentally wrong."

Judith Orr, editor of the UK weekly newspaper Socialist Worker said, "We'll be glad to see the back of her". She added, "She ruined the lives of tens of millions of working class people in Britain. And she rejoiced in war. She was the one who said we should rejoice in the sinking of the Belgrano, in the deaths of hundreds of young Argentine conscripts. That was one of her most disgusting moments, but there is a long list of crimes."

The Union flag at Downing Street and Buckingham Palace are both flying at half-mast as a sign of respect to her memory. She is due to receive a ceremonial funeral with full military honours similarly to that of Sir Winston Churchill which will be held at St Paul's Cathedral in London.


وفاة رئيسة وزراء المملكة المتحدة السابقة مارغريت تاتشر

أفادت السلطات البريطانيَّة على لسان المُتحدِّث باسم رئيسة الوزراء البريطانية السابقة مارغريت تاتشر وفاة الأخيرة عن 87 عامًا بعد إصابتها بجلطة دماغيَّة، صباح يوم الإثنين في 8 أبريل 2013م، في العاصمة لندن. وصرَّح المتحدّث اللورد تيم بيل عن الحدث بقوله: «ببالغ الأسى أعلن مارك وكارول تاتشر وفاة والدتهما البارونة تاتشر في سلام صباح اليوم بعد إصابتها بجلطة». ومن المعلوم أنَّ هذه الجلطة لم تكن الأولى من نوعها، فقد أصيبت تاتشر بعدَّة جلطات سابقة أدت بها إلى اعتزال العمل العام في سنة 2002م.

يُشار إلى أنَّ تاتشر هي المرأة الوحيدة التي تولت رئاسة وزراء بريطانيا، وكانت مشهورة بجرأتها وصراحتها وقوَّتها حتى لُقِّبت بالمرأة الحديديَّة من قِبل وسائل الإعلام السوڤيتيَّة، بعد أن ألقت خطابها الشهير عام 1976م وقالت فيه: «لم يعد الروس يقودون العالم». وكانت تاتشر قد تولَّت رئاسة وزراء بريطانيا منذ عام 1979م إلى عام 1990م، لتكون تلك أطول فترة يمضيها شخص واحد في ذلك المنصب ببريطانيا منذ أوائل القرن التاسع عشر.

الاثنين 8 أبريل 2013


Umrla je Margaret Thatcher

London (Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo), 8. april 2013 –U 87. godini umrla je bivša britanska premijerka Margaret Thatcher. Njen glasnogovornik Lord Bell je izjavio da je Thatcher umrla danas ujutro nakon moždanog udara. Sa velikom tugom su Mark i Carol Thatcher objavili da je njihova majka, baronica Thatcher, umrla mirno jutros nakon moždanog udara - kazao je Bell. Već nekoliko godina Thatcher je bila lošijeg zdravlja te je patila od demencije. Nakon serije slabijih moždanih udara, Thatcher se 2002. godine povukla iz javnog života. Downing Street je objavio da će Thatcher imati ceremonijalni pogreb uz vojne počasti u Katedrali svetog Pavla.

Britanski premijer David Cameron izjavio je da je s velikom tugom primio ovu vijest opisujući Margaret kao veliku lidericu, veliku premijerku i veliku Britanku. Iz Buckinghamske palače su izvijestili da je kraljica sa tugom primila vijest te da će poslati privatnu poruku sućuti porodici.

Baronica Thatcher je bila na čelu konzervativne vlade Ujedinjenog Kraljevstva od 1979. godine do 1990. godine. Bila je prva žena na toj poziciji u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu.


Regne Unit: mor l'exprimera ministra Margareth Thatcher

L'exprimera ministra Margareth Thatcher va morir abans d'ahir a l'edat de 87 anys, va anunciar el seu portaveu el mateix dia a migdia. La difunt patia de la malaltia d'Alzheimer des de l'any 2000. Figura emblemàtica de la política britànica, fou anomenada “Maggie” o encara la “dama de ferro”. Durant més de 11 anys, va dirigir el país des de l'any 1979 fins al 1990. També fou la primera dona cap del govern del Regne Unit.

