Innovative, coordinated response helps end yellow fever outbreak in Angola, DR Congo – UN agency

With concerted response, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have successfully controlled one of the world’s largest and most challenging outbreaks of yellow fever, the United Nations health agency announced.

No new confirmed cases reported from both countries for the past six months

“We are able to declare the end of one of the largest and most challenging yellow fever outbreaks in recent years through the strong and coordinated response by national authorities, local health workers and partners,” said Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, commending the unprecedented and immense response.

Since it was first detected in Angola in December 2015, the outbreak claimed at least 965 lives in the two countries, with thousands more suspected.

According to WHO, more than 41,000 volunteers and 8,000 vaccination teams with more than 56 non-governmental organizations undertook emergency inoculation campaigns, immunizing more than 30 million people.

The scale of response was so massive that the global stockpiles of yellow fever vaccines were exhausted several times.

RELATED: With 18 million doses exhausted, global stockpile of yellow fever vaccine running low

In the first six months of 2016 alone, the partners delivered more than 19 million doses of the vaccine – three times the six million doses usually put aside for an outbreak.

As the biggest emergency yellow fever vaccination campaign ever held in Africa gets underway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), vaccines and supplies arrive in the capital Kinshasa and are loaded onto trucks to be dispatched to where they are needed. Photo: WHO/E. Kabambi

The announcement by DRC proclaiming the end of the outbreak was made yesterday. It followed a similar announcement by Angola on controlling the disease last December.

Introduction of an innovative emergency response

The first cases in this outbreak were identified on 5 December 2015 in Viana, Luanda Province, Angola. It spread to the entire country and to neighbouring DRC, where local transmission was established in March 2016.

One of the major achievements of the response was the introduction of an innovative dose-sparing strategy – using one fifth of a regular dose of the yellow fever vaccine.

This technique, approved by WHO’s global vaccine expert group, ensured protection of as many people as possible from the immediate threat of a major urban outbreak.

RELATED: UN coordinating effort to vaccinate 14 million people in two African countries

For instance, in the DRC capital of Kinshasa, WHO supported the Ministry of Health to vaccinate 10.7 million people using this dose-sparing strategy as a short-term measure that will provide immunity against yellow fever for at least 12 months and likely longer.

ination campaigns, WHO and partners continue to provide support to the two countries to strengthen disease surveillance, control the spread of mosquitoes and engage with communities so that they can protect themselves.

However, with new threats posed by climate change, increased mobility of people within and across, and the resurgence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, risks of yellow fever epidemics are increasing.

“Yellow Fever outbreaks like the one in Angola and the DR Congo could become more frequent in many parts of the world unless coordinated measures are taken to protect people most at risk,” said Ibrahima Socé Fall, WHO Regional Emergency Director.

“Therefore we need to implement a strong preventive approach to vaccinate the population at risk across the region.”

In one such response, WHO and its partners recently developed a new strategy calling for the Elimination of Yellow fever Epidemics to strengthen global action and integrate lessons learnt from the Angola and DR Congo outbreak.

Source: United Nations News Centre - Innovative, coordinated response helps end yellow fever outbreak in Angola, DR Congo – UN agency: "With concerted response, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have successfully controlled one of the world’s largest and most challenging outbreaks of yellow fever, the United Nations health agency announced.

No new confirmed cases reported from both countries for the past six months

“We are able to declare the end of one of the largest and most challenging yellow fever outbreaks in recent years through the strong and coordinated response by national authorities, local health workers and partners,” said Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, commending the unprecedented and immense response.

Since it was first detected in Angola in December 2015, the outbreak claimed at least 965 lives in the two countries, with thousands more suspected.

According to WHO, more than 41,000 volunteers and 8,000 vaccination teams with more than 56 non-governmental organizations undertook emergency inoculation campaigns, immunizing more than 30 million people.

The scale of response was so massive that the global stockpiles of yellow fever vaccines were exhausted several times.

RELATED: With 18 million doses exhausted, global stockpile of yellow fever vaccine running low

In the first six months of 2016 alone, the partners delivered more than 19 million doses of the vaccine – three times the six million doses usually put aside for an outbreak.


As the biggest emergency yellow fever vaccination campaign ever held in Africa gets underway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), vaccines and supplies arrive in the capital Kinshasa and are loaded onto trucks to be dispatched to where they are needed. Photo: WHO/E. Kabambi
The announcement by DRC proclaiming the end of the outbreak was made yesterday. It followed a similar announcement by Angola on controlling the disease last December.

Introduction of an innovative emergency response
The first cases in this outbreak were identified on 5 December 2015 in Viana, Luanda Province, Angola. It spread to the entire country and to neighbouring DRC, where local transmission was established in March 2016.

One of the major achievements of the response was the introduction of an innovative dose-sparing strategy – using one fifth of a regular dose of the yellow fever vaccine.

This technique, approved by WHO’s global vaccine expert group, ensured protection of as many people as possible from the immediate threat of a major urban outbreak.

RELATED: UN coordinating effort to vaccinate 14 million people in two African countries

For instance, in the DRC capital of Kinshasa, WHO supported the Ministry of Health to vaccinate 10.7 million people using this dose-sparing strategy as a short-term measure that will provide immunity against yellow fever for at least 12 months and likely longer.

ination campaigns, WHO and partners continue to provide support to the two countries to strengthen disease surveillance, control the spread of mosquitoes and engage with communities so that they can protect themselves.
However, with new threats posed by climate change, increased mobility of people within and across, and the resurgence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, risks of yellow fever epidemics are increasing.

“Yellow Fever outbreaks like the one in Angola and the DR Congo could become more frequent in many parts of the world unless coordinated measures are taken to protect people most at risk,” said Ibrahima Socé Fall, WHO Regional Emergency Director.

