Almost 96 percent of Southern elephant seal pups across Argentina born in 2023 have met a tragic end as a highly contagious strain of avian influenza continues to wreak havoc on wildlife.
The scale of mortality sparks concerns that the H5N1 strain is now capable of mammal-to-mammal infection.
"The sight of elephant seals found dead or dying along the breeding beaches can only be described as apocalyptic," says Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) health director Chris Walzer.
The three beaches where the species breeds were littered with over 17,000 bodies of baby Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina).
"This 2023 die-off contrasts starkly with the 18,000 pups born and successfully weaned in 2022," explains Walzer.
This amounts to the loss of nearly an entire generation of elephant seals in the region. As these animals take at least three years to reach maturity, the impact on their population may not be felt until 2027 when there are fewer available breeding adults to produce subsequent generations.
While H5N1 has been around since 1996, it was mostly circulating among domesticated birds for years, leading to the culling of hundreds of millions of animals. Moving into wild bird populations, it has now reached Antarctica, possibly exacerbated by changes in migration schedules thanks to climate change.
Just last week a polar bear was confirmed to have been killed by avian influenza in a world first, adding to a fast growing list of mammal victims that include endangered Caspian seals, grizzly bears, dolphins, otters, mink, and foxes. All up the virus has infected about 345 bird and mammals species.
The majority of mammals impacted so far are predators, prompting some experts to suggest they likely caught the virus directly from their prey rather than from each other. So the virus may not yet be capable of spreading between mammals.
But elephant seal pups, who drink their mothers milk, don't tend to come in contact with bird fluids.
"Nursing pups remain close to their mothers and opportunities for interaction with birds (mainly gulls) are basically restricted to the context of birds eating placentas during diurnal births," WCS ecologist Claudio Campagna and colleagues explain in a report.
"This is all highly suggestive of some sort of transmission between mammals," wildlife veterinarian Marcela Uhart from University of California, Davis, told Luke Taylor at New Scientist.
While mammal-to-mammal transmission is not yet confirmed, it is a very real possibility. As we've all experienced first hand with the COVID pandemic, viruses are frighteningly good at adapting. Influenzas are particularly notorious for their ability to change things up, and researchers have already identified shifts in H5N1 receptor binding proteins that would make them better at infecting human hosts.
Influenza viruses tend to be extremely contagious and H5N1 is no exception. A virulence measure known as R naught has a value of up to 100 for H5N1 in birds. That means each infected individual has the potential to infect up to 100 others. For comparison, the R naught for early COVID-19 variants ranged from 1.5 to 7.
As far as we know, humans have so far only caught bird flu from other animals on rare occasions. Last year there were a total of 248 reported cases, with 139 fatalities. This means Avian influenza has a staggering fatality rate of 56 percent in humans so far.
In light of these events, the World Health Organization is urging health officials to prepare for continued spillover into human populations as the virus continues to rage through livestock and wildlife.
They advise us all to avoid contact with sick or dead animals and to report all such cases to animal health authorities.
If we can swiftly prevent spread in outbreak areas through vaccination then the virus will have less opportunity to develop a way to sustainably spread between people.
"The cost of inaction is already causing major devastation to wildlife," warns Walzer. "As we work to help affected populations recover, we must remain vigilant against the spread of this deadly pathogen to people before it's too late."
With the new year, three upper respiratory viruses have begun to spread among Americans. COVID-19, seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, have all been infecting people and making them sick.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been doing what it does well, which is the tracking of these viruses. So where does the nation stand right now, and should you be concerned?
Tracking these infections is challenging unless a person visits a hospitals emergency room for a severe case.
Regarding COVID-19, the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker provides weekly updates of test positivity, emergency department visits and severity indicators, i.e., hospitalizations and deaths. Measures like these provide a way to make sense of the public health risk across the population.
Using hospitalizations based on new hospital admissions per 100,000 people across the 3,220 counties in the nation, the number of counties with a rate of 20 or more new admissions per 100,000 reached 306 in the week ending Dec. 30, or just under 10% of all counties. This number has been steadily increasing from the summer. However, it had dropped to 146 for the week ending Jan. 13.
