#aerosol transmitted disease

[wat3rm370n]

Of course universal masking & testing reduces hospital acquired infections from aerosol transmitted disease.

Pak TR, Chen T, Kanjilal S, McKenna CS, Rhee C, Klompas M. Testing and Masking Policies and Hospital-Onset Respiratory Viral Infections. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(11):e2448063. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.48063 In this study, stopping universal masking and SARS-CoV-2 testing was associated with a significant increase in hospital-onset respiratory viral infections relative to community infections. Restarting the masking of health care workers was associated with a significant decrease. Limitations of our analysis included a lack of concurrent controls, possible variations in compliance, difficulty disentangling effects of testing vs masking, and potential case misclassification. However, medical record reviews suggested most hospital-onset cases were true acute cases. Nosocomial respiratory viral infections remain associated with increased length of stay and higher mortality in hospitalized populations.2-4 Our data suggest that masking5 and testing6 were 2 potentially effective measures to protect patients who are hospitalized, particularly when community respiratory virus incidence rates were elevated.

I really feel like this study determined that the tub stopped overflowing once the tap was shut off and the drain plug was pulled. It does seem that obvious.

But I guess we need 10 more studies like this before supposedly educated doctors and healthcare providers and facility executives and public health officials wake up and smell the coffee and pick up the damn clue phone and actually do something about hospital acquired infections. Or we need to keep pressing elected representatives to be responsible for actually doing their job and stepping up to what it takes to face public health challenges with solutions that are both science-based and often obvious common sense.

[yarnings]

We are three years into this pandemic. How has this not spurred the medical community into fixing their definition of “aerosol”. I know that it’ll take a long time, but I still haven’t heard any whispers of the process of the process STARTING.

This isn’t just “it really confuses people the way you use the term”. I’m certain that there were people who missed very relevant research papers because they saw the term “aerosol” and went “no, this is an airborne disease”.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive (Daily updates!)

Video below the main text!

One of the simplest things you can do to protect your health is to keep track of indoor air quality. Viruses spread through the air and accumulate in spaces that are poorly ventilated. By opening a window or running on an air purifier you can reduce your risks of catching an airborne virus. While viruses spread most during the winter, some viral illnesses like COVID are present all year round, and can cause serious short and long-term health issues. This post explains how monitoring and improving indoor air quality can help protect your health through all the seasons.

Viruses can spread through the air at long distances Viruses spread through droplets and smaller particles called aerosols that are expelled by someone who has an infection. This can happen in a number of ways including coughing, sneezing, talking, or simply breathing. The highest risk of catching a virus is when you are close to the source, where there is a greater concentration of droplets and aerosols.

Viruses can also infect people from larger distances because viruses trapped in aerosols can linger in the air for hours, like cigarette smoke. When a room is poorly ventilated, aerosols accumulate, increasing your risk of catching the virus and getting sick, even if you are not standing close to someone who is infected.

Illustration of how droplets and aerosols released during talking can transmit viruses if the person is infected. (Source: J Hosp Infect)

COVID spreads throughout the year Many respiratory virus illnesses like the flu spread predominantly during winter, because they can survive longer in cold and dry conditions, and because people are more likely to gather inside in poorly ventilated rooms during the colder months.

However, COVID can surge throughout the year. COVID peaks occur regularly because the coronavirus that causes COVID is extremely contagious; new variants can emerge quickly; and immunity from previous infections and vaccinations decreases over time. COVID usually surges in winter and summer, however the virus can circulate at high levels at any point during the year.

COVID still causes serious illness While things are different than in 2020 when COVID first appeared, COVID hasn’t gone away. In many countries, COVID is still the most deadly infectious disease. And COVID infections continue to cause long-term health issues for many people.

Anyone who gets COVID can develop Long COVID. Although people with severe initial infections are most likely to develop Long COVID, you can get Long COVID even after a mild initial infection.

Because coronaviruses mutate quickly, you can be reinfected with another variant as early as several weeks after you have gotten COVID. Reinfections can occur multiple times, and the more reinfections you have increases your risk of developing long-term health issues.

People with Long COVID can experience a wide variety of symptoms that can last weeks, months, or years after the initial infection. COVID can increase the risk of developing new conditions or worsen pre-existing ones including heart disease, diabetes, blood clots, neurological conditions, and chronic fatigue.

Even being sick with COVID in the short term is disruptive because most people are infectious with COVID for at least 10 days. That can mean missing days of work, family time, or an important social event.

Simple things you can do to avoid COVID The best way of reducing your risk of developing long-term health issues from COVID is by taking a few simple steps to prevent getting COVID in the first place.

Staying up to date with the latest COVID vaccine reduces your risk of serious illness, infection, and Long COVID. Wearing a mask helps boost your own protection, protects others around you, and works against any COVID variant or other type of airborne virus.

Another effective way to reduce your risk of getting sick from airborne viruses is to improve indoor air quality.

Tracking air quality can help reduce your risk of sickness You can track air quality with a carbon dioxide monitor. When we breathe, we expel carbon dioxide molecules, which accumulate in rooms that are poorly ventilated. A high carbon dioxide reading means that you are likely breathing in a large percentage of recirculated air. If that air contains viruses, that puts you at greater risk of getting sick.

With this knowledge you can take steps to reduce your risk. This can be as easy as opening a window to allow particles with viruses to escape and fresh air to come in. If opening a window isn’t possible, HEPA purifiers or Far-UVC Light systems can help remove particles with viruses from the air.

To learn more about how carbon dioxide monitors can help reduce your risk of getting sick from viral illnesses, watch this video.

The Aranet team thanks Dr. Lucky Tran for offering insights and guidance on how to reduce the risk of COVID infection. May these revelations empower everyone to make mindful choices and foster well-ventilated environments, enriching not only our homes and shared spaces but also our overall well-being and health. Lucky Tran

[pipzeroes]

Excerpt from the above link:

First thing’s first. If the phrasing in the title feels unfamiliar, it has a purpose: We are eliminating the passive voice from the pandemic. Right now.

Someone INFECTED Neil Gaiman with COVID-19.

And many someones in overlapping layers of responsibility ENABLED this infection.

This linguistic shift from the passive to active voice might seem irrelevant but, instead of just echoing the framing we see in the headlines — that Neil Gaiman got COVID-19— it’s time to own that somebody has infected Neil.

The passive voice has served a macabre purpose in this pandemic. The passive voice, by erasing the subject of the sentence, neatly obscures accountability, and with it our own role in unmitigated infections. Moreover, it has prevented us from identifying the layers of responsibility in enabling infections on a mass scale. This mental block is the first obstacle to advocating for effective mitigations and constructive solutions. It stops us from preventing infections. But that is changing now.

It is time to own the damage that we are causing by infecting others with COVID-19. I believe that we all know, deep inside, that we are causing harm. And many of us are suffering from the cognitive dissonance of pretending that we aren’t. Because, in a pandemic, this is serious and large-scale harm.

This harm that, according to estimates, has killed over 25 million people and disabled at least 65 million and counting. The sooner we face the harm we are causing by infecting other people, the less damage we will cause to ourselves, to our loved ones, to our community, to strangers on the other side of the world. And to people who entertain and inspire us, like speculative fiction author and TV creator Neil Gaiman. And inspiration is necessary when we are facing so many challenges. It’s that simple.

COVID-19 is a serious, multi-system vascular disease that creates severe and cumulative damage.

Reinfections tend to be more severe and Long COVID occurs in 1/10–1/3 infections.

Up to 60% of infections are spread asymptomatically… Wait, let me rephrase that. People, who are asymptomatic, or presymptomatic, are infecting others with COVID-19 in up to 60% of cases.

A person who is presymptomatic can transmit a COVID-19 infection up to two days before symptoms arise.

People infect other people with SARS-CoV-2 through aerosols. An infected person expels them just by exhaling. The aerosols accumulate in the air, and spread across large spaces like cigarette smoke. They also remain in the air for hours, so even if a room is empty, if a symptomatic person was there earlier, the aerosols will still be there. Crowded, indoor spaces are high-risk for transmission.

We are currently in a wave caused by a new variant for which a vaccine has yet to be developed. In a crowd of 100, statistically 1-2 people will have active infections.

If we put all of this together, we see that live events in crowded, indoor spaces are particularly dangerous, and that masking only when someone is symptomatic is woefully inadequate to prevent infecting others. So, in order to not infect other people, we need to individually mask at these events, and to collectively apply pressure to venues that are enabling these infections, as well as to lawmakers who have removed protections.

That’s the tl;dr. Now, if you have some time, and feel motivated to prevent further infections, let’s look more systematically at the problem of people infecting other people, especially at live events, and how to constructively address it.

Neil Gaiman requested masking at his events, from both venues and audience members

It’s fucked-up that, three days after Neil Gaiman requested that attendees voluntarily mask at his tour events — because the venues themselves refused to enforce audience masking — Neil announced on social media that he has another COVID-19 infection and “this time it means business.”

