#we are all so susceptible to flu and other infections

[alphacrone]

unmasked nurse in a room full of immunocompromised people talking loudly about how her kid has strep and 102 fevers. and complaining about bad nurses. girlie pop. girl. ma’am.

[halorvic]

The danger is clear and present: COVID isn’t merely a respiratory illness; it’s a multi-dimensional threat impacting brain function, attacking almost all of the body’s organs, producing elevated risks of all kinds, and weakening our ability to fight off other diseases. Reinfections are thought to produce cumulative risks, and Long COVID is on the rise. Unfortunately, Long COVID is now being considered a long-term chronic illness — something many people will never fully recover from. Dr. Phillip Alvelda, a former program manager in DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office that pioneered the synthetic biology industry and the development of mRNA vaccine technology, is the founder of Medio Labs, a COVID diagnostic testing company. He has stepped forward as a strong critic of government COVID management, accusing health agencies of inadequacy and even deception. Alvelda is pushing for accountability and immediate action to tackle Long COVID and fend off future pandemics with stronger public health strategies. Contrary to public belief, he warns, COVID is not like the flu. New variants evolve much faster, making annual shots inadequate. He believes that if things continue as they are, with new COVID variants emerging and reinfections happening rapidly, the majority of Americans may eventually grapple with some form of Long COVID. Let’s repeat that: At the current rate of infection, most Americans may get Long COVID.

[...]

LP: A recent JAMA study found that US adults with Long COVID are more prone to depression and anxiety – and they’re struggling to afford treatment. Given the virus’s impact on the brain, I guess the link to mental health issues isn’t surprising. PA: There are all kinds of weird things going on that could be related to COVID’s cognitive effects. I’ll give you an example. We’ve noticed since the start of the pandemic that accidents are increasing. A report published by TRIP, a transportation research nonprofit, found that traffic fatalities in California increased by 22% from 2019 to 2022. They also found the likelihood of being killed in a traffic crash increased by 28% over that period. Other data, like studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, came to similar conclusions, reporting that traffic fatalities hit a 16-year high across the country in 2021. The TRIP report also looked at traffic fatalities on a national level and found that traffic fatalities increased by 19%. LP: What role might COVID play? PA: Research points to the various ways COVID attacks the brain. Some people who have been infected have suffered motor control damage, and that could be a factor in car crashes. News is beginning to emerge about other ways COVID impacts driving. For example, in Ireland, a driver’s COVID-related brain fog was linked to a crash that killed an elderly couple. Damage from COVID could be affecting people who are flying our planes, too. We’ve had pilots that had to quit because they couldn’t control the airplanes anymore. We know that medical events among U.S. military pilots were shown to have risen over 1,700% from 2019 to 2022, which the Pentagon attributes to the virus.

[...]

LP: You’ve criticized the track record of the CDC and the WHO – particularly their stubborn denial that COVID is airborne. PA: They knew the dangers of airborne transmission but refused to admit it for too long. They were warned repeatedly by scientists who studied aerosols. They instituted protections for themselves and for their kids against airborne transmission, but they didn’t tell the rest of us to do that.

[...]

LP: How would you grade Biden on how he’s handled the pandemic? PA: I’d give him an F. In some ways, he fails worse than Trump because more people have actually died from COVID on his watch than on Trump’s, though blame has to be shared with Republican governors and legislators who picked ideological fights opposing things like responsible masking, testing, vaccination, and ventilation improvements for partisan reasons. Biden’s administration has continued to promote the false idea that the vaccine is all that is needed, perpetuating the notion that the pandemic is over and you don’t need to do anything about it. Biden stopped the funding for surveillance and he stopped the funding for renewing vaccine advancement research. Trump allowed 400,000 people to die unnecessarily. The Biden administration policies have allowed more than 800,000 to 900,000 and counting.

[...]

LP: The situation with bird flu is certainly getting more concerning with the CDC confirming that a third person in the U.S. has tested positive after being exposed to infected cows. PA: Unfortunately, we’re repeating many of the same mistakes because we now know that the bird flu has made the jump to several species. The most important one now, of course, is the dairy cows. The dairy farmers have been refusing to let the government come in and inspect and test the cows. A team from Ohio State tested milk from a supermarket and found that 50% of the milk they tested was positive for bird flu viral particles.

[...]

PA: There’s a serious risk now in allowing the virus to freely evolve within the cow population. Each cow acts as a breeding ground for countless genetic mutations, potentially leading to strains capable of jumping to other species. If any of those countless genetic experiments within each cow prove successful in developing a strain transmissible to humans, we could face another pandemic – only this one could have a 58% death rate. Did you see the movie “Contagion?” It was remarkably accurate in its apocalyptic nature. And that virus only had a 20% death rate. If the bird flu makes the jump to human-to-human transition with even half of its current lethality, that would be disastrous.

[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.

