In this recent video Russel Brand explores with US food activist Calley Means the disastrous declining state of US citizens’ health which Calley relates to a diet that is increasingly taken over by highly processed food devoid of nutritional value and high in sugar while both children and adults both get less physical activity in their daily lives than their ancestors did. Calley explains that the declining health of its citizenry is making the US a nation in decline with an increasingly uncompetitive, out of shape workforce suffering an overabundance of non-communicable, degenerative diseases, and falling fertility rates along with increasing psychological and psychiatric problems and skyrocketing medical costs.
It is ironic commentators refer to Barbados as an ageing society but we struggle with implementing adequate frameworks to attend to the needs of the elderly. The biggest embarrassment is to read about senior citizens who are abandoned at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and elsewhere by family members.
The blogmaster can list many reasons we should take good care of our elders, however, the one reason that resonates the most is that a it is the humane thing to do.
Increasingly the scourge of Alzheimer’s disease has made it more challenging to care for senior citizens. We need to have a relevant policy and develop a better system to care for the elderly. As they say, you can tell a lot by how any society looks after the elderly and animals.
CAUGHT HIM! Rebel News pummels Pfizer CEO with questions at World Economic Forum
It was the moment we were waiting for: one of the most hated men in the world going for a leisurely stroll because he assumed he was amongst friends. After all, in the three years since the pandemic began, have you ever seen a journalist ask him a tough question?
Well, he didn’t count on Rebel News and our accountability style of citizen journalism.
More Canadians are choosing legal forms of cannabis then previously, from 52% to 61% reported last year. The 2022Cannabis Surveycarried out by Health Canada has shown that smoking is the most favorable form of consumption, but the number of people choosing to use vape pens is increasing.
The study was carried out April-June 2022 and offers insights into Canadians knowledge, attitudes and behaviors on Cannabis use.
Last week it was reported the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) suffered a cybersecurity incident. Another way to explain it – information was stolen from QEH’s database by unknown parties. So far the official and sanitized explanation is – “the QEH was taking all necessary precautions to protect the integrity of our systems ans patient privacy“. On December 14. 2022 the QEH issued a report indicating changes to its operations because of the cybersecurity incident – Temporary Changes At QEH Due To Internet Outage.
Nearly 1 in 20 people who were infected by COVID have not completely recovered. That is a 6 to18 month corridor from time of infection. 42% claim to have only partially recovered from the infection. Most people recover fully from the infection, but some people develop a wide variety of long-term problems. The government needed to understand Long COVID as an essential to forming health and social care policy and supports.
The University of Glasgow carried out this prescribed effort. These scientists found the various symptoms to have one central focus, that Long Term Covid has an impact upon all aspects of daily life and reduces people’s overall quality of life. The most common reported symptoms were breathlessness, chest pain, palpitations and brain fog. Who was most likely to be infected with this type of COVID? Older individuals, women, those from deprived communities and people with pre-existing physical or mental problems. The study is important because it attempted to understand Long Covid within the general population, comparing symptoms with those uninfected, thereby distinguishing between health problems caused by COVID and health problems that would happen anyways. Analyzing 33,000 laboratory confirmed COVID cases and matching them to 63,000 never infected people from the general population. Both groups were followed over a 6,12 and 18 month period. About 13% of people in the study reported improvements in their health over time, while 11% reported some deterioration.
The study found those who had asymptomatic infections and those who had been vaccinated before their infections were fully or partially protected from COVID. The study showed that COVID is truly a multi-system disorder, not only in the brain, not only in the heart, but all organs can be attacked by this infection.
This winter will challenge our community and its healthcare systems. The data has shown us that the death and serious illnesses among the unvaccinated due to COVID, versus vaccinated and boosted will increase continually this winter. The level of vaccinated vs unvaccinated tells the tale. At the height of the pandemic 40% of Americans were untruthful about whether they had the virus or were ignoring safety precautions. While @68% of Americans have received their 1st vaccination, most have not received their second one, or boosters. The pandemic is still filling our hospitals with infected patients, and while most 1st nations offer free vaccinations and booster, only 7.6 million Americans have received their updated booster dose.
This winter as many as 90,000 Americans will die from COVID. The University of Southern California along with The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have placed the populations lack of urgency to be vaccinated as the factor causing these deaths. According to CNN, more than 400 people die of COVID daily in America.
