(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). [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). [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). [Editorial] COVID-19 will not leave behind refugees and migrants. thelancet.com Never has the "leave no one behind" pledge felt more urgent. As nations around the world implement measures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, including lockdowns and restrictions on individuals' movements, they must heed their global commitments. When member states adopted the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, they promised to ensure no one will be left behind. Chief among the world's most vulnerable people are refugees and migrants. The COVID-19 crisis puts these groups at enormous risk.
(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] 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). [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). [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). [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). [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). [Department of Error] Department of Error. thelancet.com Mease PJ, Rahman P, Gottlieb AB, et al. Guselkumab in biologic-naive patients with active psoriatic arthritis (DISCOVER-2): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet 2020; 395: 1126—36—In this Article, the following sentence from the Participants section has been corrected as follows: "Patients were permitted, but not required, to continue stable use of selected standard treatments, including NSAIDs or other analgesics up to the regional marketed dose approved; oral corticosteroids (‚â§10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent dose); or non-biologic DMARDs (limi…
(2020-04-04). [World Report] Developing antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2. thelancet.com Laboratories and diagnostic companies are racing to produce antibody tests, a key part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Anna Petherick reports.
(2020-04-04). [Perspectives] Face transplants as surgical acts and psychosocial processes. thelancet.com In 2017 the face of Katie Stubblefield made headlines. Not the face she was born with or the face that emerged after 22 reconstructive surgeries. This was another face altogether: a transplant that Stubblefield would receive from Adrea Schneider. There have been 46 recorded face transplants in history. Katie's was the 40th—only the third to have taken place at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, which also undertook the first face transplant in the USA, on Connie Culp, in 2008. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it took 11 surgeons and staff from 15 specialties more than 31 hours to transplant Stubblefield's new…
(2020-04-03). 'Stop coming to Beijing,' China advises foreign diplomats. rt.com 
China's Foreign Ministry is advising foreign diplomats to stop coming to Beijing. Spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters during a daily briefing that the ministry was aware of confirmed coronavirus cases among foreign diplomats in China, Reuters reported. | Beijing has indefinitely banned foreigners from entering the country to curb cases involving travelers from overseas. However, China has chartered planes to repatriate its nationals in countries with severe outbreaks. | The National Health Commission on Friday reported 31 new cases, compared with 35 a day earlier and down dramatically from the height of th…
(2020-04-03). No idea when coronavirus-positive Boris Johnson will come out of isolation, UK health minister says. rt.com 
It is unclear whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson will emerge from self-isolation today, UK Health Minister Matt Hancock has said. The British leader was due to end his quarantine on April 3, but he is still showing symptoms. | "I don't know about his own personal medical condition. What I do know is I've been working with him every single day through this crisis," Hancock said of Johnson on Friday. He added that he had "no idea" when the prime minister would leave isolation. | His lack of certainty supports earlier rumors that the PM would not be returning to his normal routine yet. | Asked on Thursday if he…
(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). Spain surpasses Italy in confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 7,000+ people reported ill on Friday. rt.com 
Spain now has more confirmed cases of Covid-19 than Italy, with the number of infections soaring to over 117,000 on Friday — an increase of around 7,000 from the previous day. | The death toll from the virus in Spain also surged to 10,935 in the last 24 hours, according to the country's health ministry. | While the numbers are grim, the ministry said it also marked the first fall in the daily death toll since March 26. | With almost 14,000 fatalities, Italy is still the country with the highest number of deaths, but it now appears Spain could reach similar figures within days. | Spain's government impose…
(2020-04-03). 'So cute! What are they called?' Indian couple names newborn twins COVID and CORONA. rt.com 
Coronavirus fever has taken a strange turn in India, with a couple naming their newborn twins Corona and Covid — reportedly to remind them about the hard times they are enduring amid the epidemic. | As India is under a nationwide lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus, a couple from the Indian city of Raipur found unusual inspiration from the situation. | They decided to name their boy Covid and their girl Corona. | The 27-year-old mother told PTI news agency that these will be their names for now, but that they might change them later. | "When the hospital staff also started calling the ba…
(2020-04-03). Julian Assange still held on remand as coronavirus spreads through UK prisons. wsws.org The WikiLeaks founder, held in Belmarsh prison and facing extradition to the US for exposing war crimes, has a chronic lung condition and has had his health destroyed by a decade of mistreatment by the British state…
(2020-04-03). Pandemic and Bernie Sanders: "Still Ahead of His Time" zcomm.org Progressive Advocates Release Video Illustrating Senator Bernie Sanders' Career-Long Support for a System Able to Solve Healthcare Crises…
(2020-04-03). Honduran doctor warns of "collapsed health care system" as coronavirus toll grows. wsws.org "Now we face this COVID-19 pandemic which demonstrates tragically that the armored tanks of the police and warships of the Navy are incapable of saving lives."