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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

[lindwurmkai]

i have to say i am feeling rather incensed about the covid situation once again. just found out that reports of long covid have been on the rise lately, and my country is literally in a fucking recession because too many people were sick last year. how much longer until somebody does something?!

people act like "the lockdowns" were traumatic or some shit when very few countries in the world actually had proper lockdowns. what was even the point of those half-assed measures? my life literally went on as normal. no change except for occasional toilet paper or cooking oil shortages. if that was traumatic, imagine how traumatised i must be from just living like that the whole time lol.

and the "mask mandates" lmao. did a single country anywhere actually get those right? no cloth masks allowed, no surgical masks allowed, filter masks handed out for free, adequate education about proper fit and how to safely reuse disposable masks? did anyone do that??? did any government on this planet actually try???

then we got vaccines and how that was handled certainly varied from place to place, but by now i don't think anyone advertises the need to get regular boosters anymore. people are literally out there thinking they're safe because they got a booster over a year ago. others are trying to get another booster and can't even make it happen for various reasons.

after four fucking years, at least some of the richer countries should have made ample progress upgrading the ventilation systems in all public buildings by now. is that the case though?? certainly not where i live. please do tell me if someone somewhere is doing it right because i am really losing my faith in humanity here.

like ... my groceries being more expensive is certainly not what i personally want to focus on regarding this matter, but the recession is a measurable effect that people have noticed and yet the news article that initially reported it didn't so much as mention covid with a single word. "respiratory infections, such as the common cold, bronchitis or the flu" were apparently the biggest culprits. which, uh. even if all those put together had been more prevalent than covid (something we cannot possibly know since many people don't test anymore and write it off as a cold immediately), previous covid infections could have easily contributed by making people more susceptible to catching them.

shaking my damn head for real

[exeggcute]

hey I have messaged you before because we both have boneitus but I wanted to ask - how severe has the immune compromise from humera and biologics been for you? My joint pain is just on the inside of manageable and I'm concerned that, going to uni and generally being outdoorsy, I'm putting my health more at risk by starting it then by seeking other methods of management? right now inflammation and pain are the only concerns, not more severe health risks.

[2nd message: obviously you can't give medical advice etc I'm just hoping to hear your perspective and experience. my mother is less severely impacted and also doesn't seem to be too compromised but I think she's a bit casual about health risks sometimes]

tbh I haven't felt like the immune compromise has been too bad even though I started taking biologics during the height of covid... now that I'm thinking about it I remember I was supposed to start my first humira shot before the covid vaccine was widely available, literally had the shot sitting on the counter to thaw, but then the pharmacy rang me up to say they got a batch of vaccines in and I postponed my humira shot a few days so I could go get a different shot first lol. other than getting Actual Covid about a year ago (which sucked ass but obviously didn't kill me, I think my partner who's normally in great health got hit harder by it than I did) I actually think I've gotten sick way less often in the past few years than I ever did pre-biologics/pre-covid. knock on fucking wood obviously. and I was aaaallllwaaaays getting sick with random shit pre-2020. not sure whether that's a testament to how well proper masking works or a testament to how treating my fucked-up immune system actually made me less susceptible to random viral infections but either way there's some anecdata for you.

but full disclosure that I'm a homebody in general, and then the combo of covid and my Problems means I haven't been traveled out of state more than once or twice, I still mask up in public 95% of the time, my only roommate is my partner who also masks up in public 95% of the time, we live in a private residence with our own bathroom/laundry facilities, etc. granted I do still Go Out and have potential avenues of exposure to whatever random shit is brewing, particularly in restaurants, but I don't wanna generalize my experience too too much if you're a student and might be living in a dorm, travelling a lot, etc.

although with that said I think (and don't quote me on this?) the main concerns with biologics are less about your average cold/flu/covid situation than with more serious stuff like TB or hospital acquired infections or whatever. I definitely had to get a TB test before I could start humira. and I have admittedly had some chronic but very mild skin infections thanks to being immunocompromised, but they've all been treatable, and it's hard to say whether they were caused by the biologics themselves or the combo of biologics + intermittent steroid use + preexisting eczema + recently adding methotrexate into the mix. and generally having the constitution of a sickly orphan boy lol. which is all to say that unless you're being exposed to really freaky shit on the regular I don't think going on biologics will be the difference between you staying healthy and you getting struck down by Icky Space Virus, especially since biologics are a targeted immunosuppressant in a way that (e.g.) prednisone isn't. a good N95 or KN95 mask goes a long way, too.

it's ultimately up to you and your comfort level, especially if you said you're managing the joint pain okay right now—but I've also been there and I know that "managing" pain still is not a fun place to be at all. I also don't know if you have a flavor of boneitis that turns into degrative damage over time, so that's another consideration; I was honestly pretty scared about the (depending on who you ask, minor) cancer risk of taking TNF inhibitors, but I kind of rationalized it as like, okay, if I go on these drugs and get cancer, there's a solid chance of surviving cancer, but if I don't go on these drugs and my spine fuses permanently then my spine will be fused forever and ever and I can never fix it. there's also the fact that untreated inflammation is a major cancer trigger in itself, so on the crohn's side of things I have a way higher chance of getting cancer from untreated crohn's than I do of getting cancer from crohn's treatment.

