25 Jan. 1998 - D isease U pdates
UNITED STATES flu * CWD * pfisteria * CDC annoucement on Kenya-Somalia *
blood * / COLUMBIA dengue / CHINA 'bird flu ' /
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UNITED STATES
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'Flu Hits Home', MSNBC segment: A story broadcast this weekend stated Los
Angeles, CA is particularly hard hit by the flu this season, and New York,
Tennessee & Texas are also reporting major outbreaks.
The story stated emergency room business at Northridge Hospital, in
L.A., is up almost 70%.
This segment also confirmed that it's the influenza A/Sydney at work in
many states, although parts of the nation are battling major outbreaks of
the more common influenza A/Wuhan -like strains.
According to experts, the flu season peaks in early February, then
tailing off in March.
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COLD & FLU CURE TIPS? GO TO: www.uhs.harvard.edu/hughp/hcw96_sc.html
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Colorado - About 6% of mule deer in the region of northern Colorado and
southern Wyoming suffer from chronic wasting disease (CWD), a spokesman
for the Colorado Division of Wildlife told the Associated Press over the
weekend.
CWD is a disease that's similar to "mad cow" disease, as both destroy
brain tissue and kill the victim.
"We know there's a link between the diseases, not a causal link
necessarily, but they're the same kind of disease," a biochemist at the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rocky Mountain Laboratory was quoted
as saying.
The NIH is now interested in determining if CWD can be transmitted to
humans, in ways similar to "mad cow" disease.
Other researchers are trying to determine if CWD can be transmittewd
from the deer to cattle.
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Maryland - With the planting season approaching, Maryland governor Parris
Glendening said in his State of the State address on Friday that he wants
farmers to use less fertilizer this season, to prevent more pfisteria
outbreaks. He threatened fines if farmers don't co-operate.
For an overview on Pfisteria, which has killed fish in a number of
coastal water areas and is believed to cause memory loss and learning
difficulties in human beings exposed to pfisteria-contaminated waters, go
to: ftp.primenet.com/users/p/ptp/pfisteria.overview
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Atlanta - The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention announced on
Saturday that travellers to KENYA and/or SOMALIA should be prepared to
use liberal amounts of insect repellent & wear long-sleeved shirts & pants
in addition to using a bed net during sleeping hours, to help limit
contact with mosquitos - carriers of Rift Valley Fever (RVF). Contact with
livestock, which may be infected, is also discouraged. There are no travel
restrictions at this time, although the CDC pointed out that rural areas
pose more of a RVF threat.
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US-WIDE ANNOUNCEMENT: A bad winter has drained the U.S. blood supply. All
types are needed, but especially type 'O'. To donate, you must be at
least 17 years old, over 110 lbs. and in good health. For a Donation
Center near you, call (toll-free) 800-448-3543 .
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Cali, COLUMBIA - "It cannot be said that we have an outbreak (of dengue),
the number of cases clearly indicate that what we have is an epidemic."
That quote, in EL TIEMPO, from Fernando Russo, a local dengue health
authority.
Also reported, in the State Hospital, in Cali, 102 cases between Dec.
'97 and Jan. '98.
The Cali-based Social Security Clinic reported 389 suspected cases of
the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever.
According to the Municipal Health Secretary, at least two more weeks
will be taken before a state of emergency is declared.
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Guangdong province, CHINA - The World Health Organization stated late
Friday it had found no sign of the 'bird flu' in this southern Chinese
province, but warned it could resurface.
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<end 'Disease Updates 1/19 to...' thread>
See NEW thread on either 1/26 or 1/27, on alt.current-events.earth-changes,
alt.health, misc.survivalism, bionet.general & other ngs as needed.