This infection — and any COVID-19 infection — is terrible, but unfortunately not surprising. We are in a wave caused by multiple variants, and lawmakers worldwide dropped most COVID-19 public health mitigations earlier this year. So people who are appearing at live events now are at an incredibly high risk of being infected. The risk is also increased due to a swarm of new variants — so many versions of the virus are circulating now, you can get a case in August and another in September

As a fan of Neil Gaiman, I guess I wished that somehow it would miss him. COVID-19 infects the brain, and his brain has created my favorite TV series, Good Omens, a queer love story between an angel and a demon. This series has helped me, and countless others, heal from religious trauma. It also rekindled my appreciation for David Tennant in his role as the demon Crowley, who witnesses everything from Old Testament atrocities to a modern-day armageddon, and seems to be the only one suggesting that God might be a tyrant. With so many of us experiencing a dark night of the soul in the pandemic, it’s much-needed validation.

What also worries, but not surprises, me about Neil’s infection is that, if his statement that “this time it means business” is anything to go by, (especially for someone who can be quite understated), this infection is more severe than any previous ones. This unfortunately is also not surprising, as reinfections tend to be more severe. The damage from these infections is cumulative, and SARS-CoV-2 attacks the immune system, in many cases after a person has recovered from an initial infection. Viral reservoirs continually attacking the body are believed to be the mechanism of Long COVID. However, his more severe course reminds me of other performers who are currently touring, almost without exception at massive, indoor, unmasked events.

Actually, it’s more accurate to say that it scares the hell out of me.

Actors from another TV series beloved by queer fans, Our Flag Means Death, including Rhys Darby, Vico Ortiz and Samson Kayo, will appear at London Comic Con on October 27–29th. The event will have more than 100,000 attendees and does not require masks. And David Tennant, who sparked my motivation to advocate for safer venues, will appear at New York Comic Con October 12-15th. NYCC will have over 200,000 attendees and also does not require masks. I checked.

The math on the likely damage is pretty fucking grim.

It’s estimated that in a crowd of 100, 1–2 people have a COVID-19 infection. So that’s at least 2,000 attendees spreading the virus.

Each person infects 2–3 other people. This is total, so they may not infect people at this event. But because the venue is extremely high risk: indoors, crowded, no mitigations, they may infect more people than averge.

So, from 2,000 people who go to Comic Con with infections, that’s at least 4,000 people that they will infect.

Between ⅓–1/10 infections result in Long COVID, so at least 400 people statistically may develop Long COVID. From one event.

tl;dr 200,000 attendees/100= 2,000 infections x 2= 4,000 newly infected/10 =400 Long COVID cases

And that’s the conservative estimate. The upper-end estimate, based on data, is up to 2%.

You can bet that I’m well-aware that David Tennant has a .2%-2% chance of developing Long COVID from this one event, especially because he’s due to play MacBeth in London this winter. The luckiest person who ever existed would statistically develop Long COVID after their 50th event.

It’s not just headlining performers who need to worry about infections. Any attendee has a .2% chance of developing Long COVID from this one event, and that’s a tragedy in the fan community, but also for people working on staff who don’t choose to be there. I wonder what would happen if the damage were immediately visible, like setting fire to 400 guests, fans, and staff people at the door. What then?

If you have read my first article sounding the alarm on unprecedented numbers of performers becoming seriously ill and dying in the pandemic, you will know that my own fannish devotion to David Tennant inspired me to advocate for COVID-19 mitigations at venues and nourishes me with the love and compassion to do this work. With Neil Gaiman’s infection, it hits home that everyone who is currently doing live events, particularly large ones with no mitigations, are quite likely going to be infected. And in the fourth year of the pandemic, that means reinfected, which means that, like in Neil’s case, it will probably be more severe.

Performers are just my own corner of advocacy, but we all breathe the same air, so these new infections will affect everyone. And people with disabilities, who work in service and customer-facing jobs, or who have inadequate access to medical care, will be the most vulnerable. But most people now have had at least one infection, so we’re all facing danger here.

This is why I want to prevent people from infecting people at events, and by doing so to raise awareness in the wider public that this is an escalating emergency. And I think it’s achievable.

The first step is identifying the causes, both individual and structural. Then to come up with workable interventions at each point of responsbility.

Individual responsibility: someone infected Neil Gaiman with COVID-19

Preventing infections begins at the individual level. As the founder of #FansMASKUP, which is dedicated to raising awareness in the fan community about masking at live events, my first feeling was rage at the person who infected Neil. The incubation period for COVID-19 varies widely, from 2–14 days, though on average 5–6. So, if Neil developed symptoms on October 5th, it’s possible that someone in the audience on the October 2nd event infected him. And if that person is such a fan of Neil that they paid to see him live, I ask: why didn’t they just wear a mask? But even this is not so simple.

From my conversations with other fans who have been diligent about masking, they sometimes experience harassment, and fear for their safety and mental health. And since so many of us are LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, BIPOC and/or disabled, we are statistically more vulnerable to people harassing us, or even assaulting us, if we are the only ones masking. So as much as I’d like to judge this person for infecting someone who they admire, I have to admit that safety is too often a real concern for our community.

What can we do on an individual level to promote safer venues?

If we feel sufficient safety to mask at live events, then we should do so.

If we are going with friends, we can encourage them to mask too.

We can connect on social media and find other fans who are attending and mask together.

Heck, if we have a spare $20 (which not all of us do), we can even give out masks at the event so that we’re not the only one.

Aside from fear and social pressure, people may have stopped masking due to exhaustion, despair and misinformation — we MUST start again. Every masked person can break a chain of transmission and save many, many lives. Maybe even Neil Gaiman’s life, and certainly the lives of your loved ones, including fellow fans.

Institutional responsibility: venues are enabling people to infect other people with COVID-19

It would be a mistake to lay all of the responsibility on the person who infected Neil. There has been systemic neglect, and even malfeasance, at every level of responsibility, and the people who are making these decisions are enabling people to infect others. Though this reaches into the level of policy, let’s begin with the most direct enabler in this instance: the venues.

Remember, Neil said on social media that he requested audience masking at venues, but they refused. Then after his first tour date, he announced that someone had infected with with SARS-CoV-2. We can’t know whether someone infected him at this particular event, though the timing is consistent with the virus’s incubation period. Regardless, the venue has approximately 1,700 seats, and if Neil’s event was sold-out, as most are, that’s: 17 active infections, 51 new infections, 5 cases of Long COVID. So wherever someone infected Neil with COVID, it is worthwhile to advocate for venues to use mitigations.

The mitigations required to significantly reduce people infecting other people at live events are relatively simple and have been proven time-and-again to reduce the the transmission of SARS-CoV-2:

Audience masking and vaccination

Making use of HEPA air purification/filtration.

This is achievable, and venues should have been doing this since 2020. Some venues do it, and it is certainly possible, and not terribly complicated, for more venues to adopt these simple precautions.

Now, the more complex question is: if it’s so simple, why are venues refusing to use mitigations? Some of it is simply greed. It costs money, though not a lot of money, between £300–600 ($370–740) to purchase a HEPA air filter. And for truly cash-strapped venues, vendors likes Smart Air UK are renting out HEPA air filters for events. So there really is no excuse. For those who are unfamiliar with HEPA, here’s a primer from outreach coordinator (and fan herself) for Smart Air UK, Guilia Villanucci.

I’m quoting at length, but tl;dr: HEPA purifiers can remove more than 99.97% of virus particles from the air, and protecting Neil at one of his events would only have cost between $400-$700. And you can’t put a price on his brain, so…

HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air.” HEPA air purifiers are nothing else than a box with a filter and a fan inside. Researchers agree that, based on their efficiency, air purifiers can remove more than 99.97% of virus particles from the air when used continuously. Now, does this extra layer of protection have to be very expensive? It can be, especially if you look only at brand names without paying attention to the technical specifications. I recommend Smart Air products, partly because I work for Smart Air UK, but mostly because these air purifiers are cheaper than most on the market, are highly efficient, and are pretty quiet. NOTE: If you are a performer based in Chicago, USA, you should check out Clean Air Club, they loan air purifiers at no extra cost to artists and touring musicians. If you are a venue or a performer based in the UK, you can rent air purifiers from us, or purchase them to take them on tour with you, just like singer and songwriter The Anchoress does. An investment of between £300 to £600 will probably be enough to keep performers safer in a venue if you purchase from Smart Air UK.

Again, HEPA air purifiers are effective and affordable and I can only think a noxious mix of greed, inertia and denial are preventing most venues from using this basic precaution.

There may be other financial considerations. Requiring masks could lead to lost revenue as people who refuse to mask will not attend. And, as of yet, venues face no financial liability for enabling infections. Though with lawsuits winding their way through courts regarding liability for COVID-19 infections, this may change.

However, like fans, venues may also have legitimate concerns for safety, The far-right has so politicized masking that the people responsible for venues are likely afraid of repercussions, ranging from the awkwardness of barring an unmasked person from attending an event, to someone throwing a brick through the window, or even assaulting a person on staff. These fears are not entirely unreasonable. But we need to make clear that these venues are enabling people to infect their headliners, Neil Gaiman or David Tennent or Taylor Swift. Additionally, lack of mitigations endangers attendees and people on staff, and lawsuits against employers who have exposed employees to COVID-19 infection have had more success. This changes the risk calculation.

What can we do to encourage venues to create safer event spaces?

We can contact the venues themselves, beginning with the ones who likely are not using basic mitigations. These can be any venue where you or one of your favorites will be in attendance.

We can also start with the venues where Neil was scheduled to appear. Here is a list of these venues with the ways to contact them.