La reina Elisabet II va declarar que estava trista quan va aprendre la seva mort. David Cameron, primer ministre, que va treballar amb ella quan tenia el seu càrrec, va estimar que el país “ha perdut una gran dirigent, una gran primera ministra i una gran britànica.”


Zemřela Železná lady – bývalá britská premiérka Margaret Thatcherová

Dnes ráno podlehla mozkové mrtvici bývalá britská premiérka Margaret Hilda Thatcherová (roz. Robertsová), baronka Thatcherová, LG, OM, PC, FRS, známá jako Železná lady. Narodila se 13. října 1925 v Granthamu v anglickém hrabství Lincolnshire. V posledních letech trpěla řadou nemocí, mimo jiné i stařeckou demencí.

Rodině nedlouho po oznámení vyjádřili kondolenci britský premiér David Cameron, který též událost okomentoval slovy „Ztratili jsme velkou vůdkyni, skvělou premiérku a velkou Britku.“, britská královna Alžběta II. či starosta Londýna Boris Johnson. Kondolence průběžně přicházejí i ze zahraničí.

Ačkoliv si to sama Thatcherová údajně příliš nepřála, bude jí vystrojen státní pohřeb, což je velká výjimka, neboť v Británii tato pocta náleží pouze příslušníkům královské rodiny.


Fallece Margaret Thatcher a los 87 años

Margaret Thatcher, primera ministra del Reino Unido entre 1979 y 1990, falleció en Londres a los 87 años tras sufrir un derrame cerebral. La Dama de Hierro no recibirá un funeral de Estado y en su lugar se realizará una ceremonia en la Catedral de Saint Paul, en donde recibirá honores militares. El miércoles también se le rendirá tributo en la Cámara de los Comunes y la Cámara de los Lores.

Thatcher había asumido como Miembro del Parlamento (MP) en 1959 por Finchley y en 1975 fue electa Líder del Partido Conservador, lo que la llevó a desempeñarse como Líder de la Oposición (1975-1979) y luego como primera ministra (1979-1990). Fue la única mujer en ocupar el puesto de primera ministra, siendo su mandato además el más largo del siglo xx.

Thatcher gozó por momentos de una buena imagen pública pero fue considerada en general una primer ministra polémica. En 1982 lideró al Reino Unido en la Guerra de Malvinas para recuperar las islas homónimas invadidas por Argentina, lo cual al resultar victoriosa le incrementó su popularidad. Durante la guerra, ordenó hundir el ARA Belgrano, que se alejaba de las islas y le valió la vida a 323 argentinos. Además, a finales de su mandato introdujo el Impuesto de la Comunidad, que establecía una tarifa fija y única para cada adulto. También se distinguió por su extensa privatización, en especial en Escocia donde tuvo una gran impopularidad. En 1992 dejó la Cámara de los Comunes y fue nombrada Baronesa Thatcher de Kesteven, lo que le otorgó un asiento vitalicio en la Cámara de los Lores.

Fue conocida como la Dama de Hierro, mote que "describía fielmente su personalidad y liderazgo". A pesar las divisiones que "presenta su figura", políticos británicos han coincidido en que la Dama de Hierro fue un persona con una fuerte personalidad, un gran liderazgo y determinación para transformar "un país y al panorama político internacional".

Thatcher había sufrido una serie de problemas de salud en los últimos años, incluyendo derrames cerebrales previos y demencia senil. En diciembre de 2012 fue sometida a una operación para removerle un pólipo en la vejiga.

Su muerte generó todo tipo de repercusiones. Veteranos argentinos de la Guerra de Malvinas dijeron que sería recordada porque "no trajo nada positivo para la humanidad" y que no "permitirían una lágrima por ella". El líder del Partido Laborista, Ed Milliband, calificó a Thatcher como "única" y dijo: "El Partido Laborista estaba en desacuerdo con gran parte de lo que hizo y siempre se mantendrá como una figura controvertida. Pero podemos estar en desacuerdo y también respetar sus logros políticos y su fuerza personal". El ex primer ministro Tony Blair por su parte expresó: "Margaret Thatcher fue una imponente figura política. Muy pocos líderes llegan a cambiar no solo el panorama político de su país sino que también del mundo". El presidente del gobierno español, Mariano Rajoy, la mencionó como una de los "dirigentes políticos más importantes del siglo xx"; y el presidente de los Estados Unidos Barack Obama expresó: "Con la muerte de la Baronesa Margaret Thatcher, el mundo pierde a una de sus mayores campeonas de la libertad, y Estados Unidos ha perdido a una verdadera amiga". François Hollande y Angela Merkel "han subrayado su contribución al final de la Guerra Fría" y contemporáneos de Thatcher como Mijaíl Gorbachov, Henry Kissinger y Helmut Kohl también le han rendido un sentido homenaje. La Reina Isabel, por su parte, dijo sentirse "triste".

