NEJM . Déjà Vu All Over Again — Refusing to Learn the Lessons of Covid-19
Authors: Michael S. Sinha, M.D., J.D., M.P.H. , Wendy E. Parmet, J.D., and Gregg S. Gonsalves, Ph.D.
The spread of H5N1 avian influenza among cattle and other farm animals as well as to agricultural workers in the United States has raised concerns about the potential for an influenza pandemic. Although the threat of pandemic H5N1 doesn’t appear to be imminent — this variant has yet to show the potential to be transmitted from human to human — the federal government’s initial response suggests that, rather than heeding the lessons from Covid-19, elected officials and other key decision makers may be relying on a dangerous type of revisionism that could lead to more deaths, should H5N1 cause a pandemic.
DJ...like with climate collapse; blame games, denial, "it is only mild"...."do not test=no cases"....
CoViD became a pandemic because "politics" failed !
Even AFTER !!! the Wuhan lockdown governments wanted the WHO to act-so they could blame the WHO...
In 2003 SARS-1 was controlled..CoViD-19/SARS-2 did get all the room to spread "because stopping air travel would cost billions"...
A realistic number of CoViD deaths since 2019 may be in between 32 and 40 million !
CoViD is now also widespread in lots of non-human hosts !
-Mpox is "spread by men having sex with other men"-blame homosexuals ! In Africa lots of children died from Mpox-because it might be even airborne (some variants !)
-measles-blame the unvaccinated...
-H5N1 is "a problem in illegal US farm workers"-"not even speaking Spanish"....
Divide and rule is NOT the way to solve ANY problem !
Replies: Posted By: Dutch Josh
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2024 at 11:38pm
(DJ-I have to watch my anger....)
The prospect of an H5N1 pandemic has been a source of concern ever since the virus was isolated from humans in Hong Kong in 1997. In response, the U.S. government began developing pandemic-preparedness plans.
A series of reports from the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has emphasized the need for the stockpiling of personal protective equipment, resilient supply chains, and greater coordination between agencies and various levels of government. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2406427?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3ulkHLUXZhGv4X0qOCiv2yEgCbEwREwyHxcjwBpfAM4d_5qljCvrOqBUA_aem_FwDhtEmr0mfL6H4ngVYJ-g#core-r1 - 1
Yet despite these plans and warnings, and despite being ranked the most prepared among 195 countries to handle a pandemic on the Global Health Security Index in 2019, when Covid-19 arrived, the United States fared terribly by most measures. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2406427?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3ulkHLUXZhGv4X0qOCiv2yEgCbEwREwyHxcjwBpfAM4d_5qljCvrOqBUA_aem_FwDhtEmr0mfL6H4ngVYJ-g#core-r2 - 2
During the pandemic, well-described weaknesses in the U.S. public health response were often masked by overconfidence, as some elected officials and political appointees continually reassured Americans that the country had “the tools” to respond adequately to this new threat.
The types of testing and surveillance problems that marred the response to Covid-19 are now being repeated with H5N1, with recent genetic analyses suggesting that the virus circulated undetected in cattle for months. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2406427?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3ulkHLUXZhGv4X0qOCiv2yEgCbEwREwyHxcjwBpfAM4d_5qljCvrOqBUA_aem_FwDhtEmr0mfL6H4ngVYJ-g#core-r3 - 3
Because of inadequate testing, the actual number of cases among dairy and other agricultural workers is also unknown.
As with meatpacking facilities in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, the reluctance of dairy-farm employers to cooperate with health officials has hampered widespread testing and surveillance.
Why ???? The profits are NOT worth millions of deaths ??? Or is there an evil plan ? "Genocide by pandemics"????
It is a GOVERNMENTS JOB to make laws ! If need be to enforce testing of milk, cows...offer tests to farmworkers-no test=no job !
Do we realy need another massive spread of a disease-than "vaccines"-with billions of tax payer money going to "big pharma share holders/donors" ?
Posted By: Dutch Josh
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2024 at 11:50pm
DJ-Very good article-however a basic question remains. Why ?
Pandemics are NOT new ! Infectious diseases are mixed with human history...so WHY do politics fail to deal with CoViD, Mpox, H5N1 (etc) ?
One may see some similarity with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_HIV/AIDS - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_HIV/AIDS or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_HIV/AIDS ....
Posted By: Dutch Josh
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2024 at 8:42pm
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/africa-ac/monkeypox/994708-uganda-records-2-imported-mpox-cases - https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/africa-ac/monkeypox/994708-uganda-records-2-imported-mpox-cases or
In 2017 and again in 2018 the WHO released a short list of priority diseases (see https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2018/03/who-list-of-blueprint-priority-diseases.html - WHO List Of Blueprint Priority Diseases ) - that due to their potential to cause a public health emergency - was felt there was an urgent need for accelerated research and development for:
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)
Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease
Lassa fever
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Nipah and henipaviral diseases
Rift Valley fever (RVF)
Zika
Disease X
An update was expected in 2020, but a SARS-COV-2 pandemic took center stage.
