naturalnews--2020-02-24--Democrat lawmakers look to cut Big Pharma out of the vaccine racket for coronavirus

( Natural News ) A contingent of 40 House Democrats has signed a letter calling on the Trump administration to avoid issuing any exclusive licenses to drug companies that end up developing vaccines or any other pharmaceuticals for the Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) .
Dated February 20 , the letter urges President Donald Trump to ensure that all taxpayer-funded treatment protocols remain in a type of public domain , or at least be distributed among multiple drug companies to ensure fair competition and low prices in the public interest .
Issuing exclusive licenses , they further warn , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is inaccessible , wasting public resources and putting public health at risk in the United States and around the globe.
” “ We should not grant any manufacturer a blank check to monopolize a coronavirus vaccine or treatment developed with public , taxpayer support , ” they go on to explain in the letter .
Should the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) decide to go along with the provisions of this proposal , they would in essence be ensuring that any Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) drugs are kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it comes to pricing .
In the event that one or a handful of drug companies schemes to jack up the prices on a Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) vaccine , for instance , the HHS could intervene to drive the price back down to affordable levels for everyone .
Such an intervention “ is particularly critical for vaccines , which are most effective when the vast majority of the public is immunized , ” the letter goes on to contend , making a valid point that highlights the hypocrisy of Big Pharma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it cost-prohibitive for many lower-income people to achieve “ herd ” immunity .
Listen below as Mike Adams , the Health Ranger , shares advice about how to protect yourself against the coming coronavirus wave in the United States : We the People own ANY medicine that was developed with our tax dollars While we ’ re obviously not on board with the vaccine agenda , these House Democrats bring up some exceptionally valid points about the Big Pharma drug racket , and how Trump , in order to stay true to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people to break up this monopoly once and for all .
Especially when it comes to emergency medicine , Big Pharma can ’ t be allowed to siphon the taxpayer coffers simply to pad its own patent portfolio .
If taxpayer money is going to be used to develop synthetic medicines , especially during a global emergency , then the end product needs to be readily available at affordable prices to the populace that paid for it .
As it turns out , the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in taxpayer dollars on coronavirus research , which began as far back as 2002 following the infamous SARS ( severe acute respiratory syndrome ) outbreak of that same year .
The pharmaceutical industry is currently running six different coronavirus clinical trials , and various nonprofit and public institutions , funded by taxpayers , are supporting all of them , reports indicate .
These same taxpayer-funded entities are also supporting upwards of two-thirds of the current vaccine and drug efforts aimed at the Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) .
If the Trump administration fails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) drug and vaccine monopoly , then many Americans , as well as poorer people elsewhere in the world , will not be afforded the same protection against the disease as their wealthier counterparts .
“ If MY money pays for it , it is MY drug , ” wrote one insightful commenter at The Epoch Times .
“ I ( the taxpayer ) am the investor .
We are paying these researchers to do a JOB , not to take our money and then screw us over.
” You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official Brighteon.com H.R .
Report channel .
More coronavirus news is also available at the new-and-improved Pandemic.news .

Democrat lawmakers look to cut Big Pharma out of the vaccine racket for coronavirus
A contingent of 40 House Democrats has signed a letter calling on the Trump administration to avoid issuing any exclusive licenses to drug companies that end up developing vaccines or any other pharmaceuticals for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19).
Dated February 20, the letter urges President Donald Trump to ensure that all taxpayer-funded treatment protocols remain in a type of public domain, or at least be distributed among multiple drug companies to ensure fair competition and low prices in the public interest.
Issuing exclusive licenses, they further warn, "could result in an expensive medicine that is inaccessible, wasting public resources and putting public health at risk in the United States and around the globe."
"We should not grant any manufacturer a blank check to monopolize a coronavirus vaccine or treatment developed with public, taxpayer support," they go on to explain in the letter.
Should the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decide to go along with the provisions of this proposal, they would in essence be ensuring that any Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) drugs are kept in the public domain, particularly when it comes to pricing.
In the event that one or a handful of drug companies schemes to jack up the prices on a Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) vaccine, for instance, the HHS could intervene to drive the price back down to affordable levels for everyone.
Such an intervention "is particularly critical for vaccines, which are most effective when the vast majority of the public is immunized," the letter goes on to contend, making a valid point that highlights the hypocrisy of Big Pharma's longstanding vaccine monopoly that makes it cost-prohibitive for many lower-income people to achieve "herd" immunity.
Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, shares advice about how to protect yourself against the coming coronavirus wave in the United States:
We the People own ANY medicine that was developed with our tax dollars
While we're obviously not on board with the vaccine agenda, these House Democrats bring up some exceptionally valid points about the Big Pharma drug racket, and how Trump, in order to stay true to his campaign promises, owes it to the American people to break up this monopoly once and for all.
Especially when it comes to emergency medicine, Big Pharma can't be allowed to siphon the taxpayer coffers simply to pad its own patent portfolio. If taxpayer money is going to be used to develop synthetic medicines, especially during a global emergency, then the end product needs to be readily available at affordable prices to the populace that paid for it.
As it turns out, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has already spent a whopping $700 million in taxpayer dollars on coronavirus research, which began as far back as 2002 following the infamous SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak of that same year.
The pharmaceutical industry is currently running six different coronavirus clinical trials, and various nonprofit and public institutions, funded by taxpayers, are supporting all of them, reports indicate. These same taxpayer-funded entities are also supporting upwards of two-thirds of the current vaccine and drug efforts aimed at the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19).
If the Trump administration fails to take aggressive action against a Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) drug and vaccine monopoly, then many Americans, as well as poorer people elsewhere in the world, will not be afforded the same protection against the disease as their wealthier counterparts.
"If MY money pays for it, it is MY drug," wrote one insightful commenter at The Epoch Times. "I (the taxpayer) am the investor. We are paying these researchers to do a JOB, not to take our money and then screw us over."
You can hear more podcasts each day at the official Brighteon.com H.R. Report channel.
More coronavirus news is also available at the new-and-improved Pandemic.news.
Sources for this article include:
TheEpochTimes.com
NaturalNews.com


naturalnews--2020-02-24--If it weren't for the quiet theft of taxpayer dollars, Big Pharma would never develop critical crisi

If it weren't for the quiet theft of taxpayer dollars, Big Pharma would never develop critical crisis medicines for emergencies like coronavirus

( Natural News ) Prior to the current outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) , there were only six active coronavirus clinical trials taking place that involved the pharmaceutical industry .
And all of them were critically dependent on the use of public funding , according to a new Public Citizen report .
Because of the monopoly model that dominates drug development in our country , drug companies are only willing to perform epidemic response work if taxpayers fund it .
And that ’ s precisely what ’ s happening with the Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) reportedly funnels about $ 700 million in public funding towards research and development .
All of this cash is being taken from taxpayers without their direct permission , of course , and all under the guise of providing emergency medicine .
But in the end , Big Pharma will simply absorb the medicines that We the People pay for as their own , and continue to profit from them while holding exclusive licensing for their sale and use .
It ’ s a highly corrupt system that , as usual , benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the American public .
And , sad to say , this taxpayer money often doesn ’ t even lead to a result that provides any measurable benefits for society , as was seen during the fairly recent Ebola epidemic .
“ In 2014 , as the Ebola epidemic raged on , a promising vaccine sat on the shelf , ” Public Citizen reports about the defects of the monopoly model of medicine .
“ The small company that licensed the vaccine from the Canadian government for approximately $ 200,000 had failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only after the company further sub-licensed the vaccine to Merck for $ 50 million that it was finally made available through clinical trials .
The process took over a year , producing a substantial profit for the small company.
” Listen below as Mike Adams , the Health Ranger , talks about how during the Ebola crisis there were also symptomless carriers of the disease much like there now are for the Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) : We the People should own all medicine in a public collective The Coalition for Epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are “ a number of critical gaps ” when it comes to vaccine funding specifically .
And the agency has reportedly pumped millions of dollars from its own coffers into R & D for emerging infectious diseases , including for the Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) , to try to fill those gaps .
The CEPI says it ’ s currently funding at least four new vaccine projects , though this has been the subject of much criticism , including from Médecins Sans Frontières which has accused the coalition of failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be affordable for people who need them most.
” This is the very same problem with the monopoly model of medicine at large , which in essence hands over the licensing rights of life-saving medicines to greedy pharmaceuticals corporations that proceed to jack up the prices for their own benefit .
For this reason , Public Citizen and others are calling for the monopoly model to finally be put to death , especially when taxpayer money is involved .
If We the People are going to be expected to fund the research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end product should also be owned by We the People , and not by the pharmaceutical cartels .
“ We need a system that prioritizes public health , ” Public Citizen contends .
“ For more than a decade , academics , economists and activists have proposed developing alternative models to incentivize R & D that do not rely on monopolies.
” “ The COVID-19 crisis highlights the urgent need for a new model , ” it goes on to add .
“ Implementing an approach that looks beyond monopolies could help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
U.S. taxpayers are compensated for their significant investment in biomedical research and development by being charged the highest medicine prices in the world.
” More coverage of the Wuhan coronavirus ( CoVid-19 ) is available at the all-new Pandemic.news .

