Pestilences

[Shammu]

Viral flu hits school
Thursday January 31, 2008
By DHARMENDER SINGH

SUNGAI BESAR: Four teachers and 143 students from SM Agama Simpang Lima have been put in isolation after 13 of their schoolmates were admitted to hospital for viral influenza.

Those now quarantined in the school hostel would be getting round-the-clock medical attention from five doctors stationed there.

The outbreak started on Jan 24 with 10 students from the boarding school showing symptoms like blocked nose, cough and high fever.

However, they were allowed to return to their hostels after receiving outpatient treatment at the clinic in nearby Sabak Bernam.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said more students started showing symptoms of the influenza soon after and 13 had to be admitted to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital.

He said the state Health Department checked the school grounds on Tuesday and set up a 24-hour operations centre at the school with five doctors and other medical personnel to monitor the sick.

The four teachers are under isolation in their own homes.

The school, offering classes from Form 1 to Form six, has 647 students of whom all, except for 111, live in hostels on the school grounds. 

Noh assured the parents the children were well looked after and asked them to call, not visit, to get updates. 

“Please leave your children here for now so that they can seek immediate medical attention if symptoms start to show,” Noh told a press conference at the school here yesterday.

He said classes would continue as usual for those who were not infected.

Many parents had initially panicked following rumours of an avian flu outbreak and a small crowd of them gathered at the school gate on Tuesday night.

The fears arose following a cross-country run last Thursday that took students through a poultry farm near Pantai Sungai Nibong.

Noh said initial checks showed no signs of avian flu. 

Viral flu hits school

[Soldier4Christ]

MRSA found on 15% of hospital's curtains
Study finds some material less likely to carry superbug


The super-bug MRSA has been discovered on 15% of a hospital's curtains, a new medical study has found.

During the research 200 curtains were randomly selected from wards and departments across the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham and tested for MRSA. Of those, 31 tested positive for the bug.

But, as is standard practice, the hospital washes its curtains only four times a year unless they are known to have come in to contact with an infection.
Cutting risk of MRSA

Doctors at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the QMC, have now been looking at ways of reducing the risk of MRSA infecting curtains.

They have found that introducing a silver thread to the material greatly reduces the prevalence of the bug.

Dr Tim Boswell - who is based at the QMC - found that of 192 samples taken from freshly cleaned polyester or cotton curtains over a four week period, 21 contained MRSA.
Prevention

But under the same conditions only four out of 96 samples taken from silver-woven curtains were infected with the superbug.

Dr Boswell, a consultant medical biologist and an infection control doctor, said: 'We are quite keen to evaluate new technologies that will help us prevent infections.

'There are some companies that are producing products that are quite dubious but there are others that have products that are potentially very exciting.

'I think we would have seen a more dramatic effect may be if there was more silver in the curtain but certainly what we saw was very promising.'
Replacing curtains

He added: 'The trust has been looking at replacing many of its curtains and the results of this research have come at the right time.'

But any plans to replace the hospital's curtains might depend on the cost.

Standard polyester curtains from Toray Textiles Europe Ltd, the Mansfield-based firm behind the new curtains, cost on average £3 a square metre. But the silver-woven curtains cost on average £5 a square metre.

[Soldier4Christ]

Nurses to be banned from wearing uniforms home?
Infection fears: Move considered 'to ease public superbug fears'

Nurses could be banned from wearing their uniforms off hospital premises - because the public are afraid they could spread superbugs.

Hospital chiefs in Lancashire have revealed that nurses could be forced to get changed before and after work on site if they decide to alter their existing uniform policy.

At the moment, nurses are allowed to wear their uniforms while travelling to and from work, as long as it is covered by an outer garment.

Bosses in Preston and Chorley admitted the move has been prompted by growing public concern about the spread of hospital infections - despite there being no concrete evidence to show uniforms can pose an infection risk.

Sue Reed, nursing director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The issue of nurses wearing the hospital uniform outside of trust premises has become a growing concern for the public and the trust.

"While expert opinion suggests that this does not pose a significant hazard in terms of spreading infection, public perception is that there is a risk.

"The trust is currently exploring the possibility of prohibiting all staff from wearing uniform off trust premises."

Guidance from the Department of Health states: "There is no conclusive evidence that uniforms or other work clothes pose a significant hazard in terms of spreading infection. But the Government does acknowledge that the public believe there is a risk and do not like seeing nurses wearing their uniform when they are off the premises."

Nurses fear the potential change in uniform policy will add to their already long working day. Janet Howarth, branch secretary for UNISON, said: "Nurses have expressed concerns that if this new policy is implemented, they will have to get to work earlier and they want to know if there will be 'changing time' allowed.

"There are already major problems with parking on the site, so workers have to get in early to make sure they get a space.