don't take it as medical advice but here's my two cents: if your doctor thinks it's safe, and if you would benefit significantly from treatment, I think it's worth trying. soooooo many people take these drugs and the majority don't have life-altering side effects. with the immune suppression specifically, or even other minor side effects, I see it as a question of whether those risks/side effects are outweighed by the symptoms you're dealing with on a daily basis. I tend to approach that with a rough formula of severity x probability on both sides, which means unless the side effects are really bad AND really likely to happen, or unless the symptoms are relatively minor, I usually gravitate towards taking the drug. "symptom I already have that fucking sucks" usually comes out on top as the greater evil. but that's just me!

tangentially related point you might find interesting: I mentioned the other day about getting a consultation from a cosmetic surgeon who I later found out was related to the lead singer of imagine dragons, but the way I found that out was because I asked the surgeon if it was okay to get operated on while taking humira, and he said that not only was it fine, but also that he takes humira for the same arthritis + IBD combo that I have. and then later I heard an imagine dragons song on the radio, which reminded me how the lead singer is my nemesis because he's the most famous person alive with spondylitis but makes shitty music, and then I thought about how he's from vegas, and then how he's mormon, and then how the surgeon I saw is also mormon (BYU diploma spotted in his office lol. despite his main specialty being top surgery. #respect), and then how the surgeon told me he has like eight brothers and they all have IBD too, and then I was like "there can't be that many mormon families in las vegas with the same genetic autoimmune issues, right...?" and looked up the lead singer's last name and it was the same as the surgeon's...

so anyway just know that active practicing surgeons take biologics and seem to be doing alright! and also that someone out there has a family with a million sons who all have Shitting Constantly disease. the toilet paper bill when those kids were growing up must have been totally insane

[guiltypleasurefandomface]

Let me just rant for a second.

I'm a chronically ill person but before I became chronically ill, I was always sick. I caught everyone else's bugs but my body, for some reason, would make me way more sicker than other kids and other teens and other uni students.

Someone came in with a bit of a sniffle from the flu, they'd have maybe one day off if it was really bad, then I would spend 2 weeks with tonsillitus, a chest infection, swelling all over, allodynia, dizzy when I stood up, faint and light headed, god knows what temperature because we never had a thermometer. Back when I was a kid, you could call the doctor out, and the doctor was called out a lot.

And then even when other kids didn't bring their germs in, if I got too cold, I would get sick.

Do you know how many times I've heard "Being in the cold doesn't give you a cold".

Like, I don't care about splitting semantics, we've known for at least 20 years that being in the cold, for too long, lowers your immune system and makes you susceptible to whatever germs are in the air and around you. If your immune system isn't that great to begin with, you're not going to need too long in the cold before the barriers lower to let the germs in. So, yes, although not directly, bieng in the cold can give you a cold.

And now today we have this article.

"Germs are present all year-round, as anyone whose ever had a summer cold will know all too well. But researchers have now discovered why we tend to fall unwell more in the colder months...

Essentially, if you're out in cold weather, you lose a significant amount of your immunity just by the drop it being that bit colder."

So there you have it. BEING IN THE COLD, GIVES YOU A COLD.

[naturalfactorsb]

Understanding Inflammation Overload: Insights by Gemma Davies, Adv Dip Nat & Dip Bot Med

It’s been estimated that approximately one in three Australians have chronic inflammatory conditions.1

With established links to so many common health concerns, inflammation is a topic we all need to know about. So how and why does it occur in the body and what can we do to reduce the pain, discomfort and symptoms inflammation causes?

Inflammation is actually an important biological mechanism that attracts special immune cells to sweep away and remove dead and damaged cells. If our immune system is functioning well, inflammatory responses help us stay healthy. For example, inflammation causes throat irritation and a runny nose to initiate the coughing and sneezing required to clear a cold or flu virus and causes swelling and heat at an injury site to assist tissue repair. However, if the required cell removal is incomplete and the cycle continues, inflammation can begin. As Professor Kate Schroder from the University of Queensland explains, ‘During injury or infection, our body’s immune system protects us by launching inflammation. But uncontrolled inflammation can drive undesirable health conditions.2

Inflammation is always set off by a trigger, the most obvious being a virus or bacteria, or a physical injury like a cut, burn or blow. We now know that many other factors act as triggers, including an unhealthy diet, smoking, environmental pollutants and even stress.2

Ultimately, we’re susceptible to inflammatory overload simply by… living in the world!

Thankfully, we can take proactive steps to minimise uncontrolled inflammation and reduce some of the health havoc it causes to our health. These include:

Eating a healthy, nourishing diet: as writer and food activist Michael Pollan advised: ‘Eat food, not too much, mostly plants’.3 A proven anti-inflammatory diet includes plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts and seeds, legumes, wholegrains and fatty fish. The great news is that coffee is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, so there’s no need to give up your daily cuppa!4

Adopting a low-tox lifestyle: be conscious of the chemicals you use in your body and around the home, choosing ‘clean’ beauty and cleaning products (or even making your own). Consider using air and water filters both at home and at work and if you smoke or vape, seek help to quit!

Actively reducing stress: meditation, time management techniques, counselling, psychological support and yoga are all proven ways.

Consider supplementation: certain anti-inflammatory compounds are hard to obtain from foods, so supplementation may be an additional proactive step to help minimise inflammation. Such compounds include curcumin, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and pro-resolving mediators.