If it weren’t for the quiet theft of taxpayer dollars, Big Pharma would never develop critical crisis medicines for emergencies like coronavirus
Prior to the current outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), there were only six active coronavirus clinical trials taking place that involved the pharmaceutical industry. Andof them were critically dependent on the use of public funding, according to a new Public Citizen report
Because of the monopoly model that dominates drug development in our country, drug companies are only willing to perform epidemic response work if taxpayers fund it. And that's precisely what's happening with the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reportedly funnels about $700 million in public funding towards research and development.
All of this cash is being taken from taxpayers without their direct permission, of course, and all under the guise of providing emergency medicine. But in the end, Big Pharma will simply absorb the medicines that We the People pay for as their own, and continue to profit from them while holding exclusive licensing for their sale and use.
It's a highly corrupt system that, as usual, benefits the legal drug cartels at the expense of the American public. And, sad to say, this taxpayer money often doesn't even lead to a result that provides any measurable benefits for society, as was seen during the fairly recent Ebola epidemic.
"In 2014, as the Ebola epidemic raged on, a promising vaccine sat on the shelf," Public Citizen reports about the defects of the monopoly model of medicine.
"The small company that licensed the vaccine from the Canadian government for approximately $200,000 had failed to complete basic safety trials. It was only after the company further sub-licensed the vaccine to Merck for $50 million that it was finally made available through clinical trials. The process took over a year, producing a substantial profit for the small company."
Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how during the Ebola crisis there were also symptomless carriers of the disease much like there now are for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19):
We the People should own all medicine in a public collective
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) admits that there are "a number of critical gaps" when it comes to vaccine funding specifically. And the agency has reportedly pumped millions of dollars from its own coffers into R&D for emerging infectious diseases, including for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), to try to fill those gaps.
The CEPI says it's currently funding at least four new vaccine projects, though this has been the subject of much criticism, including from Médecins Sans Frontières which has accused the coalition of failing to "ensure [that] CEPI-funded vaccines will be affordable for people who need them most."
This is the very same problem with the monopoly model of medicine at large, which in essence hands over the licensing rights of life-saving medicines to greedy pharmaceuticals corporations that proceed to jack up the prices for their own benefit.
For this reason, Public Citizen and others are calling for the monopoly model to finally be put to death, especially when taxpayer money is involved. If We the People are going to be expected to fund the research into all of this medicine, then the end product should also be owned by We the People, and not by the pharmaceutical cartels.
"We need a system that prioritizes public health," Public Citizen contends. "For more than a decade, academics, economists and activists have proposed developing alternative models to incentivize R&D that do not rely on monopolies."
"The COVID-19 crisis highlights the urgent need for a new model," it goes on to add. "Implementing an approach that looks beyond monopolies could help ensure that taxpayers do not pay twice. U.S. taxpayers are compensated for their significant investment in biomedical research and development by being charged the highest medicine prices in the world."
More coverage of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) is available at the all-new Pandemic.news.
Sources for this article include:
Citizen.org
NaturalNews.com


naturalnews--2020-02-24--It's bad for you, but you won't know: Commonly prescribed medications can increase dementia risk by

It's bad for you, but you won't know: Commonly prescribed medications can increase dementia risk by nearly 50%, researchers warn

( Natural News ) If you ’ re looking to reduce your risk of dementia , you might be increasing your intake of blueberries and omega-3 rich foods , but a new study shows another very important step you should take : avoid anticholinergic medication .
Anticholinergic drugs are given to people for symptoms such as bladder problems , gastrointestinal disorders , Parkinson ’ s disease , allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease .
They contract and relax muscles and work by blocking acetylcholine , which transmits messages through the nervous system .
Although these drugs are already known to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short-term side effects , researchers wanted to find out if long-term use could raise people ’ s risk of developing dementia .
Scientists from the University of Nottingham looked at nearly 59,000 patients to explore the link .
The people they studied were 82 years old on average , and 63 percent of them were women .
They matched each dementia patient with five control patients who had the same sex , age and general habits .
Then , they assessed their anticholinergic drug exposure by looking at the 10 years preceding their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the control patients who don ’ t have the disease ) to find patterns .
They also carried out a further analysis that looked at anticholinergic use in the 20 years prior to dementia diagnosis .
As an observational study , the researchers can ’ t declare conclusively that anticholinergic drugs do cause dementia , but the increased risk associated with the drugs shows that if the association does indeed turn out to be causal , around 10 percent of dementia cases could be attributed to the use of such drugs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoking in later life , physical inactivity , diabetes and midlife hypertension .
The most frequently prescribed anticholinergic drugs were antidepressants , anti-vertigo , and antimuscarinic drugs for overactive bladder .
The researchers say that doctors should consider the risks of these drugs alongside the benefits and consider alternative types of medication wherever possible .
Previous studies have reached similar conclusions .
For example , a report published in JAMA Internal Medicine linked the long-term use of anticholinergic meds like Benadryl to dementia .
In that study , a team of researchers tracked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were part of a long-term health study .
They examined pharmacy records to determine all the medications each participant had taken in the ten years prior to the study .
They then tracked their health for seven years on average , during which time 800 of the participants developed dementia .
When they looked at anticholinergic drug use , the researchers discovered that those who had taken the drugs were more likely to have ended up developing dementia than those who did not take such medications .
On top of that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person had taken .
For example , the use of an anticholinergic drug for three years or longer was associated with a dementia risk that was 54 percent higher than taking the same dosage for three months or less .
Studies like these are a good reminder that it ’ s important to take a closer look at the medications you and your elderly loved ones are taking .
Assess their side effects , and decide whether they are actually providing benefits that are worth taking those risks on .
Your body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age , and blocking its effects with anticholinergics only makes the situation worse in older people .
That ’ s why it ’ s important to seek alternatives to these drugs , especially natural ones , if you want to keep a clear mind into your golden years .

It’s bad for you, but you won’t know: Commonly prescribed medications can increase dementia risk by nearly 50%, researchers warn
If you’re looking to reduce your risk of dementia, you might be increasing your intake of blueberries and omega-3 rich foods, but a new study shows another very important step you should take: avoid anticholinergic medication.
Anticholinergic drugs are given to people for symptoms such as bladder problems, gastrointestinal disorders, Parkinson’s disease, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They contract and relax muscles and work by blocking acetylcholine, which transmits messages through the nervous system.
Although these drugs are already known to cause confusion and memory loss among their short-term side effects, researchers wanted to find out if long-term use could raise people’s risk of developing dementia.
Scientists from the University of Nottingham looked at nearly 59,000 patients to explore the link. The people they studied were 82 years old on average, and 63 percent of them were women. They matched each dementia patient with five control patients who had the same sex, age and general habits.
Then, they assessed their anticholinergic drug exposure by looking at the 10 years preceding their dementia diagnosis (or the equivalent dates among the control patients who don’t have the disease) to find patterns. They also carried out a further analysis that looked at anticholinergic use in the 20 years prior to dementia diagnosis.
As an observational study, the researchers can’t declare conclusively that anticholinergic drugs do cause dementia, but the increased risk associated with the drugs shows that if the association does indeed turn out to be causal, around 10 percent of dementia cases could be attributed to the use of such drugs. Other modifiable risk factors for dementia include smoking in later life, physical inactivity, diabetes and midlife hypertension.
The most frequently prescribed anticholinergic drugs were antidepressants, anti-vertigo, and antimuscarinic drugs for overactive bladder. The researchers say that doctors should consider the risks of these drugs alongside the benefits and consider alternative types of medication wherever possible.
Past studies also link dementia to anticholinergic drugs
Previous studies have reached similar conclusions. For example, a report published in JAMA Internal Medicine linked the long-term use of anticholinergic meds like Benadryl to dementia.
In that study, a team of researchers tracked nearly 3,500 people aged 65 and older who were part of a long-term health study. They examined pharmacy records to determine all the medications each participant had taken in the ten years prior to the study. They then tracked their health for seven years on average, during which time 800 of the participants developed dementia.
When they looked at anticholinergic drug use, the researchers discovered that those who had taken the drugs were more likely to have ended up developing dementia than those who did not take such medications. On top of that, the risk rose with the cumulative dose a person had taken. For example, the use of an anticholinergic drug for three years or longer was associated with a dementia risk that was 54 percent higher than taking the same dosage for three months or less.
Studies like these are a good reminder that it’s important to take a closer look at the medications you and your elderly loved ones are taking. Assess their side effects, and decide whether they are actually providing benefits that are worth taking those risks on.
Your body’s acetylcholine production declines as you age, and blocking its effects with anticholinergics only makes the situation worse in older people. That’s why it’s important to seek alternatives to these drugs, especially natural ones, if you want to keep a clear mind into your golden years.
Sources for this article include:
IntegrativePractitioner.com
Health.Harvard.edu


naturalnews--2020-02-24--Worst extinction since the dinosaurs: Total biomass of flying insects down by a staggering 76%, warn

