Hope you have a great tomorrow is ahead

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Perspective

Zika Virus in the Americas — Yet Another Arbovirus Threat
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and David M. Morens, M.D.
N Engl J Med 2016; 374:601-604February 18, 2016DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1600297

The explosive pandemic of Zika virus infection occurring throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean (see map
Countries with Past or Current Evidence of Zika Virus Transmission (as of December 2015).and potentially threatening the United States is the most recent of four unexpected arrivals of important arthropod-borne viral diseases in the Western Hemisphere over the past 20 years.

It follows dengue, which entered this hemisphere stealthily over decades and then more aggressively in the 1990s; West Nile virus, which emerged in 1999; and chikungunya, which emerged in 2013. Are the successive migrations of these viruses unrelated, or do they reflect important new patterns of disease emergence? Furthermore, are their secondary health consequences of this arbovirus pandemic that set it apart from others?

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1600297?query=health-policy-and-reform&

The link above takes you to full article.mThe New England Journal of Medice is a great source for Heath related articles.

Xx  M

The New England Journal comes thru with additional information on Zika.

Perspective

Zika Virus as a Cause of Neurologic Disorders
Nathalie Broutet, M.D., Ph.D., Fabienne Krauer, M.Sc., Maurane Riesen, M.Sc., Asheena Khalakdina, Ph.D., Maria Almiron, M.Sc., Sylvain Aldighieri, M.D., Marcos Espinal, M.D., Nicola Low, M.D., and Christopher Dye, D.Phil.
March 9, 2016DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1602708

Zika virus infections have been known in Africa and Asia since the 1940s, but the virus’s geographic range has expanded dramatically since 2007. Between January 1, 2007, and March 1, 2016, local transmission was reported in an additional 52 countries and territories, mainly in the

Americas and the western Pacific, but also in Africa and southeast Asia. Zika virus infections acquired by travelers visiting those countries have been discovered at sites worldwide. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the principal vectors, though other mosquito species may contribute to transmission. The virus was found to be neurotropic in animals in experiments conducted in the 1950s, and recent experiments have shown how it can cause neural-cell death. A rise in the incidence of Guillain–Barré syndrome, an immune-mediated flaccid paralysis often triggered by infection, was first reported in 2013 during a Zika outbreak in French Polynesia.

An increase in the incidence of microcephaly, a clinical sign that can be caused by underdevelopment of the fetal brain, was first reported in northeastern Brazil in 2015, after Zika virus transmission had been confirmed there. These reports of excess cases of Guillain–Barré syndrome and microcephaly led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on February 1, 2016, and to recommend accelerated research into possible causal links between Zika virus and neurologic disorders.

If you want like to read the full article at the link before. It’s serious yet I’m not sure what the protocol is if you suspect you or a family, be on safe side and go to hospital. I would call ahead since not hospitals have containment rooms.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1602708

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FDA MedWatch – Eye Drops: FDA Statement – Potential Risk of Loose Safety Seals
03/15/2016

Eye Drops: FDA Statement – Potential Risk of Loose Safety Seals

AUDIENCE: Consumer, Eye Care

ISSUE: FDA is warning the public about eye drop bottles that have loose plastic safety seals or tamper evident rings below the bottle cap that may fall onto the eye when the product is used. See Safety Statement for example photo.

FDA has received reports of six adverse events associated with loose safety seals on eye drop bottles. FDA is in the process of identifying all relevant products and will require a change in the packaging design.

BACKGROUND: The plastic safety seal or tamper-evident ring, also known as a collar, or band, should stay connected to the bottle neck. However, some eye drop bottles are losing the safety seals or rings when consumers tilt or squeeze the bottle to place eye drops into their eyes. A loose safety seal or ring presents a safety risk as it may cause eye injuries.

RECOMMENDATION: Consumers and health care providers who have these products should not attempt to remove the ring or seal because there is a potential to contaminate the tip of the dropper.

FDA strongly recommends when using tamper-evident rings, the bottle/cap design include a positive-retention mechanism similar to those on disposable plastic beverage bottles to prevent the rings from coming off while using the product.

FDA is continuing to investigate this issue and will provide more information when it is available.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Complete and submit the report Online: http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

Read the MedWatch Safety Alert, including links to the FDA Safety Statement, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm490862.htm

 

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My fantasy about life with High School boyfriend started the day we met. Our relationship was on and off until my late 30’s. He had to marry me, then go back to wife. The last time we talked, he was moving out, filed for divorce, leased an apartment, later started to move in with me. I should include, I bought the ring $12,500, he would repay. HA!

He gave new meaning to word jealous. I went to FL for business, had several presentations to finish. I stayed over a Saturday for the discount. The baby man said “I stayed over Saturday instead of paying more to be with him” I watched the Stars go for second Stanley Cup.

One afternoon his wife wanted to talk. Be gone a hour or two. At 11:00PM, I called asking when coming home? Reply, later! I had to restrain from hurling my favorite pissed off words. He laid key on table, said he was going back to wife. After he left, I bursted in tears and threw his stuff on the porch.

He emailed me the secret years later. His view, if you accuse someone of cheating, you get free pass. He didn’t go back to wife, the free pass got pregnant. She worked for him at Police Department. He would lie before tell the truth. Fantasy over! My choice last words, fuck off.

We fell “love at first sight” in 9th grade, his mask melted many years later.  I’m blessed a detour changed my path.

Xx  M