Yet looking back to the 2022-23 winter season, the nation reached its peak just after the new year, when 640 counties had a rate of at least 20 or more new admissions per 100,000. What is clear this season is that the trend is continuing, and if the trend is replicated, the peak population risk period may have already been reached.
The Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, or FluSurv-NET, provides weekly updates on hospital admissions for seasonal influenza. The numbers are just beginning to rise this season, with the overall rate running around 8 per 100,000 for the week ending Dec. 30, with a dip occurring in the first week of 2024. Not surprisingly, the age groups most affected are the young and the elderly.
The Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network, or RSV-NET, provides weekly updates on hospital admissions for RSV. These rates are significantly lower than the rates for COVID-19 and influenza, except for the rate for those younger than 4, which is more than 10 times higher than any other age group.
So what can people do to protect themselves and their loved ones?
Though COVID-19 is clearly the most dangerous of the three, the good news is that the variants that are circulating now appear to be producing fewer severe outcomes than last year, based on hospitalization data. We will know sometime in February whether this trend holds.
Still, the youngest and oldest among us, as well as those with certain health conditions, remain vulnerable to poor outcomes. That fact has been true since March 2020. Moreover, all the new variants are linked to the omicron variant, which means that the current vaccine is likely to provide some protection.
Influenza has been tracked for decades; this season so far resembles prior years. Not enough time has passed to determine whether this flu season will be as severe as the 2017-2018 season.
RSV continues to affect the very young most severely.
Should people shelter in place during this period? No. At the same time, they should take reasonable cautions to protect the most vulnerable. Parents with children younger than 4 should be mindful to keep their children as safe as possible from RSV. If a child shows upper respiratory symptoms, keep them at home and follow CDC recommended treatment plans.
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Those who have elderly parents can follow the same advice with respect to influenza.
COVID-19 has a wider footprint of impact across the population. Following safeguards and using good judgment will reduce peoples risk.
Though some have described this respiratory season as a tripledemic, the variability inherent in these three respiratory viruses means that there are no one-size-fits-all guidelines. Each of us must consider the risks we face, as well as our loved ones, recognizing the different symptoms of each and potential impact on our lives.
The CDC data certainly informs our choices. What continues to be needed is straightforward, commonsense advice on how to use them.
So should you be concerned? It is never beneficial to get sick. Avoiding infection, no matter which one, continues to be sound advice.
Sheldon H. Jacobson is a professor of computer science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A data scientist, he applies his expertise in data-driven risk-based decision-making to evaluate and inform public policy.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Health care professionals have been issuing the alarm about a trifecta of viruses hitting Americans this winter: COVID-19, the flu and RSV.
But should we be on alert for a fourth one as well norovirus? Medical experts say there are several ways you can protect yourself and your family from this very contagious virus so it doesnt put a damper on your winter plans.
We are seeing it here in Steamboat, said Lauren Bryan, infection prevention program manager at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. This time of year, were stuck indoors and touching the same surfaces, which is an optimal way for it to spread.
Norovirus is an incredibly contagious virus causing diarrhea and vomiting. Its spread through fecal material if someone doesnt wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom, for example, or after changing a dirty diaper.
Its a super contagious, super virulent virus, she said. It an equal-opportunity virus as well as it attacks the young and the old.
Once someone is infected, it can be passed to others unknowingly through direct contact such as through sharing food or utensils. It often sweeps through schools, child care centers and nursing homes, or other places where people are in close proximity with each other.
While its sometimes called a stomach bug or flu, its not caused by an influenza virus. You can get it any time of the year, although its most prevalent in the winter. Bryan said she sees cases even into June.
Norovirus differs from the flu in that it has a shorter duration, usually lasting one to three days, and doesnt cause a fever, sore throat or other upper respiratory symptoms like influenza, RSV or COVID-19.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is responsible for nearly 1 million pediatric visits each year, 900 deaths (mostly among adults aged 65 and older) and 109,000 hospitalizations.