There is also very strong evidence that compounds from specific plants and foods work especially well to reduce inflammation overload. The research spotlight has shone brightly on curcumin in recent years; a powerful anti-inflammatory compound found naturally in the roots of the turmeric plant.

 Curcumin has been proven to reduce inflammation in three main ways, by:

lowering key enzymes that cause inflammation;

preventing blood platelets from clumping together;

acting as a powerful antioxidant, helping to clear free radicals and ‘mop up’ dead and damaged cells, which in turn reduces the inflammatory process.5

Whilst the anti-inflammatory benefits of curcumin are impressive, standard curcumin from food sources is poorly bioavailable meaning that a combination of poor solubility, low gut absorption, high rate of metabolism and rapid clearance from the body make it difficult for us to absorb and use. Take care to choose a highly bioavailable form of curcumin when considering supplementation.6-8

The anti-inflammatory effects of a well-absorbed curcumin can be further optimised by taking it in combination with other natural compounds, such as:

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA): which is a lipid found in soybean, has been shown to effectively reduce pain (especially nerve pain) and anxiety caused by it, by interrupting the pain cycle and exerting an endocannaboid-like action.9-20

Pro-resolving mediators (PRMs): which can be found in natural fish oils and play an important role in the anti-inflammatory pathway and in supporting brain and heart health.21-35

Although inflammation is a concern for all of us, it’s good to know that by combining wise diet and lifestyle choices with the best that nature and science have to offer, we can make a real difference to our health.

*References available on request.

[themomsandthecity]

How Can I Keep My Kids Healthy During the Holiday Season?

We know that every holiday season, parents have lots of questions - whether it's how to deal with stress-inducing in-laws or ways to keep their kids healthy. That's why, this year, we tapped four advice columnists and experts to help us. Enter: The Holiday Nightline, where we're answering your most burning questions about parenting during the holidays. Keep reading to hear from Stephanie Liu, MD, a family physician at the University of Alberta Hospital and the author of the blog Life of Dr. Mom. --- One universal concern POPSUGAR readers expressed was wanting to know how to keep their kids, as well as the whole family, healthy during the winter months and holiday travel. Below, Dr. Stephanie shares her best advice for doing so. Dear Readers, 'Tis the season of excitement, wonder, and joy! It's such a wonderful time of the year, and many of us really look forward to enjoying this special time with family and friends. However, the holidays also come with extra stress and worry - particularly around our kids getting sick. We're more susceptible to picking something up during this time, likely because of a combination of factors, including viruses that are particularly abundant during winter months, the extra time we're spending indoors, and all the holiday activities, which can lead people feeling run-down and sleep deprived. One of the key ways to reduce the risk of picking up winter ills and chills is by practicing good hygiene. This includes frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals. This is something the whole family can make an extra effort to do to ensure that everyone is feeling well enough to enjoy the festivities. Another recommended tip is to avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, as germs can get into your body through mucous membranes on the face - eyes, nose, and mouth - which act as pathways to the throat and lungs. Many of us touch our faces without even knowing it, so it's a good idea to make a conscious effort to avoid this if you can. Additionally, getting vaccinated against viruses such as the flu (influenza) provides additional protection - not only for you and your family, but also others around you. Your mental health as a parent is just as important as your whole family's physical health. There are also some lifestyle adjustments we can make to support our childrens' immune systems (and our own!). First off, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can enhance your child's natural immune defenses. In fact, a study published in 2022 in the journal Nutrients showed that children with asthma who increased their fruit and vegetable intake had less asthma exacerbations. Related: How Can I Manage Holiday Parenting Stress? Next, getting enough sleep is critical for our immune systems. Lack of sleep impairs our ability to fight off pathogens, and studies show that insufficient sleep in both the short and long term can increase your risk of getting sick. Please also keep in mind that children need more sleep than adults, so it's important to ensure your kiddos are getting enough rest overnight (and across any naps if they're little) so that they have enough energy to get through the day. While vitamin D is best known for its effect on calcium metabolism and for keeping our bones healthy, it appears to have benefits in preventing the common cold as well. One study found that vitamin D supplements can help prevent upper respiratory tract infections, especially in those who have a deficiency. In Canada, it is recommended that vitamin D supplements are taken year-round. Have a chat with your doctor to determine what dose would be right for you. It is also important to dress your child (and yourself) appropriately for the cooler weather. Some parts of North America can be very chilly, and children can get hypothermia and frostbite. To keep them warm, opt for layered clothing, including hats,… https://www.popsugar.com/family/keep-kids-healthy-holiday-nightline-49309387?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[healthcaretipsdailyforyou]

Child and Adolescent Health: Nurturing Wellness at the Best Hospitals in Hyderabad

Introduction

Ensuring the well-being of children and adolescents is of paramount importance, as it lays the foundation for a healthy and thriving future. From immunizations that protect against diseases to monitoring growth and development milestones and addressing common childhood illnesses, every aspect of child and adolescent health plays a crucial role. In this blog, we will delve into essential topics surrounding child and adolescent health, while highlighting the significance of seeking care at the Best hospital in hyderabad, including top hospitals accredited by JCI (Joint Commission International).