Emerson Colonial Theatre (888) 616–0272 boston@service.broadwayacrossamerica.com Twitter-X/IG: @BroadwayBoston

The Westport Library (203) 291–4800 Twitter-X/IG: @WestportLibrary

Cooper Union development@cooper.edu (212) 353–4100 Twitter-X/IG: @cooperunion

Peter J Sharp Theatre (212) 864–5400 boxoffice@symphonyspace.org Twitter-X/IG: @SymphonySpace

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts guestservices@drphillipscenter.org 407.839.0119 @DrPhillipsCtr

Venice Performing Arts Center information@vipam.org (941) 218–3779

Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University 610–758–2787 inzactix@lehigh.edu @LehighU @ZoellnerArts

Frikirkjan i Reykvavik+353 552 7270frikirkjan@frikirkjan.is @iclandnoir

Piggott Theatre (British Library) +44 (0)1937 546060 Customer-Services@bl.uk Twitter-X/IG: @BritishLibrary

New Jersey Performing Arts Center 1973–642–8989 ticketservices@njpac.org @NJPAC

If, like me, cold-calling gives you anxiety, here’s a script that you could follow:

“Hello, I am calling to ask what COVID-19 mitigations you use. [If they require audience masking and use HEPA air purification, consider thanking them for their conscientiousness. If they do not, you could say:] Neil Gaiman requested COVID mitigations at venues, but now someone has infected him. To prevent infections at your venue, I am requesting that you require audience masking and purchase a HEPA air purification unit. These are proven to significantly reduce COVID transmissions.”

I know, it’s a bit wooden, so feel free to improvise. But remember: please don’t harass these people, because most likely you will be talking to a staff person and not the person who has made the decision not to use mitigations. And if the person answering the phone is on your side, this has a better chance of success.

You can also request mitigations through social media and e-mails, although phone calls bring the most attention. But do what’s at your comfort level. Most of us who are aware of the ongoing pandemic are burnt-out and need to conserve our energy.

To sum-up, we need to hold ourselves and other fans accountable, but they face real risks and cannot be held wholly responsible. Same for venues. We need to apply pressure for them to adopt COVID-19 mitigations, but they are not wholly responsible. This brings us to the final level of accountability for people infecting other people with COVID-19.

Structural responsibility: governments are enabling infections by eliminating COVID-19 protections

The highest level of responsibility falls to governments, generally, and public health authorities specifically. It’s alarming how quickly people have reverted to using little-to-no precautions. But, remember, for many places lawmakers only eliminated public health protections within the past few months.

The state of affairs in which we find ourselves is not normal, and I think it is a brief interlude in which politicians and the very wealthy are encouraging us to continue with business-as-usual, but as those around us become sicker and sicker, we know that this is not sustainable. If 10%-30% of COVID-19 infections lead to Long COVID, and we conservatively assume that most people are infected once per year, what will that look like in ten years?

The most wide-reaching change required to stop people from infecting other people is on the level of policy. There is a basic social contract for governments to ensure public health because, in a complex society, individuals cannot carry that entire burden themselves.

In a simpler example: governments are responsible for putting stop signs at intersections. If a government legislated that there should be no more stop signs, people would get seriously injured or die in more car accidents. And we could blame the individuals who cruise their cars through the intersections and t-bone other people in their cars, or the city whose employees removed the stop signs — but the lion’s share of responsibility falls onto the government who legislated that there should be no more stop signs.

In the widest frame, we also need to advocate to our city, county, state, provincial and national lawmakers for a return of COVID-19 protections.

We also need to advocate for improved public health communication. It’s alarming how many people lack the basic facts of how not to infect themselves and each other with COVID-19.

In a nutshell: If you have learned anything new about COVID-19 from this article, that’s a problem.

**A concerned David Tennant fan should not be doing science communication that is the rightful job of public health officials.**

We need to pressure public health authorities to improve communication, and meanwhile to educate ourselves and each other about COVID.

What can we do to bring back COVID-19 protections on a societal level?

1. Call or write to your representative. By mail, if you can. I know, it’s a pain and an archaic throwback to pre-digital times, but this is most likely to be heard. But if it’s not possible, call or e-mail as it does make a difference.

Find your representative: US: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative UK: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

2. Educate yourself and your community The Pandemic Accountability Index maintains a large repository of research on COVID-19 and its effects on the body here:

https://www.panaccindex.info/p/what-covid-does-to-the-body and here: What SARS-CoV-2 Does to the Body (2nd Edition, July 2023)

3. Stay updated on COVID news. Folks on social media have been sounding the alarm on the pandemic, like @1goodtern and performers specifically, like @MeetJess and me, @WaltzTales.

A twitter user has also kindly provided this list of scientists and concerned people worth following: @kprather88 (full credit to efforts to educate about all things covid) @jimrosenthal4 (C-R box, ’nuff said) @linseymarr (MacArthur genius grant https://forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2023/10/04/macarthur-foundation-names-the-winners-of-its-2023-genius-grants/?sh=6c3c96af4379… ) @joeyfox85 (mitigating airborne spread) @c19vaccinefacts (safe & effective) @scienceupfirst (not just covid!)

The final level of responsibility: the universe

This may sound a bit woo-woo, but if you read my first piece, which started with a loving-kindness meditation, you’ll have clocked that I think attending to ourselves emotionally is necessary for facing this emergency.

I honestly don’t know if there’s anything like a God who has an overview of the situation. And even though my Theology professor said the question of theodicy (“why is there evil in the world?”) isn’t a particularly interesting question, my answer is:

But *gestures broadly at everything.*

If there is a God they have a lot to answer for. But I do think that a real emotional crisis we’re facing is black-pilled misanthropy where we want to let the world burn, and all humans in it. But Neil Gaiman is a human. Whoever inspires us is a human. The feeling of being inspired in this particular way is your human experience. We humans aren’t more special than other animals. We only have the experiences that are unique to us in the landscape of all things, including high-concept science fiction from dynamic minds like Neil Gaiman’s.

I don’t think we should deny or suppress our feelings of despair and rage, or even hate, but to acknowledge and take care of them, and at the same time to nourish those aspects in us which support our joy and thriving.

It is possible to suffer and thrive at the same time. Perhaps if we could come up for a word for it, it would capture an essential strategy for moving forward with this pandemic. What do you think: Suffriving? Thrivering?

Let’s try leaning into some “Thrivering” together by advocating for safer venues, so that people like Neil Gaiman can continue inspiring us.

Special thanks to: Giulia Villanucci, Smart Air UK, Outreach Coordinator Nerdcake78 for the scoop. And for the slow-burn Aziraphale cuddlefic that is keeping me sane.

And everyone who is providing information, amplifying posts, and offering support. I would not be able to do this without the people who are helping out of simple kindness and solidarity.

[lenbryant]

(Times) This May Be Our Last Chance to Halt Bird Flu in Humans, and We Are Blowing It

The outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza among U.S. dairy cows, first reported on March 25, has now spread to at least 33 herds in eight states. On Wednesday, genetic evidence of the virus turned up in commercially available milk. Federal authorities say the milk supply is safe, but this latest development raises troubling questions about how widespread the outbreak really is.

So far, there is only one confirmed human case. Rick Bright, an expert on the H5N1 virus who served on President Biden’s coronavirus advisory board, told me this is the crucial moment. “There’s a fine line between one person and 10 people with H5N1,” he said. “By the time we’ve detected 10, it’s probably too late” to contain.

That’s when I told him what I’d heard from Sid Miller, the Texas commissioner for agriculture. He said he strongly suspected that the outbreak dated back to at least February. The commissioner speculated that then as many as 40 percent of the herds in the Texas Panhandle might have been infected.

Dr. Bright fell silent, then asked a very reasonable question: “Doesn’t anyone keep tabs on this?”

The H5N1 outbreak, already a devastating crisis for cattle farmers and their herds, has the potential to turn into an enormous tragedy for the rest of us. But having spent the past two weeks trying to get answers from our nation’s public health authorities, I’m shocked by how little they seem to know about what’s going on and how little of what they do know is being shared in a timely manner.

How exactly is the infection transmitted between herds? The United States Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all say they are working to figure it out.

Sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter  Get expert analysis of the news and a guide to the big ideas shaping the world every weekday morning. 

According to many public health officials, the virus load in the infected cows’ milk is especially high, raising the possibility that the disease is being spread through milking machines or from aerosolized spray when the milking room floors are power washed. Another possible route is the cows’ feed, owing to the fairly revolting fact that the U.S. allows farmers to feed leftover poultry bedding material — feathers, excrement, spilled seeds — to dairy and beef cattle as a cheap source of additional protein.

Alarmingly, the U.S.D.A. told me that it has evidence that the virus has also spread from dairy farms back to poultry farms “through an unknown route.” Well, one thing that travels back and forth between cattle farms and chicken farms is human beings. They can also travel from cattle farms to pig farms, and pigs are the doomsday animals for human influenza pandemics. Because they are especially susceptible to both avian and human flu, they make for good petri dishes in which avian influenza can become an effective human virus. The damage could be vast.

