(2020-04-04). [Editorial] Open versus endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms. thelancet.com When the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released draft guidelines on the diagnosis and management of abdominal aortic aneurysms in May, 2018, it caused outcry. By recommending that endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of unruptured aneurysms should not be offered—even in patients for whom open surgical repair was contraindicated—critics said that many patients would be denied life-saving treatment and that the guidelines were unworkable.
(2020-04-04). [Editorial] Redefining vulnerability in the era of COVID-19. thelancet.com What does it mean to be vulnerable? Vulnerable groups of people are those that are disproportionally exposed to risk, but who is included in these groups can change dynamically. A person not considered vulnerable at the outset of a pandemic can become vulnerable depending on the policy response. The risks of sudden loss of income or access to social support have consequences that are difficult to estimate and constitute a challenge in identifying all those who might become vulnerable. Certainly, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable groups are not only elderly people, those with ill health and comorbidities, or…
(2020-04-04). [Comment] Offline: COVID-19—what countries must do now. thelancet.com How should countries plan for the approaching health crisis caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, himself struck down with infection, has written to every household warning that, "we know things will get worse before they get better". The UK Government is right to prepare the public for the coming human catastrophe. All governments have a responsibility to do the same. But this advice does not go far enough. Here are five critical actions that need to be considered immediately.
(2020-04-04). [Correspondence] Authoritarianism and the threat of infectious diseases. thelancet.com Punitive social policy, encompassing the dismantling of the welfare state with the expansion of the penal state and its associated institutions, as nicely stated by Elias Nosrati and Michael Marmot in their Perspective,1 might indeed be considered an upstream social determinant of health. Nosrati and Marmot's analysis relates to the findings described by Navarro and colleagues,2 linking political ideology with policies aimed at reducing social inequalities such as welfare state and labour market policies.
(2020-04-04). [World Report] 2020 Canada Gairdner Award winners announced. thelancet.com On March 31, the Gairdner Foundation announced the winners of its annual prizes in biomedical science and global health. Talha Burki spoke with the laureates.
(2020-04-04). [Correspondence] Chagas disease: still a neglected emergency? thelancet.com 10 years after highlighting the health consequences for millions of people infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, a 2019 report from the Pan American Health Organization concluded that there has been little progress in the prevention and treatment of Chagas disease, a problem that now extends beyond Latin America.1…
(2020-04-04). [Correspondence] Obsolete medical law in Japan harms doctors' health. thelancet.com Japan has achieved one of the most successful health-care systems in the world.1 Under the nation's insurance scheme, Japanese citizens have taken for granted that anyone can choose any health-care facility and receive the most advanced medical care across the nation. However, little attention has been paid to the fact that such a health system is supported by dedicated and self-sacrificing medical professionals. Such overloaded expectation is especially high in rural areas where the number of doctors remains low.
(2020-04-04). [Comment] A planetary health perspective on COVID-19: a call for papers. thelancet.com It is natural during the unfolding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to focus on emergency response planning, including containment, treatment procedures, and vaccine development, and nobody would doubt the need for these measures. However, an emergency can also open a window of opportunity for reflection and learning. We live in increasingly global, interdependent, and environmentally constrained societies and the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies these aspects of our world. We would therefore be wise to take a broad integrated perspective on this disease, the impacts of which are already spilling over in…
(2020-04-04). [Correspondence] Education and research are essential for lasting peace in Yemen. thelancet.com Yemen, known to many as the land of Sheba, and Manhattan of the desert, is now referred to only as one of the poorest countries on Earth. The name Yemen has become synonymous with cholera, famine, death, instability, and war. The war continues to erase the lives, history, and the future of Yemenis, and meaningful aid and peace have yet to reach Yemen.