DJ, So a corona-virus WAS a possible risk in 2018 ?
In this latest report, the number of priority pathogens has grown to more than 30 (see charts below).
Additions include 7 different influenza A subtypes (H1, H3, H3, H5, H6, H7, and H10), and 5 bacterial strains that cause cholera, plague, dysentery, diarrhea and pneumonia (see yesterday's report on https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/08/who-don-risk-assessment-hypervirulent.html - Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) ST23).
-
One of the reasons why this blog focuses on such a wide range of pathogens is because the next pandemic could come from out of left field, from a virus, bacteria, or fungus that isn't high on our list.
This is expected to be a `living document', one that will be updated every year or two, as new threats emerge and others fade away.
I've only had a brief time to scan this report, but it appears well worth downloading and spending time reviewing.
DJ-link https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/consultation-rdb/prioritization-pathogens-v6final.pdf?sfvrsn=c98effa7_7&download=true - https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/consultation-rdb/prioritization-pathogens-v6final.pdf?sfvrsn=c98effa7_7&download=true or https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/consultation-rdb/prioritization-pathogens-v6final.pdf?sfvrsn=c98effa7_7&download=true (38 pages)
DJ-If SARS-2 was one of the 10 possible risks in 2018-why than in 2019 SARS-2/CoViD-19 could start a "world tour" ?
H5N1, Mpox are NOT under control...There seems to be a very large gap between "theoretical risks" and action...
Maybe there are very major limits to "pandemic planning"-economy may be the major one...However if "the economy" needs climate collapse and pandemics "to function" we need to rethink "economy"!
Posted By: Dutch Josh
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2024 at 11:40pm
Thailand using drones gather DNA fragments in air from wildlife
*rapid disease screening
*then remote lab sequencing
they can collect whatever virus animals shedding into air, any disease that could jump from bats to pigs and chickens to humans
scientists are pioneering a groundbreaking method to detect zoonotic diseases using drones.
By collecting bat DNA from the air, they aim to prevent the next epidemic and protect both animals and humans.
link https://www.fao.org/newsroom/story/pulling-lifesaving-data-out-of-thin-air-literally/en - https://www.fao.org/newsroom/story/pulling-lifesaving-data-out-of-thin-air-literally/en or https://www.fao.org/newsroom/story/pulling-lifesaving-data-out-of-thin-air-literally/en
link https://www.science.org/content/article/armed-air-samplers-rope-tricks-and-yes-ants-virus-hunters-spot-threats-new-ways#.Y7YW1HPUdDk.twitter - https://www.science.org/content/article/armed-air-samplers-rope-tricks-and-yes-ants-virus-hunters-spot-threats-new-ways#.Y7YW1HPUdDk.twitter or https://www.science.org/content/article/armed-air-samplers-rope-tricks-and-yes-ants-virus-hunters-spot-threats-new-ways#.Y7YW1HPUdDk.twitter
DJ, There may be techniques used for food-quality control that also may play a role in limiting disease spread.
Step one is detecting the disease...you have to start somewhere...
Minnesota health officials investigating after five children fall ill from raw milk
DJ...YES raw milk may have diseases-a.o. H5N1...children may have limited immunity...
A lot of facts are known but ignored...One can have the best science/data...but if it is not used it may be pointless....The Paris-olympics a.o. is turning into a mass spread event for CoViD....but "no masks allowed"....
Posted By: Dutch Josh
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2024 at 11:24pm
DJ, I am NOT any kind of expert. A limited history background and I followed "pandemic/climate news" for decades...(but that is NOT the same as university educated experts !) .
Eric Topol
@EricTopol
·
The new significant wave. It's hard to believe the we're well into our 5th year of this virus and not taking the requisite steps to gain control.
Including updates on the new boosters and #LongCovid.
In Ground Truths (link found in my profile)
CoViD is underming immunity. Not only in humans but also in other mammals.
The increase of H5N1-first in birds then in mammals- may be related to CoViD in birds/mammals ? Before CoViD H5N1 in wild birds was seasonal and linked to migrating birds...
Less immunity means more diseases get better chances for spread. On top of that global warming is increasing insect spread diseases like malaria, dengue...
Most "old" pandemic strategies had the idea of "fighting one disease-often a type of flu"..A very welcome extra was the "One Health" idea-what happens in animals may reach us (and the other way round).
CoViD may-after 5 years going global- result in lots of diseases getting out of control. mpox, H5 types of flu, may only be the start...