The U.S.D.A. also told me it doesn’t know how many farmers have tested their cattle and doesn’t know how many of those tests came up positive; whatever testing is being done takes place at the state level or in private labs. Just Wednesday, the agency made it mandatory to report all positive results, a long overdue step that is still — without the negative results alongside them — insufficient to give us a full picture. Also on Wednesday, the U.S.D.A. made testing mandatory for dairy cattle that are being moved from one state to another. It says mandatory testing of other herds wouldn’t be “practical, feasible or necessarily informative” because of “several reasons, ranging from laboratory capacity to testing turnaround times.” The furthest the agency will go is to recommend voluntary testing for cattle that show symptoms of the illness — which not all that are infected do. Dr. Bright compares this to the Trump administration’s approach to Covid-19: If you don’t test, it doesn’t exist.

As for the F.D.A., it tells me it hasn’t completed specific tests to confirm that pasteurization would make milk from infected cows safe, though the agency considers it “very likely” based on extensive testing for other pathogens. (It is not yet clear whether the elements of the H5N1 virus that recently turned up in milk had been fully neutralized.) That testing should have been completed by now. In any case, unpasteurized milk remains legal in many states. Dr. Bright told me that “this is a major concern, especially given recent infections and deaths in cats that have consumed infected milk.”

Making matters worse, the U.S.D.A. failed to share the genomes from infected animals in a timely manner, and then when it shared the genomes did so in an unwieldy format and without any geographic information, causing scientists to tear their hair out in frustration.

All this makes catching potential human cases so urgent. Dr. Bright says that given a situation like this, and the fact that undocumented farmworkers may not have access to health care, the government should be using every sophisticated surveillance technique, including wastewater testing, and reporting the results publicly. That is not happening. The C.D.C. says it is monitoring data from emergency rooms for any signs of an outbreak. By the time enough people are sick enough to be noticed in emergency rooms, it is almost certainly too late to prevent one.

So far, the agency told me, it is aware of only 23 people who have been tested. That tiny number is deeply troubling. (Others may be getting tested through private providers, but if negative, the results do not have to be reported.)

On the ground, people are doing the best they can. Adeline Hambley, a public health officer in Ottawa, Mich., told me of a farm whose herd had tested positive. The farm owner voluntarily handed over the workers’ cellphone numbers, and the workers got texts asking them to report all potential symptoms. Lynn Sutfin, a public information officer in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told me that response rates to those texts and other forms of outreach can be as high as 90 percent. That’s heartening, but it’s too much to expect that a poor farmworker — afraid of stigma, legal troubles and economic loss — will always report even mild symptoms and stay home from work as instructed.

It’s entirely possible that we’ll get lucky with H5N1 and it will never manage to spread among humans. Spillovers from animals to humans are common, yet pandemics are rare because they require a chain of unlucky events to happen one after the other. But pandemics are a numbers game, and a widespread animal outbreak like this raises the risks. When dangerous novel pathogens emerge among humans, there is only a small window of time in which to stop them before they spiral out of control. Neither our animal farming practices nor our public health tools seem up to the task.

There is some good news: David Boucher, at the federal government’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, told me that this virus strain is a close match for some vaccines that have already been formulated and that America has the capacity to manufacture and potentially distribute many millions of doses, and fairly quickly, if it takes off in humans. That ability is a little like fire insurance — I’m glad it exists, but by the time it comes into play your house has already burned down.

I’m sure the employees of these agencies are working hard, but the message they are sending is, “Trust us — we are on this.” One troubling legacy of the coronavirus pandemic is that there was too much attention on telling the public how to feel — to panic or not panic — rather than sharing facts and inspiring confidence through transparency and competence. And four years later we have an added layer of polarization and distrust to work around.

In April 2020, the Trump administration ousted Dr. Bright from his position as the director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the agency responsible for fighting emerging pandemics. In a whistle-blower complaint, he alleged this happened after his early warnings against the coronavirus pandemic were ignored and as retaliation for his caution against unproven treatments favored by Donald Trump.

Dr. Bright told me that he would have expected things to be much different during the current administration, but “this is a live fire test,” he said, “and right now we are failing it.”

Zeynep Tufekci (@zeynep) is a professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University, the author of “Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest” and a New York Times Opinion columnist. @zeynep • Facebook

A version of this article appears in print on April 28, 2024, Section SR, Page 9 of the New York edition with the headline: The U.S. Is Blowing Its Chance to Halt Bird Flu in Humans. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

[lesbianboyfriend]

This overview of the history illustrates the pervasiveness of “belief perseverance,” the psychological tendency to maintain a belief despite clear and strong new evidence that should challenge it, especially in the context of institutional incentives that favor inertia and resistance to change. In an era of amazing scientific advances, with very rapid vaccine development following virus sequencing obtained in a few days, the very slow acceptance of critical new knowledge reminds us that the human aspects of science remain as pervasive as they were in past eras.

The persistence of the droplet paradigm may have been aided by several other reasons. First, even if the mechanism is incorrect, it still works reasonably well to reduce infection from airborne diseases, especially less contagious ones that mostly transmit in close proximity. Distance from an infectious person will always increase the dilution of exhaled air and reduce such transmission. Unfortunately, major systematic problems arise when a true empirical fact (distance reduces transmission) is used to reach the incorrect conclusion (the mechanism is spray-borne droplets), and then, the incorrect mechanism is used to deduce what other measures may be protective. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic billions of dollars were spent putting up lateral plexiglass barriers in schools to block droplet projectiles (even though such barriers have actually been shown to increase SARS-CoV-2 transmission29) rather than opening the windows or wearing masks. Second, spray-borne droplets are relatively easy to protect against, just keep your distance and wash hands and you should be quite safe. It thus provides simple rules to communicate to healthcare workers and the general population. Third, it removes the intense fear that airborne transmission can cause, and that has been associated with it throughout history. The historical fear often appears to be rooted in the more phantasmagorical conception of airborne transmission: The infected air can reach a person anywhere, and there is little that one could do to protect oneself from it. Critically, the logic leading to the fear did not account for the importance of dilution, and the feasibility of using it to reduce transmission. The irrational fear caused by this lack of understanding is paralyzing and creates real-world problems for controlling disease transmission, as summarized, for example, in the above quotes from Cornet and Chapin: Either people just gave up, or extreme measures were needed such as treating tuberculosis patients like lepers. Fourth, given that strict airborne transmission prevention measures can be costly or unavailable at large scale in healthcare facilities (e.g., negative pressure rooms in hospitals), there was a reluctance of public health organizations to declare a widespread virus such as SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic as airborne, out of fear of the budgetary, legal, and labor consequences. Governments also seemed content to promote measures that only require personal responsibility, such as handwashing, and were much more reluctant to explain airborne transmission clearly as it would require costly actions on their part, for example, to improve ventilation and filtration in public buildings. Finally, a desire to save face by some authorities may have also played a role. They had emphatically declared airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to be “misinformation,” and it could be embarrassing to subsequently acknowledge the importance of airborne transmission, which may perhaps qualify as one of the largest errors in the history of public health. In the private words of a public health advisor to a national government, “an approach is needed that will allow [us] to save face.”

interesting paper about how/why authorities incorrectly identified COVID as a non-airborne disease, exacerbating the pandemic and spreading misinfo about protective measures

[divawomenshospital]

Find Out Which Vaccines Are Safe During Pregnancy

Thus, immunisation is the cheapest form of protecting the health of both the mother and the offspring, and the latter should be immunised both before the conception and during the pregnancy. During the term of pregnancy, various antibodies are transferred by the mother to her child within the final trimester. While some of these antibodies are present in the normal population, others need to be boosted following pregnancy vaccinations. This is the mechanism that will help to protect the baby during the first months of their life while the baby’s own immune system is not sufficiently developed. It will therefore be appropriate at this stage to look at the vaccinations that are required of pregnant women both before and during their pregnancy.

Vaccinations: Comparison between Safety and Risk

In other words, not all vaccinations are good for women who have conceived. Generally, vaccinations can be of the following types; Live virus vaccination, deceased virus vaccination, and toxoids. These are inactivated toxins that have gone through chemical changes and have been extracted from microorganisms while still being harmless.

Due to the effects of hormones and the immune system being lowered during pregnancy it is advisable not to take vaccines with active viruses into pregnancy. For example, MMR, which is a virus used to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella contains active viruses and should not be accepted presently. Killed virus vaccines and toxoids do not pose any harm when taken by expectant women.

Before conceiving a child, which pregnancy vaccinations should be administered?

Specific vaccines are prohibited to given to pregnant women. Thus, one should take a blood test before conception to check the immunity level suggestion. It also emerges from the test that specific vaccines need to be given before a woman can get pregnant.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine (MMR)

This vaccine is very important because it immunises you against three highly communicable diseases. In case an expectant woman catches any of these diseases, she is at a greater risk of suffering from miscarriage and premature labour. Rubella is another virus that comes with a havoc of higher risk factors for the newborn like mental disability and hearing impairment.

Vaccination against chickenpox

Since chickenpox is contracted during pregnancy, the woman is at a higher risk of either being born with congenital abnormalities or passing on the virus to the newborn. Hence, immunisation should be administered to persons who have not been infected with the chicken pox virus before. Kindly note that these vaccines cannot be administered in circumstances where the woman is pregnant with the next child.

To what vaccines are pregnant women advised to take?

Weakly reactogenic vaccines, namely live viruses, are not recommended once conception has occurred while for other non-live vaccines such as killed viruses or toxoids, there are no restrictions. Speak with your physician regarding the following vaccinations after you have conceived:

Influenza vaccine

This vaccine is very important particularly to pregnant women as it protects them against seasonal flu. When a pregnant woman is infected with a severe flu in the second half of pregnancy, then she undergoes serious complications. Avoid using the nasal aerosol while giving a vaccine since it has live viruses. Rather, use the injectable Influenza vaccine during the immunisation of the clients.

Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis vaccine

Also called the Tdap vaccine, it is especially important if it has been over 10 years since the prior booster shot. The third trimester of the pregnancy is most preferred for this vaccine even though it can be given at any time during pregnancy.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

The father has Hepatitis B, a viral disease that can be transmitted from the mother to the infant during birth affecting the maternal liver. Hence, to prevent as well as treat them one has to take proper measures. However, you need to be protected against this disease as well because, unlike some other diseases, hepatitis B symptoms do not announce themselves and it is hard to diagnose, so the hepatitis B vaccine is especially important.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

Some doctors may prescribe this vaccine to protect you and your baby from diseases that are caused by water or food that is contaminated by viruses. These diseases in general do not affect the child in the womb; though, they may complicate the pregnancy and even raise the incidence of premature labour.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

If you have other underlying diseases like diabetes or kidney disease you might need to take the pneumococcal vaccine because it helps to protect from all types of pneumonia.

COVID-19 Vaccine

If you have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccination, it is crucial to consult with your physician immediately, as it is crucial to schedule the administration of this vaccine. Maintain a minimum of 14 days between the COVID vaccination and any subsequent vaccinations.

There are numerous diseases that vaccines can protect you and your infant from, as well as simplify the process of pregnancy. Nevertheless, it is crucial to consult with your physician and adhere to their guidance, as each pregnancy is unique. It may be recommended that you receive additional vaccinations, contingent upon your medical history.

This blog offers general information and discussions regarding health and related topics. The information and other content contained in this blog, website, or any linked materials are not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be accepted as such. Please consult with your physician prior to initiating a new health regimen or medication. Ensure a Healthy Journey from Pre-Pregnancy to Post-Pregnancy with Diva Women’s Hospital. Our comprehensive vaccination services in Ahmedabad and expert care are designed to support you every step of the way. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step towards a healthier future for you and your baby.

This Blog Originally Posted Here: Find Out Which Vaccines Are Safe During Pregnancy

[cough-it-up]

Welcome to CoughItUp (CIU), we are a charity dedicated to spreading awareness on the dangers posed by the coronavirus and taking action to prevent further spread of the disease.

But just what is the coronavirus? The coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a viral infection caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. Contrary to popular belief, it is not "just a cold". It is a very serious illness capable of causing damage to multiple organs in your body, including your lungs, heart, pancreas, stomach, intestines, kidneys, reproductive systems, and brain, as well as causing years of crippling disabilities. Who is at risk? 75% of all adults are high risk of catching a severe COVID-19 infection, however the most at risk are the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, and young children. How do you prevent it? The coronavirus is an airborne disease, meaning it is spread through the air when we breathe, cough, or sneeze.

It was initially believed that standing 6 feet apart was a good way to prevent catching COVID, back when scientists hoped that it was spread by large air droplets, however recent studies show that the virus is transmitted via respiratory aerosols(microscopic droplets), and can linger in the air for hours. There is no one-size-fits-all method of preventing COVID, so it is important to maximize protection by 'stacking up' these methods: - Limiting exposure with those who are sick - Masking up with well-fitting respiratory masks - Having a good air filtration system - Quarantining after exposure to the virus - Getting vaccinated These methods are still not 100% foolproof, but they give the best chance at not catching the disease.

As the pandemic continues and the number of cases rises, we commit ourselves to advancing research into effective vaccines collaborating with scientists and health experts to develop safer and stronger treatments, as well as provide masks and support to low-income/marginalized communities.

How do I help? Donations would be a great help! Providing equipment to battle the spread of the virus is costly, and even more costly is funding vaccine research. Vaccine development costs range from the tens to hundred millions. You can donate to us at: www.fakefundme/CoughItUp.com!

[bumblebeerror]

1) I feel it’s pertinent to mention that not only is Rabies undetectable and therefore you should get any bite by an unfamiliar animal checked, you should also get any bite by ANY animal and any human checked. Dogs, cats, humans, and several other species carry dangerous bacteria in their mouths that can cause serious infection and even death if left untreated. One of the more dangerous things about daycare is in fact that children are inclined to bite you and not inclined to stop biting you.

2) I need to hammer home that Rabies is so incredibly deadly that the only thing as deadly as Rabies is Mad Cow Disease, also known as Prion disease, wherein proteins are formed incorrectly by chance or introduced to the system through ingesting human or animal brains, and once symptoms present after a latency period, they will kill you. Both have fatality rates of 100%, no chance of recovery, and no cure.

Rabies is a personal interest of mine, so. Allow me to explain why it’s so deadly.

First off, it’s one of the most aggressively infectious diseases I can think of. It’s transmitted through contact with infected saliva, blood, and brain matter - it can’t go though unbroken skin, but any mucous membranes are fair game. Aerosolized infectious matter can be deadly, which is why shooting rabid animals is discouraged.

Not only is infected saliva particularly concentrated, the virus itself is a master at maximizing it’s chosen vectors.

Its incubation period is anywhere between 3 days and several months, though 3-5 days is common. The animal bitten has time to go to a new area, mingle with different animals, before becoming ill. In this early stage symptoms are mild and flu-like, with low fever and irritation of the bite.

After this stage, the person or animal takes on an uncanny appearance - all muscles contract and tighten, eyes bulge from their sockets, and their gait becomes stiff and zombie-like. They also start to develop mneurological symptoms - aggression, reactivity, and SEVERE hydrophobia (the fear of water). As Hydrophobia presents, drinking becomes impossible because the muscles of the throat begin to spasm uncontrollably whenever swallowing is attempted, and sometimes even seeing water can cause these painful spasms. Saliva production increases, and because it can no longer be swallowed, it’s simply drooled out, coating the mouth of the infected animal with deadly infection.

This combination of reactivity, aggression, and infected saliva pooling in the mouth makes for a very fucking deadly combination, meaning that any new animal to approach will likely be infected by the bite of the animal. Not to mention this aggression means they will likely be injured and bleeding, causing even more vectors of infection.

If all of that wasn’t enough, rabies pushes the animals abilities into the fucking terrifying, increasing their strength and making them so aggressive that injuries rarely slow down the infected animal. If you’ve ever heard stories about a city person going to stay in the country and seeing a large contorted animal that simply refuses to die even when shot multiple times? It wasn’t supernatural. It was rabies.

It’s deadliness is just as brutal as it’s infectiousness. Victims simply won’t survive, and this is the reason. Once the second stage kicks in, fever skyrockets and can cause seizures and brain damage, and as the victim is unable to drink, they also experience extreme dehydration. Those alone can kill, but the victims also commonly injure themselves through aggression and twitchiness, too.

And even if you survive through the hydrophobic phase, you won’t survive the disease. After about 2-10 days, the victim’s muscles slowly relax, and then become paralyzed. The paralysis eventually causes breathing to stop, and the victim dies.

The only real way to prevent rabies when you’re bitten is a round of localized vaccinations, or several generalized vaccinations if the infection site is somewhere small, like a finger. The smallest number of potential injections of the vaccine is 4 over a 2 week period. The vaccine is so incredibly vital to human survival of rabies as the only effective treatment that even if the person in question is allergic to one or more of the ingredients, even if it would induce deadly reactions, the vaccines are given anyway, along with strong antihistamine and adrenaline.

Lemme just repeat that: Rabies itself is so deadly, that it is a less assured death to give someone the vaccine even if they are deathly allergic to it. A deadly allergic reaction is considered not only more treatable, but has a high enough survival rate compared to rabies to make it the safest option in this scenario.

Not to mention, the vaccine itself can be dangerous - it’s prone to causing high fevers and extreme muscle aches, along with other severe flu-like symptoms and often patients must be kept under observation after it’s administered.

Rabies is fucking dangerous.

Fun fact though - the only animal that is immune to rabies in North America is the Opossum, whose species is older than the virus itself and is also immune to several snake poisons.

So, I mean. I guess if you must pick up and handle a wild animal, I’m begging you to please make it an opossum. Be nice to them they are also north americas only native marsupial and their body temp is so low for a mammal it kills most germs before they can incubate :D

Man but the notes on that post really are just tumblr showing they have no idea how anything works.

"report to your local animal abuse people not to cops" local animal abuse people would be animal control. Animal control officers are cops.

"rabies is treatable if you go to the doctor right after the bite" rabies is PREVENTABLE, not treatable. There is no cure for rabies. If you suspect you came into contact with a rabid animal, you need to get a series of rabies vaccinations to prevent the virus from taking over your body. This is not a treatment and it only works if you go right away. If you show any symptoms of rabies it is too late.

"rabies is fatal in animals but treatable in humans" rabies has a 100% fatality rate and is not considered a survivable disease at this point in time. If you contract rabies YOU WILL DIE. The "treatment" in humans is called the Milwaukee Protocol, only 14% of people survive it, and it leaves you with massive brain damage and effectively turns you into a vegetable. You do not return to a normal life afterwards. Very few people who have undergone this process are capable of doing more than laying in a hospital bed and eating and breathing through tubes. To my knowledge only one person was able to live a semi-normal life after years and years of ongoing therapy and was not expected to have made it even through her first year after treatment.

