The Latest On Zika: Experts Are Divided Over Genetically Modified Mosquitos
The Zika virus, which is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is strongly suspected to be linked to a new wave of microcephaly cases in Brazil. Babies born with the birth defect have smaller heads and sometimes brains that aren't fully developed, which can result in life-long developmental problems. Zika is currently spreading through Central and South America and the Caribbean, and with the high volume of news about the virus, it's tough to stay up-to-date. Check out our full coverage, or read our daily recaps. Here are four updates, opinions and developments to know about now: 1. ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - February 16, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
What Pregnant Women Should Know About Zika Virus
On Monday, the World Health Organization declared a "public health emergency of international concern" due to the cluster of birth defects potentially linked to Zika virus. No one is probably more concerned about this connection than the world’s pregnant women, especially those who are living in an area where there is ongoing Zika virus transmission. While the virus’ symptoms (fever, headache, joint pain, conjunctivitis) are no cause for alarm and rarely require hospitalization, the disease is suspected of causing severe birth defects like microcephaly, when a baby is born with an abnormally small head. ...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - February 2, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Patrick Haynes obituary
My father, Patrick Haynes, who has died aged 84, was an agronomist who specialised in tropical root crops and worked for international agencies around the world, helping farmers to get the most out of what they grew.One of Patrick’s most important contributions was his defence of subsistence crops being grown in developing countries, which he felt had been neglected in favour of cash crops. Partly as a result of his interventions, there is now much wider recognition of the importance of subsistence crops, as well as a change in funding priorities among development agencies. He was also a promoter of the benefits of tradi...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - February 2, 2016 Category: Science Authors: David Haynes Tags: Agriculture Farming Barbados United Nations Source Type: news
CDC expands Zika virus alert; more countries issue pregnancy warnings
Pregnant women should not travel to Barbados, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Guyana, Cape Verde and Samoa because of Zika virus, the CDC said Friday. (Source: CNN.com - Health)
Source: CNN.com - Health - January 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
An Illustrated Guide To The Zika Outbreak
In October 2015, Brazilian health authorities notified the World Health Organization that an alarming number of Brazilian babies had been born with microcephaly, a rare, debilitating birth defect with lifelong consequences. Researchers quickly linked the spike in birth defects to the outbreak of a little-known tropical disease called Zika virus, which is transmitted by mosquito. Since its discovery in Uganda in 1947, Zika virus has popped up in different African and Asian countries, but no widespread outbreaks had occurred until 2013, when the virus infected an estimated 11 percent of the population of French Polynesi...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - January 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
An Illustrated Guide To The Zika Outbreak
In October 2015, Brazilian health authorities notified the World Health Organization that an alarming number of Brazilian babies had been born with microcephaly, a rare, debilitating birth defect with lifelong consequences. Researchers quickly linked the spike in birth defects to the outbreak of a little-known tropical disease called Zika virus, which is transmitted by mosquito. Since its discovery in Uganda in 1947, Zika virus has popped up in different African and Asian countries, but no widespread outbreaks had occurred until 2013, when the virus infected an estimated 11 percent of the population of French Polynesi...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - January 22, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
C.D.C. Issues Travel Alert for 8 More Locations Over Zika Virus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added eight destinations to a list of countries that pregnant women should avoid to prevent infection. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - January 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS Tags: Travel Warnings Ecuador Centers for Disease Control and Prevention St Martin (Caribbean) Women and Girls Pregnancy and Childbirth Bolivia Guadeloupe Barbados Samoa Zika Virus Guyana Cape Verde Source Type: news
Zika virus infection – Guyana, Barbados and Ecuador
Between 14 and 15 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Points (NFP) for Guyana, Barbados and Ecuador notified PAHO/WHO of cases of Zika virus infection. On 14 January, the NFP for Guyana reported the first laboratory-confirmed case of locally-acquired Zika virus infection in the country. The case is a 27-year-old female from Berbice, Region 6, with onset of symptoms on 1 January. (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - January 20, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: pesticide [subject], insecticides, fungicides, risk factor [subject], risk, health risks, travel [subject], travel and health, air travel, Disease outbreak news [doctype], Ecuador [country], Region of the Americas [region] Source Type: news
Disaster risk reduction or disaster risk production: the role of building regulations in mainstreaming DRR - Chmutina K, Bosher L.