"If they then have to allow extra time for getting changed into their uniform, it will lead to an even extended working day. I do understand the trust's need to have a robust infection policy, but I think this move is prompted more by public perception than risk.

"If the trust do decide that nurses have to get changed into and out of their uniforms at work, they will have to provide the facilities to make this possible.

"At the moment, there are some changing rooms at Preston, but they need updating and there are very limited changing facilities at Chorley.

"Hospital bosses will also need to provide laundry facilities as it is pointless nurses taking their dirty uniforms home with them."

[Shammu]

New Bacterial Infection from Babylon.....
By JOHN HENDREN
Feb. 8, 2008

Troops arriving home from Iraq and Afghanistan have been carrying a mysterious, deadly bacteria, according to a new magazine report.

Doctors have linked the bacterium acinetobacter baumannii to at least seven deaths, as well as to loss of limbs and other severe ailments, according to the report, which found the bacterium has spread quickly since the war in Afghanistan began in the fall of 2001

Acinetobacter baumannii has been found in military hospitals in Germany, the Washington, D.C., area and Texas -- the primary destinations of wounded service members from the two war zones. And it has now spread to civilians, according to the report.

"The outbreak began traveling with patients or nonpatients from Iraq all the way back to Walter Reed," said Dr. Rox Anderson at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Timothy Endy, a retired Army colonel now teaching infectious disease medicine at the Upstate Medical University of the State University of New York, said the outbreak might be the largest of its kind to spread through hospitals in history.

Doctors quoted in the magazine article agreed. "Of the infectious disease problems that come out of the conflict, it is the most important complication we've seen," Dr. Glenn Wortmann, acting chief of infectious disease at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, said in the February issue of Proceedings, published by the U.S. Naval Institute, a professional organization focused on naval issues.

The report was released to subscribers of the magazine this week.

New Bacterial Infection from Babylon.....

[Soldier4Christ]

California to require reporting of staph infections
Estimated 90,000 people in U.S. fall ill every year from drug-resistant MRSA

California doctors and health care workers will be required to report cases of drug-resistant staph infections under a new state rule announced Thursday.

Officials from the state Department of Public Health hope that mandatory reporting will allow them to learn who's at greatest risk and develop strategies to control the germ.

An estimated 90,000 people in the United States fall ill every year from the drug-resistant strain, known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

MRSA thrives in health care settings, but in recent years has spread to schools, prisons and community settings. The germ is spread mostly through personal contact and it's largely preventable by commonsense hygiene, according to health officials.

The new rule requires health care providers in California to notify local health departments of severe cases of staph infections including MRSA in healthy people who get hospitalized or die. MRSA joins a list of reportable diseases that includes anthrax and hepatitis.

Lisa McGiffert of Consumers Union said the new reporting rule is limited because it does not include cases of people who catch MRSA in hospitals, which make up the majority of infections.

Some studies have found 17 percent of drug-resistant staph infections were caught in the community and did not have any apparent links to health-care settings.

About 18 states require some form of MRSA reporting.

[Soldier4Christ]

U.S. flu season getting worse

Are you feeling surrounded by family, friends and co-workers spewing flu virus? It's not paranoia.

Federal health officials say the flu season is getting worse. And they say it's partly because the vaccine that's out there doesn't protect against more than half of this year's viruses.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control said the vaccine was effective against roughly half the strains making the rounds. But officials say the situation has deteriorated even in the last week. So that flu shot that you may have gotten a couple months ago is now a good match for only about 40 percent of the viruses.

In good years, the vaccine can fend off anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of flu bugs. The CDC's chief flu specialist says every area of the country is affected and 44 states are reporting widespread flu.

[Littleboy]

 More than 40 percent of Chinese rural drinking water unfit: report Mon Feb 18, 4:10 PM ET BEIJING (AFP) - More than 40 percent of drinking water in rural China falls short of government standards, state media said Monday, citing a health ministry study. The survey found 44.4 percent of all drinking water in the rural areas was unhealthy, leading to outbreaks of diarrhoea and other diseases, Xinhua said, citing the Ministry of Health."The condition of drinking water in rural areas still has a long way to go to improve the health condition and living quality for rural people," said ministry spokesman Mao Qunan, according to Xinhua.The findings were based on a joint survey by the Ministry of Health and the National Committee for the Patriotic Public Health Campaign of nearly 7,000 samples from villages across the country, the report said.Mao said 74.9 percent of people drank underground water while 25.1 percent drank surface water."Most people living in rural areas do not have their drinking water sterilised, and often they just drink the well water, which may have been polluted already," the spokesman said.Three decades of unchecked industrialisation have led to massive contamination of China's water supplies and reports of polluting factories causing disruptions to water supplies emerge often.More than 70 percent of the country's waterways and 90 percent of its underground water is polluted, according to previously released government figures.

