(2020-03-20). [Comment] Recognising the substantial burden of neglected pandemics cystic and alveolar echinococcosis. thelancet.com Cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis belong to the diverse group of mainly parasitic, but also bacterial, viral, and fungal diseases currently listed among the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) for which WHO advocates control.1 As with most NTDs, cystic and alveolar echinococcosis affect rural and marginalised communities without voice, often distant from health-care settings. However, and in contrast to most NTDs, the prevalence of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis extends beyond tropical and subtropical regions to include worldwide pastoral and rural communities of medium-high income countries, i…
(2020-03-20). [Correspondence] Democracy and implementation of non-communicable disease policies. thelancet.com In their Article in The Lancet Global Health, Luke Allen and colleagues1 found weak evidence for a positive association between democracy and the implementation of polices recommended by WHO to reduce the burden of premature non-communicable disease mortality.1 As Allen and colleagues note, that finding is in contrast with our research on the positive association between democracy and population health outcomes on non-communicable diseases.2 Accordingly, here we build on the important analysis of Allen and colleagues by closely examining the association between democracy and implementation of non-communicable dis…
(2020-03-20). [Comment] Balancing sensitivity and specificity of Zika virus case definitions. thelancet.com In a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Raquel Burger-Calderon and colleagues1 characterise the clinical profile of Zika virus infection and assess the performance of WHO and Pan American Health Organization case definitions in a large paediatric cohort from Nicaragua. They show that Zika disease primarily manifests with undifferentiated fever or afebrile rash, and that the occurrence of symptoms increases with age. As a result, Zika in children is likely to be missed by recommended case definitions more frequently than in adults.
(2020-03-20). US sanctions impede Iran's fight against coronavirus. yenisafak.com The eerie silence in the deserted streets of Tehran is in sharp contrast to the palpable buzz in hospitals these days with the novel coronavirus pandemic assuming alarming proportions and cases mounting.The total number of confirmed cases has reached 18,407 with the death toll climbing to 1,284. According to the Health Ministry, around 50 new cases and six deaths are reported every hour across the country.While new cases have seen an inconsistent increase, the fatalities are surging steadily and alarmingly. Thursday's death toll of 149 is the highest single-day coronavirus death toll in Iran.The epicenter of the…
(2020-03-20). Coronavirus overshadows spring festival in Afghanistan. yenisafak.com In clear contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of spring festivals, Afghanistan on Friday marked Nevruz in calm amid fears of new coronavirus spreading globally.The usual picnic resorts for families in the capital Kabul were clearly empty while the main attraction in north of the country, Mazar-e-Sharif, also presented deserted images with people adopting social distancing on government directives.Nowruz marks New Year's Day in Afghanistan with the Solar Hijri calendar as their official calendar.In his Nevruz message, President Ashraf Ghani stressed unity among Afghans and drastic reforms in the system of gover…
(2020-03-19). Socialist countries response to pandemic shows stark contrast to capitalism. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – As the number of confirmed cases of the viral illness COVID-19 approaches 200,000 worldwide, we can already see how differently issues of public health and human needs are treated in socialist countries vs. capitalist countries. | COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, a major city in the People's Republic of China. Local officials took three to four weeks to recognize its significance. Once the threat was clear, the whole of the country and vast resources were mobilized. Everything was shut down to stop the virus in its tracks. People were quarantined at home as new hospitals were constructed, s…
(2020-03-19). Brazil: Sao Paulo Police Capture Nearly Half of Escaped Inmates. telesurenglish.net Brazilian Police captured more than 500 of the 1400 inmates who escaped from Sao Paulo's penitentiary institutions. | RELATED: | The massive escape occurred on March 16 in three prisons located in Managua, Mirandopolis, and Taubate. The inmates started fires, riots, and took guards as hostages after authorities announced several departures and visiting restrictions as a measure to prevent Covid-19 spreading in Brazilian territo…
(2020-03-13). EEUU y la OEA hacen lobby para liberar a 'presos políticos' en Nicaragua que apuñalan a muerte a sus parejas embarazadas. thegrayzone.com Benjamín Norton reporta desde Nicaragua, donde la embajada de los Estados Unidos y la OEA han cabildeado con éxito por…
(2020-03-12). US House rams through Nicaragua regime-change bill with zero opposition. thegrayzone.com Not one member of the House of Representatives spoke up against a bipartisan bill sponsored by hardliners that ramps up…
(2020-03-06). If Sanders forms a real Alliance with Warren, their Popular Policies Can Win. zcomm.org Conventional wisdom is that a presidential candidate should pick an opposite or contrasting vice presidential running mate, to create a perception of a balanced ticket. But this is not a conventional time or race, Bernie is offering a clear and practical progressive choice to fix the USA. So his running mate needs to be a