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WHO Declares MPOX a Global Health Threat. What’s Next?

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World Health Organization (WHO) he declared MPOX constitutes a public health emergency of international concern as a consequence of the increasing variety of cases within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the potential risk of further spread of the disease.

This is now prompting a coordinated international response to a unprecedented event and resource mobilizationresembling vaccines and diagnostic tests to stop the spread of this infectious disease.

But the WHO has declared mpox a pandemic. Instead, the measures it has triggered are designed to forestall it from becoming a pandemic.

What caused the most recent alert?

Mpox, once generally known as monkeypox, is a viral infection closely related to smallpox. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle pain. Then a typical rash appears, mainly on the face, hands, and feet.

The spread of MPox in some African countries has prompted the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to declare Earlier this week, mpox declared a public health emergency for mainland security. It is the primary time the organization has issued such an alert since its founding in 2017.

The situation within the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Central Africa, has been particularly worrying for over a 12 months.

There are two types or clades of mpox. Clade II, which originated in West Africa, is less serious. It has a mortality rate of as much as 1% (in other words, about one in 100 persons are expected to die from it). But clade I, originating in Central Africa, has a mortality rate of as much as 10% (up to 1 in ten people die). This is comparable to 0.7% mortality rate for the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is witnessing large outbreaks of the more deadly clade I mpox.

Mpox is endemic in parts of central and western Africa, where the virus occurs in animals and may spread to humans. Outbreaks They grewwith greater spread of disease from individual to individual since 2017

This is partly due to very low level of immunity to the mpox virus, which is said to the virus that causes smallpox. Mass vaccination against smallpox ceased worldwide greater than 40 years ago, leading to minimal population immunity to mpox.

The WHO designation announced this week refers to clade I. Not only does it have a higher mortality rate, but it surely also has recent mutations that increase human-to-human spread. These changes, and a global lack of immunity to mpox, are making the world’s population sensitive to the virus.

There are two different epidemics

In 2022, an outbreak of MPox swept through non-endemic countries, including outside Africa. It was a clade II variant originating in Nigeria, called clade IIb. It was sexually transmitted, affected mostly men who’ve sex with men, and had a low mortality rate.

The epidemic peaked in 2022 when vaccines were made available to at-risk people in high-income countries, but cases surged in 2024.

During the identical period, large clade I epidemics occurred within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but they attracted much less attention.

There were no vaccines there, even in 2023when there have been 14,626 cases and 654 deaths. The mortality rate was 4.5% and was higher in children.

In fact, most cases and deaths occur within the Democratic Republic of Congo. we were childrenThis means that almost all of the transmissions are non-sexual in nature and are It is probable that it took place through close contact or respiratory aerosols.

The virus mutates, becoming more contagious.
Dotted Yeti/Shutterstock

However, in 2023 The outbreak within the non-endemic a part of the country, South Kivu within the east, was almost definitely sexually transmitted, suggesting a couple of epidemic and different modes of transmission within the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

By mid-2024 it was already more cases more within the country than in the entire of 2023 – over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths.

Testing capability within the Democratic Republic of the Congo is restricted, most cases will not be confirmed by laboratory testing, and the info we’ve got come from a small sample of genomic sequences from the Kamituga region in South Kivu.

The clade I virus has been shown to mutate around September 2023 into a variant termed clade Ib, which is more easily contagious between people. We haven’t got much data to match these viruses with the viruses causing cases in the remainder of the country.

Mpox is expanding internationally

Last month the virus It has spread to countries that share a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo – Rwanda and Burundi. It has also spread to other East African countries resembling Kenya and Uganda. Neither of those countries has previously reported cases of mpox.

In a connected, mobile world, cases can spread to other continents, similar to mpox did in 2018. from Nigeria to UK and other countries.

Several travel-related cases that occurred in 2018–2019 could have led to a widespread, multi-country clade IIb outbreak in 2022.

We have vaccines, but not where they’re needed

Because mpoxvirus and poxviruses are related (each are orthopoxviruses), variola vaccines offer protection against mpox. These vaccines were used to manage the 2022 clade IIb epidemic.

However, a lot of the world has never been vaccinated and has no immunity to MPox.

Newer vaccine (called Jynneos in some countries and Imvamune or Imvanex in others) is effective. However, supplies are limited and vaccines are scarce within the Democratic Republic of Congo.

WHO’s declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern will help mobilize vaccines where they’re needed. The African Centers for Disease Control have already begun negotiations to secure 200,000 doses of vaccine, a fraction of what is required to manage the epidemic within the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A healthcare worker wearing blue gloves draws the MPox vaccine into a syringe.
There are vaccines against MPox, but most individuals have never been vaccinated.
Jeenah Moon/AP/AAP

What will occur now?

Ultimately, a serious outbreak anywhere on this planet is a concern for all of us because it will probably spread globally through travel, as happened with the COVID pandemic.

