Public Health Wednesdays (PHW)- Africa & Asia Health Check

ASIA 

INDIA SAYS YES TO LABELS

“About 6 million people die of tobacco use globally every year and India accounts for 1/6th of the total deaths. ”

— Sanchita, Sharma Health & Science Editor for Hindustan Times

The Independent

 A solid blow but not a final one from India’s Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided to put some much-needed brakes with the issue of larger health warnings on cigarettes sold in India, like the picture below. A lower court had ruled in favor for Tobacco Hero, Phillip Morris International to not increase the current surface available for health warnings. They will be back in court on March 12th.

THE PHILIPPINES

“In 2016, Obesity cost the Philippines between $500 million and $1 billion, or equivalent to between 4 percent and 8 percent of its health-care spending. ”

— Business Mirror, 2016

The Philippine government will impose higher taxes on sugar sweetened drinks as a way to target obesity. 

JAPAN APPROVES COCA-COLA FOR LAXATIVES

Nope, Japan has a better answer for your constipation needs

The Japanese government has approved of this new Coca Cola has a healthy laxative. It helps to suppress fat and make you do the number 2. We should note here it is for the elderly, but you guess right, young people are consuming the beverage. Anyway, if you drink more than one a day, you can guess the consequences 

Dr. David Machiels, product development director, R&D, Coca-Cola Asia Pacific

Coca-Cola has released a laxative-enhanced and purportedly healthy cola beverage in Japan.

THAILAND UPDATE ON WHITENING THE PENIS TREND

So about the Whitening of the Penis situation, the Minister of Health relesed a Twitter statement few days ago

““Dr Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn of the Thai Health Ministry said: “Penis laser whitening is not necessary, wastes money and may give more negative effects than positive ones.””

— Twitter

AFRICA

South Sudan is starting the year with suspected cases of (VHFs)Viral Haemorrhagic Fever, Nigeria with Meningitis and Necrotizing Fasciitis in São Tomé and Príncipe. 

“Viral haemorrhagic fever is a general term for a severe illness, sometimes associated with bleeding, that may be caused by a number of viruses. The term is usually applied to disease caused by Arenaviridae (Lassa fever, Junin and Machupo), Bunyaviridae (Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Rift Valley Fever, Hantaan haemorrhagic fevers), Filoviridae (Ebola and Marburg) and Flaviviridae (yellow fever, dengue, Omsk haemorrhagic fever, Kyasanur forest disease).”

— World Health Organization

Google this word  "Necrotizing Fasciitis" for photos, be warned the photos are VERY GRAPHIC

ZAMBIA

CHOLERA

What is cholera? What are the symptoms? Is there a vaccine? Watch the video and find out more information.

Day 10 into 2018, Zambia has a cumulative total of 2905 cholera cases and a total of 67 deaths. The Zambian government has placed curfews, banned meetings at public gatherings such as churches and schools. In addition to these reactive methods to the Cholera public health emergency, the Zambian government has stopped issuing Zambian passports and birth certificates.
 

“Over 124 infections were documented in 24 hours from January 8th- January 9th.”

Meanwhile lack of sanitation is causing a cholera crisis in Zambia. The government has taken extraordinary measures in the capital Lusaka to wipe out the disease. And as Mutuna Chanda reports, the outbreak isn't just affecting people's health.

Economic consequences to the reactionary behaviors of Zambia’s lack of dealing with the issues and not the symptoms, is neighboring country of Namibia banning all food imports from Zambia. Zambia is one of Namibia’s top four trading partners, exports to Namibia totaled around $322 million in 2016.

THE REAL ISSUE

 

UPDATE ON MADAGASCAR AND THE PLAGUE

We touched on Madagascar and the plague some months back, you can catch up here

Director General of WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has included an outline for a plague free Madagascar that includes a request for an added $4 million in funding.

See you next PHW

Public Health Wednesdays- The M Word (Monkey Pox & Marbug Virus)

    MONKEY POX

Monkey Pox

Monkey Pox does not come from this guy or any of his 260 relatives. Monkey Pox comes from rodents. 

The United States and Monkey Pox

In 2003, local residents in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin had cases of Monkey Pox. Here is the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(MMWR) for that incident. 

The United States banned six rodents to fight the infectious monkey pox in 2003

Monkey Pox Reported Cases in Africa

Small outbreaks of monkey pox have occurred in Sierra Leone, Congo, and Central African Republic. Nigeria has reported multiples cases of monkey pox throughout the country. The country of Cameroon's primate population experienced a monkey pox epidemic. Fatality rates are quite low and occur with younger populations and are rare. 

What is Nigeria doing about the outbreak?

How do you contract Monkey Pox? 

The monkey pox virus is transmitted to people from various wild animals but has limited secondary spread through human-to-human transmission.

Symptoms  

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion

Outbreaks can be controlled with a host of options

To understand more on the Monkey Pox
 

MARBUG VIRUS -UGANDA

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?

A severe, highly fatal virus called Marburg has infected and killed three people in Uganda. While that's a small number of infections, any cases of Marburg are cause for concern given the virus' high fatality rates and similarities to the deadly Ebola virus. Here's what you should know.

WHO Report on the Marbug Virus

How is Uganda handling an outbreak?

They are doing well, they have one more mandatory cycle to complete and it should be declared under control. 

There are still reported cases of the Dengue Fever in Burkina Faso though reported cases are dropping. Madagascar is taking control of the plague, far from over but relief is on the way. 

See you next PHW-Public Health Wednesday

Public Health Wednesday(PHW)- The Bubonic Plague visits Madagascar

WHAT EXACTLY IS BUBO??

“Bubo comes from the lymph node becoming inflamed, tense and painful. ”

— Water & Cassava

CDC: PLAGUE 101

https://www.cdc.gov/plague/

https://www.cdc.gov/plague/

THE MORE YOU KNOW.... 

    THE WHO & FUNDING FOR THE PLAGUE

http://www.who.int/emergencies/en/

http://www.who.int/emergencies/en/

Madagascar is trying to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious plague. At least 30 people have died in the past two months, and almost 200 suspected cases have been reported. The government has banned public gatherings in the capital, in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading.

These are the expected countries most vulnerable to the plague. 

CHINA'S MEDICAL DIPLOMACY

Four Chinese medical experts have arrived in the African nation of Madagascar to help it fight a plague. Hundreds have been infected since the outbreak began in early August. At least 120 people have died. A more dangerous form of the bubonic plague, the disease is rare, contagious and often spread by coughing.The Chinese experts will provide medical training to health workers there.

FATHER TRADITION, YOU ARE KILLING YOUR CHILDREN

“Famadihana: In Madagascar people dig up the bodies of their ancestors and dance with them. Depending on the family, this ritual takes place every 5-7 years. ”

— Water & Cassava

The act of Famadihana is also contributing to the rapid spread of the plague. Please visit this link to understand, why this ritual is so special to our Malagasy friends. This video includes dancing with a corpse. 

“The outbreak is never the issue. It is the rituals and culture of the people that make it worse.”

— Operator of Water & Cassava (Last life worked in the applied health sector for 10 years)

   THROWBACK TO 1600'S EUROPE

This is a doctor and his anti bubonic plague suit. Some treatments this particular doctor offered patients: Putting frogs and leeches to the bubo, can you imagine just how healing that would feel?

This was another remedy to help infected patients, Bloodletting

Would you like to take a course on learning about the Plague and the realities that first responders face

See you next PHW