I cannot stress enough how rabies is unlike any other disease you may be thinking of. It's required on a federal level in this country to vaccinate pretty much any domestic animal that comes into contact with wildlife for one reason and one reason only: it is not considered possible to cure rabies and the spread of disease would threaten all mammalian life including our own if allowed to continue to propagate.

[becoration]

Remedies and products to get rid of roaches from your home forever

Post has been published on becoration

Remedies and products to get rid of roaches from your home forever

Cockroaches are one of the most annoying and difficult household pests to get rid of. They often inhabit warm and humid places, such as kitchens and bathrooms, and can transmit diseases. To definitively get rid of them, it’s crucial to combine deep cleaning with effective control methods. Here are some remedies and products to eliminate cockroaches from your home once and for all.

1. Adhesive Traps

These traps, available at home goods stores, contain bait that attracts cockroaches and an adhesive surface that traps them. Place them in areas where you suspect they may be active, like behind appliances and in kitchen corners.

2. Insecticidal Gel

Insecticidal gel is an effective and easy-to-use method. Apply it in the cracks and hidden areas where cockroaches tend to hide. The gel attracts the cockroaches, which then carry it back to the nest, eliminating the entire colony.

3. Boric Acid

Mixing boric acid with powdered sugar creates an attractive bait for cockroaches. Place small amounts of this mixture in strategic locations. Boric acid is lethal to cockroaches, but you must keep it out of reach of children and pets.

4. Aerosol Insecticides

Insecticide sprays specifically for cockroaches can be useful for quickly eliminating infestations. Spray areas where you see cockroach activity, and make sure to ventilate the space well after use.

5. Electric Traps

These traps work by electrocuting cockroaches when they come into contact with a charged plate. They are a modern and effective solution, although they can be expensive.

6. Baking Soda and Sugar

Another natural mix involves using baking soda and sugar. The sugar attracts the cockroaches, while the baking soda interacts with the acids in their stomach, proving fatal for them.

7. Maintain Cleanliness

Ensure your home is clean and free from food scraps. Regularly clean appliances, frequently empty the trash can, and securely seal the bags.

8. Seal Cracks and Holes

Cockroaches often enter through tiny cracks and holes in walls or floors. Use caulk or sealant to cover these entry points.

Combining different methods and products can result in an effective strategy for getting rid of cockroaches. Additionally, keeping a clean environment and sealing potential entry ways helps prevent future infestations. If the problem persists, consider consulting a pest control professional for specialized advice.

Source: Decoración 2.0, decoration news in Spanish

[safeday]

Climate change impacts safety and Health at work.

Excessive heat, UV radiation, extreme weather events, air pollution, vector borne diseases, chemicals impacts worker's health. World Day of Safety and Health at Work 2024; April 28th.

Glossary of terms

Gonadotrope: a substance or agent capable of adversely affecting the sexual glands. Harmful substance: substance or mixture of substances capable of harming workers’ health or safety during employment, after employment or in later generations. Hazard: probability of impairment to health following exposure to a specific substance; the level of the hazard depends not only on the toxicity of the substance itself but also on the use and the absorption rate. Health: state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely an absence of disease or disablement. Ingestion: entry of a toxic or other substance into the body through the digestive tract; if elementary principles of personal hygiene are applied, this can occur at workplaces only rarely and accidentally. Inhalation: entry of a substance into the body through the respiratory tract. This is the main path of entry of toxic substances into the body; having reached the lung, the substances may remain stored in the lung tissue or nodes (insoluble dusts) or pass into the blood (gases and vapours, fumes, soluble dusts) through the alveolar surface and reach the upper nerve centres without undergoing any filtration; as the alveolar surface is about eight times larger than the digestive surface and 40 times greater than the skin, absorption is much faster and constitutes a greater hazard than entry by other routes. Irritant: a substance, generally in the form of gas, aerosol or dust, or agent able to cause inflammatory reactions of the respiratory tract, conjunctive tissues or skin; highly soluble gases and vapours, such as ammonia, act mainly on the upper respiratory tract; on the other hand, less soluble gases and vapours, such as nitrogen dioxide, penetrate more deeply into the respiratory tract and are more dangerous because of the associated risk of pulmonary oedema. Mist: aerosol consisting of droplets (e.g. oils or acids). Monitoring: systematic surveillance of the hazards to which workers are exposed; it may be carried out by measuring certain parameters of the working environment, particularly the concentrations of airborne toxic substances, or by measuring biological parameters, particularly the concentrations of toxic substances or their metabolites or certain organic reactions in the urine, blood or exhaled air. Mutagen: substance or agent capable of causing sudden and lasting changes in one or more hereditary features, generally by modifying one or more genes; if these changes take place only in somatic cells (e.g. the blood cells), they are not transmitted to descendants. Occupational health officer: a specialist in the problems associated with the protection of workers’ health against occupational hazards, who acts as adviser to employers and workers; he 1 For different temperatures and/or pressures, the formula must be adapted. For an ambient temperature of 200 C at standard pressure, for instance, the figure 24.45 must be replaced by 24.04. Occupational exposure to harmful airborne substances may be an occupational physician, an industrial hygienist or a safety engineer or technician, either in a service organised by the plant itself or attached to an outside body. Personal sampler: a light and compact portable instrument for sampling the air and/or carrying out measurements in the worker’s breathing zone, whatever his movements during the period of duty. Radioactive substance: any substance which emits ionizing radiations as the result of fission of its atomic nucleus; radiotoxicity is much higher than chemical toxicity and depends on the radioactivity of the substance (number of nuclear fissions per unit of time), the nature of the radiation emitted, the duration of the radioactivity (half-life) and the metabolism of the substance in the body; radioactive substances may take the form of very fine particles (particle sizes of less than 1μm).

Occupational exposure to airborne substances harmful to health

[rupalic]

Insect Repellent Active Ingredients Market Trends

Insect Repellent Active Ingredients Market Forecast And Trends

The insect repellent active ingredients market is anticipated to be valued $1.0 billion in 2023, with a 7.6% CAGR to reach $1.5 billion by 2028. The demand for insect repellent has been steadily increasing over the years due to several factors. One of the main drivers is the growing vector population. Insect repellents focus on controlling the infestation of mosquitoes, flies, ticks, bugs, fleas, and other organisms, which can cause adverse effects on humans. There have been rising instances of epidemics caused by pests such as cockroaches, bugs, mosquitoes, flies, and ants across the globe. To prevent such epidemics, various types of insect repellent formulations are being manufactured. The manufacturing may vary according to the type of insects targeted, formulations, active ingredients, concentration, permit requirements, and product registration.

Market Driver: Growing cases of disease outbreak.

More than 17% of all infectious diseases are vector-borne, according to a report released by the WHO in March 2020. Each year, these illnesses result in about 700,000 deaths. They may be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Life-threatening diseases like chikungunya, influenza, the H1N1 virus, Zika virus, and dengue have all been on the rise over the past ten years and are typically carried by insects. The Zika virus outbreak in the Americas in 2017 (spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) was the most latest outbreak caused by insect vectors.

The most harmful diseases are spread by mosquitoes. Millions of people globally contract mosquito-borne diseases including malaria and dengue each year. The need for insect repellent products has increased recently due to the spread of diseases.

Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Globally, an estimated 219 million cases of malaria are reported; it results in more than 400,000 deaths annually. Most of the deaths occur in children below the age of five years.

Dengue is another deadly infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Every year, more than 3.9 billion people in over 129 countries contract dengue. The disease reportedly claims an estimated 40,000 lives every year. According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) (India), in 2017, about 11,552 cases of dengue were reported in Tamil Nadu, recording a 350% increase in the number of cases compared to 2016.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=111358884

Aerosols segment of the insect repellent active ingredients market by end application is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on end application type, the aerosols segment estimated to account for the highest growth rate. Aerosol insect repellents are widely used and highly effective forms of insect protection, providing a convenient and versatile solution for repelling a variety of biting insects. These products come in pressurized cans or containers and are designed to disperse a fine mist or spray of repellent. Aerosol insect repellents offer several advantages. Their spray format allows for easy and even application, ensuring complete coverage on exposed skin. The fine mist enables the repellent to reach difficult-to-access areas, such as clothing folds or hair. This makes aerosol repellents suitable for outdoor activities and areas with high insect populations.

Major players operating in the insect repellent active ingredients market includes Spectrum Brands Inc. (US), Reckitt Beneckiser Group Plc (UK), Henkel AG & Co KGaA (Germany), MERCK KGaA (Germany), S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. (US), Dabur (India), Godrej (India), Sawyer (US), BUGG Products, LLC (US), Coghlan’s (Canada), Vertellus (US), Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd (Japan), Clariant (Switzerland), Citrefine (UK), NK Chemiosys Pvt. Ltd. (India), and Shorgun Organics (India).

Make an Inquiry:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=111358884

The Asia Pacific market is projected to contribute the largest share for the insect repellent active ingredients market.