Dealing with this exponential worsening global healthcollapse HAS to be global top-priority...but it is not...
like climate collapse also pandemics can end humans...going for global war may speed up "ending humans"....
So-if "we" do NOT want to end humans we have to find ways to end pandemics...
--------
In "war scenario's" those responsible for wars hide in bunkers-getting most other people killed...There may be "an idea" that "if you are rich" you can buy yourself safety for climate/pandemic collapse...
That "ídea" is false...
looking at major healthcrises in humans past did see from time to time pandemics killing over 50% of a certain population. Since travel was limited often those "pandemics" did not go global...
European diseases may have killed 90-95% of the "Indians" since 1492...
Corona-viral diseases in animals are well known-only controlled by killing all the animals on the farm. Some bats are known to carry over 30 types of corona-viruses...
So getting CoViD under control being hard should not be a surprise...
There are estimates over half of all humans may have had at least once a CoViD infection...Between 32 and 40 million people may have died from it...less then 0,5% of the global population...
H1N1-Spanish Flu may have killed up to 5% (100 million people) between 1917 and 1923. The "Black death" did result in 100% of some populations dying...Hardly doing much damage in other areas in the 14th century Europe...
In 2024 life expectency in some countries is over twice the 35-40 years it was-in general- before 1900...Basic healthcare, housing, safe water/food can "pump up" life expectency to 60-80+...Limiting pregnancies=limiting children dying before they reach 10 year...
High child deaths is one of the reasons why life expectency was that low before 1900. Often mothers dying during pregnancies...
We managed to overcome child/pregnancy deaths...better hygiene, women getting pregnant later (in general 18+...during the early 19th century working class women hardly did get 18...).
So we can find a way out of the global unfolding healthcrisis...However the crisis may be MUCH MUCH worse then any "pandemic strategy" so far did think it would be...
A first step has to be information, education, communication...
A second step could be global masks/eye-protection in public spaces...low costs-may save many lives...
Making profits out of any crisis only is making problems worse..."fighting obesity" for decades-as a commercial enterprise-resulted in obesity becoming a global problem. That "strategy" has been a disaster...
So facing what is NOT working also may help...Smoking -trying to limit tabacco use-is a big ???? Greed driven strategies still find ways to get people smoking...But at least trying to sell cigarettes to parents to get young children smoking (Camel promoted cigarettes to 2-3 y/o in Indonesia some years ago...) is now seen as "unwelcome"...
Posted By: Dutch Josh
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2024 at 11:37pm
https://x.com/_CatintheHat">Cat in the Hat reposted
It is completely wrong that accessing health care brings about a downward spiral of infection and worsened illness.
It is *completely wrong*.
Healthcare: First of all, do no harm.
There should be universal masking in healthcare until there is clean air everywhere.
-
Dr. Lucky Tran
@luckytran
·
It's official: Mask ban in Nassau County, New York passes along party lines, 12-0 (7 abstentions). It makes wearing a mask a misdemeanor (with unclear health and religious exceptions) and gives police the power to fine people wearing a mask $1,000 and sentence them to jail time.
A note—Many say racist things to me—& some folks don’t like I share precautionary/doom-y COVID data. Some call me a CCP spy, pharma shill, attention seeking personal brand builder… But I’m none of those. Who I really am:
DJ, Also indie_SAGE doing "the best possible job" in dealing with healthcare had members of "non-European background"...Xenophobia/racism is worsening pandemics !
Stupidity kills !
Posted By: Dutch Josh
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2024 at 10:24pm
Jennifer Nuzzo, DrPH
@JenniferNuzzo
·
There are now multiple, concurrent public health crises: an international mpox emergency, unprecedented outbreaks of H5N1, the highest levels of Covid in a long time. Infectious diseases are the recurring hazards of our times. They require sustained commitment to preparedness.
DJ, We are in a multi disease pandemic....Soon we will learn people catching one disease may already have another disease...Spread via mammals, birds etc.
23 Mammal Species Infected in U.S. H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak
The avian flu has infected 97 red foxes, 82 house mice, 43 skunks, 36 domestic cats, 22 mountain lions, 21 harbor seals, and 43 additional skunks.
Still testing on US farms for H5N1 is on a voluntary basis...With the farmer ending up with very high costs/bankruptcy if there is H5N1 on the farm...
In a lot of countries people on sickleave have no are very limited income...So they go to their job spreading disease...
The reason behind sick leave insurance...in the 19th century !!!!!...was to limit disease and "save the economy"....Still in 2024 we live in the age of stupid !
A 2D world "here and now"...unable to learn even fom yesterdays mistakes...repeating them over and over...
Stupidity kills !