1. Immunizations: Shielding Young Lives

Immunizations are a cornerstone of child and adolescent health, offering protection against preventable diseases. At the best hospitals in Hyderabad, expert healthcare professionals follow recommended vaccination schedules to safeguard children's health:

a. Importance of Vaccinations: Vaccinations not only shield children from serious illnesses but also contribute to community immunity, safeguarding those who cannot be vaccinated.

b. Staying Updated with Immunization Schedules: Trusted hospitals in Hyderabad provide comprehensive immunization schedules, ensuring children receive vaccines at the right age and interval.

c. Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions: Healthcare providers at top hospitals in Hyderabad address parents' concerns and provide accurate information about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

2. Growth and Development: Monitoring Milestones

Regular monitoring of a child's growth and development is essential for early detection of any issues. The best hospitals in Hyderabad offer comprehensive developmental assessments:

a. Tracking Physical and Cognitive Milestones: Skilled healthcare professionals monitor a child's physical growth and cognitive development to ensure they are on track for their age.

b. Early Intervention for Developmental Delays: In the event of developmental delays, timely intervention and therapies are provided to support the child's progress.

c. Adolescent Health Checks: As children transition into adolescence, routine health check-ups play a vital role in addressing any concerns related to physical and emotional well-being.

3. Common Childhood Illnesses: Expert Care and Compassion

Children are susceptible to various common illnesses, and seeking care at top hospitals in Hyderabad ensures prompt and effective treatment:

a. Respiratory Infections and Ear Infections: Healthcare providers at the best hospitals in Hyderabad diagnose and manage common childhood infections, such as colds, flu, and ear infections.

b. Gastrointestinal Disorders: Expert pediatricians provide compassionate care for children with gastroenteritis, food intolerances, and other digestive issues.

c. Skin Conditions and Allergies: Top hospitals in Hyderabad address skin conditions, allergies, and other dermatological concerns to alleviate discomfort.

Conclusion

Child and adolescent health is a fundamental aspect of building a healthier society. By prioritizing immunizations, monitoring growth and development, and seeking timely care for common childhood illnesses, we ensure that our children are provided with the best possible start in life. For comprehensive healthcare services, it is essential to choose the best hospitals in Hyderabad, including top hospitals accredited by JCI. Nurturing the health and well-being of our young ones is a responsibility we all share, and by doing so, we lay the groundwork for a brighter and healthier future.

[peskyimmortals]

Mental health and relapses

So I think that mental health has an equivalent to being immunocompromised (hang with me, I don't know much about it) but my therapist did mention I would be much more susceptible to being depressed after I was cleared the first time. Things that would be fine normally, either to others or in a specific context, could trigger me down a new depressive spiral, like how a flu can be deadly to those who are immunocompromised.

And so therapy would be like a flu shot, helping to protect your mental immune system.

Anyways, I think we should normalize accepting relapses, like being infected by a virus and accepting the need for a vaccine (although therapy is more personalized then vaccines)

And sometimes you need to be isolated or removed from the environment making you sick.

I'll let someone more convincing take up this idea. I just thought, if were calling it mental illnesses then we should use all the medical terminology that fits.

[12nb34]

📆 18 Jan 2023 📰 How your first brush with COVID warps your immunity ✍️ Rachel Brazil 🗞️ Nature

Imprinting equips the immune system with a memory of an invader that helps it prepare to do battle again. The key players are memory B cells, which are generated in lymph nodes during the body’s first exposure to a virus. These cells then keep watch in the bloodstream for the same foe, ready to develop into plasma cells that then churn out antibodies.

The snag comes when the immune system encounters a similar, but not identical, strain of a virus. In this case, rather than generate new, or ‘naive’, B cells to produce tailored antibodies, the memory-B-cell response kicks in. This often leads to the production of antibodies that bind to features found in both the old and new strains, known as cross-reactive antibodies. They might offer some protection but are not a perfect fit to the new strain.

Imprinting was first observed in 1947 by Jonas Salk and Thomas Francis, the developers of the first flu vaccine, together with another scientist, Joseph Quilligan1. They found that people who had previously had flu, and were then vaccinated against the current circulating strain, produced antibodies against the first strain they had encountered. Francis gave the phenomenon the tongue-in-cheek name ‘original antigenic sin’, although today most researchers prefer to call it imprinting.

Researchers have only recently demonstrated how strongly this process can influence immunity. In 2016, Gostic published an epidemiological study2 that proved imprinting was more than just a curiosity. She analysed data from two pandemics of avian influenza A, caused by the viruses H5N1 in 2009 and H7N9 in 2013. Both strains share some characteristics with seasonal-flu strains, but they come from opposite sides of the flu evolutionary tree. “We saw this really remarkably clear pattern that you seem to be much more susceptible, at least to severe infection, if you had been imprinted in childhood to a mismatched subtype,” says Gostic.

For SARS-CoV-2, too, “your infection history, and your vaccination history in combination, are imprinting your subsequent immune response when you see the live virus”, says immunologist Rosemary Boyton at Imperial College London. Boyton and her colleagues reached this conclusion by studying immunity in a large group of health-care workers at several London hospitals.

