H5N1

Ebola: United States restricts arrivals of travelers from Guinea

Via guineenews.org: Ebola - United States restricts arrivals of travelers from Guinea. Excerpt from the Google translation:

Starting next week, the US government will route all travelers who have stayed in Congo and Guinea to six airports designated for Ebola virus health inspection before being allowed to re-enter US territory. 

Airlines are also required to collect and report passenger information to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for follow-up and public health response for all passengers aboard a flight to the United States who may have stayed in the DRC or Guinea during the previous 21 days. 

This information will be shared with U.S. states and local health departments in order to adequately monitor arrivals in their jurisdiction, the CDC said in a statement to air carriers. Although the CDC has not specified which airports it plans to use, according to several sources, John F. Kennedy in New York, Dulles near Washington, DC, O'Hare in Chicago, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, Los Angeles International Airport and Newark Liberty near New York. All of these airports are considered “watch points” for border control purposes. 

Tens of thousands of Guineans have taken up residence in the United States and have settled across the country, especially on the east coast in the Boston-Washington axis.

North Kivu: The installation of control and prevention points against Ebola is gradually being done in the Butembo-Lubero region

Via Radio Okapi: North Kivu: the installation of control and prevention points against Ebola is gradually being done in the Butembo-Lubero region. Excerpt from the Google translation:

The installation of control and prevention points against Ebola is being done gradually in the Butembo-Lubero region. It was the provincial minister of health of North Kivu who said it on Wednesday February 24 to Radio Okapi in Butembo, in reaction to the concern expressed by civil society actors. 

The Biena health zone located in the northwestern part of the Lubero territory has so far been considered the focus of the 12th Ebola epidemic that is raging in the region. Among the cases already recorded since the start of the epidemic, the largest number have come from this health zone. The latter is connected to the city of Butembo from two main axes. These are the Butembo-Mangurejipa and Butembo-Butuhe axis. 

However, since the declaration of the epidemic, no measures to control and prevent the spread of the disease have been installed at these different points, worry civil society actors in the Bapere sector. The inhabitants therefore move freely without any precaution of checking their state of health, report our sources in the area. 

Aware of the situation, the Provincial Minister of Health of North Kivu, Dr Nzanzu Salita affirms that the installation of control and prevention points against Ebola is being done gradually.

'Onions don't cure COVID-19': University of Guelph student combatting misinformation

Via CTV News: 'Onions Don't Cure COVID-19': University of Guelph student combatting COVID-19 misinformation.

GUELPH -- A University of Guelph student has created a website that helps debunk myths, conspiracies, and general misinformation around COVID-19…like how onions aren't the cure. 

The aptly named onionsdontcurecovid.com is part of a campaign started by Lauren Chang to help guide people through misconceptions about the virus. 

The site uses a series of infographics and videos to help share factual and credible information taken from Canadian Public Health surrounding COVID-19. 

"Our aim is not to look at these things and laugh at the people that may be believing it," said Chang. "This is why we encourage people to look at what the information is telling them to do, and as long as it doesn't hurt you and you're able to do it while following public health guidelines, I don't see a problem with it." 

She adds that, while everyone is able to benefit from the site, it's mostly geared towards immigrant communities. 

"Immigrant communities specifically have the problem of having linguistic barriers that deter them from accessing information from more traditional news sources or public health, which are usually only in English or French," said Chang. 

With the help from some other students, the information on the website is translated into 10 different languages. 

"It has specific reach to Chinese communities, Asian communities, and people from different cultural backgrounds and experiences," said Guelph student Pooja Sankar. "That's something that's really great about it." 

Chang says the site is constantly being updated as information about COVID-19 is constantly evolving. 

She is currently planning for her next campaign focused on vaccine education.

COVID-19 in Moldova: 25 deaths and 1518 new cases confirmed

Via TRM.md: COVID-19 in Moldova: 25 deaths and 1518 new cases confirmed.

Another 1,518 new cases of COVID-19 infection were confirmed today in Moldova, and 25 people died as a result of complications caused by the new Coronavirus. 

Of the total number of cases, seven are imported. 

The total number of tests performed - 4,838, of which 4,503 primary and 305 repeated. 