The best approach is source control, and the most recent WHO statement will help mobilise the needed resources.

Surveillance of the spread of this more serious version of mpox can also be essential, on condition that many countries lack widespread testing capability. We will due to this fact need to depend on “suspected cases,” based on a clinical definition, to trace the epidemic.

Open source software epidemiological interview – resembling using AI to watch trends in rashes and fevers – is also used as an early warning system in countries with weak health systems or delayed reporting of cases.

An additional complication is that 20-30% of individuals with mpox may concurrently have chickenpox, an unrelated infection that also causes a rash. So a preliminary diagnosis of chickenpox (which is less complicated to check for) doesn’t rule out mpox.

Effective communication and addressing resistance to public health measures and misinformation are also key. We saw how vital this was in the course of the COVID pandemic.

Now, WHO will coordinate the worldwide response to the pandemic, with a give attention to equity in disease prevention and access to diagnostics and vaccines. It is as much as individual countries to do what they’ll to follow the International Health Regulations and protocols on how one can manage such a global emergency.


This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Phenergan is no longer recommended for children under 6 years of age due to the risk of hallucinations. Here’s what you can use instead

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The Australian Drugs Regulatory Authority has issued an order safety warning over Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine promethazine.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has stated that over-the-counter products shouldn’t be given to children under six years of age due to concerns about serious unwanted side effects akin to hyperactivity, aggression and hallucinations. Breathing may turn into slow or shallow, which can be fatal.

When high doses are administered to young children, difficulties in learning and understanding, including reversible cognitive deficit and mental disability, may occur. – said the TGA.

The latest warning follows international and Australian concerns about the drug in young children, which is commonly used to treat conditions akin to hay fever and allergies, motion sickness and for short-term sedative effects.

What is promethazine?

Promethazine is a “first generation” antihistamine that has been sold over the counter in Australian pharmacies for a long time for a spread of conditions.

Unlike many other drugs, first-generation antihistamines can cross the blood-brain barrier. This means they affect your brain chemistry, making you feel drowsy and sedated.

In adults, this will likely be useful for sleep. However, in children, these drugs can cause serious unwanted side effects on the nervous system, including those mentioned on this week’s safety alert.

We’ve known about this for a while

We have known about the serious unwanted side effects of promethazine in young children for a while.

Advice regarding 20 years ago In the United States, the drug was not recommended for use in children under two years of age. In 2022, an Australian Medicines Advisory Committee made its own suggestion to increase the age to six. New Zealand released similar warnings and advice in May this 12 months.

Over the last ten years, there have been 235 cases of serious unwanted side effects from promethazine in each children and adults reported to the TGA. Of the 77 deaths reported, one was a toddler under six years of age.

Reported unwanted side effects in each adults and children included:

  • 13 cases of accidental overdose (leading to 11 deaths)
  • eight cases of hallucinations
  • seven cases of slow or shallow respiration (leading to 4 deaths)
  • six cases of decreased consciousness (leading to five deaths).

TGA security alert comes after an internal investigation by the manufacturer of Phenergan, Sanofi-Aventis Healthcare. This investigation was initiated in 2022 advice from the Medicines Advisory Committee. The company has now updated its information for consumers and healthcare professionals.

What can you use instead?

If you have allergies or hay fever in young children, non-sedating antihistamines akin to Claratine (loratadine) or Zyrtec (cetirizine) are preferred. They provide relief without the risk of sedation and other disturbing unwanted side effects of promethazine.

If symptoms of a chilly or cough occur, parents must be reassured that these symptoms will normally subside with time, fluid intake, and rest.

Saline nasal sprays, adequate hydration, a humidifier or elevating the child’s head can relieve the congestion related to hay fever. Oral products containing phenylephrine marketed for nasal congestion must be avoided because evidence shows that this is the case This article was originally published on : theconversation.com

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Health and Wellness

Why Elon Musk’s Grok Could Pose a Threat to Medical Privacy

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elon musk, DEI, remote work, jobs


Owner of X and candidate for the White House cabinet Elon Musk asked users to submit MRI results, CT scans and other medical information to its AI chatbotGrok reviewed it and a few people fell for it, he reports.

Musk presented this concept to X in late October 2024.

“Try uploading X-rays, PET, MRI, or other medical images to Grok for analysis. It’s still early stages, but it’s already quite accurate and will be extremely good,” he wrote. “Let us know where Grok is doing it right or where it needs work.”

Some individuals who voluntarily submitted photos were comfortable that Grok “did do well” together with his blood test results and breast cancer detection, but others waved red flags against the platform.

Josh Sharp, who goes by @showinvestment on social media, identified how a broken collarbone was viewed as a dislocated shoulder.

Radiologist Docteur TJ provided an in-depth evaluation of the MRI image, which he described partially as “too gross.”

Another example is a robot confusing a mammogram of a benign breast cyst with a picture of the testicles.