( Natural News ) We are in the middle of an extinction phase .
The animals in danger of extermination ?
Flying insects .
This is according to entomology enthusiast Martin Sorg , president of the Amateur Entomology Society of Krefeld , who , over the last 37 years , collected 80 million insects from the German countryside .
And while the Society ’ s collection is considered a world-class scientific treasure , it is also gaining a reputation as “ evidence ” of what is being described as one of Earth ’ s worst extinction phases since the Cretaceous-Paleogene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which resulted in the eradication of dinosaurs .
According to Sorg , the total annual biomass of flying insects collected by him and several volunteers have plummeted by 76 percent since the Society first started its collection – a troubling scenario that can disastrously impact global food chains and habitats .
“ We only became aware of the seriousness of this decline in 2011 , and every year since then we have seen it get worse , ” Sorg said , noting that at the time , the news did not make major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about biodiversity loss focused mostly on larger species .
Although the exact roots of the massive die-off have not yet been made clear , Sorg is adamant that humans are to be blamed .
“ The cause is anthropogenic , there ’ s no doubt about it , ” Sorg said , pointing to continued pesticide use , unchecked industrialization and habitat destruction .
This is echoed by researchers Francisco Sánchez-Bayo and Kris Wyckhuys , who recently published the first synthesis of 73 studies on entomological fauna around the world over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which covered locations ranging from Costa Rica to southern France , Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys calculated that over 40 percent of insect species are threatened with extinction , and that each year about one percentage point is added to the list .
And it appears that this extinction threat isn ’ t just wide-ranging – it ’ s also happening quite rapidly .
( Related : Bee warfare : Domesticated honey bees spread viruses on plants , driving wild bumblebees to extinction . )
“ In 10 years you will have a quarter less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in 100 years you will have none , ” Sánchez-Bayo said in an interview with The Guardian .
Sánchez-Bayo noted that the effects of insect eradication will weigh heavily on the many birds , reptiles , amphibians , fish and other animals that prey on the creatures .
“ If this food source is taken away , all these animals starve to death , ” Sanchez-Bayo , a researcher from the University of Sydney , in Australia , said .
According to the two researchers , habitat change caused by deforestation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest cause of insect decline – and by a large margin .
This is followed by pollution and the heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers in commercial agriculture , as well as the introduction of invasive species , among others .
“ The main cause of the decline is agricultural intensification , ” Sánchez-Bayo told The Guardian .
“ That means the elimination of all trees and shrubs that normally surround the fields , so there are plain , bare fields that are treated with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
” Sánchez-Bayo added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the dawn of the 20th century , sped up during the 1950s and 1960s , and then reached “ alarming proportions ” over the last two decades .
In addition , Sánchez-Bayo thinks new classes of insecticides introduced in the last 20 years , such as neonicotinoids and fipronil , have been particularly damaging since they persist in the environment and “ …sterilize the soil , killing all the grubs.
” According to Sánchez-Bayo , this has effects even in what would appear to be pristine environments – a particularly sobering fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany by Sorg and company were in protected nature reserves .
“ The conclusion is clear , ” Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys wrote in their study .
“ Unless we change our ways of producing food , insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades , ” the researchers said .

Worst extinction since the dinosaurs: Total biomass of flying insects down by a staggering 76%, warn German researchers
We are in the middle of an extinction phase. The animals in danger of extermination ? Flying insects.
This is according to entomology enthusiast Martin Sorg, president of the Amateur Entomology Society of Krefeld, who, over the last 37 years, collected 80 million insects from the German countryside. And while the Society’s collection is considered a world-class scientific treasure, it is also gaining a reputation as “evidence” of what is being described as one of Earth's worst extinction phases since the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event 66 million years ago, which resulted in the eradication of dinosaurs.
According to Sorg, the total annual biomass of flying insects collected by him and several volunteers have plummeted by 76 percent since the Society first started its collection – a troubling scenario that can disastrously impact global food chains and habitats.
“We only became aware of the seriousness of this decline in 2011, and every year since then we have seen it get worse,” Sorg said, noting that at the time, the news did not make major waves outside of ecological circles as concern about biodiversity loss focused mostly on larger species.
Although the exact roots of the massive die-off have not yet been made clear, Sorg is adamant that humans are to be blamed. “The cause is anthropogenic, there's no doubt about it,” Sorg said, pointing to continued pesticide use, unchecked industrialization and habitat destruction.
This is echoed by researchers Francisco Sánchez-Bayo and Kris Wyckhuys, who recently published the first synthesis of 73 studies on entomological fauna around the world over the past 40 years.
In that meta-study, which covered locations ranging from Costa Rica to southern France, Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys calculated that over 40 percent of insect species are threatened with extinction, and that each year about one percentage point is added to the list.
And it appears that this extinction threat isn’t just wide-ranging – it’s also happening quite rapidly. (Related: Bee warfare: Domesticated honey bees spread viruses on plants, driving wild bumblebees to extinction.)
“In 10 years you will have a quarter less, in 50 years only half left and in 100 years you will have none,” Sánchez-Bayo said in an interview with The Guardian.
Sánchez-Bayo noted that the effects of insect eradication will weigh heavily on the many birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and other animals that prey on the creatures. “If this food source is taken away, all these animals starve to death,” Sanchez-Bayo, a researcher from the University of Sydney, in Australia, said.
According to the two researchers, habitat change caused by deforestation, urbanization and conversion to farmland emerged as the biggest cause of insect decline – and by a large margin. This is followed by pollution and the heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers in commercial agriculture, as well as the introduction of invasive species, among others.
“The main cause of the decline is agricultural intensification,” Sánchez-Bayo told The Guardian. “That means the elimination of all trees and shrubs that normally surround the fields, so there are plain, bare fields that are treated with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.”
Sánchez-Bayo added that insect decline appears to have started at the dawn of the 20th century, sped up during the 1950s and 1960s, and then reached “alarming proportions” over the last two decades.
In addition, Sánchez-Bayo thinks new classes of insecticides introduced in the last 20 years, such as neonicotinoids and fipronil, have been particularly damaging since they persist in the environment and “...sterilize the soil, killing all the grubs.” According to Sánchez-Bayo, this has effects even in what would appear to be pristine environments – a particularly sobering fact given that the insect losses recorded in Germany by Sorg and company were in protected nature reserves.
“The conclusion is clear,” Sánchez-Bayo and Wyckhuys wrote in their study. “Unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades,” the researchers said.
Sources include:
DailyMail.co.uk
TheGuardian.com
ScienceDirect.com


naturalnews--2020-02-24--Excessive fluoride exposure leads to altered tooth enamel

( Natural News ) Fluoride is a type of mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and even water .
In the context of human health , fluoride is commonly found in commercial dental care products that aim to strengthen enamel – the outer layer of the teeth .
The enamel protects the teeth from tooth decay and cavities by making them more resistant to acid attacks from various bacteria and sugar in the mouth .
Now , recent research suggests that exposure to too much fluoride can alter tooth enamel .
A study published in the journal Science Signaling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes to the calcium signaling , gene expression and mitochondrial function in enamel cells .
This finding presents a novel explanation for the development of dental fluorosis , a condition caused by overexposure to fluoride during childhood .
How much is too much ?
Dental fluorosis causes discoloration of the teeth , usually accompanied by opaque white marks and poor mineralization .
The condition is especially common when children up to nine years of age are exposed to excessive fluoride levels while their teeth are still forming , which increases their risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Given how common dental fluorosis is and how poorly understood the cellular mechanisms responsible for this disease are , it is important to study this problem , ” said senior study author Rodrigo Lacruz .
In this study , researchers from the New York University ( NYU ) College of Dentistry aimed to look into the molecular bases of dental fluorosis .
To do so , they analyzed the effects of fluoride exposure on enamel cells from rodents .
The levels of fluoride used in the study were significantly higher than what could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent with the levels found in areas where people commonly develop fluorosis .
Afterward , they assessed the impact of fluoride on the cell ’ s calcium signaling , considering calcium ’ s role in mineralizing tooth enamel .
( Related : Toxic toothpaste ingredients that make us sick . )
From the results , the researchers observed that exposing rodent enamel cells to excessive levels of fluoride resulted in calcium dysregulation .
This caused a notable decrease in calcium entering and being stored in the endoplasmic reticulum , a compartment within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability to store calcium .
Furthermore , fluoride exposure also disrupted mitochondrial function , which affected the cell ’ s energy production .
Lastly , the researchers used RNA sequencing to find that enamel cells exposed to fluoride exhibited an increased expression of genes encoding endoplasmic reticulum stress response proteins .
It also increased the expression of the genes encoding mitochondrial proteins responsible for producing energy for cells .
According to the researchers , their findings present a very promising mechanistic view of how fluorosis develops .
If cells needed to produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while being exposed to fluoride , the cells would undergo continued stress in their capacity to handle calcium .
This stress will be reflected in the enamel crystals and will affect mineralization .
To explore this further , the researchers repeated the same experiment , but used early-stage kidney cells from humans instead of enamel cells from rodents .
However , they did not observe the same effects of fluoride exposure , suggesting that enamel cells are significantly different from the cells that form tissue in other parts of the body .
Lacruz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress is vastly different from the coping mechanisms of kidney cells .
Through their research , they are unveiling the mechanisms that highlight the uniqueness of enamel cells , as well as providing an explanation for why fluorosis is a bigger problem for the teeth than anywhere else .
Learn more about strategies to improve your dental health at Dentistry.news .