Asia Pacific region is confronted with a significant challenge posed by vector-borne diseases, transmitted primarily by insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. These diseases, namely dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis, have a profound impact on public health, resulting in substantial loss of life and economic burden. Each year, a considerable number of cases are reported across key countries in the region. Mosquitoes, being prevalent insects in the Asia Pacific, are notorious for their role in spreading diseases like dengue fever, which affects millions of people annually. In 2021 according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India alone reported approximately 67,377 cases of dengue fever, indicating a rising trend in the country. Similarly, Japan faces the persistent threat of Japanese encephalitis, transmitted by mosquitoes, with thousands of cases reported each year. This is expected to drive the large market for insect repellents in the region.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive (Archive.is link on this page if you can't access the original source)

By Iris Gorfinkel

The lack of masking in health care facilities will needlessly spread disease. As in past autumns, cooler weather will bring a spike in flu and cold viruses while kids in Ontario have settled back into crowded classrooms and COVID-19 threatens to reach a 3-year peak, writes Iris Gorfinkle.

Imagine you — or a vulnerable loved one — needs urgent medical care. If you’re lucky enough to have a family doctor, you head to their clinic. Like most, yours is housed in a building with low ceilings and little air filtration. You enter the waiting room where several patients sit shoulder-to-shoulder waiting.

You have no choice but to sit alongside people sneezing, coughing and blowing their noses. Few if any, patients and health care workers are wearing a mask. While grateful for the hand sanitizer on offer, you begin to wonder if that will be enough to prevent your picking up an infection you hadn’t anticipated.

It’s an all-too-familiar scenario.

The most common reason people see a GP is to assess an upper respiratory infection. They most frequently start after inhaling infected droplets or aerosols or from having touched an infected surface.

An N95 or KN95 mask helps block transmission, whether it’s SARS CoV-2, influenza or a common cold virus like RSV. They’re not perfect, but they reduce viral transmission by 30 per cent. Yet in spite of their benefits, most health-care workers and patients no longer routinely mask, even during assessments requiring close contact with an increased risk of disease spread.

Many of my most vulnerable patients are keenly aware of the potential health risks this presents. Yet most say nothing and would never dream of asking their clinician to wear a mask.

There are sound reasons for this.

The first has to do with long wait times. A visit to the specialist is a precious commodity that cannot be risked. Several months pass before patients are seen, raising the urgency for care.

This is only the first of many factors to come that can silence even the most assertive of patients.

Many don’t want to appear disrespectful by asking their health-care workers to mask. They fear being labelled “difficult” or “demanding” and become distressed at the prospect of questioning their clinician’s judgment, even if it should put them in harm’s way.

Patients become more passive when burdened with the anxiety, dread and fatigue that accompanies illness. Deep-seated fears are ignited that further increase the dependency on health-care workers and squelch any remaining likelihood of their requesting that their clinicians mask.

Masking policies in health-care facilities don’t have to be all-or-none edicts. Patients who are hard of hearing often benefit when they’re able to read lips. Both patients and health care workers sometimes struggle because of anxiety. Young children may not co-operate, and there are people who simply cannot — or will not — tolerate them.

These are special cases though, not the rule. Smart policies in health care facilities need to have latitude for such exceptions. But tightening the policy on masking also recognizes that SARS CoV-2 is a stealthy virus.

One-in-three people infected have no symptoms yet can still transmit COVID-19. It can result in serious physical and mental harms that last 3 years and possibly longer following the initial infection. Since the start of the pandemic to the end of 2023, long COVID has affected 6 per cent of adults and 1 per cent of children.

Vaccines don’t lower viral transmission. Where they shine is at lowering the severity of cases and keeping Ontario’s hospitals from being overwhelmed, but they’re poor at reducing mild cases. It’s short-sighted to gamble on the hope that future vaccines will prove any different.

What’s more certain is that the lack of masking in health care facilities will needlessly spread disease. As in past autumns, cooler weather will bring a spike in flu and cold viruses while kids in Ontario have settled back into crowded classrooms and COVID-19 threatens to reach a 3-year peak.

The duty of care doesn’t land on patients. It’s the clinicians’ job to ensure patients don’t pick up an unintended infection. Patients have a right to safety in health care facilities. In the meantime, I can only advise my concerned patients to wear an N95 or KN-95 when in health care facilities and suggest they not be shy when asking clinicians to do the same.

[pipzeroes]

Spittle versus breath

There has been confusion around droplets and aerosols- what do they mean? What's the difference?

One way to think about it is that droplets are spittle, and aerosols are breath. This is important to understand, because COVID can be transmitted not just by someone's spittle, but also by their breath.

#COVIDisAirborne means there is airborne transmission of COVID. SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID) can remain suspended in tiny bits of moisture floating in the air that spread like cigarette smoke. And, not only is airborne transmission of COVID possible, it has been found to be the dominant method of infection.

Certainly, anything covering someone's mouth will reduce spittle, but spittle alone is not the issue. This is the reason masks must be worn above the nose to be effective- we have to think about breath in our shared air, not just our spittle.

Surgical masks (with gaps at the sides, letting unfiltered air in and out) are not the best protection against airborne disease. This is also why face-shields (used without a mask) are not very effective for preventing COVID, just like face-shields don't protect against secondhand smoke.

To continue the cigarette comparison: while the ash from a cigarette falls to the ground, its smoke remains suspended in the air. Ash can be thought of as similar to droplets/spittle and aerosols/breath can be compared to cigarette smoke.

Do you remember "smoking sections" in restaurants and bars, or on airplanes? Though you may breathe in more secondhand smoke by sitting right next to the smoker, you are still impacted by the secondhand smoke even if more than two metres from the source (especially when in an enclosed space).

This is why we no longer have smoking sections!

Another comparison: Imagine viruses are tiny people, and droplets/spittle or aerosols/breath are their spaceships.

Some viruses, SARS-CoV-2 included, are not viably transmissible for very long unless they remain in moisture- just like humans cannot survive in space without a spaceship or space suit.

Unlike vessels in space, however, we are subject to the gravity of Earth. Larger droplets/spittle do fall to the ground within a few metres of the host in moments. However, even with Earth's gravity, aerosols/breath can remain suspended in the air for some time.

This means that if someone infectious with COVID has left a room, the air in that room could still be a risk to someone else entering that room if the air is not well ventilated or effectively filtered- especially if the infected person and/or potential new host are unmasked (or even not masked well- for example, with a mask below their nose).

Some have asked, "If a virus is so tiny, how is a mask supposed to stop it? Air passes through!"

Imagine a defense network against enemy spaceships, a woven web of SPACE LASERS with gaps between them too small for spaceships to pass through. A human might seem small enough to fit through the gaps between the lasers, but they aren't going to be able to even reach this point without a spaceship to transport them.

What about really small particles, though?

To continue this comparison, imagine also that this web of space lasers not only captures things when touching them, but attracts and draws objects in to them. Say an astronaut suits up, figuring they'll be small enough to pass through this web by themselves without a spaceship. However, the nature of this space web means they'd be drawn in, attracted, and captured anyway!

The construction of N95 masks means they attract airborne particles to their material, capturing these particles (similar to this imaginary web of space lasers capturing spaceships and errant astronauts).

It is 2023, and we know enough to understand that COVID is airborne, that COVID is dangerous even to "healthy" people "with an immune system", that after a so-called "mild" case there can be long term consequences (including Long COVID), that children are not immune, that ventilation and air filtration reduce the risk of transmission, and that masks help reduce the spread (especially when there is widespread adoption of masks at a population level) if they are effectively worn (over your nose, for a start!)

By understanding that #COVIDisAirborne, and that infected breath is a concern (not just spittle), the importance of ventilation, air filtration, and masks can start to make more sense.

COVID is airborne, and can spread through breath. To be prevented, COVID needs to be approached with this in mind.

[homeimprovementway]

How to Bug Bomb a House: Ultimate Guide for Effective Pest Control

To bug bomb a house, follow these steps: 1. Clear the area of all people and pets. 2. Seal off food and utensils in airtight containers. A common problem for homeowners is dealing with household pests like roaches, ants, spiders, or fleas. These unwanted guests can not only be a nuisance but also pose health risks. In such instances, bug bombing, also known as pest fogging or fumigation, can be an effective solution. Bug bombing involves using a specialized aerosol insecticide to target and eliminate pests in an entire space, such as a house. However, it's crucial to approach this process carefully and adhere to safety guidelines to protect yourself, other occupants, and valuable belongings. We will outline the steps to safely bug bomb a house and get rid of the pest problem efficiently. So, let's dive into the details without further delay.

The Importance Of Pest Control

Pest control is crucial for maintaining a healthy and comfortable home. Learn how to effectively bug bomb a house and eliminate unwanted pests for good. Protecting Your Home Pest control plays a vital role in safeguarding your home from unwanted intruders. Whether it's termites, rodents, or insects, pests can cause significant damage to your property if left unchecked. By investing in effective pest control measures, you can ensure that your home remains a safe and comfortable haven for you and your loved ones. Protecting your home from pest infestations helps preserve its structural integrity, preventing costly repairs and extermination procedures down the line. By taking proactive measures to control and eliminate pests, you gain peace of mind and maintain the value of your property. Health And Safety Risks Pest infestations not only cause damage to your home but also pose considerable health and safety risks for you and your family. Pests can spread diseases, contaminate food, and trigger allergic reactions. Some pests even carry parasites or transmit harmful bacteria, which can lead to serious health problems. - Pests like rats and mice leave droppings and urine that can contaminate surfaces and food, potentially exposing you to diseases such as Salmonella and Hantavirus. - Insects like mosquitoes and ticks can transmit dangerous diseases like West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and Zika virus. - Cockroaches, with their allergens and feces, can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions. By proactively managing pests and implementing effective pest control methods, you reduce the risk of these health hazards and create a healthier living environment for you and your family. Additionally, many pest control products available in the market can be harmful if not used correctly. That's why it's crucial to follow the instructions provided by professionals when using pest control methods such as bug bombs. Proper application and precautions ensure that you and your family remain safe during the pest eradication process.