Whilst it has not experienced any major disasters in recent years, Barbados is prone to a number of hazards and has the highest proportion of its urban produced capital at risk in the Caribbean due largely to the island's high population density. One of th... (Source: SafetyLit)
Source: SafetyLit - January 18, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Disaster Preparedness Source Type: news
Ronald Frankenberg obituary
Academic whose book Village on the Border pioneered the application of anthropological methods to British societyIn the 1950s, British anthropologists normally conducted their fieldwork overseas. Ronnie Frankenberg, who has died aged 86, broke the rules by focusing on the former slate-mining community of Glyn Ceiriog, then in Denbighshire and now in Wrexham county borough, for his first book, Village on the Border (1957).In doing so, he showed how anthropological methods could be effectively applied to British society. His choice of subject was fortuitous: he had intended to write his doctorate on the Caribbean, but his ou...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 4, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Mike Savage Tags: Anthropology People in science Sociology Keele University Higher education Society Books Source Type: news
Looking To Paris For Our Very Survival
We are now mere days away from what could easily be described as the most important gathering for the year -- the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) of the 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At the 30th Nov. to 11th Dec. meeting in Paris, it is imperative that parties sign a legally-binding accord to keep human-induced global temperature rise within levels that science says will avert catastrophic climate change. This is important for many reasons. My country, Antigua & Barbuda, and its Caribbean neighbours, already among the most vulnerable of Small States, face an even gr...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - December 11, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
Looking To Paris For Our Very Survival
We are now mere days away from what could easily be described as the most important gathering for the year -- the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) of the 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
At the 30th Nov. to 11th Dec. meeting in Paris, it is imperative that parties sign a legally-binding accord to keep human-induced global temperature rise within levels that science says will avert catastrophic climate change. This is important for many reasons.
My country, Antigua & Barbuda, and its Caribbean neighbours, already among the most vulnerable of Small States, face an even gr...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - December 11, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
Launch of first World Antibiotics Awareness Week from 16 to 22 November 2015
On the occasion of the first World Antibiotics Awareness Week, from 16 to 22 November 2015, the findings of a new WHO multi-country survey on antibiotic resistance are released showing that most people are confused about this major threat to public health and do not understand how to stop it from growing.
Almost two thirds (64%) of some 10 000 people who were surveyed across 12 countries say they know antibiotic resistance is an issue that could affect them and their families, but how it affects them and what they can do to address it are not well understood. For example, 64% of respondents believe antibiotics can be used...
Source: WHO EMRO News - November 16, 2015 Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news
“Human contact is one of the greatest things”
(Katherine C. Cohen/Boston Children’s Hospital)
Yvonne Burrowes
Lead Cashier, Food Services
I’ve been working here for 14 years, since I came to the United States from Barbados. My mother also worked in Food Services here for 21 years until she retired.
I like things to be orderly. I try to set a good example and make sure that whoever passes through this line gets a feeling of professionalism and friendliness.
It can be overwhelming for parents here. Sometimes they may need comfort or someone to talk to. I’ll make a joke or say a word of comfort or give a hug. That’s a good feeling. Human contact is one o...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - September 25, 2015 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jenny Fernandez Tags: All posts Care Team Source Type: news
How did woman cope when plunged into shattering grief? By writing this journal
Helen Bailey and her husband John, known as JS, were on holiday in Barbados in 2011, when John was swept out to sea by strong currents. He drowned, and Helen was left behind with her grief. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - September 24, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
