Hello dear readers, these are today's news, a hug Lola.
Lambda variant: what is known about mutation that spreads across South America and worries OMS.
And the case of covid-19 is no exception. Current versions of the disease are spreading much more easily than the original, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
The phenomenon is partially explained by the emergence of new variants, which, improved, become difficult to contain.
Sore throat, headache and runny nose are symptoms associated with the Delta variant of the coronavirus
Coronavirus: Neurological and Psychiatric Symptoms of Covid-19 are 'Rule, Not Exception'
Will more dangerous coronavirus variants continue to emerge?
The latest variant that prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue an alert is lambda. She was first found in August 2020 in Peru. At the time, it was named C.37 or "Andean variant".
On Tuesday (06/15), the WHO declared that this new version of the virus should be considered "of interest", a category in which six other mutations of Sars-CoV-2 are found and that, by confirming its community transmission, must be properly investigated by scientists to measure its impact, especially in South America.
WHO divides the variants into two types: those of "interest" mentioned above, and those of "concern".
There are currently four in this second category: alpha (the British variant), delta (Indian) and gamma (Brazilian pu P.1).
Those of "worry" are generally more communicable and violent and, therefore, less susceptible to social measures, vaccines and other available treatments.
But what are the main features of the lambda variant? Should we worry about her?
Presence in South America
According to the latest WHO report, lambda is associated with "substantial rates of community transmission in several countries", including Peru, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador.
After monitoring, WHO concluded that this variant carries a number of mutations that may have "phenotypic implications" such as a possible "increased transmissibility" or "resistance to neutralizing antibodies".
According to GISAID, the website that collects data on coronaviruses and influenza, as of June 15, this variant was present in at least 29 countries around the world, with a large presence in South America.
In Chile, for example, there was a strong growth of the lambda variant, which today represents 32% of the sequenced cases notified in the last 60 days, according to the WHO.
This means that lambda is circulating at rates similar to the Brazilian gamma variant (33%) and well above the British alpha (4%).
Chile has not been able to reduce its high rates of contagion. Hospitals remain on the brink of collapse despite the rapid advance of vaccination, with more than 9 million people inoculated with two doses — nearly half the country's population.
In the case of Peru, the WHO report guarantees that national authorities have informed that, since April this year, 81% of its covid-19 cases are associated with this new variant. Peru was also hit hard by covid-19, becoming the country with the highest mortality rate in the world at the end of May.
Argentina "reported an increasing prevalence of lambda since the third week of February 2021, and between April 2 and May 19, 2021, the variant accounted for 37% of sequenced covid-19 cases", says the WHO report .
This situation worries Latin American scientists because the region has been facing serious problems in overcoming the pandemic, accumulating more than 1 million deaths. Overcrowded hospitals, together with a delay in the vaccination process in many countries, have made it particularly difficult to contain covid-19.
Communicability and symptoms
Physician in molecular microbiology and coordinator of the Peruvian Microbial Genomics Laboratory, Pablo Tsukayama, is behind the research that identified the new strain of SARS-CoV-2.
In an interview with BBC News Mundo (BBC's Spanish news service), he says that there are still many issues to be resolved in relation to lambda, but that possibly this variant has a greater transmissibility.
"It is probably more transmissible, because it is the only way to explain its rapid growth. In Chile and Peru, it continues to advance strongly, while in the province of Buenos Aires it already represents more than 40% of cases", he says.
"And the simple fact that they are more transmissible translates into more hospitalizations and deaths," he adds.
Tsukayama also explains that "we've noticed that South America has been doing very poorly lately. And that's partly due to the gamma variant and now to the lambda. The countries that had these two variants have gone from a bad situation to an out-of-control situation, with second waves much more severe".
Regarding the symptoms of this new variant, Tsukayama says that no major changes have been reported compared to those already known, but that, based on some anecdotal reports from doctors, there may be a higher frequency of intestinal problems.