The balance of COVID-19 cases in Moldova reached 184,856. 

Of the total number of cases, 69 are healthcare workers: 25 doctors, 34 nurses, 10 auxiliary staff. 

In all, 3,654 patients confirmed with COVID-19 infection are hospitalized in medical institutions, of which 317 are in an extremely serious health condition (57 patients are connected to assisted breathing). Another 601 people were healed. In all, 165,489 people were treated of COVID-19. 

9,381 people with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19 get treatment at home, and 17,273 are under home supervision. 

At the same time, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection announces about another 25 deaths caused by COVID-19, among those who died is an employee of the healthcare system. It is about the obstetrician-gynecologist from the Institute of Mother and Child, Anatolie Serbenco, aged 67. So far, 89 healthcare workers have died from COVID-19 infection. 

In all, 3.924 people in Moldova died from coronavirus in Moldova.  

Ebola in Guinea: 7 hospitalized patients, 465 people vaccinated

The Ebola outbreaks in Guinea and Ebola seem to have paused this week, and I've found very little news. Here's a Friday summary from guineematin.com: Ebola: 7 hospitalized patients, 465 people vaccinated (ANSS). The Google translation.

According to figures published this Friday, February 26, 2021, by the National Health Security Agency (ANSS), 7 confirmed cases of Ebola are currently hospitalized in Guinea. The number of confirmed cases since the resurgence of the disease is 11 and the number of confirmed deaths is 2,465 people have been vaccinated in Conakry and N'Zérékoré against this disease. 

Guineematin.com offers you below the situation of the day presented by the ANSS: 

Vaccination of 240 people including 60 in Conakry (2 in Dixinn and 58 in Ratoma) and 180 in N'Zérékoré; 

Total of 465 people vaccinated (98 contacts, 296 contacts of contacts and 71 probable contacts) from 23 to 25 February 2021; 

Six (6) confirmed cases including one (1) death recorded in N'Zérékoré on February 25, 2021; 

Cumulative eleven (11) confirmed cases and four (4) probable cases recorded as of February 25, 2021; 

No case of EVD hospitalized at the CT-Epi in Nongo (Conakry) as of February 25, 2021; 

No suspected case of EVD hospitalized at the CT-Epi in N'Zérékoré on February 25, 2021; 

Seven (7) confirmed cases were hospitalized at the CT-Epi in N'Zérékoré on February 25, 2021; 

Cumulative six (6) deaths including four (4) probable cases and two (2) confirmed cases as of February 25, 2021; 

Cumulative of 5 infected health workers including 2 deaths (1 confirmed case and 1 probable case) 

To date, 351 contacts are being followed up.

Czech parliament backs new pandemic powers as government seeks tighter lockdown

Via Reuters: Czech parliament backs new pandemic powers as government seeks tighter lockdown. Excerpt:

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech lower house on Friday approved a bill giving the Health Ministry new powers without needing a state of emergency order, as the government laid out plans to “radically” tighten lockdown measures amid a renewed spread of COVID-19 infections. 

The country of 10.7 million has had among the world’s highest per capita rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks, with new variants complicating the situation. 

The so-called pandemic bill was supported by almost all parties in parliament and gives the Health Ministry the right to issue bans and orders, like closing shops or services, with the cabinet’s consent. 

Under previous laws, the government had that right only under a state of emergency, which needs lawmakers’ consent to run beyond 30 days. Restaurant closures, which have been widely used during the pandemic, can fall under public health laws. 

The approval of the legislation, pushed by opposition parties, is only one step in the government’s efforts to tighten restrictions after Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Wednesday “hellish days” were ahead and hospitals faced unprecedented stress. 

The government will still need a state of emergency as it seeks to sharply limit people’s movements and contacts in the coming weeks, measures not covered in the new legislation.

Butembo: Trial of alleged murderers of Dr Mouzoko begins

Via Radio Okapi: Butembo: trial of alleged murderers of Dr Mouzoko begins. The Google translation and then a comment:

The trial on the assassination of Doctor Richard Mouzoko opened on Monday February 22 in Butembo. This Cameroonian doctor was shot dead by armed men in April 2019.   

He was in full response to the tenth Ebola epidemic at the Graben university clinics in Butembo.    