Their first study, conducted before Omicron had emerged, looked at the responses of certain facets of the immune system — including antibodies and B and T cells — in individuals who had received two vaccines. Some of them had been infected before their jabs and others after. The researchers found that a person’s immunity to infection by subsequent strains depended strongly on their previous infections or vaccinations. “Some combinations happen to offer better future- proofing against an oncoming variant than others,” says Boyton.

Last June, she and her colleagues published a follow-up study4 looking at immunity in a group of people who had contracted an Omicron infection after triple vaccination, but who had various COVID-19 infection histories. Again, they saw a variety of responses indicating imprinting from previous exposure. For example, even in people whose first COVID-19 infection was with Omicron, the antibodies were a better match to the original strain — against which they had been vaccinated — and to the older Alpha and Delta strains.

For those who had been previously infected with the original strain, and were then vaccinated (with a shot designed to fight that strain), the subsequent Omicron infection didn’t boost their ability to create Omicron-adapted antibodies at all. This is a clear sign of imprinting, Boyton says, and probably explains why Omicron reinfections are so common — although, for most people, even an imprinted response is enough to stop serious illness.

This idea is backed up by a study published last month by Yunlong Cao at Peking University in Beijing. He found that people who had been vaccinated with the original strain and then contracted an Omicron infection produced antibodies that were mainly cross-reactive to both strains, but rarely specific to Omicron itself. By contrast, those without a previous vaccination made antibodies that specifically matched Omicron. Cao says that, as the two strains gradually diverged from each other, the proportion of antibodies that could neutralize the second strain decreased. He expects this effect to be even more pronounced with the newer Omicron subvariants, such as XBB.

[sciencespies]

Effects of highly pathogenic avian influenza on canids investigated

https://sciencespies.com/environment/effects-of-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-on-canids-investigated/

Effects of highly pathogenic avian influenza on canids investigated

Researchers at Hokkaido University have revealed the effects of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus infection on an Ezo red fox and a Japanese raccoon dog, linking their infection to a recorded die-off of crows.

High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as a type of bird flu, is caused by a group of influenza viruses that affect birds. Humans are very rarely infected by this virus. The most well-known HPAI viral subtype is H5N1, first reported in 1996 for its infection in geese, and then found in humans since 1997. A great amount of time and resources are devoted to monitoring and tracking the spread of HPAI across the globe, due to its disruptive potential on poultry farming — outbreaks are contained by culling exposed and infected flocks.

In the winter and spring of 2021-2022, wild bird monitoring programs revealed that H5N1 HPAI viruses were present across a wide swathe of habitats in Eurasia, Africa and the Americas. On March 29, 2022, a die-off of crows was reported in a public garden in the northern city of Sapporo, Japan. A dead Ezo red fox and an emaciated Japanese raccoon dog (tanuki) were also found in the same park shortly afterwards.

A team of researchers led by Professor Yoshihiro Sakoda at Hokkaido University performed post-mortem diagnosis and microbiological examinations of the crows, the fox and the raccoon dog to understand the cause of death. Their discoveries, which were published in the journal Virology, showed that it was highly likely that the fox and raccoon dog had become infected with the HPAI virus via contact with the diseased crows. However, as the route of contact was different, the effects of HPAI on the two canids were also different.

“The susceptibility of crows to HPAI viruses varies depending on the strain, but the current HPAI virus strain appears to thrive in crows. As a result, carnivorous mammals such as foxes are at risk of infection with HPAI if they consume crow carcasses. On the other hand, raccoon dogs primarily consume fruits, plant seeds, and insects, so it is believed that he was infected due to close contact with crow carcasses,” explained Takahiro Hiono, the first author of the paper.

The crows, fox and raccoon dog all tested positive for isolation of the H5N1 HPAI virus. Further analysis revealed that the viruses from all three sources were closely related to each other, although they were not completely identical.

The fox and raccoon dog then underwent necropsies and their tissues were investigated under the microscope. The investigations revealed that the virus had infected the upper respiratory tracts of both the fox and the raccoon dog. The virus was also detected in the brain of the fox, consistent with reports from other studies. Interestingly, the raccoon dog had survived the acute HPAI virus infection, but the virus damaged its eyes — which resulted in a drastic reduction in its quality of life. A study of the cell receptors for influenza viruses in the respiratory system of the fox and raccoon dog also suggested that they may be intrinsically susceptible to HPAI virus infection.

“Recently, there has been an increasing number of cases of HPAI virus infections in wild carnivorous mammals. The expansion of HPAI viruses in nature is now having a detrimental effect on the ecosystem,” stated Hiono. “We need to expand our monitoring programs in order to gain a more detailed understanding of the ecology of HPAI viruses and identify potential risk factors for the spread of this virus in nature.”

The study did have some limitations, the most definitive of which was that only one individual from each species was studied. In addition, the intestines were not investigated as there was a risk of exposure to other pathogens.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Hokkaido University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

#Environment

[screechingstrawberryobject]

Top Natural Ways To Boost Your Immune System

Ways To Naturally Boost Your Immune System

If you desire to try either of these alternatives, be sure to interact with your healthcare service provider and take them in small amounts or as your doctor recommends. If you feel sick, please do not hesitate to call your provider. Many providers provide telemedicine choices and can advise how you can treat your symptoms yourself or if you require more advanced care.