In relation to vaccines, Tsukayama says that still there is no concrete information about whether the inoculation loses effectiveness against this mutation. The WHO report warns that more research is needed to "validate the continued effectiveness of vaccines."
The international body adds that at the moment there is "limited evidence" about the impact of lambda. He also says that it is urgent to carry out more studies that can help to better understand its reach, in order to find formulas to help control its spread.
Chicken, cow and even apartment are prizes for those who get vaccinated in Asia.
Around the world, the attempt to get the population to be immunized to end the pandemic has made governments resort to rewards
TM
Thays Martins
posted on 6/17/2021 11:06 AM
(credit: CHIP SOMODEVILLA/AFP)
(credit: CHIP SOMODEVILLA/AFP)
If in Brazil people can get cornmeal when vaccinated, in the United States beer and tickets for concerts, in Asia the reward is chicken, cow and even a million dollar apartment.
In the Mae Chaem district, in Thailand, formed by a majority of cattle breeders, the incentive is through the drawing of cows. According to local authorities, the campaign caused more than 50% of residents to register for the vaccine.
In the case of Indonesia, the government has offered live chickens to those who are vaccinated. The incentive was necessary due to the low adherence of people over 45 years old to the immunization program. “In the beginning, there was a lot of misinformation and rumors about the vaccine circulating online, especially on social media. Many seniors thought that this does not prevent covid-19, but it would cause serious illness and even death,” explained Galih Apria, assistant commissioner of police in the Pecat sub-district, told CNN.
The program started a month ago and is already showing results. According to Galih Apria, before only 25 out of 200 people showed interest in getting vaccinated, now the district immunizes 250 people a day.
In addition to distributing vaccines, the government also started going to people's homes to explain to them how the vaccine works and why it is safe.
In Hong Kong, even an apartment worth R$1.4 million is being offered for people to get vaccinated. In addition to the new apartment, private companies, encouraged by the government, are also raffling purchase vouchers, flights, gold bars and paid leave. Only on the first day of registration to compete for the apartment, more than 450 thousand people applied.
The government has also promised that it will only relax the distancing measures with the increase in vaccination rates.
The Chinese city has guaranteed vaccination for the entire adult population, but the adherence rate has only been 20%. The hesitation to immunize may be linked to the fact that the pandemic there is under control, but authorities fear a new outbreak.
Other places in the world have also resorted to incentives to make the population get vaccinated. In Serbia, the prize is cash. Get vaccinated and receive 30 dollars, about R$ 150. In Belgrade, at the inauguration of a new vaccination center, the first 100 people immunized received a gift certificate. And in Romania, the reward is a visit to Bran Castle, Dracula's famous castle.
Israel will send Palestinians 1 million vaccines close to expiring.
The wide vaccination campaign launched at the end of December, immunized about 55% of the Israeli population, whereas in Palestine, only 260,713 people were vaccinated
AF
Agence France-Presse
posted on 06/18/2021 10:26 am
(credit: Tomaz Silva/Agência Brasil)
(credit: Tomaz Silva/Agência Brasil)
Israel will deliver to the Palestinian Authority one million doses of vaccines against covid-19 close to the expiration date, after an agreement between the two parties - announced the Israeli government on Friday (18/6).
"Israel has signed an agreement with the Palestinian Authority and will deliver one million doses of Pfizer vaccines close to expiration and will receive, in return, the doses that the Pfizer company had to send to the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister's office said. and the Israeli Ministries of Defense and Health, in a joint statement.
The Palestinian Authority, which has its seat of government in the occupied West Bank, has yet to comment on this information.
"Israel will receive the same amount of doses from Pfizer (ie, one million) in September/October 2021 on account of what was destined for the Palestinian Authority," according to the Israeli statement.
"This agreement could be made after it was verified that the reserve of vaccines that Israel has in its possession responds to its current needs," he explained.
Thanks to an extensive vaccination campaign, launched at the end of December after an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, around 55% of the Israeli population, ie more than 5.1 million people, received two doses of anti-covid-19 vaccine. .