Excessive fluoride exposure leads to altered tooth enamel
Fluoride is a type of mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and even water. In the context of human health, fluoride is commonly found in commercial dental care products that aim to strengthen enamel – the outer layer of the teeth. The enamel protects the teeth from tooth decay and cavities by making them more resistant to acid attacks from various bacteria and sugar in the mouth. Now, recent research suggests that exposure to too much fluoride can alter tooth enamel
A study published in the journal Science Signaling found that excessive fluoride exposure can make changes to the calcium signaling, gene expression and mitochondrial function in enamel cells. This finding presents a novel explanation for the development of dental fluorosis, a condition caused by overexposure to fluoride during childhood.
How much is too much?
Dental fluorosis causes discoloration of the teeth, usually accompanied by opaque white marks and poor mineralization. The condition is especially common when children up to nine years of age are exposed to excessive fluoride levels while their teeth are still forming, which increases their risk of developing tooth decay as well.
"Given how common dental fluorosis is and how poorly understood the cellular mechanisms responsible for this disease are, it is important to study this problem," said senior study author Rodrigo Lacruz.
In this study, researchers from the New York University (NYU) College of Dentistry aimed to look into the molecular bases of dental fluorosis. To do so, they analyzed the effects of fluoride exposure on enamel cells from rodents. The levels of fluoride used in the study were significantly higher than what could be found in drinking water and was consistent with the levels found in areas where people commonly develop fluorosis. Afterward, they assessed the impact of fluoride on the cell's calcium signaling, considering calcium's role in mineralizing tooth enamel. (Related: Toxic toothpaste ingredients that make us sick.)
From the results, the researchers observed that exposing rodent enamel cells to excessive levels of fluoride resulted in calcium dysregulation. This caused a notable decrease in calcium entering and being stored in the endoplasmic reticulum, a compartment within the cells that perform many functions, including the ability to store calcium. Furthermore, fluoride exposure also disrupted mitochondrial function, which affected the cell's energy production.
Lastly, the researchers used RNA sequencing to find that enamel cells exposed to fluoride exhibited an increased expression of genes encoding endoplasmic reticulum stress response proteins. It also increased the expression of the genes encoding mitochondrial proteins responsible for producing energy for cells.
According to the researchers, their findings present a very promising mechanistic view of how fluorosis develops. If cells needed to produce enamel – which is heavily calcified – while being exposed to fluoride, the cells would undergo continued stress in their capacity to handle calcium. This stress will be reflected in the enamel crystals and will affect mineralization.
To explore this further, the researchers repeated the same experiment, but used early-stage kidney cells from humans instead of enamel cells from rodents. However, they did not observe the same effects of fluoride exposure, suggesting that enamel cells are significantly different from the cells that form tissue in other parts of the body.
Lacruz says that the way enamel cells handle stress is vastly different from the coping mechanisms of kidney cells. Through their research, they are unveiling the mechanisms that highlight the uniqueness of enamel cells, as well as providing an explanation for why fluorosis is a bigger problem for the teeth than anywhere else.
Learn more about strategies to improve your dental health at Dentistry.news.
Sources include:
ScienceDaily.com
STKE.ScienceMag.org


naturalnews--2020-02-24--New Washington state bill takes aim at bottlers looking to tap local water supplies

( Natural News ) The Cascade Mountain Range extends from British Columbia in Canada through Washington State , Oregon and Northern California .
This beautiful mountain range supplies a lot of freshwater not just to the state of Washington but also to the rest of the United States .
This freshwater is now under threat from corporations that want to bottle up the water and ship it out for their personal profit .
The Washington State Senate wants to make sure the state ’ s natural resources remain within the state .
They just passed a bill , SB 6278 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial bottled water production ” 28-20 ( 28 Democrats for , 19 Republicans and 1 Democrat against ) that aims to ban new permits for water bottling operations .
While it still needs to pass the Washington House of Representatives , if signed into law , the bill will go into effect retroactively .
It would apply to all new permits filed after January 1 , 2019 .
Water health campaigners around the state have hailed the passage of the bill , declaring it a breakthrough .
“ Washington State is carving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Mary Grand in a statement .
Grand is the director of Food & Water Action ’ s Public Water For All campaign .
“ This legislation… would ban one of the worst corporate water abuses – the extraction of local water supplies in plastic bottles shipped out of watersheds and around the country.
” ( Related : Coca-Cola rolls out a recycled bottle made with a tiny fraction of all the plastic waste the unethical corporation has dumped on the world . )
Corporations continue to profit off and poison the water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beverage product in the US by volume .
But residents of places where the water is sourced aren ’ t too happy with the businesses .
In Southwest Washington , the company Crystal Geyser has been pumping and packaging 400 gallons of bottled water every minute .
SB 6278 would affect their operations , making them pack up and leave the state .
The bill recently went through its first reading in the Washington House of Representatives on February 20 and is currently in committee .
It ’ s scheduled for a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Development , Agriculture & Natural Resources on February 26 .
The language of the legislation specifically dictates that “ any use of water for the commercial production of bottled water is deemed to be detrimental to the public welfare and the public interest.
” This is happening across the country , and many local activists have been warning state officials that the bottling companies may end up depleting many local aquifers .
“ I was jolted to the core to realize the depth and breadth and magnitude of how they have lawyered up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of water rights , ” said Washington State Senator Reuven Carlyle in an interview .
Carlyle , a Democrat , is the primary sponsor of SB 6278 .
“ The fact that we have incredibly loose , if virtually nonexistent , policy guidelines around this is shocking and a categorical failure.
” Washington ’ s proposal isn ’ t unique .
Both Michigan and Maine have also introduced legislation aiming to place restrictions on bottled water companies and to protect their states ’ respective freshwater from commercial use .
Local ballot measures protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montana and in Oregon , which has also scrapped a deal to open a plant with Nestle , citing environmental concerns .
In Florida , an online petition specifically targeting Nestle garnered more than 83,000 signatures and aimed to stop them from bottling water in Ginnie Springs .
According to the Center for Environmental Law & Policy , water bottling companies have taken a keen interest in setting up shop in Washington state .
The establishment of these plants would allow Washington ’ s water to be taken not for the benefit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may not give back to the communities they take the water from .
“ Washington ’ s waters belong to the people of Washington , ” they said in a statement .

New Washington state bill takes aim at bottlers looking to tap local water supplies
The Cascade Mountain Range extends from British Columbia in Canada through Washington State, Oregon and Northern California. This beautiful mountain range supplies a lot of freshwater not just to the state of Washington but also to the rest of the United States. This freshwater is now under threat from corporations that want to bottle up the water and ship it out for their personal profit.
The Washington State Senate wants to make sure the state's natural resources remain within the state. They just passed a bill, SB 6278, titled "Concerning water withdrawals for commercial bottled water production" 28-20 (28 Democrats for, 19 Republicans and 1 Democrat against) that aims to ban new permits for water bottling operations. While it still needs to pass the Washington House of Representatives, if signed into law, the bill will go into effect retroactively. It would apply to all new permits filed after January 1, 2019.
Water health campaigners around the state have hailed the passage of the bill, declaring it a breakthrough. "Washington State is carving the path towards a groundbreaking solution," said Mary Grand in a statement. Grand is the director of Food & Water Action's Public Water For All campaign. "This legislation… would ban one of the worst corporate water abuses - the extraction of local water supplies in plastic bottles shipped out of watersheds and around the country." (Related: Coca-Cola rolls out a recycled bottle made with a tiny fraction of all the plastic waste the unethical corporation has dumped on the world.)
Corporations continue to profit off and poison the water
Bottled water is the most popular packaged beverage product in the US by volume. But residents of places where the water is sourced aren't too happy with the businesses. In Southwest Washington, the company Crystal Geyser has been pumping and packaging 400 gallons of bottled water every minute. SB 6278 would affect their operations, making them pack up and leave the state.
The bill recently went through its first reading in the Washington House of Representatives on February 20 and is currently in committee. It's scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources on February 26. The language of the legislation specifically dictates that "any use of water for the commercial production of bottled water is deemed to be detrimental to the public welfare and the public interest." This is happening across the country, and many local activists have been warning state officials that the bottling companies may end up depleting many local aquifers.
"I was jolted to the core to realize the depth and breadth and magnitude of how they have lawyered up in these small towns to take advantage of water rights," said Washington State Senator Reuven Carlyle in an interview. Carlyle, a Democrat, is the primary sponsor of SB 6278. "The fact that we have incredibly loose, if virtually nonexistent, policy guidelines around this is shocking and a categorical failure."
Washington's proposal isn't unique. Both Michigan and Maine have also introduced legislation aiming to place restrictions on bottled water companies and to protect their states' respective freshwater from commercial use. Local ballot measures protecting natural water resources have also passed in Montana and in Oregon, which has also scrapped a deal to open a plant with Nestle, citing environmental concerns. In Florida, an online petition specifically targeting Nestle garnered more than 83,000 signatures and aimed to stop them from bottling water in Ginnie Springs.
According to the Center for Environmental Law & Policy, water bottling companies have taken a keen interest in setting up shop in Washington state. The establishment of these plants would allow Washington's water to be taken not for the benefit of the people, but of the corporations that may not give back to the communities they take the water from.
"Washington's waters belong to the people of Washington," they said in a statement.
Sources include:
EcoWatch.com
Apps.Leg.WA.gov
TheGuardian.com
Edition.CNN.com


naturalnews--2020-02-24--Erectile dysfunction? Take maca root and Chinese chives, says study