And while there is some proof that really long or extreme exercise sessions may reduce the immune system, making you more susceptible to illness and infection in the hours right away after your workout, other evidence contradicts this, according to the abovementioned Frontiers in Immunology evaluation. And there is a wealth of epidemiological proof that is, studies that followed human behavior and outcomes recommending that individuals who are more active total tend to have lower occurrences of both acute health problems (like infections) and persistent ones (like cancer and type 2 diabetes).

More studies in people are required. When it comes to a diet that supports excellent immune health, focus on integrating more plants and plant-based foods.

Top Natural Ways To Boost Your Immune System

Last, hydrate with healthy fluids such as water, and limit dehydrating, immune-suppressive drinks like sugary drinks and alcohol (more on the latter later).

NK cells belong to the exact same household as T and B cells; they play the important function of killing cells contaminated with infection, in addition to discovering and controlling early indications of cancer, according to the British Society for Immunology. Low NK cell activity is connected to reduced disease resistance.

Vaccines shorten that two-week waiting duration by letting your body immune system engage with a piece of that virus or germs. "We introduce it to your body immune system in an extremely regulated manner, such that it can not cause infection," Dr. Tan says."Once your immune system has actually gone through this preliminary stimulation, it generates memory immune cells that have seen the opponent and are all set to go when they see the opponent once again," he continues.

Ways To Boost Your Immune System Naturally

Thanks to the presence of memory cells, it takes your immune system just a couple of days to generate the antibodies required to prevent that virus from recreating and making you sick, Tan says. To put it simply, COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and reliable, and produce immune-protective actions in those who get immunized.

While vaccines are safe and effective for most individuals, Tan encourages some people to consult their healthcare groups prior to shot.

"This way, you can likewise hopefully minimize your direct exposure to pathogens that we do not have vaccines for."Wash or sterilize your hands after using the bathroom, prior to and after shaking hands with others, after coughing or sneezing, and after making contact with high-touch surface areas like countertops and door manages. "I bring a bottle of hand sanitizer with me all over, simply because I'm an infection control professional and I know what the advantages are," Tan says.

Natural Ways To Boost Your Immune System

Class that use hand sanitizers may minimize the frequency of absenteeism by 20 percent. Soap and water are a better option if your hands are oily or noticeably unclean.

It's flu season once again, so that implies the majority of people get an influenza shot and strive to stay healthy. But can specific foods or supplements increase the body immune system and assist with that "staying healthy" objective? There's a lot of false information about which foods or supplements really work. Relying on big dosages of vitamin C in the winter to prevent getting sick does not work.

Research shows that lack of sleep and increased tension add to health problem and overall poor health, so: Grownups ought to get seven to nine hours of sleep each day, while kids need 8 to 14 hours, depending on their age. Healthy ways to cope with tension consist of practicing meditation, listening to music or writing.

[melbournenewsvine]

Warning as meningococcal cases rise

But he said he has found friends through sports, having represented Australia in under-23 wheelchair basketball, on his way to participate in wheelchair rugby. “[Wheelchair basketball] Help me feel better about myself, thinking it’s not bad to be disabled, because you can still represent your country.” Meningococcal bacteria. Meningococcal infection is caused by different strains of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis (also known as meningococcal bacteria), which can cause swelling in the brain and spine. Up to one in 10 people infected with meningococcal disease may die, and up to one in five survivors may develop serious long-term complications, including brain damage, deafness, or loss of limbs. While anyone can become infected, children under the age of two and adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 appear to be most susceptible. There were 74 cases of meningococcal disease recorded across Australia in 2021, and there have already been 86 cases so far this year with two and a half months remaining in 2022. There have been a number of notable outbreaks including at the Cairns School and more recently in Splendor at the Grasse music festival. Queensland and New South Wales have had the highest number of cases so far with 24 and 22 cases, respectively, while other states and territories have the fewest. Total cases to date as of September 30, 2022 SA – 12 Queensland – 24 TAS – 1 NSW – 22 NT-2 WA – 14 Vic – 11 ACT – 0 Australia – 86 In response to the growing numbers, medical experts and patient advocacy groups have partnered with pharmaceutical company GSK Australia to raise awareness about the dangers of meningococcal disease. Infectious disease expert Professor Robert Bowie, who has conducted extensive research into meningococcal disease, said the increase in numbers could be attributed to the easing of restrictions on the spread of the epidemic. “With borders open and social distancing reduced, we are seeing more viral infections like the flu,” he said. loading “What the flu does is it destroys the lining of the throat where the meningococcal bacteria can live completely unharmed, but it gives them a way in and from there they do the damage.” Booy and other experts are especially calling on parents to be aware of the signs of meningococcal infection, although this can be difficult because it often presents simply as a cold or flu in the early stages. Karen Quick, chief executive of the Meningitis Center in Australia, said that because of the speed at which infection can spread, parents should actively communicate with doctors if they have the slightest suspicion that their child may have the disease. “Trust your instincts,” she said, “if something is not right, seek medical attention, and ask the question: Could it be meningococcus.” “We hear over and over again about parents who take their kids home and suddenly they’re down the slope and it’s too late.” There is a vaccine that covers the four main strains of meningococcal bacteria that is given to all children as part of their standard immunization programme. There is a separate meningococcal B strain vaccine for Indigenous children but it is not widely offered. In 2022, 74 percent of meningococcal cases were caused by the B strain, prompting doctors to order a vaccine that prevents its wider presentation. For more information we urge parents to speak to their doctor, with more information available at knowmeningococcal.com.au. Source link Originally published at Melbourne News Vine

[prof-peach]

Do any of the pokemon on the island have the Pokerus Virus? I've heard it makes pokemon stronger, and I was wondering if you've ever had to deal with a pokemon with it?