(2020-04-04). [Comment] The COVID-19 pandemic in the USA: what might we expect? thelancet.com As of March 19, 2020, 191‚Äà127 cases of, including 7807 deaths attributed to, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported worldwide.1 The incidence of reported cases in China has dramatically reduced to tens per day as a result of strict social distancing measures; however, the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is now generating sustained transmission in many countries including the USA. In The Lancet, Isaac Ghinai, Tristan D McPherson, and colleagues2 report details of the first known human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the USA, which was…
(2020-04-04). [Correspondence] Mass drug administration: time to consider drug pollution? thelancet.com Mass drug administration is the strategy recommended by WHO to control or eliminate many neglected tropical diseases that cause devastating consequences worldwide. This strategic approach, which has produced unquestionable benefits, consists of treating every person, infected or not, living in a defined geographical area at approximately the same time.1 In 2017, more than 1 ∑7 billion treatments (mainly albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin, azithromycin, and praziquantel) were delivered to 1 ∑04 billion individuals.
(2020-04-04). Mounting opposition among German health care, industrial workers. wsws.org The German government has implemented a bailout program for major companies and banks, but health care and industrial workers are forced to work under catastrophic conditions.
(2020-04-04). Impotence of Global Capitalism. zcomm.org Our demands must be for properly international public-health infrastructure…
(2020-04-04). The Struggle Of The Grand Princess Crew & All Crew Members For Healthcare & Justice. indybay.org Terry Valen, the president of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) talks about the conditions of the Grand Princess crew which is docked off Hunters Point shipyard. He also talks about the conditions of repatriated seafarers from the Grand Princess who are now in the Philippines…
(2020-04-04). Governor Newsom Issues Moratorium on Water Shutoffs to Homes, Small Businesses. indybay.org In a statement, Alexandra Nagy, Food & Water Action California Director, lauded Newsom for making the "common sense decision" to halt water shutoffs in California. | "We're very pleased that Governor Newsom has made the common-sense decision to halt water shutoffs in the state while we confront this overwhelming public health crisis. He must also ensure that water is restored to every home where it was previously cut off.
(2020-04-04). Mayo Clinic Q&A: Poor lung health appears to play a role in deaths related to COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Why is COVID-19 so harmful to the lungs? Are smokers more at risk of the virus causing damage? As a smoker, should I be taking more precautions than the average person? ANSWER: COVID-19 can significantly affect the lungs. People whose lung health is affected by factors such as lung disease or smoking …
(2020-04-04). Nepal: Masses confront enormous hardships from coronavirus pandemic. wsws.org Nepal's government has made no serious effort to ensure that the country's overwhelmingly poor population will have daily essentials, medicine and health safety equipment.
(2020-04-04). Breast cancer risk for men: Mayo Clinic Radio Health Minute. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women. Nearly 250,000 are diagnosed with the disease in the U.S. every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But, as Dr. Kathryn Ruddy tells us in this Mayo Clinic Radio Health Minute, breast cancer isn't exclusive to women. To listen, click …
(2020-04-04). In Time of Pandemic Praise for the UN. zcomm.org What the WHO and the SG of the UN have so far done during the health crisis, while worthy of headlines, posed no direct challenge to sovereignty or geopolitics…
(2020-04-04). COVID-19: The tale of 1 virus and 2 testing methods. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org When a new virus emerges that infects and sickens humans, the wheels of innovation start turning quickly in the world of health care and biomedical research. Teams versed in different aspects of laboratory medicine work together to better understand the virus and develop tests to identify those who are infected or have been exposed to …
(2020-04-04). Ongoing need of blood donation at Mayo Clinic, nationwide. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Healthy blood donors are urged to make appointments to meet the ongoing demand for blood products. Mayo Clinic and health organizations nationwide are trying to prevent a blood shortage while helping patients in need of blood products. Such patients include those in motor vehicle accidents, those undergoing surgery and those with cancer. Social distancing and …
(2020-04-04). Tips to stay mentally healthy while staying at home. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Social distancing guidelines in the U.S. have extended until April 30 and many states now have stay-at-home orders to protect the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic. But isolation and loneliness can affect people's emotional health, especially older adults. "Social interaction and emotional health are definitely intertwined, and during this time when social interaction can't be …
(2020-04-04). US health care workers face retribution for criticizing unsafe hospital conditions. wsws.org The shortage or entire absence of personal protective equipment (PPE) is driving health care workers to voice their concern over the danger of becoming infected.