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2024 at 12:26am
DJ, Since we are NOT stopping any disease we soon will end up in a multi-disease pandemic...
"Saving the economy" destroyed that economy...with that also public healthcare...
Both pandemics and climate collapse may result in a crisis we did not see in centuries...
Government have to fall back to "war plan" strategies. One main goal will be control of the news...
However you can not hide reality for ever...So what could become a working strategy ?
-Better vaccines may be on their way...but for the short term only limited...
-Masks/eye protection DOES WORK ! Ventilation lowers viral loads...Easy, cheap, fast...some countries may still go for Non Pharma Interventions...For most western countries you would need a major PR campain to "sell" that idea and vaccines...
Lots of people may see disease and deaths around them-may be very happy to see ways to protect themselves...
However the above may be a bit optimistic; still a government and basic economy ongoing...
A worse scenario would see economic collapse...A government only in power in limited positions-going for "stratigic goods" like water supply, electricity, getting at least some food delivery going and limiting social collapse...
Even worse would be major climate disasters destroying infra structure to undo even those basics...So NO power, NO water, NO food...just chaos...
The scale of chaos could be "very widespread" with countries doing only somewhat better unable to provide much help...
--------
Such disaster scenarios may look similar to post-nuclear war scenarios...DJ-"Islands of safety"-in part for a government elite but also as basis for recovery...
The Spanish Flu may have killed 2 to 5% of the population between 1917 and 1923. Some estimates put India H1N1-"Spanish" flu deaths at 20 million...
The Black Death did kill as good as 100% of the population in the 14th century in Europe/Asia...however some other regions were not toutched...
Climate disasters-on top of pandemics-complicate matters...So can humans survive the upcoming climate/pandemic disasters ? It may be a hard job...but maybe some of us will survive...
-One strategy is "duck and cover" -enough stocks in a safe place to survive in an isolated position. Isolation, staying undetected as part of the plan...
-Another strategy may see cooperation, planning, even self sacrifice, to get children in a post apocalyptic future...
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2024 at 11:10pm
https://www.medomics-dx.net/product/SARS-CoV-2FluAFluB-+ADVRSVSA-Antigen-Combo-Rapid-Test-Kit-%28LFIA%29-531.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrKu2BhDkARIsAD7GBoupGr5Q-i7wPCGZYhzGu2DXjwQHPvQPko77dLCyt38_zoxGPX77up0aAqxNEALw_wcB - https://www.medomics-dx.net/product/SARS-CoV-2FluAFluB-+ADVRSVSA-Antigen-Combo-Rapid-Test-Kit-(LFIA)-531.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrKu2BhDkARIsAD7GBoupGr5Q-i7wPCGZYhzGu2DXjwQHPvQPko77dLCyt38_zoxGPX77up0aAqxNEALw_wcB or https://www.medomics-dx.net/product/SARS-CoV-2FluAFluB-+ADVRSVSA-Antigen-Combo-Rapid-Test-Kit-(LFIA)-531.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrKu2BhDkARIsAD7GBoupGr5Q-i7wPCGZYhzGu2DXjwQHPvQPko77dLCyt38_zoxGPX77up0aAqxNEALw_wcB
DJ-I can buy a DIY-test that tests for CoViD, RSV and Flu at a farmacy for 6 Euro's...If you would go for multi-disease testing-including tests for Mpox-costs for such tests would be even lower...
The "west" should be able to make that kind of tests themselves-not import them from China...That only would need an active government doing its job !
Promoting masks/eyeprotection and ventilation of public spaces has to be another step.
DJ-The main reason why "we" are not learning ANYTHING even from recent history is "someone is making money" from crises...So why solve/prevent crises....
Profits above human lives may be best shown/most clear in wars...getting a few people very rich. But also pandemics-with "vaccines" as the ONLY answer...Not enough profit in masks ?
Another important tool is providing good info; "We are tired of pandemics...bad for advertising..."...Okay...see what that will bring you !
Maybe invest in land that can be used for mass graves ?
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2024 at 12:29am
Bijan Salehizadeh
@bijans
·
New antigen test for the Fall from iHealth - FluA/FluB/COVID - $40 for 4 pack on Amazon. Progress.
Europeans have a quad test called Fluorecare (FluA, FluB, RSV, COVID) for $2.50 per test.
https://drogistdeal.nl/products/fluorecare-sars-cov-2-influenza-a-b-rsv-antigen-combo-test-kit-1-stuk - https://drogistdeal.nl/products/fluorecare-sars-cov-2-influenza-a-b-rsv-antigen-combo-test-kit-1-stuk or https://drogistdeal.nl/products/fluorecare-sars-cov-2-influenza-a-b-rsv-antigen-combo-test-kit-1-stuk
DJ As an example; cost per 4-in-1 test ex tax=2,44 (In NL including tax=2.95€ -but larger amount=lower price, if you buy 1500 of those tests 20% discount = 2,36€ per set including tax).
will lean forward strategically & make Fluorecare 4-in-1 tests available in the U.S. asap.