( Natural News ) Male sexual dysfunction is becoming a global health problem .
Erectile dysfunction ( ED ) or impotence affects an estimated 20 to 30 million men in the U.S. and more than 150 million men worldwide .
ED is characterized by an inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse .
Although ED is very common , health experts warn that it is not a normal part of aging and could be a sign of a more serious health problem .
There are many treatment options available for ED ; however , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side effects .
Some of the most common issues associated with ED medications include priapism ( lasting erection ) , vision and/or hearing loss , muscle pain , headaches and impaired kidney or liver function .
Due to these downsides , scientists have begun exploring potential alternative treatments for ED which are derived from natural sources .
In a recent study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine , researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University in China reported the positive effects of a natural medicine made using functional foods on ED .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lepidium meyenii ( maca ) root and Allium tuberosum ( Chinese chives ) seeds — foods that can enhance sexual function , according to studies — can improve sexual performance and behavior in mice .
According to the researchers , the bioactivities of maca and Chinese chives are well-documented .
While literature regarding the ability of maca to enhance sexual function abound , the use of Chinese chives seeds for treating impotence is also widespread in traditional Chinese medicine .
But despite the large amount of evidence from studies , their effects on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet been investigated .
For their study , the researchers gave male mice either maca root extract , Chinese chives seed extract or a combination of both for 14 days .
They then observed the animals ’ sexual behavior during the treatment period and measured serum testosterone , nitric oxide ( NO ) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate ( cGMP ) levels in the mice ’ s serum and penis .
They also took note of the weight of the mice ’ s genitals .
The researchers reported that the combination of maca root @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequency much better than either extracts .
It also improved sexual behavior in the mice and increased both serum and penis NO levels , as well as cGMP levels in the penis .
NO plays an important role in male sexual behavior as its release is crucial for an erection .
Specifically , the production of NO by nerves and endothelial cells activates signaling pathways that lead to an increase in cGMP , which then triggers the relaxation of smooth muscles in the penis .
This allows the organ to be filled with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded that the combination of maca root and Chinese chives seed extract produces better synergistic effects on male sexual function than treatment with either extract alone .
( Related : African basil is a potent natural treatment for men with erectile dysfunction . )
What else are they good for ?
Maca is a medicinal plant grown in the Andes mountains in Peru .
Today , it is a popular health supplement commonly added to meals and smoothies , and comes in powder or capsule forms .
According to studies , maca root @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as : In China , chives are part of the daily diet and are also cultivated for their medicinal uses .
Also known as garlic chives , they are a great source of fiber , beta-carotene , riboflavin , thiamine , iron , calcium , potassium and vitamins A and C. Chinese chives are used in Chinese medicine to treat the following : Chinese chives also help boost the immune system , increase energy levels and promote healthy digestion .

Erectile dysfunction? Take maca root and Chinese chives, says study
Male sexual dysfunction is becoming a global health problem. Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence affects an estimated 20 to 30 million men in the U.S. and more than 150 million men worldwide. ED is characterized by an inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Although ED is very common, health experts warn that it is not a normal part of aging and could be a sign of a more serious health problem
There are many treatment options available for ED; however, these largely include expensive medications that have unwanted side effects. Some of the most common issues associated with ED medications include priapism (lasting erection), vision and/or hearing loss, muscle pain, headaches and impaired kidney or liver function. Due to these downsides, scientists have begun exploring potential alternative treatments for ED which are derived from natural sources.
In a recent study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University in China reported the positive effects of a natural medicine made using functional foods on ED. They discovered that the combined extracts from Lepidium meyenii (maca) root and Allium tuberosum (Chinese chives) seeds -- foods that can enhance sexual function, according to studies -- can improve sexual performance and behavior in mice.
Potent combo for erectile dysfunction
According to the researchers, the bioactivities of maca and Chinese chives are well-documented. While literature regarding the ability of maca to enhance sexual function abound, the use of Chinese chives seeds for treating impotence is also widespread in traditional Chinese medicine. But despite the large amount of evidence from studies, their effects on male sexual function when combined has not yet been investigated.
For their study, the researchers gave male mice either maca root extract, Chinese chives seed extract or a combination of both for 14 days. They then observed the animals' sexual behavior during the treatment period and measured serum testosterone, nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the mice's serum and penis. They also took note of the weight of the mice's genitals.
The researchers reported that the combination of maca root and Chinese chives seed extracts increased ejaculation frequency much better than either extracts. It also improved sexual behavior in the mice and increased both serum and penis NO levels, as well as cGMP levels in the penis.
NO plays an important role in male sexual behavior as its release is crucial for an erection. Specifically, the production of NO by nerves and endothelial cells activates signaling pathways that lead to an increase in cGMP, which then triggers the relaxation of smooth muscles in the penis. This allows the organ to be filled with blood and become erect.
The researchers concluded that the combination of maca root and Chinese chives seed extract produces better synergistic effects on male sexual function than treatment with either extract alone. (Related: African basil is a potent natural treatment for men with erectile dysfunction.)
What else are they good for?
Maca is a medicinal plant grown in the Andes mountains in Peru. Today, it is a popular health supplement commonly added to meals and smoothies, and comes in powder or capsule forms. According to studies, maca root offers plenty of health benefits, such as:
Increasing libido
Boosting energy and endurance
Increasing fertility
Improving mood
Lowering blood pressure
Protecting the skin from UV rays
Fighting free radicals
Reducing menopause symptoms
Improving cognitive function
In China, chives are part of the daily diet and are also cultivated for their medicinal uses. Also known as garlic chives, they are a great source of fiber, beta-carotene, riboflavin, thiamine, iron, calcium, potassium and vitamins A and C. Chinese chives are used in Chinese medicine to treat the following:
Intestinal parasites
Hemorrhage
Ailments involving the liver, kidneys and digestive tract
Bug bites
Minor cuts
Chinese chives also help boost the immune system, increase energy levels and promote healthy digestion.
Sources include:
Science.news
UCSFHealth.org
NIDDK.NIH.gov
BMCComplementMedTherapies.BiomedCentral.com
PNAS.org
MedicalNewsToday.com
HeritageGarden.UIC.edu


naturalnews--2020-02-28--Fear and outrage rise following report that northern California coronavirus patient was not tested f

( Natural News ) President Donald Trump attempted to calm fears over the potential spread of the Wuhan coronavirus during a national address Wednesday evening , but if he wants Americans to calm down , the first thing he needs to do is take stock of the government ’ s health agencies and get them on the same page .
While the president was telling everyone that his administration had the situation under control and there is nothing to worry about , health officials and hospital personnel in northern California were identifying someone who had contracted the virus — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been in contact with anyone else who has it .
And while that has yet to be confirmed as of this writing , the patient , we are told , was not tested for 11 days , and that was according to protocols issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
As noted by The Reporter : A Solano County woman now critically ill with coronavirus was hospitalized for 11 days before her infection was revealed to healthcare workers , raising the potential of broader community exposure to the dangerous respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patient brought herself to the 50-bed NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville on Feb. 15 , according to the Washington Post .
She was transferred to UC Davis for advanced care four days later , on Feb. 19 .
Health officials at UC-Davis suspected that the patient might be stricken with coronavirus , so they requested she be tested on her arrival .
But it would be four days before the CDC tested her ; the results were not returned until Feb. 26 , according to a UC Davis statement .
California Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential for community spread of the virus , said that it is vital for the federal government and CDC to expanding testing .
Only , that ’ s not going to be easy ; Newsom said in a press conference Thursday morning that his state only had about 200 coronavirus test kits .
“ This is simply inadequate to do the type of testing that is required to address this issue head on , ” he said .
“ This case marks a turning point , ” Dr. Sonia Y. Angell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health , said at the Thursday briefing .
“ We are expanding surveillance activity , increasing lab capacity and planning for increased demand on medical systems.
” The stock market is tanking too , by the way Trump administration officials said that the government will be expanding the country ’ s flu surveillance system to try and spot people in the general population who may unknowingly be carrying the virus .
However , California officials said there aren ’ t any immediate plans to begin testing Solano County residents , where the sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the patient ’ s exposure is unknown , ” the CDC said in a statement Thursday .
“ The case was detected through the U.S. public health system and picked up by astute clinicians.
” The New York Times noted that the agency said while it ’ s not clear yet how the Solano County patient became infected , it ’ s possible that she came into contact with an infected person , as officials continue to trace her movements .
“ The thing that would immediately make all of us uneasy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with someone who comes from an affected country , ” Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University , told the paper .
“ That would suggest there are other undetected cases out there , and we have already started some low-grade transmission.
” Earlier estimates have said that the virus ’ incubation period can be as long as 24 days , as Natural News founder and editor Mike Adams , the Health Ranger , has reported , citing a study by the the British Medical Journal and Yale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinical characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus infection in China , ” is noted as a “ preprint ” which “ has not been peer-reviewed , ” but the study notes that incubation periods for the coronavirus vary from zero days to 24 days .
Meanwhile , an anxious nation is becoming even more so , as evidenced by the diving indexes on Wall Street .

