Health
Scientists in Canada Await Updates on H5N1 Situation
As the H5N1 avian influenza virus spreads among poultry and cattle in the US and infects a dairy worker in Texas, public health and infectious diseases experts in Canada eagerly await surveillance updates to better understand North American risks.
On May 3, Canadian health and food agencies announced increased livestock and milk testing and surveillance. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported that pasteurized milk, properly cooked chicken, and eggs are safe against the highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Our time is undetermined. We must be concerned that H5N1 was likely in US cattle for a few months before it was recognized and before cow movement controls were put in place “Scott Weese, DVM, professor of pathobiology at the Ontario Veterinary College and director of the University of Guelph’s Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, told Medscape Medical News.
He replied, “We have no proof of it, but we need to study and take more time to determine if it’s made it here.
As of May 14, the CDC had found H5N1 in 46 dairy herds in nine states, including new cases in Colorado, Idaho, and Michigan on May 7 and 8. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, researchers reported that numerous household cats died in March after consuming raw milk from sick cows on a north Texas dairy farm. In a preprint report, California and Georgia researchers found viral growth at 59 wastewater treatment plants nationwide.
H5N1 transmission
On May 8, the CDC said current flu surveillance systems can detect H5N1 transmission and early alterations, adding that the “current risk to the general public remains low.” Close or long exposure to diseased birds or livestock increases the risk of respiratory infection, the government stated.
“We only have incomplete US data. Weese said the US Department of Agriculture is communicating more but has big testing gaps. “Farms’ unwillingness to let workers test limits on-farm surveillance. Confirmation of surveillance in Canada was welcome.”
The CFIA, Health Canada, and PHA launched a program to monitor retail milk samples. Per Medscape Medical News, CFIA laboratories will use polymerase chain reaction to evaluate milk samples, with the first findings expected by mid-May. The CFIA website will post the results.
“There is currently no evidence that food, including milk and meat, can transmit avian influenza to humans,” the CFIA media team reported. “Canada has strong food safety regulations in place to protect the Canadian food supply.”
Canadian agencies now require negative test results for US-imported lactating dairy cattle and volunteer testing of cows without clinical indications of the virus.
Transparency and data sharing
The CFIA is also broadening its advice for private vets collecting and submitting cow samples for voluntary testing. Updates will be “available in coming days,” the FDA informed Medscape Medical News.
“I hope we’re taking a proactive approach — if we wait and see, we’ll always be left behind,” Isaac Bogoch, MD, University of Toronto associate professor of medicine and University Health Network infectious diseases expert, said.
“With any outbreak response, transparency and data sharing are important, as well as working with any groups that are impacted, such as building trust with the farming community,” stated.
“What are the motivations for screening cattle, and what may be the economic impact of a positive test? We must consider agricultural screening incentives and remuneration.”
Bogoch said public health professionals are concerned about the increased burden of H5N1 infection in mammals, especially since infectious diseases specialists have tracked it for years since it was found in geese in China in 1996 and infected 18 people in Hong Kong in 1997.
“H5N1 has been known to be an infection of pandemic potential for over 25 years,” stated. “This is the prototype virus that people who work in emerging and reemerging infectious diseases have been looking at for decades, and when you see more of the virus around and it’s doing things it wasn’t doing before, it raises a red flag to say we should get on this.”
Novel flu strains
Due to its unsuitability for people, Weese said most infectious disease and animal health experts aren’t worried about this flu strain spreading from person to person. Instead, they’re worried about more flu viruses.
“The more circulation and the more species that are involved, the greater the chance for more adaptation and recombination with other flu viruses,” stated. “Whether it’s cattle, cats, or other species, we don’t want novel flu strains in circulation, especially in domestic animals that we have contact with.”
Infected Texas dairy worker contracted a slightly different flu strain than in US cattle outbreaks, raising questions about virus mutation, mammal-to-mammal spread, and mammal-to-human adaptation, said Allison McGeer, MD, University of Toronto professor of laboratory medicine and pathobiology and Sinai Health System infectious diseases specialist.