(2020-04-04). No Fennel in the Sausage, No $600 for the Jobless. zcomm.org In plagues past and pandemic present, the wealthy exude the same contempt for those without wealth…
(2020-04-04). Working toward a COVID-19 vaccine. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The push to create a vaccine that prevents people from contracting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continues. Dr. Stacey Rizza, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist, says developing a vaccine takes research, money and time. "Everyone wants to have a vaccine ready right now," says Dr. Rizza. "Researchers around the globe and at Mayo …
(2020-04-04). COVID-19 expert answers questions on how the virus makes people sick and more. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Experts continue to learn more about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and how it behaves. Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and director of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, is answering questions about how the virus makes people sick, how it compares to influenza, and how the COVID-19 pandemic response is affecting the …
(2020-04-04). Mayo Clinic expert puts grim COVID-19 projections into perspective. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org This week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious diseases expert, shared sobering estimates that COVID-19 could kill 100,000 to 240,000 Americans. Top government scientists warn that the death toll could be even higher if Americans don't follow the strict guidelines put in place to slow the spread of the virus. Dr. Gregory Poland, a …
(2020-04-04). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: How does SARS-CoV-2 make people sick? newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been seen before in humans. SARS-Co-V2 is a novel virus, causing the disease COVID-19. Because COVID-19 is a new disease, much is still being learned about how it spreads and the severity of illness it causes. On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, …
(2020-04-04). COVID-19: Advice for caring for people with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org With the COVID-19 pandemic at the forefront of daily life, how much information should you share with a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease, dementia or mild cognitive impairment? And how do you explain the necessary precautions and social distancing requirements? Dr. Joseph Sirven, a Mayo Clinic neurologist, says it depends on the person's exact …
(2020-04-04). Ireland woefully unprepared for COVID-19 onslaught. wsws.org The European Centre for Disease Control warns that the intensive care system in Irish hospitals will not be able to cope with rising numbers of coronavirus patients in critical condition.
(2020-04-04). 'We Will Not Sit Back and Let Transit Workers Be Treated Like Cannon Fodder'. thenation.com 'We Will Not Sit Back and Let Transit Workers Be Treated Like Cannon Fodder'
(2020-04-04). French doctor apologises for suggesting COVID-19 treatment be tested in Africa. yenisafak.com A French doctor apologised on Friday for suggesting a possible treatment for COVID-19 should be tested in Africa, after the remarks sparked an outcry on social media.Jean-Paul Mira, the head of the intensive care unit at the Cochin hospital in Paris, made the comments on Wednesday during an interview on French television channel LCI with the research director of France's national health institute, Inserm.The research director, Camille Locht, was discussing the BCG tuberculosis vaccine, which is being trialled in several European countries and Australia against COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new c…
(2020-04-04). Iran's coronavirus death toll rises to 3,452. yenisafak.com Iran's death toll from the coronavirus outbreak climbed to 3,452 on Saturday, with 158 more fatalities recorded over the past 24 hours, Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpur said.The total number of cases diagnosed with the disease reached 55,743, of whom 4,103 are in critical condition, he said on state TV. Iran is the country worst affected by the pandemic in the Middle East.
(2020-04-04). Mainland China reports 19 new confirmed coronavirus cases. yenisafak.com Mainland China reported on Saturday 19 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, down from 31 a day earlier, including one new infection in central Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak in the country.Of the new cases, 18 involved travellers arriving from abroad, the National Health Commission said in a statement. The new infections bring the total number of confirmed cases in mainland China to 81,639 as of Friday.China also reported four new deaths, raising the death toll to 3,326 as of Friday.