(2020-04-03). 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…
(2020-04-03). Slumlord Capitalism v. Global Pandemic. counterpunch.org The poet Langston Hughes once wrote, "I wish the rent was heaven sent." With 10 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Hughes' words resonate now more than ever. As we hurtle toward a public health and economic catastrophe, we must reckon with the sobering fact that our federal government is helmed by landlords, real estate developers, and financiers whose fortunes have been made — and whose worldview has been shaped — by years of predatory and extractive business practices. These practices prefigured the federal response to the pandemic and overde…
(2020-04-03). Why a Race is Not a Virus and a Virus is Not a Race. counterpunch.org It is dangerous rhetoric indeed when President Donald J. Trump calls the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the "Chinese Virus". Even if the intent was political and meant to communicate to Beijing that the United States military was not responsible for the spread of the disease within China, contrary to a conspiracy theory there. By the president naming
(2020-04-03). Permanent Pandemic on Public Lands: Welfare Sheep Ranchers and Their Enablers Hold the West's Bighorns Hostage. counterpunch.org "Clinical signs can include nasal discharge, coughing, respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, and general depression but animals are often found dead … Depending on what pathogens are involved the disease may progress rapidly or more slowly. While this is often a fatal disease some adults may also recover and become chronic bacterial carriers. Different pathogens will induce
(2020-04-03). An interview with four Chinese physicians at the epicenter of the pandemic in Wuhan. wsws.org Four doctors who went through the worst of the COVID-19 epidemic in China recently spoke with the WSWS about their experiences and the lessons for the wider world.
(2020-04-03). Caught in the Middle of San Francisco Coronavirus Crisis: The Homeless People. sputniknews.com You've probably heard the coronavirus guidelines: elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable to the disease than others. But there's one often neglected category that has become an even more pressing concern.
(2020-04-03). AIIB Pledges $5bn For Crisis Recovery Facility to To Fight, Tackle Economic Shock Of COVID-19 Crisis. sputniknews.com One of Asia's leading development banks plans to allocate funds for a new facility worth $5bn USD to respond to "economic, financial and public health pressures" due to the coronavirus pandemic, it announced on Friday.
(2020-04-03). Miss Russia-2015 Sofia Nikitchuk Rejects Reports She Has COVID-19 Symptoms. sputniknews.com Currently, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Russia stands at 4,149, with 34 deaths, according to the country's Health Ministry.
(2020-04-03). 'Misplaced Rage': Bollywood Actor Farhan Akhtar Slams People Attacking Doctors on Duty in India. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Reports of attacks on doctors and healthcare workers are on the rise in India. Doctors, nurses and other front line staff, who have been dubbed as heroes amid the coronavirus outbreak, have been assaulted and spat on.