[nChrist]

Hello Littleboy,

This is sad but not very surprising. China appears to be much more interested in money than the are the lives and welfare of people. One could look at many of their recent exports and wonder what the Chinese people get. It stands to reason that it would probably be much worse.

It's great to hear from you, and I'm glad to see you on the forum.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

[Soldier4Christ]

Feds set new recipe for next year's flu vaccine

Federal health advisers are recommending a completely reformulated recipe for next year's flu vaccine.

They're hoping it will provide better protection against three new and different flu strains. The Centers for Disease Control says this year's version has been a good match for only about 40 percent of the viruses that have emerged.

The CDC's flu director say the new formula will make for a "really busy spring and summer" for vaccine manufacturers expected to produce more than 100 million doses by the fall.

The flu vaccine is redone every year, because the influenza virus evolves quickly. The CDC has a relatively successful record, with vaccines proving well-matched in 16 of the last 19 flu seasons. But health authorities didn't spot this year's big culprit, the Brisbane/10 strain until it was too late.

[Littleboy]

Hi Brother Tom
Indias waters are even worse than China's...
When the dysaster at the Chernobyl Nucular site in Russia happened,
I had heard that the word Chernobyl means Wormwood!
Do you know if Chernobyl really means Wormwood?
and if it does,
Isn't it strange how russia has a star(wormwood) & sycle(reaping) as there Flag?
Even stranger, the fact that if the nucular waste from that plant gets into the water table, God only knows how many will die...(Maybe A 3rd of man)
One Good earthquake in that area and i can see that happening!
I wonder if this is what John saw or if it was an actual star falling from Heaven that had the name Wormwood?
Something to contemplate while where waiting for his return for us...
I've missed & love you to Brother, stay strong & always forward!
YLBD
I look forward to your input on this as well as others too...
Godspeed my Brother

[nChrist]

Hello Littleboy,

I only have a casual knowledge of Chernobyl from what I remember hearing on the news. I've never considered Chernobyl in connection to Bible Prophecy, but it appears that many have. One can do an advanced Google search of:

All words:  Chernobyl wormwood

There are a large number of results, and many of the sites are related to Bible Prophecy. According to what I found, "Chernobyl" is Russian for "wormwood". I would have to think about this and study it to have any opinion about Chernobyl being related to Bible Prophecy. At this point, I would only have the same opinion I had before learning about this. I do think that we are nearing or in the end days of this Age of Grace. There are countless events around the world to indicate this possibility. I'll just say over all things that I will love the Glorious Appearing of JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and SAVIOUR forever!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Titus 2:11-14 NASB
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

2 Timothy 4:5-8 NASB
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

[Soldier4Christ]

Rev 8:10  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
Rev 8:11  And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.


According to scripture Wormwood is an actual star that falls from heaven not something that is already here on earth. Based on this I personally am sure that Chernobyl has nothing to do with this prophecy.

[nChrist]

Hello Pastor Roger,

Brother, I hope this means you are some better or you don't have a really bad case of the flu. You are already in our prayers.

There is a star called "Wormwood". This is the first I've heard of anything involving Chernobyl. We do know that Russia is heavily involved in End Days events, so the meaning of "Chernobyl" is at least very strange. I would at least be curious about the reason why the Russians called a nuclear plant by this name. I usually say that I don't believe in coincidence, but I don't know about this one yet. I remember reading this word several times while studying Bible Prophecy, and I always thought this was a very strange name. However, I didn't do a word study on this and never did follow it up. I still have a lengthy list of things I want to study in the area of Bible Prophecy, so I'll add this to the list. We do know that any heavenly body large enough to get through the atmosphere without burning up would cause a horrible catastrophe. The explosive power could easily be many times larger than our biggest nuclear weapons. In fact, many things in nature have great power locked up in them.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[Soldier4Christ]

I'm still down in bed and doing a lot of sleeping, but I am able to be up on short intervals and dropped in here during one of them.

I looked into Chernobyl quite a bit right from the time it first occurred. Currently the area in which it happened is in much better condition than originally thought it would be. Wild life in that area is returning and is showing no signs of ill health from the incident. The sarcophagus (container encasing the spill) is still holding up and does not appear to be ready to release any of the spill for at least another 100 years.

[nChrist]

Brother,

This particular Bible Prophecy is pretty plain and blunt, so the most logical translation is probably the most literal. It's just very strange there would be a nuclear plant bearing the same name at this time in history by a major player in the end times. Just the timing would make this interesting. The last I heard of Chernobyl was a documentary about children born in the area with horrible birth defects.

I do know there is usually a good reason for the mention of names, places, and details in the Holy Bible. In looking backward in time, it's almost as if GOD telling us why HE mentioned a particular detail. This is just one reason why the study of Bible Prophecy is so fascinating. The Bible has proven itself TRUE countless times, and these details were in the proofs. The proofs are being added by the day now with discoveries of various kinds that all prove the Bible to be 100% ACCURATE.