“We’ll see in the next couple of weeks what the surveillance shows here,” said. “It’s a good thing for those of us in Canada that the US has identified this and is moving on it as quickly as possible, and we’ll keep our fingers and toes crossed that it hasn’t crossed the border.”
In the interim, experts advised considering human trials. McGeer highlighted that combined viral testing kits in Canada may detect COVID-19, flu strains, and respiratory syncytial virus, but H5N1 proteins require further testing. In addition, sick patients may not request testing or contact a doctor.
“The human surveillance aspect is OK but not brilliant, and that’s what everybody in every jurisdiction seems to be feeling,” said. “We’re watching, and adding to the current efforts takes time, energy, and resources, so it’s hard to judge right now what to do and how quickly and how far to move.”
She noted that monitoring effluent samples and asymptomatic cattle while waiting for Canadian preliminary results is crucial.
“Then we need to brace ourselves and think about the next steps, depending on what we find,” he said. “Outbreak control measures can be expensive and difficult, so we need to think about how to support the dairy industry and make sure they’re getting through this as safely and effectively as possible.”
Source: Medscape
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States of America has published a health alert warning both the general public and authorities in the healthcare industry about the growing danger of dengue virus infections in the United States.
US health agency issues dengue virus infection advisory
Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States, has declared a public health emergency due to the over 1,500 cases that have been reported. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been a record 745 disease cases among visitors in the United States this year.
The CDC issued an alert on Tuesday stating that the 9.7 million dengue cases reported in the Americas this year are more than twice as many as the 4.6 million cases registered in the previous year.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito bites carry the disease dengue, which has the highest incidence ever recorded, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Officials believe that the higher temperatures that have been brought about by climate change are acting as a driving force behind this trend.
Dengue fever is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medical professionals should treat people who have recently traveled to regions known to have frequent or continuous dengue transmissions with increased suspicion.
Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged medical professionals to order the required detection tests and swiftly report the findings to the authorities in charge of public health.
In addition, the United States Agency for Health Care encouraged healthcare providers “to promote mosquito bite prevention measures” among individuals and tourists who reside in or visit regions that have “frequent or continuous dengue transmission.”
Most of the time, dengue infections do not cause any symptoms. However, they might sometimes cause a moderate sickness. Dengue fever, on the other hand, may sometimes present itself as a serious condition that might result in death.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that after a fever caused by dengue has gone, further symptoms may appear. These symptoms include severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, fast breathing, bleeding gums or nose, exhaustion, restlessness, blood in vomit or stool, intense thirst, pale and chilly skin, and weakness.
Dengue virus does not have a particular therapy; nevertheless, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), most cases are treated with pain medication, yet recovery might take several weeks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded 505,430 cases of dengue virus worldwide in 2000. Seventeen years after its first report, that number increased to at least 5.2 million instances,.
Because dengue virus is often misdiagnosed and underreported, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised that the aforementioned statistic probably underestimated the number of occurrences.
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Loss Weight Without Exercise: Losing weight is frequently associated with going to the gym, but what if I told you that you might lose those excess pounds without entering a fitness centre? Yes, you heard that correctly! There are effective strategies to lose weight without exercising, such as focusing on long-term food and lifestyle modifications that are simple to adopt into your daily life.
Understanding Loss Weight
The Science of Loss Weight
Before discussing the tactics, it’s important to grasp the fundamentals of weight loss. At its foundation, weight reduction is about creating a caloric deficit, which means eating fewer calories than your body requires to maintain its present weight.
Caloric Deficit Explained.
Eating less or burning fewer calories can produce a caloric deficit. When your body does not receive enough calories from food, it begins using stored fat for energy, resulting in Loss Weight.
Metabolism and its Role
Metabolism influences how quickly your body burns calories. Age, gender, and genetics can all influence your metabolic rate, but certain lifestyle adjustments might help raise it, resulting in weight loss.