The most common symptoms are:
For skiers and riders, Bryan suggests they carry hand sanitizer.
Think about it: Everyone is using the gondolas and touching the same common areas when you come into the restaurants to take a break and eat, she said. Once you touch these surfaces and then put your hand in a glove or mitten, its the perfect warm and moist environment for bacteria and germs to thrive.
Theres no treatment per se, but there are steps to manage it to make you feel less miserable, she said.
Most importantly, stay hydrated with fluids that contain electrolytes.
You want something that has some salt and potassium since you are losing electrolytes, and they need to be replenished, said Bryan.
Also important: Seek care if you cant keep fluids down, if you become dizzy or if your urine is dark. For children, she suggests taking them to a medical provider if they are complaining of a dry throat or mouth.
Its a miserable couple of days but hang in there and stay hydrated, she said. If you cant, we want you to seek care.
Winter can be a nightmare for parents and caregivers with small children as they face the quadruple threat of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, COVID-19 and an invasive group A streptococcal bacteria.
These illnesses can sometimes lead to complications in young kids, especially those with underlying health conditions.
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Heres a guide to the latest information on all four seasonal illnesses and what to watch for in young children:
Invasive group A streptococcal bacteria, or strep A, typically causes mild illness in children, but infections can be more dangerous when it invades the lungs or blood or spreads along the tissue surrounding a muscle. There is no vaccine but most cases can be treated with antibiotics.
The agency issued a bulletin in December about the high level of strep A infections circulating in the province and then on Thursday confirmed that four kids had died.
B.C.s health officials also say cases have gone up significantly over the past year. The B.C. CDC says there were 60 reported cases of the invasive bacterial infections last year in people under age 20, three times as many as in 2022.
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What strep A symptoms should parents watch for?
A fever for more than five days in a child of any age.
Fever with either a fine red rash (skin texture like sandpaper), full body rash like a sunburn and red, swollen tongue.
A fever in a child under three months, a child with immune system issues or complex chronic health issues.
A child struggling to breathe, for example when the chest appears to sink in around the breastbone on each breath, possibly with grunting or head-bobbing on each breath in a young infant;
Pale skin and whitish or blue lips.
A child who is very sleepy or having difficulty waking up.
A child becoming very sick quickly.
Respiratory syncytial virus is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most children have had it at least once by age two. But it can also cause respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, and is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations among young children.
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An otherwise healthy child will likely recover at home but parents should call their doctor if their child isnt responding to fever-reducing medicine.
The virus spreads easily in crowded settings, such as child-care facilities and preschools. Children attending school often spread the virus to their parents and siblings. The incubation period the time from exposure to RSV until you have symptoms ranges from two to eight days, according to the BCCDC.
What RSV symptoms should parents watch for?
If a child has a fever that lasts longer than five days, take them to the emergency room at the hospital.
Any child under three months of age with a fever should to go to the ER.
Flu-like symptoms with rapid or laboured breathing, bluish or whitish lips and a sandpaper-type rash with a fever.
Difficulty breathing, wheezing.
Babies with RSV may also have no energy, act fussy or cranky and be less hungry than usual.
Coughing that is getting worse. A child may choke or vomit from intense coughing.
Lethargy, increased tiredness, decreased interest in surroundings or loss of interest in food.
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This strain is included in this years vaccine so parents and caregivers are encouraged to vaccinate children. Vaccination against the flu may also reduce the risk of a severe outcome with other seasonal illnesses like RSV and strep A.
For children at high risk of severe complications, parents should consider talking to their care-provider about early access to an influenza antiviral drug called oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which is most effective against influenza if started within 12 hours, and ideally not later than 48 hours after illness onset, according to the BCCDC.
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Other children and teens at risk include those who have difficulty breathing, swallowing or a risk of choking on food or fluids, such as people with severe brain damage, spinal cord injury, seizures or neuromuscular disorders. Children who are overweight or those who are required to take Aspirin for long periods of time are also at higher risk.