(2020-04-03). Indian Biotechnology Firm Working on One-Drop Anti-COVID-19 Nasal Vaccine. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): No vaccine or treatment has been found yet to treat the novel coronavirus disease, which has affected almost every country on the globe. In another grim milestone, more than a million cases of COVID-19 have been registered throughout the world, according to Johns Hopkins University, and there have been 51,000 deaths globally.
(2020-04-03). Coronavirus Patient Monitoring System Launches in Moscow. sputniknews.com The day before, the Moscow authorities extended restrictions on public events and ordered the closure of all non-essential shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars until May 1 as part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.
(2020-04-03). Dutch coronavirus deaths rise to 1,487. yenisafak.com The Netherlands announced a further 148 deaths linked to the coronavirus on Friday, bringing the country's total to 1,487.It also confirmed 1,026 new coronavirus cases, taking the overall tally of infections to 15,723, according to the daily report from The National Institute for Health.
(2020-04-03). COVID-19: 1st Turkish-made ventilator 'due mid-April'. yenisafak.com A Turkish firm will deliver the country's first home-made medical ventilator after April 15, the industry and technology minister said on Friday. Mustafa Varank said that more than 100 engineers from the country's high-tech firms such as Baykar, Aselsan and TAI were working to produce the device in accordance with international standards.Several companies, some of them from the health sector, are focused on manufacturing the breathing machines, which are critical for the treatment of coronavirus.BIOSYS, a Turkish technology producer, made its first prototype after a five-year research and development process.The…
(2020-04-03). Avoid mass gathering for 6 months, Malaysians told. yenisafak.com Malaysians should avoid mass gatherings for the next six months in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus, the country's health chief said on Friday."On mass gatherings, from six-months to a year, we can see that we discourage mass gatherings," Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a news conference, according to daily Malay Mali.Abdullah said Malaysia discovered new 217 coronavirus cases bringing the country's tally to 3,333.In a statement on Twitter, he said 53 people have so far died in the country due to the virus, known as COVID-19.Urging people to avoid mass gatherings for the next six months, Abdullah said tha…
(2020-04-03). Coronavirus cases continue rising in Belgium. yenisafak.com More than 1,400 new coronavirus cases were diagnosed in Belgium and 132 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours, health authorities announced on Friday.The latest data by the Federal Public Service of Health brought the total number of infections to 16,770, and the death toll to 1,143 since March 15.Some 5,500 patients are currently treated at hospitals, with 1,205 of them being treated at intensive care units. 45% of intensive care beds are still available.So far, more than 2,800 people were discharged from healthcare facilities after treatment.Six out of 10 coronavirus patients are from the northern region…
(2020-04-02). As U.S. Reels from COVID-19, Trump Backs Gilead's Exclusive Patent on Treatment & Suspends EPA Rules. democracynow.org 
As the United States leads the world in coronavirus cases, the nation's healthcare system is already stretched to capacity and protective gear in short supply. President Trump and his health advisors say more than 100,000 Americans could die from the coronavirus in the next two weeks. Meanwhile, millions of people have lost their jobs, and a record 6.6 million unemployment claims were filed this week, on top of last week's 3.3 million claims. For more on the economic impacts of the coronavirus, and how Trump has responded to the pandemic by rewarding pharmaceutical corporations like Gilead Sciences and indefinite…
(2020-04-02). Some Covid-19 patients could have treatment withdrawn to save others. thecanary.co 
Coronavirus patients could have their treatment withdrawn and offered to others who are more likely to survive, new guidance for doctors has warned.The British Medical Association's (BMA) latest ethics advice said health professionals could be forced to make "grave decisions" should hospitals become overwhelmed with patients.The document warns that decisions around rationing scarce resources, such as ventilators, could determine whether large numbers of patients will receive life-saving treatment or not.It comes as the UK experienced its biggest day-on-day rise in deaths so far, with the government now facing inc…
(2020-04-02). Britons cite 'shocking' lack of medical checks and advice after landing back in UK. thecanary.co 