Awesome if ASPR sends combo tests for free in Sept
Combo tests for $2.50 would be game changer for respiratory infections & save lives
DJ, Governments should buy billions of those kinds of tests...flu A or B, CoViD and RSV...
It may be to early to go for Mpox testing this way...
Since governments don't do their job-just create wars-consumergroups can play a role...
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 31 Aug 2024 at 11:33pm
https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/08/nature-minimal-influenza-virus.html - https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/08/nature-minimal-influenza-virus.html or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/08/nature-minimal-influenza-virus.html ;
Although I've been pretty diligent in wearing a surgical (or KN95) mask when in crowded public places for the past 4 years, I'll admit I don't usually doff the equipment https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2015/07/apic-most-hcws-are-removing-ppes.html - as methodically as most infection control experts might like, and I often reuse masks (after UV exposure or 48 hours).
While I use hand sanitizer most of the time after removing my face covering, I'm not entirely consistent. But between my PPEs, my COVD/Flu vaccinations - and a little bit of luck - I've gone 3+ years without a COVID (or respiratory) infection.
Somewhat reassuringly, today we've a study in Nature that suggests that concerns over viral transfer from touching a contaminated face mask may be overblown.
-
The risk of virus transmission via the touching of contaminated masks has long been assumed by infection control teams. Yet, robust evidence to support this belief has been lacking.
This risk was investigated in a laboratory setting by measuring the amount of viable influenza virus successfully transferred from artificially contaminated medical (surgical) mask surfaces to a human finger used to swipe their outer surface under various experimental conditions.
Despite being exposed to high levels of virus contamination on the masks, very little or no viable virus was successfully transferred from the mask to the finger in these experiments.
-
This is not to say that hand-washing and fomite transmission precautions are not important. This study, together with another https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-70615-z#ref-CR12 - 12 , simply suggests that the risk of viral transmission via touching the surface of used masks is low.
DJ, The study did investigate some flu viruses...other diseases may have a somewhat different outcome. However in lots of AIRBORNE diseases it may be wise ;
-to focus on maximum ventilation (lower viral loads)
-Use a good mask that fits (cross the cords on the side of the head to make it more fitting !)
-Avoid crowded places/moments if you have alternatives !
-Stay informed !
Governments/politics simply fail to do a good job in public health. "Saving the rich/economy/profits" is the main goal of "politicians/experts for sale"...
So it comes to the indivuduals to make changes !
Masks should become a fashion item ! Fashion designers can make a mouth/nose-mask + eye protection a fashion item...
"Criminal politicians" making PPE/masks illegal may see a grass roots movement going against their stupidity ....
YES-Vaccines often limit risks ! But how many vaccines does a person need to get ? DJ-I have had SIX CoViD vaccines-still did catch (Long) CoViD ! So I am fed up with the "vaccines only" lies....
We have to see real changes in the way we live; Less air travel (diseases fly around the globe 24/7 for free !)...Less meat consumption-better deals for farmers....(supermarkets/multi nationals now decide on the price)...Less (e)cars !
It looks like a lot of us are "learning the hard way"....
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2024 at 11:35pm
https://x.com/_CatintheHat">Cat in the Hat reposted
Pupil absences due to ILLNESS are still 40% higher than pre-pandemic.
But Bridget hasn’t quite figured out that telling sick kids to come to school is counterproductive & just spreads the illness to everyone else so you end up with even MORE sickness!
What we need is CLEAN AIR!
DJ, Crazy "politicians" not only make PPE/masks illegal but also want to force ill people to spread disease at schools/workplaces "to save the economy"....
) should read this report from the IPPR.
The report reveals that the cost of working through illness FAR outweighs that of taking sick leave, mainly because it spreads the illness to others.
It’s the same for schools.
https://t.co/A3SxmpWOKT -
https://x.com/_CatintheHat">Cat in the Hat reposted
Pupil absences due to ILLNESS are still 40% higher than pre-pandemic.
But Bridget hasn’t quite figured out that telling sick kids to come to school is counterproductive & just spreads the illness to everyone else so you end up with even MORE sickness!
What we need is CLEAN AIR!
DJ; STOP NATO WARS NOW !!!! Invest in healthcare, education, housing, transport FOR ALL !