Out of twenty-five people arrested in this case, only eight were present at the trial, including three Congolese doctors. 

All the defendants absent from this trial have been on the run since the recent massive escape of prisoners from Kangbayi to Beni. The president of the order of doctors of Butembo, Dr Kalima Nzanzu, who deplores the state of health of its members, hopes to wait for the true verdict:

“All 3 (doctors), at least those who are here in Butembo, are already hypertensive and even diabetic. However, these are people who were not really known to have these pathologies. So you feel it was the stress that made them uncomfortable. Our expectations: we want justice to say the true verdict. If there are any culprits, let them be condemned. If there are innocent people, let them be released. That's all we ask."    

For his part, the vice-president of the provincial coordination of civil society in North Kivu, Edgar Mateso. expresses some concerns about this trial:   

“The first concern is that some people who were arrested fled. The second concern is that we wanted this trial to be highly publicized. Many inhabitants of our region are not even informed, there are even some who do not know where the trial is being held. It is appropriate, for example, to broadcast this trial live on the radio, but at the same time we would like this trial to be quickly speeded up.”

The assassination of Dr. Mouzoko was an appalling outrage, and it's equally appalling that most of the accused have not just evaded justice for so long, but have escaped from prison.  

COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon: 112,956,305 cases, 2,506,083 deaths

A screenshot from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) dashboard:

Fauci introduces new acronym for long COVID

Via Medscape.com: Fauci Introduces New Acronym for Long COVID. Excerpt:

As officials scramble to get vaccines and protective gear to the public, scientists are working overtime to gain knowledge of the long-term effects of COVID-19, said Anthony Fauci, MD, during a wide-ranging briefing at the White House today. 

"Many of you are now aware of what had long been called 'long COVID,' " said Fauci, the White House COVID-19 Response Team's chief medical adviser. "But actually, what that really is is post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which we're now referring to as 'PASC,' or P-A-S-C." 

He noted that the National Institutes of Health launched an initiative yesterday to further study the phenomenon, which Fauci called "alarming" and "puzzling." 

He stressed that even patients with moderate cases of the infection can develop PASC. Symptoms include fatigue; gastrointestinal problems; "brain fog," or an inability to focus; depression; anxiety; sleep difficulties; and, in extreme cases, impaired lung capacity. 

"New symptoms sometimes arise well after the time of infection, or they evolve over time and persist for months," Fauci continued. "They can range from mild or annoying to actually quite incapacitating." He referred to a study from researchers at the University of Washington that was published online February 19 in JAMA Network Open. In that study, more than 30% of the 177 participants reported symptoms that persisted for up to 9 months. 

"It's very difficult to treat something when you don't know what the target of that treatment is," Fauci said. "There are a lot of important questions with this series of initiatives that we will ultimately answer."

Covid-19 vaccine websites violate disability laws, create inequity for the blind

Via KHN, Lauren Weber and Hannah Recht write: Covid Vaccine Websites Violate Disability Laws, Create Inequity for the Blind. Excerpt:

Many covid vaccination registration and information websites at the federal, state and local levels violate disability rights laws, hindering the ability of blind people to sign up for a potentially lifesaving vaccine, a KHN investigation has found. 

Across the country, people who use special software to make the web accessible have been unable to sign up for the vaccines or obtain vital information about covid-19 because many government websites lack required accessibility features. At least 7.6 million people in the U.S. over age 16 have a visual disability. 

WebAIM, a nonprofit web accessibility organization, checked covid vaccine websites gathered by KHN from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. On Jan. 27, it found accessibility issues on nearly all of 94 webpages, which included general vaccine information, lists of vaccine providers and registration forms. 

In at least seven states, blind residents said they were unable to register for the vaccine through their state or local governments without help. Phone alternatives, when available, have been beset with their own issues, such as long hold times and not being available at all hours like websites. 

Even the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vaccine Administration Management System, which a small number of states and counties opted to use after its rocky rollout, has been inaccessible for blind users. 

Those problems violate the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which established the right to communications in an accessible format, multiple legal experts and disability advocates said. The federal Americans with Disabilities Act, a civil rights law that prohibits governments and private businesses from discriminating based on disability, further enshrined this protection in 1990.