Britons returning to the UK from abroad have lambasted the "shocking" lack of testing and medical advice upon arriving back on home soil following the coronavirus outbreak.Some passengers told the PA news agency other countries appeared to be taking the Covid-19 pandemic much more seriously, with medical questionnaires and health checks at land borders and travel terminals.They said there was a chronic lack of similar measures upon landing in the UK, with air passengers breezing through security as though it was "a normal working day" and being left clueless about whether to go into quarantine.Mete Coban, a 27-ye…
(2020-04-02). U.S. Communists demand Trump use Defense Production Act, say coronavirus exposes capitalism's failings. peoplesworld.org 
U.S. Communists are condemning the Trump administration's bungled COVID-19 response and say that the health crisis has quickly morphed into an economic and political one. It's not just Trump that's coming in for criticism, however. In a statement issued Tuesday—just a day before the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States passed the …
(2020-04-02). "There Aren't Enough Tests": As Pandemic Intensifies, Global South Prepares for the Worst. democracynow.org 
After devastating China, Europe and the United States, the coronavirus pandemic is now intensifying across the Global South. The United Nations warns the pandemic is poised to destroy fragile economies in poor nations, decimating food security, education and human rights. We speak with Yanis Ben Amor, assistant professor of global health and microbiological sciences at Columbia University and executive director of the Center for Sustainable Development at the Earth Institute.
(2020-04-02). Less than one third of Americans would rush to get coronavirus vaccine — poll. rt.com 
Only around one third of US citizens would get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as a vaccine becomes available, despite the rapid spread of the disease across the country, a newly released poll reveals. | In general, Americans appear quite skeptical about getting a coronavirus shot, a new üö®NEW POLLüö&re…
(2020-04-02). A chronically ill boy's story sums up the coronavirus lockdown torture for millions of missing people. thecanary.co 
Note: the author's partner lives with the disease discussed in this articleAnyone who is chronically ill or disabled may be facing bigger challenges during the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown. And there's one group of people who are more at risk than others. Yet the government is still
(2020-04-02). Fighting for immigrant rights during a pandemic. splcenter.org As people across the country are confined to their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, little attention has been given to a group of people whose health is in danger because they are locked away from the outside world — people in immigrant detention centers.
(2020-04-02). COVID-19 Doesn't Discriminate — Neither Should Congress' Response. aclu.org Congress' third bill addressing the impacts of COVID-19, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), was a necessary attempt to respond to this public health crisis but its exclusion of immigrant communities is downright racist and xenophobic. Immigrants were
(2020-04-02). Facemask shortage and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak: Reflections on public health measures. thelancet.com Implementing a universal facemask wearing policy in the whole of China could lead to severe facemask shortage. Without effective public communication, a universal facemask wearing policy could result in societal panic and subsequently, increase the nationwide and worldwide demand for facemasks. These increased demands could cause a facemask shortage for healthcare workers and reduce the effectiveness of outbreak control in the affected regions, eventually leading to a pandemic. To fight novel infectious disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19, governments should monitor domestic facemask supplies and give priority to…
(2020-04-02). [Editorial] During a world health crisis: A personal view. thelancet.com Like many of you, I am struggling to go about my daily work routine. I am unfocussed and distracted. I am supposed to write an editorial now and the deadline is approaching faster than originally planned. We need more time with production, now that the workload and the amount of time-sensitive studies have increased. Everyone's day-to-day workflow has changed, and we are doing our best to adjust, manage, and to keep things going.
(2020-04-02). Amid Pandemic, Workers Walk Out, Building Momentum Toward General Strike. truthout.org Essential workers at Instacart, Whole Foods, Amazon and General Electric are staging protests and walking off the job in droves across the U.S., demanding increased protections and pay as they continue to face disproportionate risks and increasingly perilous working conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. | Thousands of workers for the San Francisco-based Instacart, a popular U.S. grocery delivery service app, went on strike Monday for better pay and health protections as they face soaring demand to…