The BCCDC says most children with influenza and other respiratory viruses recover safely at home without the need for medical intervention. However, there can be more severe cases that require hospitalization.
What flu symptoms should parents watch for?
Difficulty breathing or fever in a child under three months of age should seek immediate medical attention.
A fever with a stiff neck or a severe headache.
If your child seems confused, doesnt know where they are or is extremely sleepy or hard to wake up.
Coughing all the time.
Signs of dehydration such as sunken eyes with few tears, dry mouth with little or no spit, and little or no urine for six hours.
New symptoms such as a rash, an earache, or a sore throat.
COVID is a respiratory disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, and is spread mainly from person-to-person. The illness and virus were first identified in 2019. The WHO declared a pandemic in March 2020.
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While children can contract COVID just as adults can, the good news is that kids are less likely to become severely ill. Some may not even show symptoms of having the illness. However, some children need to be hospitalized and treated in intensive care. Babies under age one may be at a higher risk of severe illness with COVID than older children.
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said last week that COVID cases are showing signs of increasing with 219 people in hospital and 26 people in intensive care. But she said almost all people in the province have some degree of immunity, due to infection or vaccination.
What COVID symptoms should parents watch for?
The common symptoms are similar to flu: fever, chills, runny nose, shortness of breath, cough, muscle aches and upset stomach.
There can also be loss of taste or smell (this doesnt occur with flu) and extreme fatigue.
Seek medical attention if your child has difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
Confusion or inability to arouse.
Bluish lips or face.
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With files from Joseph Ruttle, Cheryl Chan and The Canadian Press
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CLEVELAND, Ohio Levels of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19, RSV and flu are high in Ohio and Kentucky, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In surrounding states, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan have moderate levels of respiratory viruses, while West Virginia has low levels.
The CDC provides weekly updates on how COVID-19, influenza, and RSV is spreading nationally.
Emergency department visits due to illness related to influenza, COVID-19, and RSV remain elevated in many areas of the country, but recent decreases also have been reported, the CDC said Friday.
The CDC also calculates levels of respiratory viruses by state, based on the percentage of reported visits to outpatient healthcare providers or hospital emergency departments for fever, cough or sore throat.
Flu activity across Ohio and the rest of the United States is being driven by the H1N1 strain formerly called swine flu.
The COVID-19 JN.1 variant, which is better at evading the vaccine, is dominant in this country and globally, health experts said.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, causes respiratory tract infections and spreads through coughs, sneezes and germs on surfaces. In children under age 2, severe RSV can lead to pneumonia and hospitalization.
RSV can also cause severe illness in the elderly.
Vaccines against influenza, COVID-19 and RSV are the best protection against severe illness, according to health experts.
Influenza vaccinations are available at many drugstores, retail stores, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and doctors offices. Most health insurances cover the cost.
To find a flu shot near you, use this vaccine finder, or call the Cuyahoga County Board of Health at 216-201-2041 to make an appointment to get the flu shot.
The Cleveland Department of Public Health has two health centers that provide flu shots, with walk-ins welcome.
All adults should receive at least one dose of the updated formula of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC. The number of doses needed and intervals between doses may vary depending on a patients prior vaccination history, whether they are immunocompromised, and the vaccine product used.
Pregnant women, parents of infants and adults over 65 should talk to their physician about the RSV vaccine.
Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.
Novavaxs updated protein-based non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is now available for use in Taiwan for the prevention of COVID-19 in individuals aged 12 and older. Doses have been distributed by Taiwans Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and are now available at vaccination clinics across the country. The addition of a protein-based vaccine will diversify the countrys vaccine portfolio and provide a non-mRNA option to help protect against COVID-19.