El Gobierno británico dijo que realizará una ceremonia fúnebre con honores militares para la ex primera ministra, aunque no será un funeral de Estado, en línea con los deseos de su familia. Se realizará en la Catedral de St. Paul, pero no se difundió la fecha y se informó que los detalles se darán a conocer en los próximos días.


مارگارت تاچر درگذشت

به گزارش خبرگزاری‌ها، مارگارت تاچر نخست‌وزیر اسبق بریتانیا صبح امروز در اثر سکته مغزی درگذشت.

وی نخستین زنی بود که در انگلستان به مقام نخست‌وزیری رسید و در خلال سال‌های ۱۹۷۹ تا ۱۹۹۰ عهده‌دار این سمت بود.
دوران نخست‌وزیری وی در بریتانیا مصادف با زمان جنگ ایران و عراق بود.


Royaume-Uni : Margaret Thatcher est morte à 87 ans

Publié le 8 avril 2013 à 12 h 10 GMT

Le décès de l'ancienne Première ministre du Royaume-Uni a été annoncé ce midi par sa porte-parole. Margaret Thatcher était âgée de 87 ans.

C'est une figure emblématique de la politique britannique. On la surnommait la Dame de Fer ou Maggie. Elle a gouverné durant plus de 11 ans, entre 1979 et 1990. Elle fut la première femme à diriger le gouvernement britannique.

La reine Élizabeth II se dit « triste » à l'annonce de cette nouvelle. Le Premier ministre David Cameron, qui travailla pour Thatcher lorsqu'elle était Première ministre, estime que son pays a « perdu une grand dirigeante, un grand Premier ministre et une grande Britannique ».

La santé de Margaret Thatcher était fragile et elle était atteinte de la maladie d'Alzheimer depuis le début des années 2000.


Morre a ex-premiê britânica Margaret Thatcher

Brasília – Morreu hoje (8) aos 87 anos a ex-premiê britânica Margaret Thatcher, conhecida como Dama de Ferro. Primeira mulher a ocupar o cargo, ela teve um derrame no início da manhã

Margaret Thatcher nasceu em outubro de 1925, em Grantham, uma pequena cidade comercial no Leste da Inglaterra. Ela ocupou o cargo de primeira-ministra britânica por mais de 11 anos, entre 1979 e 1990.

Em dezembro do ano passado, Margaret Thatcher foi submetida a uma cirurgia para a retirada de um caroço na bexiga.

Thatcher foi uma das mais influentes figuras públicas do século 20. Seu legado teve um efeito profundo nas políticas de seus sucessores, tanto conservadores como trabalhistas. O estilo considerado radical e agressivo definiu os seus 11 anos no comando da Grã-Bretanha.

Durante seu governo conservador, milhares de britânicos conseguiram comprar casas populares e ações de empresas recém-privatizadas nas áreas de energia e telecomunicação. Mas sua rejeição à chamada "política de consenso" fez dela uma figura desagregadora, e a oposição ao seu governo culminou com rebeliões nas ruas e dentro de seu próprio partido.

Margaret Thatcher estudou química em Oxford, com o auxílio de uma bolsa de estudos, e se tornou a terceira mulher a presidir a Associação Conservadora da universidade. Depois de se formar, trabalhou em uma empresa de produtos plásticos e se envolveu em um grupo político conservador, até que, a partir de 1949, começou a concorrer a cargos no governo local em Kent. Mesmo sem vencer, ela atraiu atenção da imprensa por ser a mais jovem candidata eleitoral conservadora da história.