Fear and outrage rise following report that northern California coronavirus patient was not tested for 11 DAYS, thanks to the CDC
President Donald Trump attempted to calm fears over the potential spread of the Wuhan coronavirus during a national address Wednesday evening, but if he wants Americans to calm down, the first thing he needs to do is take stock of the government’s health agencies and geton the same page.
While the president was telling everyone that his administration had the situation under control and there is nothing to worry about, health officials and hospital personnel in northern California were identifying someone who had contracted the virus — and who, they believe, had not been in contact with anyone else who has it.
And while that has yet to be confirmed as of this writing, the patient, we are told, was not tested for 11 days, and that was according to protocols issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As noted by The Reporter:
A Solano County woman now critically ill with coronavirus was hospitalized for 11 days before her infection was revealed to healthcare workers, raising the potential of broader community exposure to the dangerous respiratory disease.
Suffering from flu-like symptoms, the patient brought herself to the 50-bed NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville on Feb. 15, according to the Washington Post. She was transferred to UC Davis for advanced care four days later, on Feb. 19.
Health officials at UC-Davis suspected that the patient might be stricken with coronavirus, so they requested she be tested on her arrival. But it would be four days before the CDC tested her; the results were not returned until Feb. 26, according to a UC Davis statement.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, now faced with the potential for community spread of the virus, said that it is vital for the federal government and CDC to expanding testing.
Only, that's not going to be easy; Newsom said in a press conference Thursday morning that his state only had about 200 coronavirus test kits.
“This is simply inadequate to do the type of testing that is required to address this issue head on,” he said.
“This case marks a turning point,” Dr. Sonia Y. Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health, said at the Thursday briefing. “We are expanding surveillance activity, increasing lab capacity and planning for increased demand on medical systems.”
The stock market is tanking too, by the way
Trump administration officials said that the government will be expanding the country's flu surveillance system to try and spot people in the general population who may unknowingly be carrying the virus.
However, California officials said there aren't any immediate plans to begin testing Solano County residents, where the sick patient lived.
“At this point, the patient’s exposure is unknown,” the CDC said in a statement Thursday. “The case was detected through the U.S. public health system and picked up by astute clinicians.”
The New York Times noted that the agency said while it's not clear yet how the Solano County patient became infected, it's possible that she came into contact with an infected person, as officials continue to trace her movements.
“The thing that would immediately make all of us uneasy is if this person had no direct contact with someone who comes from an affected country,” Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, told the paper.
“That would suggest there are other undetected cases out there, and we have already started some low-grade transmission.”
Earlier estimates have said that the virus' incubation period can be as long as 24 days, as Natural News founder and editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, has reported, citing a study by the the British Medical Journal and Yale:
The study, entitled, “Clinical characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus infection in China,” is noted as a “preprint” which “has not been peer-reviewed,” but the study notes that incubation periods for the coronavirus vary from zero days to 24 days.
Meanwhile, an anxious nation is becoming even more so, as evidenced by the diving indexes on Wall Street.
Sources include:
CNBC.com
NaturalNews.com
NYTimes.com
TheReporter.com


naturalnews--2020-02-28--Trump urged to invoke Korean War-era law to order RAMP UP in production of coronavirus protective ge

( Natural News ) As the stock market tanked on new and expanding reports about what appears to be a growing Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in the United States , advisers to President Donald Trump urged him on Thursday to take more drastic measures in order to better prepare the country .
With a shortage of virus test kits , masks , respirators and other protective gear , Trump is being pressured to invoke the Defense Production Act , a law passed at the outset of the Korean War in 1950 to quickly ramp up production of military equipment and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of the law , passed by Congress in 1950 at the outset of the Korean War , would mark an escalation of the administration ’ s response to the outbreak .
The virus first surfaced in China and has since spread to other countries including the United States .
U.S. health officials have told Americans to begin preparing for the spread of the virus in the United States .
Under the law , President Trump has the power to rapidly expand industrial production of important materials and products for national security and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produce the most face masks include 3M Corp and Honeywell International Inc .
Earlier this week , Health and Human Services ( HHS ) Secretary Alex Azar told lawmakers that the U.S. would require a stockpile of some 300 million N95 face masks — devices that protect the respiratory system — for medical workers alone .
Right now , Azar said , the U.S. only has a small fraction of masks currently available for immediate deployment and use .
Officials from HHS and the Department of Homeland Security said during an interagency conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act so he can order the manufacture of “ personal protective equipment ” used to prevent spread of the virus , a DHS official told Reuters .
Protective equipment would also include body suits , masks and gloves .
Interestingly , Azar noted during a congressional hearing this week that China , which the U.S. has been trading tariffs with , controls “ a lot of the raw materials as well as the manufacturing capacity ” to make face masks — another reason why the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is obviously a much more long-term issue .
( Related : SHOCK : Leaked documents reveal Wuhan coronavirus infections up to 52 times HIGHER than official Chinese figures . )
“ Very little of this stuff is apparently made in the ( United ) States , so if we ’ re down to domestic capability to produce , it could get tough , ” the DHS official told Reuters .
Reuters quoted an unnamed White House official who did confirm that the president was giving invocation of the law some serious thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gear .
“ Let ’ s say ‘ Company A ’ makes a multitude of respiratory masks but they spend 80 % of their assembly lines on masks that painters wear and only 20 % on the N95 , ” the White House official said .
“ We will have the ability to tell corporations , ‘ No , you change your production line so it is now 80 % of the N95 masks and 20 % of the other.
’ ” “ It allows you to basically direct things happening that need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Still , on Thursday , as he said during his nationwide address Wednesday night , President Trump maintained that the risk of the virus spreading throughout the country to infect significant numbers of people remained “ very low.
” He did add that federal officials are , nevertheless , preparing for a worst-case scenario , which makes sense because it ’ s only prudent to do so .
That said , several Democrats are already claiming that it ’ s ‘ too late.
’ As The National Sentinel reported , House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters Wednesday she hoped there was still time to react .
“ Hopefully we can make up for the loss of time…and not be using scare tactics about people coming back to our country , ” she said , an apparent off-handed criticism of the president ’ s decision earlier to put a travel restriction in place on people coming from China .

Trump urged to invoke Korean War-era law to order RAMP UP in production of coronavirus protective gear and testing kits
As the stock market tanked on new and expanding reports about what appears to be a growing Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in the United States, advisers to President Donald Trump urged him on Thursday to take more drastic measures in order to better prepare the country.
With a shortage of virus test kits, masks, respirators and other protective gear, Trump is being pressured to invoke the Defense Production Act, a law passed at the outset of the Korean War in 1950 to quickly ramp up production of military equipment and to prevent domestic industries from balking.
Reuters reported Thursday:
The use of the law, passed by Congress in 1950 at the outset of the Korean War, would mark an escalation of the administration’s response to the outbreak. The virus first surfaced in China and has since spread to other countries including the United States.
U.S. health officials have told Americans to begin preparing for the spread of the virus in the United States.
Under the law, President Trump has the power to rapidly expand industrial production of important materials and products for national security and other reasons. The U.S. corporations that produce the most face masks include 3M Corp and Honeywell International Inc.
Earlier this week, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar told lawmakers that the U.S. would require a stockpile of some 300 million N95 face masks -- devices that protect the respiratory system -- for medical workers alone. Right now, Azar said, the U.S. only has a small fraction of masks currently available for immediate deployment and use.
Officials from HHS and the Department of Homeland Security said during an interagency conference call Wednesday that it is possible for President Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act so he can order the manufacture of "personal protective equipment" used to prevent spread of the virus, a DHS official told Reuters.
Protective equipment would also include body suits, masks and gloves.
Democrats are pouncing on Trump
Interestingly, Azar noted during a congressional hearing this week that China, which the U.S. has been trading tariffs with, controls "a lot of the raw materials as well as the manufacturing capacity" to make face masks -- another reason why the president needs to rebalance trade with Beijing but which is obviously a much more long-term issue. (Related: SHOCK: Leaked documents reveal Wuhan coronavirus infections up to 52 times HIGHER than official Chinese figures.)
“Very little of this stuff is apparently made in the (United) States, so if we’re down to domestic capability to produce, it could get tough,” the DHS official told Reuters.
Reuters quoted an unnamed White House official who did confirm that the president was giving invocation of the law some serious thought in order to begin mass producing protective gear.
“Let’s say ‘Company A’ makes a multitude of respiratory masks but they spend 80% of their assembly lines on masks that painters wear and only 20% on the N95,” the White House official said. “We will have the ability to tell corporations, ‘No, you change your production line so it is now 80% of the N95 masks and 20% of the other.’”
“It allows you to basically direct things happening that need to get done,” the official added.
Still, on Thursday, as he said during his nationwide address Wednesday night, President Trump maintained that the risk of the virus spreading throughout the country to infect significant numbers of people remained "very low."
He did add that federal officials are, nevertheless, preparing for a worst-case scenario, which makes sense because it's only prudent to do so.
That said, several Democrats are already claiming that it's 'too late.'
As The National Sentinel reported, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters Wednesday she hoped there was still time to react.
"Hopefully we can make up for the loss of time...and not be using scare tactics about people coming back to our country," she said, an apparent off-handed criticism of the president's decision earlier to put a travel restriction in place on people coming from China.
Sources include:
TheNationalSentinel.com
Reuters.com


naturalnews--2020-02-28--Harvard Professor: As much as 70% of the global population will catch coronavirus