Non-clinical datashowed that Novavax's updated COVID-19 vaccine induced functional immune responses against XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16 and XBB.2.3 variants. Additional non-clinical data demonstrated that Novavax's vaccine induced neutralizing antibody responses to subvariants JN.1, BA.2.86, EG.5.1, FL.1.5.1 and XBB.1.16.6 as well as CD4+ polyfunctional cellular (T-cell) responses against EG.5.1 and XBB.1.16.6. These data indicate Novavax's vaccine can stimulate both arms of the immune system and may induce a broad response against currently circulating variants.1, 2
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements herein relating to the future of Novavax, its operating plans and prospects, including the availability of its updated XBB version of its Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula) (NVX-CoV2601) and the timing of delivery and distribution of its vaccine in Taiwan are forward-looking statements. Novavax cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, challenges satisfying, alone or together with partners, various safety, efficacy, and product characterization requirements, including those related to process qualification and assay validation, necessary to satisfy applicable regulatory authorities; difficulty obtaining scarce raw materials and supplies; resource constraints, including human capital and manufacturing capacity, on the ability of Novavax to pursue planned regulatory pathways; challenges or delays in obtaining regulatory authorization for its product candidates, including its updated XBB version of its COVID-19 vaccine in time for the fall 2023 vaccination season or for future COVID-19 variant strain changes; challenges or delays in clinical trials; manufacturing, distribution or export delays or challenges; Novavax's exclusive dependence on Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. for co-formulation and filling and the impact of any delays or disruptions in their operations on the delivery of customer orders; challenges meeting contractual requirements under agreements with multiple commercial, governmental, and other entities; and those other risk factors identified in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Novavax's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov and www.novavax.com, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of the statements. Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.
References:
Its Advice Week! InOn Second Thought, well revisit questions from the archives and dig into how much has changed since Slate began giving advice in 1997and how much hasnt.Read all stories here.
For todays edition, we dug through Slates archives and unearthed questions sent to Prudie from the 2010s. Weve asked todays columnists to weigh in with modern-day sensibilities.
On March 10, 2015, Should I Secretly Vaccinate? wrote to Dear Prudence:
My son and daughter-in-law are well-educated, responsible people. But once they had their first child (my now-18-month-old darling grandson), they did their own research and decided not to vaccinate him for fear of pumping poison into his body and risking autism. My DIL has particularly strong views about this, and weve had many vocal arguments over the issue. Finally she decided she didnt want to fight me anymore, and the last time I brought this up she refused to bring my grandson to see me for several weeks. I know that due to herd immunity the chances of his catching a serious illness are not high, but I am still appalled hes exposed to risks unnecessarily. I am about to look after him for five days while his parents go on a trip and I am thinking I will just take him to the doctor myself and get him immunized.
At the time, Prudence replied:
I marvel with distress that in 2015 we are fighting the vaccination wars. It is deeply disturbing that people who should be able to weigh discredited so-called studies instead believe garbage, and so are willing to endanger their children and others. I sincerely hope this madness burns itself out before a lot more people get hurt. Youre right that herd immunity should protect your grandson, but that is fading as large numbers of people refuse to vaccinate. The only solution seems to be for government to toughen the vaccination laws and close the loopholes that allow people to opt out for philosophical and so-called religious reasons. The laws need to make clear: no shot, no school. In the meantime, however, you cannot take your grandson to be vaccinated. For one thing, you dont have the standing to do this. For another, if it came out that you did, that would likely effectively end your relationship with your grandson. Its just not worth it. Lets hope this little boy does not get whooping cough, or measles or any of the other awful childhood diseases that medical science effectively wiped out, and misinformed parents are bringing back.
Care and Feedings advice from the future:
Oooooof. Well, this certainly hasnt gotten any better since 2015. Indeed, now weve got a whole new disease against which crackpots can refuse to vaccinate their children, thus (among many other dire consequences) increasing the chance of exposing their older, at-risk relatives to danger! And even though public trust in childhood vaccines has improved in the wake of COVID, more people now believe that parents rights should trump school vaccine requirements.
I have racked my brain for like half an hour to try to find a way to advise this letter-writer to whisk away that toddler and get someone to stick a bunch of needles in him. I cant get there, alas, as morally justifiable as I think it would be. (Talk about a victimless crime! This is a crime that literally could save the victims life.) But Prudie is correct that the letter-writer risks never seeing this grandchild again if they get caught.