(2020-04-04). Red Cross concerned about impact of COVID-19 in Somalia. yenisafak.com The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Saturday said it is deeply concerned about the impact that COVID-19 could have on Somalian communities weakened by violence and conflict.Somalia is at a critical juncture where immediate action can still curb the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, ICRC said in a statement.Somalia has seven confirmed COVID-19 cases so far, with no deaths, and one recovery, according to figures compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University."Somalia is at a crossroads, where we can rapidly scale up to get information and resources out to communities and health care facilit…
(2020-04-04). Spain records 809 more deaths, lowest figure this week. yenisafak.com Spain recorded the lowest daily deaths of this week on Saturday, the country's Health Ministry said.With 809 more fatalities in the last 24 hours, the death toll in the country stands at 11,744.Additionally, 7,026 new cases were confirmed, bringing the tally to 124,000.Only Italy has a death toll higher than Spain with over 14,600 reported fatalities.Yet with Italy's population of 60 million and Spain's population of 46 million, Spain has almost reached the same proportional mortality as its Mediterranean neighbor.Spain also surpassed Italy in the number of confirmed cases in a day. Only the United States has rep…
(2020-04-04). Spanish PM Extends State of Emergency Over Coronavirus Until 26 April – Reports. sputniknews.com Earlier this day, the Spanish Health Ministry reported that the death toll from the coronavirus had risen to 11,744 this day from 10,935 the previous day.
(2020-04-03). New York state sees highest daily jump in Covid-19 deaths, from total of 2,373 to 2,935 — Governor Cuomo. rt.com 
Another 562 people have died of the coronavirus in New York, as the state's health crisis deepens. Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared people "are going to die in the near term" due to lack of beds and ventilators in hospitals. | The jump in deaths since Thursday brought New York's total Covid-19 fatalities to just under 3,000 – just under half of the US' total of 6,558. | "New York is in crisis, help New York," Cuomo pleaded, calling on the federal government to deploy resources from elsewhere to help the virus-stricken state. | President Donald Trump has deployed a US Navy hospital ship to New York City, and the Army…
(2020-04-03). How Taiwan Contained COVID-19: Early Action, Technology & Millions of Face Masks. democracynow.org 
Taiwan, despite being just 100 miles from mainland China with regular flights to and from Wuhan, has successfully staved off the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. The country has so far seen five deaths and just under 350 confirmed cases, and most schools and businesses remain open. How did Taiwan do it? "Aggressive action," says Dr. Jason Wang, the former project manager for Taiwan's National Health Insurance Reform Task-force. He is now the director of the Center for Policy, Outcomes and Prevention and associate professor of pediatrics and medicine at Stanford University. He speaks with us about Taiwan's strat…
(2020-04-03). Brazil Supreme Court asks to suspend Bolsonaro for 180 days. mronline.org 
Marco Aurélio Mello, a Minister of Brazil's Supreme Court, sent the Attorney General's Office a request to suspend President Jair Bolsonaro from his post for 180 days for committing various actions that have put the country at risk in the face of the covid-19 health emergency, according to a Telesur report.