Em 1951, ela se casou com o empresário divorciado Denis Thatcher, com quem teve os gêmeos Mark e Carol, dois anos depois. Em 1959, obteve um assento no Parlamento britânico. Foi nomeada logo em seguida ministra-júnior e, após a derrota dos conservadores em 1964, entrou para o gabinete de oposição que monitora o trabalho do governo. Ganhando destaque no partido, Margaret Thatcher passou a fazer campanha vigorosa contra impostos e a favor da construção de casas populares.

Quando o conservador Ted Heath foi eleito premiê, em 1970, ela foi promovida a secretária da Educação e ordenada a reduzir os gastos da pasta. Um dos cortes resultou no fim de uma campanha de leite gratuito nas escolas, o que gerou fortes críticas dos trabalhistas e o apelido de Margaret Thatcher, milk snatcher (algo como ladra de leite). Ela própria havia se oposto ao corte dos subsídios para a compra do leite. Depois do episódio, escreveu:

O governo Heath, afetado pela crise do petróleo de 1973, caiu no ano seguinte. Crítica da condução da economia promovida pelo premiê, Margaret Thatcher disputou com ele a liderança do partido em 1975 e, para surpresa geral, venceu. Tornou-se a primeira mulher a liderar um partido de grande porte na Grã-Bretanha. Logo começou a deixar sua marca na política. Um discurso de 1976 contra as políticas repressoras aplicadas na antiga União Soviética lhe rendeu o apelido de Dama de Ferro – título que lhe agradava.

Quando o premiê trabalhista Jim Callaghan recebeu um voto de desconfiança do Parlamento, o Partido Conservador venceu as eleições gerais em 1979, e Margaret Thatcher foi alçada ao poder. Como primeira-ministra, ela estava determinada a moralizar as finanças públicas, e partiu para a redução do papel do Estado e o incentivo ao livre mercado.

O controle da inflação era uma meta central do governo, que introduziu um corte radical nos gastos e nos impostos. Privatizou empresas estatais, fomentou a compra de casas populares e aprovou leis para coibir a militância sindical. As novas políticas monetárias fizeram do centro financeiro de Londres um dos mais vibrantes e bem-sucedidos do mundo. Em busca de um país mais competitivo, antigas indústrias foram desativadas. O desemprego cresceu.

Apesar de pressão popular, Margaret Thatcher não cedia. Em uma conferência partidária de 1980, ela declarou: “Aos que esperam por uma guinada, só tenho uma coisa a dizer: deem a guinada se quiserem. Essa dama não volta atrás”. No fim de 1981, sua taxa de aprovação havia caído para 25%, nível mais baixo registrado por qualquer premiê até então. No ano seguinte, a economia iniciou sua recuperação e, com isso, cresceu a popularidade de Margaret Thatcher.

A aprovação deu um salto maior em abril, com sua guerra contra a Argentina pelas Ilhas Malvinas, vencida em 14 de junho. A vitória bélica, somada a desarranjos no Partido Trabalhista, resultaram em nova vitória conservadora nas eleições de 1983. Nessa época, ela enfrentou desafios na Irlanda do Norte, como greves de fome de membros do IRA (Exército Republicano Irlandês), e manteve uma abordagem linha-dura perante o grupo.

Em outubro de 1984, o IRA detonou uma bomba em uma conferência do Partido Conservador em Brighton, deixando quatro mortos e dezenas de feridos. Em resposta, Margaret Thatcher declarou:

Sua política externa era focada em reconstruir laços externos da Grã-Bretanha. Teve como parceiro o então presidente americano Ronald Reagan, com quem compartilhava opiniões semelhantes sobre a economia, e manteve uma aliança improvável com Mikhail Gorbachev, presidente soviético reformista.

Ante a desestruturação do Partido Trabalhista, a premiê foi, de forma inédita, eleita para um terceiro mandato em 1987. Uma de suas primeiras ações foi impor uma taxação sobre serviços públicos, que despertou uma forte onda de protestos violentos no país e a insatisfação dentro do próprio Partido Conservador. Mas o que acabou levando à sua queda foi a questão da unidade do Continente Europeu.

Após um debatido simpósio sobre o euro ocorrido em Roma, Mikhail Gorbachev Thatcher rechaçou a possibilidade de aumento de poder da comunidade europeia. Após a saída de importantes membros de seu gabinete e sob pressão do partido, a premiê disse se sentir traída e anunciou sua renúncia em novembro de 1990.