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2024 at 11:10pm
https://www.okdoomer.io/does-this-stuff-even-work-yeah-looks-like-it-does/ - https://www.okdoomer.io/does-this-stuff-even-work-yeah-looks-like-it-does/ or https://www.okdoomer.io/does-this-stuff-even-work-yeah-looks-like-it-does/ ;
As we drown in endless waves of Covid that generate millions of infections and thousands of deaths per week, our leaders have effectively stripped away every tool we have. They prefer a society that sacrifices themselves for short-term economic and political gains and then becomes ripe clientele for the pharmaceutical industry.
They collude with the media to push out a daily barrage of misinformation aimed exclusively at ensuring we continue to work, shop, and vacation, because that's what they care about. Meanwhile, they do absolutely nothing about pandemics on the way as dozens of diseases https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q1348?ref=okdoomer.io - spread out of control , at levels 10 times worse than normal.
As the World Health Organization sounds alarms, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/-arrived-post-antibiotic-era-warns-new-drugs-deadly-superbugs-rcna76601?ref=okdoomer.io - telling us "we have arrived in the post-antibiotic era," and that we faced https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/4424600-world-health-leaders-warn-of-pandemic-20-times-worse-than-covid/?ref=okdoomer.io - a future pandemic up to 20 times worse than Covid, our leaders focus on vibes.
That last part should get our attention.
Yes, we are here.
We have arrived in the time when superbugs aren't responding to antibiotics.
If that weren't bad enough, they're preying on our weakened immune systems.
And bird flu has likely https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/officials-await-testing-clues-missouri-h5-avian-flu-case-michigan-reports?ref=okdoomer.io - gone human to human.
But it's not hopeless.
Four years ago, we looked to plants to protect us from pathogens because vaccines and treatments weren't coming anytime soon. The minute those vaccines and antivirals came out, most people forgot all about plants. They reverted to their old assumptions that plants were for hippies.
Well, here we are again.
Our vaccines and treatments are failing, and when they work they're often in short supply, or we can't even get access to them. Moms and dads are rolling out the NyQuil in little cutesie Facebook posts, along with all the pills that treat the symptoms but leave the disease itself to roam free all over your body.
We can do better.
As we mask while demanding clean air and better medicine, it's time to revisit those plants and see what they can do.
Do they even work?
Yeah, they do.
A 2024 https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/3/320?ref=okdoomer.io - review of studies in Viruses identified 10 different plant compounds with broad antiviral properties and effectiveness specific to Covid (and in many cases several other viruses). As they write, "plat-derived molecules can tackle viruses by acting on different aspects of their infection process" and "inhibit coronavirus/host protein pathways" by blocking them. The authors initially identified 45 different compounds and then narrowed them to the 10 most effective.
Plants work because they contain terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, and alkaloids that all demonstrate "high anti-viral potential against SARS-CoV-2 particles" as well as other viruses. They do this in a variety of ways that work across variants because they block virus entry while also tamping down replication and essentially "stopping its life cycle."
Sounds good to me...
DJ, There are lots of ways to avoid sinking in a multi-disease global healthcrisis....Point is governments NEED to have the will to stop that crisis...
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2024 at 11:49pm
Study: Sequencing-Based Detection of Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Wastewater in Ten Cities
"H5N1 was detected in 10 of 10 cities, 22 of 23 sites, and 100 of 399 samples"
NEJM
DJ, The basic mistake is neo-liberalism. ANY state intervention in the more extreme neo-liberal "idea" is "socialism" and a "waste of tax payer money"....
So we have NO idea of what diseases are spreading where in general...The NEJM article only indicates H5N1 was detected in "10 out of 10 cities"...
CoViD is out of control...Mpox clades 1b (DRC) and 2b (the 2022 variant) spreading...with also lots of other diseases doing their thing...
Missouri: No clear exposure source in H5 avian flu case
"Missouri investigators have found no link to consumption of raw milk or other raw dairy products"
CIDRAP
"socialism"!
DJ-History shows government interventions did bring progress....From water safety to labor-laws...Somehow we deny that progress...
The crises that are the results of "governments NOT doing their job" are now "solved" by wars...
Even Bismarck-very conservative 19th century major German politician-did see a use for some social laws...You NEED to control spread of diseases...If you give up on that basic idea you end up in "health chaos"....
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2024 at 12:58am
DJ, With 3 likely human H5N1 cases in California...lots of other likely cases...CoViD, Mpox NOT under control, flu-season-and storms-on their way...
https://www.okdoomer.io/courting-the-next-pandemic/ - https://www.okdoomer.io/courting-the-next-pandemic/ or https://www.okdoomer.io/courting-the-next-pandemic/ ;
Missouri has https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/06/missouri-bird-flu-positive-hospitalized?ref=okdoomer.io - reported the first human case of bird flu in the U.S. By that, health officials mean the first person "with no known animal contact." It's probably not the first case, just the first one we're hearing about. As infectious disease expert Michael Mina recently https://x.com/michaelmina_lab/status/1832244867881431495?ref=okdoomer.io - warned , "Given how few people get tested for flu, we have no idea how widespread H5 really is."