Currently no, it’s a highly contagious virus, so when we get cases, we don’t even open the pokeball in the labs. We scan all pokeballs and their contents prior to opening, check for foreign bodies or anomalies, and move them to isolation units for healthcare should there be any signs of issues like Pokerus.

The treatment is usually a patient wait, coupled with careful medication at controlled intervals. lots of water to flush the system out, and generally just managing symptoms until a fever drives out the virus from its host. You’d think ‘oh but what about those who run hot, surely the virus can not handle a fire type?’ It can. It’s a highly adaptable branch of flu, that adjusts its necessary conditions based on the host it infests.

When left unchecked, pokerus can shorten the lifespan of the Pokemon it dwells within. The virus increases aggressive behaviours, causes aches and pains usually in the head, neck, and joints, often enough to spur on bad tempers, and unsettle the more docile species. We see the benefits to the illness often, it’s talked about by many. They rapid growth, the increase in muscle mass, strength and skill level, however we don’t talk about the long term effects of a shorter lifespan, more susceptibility to common colds and other viral infections, and the immediate discomfort it brings to Pokemon for anything up to a month. During this time many Pokemon become unruly, wild and testing, which can lead to unsafe conditions for people and Pokemon alike. Not only this, it spreads fast, infecting many Pokemon within range via airborne particles.

I sadly see trainers trying to obtain a Pokemon with the illness, because they think they will be stronger. The strength gained is fast, but it’s possible to achieve it without the virus, and without its negative effects. Morally it’s not a great thing to do, your partner will suffer from it.

If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of a Pokemon catching pokerus, contain them and immediately alert medical staff wherever you take them (pokecenter, lab, professor, whatever). If you find a wild Pokemon, alert police or rangers to the issue, so they can contain it, and the virus doesn’t spread and wipe out large amounts of wild Pokemon, or cause an imbalance in the ecosystem.

There is no vaccine, it is an issue that rears its ugly head once in a blue moon at our island, and when it does it always carries a hefty toll to the Pokemon and staff, we have a lot of sickly, old, and often already compromised Pokemon here. Last time we had to handle a pokerus case, a trainer brought their sick Pokemon to the islands shores, let it out of the ball to go run off, and alerted no one, getting back on the boat and leaving it behind. We had so many sick Pokemon by the time we found out what happened, some passed because of their age and the stress the virus put on them. It was very sad and very frustrating. Thanks to the capture systems and records, we found out the original trainer and charged them with endangerment, illegal abandonment, and Pokemon cruelty, along with other smaller things. They were found guilty, had to pay out as compensation, and served time for it. We lost several beloved Pokemon because of their selfish stupid actions, something many do not discuss when talking about pokerus. It is more fatal in old, ill, or very young Pokemon.

Hopefully you feel informed, fingers crossed you never have to deal with it either!

[punkasshunter]

This is so incredibly hyperspecific but was having a Discord chat that gave me a bunch thoughts on Swamp Fever, and also about the infected and blood-feeding insects in general

Another aspect of a disease like rabies/green flu (among others) is that its resulting behavioral alterations lead to the host being much more susceptible to the environmental threat of not just predators, but parasites as well. You may have seen photos before or heard anecdotes of animals that have tested positive for rabies, and at the time of their sighting were just utterly covered in ticks. What causes this is that as brain function breaks down, hosts find themselves confused and disoriented, far less able to seek appropriate shelter, and vastly less likely to notice bodily sensations of discomfort. All of which, of course, are a dead ringer for the idle behavior of the infected we see in game, especially the common infected.

With the infected, we also see that they're unable to properly clothe themselves, being in tattered clothing by the first game. With the L4D2 models, whether it's because of the time that's passed or an inability to remove hot clothing other than by shredding them off, they're on the whole in even worse shape. Yet another thing that would make insect bites more likely. This is a very likely partial causality of their skin sores and motions of clawing and swatting around themselves. Still following?

So, Swamp Fever specifically. Seems like an obvious connection that marshy, warm environments like that are a gigantic breeding ground for mosquitoes and parasites. That makes the incidence of biting insects feeding on green flu hosts even higher. There are plenty of real-life examples of diseases which life cycles depend on blood transmission in this way.

And here is where we get to Village En Marais. The writing in saferooms and various other buildings show that the residents held out for a considerably long time against the infection, longer than the cities in the area. Their isolation and hostility to outsiders did a lot to stem some direct contact with the infected from outside the village. Clearly at some point, though, they became unable to defend themselves and the village fell. So, were they eventually just overwhelmed from the outside?

Or does the horrible, rapid adaptability of the virus come into play? And that it was, unlike rabies, able to make the jump to insect-bourne blood transmission? Just food for thought