Citizens have a responsibility to protect their families, neighbors and themselves. Get your vaccination and do it now. While many administrations go out of their way trying to propagate an illusion of societies return to normalcy, COVID-!9 has mutated and will continue to do so for the conceivable future. Children are returning to classes, and with winter upon us, their schooling will likely be indoors. The only way we can reach a level of normalcy is by investing our time and efforts in health safety procedures.
The success of what we do on Barbados Underground depends on contributions from many persons. One such person is Lyall Small, the man responsible for preparing the BU Covid 19 Dashboard since April 2020. On behalf of the BU household we thank you Lyall. With the pandemic numbers trending down in Barbados this will be the final BU Covid 19 Dashboard – Blogmaster
Attached is the final Covid series of charts to 30th September as the authorities have indicated that they will not be publishing the daily dash board data after today. The decision is understandable as resources might be better used elsewhere. The charts show a continued decline in the Covid incidence figures and now is probably the best time to move on.
For the purpose of the blog, interested persons should pay particular attention to slides 59, 63-67, 70-73 & 75, as these slides note some of the main culprits in most food poisoning seen in the GIT.
After the incubation period and the generation time, the major Patho-physiology that cause the symptoms of pain, vomiting diarrhea involves the impaired function of the Na+K+ATP dependent pump in the walls of the GI TRACT.
There is thus a tendency to dehydration, which can be kept at bay in mild cases by increasing one’s fluid intake, until the function of the Na+K+ATP dependent pump in the walls of the GI TRACT is restored.
Dehydration is dangerous, because all chemical reactions in the body take place in aqueous medium.
In mild cases, and while waiting for care in severe casses one can try to replace the Na+ by putting some pot salt in your lemonade. K+ may easily be obtained from bananas and citrous fruit. Use very little sugar in your rehydration fluid, as the sugar will attract water to the gut, and defeat the purpose that you are trying to achieve.
In our system of government (sog) officials elected to parliament are expected to put the interest of the people ahead of their own. In fact the (sog) places a premium on those offering themselves to public office, not dissimilar to the calling of a priest who is expected to facilitate members of the public getting closer to the Most High. In other words, it is not a 9 to 5 job, it is a ‘calling’.
There has been a lot written in recent years about rising apathy and cynicism by the public directed at the political class and government institutions, Barbados is no different. We can cite comments from the Auditor General, note the precarious state of the National Insurance Scheme or if we want to go big – the ease with which successive governments have borrowed massively instead of implementing initiatives to facilitate adequately earning our way in the world.
It is important for members of the public to be able to develop trust in public officials. Take for example the issue of food standards. The average citizen enters a supermarket or any similar outlet to purchase food items with an understanding standards are being met to protect health standards. In Barbados the Barbados National Standards Institute (BNSI) is the agency with primary responsibility. The reference to BNSI should not be misconstrued as accusing the institution of not delivering on its mandate although the blogmaster is not in a position to know.
The objectives of the BNSI are to facilitate trade and the international competitiveness of Barbadian goods and services, the protection of consumers and the harmonious development of the sectors of the economy, through the development of standards, revision and amendment of these standards from time to time, testing of products for conformity to these standards, certification of products to national standards, accreditation to ensure that those who carry out testing, certification and inspection are competent to do so and calibration of measures (including mass, volume, temperature, length).
A survey of markets in countries more developed than Barbados and with active consumer organizations suggest that Barbadians should be very concerned about the quality of food items being sold to the public.
Two videos sent by Alien to BU with a focus on bottled water and meats are a must watch. Believe it or not this is an expose from Canada and not a third world country. Where can Barbadians turn for comfort that health standards are being monitored?
For some time anyone who dared to question the possibility of excess Covid 19 deaths were ridiculed by establishment opinion. However, there are a number of analyses being shared to encourage questions about higher than normal death rates because of Covid 19 in working age people.
In Barbados there is definitely a worry of elderly people dying reportedly because of contracting Covid 19. Unfortunately exhaustive Covid 19 related data is not made public by local public health authorities to support rigorous independent analysis. However, more and more questions are being asked of the local public health authority in some quarters about excess deaths linked to the Covid 19 pandemic.
A non traditional publication by the name of The Conservative Woman questioned last week if the Germans have raised a plausible link between individuals injected with the Covid vaccine and excess deaths. The blogmaster in the public interest thought it important to share different opinions flowing in the news feed. Local government departments feeding the skepticism of the public is a well known fact as it relates to accurately aggregating data. Several times we have witnessed Covid 19 statistics adjusted with a one line explanation. The question some continue to ask of the local public health authority is – how robust is the criteria used to parse Covid 19 data in Barbados?