You know how these things work...
While Finland rolls out bird flu https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/finland-start-bird-flu-vaccinations-humans-2024-06-25/?ref=okdoomer.io - vaccines to its vulnerable populations, the U.S. has done virtually nothing to prepare, and nothing to respond to the rampant spread on dairy farms. Earlier this year, the USDA announced https://www.agriculture.com/usda-aims-to-isolate-exhaust-h5n1-virus-in-dairy-herds-8657880?ref=okdoomer.io - plans to "identify infected herds and wait for the virus to die out." The operative word here is wait. If we've learned anything from the current pandemic, it's that viruses don't die out. They evolve. They adapt.
They spread.
DJ....god article-of course NOT in any main stream media...
DJ-I am shocked to see the SE-USA getting hit this hard by climate collapse disasters...After "Helene" now "Milton" is on its way...lots of indications for a third major storm october 15-20 for the south and east of the US...
All may be major hurricanes (cat 3-4)...bringing lots of damage-over and over....
and FEMA is out of funds...
--------
CoViD can infect over and over again...decreasing immunity that did give Mpox -in 2022- chances to go global...With a new form of Mpox out of control in Africa...
Flu-types do mix...flu can spread with co-infection of other diseases...But I do not see any links to CoViD history in H5N1 cases...A lot of US farm workers very likely never got any kind of vaccination...do live in not such good housing-may have had CoViD...
We are in a downward spiral...wars/weather-disasters even make matters much worse...
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2024 at 12:30am
"To effectively mitigate the airborne transmission of COVID-19, a multi-faceted approach focusing on indoor environments is crucial. Here are the key strategies to combat the spread of the virus:
-Ventilation Improvements
Enhancing ventilation is one of the most effective ways to reduce the concentration of airborne viral particles indoors.
Increase outdoor air supply: Boost the amount of fresh outdoor air circulating in indoor spaces.
This can be achieved through:
•Opening windows and doors when possible
•Adjusting HVAC systems to bring in more outdoor air
•Using window fans to exhaust indoor air and draw in fresh air
Optimize air exchange rates: Aim for higher air changes per hour (ACH) to dilute potential contaminants.
Disable demand-controlled ventilation: Turn off systems that reduce air supply based on occupancy or temperature during occupied hours.
Air Filtration and Purification
Use high-efficiency filters: Install MERV-13 or higher rated filters in HVAC systems to capture a greater percentage of airborne particles.
Deploy portable air cleaners: Use HEPA air purifiers in areas with poor ventilation or high occupancy.
-Air Disinfection
UV air disinfection: Install ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems to inactivate viruses in the air.
-Occupancy and Behavior Modifications
Reduce indoor occupancy:
Limit the number of people in enclosed spaces to decrease the potential for viral spread.
-Encourage mask-wearing:
Proper use of well-fitting masks can significantly reduce the emission and inhalation of respiratory droplets.
-Maintain physical distancing:
Keep at least 6 feet apart, especially during activities that increase respiratory droplet emission.
-Monitoring and Management
CO2 monitoring:
Use CO2 levels as an indicator of ventilation adequacy and potential viral spread.
-Regular maintenance:
Ensure HVAC systems and air cleaning devices are properly maintained and functioning optimally.
-Comprehensive Approach
It’s important to note that no single strategy is sufficient on its own. A layered approach combining multiple interventions is most effective in reducing the risk of airborne transmission.
Building owners and managers should consider consulting with HVAC professionals to implement these strategies safely and effectively.
By implementing these evidence-based measures, we can significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in indoor environments and help control the pandemic."
DJ, It is NOT "rocket science"....maybe being "low cost-limited profits" in "blind capitalism" is the problem....
"Politics for sale" going for high costs-high profits "answers" that will NOT solve the problem...any problem...Because solving problems no longer is the goal-making profits is....
Diseases may not be the main point; "blind capitalism" -profits above everything else- is the problem...
Posted By: Dutch Josh 2
Date Posted: 22 Oct 2024 at 7:56am
https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/10/from-here-to-impunity.html - https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/10/from-here-to-impunity.html or https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/10/from-here-to-impunity.html ;
Yesterday Vanity Fair Magazine published a scathing review (and rebuke) of the United State's response to H5N1 in livestock by Katherine Eban ( https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/inside-the-bungled-bird-flu-response - Inside the Bungled Bird Flu Response, Where Profits Collide With Public Health ), which I suspect will be marked as `Exhibit A' in some future congressional subcommittee hearing.