What a drag, though. If you are this grandparent, and despite Prudies advice just went and did the damn thing anyway, please write to me and let me know. I will buy you a beer.
On July 14, 2011, Badgered asked: My little sister has a beautiful 18-month-old boy. Four times since his birth, she has entered him in most beautiful baby photo contests. During these contests family members receive email and Facebook reminders every day. Sometimes the competitions are open for a month or longer. I told her after the second contest that I do not want to be asked to vote anymore. I explained that I love my nephew but am uncomfortable with a competition where children are judged on appearance. I also told her that the contest rules allow these companies to use her childs image for free in any way they like. She has ignored all this and once again started with the email reminders. I feel harassed. Am I justified in my disdain?
At the time, Prudence replied:
We are constantly hearing about social trends (fast food, texting, gay marriage) that supposedly have the power to destroy the American family. But with the most beautiful baby contest I think your sister has actually found one that will turn evolution on its head and make people come to loathe their youngest and cutest family members. Anyone receiving such daily reminders would be tempted to pour the contents of a sippy cup on the parent responsible for this pestering. Tell your sister you understand she gets a kick out of these contests (leave out the moralizing), but the reminders are clogging your inbox and youd appreciate if she could she take you off the list. If she doesnt, just keep hitting delete and try to remember this is not your nephews fault.
Care and Feedings advice from the future:
This is really funny. Almost quaint, really, when the Facebook updates I most often receive from relatives are spam posts from bots reading I cant believe shes gone Im miss you RIP . I would almostalmost!welcome messages from a sibling urging me to vote for their child in a Most Beautiful Baby contest, if those messages also included beautiful photos of their baby.
Prudies advice is correct. Explaining to the sister why these contests are objectionable will get the letter-writer nowhere, other than that the sister will be angry with them. But youre within your rights to ask even a close relative to stop sending you unnecessary messages! And theyre within their rights to ignore you, so keep that delete finger limber. Or quit Facebook!
On July 7, 2011, Whos on the Cake? asked: I am pleased New York is legalizing gay marriage. I have supported gay rights for years and am proud that we are striving for a more equal America. Last night my family was watching a movie and there was a wedding scene. My 3-year-old son asked, Whos getting married? It occurred to me that Im not sure what to say to him about a man marrying a man or a woman marrying a woman. I want my son to understand the world in which we live, but I think it could be too confusing an issue to introduce the new paradigm.
At the time, Prudence replied:
This came up for me a few years ago when my favorite section of the Sunday New York Times, the wedding announcements, started carrying same-sex weddings. I had the paper open on the dining room table and my then-elementary-school-aged daughter walked by and her eye was caught by a photo of two men. She pointed and said, Mom, whats this one? It was easy to explain to her that while most weddings are between a man and a woman, sometimes theyre between two men or two women. She realized she already knew something about this, since shed gone to school with kids who had two dads or two moms. What shed never seen evidence of before was a same-sex wedding. But absorbing this new paradigm took only a few questions and a few minutes. Your son is just 3 years old, so theres no need to explain to him the fine points of the legalization of gay marriage. In the coming years hell see that families dont always consist of a father and mother, because many of his classmates will have single parents, and a few will have same-sex parents. Because you are perfectly comfortable with this fact, youll be able to follow his lead and answer what questions he has. And if he seems anxious about this, it may just be that he wants reassurance that his family is going to remain the way it already is.
Care and Feedings advice from the future:
Good answer, Prudie. Kids remain extremely skilledbetter than adults, maybe!at learning and accepting new information. I vividly remember my then-kindergarten-aged daughter sitting in the back seat of the car with a friend, and them discussing with keen interest and total approval the fact that sometimes men marry men or women marry women, and then her friend saying, with serene confidence, Thats called being jay.