It is a preprint research paper by Christof Kuhbandner (a psychologist at Regensburg) and Matthias Reitzner (a statistician at Osnabrück) who have applied sophisticated actuarial analysis to the publicly available all-cause mortality data provided by the German government. Eugyppius comments: ‘When you account for historical mortality trends, the virus no longer looks so dangerous and the vaccines no longer look so great.’
As a matter of urgency to ensure confidence in maintained in the public health authority, independent agencies including the UWI, Cave Hill should be allowed to perform a deep dive of the criteria used to collect and analyze Covid 19 data. The pandemic has exposed globally there is growing cynicism and distrust by the public regarding how public health officials rolled out the Covid 19 vaccination project.
This is a call for greater transparency in Barbados to provide clarity about possible excess deaths. It should not be difficult to collate a minimum of 5 years of data between 2017 and current to eliminate questions being asked about excess deaths.
A timely reminder from long time BU family member Bentley that it is important to make sensible decisions about our diet.
Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian population
Assuming the rights to health and healthy food as general assumptions, the Guide is an official document that addresses the principles and recommendations of a healthy diet for the Brazilian population, representing a tool to support food and nutrition educational activities in SUS and also in other sectors. Considering the multiple determinants of feeding practices and the complexity and challenges that are involved in the shaping of current food systems, the Food Guide reinforces the commitment of the Ministry of Health to contribute to the development of strategies for the promotion and realization of the human right to adequate food.
Barbados is a tourism dependent economy, first COVID 19 shut down the country and the world for a time, now there is the emergence of Monkeypox along with a resurgence of another hyper Covid 19 variant. Health concerns combined with ongoing Russia and Ukraine conflict continues to stoke feeds uncertainty across the globe whether travel or trade.
Raw numbers still elevated and climbing but perhaps not alarmingly so. Daily official isolations dropping. Ro reproductive rate numbers fluctuating near and sub 1. Vigilance is necessary given that the new Omicron variant is increasing rapidly in our major trading partner countries amid increasing cropover travel – Source: Lyall Small
Health Ministry confirms first case of Monkeypox in Barbados
Barbados has confirmed the first case of Monkeypox on the island.
The confirmation came by way of a statement from Minister of Health Ian Gooding-Edghill.
The full statement is below:
Good morning.
You will recall that yesterday, I informed the Barbadian public that there was a suspected case of Monkeypox in the island. In keeping with my Ministry’s commitment to transparency and full disclosure, I’m here to inform you that Barbados has recorded its first confirmed case of Monkeypox.
This case is a Barbadian male in his thirties, who attended the Winston Scott Polyclinic with symptoms of a progressive rash, body pains and fever. He sought medical attention at the Polyclinic within hours of his arrival in Barbados.
The patient was seen and assessed based on a history of recent travel and clinical manifestations. The patient was swabbed and the samples were sent to the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory for testing where results revealed a positive case of Monkeypox.
These results of the locally done test were obtained within 24 hours as against the days awaiting results when the tests were done in Trinidad by CARPHA.
The patient remains in isolation and is under the direct care and medical supervision of our Medical Officer of Health. In the interest of patient confidentiality, no personal details will be disclosed.
I am confident that the Ministry’s speedy announcement of this case will, as has occurred with our response to Covid-19, get from the Barbadian public the same level of cooperation in our ongoing management of the Monkeypox health issue. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has commenced contact tracing as a responsible public health measure.
Let me assure the public that the Ministry is fully prepared to handle any cases of Monkeypox in our nation. I wish to thank the Ministry’s public health team for their continued dedication and commitment as we continue to manage public health in Barbados.
The Immortal Bard, otherwise known as William Shakespeare, is an easily recognizable figure no matter where you go. Four hundred years after his death, his phrase is still used.
This is the new frightening story of the Monkeypox, which may well end up as ‘A Pox On You’ and ultimately a ‘Pox On Your Business’ and a ‘Pox On Your Country.’
As COVID mutates, creates a herd immunity and hopefully subsides, there is the distinct possibility of a new pandemic following in its wake.
Monkeypox virus has been detected in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Spain and Portugal.
According to the U.S. agency the ‘Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’ [CDC], Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name ‘Monkeypox.’
