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Flu vaccines play an important role in protecting against bird flu. But not for the reason you might think

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The current strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, has change into a world problem. This virus has affected many tens of millions birds, some others animal speciesand a small number of individuals.

Last week the Australian government issued a warning for residents traveling to Europe, North America, South America and Asia about the risk of bird flu.

Alert posted on Smartraveller websiteprovides advice on ensuring your flu vaccine is up thus far. If you are planning to travel, this often means you have had a flu vaccine this 12 months, although whether it is 3-6 months since your vaccination you should discuss this together with your doctor.

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But the seasonal flu vaccine we get yearly doesn’t actually prevent bird flu in humans. So why is it really useful in this context?

Some facts about bird flu

Smartraveller’s Notes several strains Bird flu viruses are currently circulating.

The most annoying strain, called clade 2.3.4.4bemerged several years ago from the influenza A (H5 or A/H5) strain that had been circulating for several many years.

Clade 2.3.4.4b primarily affects birds, including wild birds and poultry. It has had devastating effects on bird populations, in addition to on farmers and others involved in the poultry industry.

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In recent years, clade 2.3.4.4b has adapted to infect some mammalsUnfortunately, it seems to cause serious illness in some animalsSome marine mammals have been particularly hard hit, causing mass mortality events reported in elephant seals and sea lions. Bird flu has also spread to the United States amongst dairy cows.

Compared to the huge variety of cases in animals, a comparatively small number have been reported. people infected with bird fluSince 2003, 878 cases Human cases of A/H5N1 influenza have been reported, with a small percentage reported after 2020, when clade 2.3.4.4b first appeared. Reported cases have been in individuals who had close contact with infected animals. The disease does not appear to spread from individual to individual.

In reference to the risk for travelers is lowThere are situations where the risk could also be greater, reminiscent of for people visiting livestock markets or people travelling specifically to work with wildlife or in food production.

Infections in humans H5 flu can vary greatly in severity, from mild conjunctivitis to deadly pneumonia. H5 flu strains look like sensitive to antiviral drugs (oseltamivir, also referred to as Tamiflu) and so they are generally recommended as a treatment for infections in humans, but that is not clear whether or not they reduce the risk of death in individuals with severe disease.

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To date, one case of A/H5 influenza (not 2.3.4.4b) has been reported. reported in Australiain a baby who has recently returned from abroad.

One sec clade 2.3.4.4b detected on all continents except Australiaother strains of bird flu (A/H7) were reported here earlier this 12 months.

There are many various strains of the bird flu virus.
Snowboy/Shutterstock

Seasonal flu vaccines are not effective against bird flu

Seasonal flu refers to the strains of flu that flow into every year. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, three different strains have circulated in various proportions – Influenza A H1N1 (originating from 2009 swine flu strain), influenza A H3N2 (which has in circulation since 1968) and a strain of influenza B. Interestingly, the second strain of influenza B (Yamagata lineage) it seems to have disappeared during the COVID pandemic.

Seasonal flu vaccines contain the current variants of those types (A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B), that are really useful annually by the World Health Organization. These are moderately effectivereducing the risk of hospitalization by roughly 40–60%.

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Flu vaccines are quite specific in the protection they supply. In the case of seasonal vaccines, even very small changes that occur in the virus from 12 months to 12 months are enough to permit it to “escape” vaccine-induced immunity. That is why seasonal flu vaccines they do not provide any protection against influenza A/H5.

Preventing the emergence of a bird-human hybrid strain

The rationale for recommending influenza vaccination for travellers in the context of the current avian influenza epidemic is that seasonal influenza vaccines may help reduce the risk of co-infection with an A/H5 strain and a seasonal influenza strain.

When this happens, there may be a likelihood that the genetic code of the two strains of the virus will “recombine.” This could have the ability to hold a seasonal human virus with the severity of a bird flu virus. The 2009 swine flu strain arose from recombination Over the years, several strains have change into more contagious to humans.

Of course, a more practical vaccine would come with an H5 strain to generate immune responses specific to the H5 influenza strain. Vaccine manufacturers have H5 vaccines have been developed for years, but up to now only Finland implemented the H5 vaccine amongst a small group of people that work closely with potentially infected animals.