On Sept. 23, 2010, Daddys Gone asked:
Last year, my husbands company went out of business. After 10 months of unemployment, he finally has a new job, and its everything we hoped for, with one exception: The hours are so long that my husband cant see our 16-month-old son. Its a techie company where the employees roll into the office around 10 a.m. and leave around 8 p.m. My husband sometimes has to work until 10 p.m. or later. He has tried getting into work at 8 a.m. and leaving at 6 p.m. But when he arrives, all the lights are off, and when he leaves, his co-workers hassle him about taking off early. After having Daddy around all day for the past 10 months, his sudden absence is really hard on our son, whos been mostly hysterical since my husband took this job. I want my husband to work more regular hours, so he can at least see our son every dayI just cant keep him up after 8 p.m. However, my husband doesnt want to make waves at this new job. How do we solve this?
At the time, Prudence replied:
Sure, it was fun for your son to have Mommy and Daddy to himself for almost a year, but all of you have to accept that there are adjustments to be made now that Daddy has something called a job. And not only is it a job; its a great job. So please stop undermining your husbandsyour whole familysgood fortune by insisting he work hours that will put him at odds with the companys culture. Maybe after your husband has proved his worth, he can tweak his work schedule, but now is not that time. The obvious, happy solution here is that if your husband is rolling into the office at 10 a.m., that should give him a nice block of time in the morning to spend with your son. They surely could have almost an hour together, and the advantage of this is that your son will be fresh and alert, not whiny and ready for bed. Your son misses his father, but perhaps part of his hysteria comes from picking up on your distress at having dinner alone every night. Maybe you should get together with friends with young children one or two nights a week for a communal dinner. Or you can swap babysitting with a friend so you can take a needed break and go to a movie or the gym. When you feel yourself resenting your husbands hours, look around at all the desperate out-of-work people and be glad your 10-month idyll has come to an end.
Care and Feedings advice from the future:
This letter sure comes from the pasta past before COVID transformed office culture in many white-collar jobs. I cringe a little reading Prudie scolding this mom for undermining her husbands job in a work environment that seemswhile not uncommon, I understand, for Silicon Valley startupspretty rigid and family-unfriendly.
And yet, even in the past, there were other ways to handle such situations. In 2010, I was unemployeder, freelancingwith a young child. A year later, Slate offered me a job, and I remember quite vividly the debates I had, very early on, with my managers about my desire to be out of the office in time to make and eat dinner with my family. I certainly didnt think it was my obligation to shut up and accept the expectation among Slate editors that everyone stays in the office until 6:30. I made my case that I could start my day early, leave early, and work from home in the evening, and still get all my work done just fine. Twelve years later, Im still here.
Now, Slate is an unusual workplace, in that it institutionally prizes debate and dissentand therefore I felt more empowered, from the get-go, to argue with the bosses than many new employees might feel. But 2024 employees have much more leverage on these issues than they used to, thanks to historically low unemployment and, happily, a greater recognitioneven among techie companiesof the value of fostering work-life balance.
I think what most rubbed me the wrong way about Prudies response was the intimation that this mother was undercutting the familys future security by worrying about their present happiness. I dont at all begrudge a mother in this situation wishing her husband would make some waves and advocate for himself. I would, in fact, argue that a husband facing this problem owes it to his family to take action. And he owes it to other parents at the company, fathers and mothers both, to make a strong case for a more flexible schedule. His company ought to rethink an office culture that has employees hassling their co-workers for the crime of wanting to see their children before they go to bed. If they refuse, its time for him to start looking for another joband this time, to make his work/life requirements clear from the beginning.
Dan
Johannesburg It seems hard to believe that Africa's biggest killer is a tiny insect, but almost every minute, an African child dies with malaria. The continent bears the brunt of the mosquito-borne disease, with 95% of the fatal cases recorded every year, and children under the age of 5 make up about 80% of those deaths.
The malaria parasite spreads to people bitten by infected mosquitos, and causes initial symptoms including high fever, headache and chills.
But finally, after four decades in the making, there's hope for the widespread prevention of malaria infections across Africa as a new vaccine is rolled out across the continent.
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History was made Monday in Cameroon as the first routine vaccination program against the mosquito-borne illness got underway. Cameroon hoped to vaccinate roughly 250,000 children over the next two years.
