Blog 12 Ebola Outbreak in Uganda Kills two

Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills two

15 November 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20338014

There was another outbreak of Ebola that killed two people in Uganda.  Two members of the same family have been found dead and a possible third.  The last out break of Ebola happened in July when 17 were reported dead.  According to the medical charity there had been no reported cases since August. Dr Ondoa one of the doctors on the case stated that investigators found Ebola in Luwerro about 37 miles from the capital, Kampala.  There were five people that came into contact with the people that died and they are being closely monitored.  Two of which have been admitted into an isolation unit Kampalas main Mulago hospital.  There is currently no known cure for Ebola but people can be treated with antibiotics, and other medicines to help combat pain and for other common diseases such as malaria.  All of which help strengthen their resistance to Ebola.  The Ebola virus causes death in about 90% of human cases.  Dr Ondoa stated that the disease is very infectious and is capable of killing people in a very short period of time but that it is also very preventable.  Over the past few years Ugnada has seen many Ebola outbreaks.  The most severe one being in 2000, when 425 people were infected and more than half of them died.    

            Hearing that there is another Ebola outbreak doesn’t surprise me, especially coming form Africa.  They do not have the technology or the money to allow them to combat this disease.  One of the pieces of advice they gave the people of Uganda was to avoid gatherings, because the disease travels from person to person via contact.  Im glad that they are aware that these out breaks are a problem I just wish they were doing more to try and prevent them.  Then again we don’t know what the sewage system is like in Uganda and that could play a major role in why there out breaks are so frequent. 

blog 11

Dementia 'second leading cause of deaths in women'

6 November 2012 Last updated at 11:25 ET

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20222765

Dementia is the second highest cause of death of women in the world.  This specific condition was listed as the main cause, in one in 10 of the total of 250,000 deaths in 2011.  For men it was the 5 leading cause of death, But for both men and women the leading cause of death is heart disease.  It accounts for about 16 and 11% of total deaths.  If all the cancers in the world were added together they would account for 30% of all deaths.  Dementia is becoming more and more prevalent, because the cases are increasing, we would be more and more likely to see it listed on someone’s death certificate.  With all of this data collected, we have learned that we need to invest more time and research into dementia research.  For every one dementia scientist there are six working on cancer.  So dementia research is far behind.  If we are to get ahead of this disease, we need to look at Dementia as being a national priority. 

This article really hit home for me, I have been working with elderly suffering from dementia for about 12 years now.  I have seen the various stages of dementia and the effects it has on a person’s well being and development.  During the last stage of dementia, the person is completely incompetent.  They need everything to be done for them, feeding, walking, and washing themselves.  They are completely reliant on someone else for their care. I have had family members that have suffered from both cancer and dementia.  I believe that they are both equally important. And are equally responsible for causing tons of deaths, if we spend just half as much energy in finding a cure for dementia as we do for cancer, I believe we would save a lot more lives. 

Blog 10 Health and disease The Dilemma Over Care For the Dying

Loryn Green

November 1, 2012
Blog 10

The Dilemma over care for the dying.

1 November 2012 Last updated at 13:14 ET

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20167476

      This pathways system gives doctors the right to hold off on treatment or test that have been proven to cause unnecessary strain or stress to someone who is at the end of their life.  This general definition is referring to any and everything from CPR to blood work to lab test.  If anything is deemed to stressful to someone at the end of their lives the doctors have the right to refuse them treatment.  The whole idea behind this concept is, that since the patients are beyond being able to help, they want them to die off with as much dignity as possible.  Medicine is not considered proper in science.  People can be placed on the pathway and then removed, all based on the status of their condition, and how severe it is.  This has been in effect since the 1990’s but just recently, families have come forward stating that their family members have been placed on this pathway without being notified.  Some have even stated that their family members were not at all dying.  There are about 500,000 deaths a year and more then half of them happen in hospitals.  They wonder just how many of those deaths that occurred have been from people who were not happy with the kind of care their loved one was receiving.  Although their was a study done and about 94% of the people said that they were explained to very well what exactly pathways was and they made the decision to put their loved one on it.  Many institutions offer some sort of monetary reimbursement for trying new things out.  In other words, Money is given to various hospitals for trying new techniques out.  There are tons of organizations that are completely backing up pathways. But then on the other side, there is a great amount of people who were or are very up happy about the way In which their loved one was cared for. 