The first human case of Monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Since then, Monkeypox has been reported in humans in other central and western African countries.
Scientists at the CDC are currently tracking multiple cases of Monkeypox that have been reported in several countries that don’t normally report Monkeypox, including the United States.
It’s not clear how the individuals were exposed to Monkeypox, but cases include people who self-identify as men who have sex with men. The disease until now, has been considered predominantly sexually transmitted.
CDC is urging healthcare providers in the U.S. to be alert for patients who have rash illnesses consistent with Monkeypox, regardless of whether they have travel or specific risk factors for Monkeypox and irrespective of gender or sexual orientation.
CDC is working with state and local health officials to identify people who may have been in contact with individuals who have tested positive for Monkeypox so that they can monitor their health.
It is now known Monkeypox is not exclusively sexually transmitted. Instead, it can be transmitted through close contact with infected people, body fluids, sweat and clothing, bedsheets, and pillows. The incubation period [interval from infection to onset of symptoms] of Monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.
In Britain, the Alarm was first raised in 2018 by ‘Porton Down’ scientists who said the virus could have ‘devastating consequences.
In June 2019, a Coalition of experts warned that 70% of the world is vulnerable to Monkeypox.
In 2020, a report from the ‘The World Health Organization’ [WHO] warned of the ‘endemic potential’ of Monkeypox.
September 2020: WHO warned the ‘epidemic potential’ of Monkeypox was rising. The paper published by the WHO warned the ‘epidemic potential’ of Monkeypox was increasing. Warning the end of routine smallpox vaccination could lead to the rise of Monkeypox in people. ‘In a population with diminishing herd immunity against orthopoxvirus species, the epidemic potential of Monkeypox will continue increasing,’ they said. That has since proved to be a correct forecast. WHO concluded that the use of the smallpox vaccine had been hiding and keeping at bay Monkeypox.
In November 2021, scientific health experts ran a hypothetical scenario that found a genetically engineered version of the disease could kill 300 million people.
In Spain, 50 new cases and another 12 Britons were diagnosed with the tropical illness on Thursday, May 26 2022, bringing the U.K. total to 90. In addition, the virus has been spotted in 19 countries outside its usual range, making it the widest-ranging outbreak of this disease ever.
The latest cluster of Monkeypox cases has experts wondering if the virus has mutated to be more contagious and easily spread between people.
It is now known you can catch Monkeypox by being near an infected person and breathing in the virus when they cough or sneeze. All bodily fluids of an infected person carry the virus, vaginal, penile, blood, spital, tears, and sweat included. In addition, bedding, duvets, pillowcases, pillows, and towels can carry and distribute the disease. So we seem to be back to the ultra necessity of sterilizing bedding properly. In particular, pillows between every new guest.
Countries hold wargames on an annual basis. The idea being if they practice for what may be, they will be much better able to cope with war if it actually happens.
In 2021 an organization specializing in world protection against what may wipe out the world’s human race, ‘Nuclear Threat Initiative’ [NIC], carried out a war game against a laboratory-created Monkeypox.
May 20, 2022. Given the occurrence of cases of Monkeypox in countries within and outside of the Region of the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) shares with its Member States a series of considerations in relation to the identification of cases, the isolation, identification, and follow-up of contacts, the clinical management, and the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections.
Is the Monkeypox threat so severe that an organization made a cloaked study and called it hypothetical?
NTI experts met in November 2021 to discuss how the world would respond to a hypothetical pandemic caused by Monkeypox. The exercise included fake news reports on how the fictional virus was spreading in May 2022. They produced a ‘scenario summary’ displayed on the last page of this article, the NIC’s fictional Monkeypox pandemic timeline.
In a statement this week, NTI said their choice of Monkeypox for the exercise was based on recommendations from scientific and medical experts on potentially pandemic causing pathogens.
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and philanthropist Ted Turner in the United States. It works to prevent catastrophic attacks and accidents with weapons of mass destruction and disruption – predominantly nuclear, biological, radiological, chemical, cybersecurity, and now pathogenic threats.
Ernest J. Moniz has served as Chief Executive Officer since June 2017, and Joan Rohlfing serves as President. Co-chaired by Moniz, Nunn and Ted Turner. A Board of Directors governs NTI with current and Emeritus Members from the United States, Japan, India, Pakistan, China, Jordan, Sweden, France and the United Kingdom.