"The arrival of the vaccines marks a historic step in our efforts to control malaria, which remains a major public health threat in the country," said Dr. Malachie Manaouda, Cameroon's Minister of Public Health.
"We have been waiting for a day like this," Mohammed Abdulaziz, the head of disease control and prevention at the Africa CDC, told journalists at a news conference to mark the launch. "We are not just witnessing history, but actively participating in a transformative chapter in Africa public health history. It brings more than just hope a reduction in the mortality and morbidity associated with malaria."
The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine, also known as Mosquirix, was developed by British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline in conjunction with the Path Malaria Vaccine Initiative. It was recommended for use in such widespread fashion by the World Heath Organization in 2021, and is being rolled out in 19 countries in addition to Cameroon after having undergone successful trials in Ghana and Kenya.
The plan is for some 30 million doses of the vaccine to be administered in the coming months across all participating nations.
According to the WHO, malaria cases were up by almost 5 million in 2022 compared to the previous year. The increase in infections has been attributed largely to rising resistance to insecticides in the mosquitoes that carry the parasite, along with disruptions in health care and supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO recommends a four-dose plan for children around five months of age, with a fifth dose in high-risk areas. The trials showed that vaccinating kids before the rainy season, while also administering anti-malarial drugs, cut deaths by nearly two-thirds.
Two million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have already been vaccinated in a pilot program, and the WHO said studies of those children showed a 30% reduction in severe malaria symptoms.
A second vaccine, R21, developed by Oxford University and produced by the Serum Institute of India, completed a final regulatory step in December and is expected to be distributed in seven countries beginning in May or June. That vaccine's approval reassured health officials on the continent amid concerns that the eagerness of nations to participate in the program could lead to shortages.
Both vaccines, in trials, prevented half of malaria cases in the year after vaccination. Neither vaccine stops transmission of the disease.
The rollout will face challenges in many of the countries about to get the vaccine, as they struggle with transport and other infrastructure hurdles, leading those in charge of the program to suggest that local health workers schedule malaria vaccine shots in conjunction with other vaccinations, such as measles.
Health officials have warned the Ministries of Health in the initial 20 countries that the success of the vaccines will also depend on local health officials' level of preparation, including the continued provision and use of bed nets and spraying of insecticides.
Ten other countries have expressed an interest in the vaccine already, and officials involved expect that number to increase.
Lareb could not find sufficient evidence to link the COVID-19 vaccines to cases of Long Covid, the side effects center said on Wednesday. The center stressed that more research is needed.
The center received over 2,200 reports from people with symptoms that started within 28 days after getting vaccinated and lasted for more than six months. Lareb did further investigation into 78 of the 2,282 reports, which involved a combination of typical complaints that resemble Long Covid.
The combinations of complaints are very diverse, just like with Long Covid, Lareb said. They include shortness of breath, fatigue, malaise, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, headaches, muscle pains, and joint complaints. Also mentioned are brain fog, difficulty thinking, reduced ability to concentrate, difficulty finding words, inability to cope with stimuli and memory loss.
Just over half of the 78 investigated cases were medically examined. Sixteen got a medical diagnosis, eleven of which were Long Covid. In about half of these reports, no medical research has been done into the possible causes of the complaints, or this is unknown, Lareb said. It is not clear whether there are possible other causes, such as a coronavirus infection. Not everyone was even tested for the coronavirus.
Lareb, therefore, concluded that it had insufficient evidence to say there is a link between these symptoms and the Covid-19 vaccines. The Medicines Evaluation Board came to the same conclusion.
But Lareb director Agnes Kant stressed to NRC that more research is needed. The timing of the symptoms, among other things, is striking, she said. We see a pattern in which a large proportion of the complaints arose in the first three days after vaccination.
GP Eline Hofman pointed out to the Volkskrant that Lareb looked at just over 3 percent of the over 2,200 reports it received up to 16 August 2023. That raises the question: what does the other 97 percent have? She, too, thinks more research is needed, calling the Lareb report one piece of the puzzle.