On the Palestinian side, only 260,713 people received their two doses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Conservative favorite in Friday's presidential election in Irãn.
Victory by the head of the judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, is considered practically certain; expectation is that only 40% of voters will participate in the election, the lowest rate since the 1979 revolution
By Jovem Pan 18/06/2021 06:01 am - Updated on 06/18/2021 10:11 am
EFE/EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
The head of the judiciary, conservative Ebrahim Raisi, during presidential vote in Iran
Iran is going to meet this Friday, the 18th, the country's new leader. Although the result is still open, the victory of the head of the judiciary, the conservative Ebrahim Raisi, is practically certain, being then the successor of the current president Hassan Rouhani. However, apparently, the population is not excited about the presidential elections. According to opinion polls, turnout is expected to be the lowest since the 1979 revolution, with 40% of voter turnout. Analyzes show that Raisi should be elected in the first round, with just over 60% of the votes. In this year's contest, the Council of Guardians once again barred the names of candidates. Important names were vetoed, such as former legislative president Ali Larijani, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and one of the current vice-presidents, Eshaq Jahangiri, who was the candidate of the current president, Hassan Rowhani.
The body is responsible for ensuring that the laws of parliament are in accordance with Islamic norms, being influenced by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's top official. Currently, in addition to the worldwide crisis caused by the coronavirus, Iran is immersed in a serious economic crisis caused, also, by sanctions imposed by the United States. In 2018, during Donald Trump's government, Washington left the nuclear agreement with Tehran and resumed embargoes against the Persian country. In April, Joe Biden's government took the first steps to return to negotiations on the treaty. In addition, for three consecutive years, Iran has faced recessions above 6%.
Israel makes another attack on Gaza after being targeted by incendiary balloons.
Targets were military complexes and a Hamas rocket launch site
By Young Pan 17/06/2021 23:20
Reproduction/ Israel Defense Forces Official Twitter @idfonline
Army hit a Hamas military complex
The Israeli army bombed on Thursday, 17, targets of the Islamic movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip, for the second time this week and after three consecutive days of incendiary balloons being launched from the enclave into its territory, a military spokesman said. “During today, incendiary balloons were launched from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. In response, Israeli army fighter planes attacked military complexes and a rocket launch site belonging to the terrorist organization Hamas,” a military statement said. Palestinian security sources in Gaza confirmed to Efe Agency that the bombings hit three training centers belonging to the al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. In addition, they detail that although they did not cause injuries, they did produce material damage.
In response to the launch of incendiary balloons, the Army said it had been instructed to "increase the level of preparedness for a number of scenarios, including the resumption of hostilities." Today's balloons have caused eight fires in the area, bringing the number to more than 30 since militia launches in Gaza began last Tuesday, according to Israeli media. During that day, when 25 fires were recorded in southern Israel as a result of these attacks, the army also responded with bombing attacks against targets of the armed wing of the Islamic movement, which it considers responsible for all hostilities emanating from the Strip.
Hamas, for its part, said today in a statement after the attacks that if Israel “commits any stupidity” against the Gaza population or members of the movement, there will be an armed response. These three days of hostilities between Israel and Gaza militias were the first since May 21, when a "mutual, simultaneous and unconditional truce" came into effect, ending an 11-day escalation that left 255 dead in the enclave and 13 in Israel.
*With information from EFE
Dog chases ambulance that took tutor to hospital in Turkey; watch.
A dog went viral on the internet when he was caught chasing an ambulance that was taking his tutor to a hospital. The case took place in the city of Istanbul, Turkey, on the 9th. The information was disclosed by the New York Post. The golden retriever dog accompanied the girl's care before she was taken to the ambulance, trying to get into the vehicle and being stopped by doctors. In the video, you can see the animal following the ambulance through the city streets. Upon arriving at the health unit, the dog was stopped at the entrance while the owner was taken to care.
This information taken by this sites https://jovempan.com.br/, https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/