Grok was launched in May 2024 after raising $6 billion in an investment financing round through Musk’s tech startup, xAI. Grok is just not the primary of its kind: Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s ChatGPT also enable the transfer of medical images.

While some praise the technology’s potential advances, medical privacy experts don’t not on this camp.

“It’s very personal data, and there’s no telling exactly what Grok will do with it,” said Vanderbilt University biomedical informatics professor Dr. Bradley Malin, according to “Sending personal information to Grok is more like, ‘Whee!’ Let’s throw out this data and hope the corporate does what I need it to do.”

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects medical information shared with physicians or in a patient portal because federal guidelines protect it from being shared without consent. However, the protection doesn’t cover social networking sites – it only applies to doctor’s offices, hospitals, health insurers and a few firms they work with.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Health and Wellness

Essence of the week: Cherry Blossom EDT L’Occitane is a fragrance inspired by spring, perfect for any season – Essence

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We all know L’Occitane almond shower oil gets a lot of love – and for good reason (I’m taking a look at you #BeautyTok).

But there is one other gem of this brand that deserves just as much attention: Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette. Since its launch in 2007, this fragrance has remained a favorite amongst my group of friends, appreciated for its delicate and refined elegance. To be honest, I feel this is what L’Occitane is known for as a brand. And although this scent is often related to the airy freshness of spring, it is a scent that brings a touch of beauty and heat to any season.

The first spritz of Cherry Blossom EDT is soft and alluring, with a subtle hint of cherry and freesia that feels fresh without overdoing it. It’s light and uplifting, like the kind of scent you employ when you would like to feel good but not an excessive amount of (like me most days). As it settles on my skin, notes of cherry blossom and lily of the valley bloom, striking the perfect balance of femininity without feeling overly sweet or dated. There’s nothing heavy or “old school floral” about this scent – it’s fresh, modern and understated in a way that feels sophisticated.

What really makes this fragrance stand out is the base. Brazilian rosewood, amber and musk give it a soft warmth that wraps you want your favorite cashmere scarf. It’s cozy but never heavy, beautifully balancing the delicate flowers. The overall effect is a scent that feels effortlessly polished – the olfactory equivalent of “quiet luxury.”

I do know, I do know – cherry blossoms evoke spring, but that is why this scent works so well all 12 months round. In the colder months, it is a refreshing break from heavy, spicy scents. I mean, I like my ouds and cognacs, but no… Bright notes of cherry and freesia bring a breath of fresh air, while warm base notes of amber and musk give the composition a comforting, grounded feel. It’s like carrying a little bit of spring with you, even when the weather is not sunny. And given the conflicting rumors we’re hearing – at the very least on the East Coast – about how much snow will fall this season, you would possibly just should keep it in your radar.

Why I find it irresistible: While everyone gravitates towards the Almond L’Occitane collection, their EDT Cherry Blossom has turn out to be an unexpected favorite of mine that I still reach for. What I like most about it is how versatile it is. It’s lightweight enough to accommodate skilled meetings or running errands during the day, but still feels special enough for dinner dates or quiet moments at home. The way it evolves on the skin – from a fresh, floral burst to a soft, warm texture – makes it feel personal, like a fragrance created just for you. It’s not flashy or trendy, but that is what makes it timeless.

Perfect pairs: As an eau de toilette, Cherry Blossom advantages greatly from thoughtful layering that highlights its delicate character and prolongs its presence throughout the day. And because Cherry Blossom has a softer sillage, it’s perfect for on a regular basis wear. If you would like to extend its durability or make it a bit more dynamic, layering is the best solution. Start with L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Shower Oil to create a fragrant base, then follow with the Shimmering Body Milk for extra depth and hydration.

If you wish to mix and match, pair Cherry Blossom EDT with complementary fragrances. Kayali Vanilla 28 adds a cozy sweetness that blends beautifully with the floral notes, while Commodity Milk+ brings out the creamy warmth of the base. On the fun side, the marshmallow and ambrette notes of Ellis Brooklyn SWEET add a delicate, sweet touch that prolongs the persistence of the cherry blossom accord. Spray the fragrance base first, let it settle, after which top with cherry blossom for a custom scent that can last all day.

EDT Cherry Blossom by L’Occitane is a masterclass in subtle sophistication. Founder Olivier Baussan put it perfectly: “It is because cherry blossoms fly away with the first breath of spring that they are so rare and precious.” This fragrance captures ephemeral beauty in a bottle. Final Verdict: If you appreciate fragrances that whisper slightly than shout, that talk of sophistication slightly than trends, L’Occitane’s Cherry Blossom EDT is value considering. It’s the olfactory equivalent of finding the perfect light – subtle, beautiful and absolutely fascinating.

Fragrance is deeply personal, but some fragrances gain universal appeal due to their masterful composition. This is one of them.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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