Understanding Bug Bombing

Bug bombing is an effective method for eliminating pests from your house. By following proper steps, you can safely and successfully bug bomb your home, ensuring a bug-free environment. Bug bombing, also known as total release fogging, is a popular method used to eliminate pests in a house. It involves the use of bug bombs, which are aerosol cans that release insecticides into the air. This section will provide a comprehensive understanding of bug bombing, including what it is, how it works, and the different types of bug bombs available. What Is Bug Bombing? Bug bombing is a pest control method that involves filling an enclosed space, such as a room or an entire house, with insecticide aerosol to eliminate pests. It is commonly used to combat stubborn infestations of insects such as cockroaches, fleas, ants, and spiders. The bug bombs, also known as foggers, release a fine mist of insecticide that penetrates cracks and crevices, reaching pests in hard-to-reach areas. How Does It Work? Bug bombs work by utilizing the active ingredients in the insecticide to kill pests in the treated area. These insecticides typically contain chemicals that target the nervous system of the pests, disrupting their normal functioning and leading to paralysis or death. When the bug bomb is activated, it releases a cloud of insecticide that disperses throughout the space, effectively reaching pests hiding in different parts of the room or house. Types of Bug Bombs There are different types of bug bombs available in the market, each designed to target specific types of pests or offer different features. Here are some commonly used bug bombs: 1. Multi-Insect Bug Bombs: These bug bombs are formulated to target a wide range of pests, making them a versatile option for general pest control. They are effective against various insects, including cockroaches, spiders, ants, fleas, silverfish, and more. 2. Flea Bombs: Specifically formulated to combat flea infestations, flea bombs release insecticides that effectively target fleas at different stages of their lifecycle. This makes them an ideal choice for eliminating fleas from your home. 3. Bed Bug Foggers: Bed bug foggers are designed specifically for tackling bed bug infestations. These bug bombs contain insecticides that effectively treat mattresses, furniture, and other areas where bed bugs may hide. 4. Odorless Bug Bombs: Odorless bug bombs are a popular choice for those who are sensitive to the strong odor that insecticides may emit. These bug bombs provide the same level of efficacy as regular bug bombs but without the unpleasant smell. When using bug bombs, it's crucial to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Proper preparation, evacuation of humans and pets, and post-treatment ventilation are essential steps to ensure effective pest control and the safety of all occupants. In summary, bug bombing is a pest control method that involves using bug bombs to release insecticides into the air, eliminating pests in an enclosed space. Understanding how bug bombing works and the different types of bug bombs available can help you choose the most suitable option for your pest control needs.

Preparing Your House For Bug Bombing

Bug bomb, also known as insect fogger, is an effective way to eradicate pests from your house. However, before you start bug bombing, it is crucial to prepare your house properly to ensure the best results. In this section, we will guide you through the essential steps for preparing your house for bug bombing. Identifying The Pest Before bug bombing your house, it is essential to correctly identify the pest you are dealing with. Different pests may require different bug bomb products or treatment methods. Take the time to observe the signs of infestation, such as droppings or damage, to determine the exact pest species. Removing Clutter And Food Sources Pests are often attracted to clutter and accessible food sources. To maximize the effectiveness of bug bombing, it is crucial to remove any clutter and eliminate potential food sources that may attract pests. Start by decluttering all areas of your house, including closets, shelves, and beneath furniture. Dispose of any unnecessary items or organizing them neatly to minimize hiding places for pests. Tip: Store all food items securely in airtight containers and place them in cabinets or the refrigerator to prevent pests from invading your food supplies. Protecting Valuables During bug bombing, it is important to protect your valuable items from any potential damage caused by the chemicals. Remove and store delicate or valuable items, such as artwork, electronics, or heirlooms, in a safe and sealed place. You can use plastic covers or sheets to shield larger items that cannot be moved. Important: Remember to cover or remove any sensitive items, such as fish tanks or pet cages, and ensure that all windows and doors are closed tightly for better containment of the bug bomb.

Executing The Bug Bombing Process

Bug bomb, also known as a total release fogger, is an effective solution for eliminating pesky insects and bugs from your house. When it comes to executing the bug bombing process, there are a few important steps you need to follow. In this section, we will discuss these steps in detail to help you bug bomb your house successfully. Choosing The Right Bug Bomb Before you begin the bug bombing process, it's crucial to choose the right bug bomb that is suitable for your specific bug problem. Not all bug bombs are created equal, so it's essential to read the labels and instructions carefully. Look for bug bombs that are specifically formulated for the type of insects you are dealing with, whether it's roaches, flies, or mosquitoes. When selecting a bug bomb, consider the size of your room or area you want to treat. Bug bombs come in different sizes, each designed to cover a specific square footage. Make sure you choose a bug bomb that matches the size of the space you want to fog. This will ensure that the bug bomb is effective in eradicating the bugs. Covering Or Removing Exposed Items Prior to bug bombing your house, it's important to cover or remove any exposed items and surfaces that could get contaminated by the bug bomb residue. This includes food items, utensils, dishes, and personal belongings. Place them in sealed containers or cover them with plastic sheets to protect them from the chemicals released during the bug bombing process. Additionally, remove any pets, fish tanks, or sensitive plants from the area. Bug bombs can be harmful to animals and plants, so it's best to relocate them to a safe location until the bug bombing process is complete. Properly Sealing The Space Another critical step in bug bombing a house is properly sealing the space to ensure the bug bomb is contained and maximizes its effectiveness. Start by closing all windows, doors, and vents. Seal any cracks or openings in the room with tape or caulk to prevent the bug bomb from escaping. If you have multiple rooms or areas to bug bomb, ensure that they are well-sealed from one another. It's crucial to prevent the bugs from escaping or moving to other areas of your house. Once the space is adequately sealed, it's time to activate the bug bomb. Follow the instructions on the bug bomb canister carefully, as each brand may have slightly different activation methods. Generally, you will need to place the bug bomb on an elevated surface, set it to release, and leave the room immediately. Remember to set a timer so you can re-enter the treated area after the recommended exposure time. Make sure to open windows and doors to ventilate the space and allow any remaining chemicals to dissipate before returning. Executing the bug bombing process requires careful consideration and attention to detail. By choosing the right bug bomb, covering or removing exposed items, and properly sealing the space, you can effectively rid your house of unwanted pests and enjoy a bug-free environment.

Safe And Effective Post-bombing Procedures

After successfully bug bombing your house to rid it of pesky insects, it's crucial to follow safe and effective post-bombing procedures. These procedures will help you ensure that your living environment is safe for your family and pets, while also preventing future infestations. In this section, we will outline the step-by-step instructions for proper ventilation and aeration, cleaning up, and preventing future infestations. Ventilation And Aeration Ventilation and aeration are critical steps to take after using a bug bomb in your house. When the fogging process is complete, you'll need to allow fresh air to circulate and remove any residual chemicals from the air. It is advised to keep the windows and doors open for a few hours to facilitate this process. If possible, turning on fans or ventilation systems can help expedite the aeration process. Cleaning Up Cleaning up after bug bombing is essential to ensure a safe and hygienic living environment. Start by wearing gloves and using a damp cloth or disposable wipes to wipe down all surfaces including countertops, tables, floors, and furniture. Pay extra attention to areas that are commonly used or touched, such as doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls. Thoroughly vacuum the carpets, rugs, and upholstery to eliminate any dead insects or chemical residues. In case you find any visible residue on your belongings, it is advisable to wash them separately using detergent and warm water. Be cautious while handling the treated items, and avoid direct skin contact whenever possible. Remember to dispose of any used cleaning materials and empty bug bomb canisters properly. Preventing Future Infestations While bug bombing can provide temporary relief from pests, it's crucial to take preventative measures to avoid future infestations. Here are some simple yet effective tips: - Seal all entry points: Inspect and seal any cracks, gaps, or openings that pests can use to enter your house. Caulk or weatherstrip doors and windows to create a barrier against insects. - Maintain cleanliness: Regularly clean your house, paying special attention to areas where pests are commonly found, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. This will help eliminate potential food and water sources, making your house less inviting for bugs. - Remove clutter: Clutter provides pests with hiding spots and breeding grounds. Regularly declutter your house and remove any unnecessary items that may attract insects. - Store food properly: Keep all food items tightly sealed in containers to prevent them from becoming attractive targets for pests. - Maintain your yard: Trim vegetation and trees near your house and keep the yard well-maintained to discourage pests from taking refuge outside and eventually making their way inside. By following these post-bombing procedures and taking preventive measures, you can maintain a bug-free home environment and ensure the safety and well-being of your family and pets.

Conclusion

Successfully bug bombing a house requires careful planning, proper execution, and an understanding of the potential risks involved. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively eliminate pests from your home and create a safer and more comfortable living environment for you and your family. Remember to always read and follow the instructions provided by the bug bomb manufacturer, and consider seeking professional assistance if needed. Keep your home pest-free and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you have taken the necessary steps to address this common household issue. Read the full article