( Natural News ) A professor at Harvard University has come out with a shocking prediction that as many as seven in 10 people will eventually contract the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
Professor Marc Lipsitch says that the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) “ will ultimately not be containable ” and that “ within the coming year , some 40 to 70 percent of people around the world will be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 , ” he ’ s quoted as saying by The Atlantic .
An expert in epidemiology , Lipsitch warns that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous because some of the people who become infected carriers never actually manifest any symptoms .
At the same time , not everyone who contracts the disease will die from it .
Instead , “ many will have mild disease , or may be asymptomatic , ” Lipsitch contends .
It all depends on how effectively governments of the world are able to contain the disease before it spreads out of control .
In Italy , for instance , some people are being barred from leaving their hometowns , which could help to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from spreading to pandemic levels .
On the other hand , the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) might just be the dreaded “ Disease X ” that experts have been warning about for years .
“ Whether it will be contained or not , this outbreak is rapidly becoming the first true pandemic challenge that fits the Disease X category , listed to the WHO ’ s priority list of diseases for which we need to prepare in our current globalised society , ” writes Professor Marion Koopmans .
Listen below as Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how Chinese people are preparing for the worst even as Americans do next to nothing to protect themselves : Community spread of coronavirus is happening right now in America After initially denying it , the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) is now saying that there may , indeed , be community transmission of the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) here in the U.S. , which would only make Prof. Lipsitch ’ s predictions more likely .
A person in California , the media is now reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having not traveled abroad any time recently .
Not only did this person not travel to China , but he or she did not travel anywhere , which means the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) is probably now spreading from person to person .
“ At this point , the patient ’ s exposure is unknown , ” the CDC said in a statement .
“ The case was detected through the U.S. public health system and picked up by astute clinicians.
” The CDC made this announcement not long after President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global emergency , insisting that public health containment measures and travel entry restrictions have somehow been successful in limiting the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) here on U.S. soil .
Despite President Trump ’ s insistence that there are only about 10 cases of the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) here in America , and that the whole thing will probably die out by the time spring arrives , there are now 60 confirmed cases of the disease in our country , including the 45 Americans who were recently repatriated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruise ship that was carrying infected travelers .
Up until this point , public health officials have been able to trace every known case of the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) in the U.S. to either recent travel abroad or direct exposure to someone who recently traveled abroad .
But this latest case is the first to occur outside of these parameters .
“ The thing that would immediately make all of us uneasy is if this person has no direct contact with someone who comes from an affected country , ” laments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialist at Vanderbilt University .
To access more news about the Wuhan coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) , be sure to check out Pandemic.news .

Harvard Professor: As much as 70% of the global population will catch coronavirus
A professor at Harvard University has come out with a shocking prediction that as many as seven in 10 people will eventually contract the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).
Professor Marc Lipsitch says that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "will ultimately not be containable" and that "within the coming year, some 40 to 70 percent of people around the world will be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19," he's quoted as saying by The Atlantic.
An expert in epidemiology, Lipsitch warns that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is especially dangerous because some of the people who become infected carriers never actually manifest any symptoms.
At the same time, not everyone who contracts the disease will die from it. Instead, "many will have mild disease, or may be asymptomatic," Lipsitch contends.
It all depends on how effectively governments of the world are able to contain the disease before it spreads out of control. In Italy, for instance, some people are being barred from leaving their hometowns, which could help to prevent the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) from spreading to pandemic levels.
On the other hand, the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) might just be the dreaded "Disease X" that experts have been warning about for years.
"Whether it will be contained or not, this outbreak is rapidly becoming the first true pandemic challenge that fits the Disease X category, listed to the WHO's priority list of diseases for which we need to prepare in our current globalised society," writes Professor Marion Koopmans.
Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how Chinese people are preparing for the worst even as Americans do next to nothing to protect themselves:
Community spread of coronavirus is happening right now in America
After initially denying it, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now saying that there may, indeed, be community transmission of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) here in the U.S., which would only make Prof. Lipsitch's predictions more likely.
A person in California, the media is now reporting, has contracted the novel disease despite having not traveled abroad any time recently. Not only did this person not travel to China, but he or she did not travel anywhere, which means the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is probably now spreading from person to person.
"At this point, the patient's exposure is unknown," the CDC said in a statement. "The case was detected through the U.S. public health system and picked up by astute clinicians."
The CDC made this announcement not long after President Trump delivered his own press briefing about the global emergency, insisting that public health containment measures and travel entry restrictions have somehow been successful in limiting the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) here on U.S. soil.
Despite President Trump's insistence that there are only about 10 cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) here in America, and that the whole thing will probably die out by the time spring arrives, there are now 60 confirmed cases of the disease in our country, including the 45 Americans who were recently repatriated from both Wuhan and the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was carrying infected travelers.
Up until this point, public health officials have been able to trace every known case of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S. to either recent travel abroad or direct exposure to someone who recently traveled abroad. But this latest case is the first to occur outside of these parameters.
"The thing that would immediately make all of us uneasy is if this person has no direct contact with someone who comes from an affected country," laments Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University.
To access more news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news.
Sources for this article include:
Summit.news
NYTimes.com
NaturalNews.com


naturalnews--2020-02-28--COVID-19 outbreak hits drug factories, pharmaceutical shortage now inevitable

( Natural News ) Drug factories are potentially the next “ collateral damage ” of the COVID-19 outbreak .
This is after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) announced on Thursday that a manufacturer alerted the agency about a disruption in its supply of a certain human drug .
FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said the shortage is due to an issue with the production of an “ active pharmaceutical ingredient ” ( API ) used in the drug .
According to Hahn , the still-unnamed manufacturer has confirmed that the shortage was traced to a site hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement published on the FDA website , said the agency is now working with the manufacturer – as well as several others – in a bid to mitigate the shortage .
The FDA previously announced that it has kept in touch with over 180 manufacturers of pharmaceutical products , reminding the companies to evaluate their entire supply chain , with particular emphasis on the supply of their products ’ APIs .
In addition , the agency said this week that it has identified about 20 drugs that either source all of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China , and that it has contacted their manufacturers to gauge if they would face shortages in light of the COVID-19 outbreak .
As noted by a CBS report , antibiotics such as amoxicillin , doxycycline , penicillin and other key drugs are at risk of running low since 90 percent of their core components are sourced from China .
( Related : Desperate scientists inject monkeys with coronavirus to create vaccine . )
This looming shortage is the exact scenario feared by writer Rosemary Gibson , who highlighted America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book “ China Rx.
” Gibson , who has long advocated for the rebuilding of domestic drug production capabilities in order to safeguard the U.S. from a disruptive event like the ongoing coronavirus outbreak , is also a senior adviser to the Hastings Center , a bioethics research institute based in the USA .
“ We have a couple of perfect storms that are colliding .
Large parts of China are locked down .
People are not going to work .
They are not making essential medicines and even if they were made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gibson said in an interview with CBS MoneyWatch .
According to Gibson , one of her fears is that China could begin nationalizing and hoarding medicines that would otherwise be exported to the U.S. and other countries .
“ Whatever supply of essential medicines China has is needed to care for Chinese people that are suffering .
It means we in the US are not going to have as much as we thought we would .
It ’ s very scary , ” Gibson said in her interview .
Presently , the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drugs and the ingredients needed for their production .
In fact , according to the FDA , China , as of 2018 , ranked second among the countries that exported drugs to the U.S .
In addition to medicines and their APIs , China also produces and exports numerous FDA-approved medical supply components such as insulin pumps , MRI machines , catheters and dental implants .
China ’ s hold on the global pharmaceutical industry is so deeply entrenched that according to Jayasree Iyer , executive director at the Access to Medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ’ s largest pharmaceutical companies , it would be very difficult for a foreign buyer like the U.S. to replace Chinese API supplies in the event of a substantial supply chain disruption , such as the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak which , as of press time , has already infected 83,368 and killed 2,858 people worldwide .