Common Myths about Loss Weight
Numerous myths exist concerning weight reduction, such as “carbs are bad” and “you must exercise to lose weight.” It is critical to dispel these fallacies and focus on evidence-based tactics that genuinely work.
Diet-based Strategies
Focus on Whole Foods
One of the simplest strategies for reducing weight is to eat more whole foods. Whole foods are minimally processed meals high in nutrients and free of artificial ingredients.
Benefits of Whole Foods
Whole foods are high in important vitamins, minerals, and fibre, which can help you feel fuller for longer and lessen the urge to snack on harmful foods.
Examples of Whole Foods
Think on fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and legumes. These meals offer a well-balanced mix of nutrients without the added calories found in processed foods.
Portion Control.
Even healthful meals can cause weight gain if consumed in high quantities. Portion control is essential for managing your caloric intake.
Understanding Portion Sizes
It is easy to overestimate portion sizes, especially when dining out. Understanding what a healthy portion looks like will help you avoid overeating.
Tips For Managing Portions
Use smaller dishes, read nutrition labels, and be cautious of portion proportions. These simple methods can significantly reduce your caloric intake.
Mindful eating
Mindful eating entails paying attention to what and how you eat to have a healthier relationship with food.
What is Mindful Eating?
Mindful eating entails being present during meals, savoring each bite, and detecting hunger and fullness signs.
How to Practice Mindful Eating.
Eat carefully, avoid distractions such as television or phones during meals, and watch your body’s signals. This exercise can help you avoid overeating and Loss Weight.
Lifestyle Changes
Increase daily activity.
Being active does not require going to the gym. Increasing your everyday movement might greatly impact your Loss Weight journey.
Simple Ways to Move More.
If you work in a sedentary environment, use the stairs instead of the lift, walk or bike to nearby locations, and take short breaks to stand up and stretch.
Benefits of Increased Activity
Regular movement increases your metabolism, improves your mood, and can help you burn more calories even if you don’t follow an organized workout routine.
Improve sleep quality.
Sleep is sometimes disregarded in Loss Weight plans despite its critical function in regulating hunger hormones and metabolism.
Relationship Between Sleep and Weight
Sleep deprivation can affect hormones such as ghrelin and leptin, which regulate hunger and fullness and increase appetite and weight gain.
Tips for Improved Sleep
Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, establish a relaxing environment, and avoid using devices before bedtime. Quality sleep promotes general health and weight management.
Reduce stress levels.
Stress can be a major impediment to Loss Weight, frequently leading to emotional eating and weight gain.
Effects of Stress on Weight
Chronic stress causes the release of cortisol, a hormone that increases hunger and promotes fat storage, particularly in the abdomen.
Stress Management Techniques
Use relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and yoga. Finding good stress-management strategies can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Staying hydrated is important for Loss Weight.
Drinking plenty of water is essential for good health and can help you Loss Weight by increasing satiety and metabolism.
Drinking Water Before Meals.
A glass of water before meals can help you feel fuller and reduce your food intake. This simple behavior can result in a calorie deficit.
Healthy snacking habits
Choosing Nutrient-dense Snacks
Instead of empty-calorie snacks like chips and candy, choose nutritious foods that will keep you fuller for longer. Examples include nuts, fruits, and yogurt.
Avoiding empty calories.
Foods having little to no nutritional value, such as those high in added sugars and harmful fats, provide empty calories. Limiting these can help you control your weight better.
Conclusion
With the appropriate tactics, you can lose weight without exercising. You can achieve long-term Loss Weight by focusing on whole foods, portion control, mindful eating, increasing daily activity, improving sleep quality, lowering stress, staying hydrated, and selecting nutritious snacks. Remember that consistency is vital, as is making tiny, attainable adjustments you can stick with.
FAQs
Can you lose weight without exercising?
You can lose weight without exercising by making dietary and lifestyle modifications that cause a calorie deficit.