(2020-04-03). "Our Bodies Are On the Line": NYC Nurses Demand Protective Gear as COVID-19 Death Toll Skyrockets. democracynow.org 
Nurses in California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and Texas are protesting one of the nation's largest hospital chains for a "lack of preparedness" amid the coronavirus pandemic. They're calling on HCA Healthcare to provide optimal personal protective equipment, or PPE, for nurses and other staff. In New York, the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, nurses and doctors at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx protested Thursday over the lack of PPE. Today another protest is underway in front of Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan calling for more PPE, better staffing and COVID-19 testing for front…
(2020-04-03). Isn't that 'Medicare for all'? Trump administration rolls out interesting plan for funding Covid-19 treatments in US. rt.com 
The Trump administration has said it intends to pay providers treating coronavirus patients at 'Medicare rates' and prohibit additional billing — in effect, testing a flagship progressive proposal for nationalized healthcare. | "We will send money to providers through the same mechanism used for testing," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters on Friday, referring to the $100 billion in funds earmarked for healthcare providers in the CARES stimulus act. | The government will reimburse any patients with Covid-19 that lack health insurance at Medicare rates, and will ban them from "ba…
(2020-04-03). From Rags to Riches, from Plague to Profits. dissidentvoice.org 
One of the lessons I recall from school was about the theory of spontaneous generation with regard to disease. Of course, there is the well-known phenomena of spontaneous combustion, when something starts to burn without any apparent external ignition. Spontaneous generation we were taught was the idea that something considered dirty or impure, like rags, …
(2020-04-03). Are NYC cops contributing to coronavirus epidemic by sending people to packed jails for violating social distancing? rt.com 
As Covid-19 lockdowns keep three-quarters of Americans indoors and see crime rates drop, New York police are arresting people for social distancing violations in a move that flies in the face of safety advisory and public policy. | New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has released hundreds of low-level offenders from city jails, including the notoriously overcrowded Rikers Island, citing the risk of uncontrollable coronavirus contagion. New Yorkers are being told — constantly — to stay home and do their part to "flatten the curve." | But police don't seem to have received that message, continuing to arrest…
(2020-04-03). Coronavirus deaths in Scotland rise to 172 as Sturgeon warns peak still to come. thecanary.co 
First minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned the coronavirus peak is still some time away as she announced the number of deaths in Scotland has risen to 172.The Covid-19 death toll is an increase of 46 on the previous day, while 3,001 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland — up from 2,602 on Thursday.There are 176 people are in intensive care with the disease or expected to have it, a rise of 14. | Sturgeon said: "I want to be very clear that nothing I have seen gives me any basis whatsoever for predicting the virus will peak as early as a week's time here in Scotland."She said Scottish Gover…
(2020-04-03). Nurse who wasn't admitted to hospital died 'gasping for air' but family told his body won't be tested for coronavirus. thecanary.co 
A nurse who died after treating a coronavirus (COVID-19) patient won't be tested for the disease, his son has claimed. Thomas Harvey, 57, collapsed in the bathroom and died "gasping for air" at his family home in east London on 29 March.His son, also Thomas, claimed on 3 April that his father still hasn't been tested for coronavirus despite showing symptoms before he died. He said his father had only been given "gloves and a flimsy apron" to protect himself from infection at work. And had isolated himself at home after beginning to show symptoms of the virus a few weeks ago. The father of seven had spent 20 years…
(2020-04-03). 'Overwhelmed' health systems have little room for sick refugees, migrants, UN agencies warn. news.un.org Four prominent United Nations system entities have called on countries to protect refugees, migrants, stateless persons and those forcibly displaced by disasters and conflict — some of the world's most vulnerable populations — against the rapidly expanding COVID-19 pandemic.
(2020-04-03). The U.S. Continues Deporting Guatemalans Amid the Pandemic. telesurenglish.net Guatemala continues to receive flights with migrants deported from the United States, despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to restrain passenger traffic. | RELATED: | On March 17,
(2020-04-03). NYC Nurses Demand Protective Gear as COVID-19 Death Toll Skyrockets. truthout.org Nurses in California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and Texas are protesting one of the nation's largest hospital chains for a "lack of preparedness" amid the coronavirus pandemic. They're calling on HCA Healthcare to provide optimal personal protective equipment, or PPE, for nurses and other staff. In New York, the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, nurses and doctors at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx protested Thursday over the lack of PPE. Today another protest is underway…
(2020-04-03). US Leads Global Wave of Nations Stealing, Seizing and Diverting Coronavirus Equipment. mintpressnews.com Governments have resorted to seizing, diverting, outbidding and outright stealing equipment from each other in a desperate bid to stem the tide of the coronavirus epidemic.