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Currently risk level The risk that H5 poses to humans is not considered to be sufficient to require a particular vaccination programme because the potential advantages are small in comparison with the costs and potential risks of any recent vaccination programme.

The Value of the Flu Vaccine for Travelers

Seasonal flu vaccines protect against flu infection and may reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with human and bird flu strains. Bird flu aside, for most travelers who haven’t received a flu shot this 12 months, reducing the risk of their travel plans being disrupted by the disease must be reason enough to get vaccinated.

For individuals who have already received a flu vaccine this season, as with COVID vaccines, protection appears to be greater after vaccination fade over timeSo if you’re travelling to the Northern Hemisphere during the winter months and it’s been greater than 3 to six months since your last flu shot, your doctor may recommend you get one other one.

Bird flu poses a low risk to most travellers, but people should take sensible precautions, reminiscent of avoiding close contact with birds at markets.

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

The new Covid variant is growing. Here’s what you should know about LP.8.1

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Over five years since Covid was declared PandemiaWe are still within the face of the regular appearance of new variants of the virus, SARS-COV-2.

The latest growth variant is LP.8.1. His growth in Australiaconsisting one in five cases Covid In New South Wales.

Elsewhere he became much more dominant, covering no less than three in five cases in Great BritainFor example.

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So what is LP.8.1? Is this a cause for concern? Let’s take a look at what we know to this point.

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LP.8.1 was the primary detected in July 2024.. He is a descendant of the omikron, especially Kp.1.1.3, which comes from Jn.1, Podvariant, which caused large waves of Covid infections world wide at the tip of 2023 and at first of 2024.

. World Health Organization (Who) appointed LP.8.1 as Variant in monitoring in January. This was a response to its significant growth everywhere in the world and reflects that he has genetic changes that may allow the virus to spread easier and pose a greater threat to human health.

In particular, LP.8.1 has mutations in six locations in its ankle, protein, which allows SARS-COV-2 to affix our cells. It is believed that considered one of these mutations, V445R, allows this variant to spread easier in relation to other circulating variants. It has been shown that V445R increases the bond with human lung cells in Laboratory tests.

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The percentage of Covid cases brought on by No. 8.1 is growing in New South Wales.
NSW Health

In particular, there are not any symptoms of LP.8.1 be more serious than other circulating strains. And WHO assessed the extra level of risk of public health 8.1 at the worldwide level to be low. What’s more, LP.8.1 stays a variant in monitoring, not a variant of interest or a variant of tension.

In other words, these changes of the virus from LP.8.1 are small and possibly is not going to affect the pandemic trajectory.

This doesn’t mean that cases don’t increase

Covid as a complete is still the primary national and international health problem. Until now it was close this yr 45,000 new cases registered in Australianearby 260 persons are currently within the hospital with a virus.

Because many individuals don’t test or report their infections, the actual variety of cases is probably much higher.

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A man wearing a mask looking window at the airport on the plane.
Covid is still nearby.
Hananeko_Studio/Shutterstock

IN AustraliaLP.8.1 has grow to be The third most dominant strain in NSW (For XEC and KP.3).

This is growing Over the past few months and this trend looks like a continuation.

This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t grow similarly in other states and territories, but NSW Health publishes Weekly respiratory supervision with the breakdown of varied variants of Covid in a state.

Sequences No. 8.1 in Gisaid databaseused to trace the spread of variants world wide, increased with About 3% At the tip of 2024 to 38% of world sequences In mid -March.

In some countries, it has increased particularly high. In No. 8.1 within the United States 55% of cases. IN Great Britainwhere No. 8.1 accounts for no less than 60% of cases, scientists are afraid of can lead a new wave.

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Will Covid vaccines work against LP.8.1?

Covid current vaccines, including recently available shots Jn.1, are still expected offer good protection Against symptomatic and severe disease with LP.8.1.

Nevertheless, resulting from its designation as a variant in monitoring, the member states will proceed to review behavior Variant LP.8.1including all potential ability to avoid our immunity.