How crucial is nutrition for Loss Weight?
Diet is important for Loss Weight since it affects your caloric intake. A well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet is vital for weight loss and overall health.
How does sleep affect Loss Weight?
Sleep is essential for balancing hunger hormones and metabolism. Poor sleep can increase appetite and lead to weight gain, whereas adequate sleep promotes weight management.
How can I limit my servings without feeling hungry?
Portion management can be achieved by using smaller plates, eating slowly, and choosing fibre- and protein-rich foods that keep you satiated for longer.
What are some simple strategies to alleviate stress?
Meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, and indulging in enjoyable hobbies are all simple ways to reduce stress.
A new strain of bird flu, H5N2, was recently discovered in Mexico City, following the death of a 59-year-old male. The strain is distinct from the H5N1 avian flu that has affected three dairy farm workers in the United States. Part of the concern is that the man was bedridden at home and had no prior exposure to birds or animals.
The individual did have underlying diabetes and severe kidney disease, both of which increase susceptibility to infections. He was ill on April 17 with a fever, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. He died on April 24. None of his contacts have tested positive for influenza A to date.
However, El Universal claimed that “12 contacts (seven symptomatic and five asymptomatic) were identified near the patient’s residence” and that serology results are awaiting. H5N2 is reported to be circulating in local birds.
It’s difficult to remember the names of all the numerous flu types—H5N1, H5N2, bird flu, swine flu, flu A, flu B, and more.
The three major strains of influenza, A, B, and C, are named after core proteins. We get annual epidemics of influenza A, which is the most severe. The 1918 influenza A H1N1 pandemic was deadly. Flu B is typically less severe and produces illnesses every few years. Flu C has not caused outbreaks.
The letters “H” and “N” in the names relate to surface proteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, which help the virus adhere to and penetrate cells. Sometimes strains mutate and switch genetic material, making them more infectious.
H1N1 and H2N2 mutated
This occurred when H1N1 and H2N2 mutated in birds, creating a “bird flu” capable of infecting humans. This culminated in the 1957 influenza pandemic in Asia caused by H2N2, a novel (to humans) strain.
Strains are also classified as highly pathogenic avian influenza or low pathogenic. The main concern in recent months has been HPAI H5N1.
H5N1 is the strain that has decimated several chicken flocks and dairy cows. We know it has spread enough to cause illness in a few people, but the magnitude is unknown due to limited and insufficient testing.
There has been a continuing H5N1 outbreak in Asia, with substantially greater mortality rates. Given the increased numbers, Pekosz stated that there has been “better documentation of the case fatality rate there.” “The high number of cases in Asia is mostly attributable to increased human-poultry contact in that region of the world.
If you restrict live bird markets and give poultry farm workers with simple protective gear, you may significantly reduce human H5N1 cases anywhere, but especially in Southeast Asia.”
Hantavirus
The H5N1 virus is becoming increasingly common in wild animals, most recently in cats and mice. Dr. Rick Bright, a virologist, pandemic expert, and former director of the United States Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, told The Telegraph, “This gets the virus closer to human homes. It raises the danger of direct exposure and illness.
It will make any control attempts much more difficult because the mice can rapidly transmit infection. Rodents are known for creating epidemics, including the Black Death (bubonic plague), Lassa fever in Africa, and Hantavirus in the Southwest United States.
Another complaint of current control attempts is the weeks-long wait in making data public, as well as the lack of genetic sequencing to detect strain similarities. Bright stated, “Need to urgently see sequences to know if it was fully avian virus, or possible reassortant with human H3N2 virus.”
People are also calling for vaccinations for dairy workers, which have begun in Finland.
For the time being, the recommended safety precautions are to wear masks and goggles when around milking cows and to avoid raw dairy products. I would also avoid 4H club shows and county fairs. If you can’t avoid going, it’s best to wear a mask and goggles, given what we know about transmission.
Source: Forbes
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