Readers of this blog, and other members of Flublogia ( https://flutrackers.com/ - FluTrackers , https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ - CIDRAP , https://substack.com/@hogvet51 - Hogvet51 , etc.) are already well aware of this dysfunctional response, and the fact that it is nothing new.
Fifteen years ago, in https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2009/09/swine-flu-dont-test-dont-tell.html - Swine Flu: Don’t Test, Don’t Tell , we looked at the reluctance of the swine industry to test pigs for novel flu viruses - fearing that bad publicity would cost them money - and the USDA's refusal to mandate testing.
This was essentially the same rational used by Indonesian Health Minister Supari in 2008 when she refused to report H5N1 infections, or share virus samples, with the WHO and CDC (see https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2008/12/despite-progress-indonesia-still.html - Despite Progress Indonesia Still Unwilling to Share Virus Samples ).
In 2005, the 194 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) - following the reporting debacle surrounding SARS in 2002-2003 (see https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2013/02/sars-and-remembrance.html - SARS and Remembrance ) - approved the biggest change to the IHR (International Health Regulations) since 1969.
IHR 2005 required that all member nations develop mandated surveillance and testing systems and to report certain disease outbreaks and public health events to WHO in a timely manner (usually within 48 hours).
While supposedly binding for all WHO member nations, the IHR is notoriously lacking in `teeth’. Nations agree to abide, but there is little recourse if they don’t follow through - a topic we looked at in depth in 2015 in https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2015/10/adding-accountability-to-ihr.html - Adding Accountability To The IHR.
Since then we've seen dozens of attempts to minimize or cover up disease outbreaks for economic or political reasons around the globe, including:
Egypt minimized the number of H5N1 cases in their record setting outbreak in 2015 (see https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2016/01/eid-journal-h5n1-in-egypt.html - EID Journal: H5N1 In Egypt ),
Saudi Arabia (and neighboring countries) have been https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-saudi-moh-breaks-their-silence-on.html - slow to report MERS-CoV cases , and China has https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-skies-arent-they-only-thing-hazy-in.html - a long history of covering up outbreaks .
In 2023, two prestigious journals published estimates of COVID deaths in China over a 2 month period (see https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/08/eid-journal-estimate-of-covid-19-deaths.html - EID Journal: Estimate of COVID-19 Deaths, China, December 2022–February 2023 and https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/08/jama-open-excess-all-cause-mortality-in.html - JAMA Open: Excess All-Cause Mortality in China After Ending the Zero COVID Policy ) which found more than1 million deaths went unreported.
Following China's `success' in managing outbreak information - and in order to `move on' from the pandemic - 90% of the world's nations (including the United States) gutted their COVID surveillance and reporting systems, and simply stopped counting COVID hospitalizations and deaths (see https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2023/08/no-news-is-now-commonplace.html - No News Is . . . Now Commonplace ).
Although it is easy to conjure up justifications (it's a cost saving measure, we're protecting the ______ industry, it's needed to bolster the economy, it is vital to maintain political stability, etc.) it can be a slippery slope, and a dangerous one.
Just two weeks after the first cattle-related H5N1 human infection was reported (April 1st) in Texas, the following notice appeared in the https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2023-2024/week16.htm - CDC's weekly Fluview https://afludiary.blogspot.com/search?q=May+reporting+change# - Report announcing the latest in a series of rollbacks of reporting requirements on COVID, Flu, and other respiratory illnesses.
While short-sighted, I'm sure that somewhere, someone thought this was a good idea.
Just like somewhere, someone decided it was best not to aggressively test for H5N1 in cattle, in the hopes that it would `burn itself out' and they wouldn't have to deal with it.
And if H5N1 had burned itself out last spring in Texas, that might have made sense. But over the past 7 months the HPAI virus has spread to more than 300 herds across 14 states (likely a gross underestimate), and has spilled over into humans repeatedly.
Despite this - and https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/10/washington-state-first-presumed-human.html - equally concerning outbreaks in poultry (and spillover into humans)- our national response to H5N1 remains fragmented, and appears predicated more on protecting agricultural interests and the local economy, than on public health.
While governments have always `sanitized bad news for our (or their) protection', in recent years it has become increasingly blatant, with almost no attempt to disguise the fact.
Obfuscation has become the norm, and is done with impunity. We hear almost nothing about H5N1 - or any other disease outbreaks - from China or Russia, and near radio silence from the Middle East.
While ignorance may be bliss, the next pandemic threat may be much closer than we think. We simply can't know what threats lie ahead if we don't proactively look for, and report, outbreaks.
It's high time we start setting the right example here at home.
Posted by https://www.blogger.com/profile/07982161449334601397 - at https://afludiary.blogspot.com/2024/10/from-here-to-impunity.html -