COVID-19 outbreak hits drug factories, pharmaceutical shortage now inevitable
Drug factories are potentially the next "collateral damage" of the COVID-19 outbreak.
This is after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday that a manufacturer alerted the agency about a disruption in its supply of a certain human drug.
FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn said the shortage is due to an issue with the production of an "active pharmaceutical ingredient" (API) used in the drug. According to Hahn, the still-unnamed manufacturer has confirmed that the shortage was traced to a site hit by the coronavirus.
Hahn, in a statement published on the FDA website, said the agency is now working with the manufacturer – as well as several others – in a bid to mitigate the shortage.
The FDA previously announced that it has kept in touch with over 180 manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, reminding the companies to evaluate their entire supply chain, with particular emphasis on the supply of their products’ APIs.
In addition, the agency said this week that it has identified about 20 drugs that either source all of their main ingredients from, or are finished in China, and that it has contacted their manufacturers to gauge if they would face shortages in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
As noted by a CBS report, antibiotics such as amoxicillin, doxycycline, penicillin and other key drugs are at risk of running low since 90 percent of their core components are sourced from China. (Related: Desperate scientists inject monkeys with coronavirus to create vaccine.)
Is Big Pharma beholden to China?
This looming shortage is the exact scenario feared by writer Rosemary Gibson, who highlighted America's dependence on China for medicine in her book “China Rx.”
Gibson, who has long advocated for the rebuilding of domestic drug production capabilities in order to safeguard the U.S. from a disruptive event like the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, is also a senior adviser to the Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute based in the USA.
"We have a couple of perfect storms that are colliding. Large parts of China are locked down. People are not going to work. They are not making essential medicines and even if they were made, transportation routes are blocked," Gibson said in an interview with CBS MoneyWatch.
According to Gibson, one of her fears is that China could begin nationalizing and hoarding medicines that would otherwise be exported to the U.S. and other countries.
"Whatever supply of essential medicines China has is needed to care for Chinese people that are suffering. It means we in the US are not going to have as much as we thought we would. It's very scary," Gibson said in her interview.
Presently, the U.S. relies heavily on China when it comes to drugs and the ingredients needed for their production. In fact, according to the FDA, China, as of 2018, ranked second among the countries that exported drugs to the U.S.
In addition to medicines and their APIs, China also produces and exports numerous FDA-approved medical supply components such as insulin pumps, MRI machines, catheters and dental implants.
China’s hold on the global pharmaceutical industry is so deeply entrenched that according to Jayasree Iyer, executive director at the Access to Medicine Foundation, a non-profit organization that analyzes the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, it would be very difficult for a foreign buyer like the U.S. to replace Chinese API supplies in the event of a substantial supply chain disruption, such as the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak which, as of press time, has already infected 83,368 and killed 2,858 people worldwide.
Sources include:
ABCNews.go.com
FDA.gov
CBSNews.com
AlJazeera.com


naturalnews--2020-02-28--Miami cruise ship turned away over coronavirus fears, crew member "unwell"

( Natural News ) Over 6,000 people are now being held onboard a cruise ship just off the coast of Mexico after it was forced to skip the last two stops on its itinerary in the Caribbean due to suspected COVID-19 infection among its passengers .
The vessel , MSC Meraviglia , is now docked on Cozumel Island off the coast of Quintana Roo , Mexico ’ s easternmost state .
Operated by global cruise line MSC Cruises , the ship was turned away by ports at Jamaica and the Cayman Islands after it was discovered that a crew member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member , MSC said in a statement , boarded the ship in Miami after traveling from the Philippine capital of Manila ?
– the site of the first COVID-19 death outside of China .
The crew member tested positive , not for the dreaded coronavirus , but for the common seasonal flu .
According to an MSC spokesman , the crew member remains in stable condition and is now nearing recovery after receiving antiviral treatment and medication .
However , he remains in “ isolation ” from the rest of the vessel ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was isolated from other crew members and guests from the moment that he showed symptoms and will remain so until he is fully recovered , ” the spokesman said , adding that no other person on the vessel has manifested similar symptoms .
The 171,598-ton ship ?
– once considered to be the sixth largest cruise ship in the world ?
– was scheduled to complete a 15-day cruise in the Caribbean , with stops at Jamaica , the Cayman Islands , Mexico , Bahamas , Belize and Honduras , before returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the virus scare , things have remained relatively normal on the vessel , with photos uploaded by passengers showing that people are still allowed to roam freely around the deck .
According to Quintana Roo state governor Carlos Joaquin , while entry into the port had been granted to the vessel “ due to weather conditions , ” permission for its passengers to disembark would only be given once medical officials confirm that no one on board had contracted the deadly COVID-19 virus , which has infected 83,368 and killed 2,858 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lopez Obrador , in one of his daily press conferences , stated that although it was important to uphold medical standards , the country “ would not succumb to hysteria ” surrounding the virus .
“ We can not close our ports , our airports , ” Lopez Obrador said .
This comes after an incident wherein a small group of Cozumel residents gathered near the cruise ship dock , demanding that the ship ’ s passengers not be allowed to disembark , citing fears about the coronavirus and its possible effects on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico has no confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of press time .
The MSC Meraviglia ’ s case comes after the recent fiasco surrounding the Diamond Princess .
A cruise liner operated by Princess Cruises , the vessel was put under quarantine by the Japanese government for two weeks in February after a coronavirus outbreak was detected on board .
The quarantine was largely criticized as being “ unethical ” and “ ineffective , ” as it allowed the crew ?
– some of whom were already potentially infected ?
– to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We suspected some of the cruise staff may have already been infected , but they had to operate the cruise ship itself , they had to see the passengers , they had to deliver the meals , ” said Dr. Norio Ohmagari , director of Japan ’ s Disease Control and Prevention Center .
According to current statistics , at least 705 people were infected during the quarantine period , of whom four have died .
( Related : SHOCK : Leaked documents reveal Wuhan coronavirus infections up to 52 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those infected include at least 138 Indians , including 132 crew and six passengers , 35 Filipinos , 32 Canadians , 24 Australians , 13 Americans , four Indonesians and two Britons .
Many countries , including Canada , Australia , the U.S. , the Philippines , Indonesia , Hong Kong and the U.K. , have arranged measures to evacuate their citizens and quarantine them in their respective countries .
As of press time , the ship remains under lockdown at the Port of Yokohama in Japan .
Get the latest news on @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Miami cruise ship turned away over coronavirus fears, crew member “unwell”
Over 6,000 people are now being held onboard a cruise ship just off the coast of Mexico after it was forced to skip the last two stops on its itinerary in the Caribbean due to suspected COVID-19 infection among its passengers.
The vessel, MSC Meraviglia, is now docked on Cozumel Island off the coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico’s easternmost state. Operated by global cruise line MSC Cruises, the ship was turned away by ports at Jamaica and the Cayman Islands after it was discovered that a crew member has manifested flu-like symptoms.
The crew member, MSC said in a statement, boarded the ship in Miami after traveling from the Philippine capital of Manila ?– the site of the first COVID-19 death outside of China.
The crew member tested positive, not for the dreaded coronavirus, but for the common seasonal flu.
According to an MSC spokesman, the crew member remains in stable condition and is now nearing recovery after receiving antiviral treatment and medication. However, he remains in “isolation” from the rest of the vessel’s passengers.
“Out of precaution he was isolated from other crew members and guests from the moment that he showed symptoms and will remain so until he is fully recovered,” the spokesman said, adding that no other person on the vessel has manifested similar symptoms.
The 171,598-ton ship ?– once considered to be the sixth largest cruise ship in the world ?– was scheduled to complete a 15-day cruise in the Caribbean, with stops at Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Bahamas, Belize and Honduras, before returning to Miami.
Despite the setback due to the virus scare, things have remained relatively normal on the vessel, with photos uploaded by passengers showing that people are still allowed to roam freely around the deck.
According to Quintana Roo state governor Carlos Joaquin, while entry into the port had been granted to the vessel “due to weather conditions,” permission for its passengers to disembark would only be given once medical officials confirm that no one on board had contracted the deadly COVID-19 virus, which has infected 83,368 and killed 2,858 in China alone.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, in one of his daily press conferences, stated that although it was important to uphold medical standards, the country “would not succumb to hysteria” surrounding the virus.
“We cannot close our ports, our airports,” Lopez Obrador said.
This comes after an incident wherein a small group of Cozumel residents gathered near the cruise ship dock, demanding that the ship’s passengers not be allowed to disembark, citing fears about the coronavirus and its possible effects on the island’s tourism-dependent economy.
Mexico has no confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of press time.
Diamond Princess 2.0?
The MSC Meraviglia’s case comes after the recent fiasco surrounding the Diamond Princess.
A cruise liner operated by Princess Cruises, the vessel was put under quarantine by the Japanese government for two weeks in February after a coronavirus outbreak was detected on board.
The quarantine was largely criticized as being “unethical” and “ineffective,” as it allowed the crew ?– some of whom were already potentially infected ?– to continue serving the vessel’s 3,700 passengers.
"We suspected some of the cruise staff may have already been infected, but they had to operate the cruise ship itself, they had to see the passengers, they had to deliver the meals," said Dr. Norio Ohmagari, director of Japan's Disease Control and Prevention Center.
According to current statistics, at least 705 people were infected during the quarantine period, of whom four have died. (Related: SHOCK: Leaked documents reveal Wuhan coronavirus infections up to 52 times HIGHER than official Chinese figures.)
Those infected include at least 138 Indians, including 132 crew and six passengers, 35 Filipinos, 32 Canadians, 24 Australians, 13 Americans, four Indonesians and two Britons.
Many countries, including Canada, Australia, the U.S., the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong and the U.K., have arranged measures to evacuate their citizens and quarantine them in their respective countries.
As of press time, the ship remains under lockdown at the Port of Yokohama in Japan.
Get the latest news on the dreaded coronavirus outbreak at Outbreak.news.
Sources include:
DailyMail.co.uk
SCMP.com
Reuters.com
ScienceMag.org