Although at this stage there is no reason to panic due to the variant LP.8.1, Covid should be a serious disease for some. Continuing vigilance and vaccinations, especially for medical sensitive groupsIt is mandatory to attenuate the effect of the disease.

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

Jonathan Majors says he was sexually abused from the age of 9

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Jonathan Majors says he was sexually abused from the age of 9

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Jonathan Majors revealed that he was a victim of sexual abuse in a recent interview for the cover.

The 35-year-old actor said that he experienced “sexual abuse of both men and women from 9”.

He continued: (*9*)

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The father of the former actor left the house when he was eight years old.

As part of his healing journey and concluding peace with the past, the actor recently decided to disclose the abuse that he survived together with his mother, with whom he still had a compact relationship. The majors said she apologized that she couldn’t protect him.

“I say:” This shouldn’t be even an issue, mom. I just want you to know, “he said about their conversation. “And now we are able to all be busy and proceed to attach, develop and learn from it since it is something that was in our family.”

The actor is currently in the process of rebuilding his profession after its derailment in 2023, when he was arrested after his then girlfriend Grace Jabbari accused him of assault. After going to the trial in December this yr, Majors was found guilty of an assault on the third degree offenses, recklessly causing physical injuries and harassment to the second degree. He recently leaked a sound file, admitting that he strangled his ex.

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Although the series of events was destructive to the profession Majors (soon after he was dropped from Marvel), the actor said that the confrontation together with his experience with abuse gave him a greater take a look at his behavior in relationships.

“There are no excuses, but when you get help, you begin to understand things about yourself,” said Majors.

Not every thing was harmful to the actor – Aacean Meagan Good was a lighthouse for him, standing at his side through the trial and later. The couple got engaged in November 2024. Majorca has also been preparing for the first release of the film since the commencement of allegations of abuse. He will appear in the film taking the role of an aspiring bodybuilder. The film was shot before his arrest in 2023 and might be in cinemas on March 21.

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

Oprah Winfrey opens its experience of menopause in the new special “menopause revolution”

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Oprah Winfrey speaks to save lots of other women from suffering in silence. In his upcoming hul Special Winfrey will discover menopause and its different impact on women.

“When I was undergoing menopause, I couldn’t sleep for two years. I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t read my favorite books. I had a palpitations. Nobody told me about it. Now we are talking about it, so no woman suffers from it,” she wrote, “she wrote further Facebook.

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According to National Institute of Health (Nih)Menopause is a stage of a lady’s life when her menstrual periods stop permanently and may not get pregnant. However, this natural decrease in women’s reproductive hormones could cause a number of symptoms which are unique to each woman. For Winfrey, the symptoms became so intense that she needed to stop running her popular book club.

“The worst thing for me when I knew I really have trouble when I couldn’t concentrate reading. I love to read so much, but I let go of the book club because I couldn’t concentrate when I read. I couldn’t finish the book anymore,” Winfrey told Winfrey ABC News. “I brought (book club) when I started taking estrogen because I could focus again, but I never really shared the fact that the real reason I had to stop was is that I couldn’t concentrate anymore. It makes me want to cry.”

However, Winfrey didn’t experience any common symptoms of menopause, corresponding to hot flashes or night sweats. Instead, she coped with palpitations, which she didn’t know that they were symptoms of menopause. While society is used to talking about menopause in jokes, for instance, when Clair Huxtable pushed her head into the freezer, when it experienced hot flashes, conversations surrounding menopause are almost non -existent. This explains why Winfrey was not aware of possible symptoms and why he now uses her special hul to make clear this subject and encourage women to medical advice.

“When I went through it, there was nothing. There was nobody. I felt literally as if I had died every night,” she said, explaining the way it took her two years to understand that she was experiencing menopause. “Because it affects every cell in your body, you have any of the symptoms for the first time, then you must find a doctor who listens to you, hear you and take action for you.”

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“Oprah Winfrey Special: The Menopause Revolution” emits tonight at 10/9c on ABC and tomorrow streams on Disney+ and Hulu.

Menopause can cause dentive problems, but you can protect your mouth

(Tagstotranslat) Health

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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