Após deixar o poder, ela recebeu o título de baronesa, escreveu dois livros de memórias e se manteve ativa na política, fazendo campanha contra o Tratado de Maastrich (que pavimentou terreno para a adoção do euro) e contra a política sérvia de limpeza étnica na Bósnia.

Foi forçada a reduzir sua atuação pública em 2001, quando sua saúde começou a se deteriorar. Após sofrer uma série de pequenos derrames, seus médicos advertiram sobre aparições públicas, nas quais ela se revelava cada vez mais fragilizada. Além disso, Margaret Thatcher sofria de problemas mentais, que afetavam sua memória de curto prazo. Em 2003, seu marido Denis morreu aos 88 anos de idade.

Para seus críticos, ela foi uma política que colocou o livre mercado acima de tudo. Foi acusada por muitos de deixar que parte da população pagasse o preço por iniciativas que aumentavam o desemprego e geravam distúrbios sociais. Para seus simpatizantes, a ex-premiê reduziu o tamanho de um Estado inflado e a influência dos sindicatos, além de restaurar a força britânica no mundo.

Sua filosofia pode ser ilustrada por uma entrevista que deu em 1987. “Acho que passamos por um momento em que muitas crianças e pessoas foram levadas a crer que ‘se tenho um problema, cabe ao governo lidar com ele’. ‘Sou sem-teto, o governo tem de me dar uma casa. Eles [as pessoas] jogam seus problemas sobre a sociedade, e quem é a sociedade? Isso não existe! É nosso dever cuidar de nós mesmos e então ajudar a cuidar de nossos vizinhos. A vida é um negócio recíproco, e as pessoas mantêm em mente os direitos, [mas] sem as obrigações.”


Скончалась Маргарет Тэтчер

8 апреля 2013 года в возрасте 87 лет скончалась баронесса Маргарет Тэтчер — 71-й премьер-министр Великобритании в 1979—1990 годах.
Причиной смерти стал сердечный приступ (по другим данным — инсульт).

Представитель экс-премьера Лорд Белл сказал:

Смерть Маргарет Тэтчер не стала неожиданностью.
Начиная с 2002 года состояние здоровья Маргарет Тэтчер значительно ухудшилось, и она постепенно отошла от общественной и политической деятельности.
В последнее время баронесса страдала целым букетом различных заболеваний и перенесла сразу несколько микроинсультов и сердечных приступов.

В 2010 году Маргарет Тэтчер не смогла посетить приём, который давал премьер-министр Дэвид Кэмерон в честь её 85-го дня рождения.

Летом 2012 года госпожа Тэтчер по состоянию здоровья не смогла присутствовать на торжественном обеде, который давала для бывших премьер-министров королева Елизавета II в честь 60-летия пребывания на престоле.

Перед Рождеством 2013 года Маргарет Тэтчер была госпитализирована и прооперирована: ей удаляли опухоль мочевого пузыря.
Врачи отмечали, что операция была несложной, и они остались довольны.

Ведущие СМИ были готовы к смерти «железной леди» и давно заготовили некрологи.
Тем не менее эксперты отмечают, что смерть Тэтчер закрывает важную страницу в истории Великобритании.

Баронесса Тэтчер была 71-м премьер-министром Великобритании, она занимала этот пост с 1979 по 1990 годы и была первой и единственной в истории женщиной, возглавлявшей правительство Великобритании.

Собаке собачья смерть

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8 апреля 2013 года


Умрла Маргарет Тачер

8. април 2013.Лондон/ Енглеска  (Beta-AFP) - Бивша премијерка Уједињеног Краљевства Маргарет Тачер умрла је у понедељак од последица можданог удара, саопштила је њена породица.

Њена деца су саопштила да је она у понедељак ујутро умрла мирно у сну после можданог удара. Умрла је у 88. години.

Маргарет Тачер је 1974. године постала прва жена председник Конзервативне странке, а потом и прва жена председник Владе Уједињеног Краљевства, који је положај држала од 4. маја 1979. до 28. новембра 1990. године, што је најдужи мандат једног председника владе Уједињеног Краљевства од 1827. године.

У политици је остала упамћена по надимку Гвоздена лејди.