            This story really touched me.  I have been working around the elderly population for the majority of my life now.  I have met and been in very close contact with many people on their last leg.  They are being provided with hospice services, as well as some pain medicine, or oxygen.  I know 70/80 year olds that have had hip surgery recently.  Now according to this pathways rule is someone who is around the age of 80 who requires hip surgery would they be eligible to receive it?  I understand the thought process behind wanting someone to leave on a good note and with some dignity, but I don’t believe that they doctors are the ones that should be making that final decision.  The families of these people know them and their values way better than some doctor. 

Haiti Cholera Episemic Blog 9

Haiti cholera epidemic 'most likely' started at UN camp - top scientist

22 October 2012 Last updated at 01:04 ET

By Mark Doyle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20024400

Dr Daniele Lantagne a cholera specialist said that a camp that UN soldiers recently arrived in Nepal is “most likely” the camp where the disease Cholera is vast.  Dr Lantagne is one of the world’s experts on the disease itself.  More than 7,500 people have died in Haiti from the cholera outbreak.  The out breaks started in late 2010; hundreds of cases are being reported each and every week.  This is the largest cholera outbreak in the world, with more cases there in Haiti than in the African continent.  Before this specific outbreak The country of Haiti had not recorded a single case of cholera for an entire century.  Cholera is spread via infected feces, once it hits a water supply it is very hard to stop spreading, especially in Haiti where there is no effect way of disposing sewage.  After doing much research, testing and investigation, experts have learned that the strand of cholera that was found in Haiti is the exact match of the strand of cholera that was found in Nepal. The spread of the disease across the country was the result of many factors.  They are as follows the inadequate water supply, and the most non-existent sewage disposal systems.  The strand of cholera was introduced to Haiti via someone that was infected with the Nepal strand of cholera, who was also associated with the United Nations Mirabalais camp. 

This has been a controversial issue so not much is allowed to be said. About it.

            This is a very touchy situation, there is a strand of Cholera that has been brought in by a member of the UN. As if Haiti doesn’t already have its own problems to deal with such as a lack of sewage and drainage problem, and the lack of clean water.  Thery are now being faced with this other epidemic. I think its really interesting that before this there had not been a case of cholera in years.  Cholera is one of those disease that once it is in the systems, its very hard to get rid of.  Riding the environment of it will prove to be a difficult task but it can be done. 

Blog 8

Public Health Notice: E. coli O157 illness related to beef

Updated : 12 October 2012

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fs-sa/phn-asp/ecoli-1012-eng.php

Products that have E coli in them can pose a serious risk.  The Public Health Agency of Canada has been working with the Health and food safety partners investigating E coli 0157 illness.  There are two E coli 0157 cases under investigation now in British Columbia.  Both of which have been linked to a specific strand of E coli.  Investigating such outbreaks can be very complex and time consuming.  Since September 26^th, 2012 with the help of The Public Health Agency of Canada, the food safety partners and Health Canada amongst others, they have been investigating these out breaks.  After all of the investigations there has been a total of 15 out breaks associated with XL Foods INC. E Coli 0157.  This is a food borne pathogen very common in Canada.  Furthering the investigation, everyone involved will take more efforts in protecting those who have been exposed to the disease or those who may become exposed to the disease.  Luckily most strands of Ecoli are harmless but other strans may cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, and some severe cases man even cause kidney failure

We have heard so much about E coli and its effects over the course of the years.  Every time I hear about it I am amazed by how prevalent it is and how easy it really is to get it.  I believe that Canada is doing a great job with investigating the problem and the cause of it.  With enough support and people from various backgrounds with different knowledge, all working together for one common cause, there is no reason why the source of the problem cannot be found.  They also give great tips on not only how to prevent one from getting it But also general food safety guidelines, and various symptoms of someone who may have already been exposed to the disease, and ways in which to protect yourself.  I think this article was successful in outlining the problem, addressing it and giving just enough information to the public where they could be informed hopeful and not scared.