“Therefore we need to implement a strong preventive approach to vaccinate the population at risk across the region.”

In one such response, WHO and its partners recently developed a new strategy calling for the Elimination of Yellow fever Epidemics to strengthen global action and integrate lessons learnt from the Angola and DR Congo outbreak."



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WELLNESS TIP: A handful of grapes twice a day could protect against Alzheimer's

"Eating a handful of grapes twice a day could slow the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease and boost memory, according to new research.

Scientists found that eating grapes regularly can protect against decline in the areas of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s.

The study of people with early memory decline also found that grapes boosted attention and memory performance, with significant change within six months of eating grapes twice a day.

The pilot study, carried out by the University of California, Los Angeles, took 10 randomly-selected people – half men, half women – with an average age of 72 who were suffering early memory decline.

Some were given whole grape powder equivalent to two-and-a-quarter cups (72g) of grapes per day while others were given a placebo powder.



Their cognitive performance was measured at the start of the study and six months later, as well as changes in brain metabolism, assessed by brain PET scans.

Low metabolic activity in these areas of the brain is a hallmark of early stage Alzheimer’s disease.



The results showed that eating grapes preserved healthy metabolic activity in regions of the brain affected by the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as beneficial changes in regional brain metabolism that correlated to improvements in cognition and working memory performance.

In contrast, those who took the placebo had significant metabolic decline in the critical regions of the brain.


Scientists know that grape polyphenols help promote antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Research suggests that grapes may help support brain health by reducing oxidative stress, promoting healthy blood flow, maintaining levels of a key brain chemical that promotes memory and exerting anti-inflammatory effects.

Dr Daniel Silverman, lead author of the study, published in Experimental Gerontology, said: “The study examines the impact of grapes as a whole fruit versus isolated compounds and the results suggest that regular intake of grapes may provide a protective effect against early decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

“This pilot study contributes to the growing evidence that supports a beneficial role for grapes in neurologic and cardiovascular health, however more clinical studies with larger groups of subjects are needed to confirm the effects observed here.”

The study was commissioned by the California Table Grape Commission.



Source: A handful of grapes twice a day could protect against Alzheimer's, study suggests:

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Wellness Tip: Every seven years all the cells of our body are renewed

"At the end of the 7th year, everything has changed in us, just as the seasons change. The line of life begins at birth and ends with death. After 70 years, the circle is closed. That circle is divided into 10 parts as follows:



1st Cycle (0-7 Years)

During the first 7 years, the child is focused on himself, as if it were the center of the world. The whole family revolves around ready to satisfy his every desire and if he does not, the child throws a tantrum, falls prey to anger. In its first seven years, the child is a perfect egoist.



2nd Cycle (7-14 Years)

After 7 years, there is a change: it is no longer concentrated on itself and moves towards others, posing a lot of questions. Bores his parents to death, becomes a living torment because it becomes more and more a philosopher, a skeptic researcher who wants to penetrate into things. It destroys a toy because he wants to see how it works; kills a butterfly to see how it is made inside.

His interest is directed on others but only on those of the same-sex. Psychologists call this the second seven-year “homosexual” stage.



3rd Cycle (14-21 Years)

After 14 years of age, opens a new door: the interest in the opposite sex. This is the period of heterosexuality. Sexuality is mature, the boy / girl begins to think about sex, and in its dreams are dominated by sexual fantasies. There begins the courtship, making its entrance into the world.



4th Cycle (21-28 Years)

Starting from the 21st year, if everything has evolved to normal, the young man/woman begins to take an interest in more ambitious goals and a little less on love. Wants material goods, success. it manifests the ambition, how to compete and fight to make a career.

His whole being is attracted by power, prestige, and on how to obtain them.



5th Cycle (28-35)

At about 28 years, we understand that we cannot get everything we want. We realize that many of our desires are impossible and will start to focus on the possibility of opening another door. We’ll focus on the comfort and security rather than on adventure and ambition. At 28 ends the life of a “carefree”.

Now is the age at which you become framed. It is thought to open the bank account, to take home, to take out insurance, well, we think about settling down.



6th Cycle (35-42 Years)

At 35 the life energy reaches the point Omega: half of the circle of life is complete. From this moment begins the energy decline. Now we are interested not only the safety and convenience, but we also become conformists. What can destabilize or disrupt our lives becomes taboo.  As of now, we become part of the conventional world: we begin to believe in traditions, in the past, in religion. Now the rules don’t scare us anymore, order and discipline become part of our world.


7th Cycle (42-49 Years)

Starting from 42, begin the physical and mental disorders. The decline begins. This is the most dangerous age, one that undermines. The hair turns gray, they begin to fall, the skin gives way under the force of gravity.

Around 42 years we will begin to devote seriously to religion. We feel the need to believe in something supreme and meditate.



8th Cycle (49-56 Years)

At 49 begins the sexual decline and with it all the guilt that comes with it. Society puts a lot of pressure since it requires an active sexual role and a man begins to feel guilty or to blame the partner because it does not have all the reports that society “says” it should have.



9th Cycle (56-63 Years)

At 56 years and we start to lose interest in the others, to the formalities and the company. It begins the gradual process towards the Sannyasin, or the quest for truth. Begins the climb to the concentration on ourselves, which comes to a head in 63 years. Now we are like children. We only think of ourselves. We enter the inner life, just as in childhood, but enriched in knowledge, maturity and able to understand. It’s also the time when we are preparing to death internally. Which is not to wait to die, but be ready to die with calm and serenity, knowing that they had come to the world to learn from others and from ourselves.



10th Cycle – The final one.

At age 70 we should be prepared. If life has followed a natural pattern, before death, just nine months before, we will become aware that death is coming. As well as the fetus took nine months to see the light, so you will become – nine months before – aware of death: now it enters back into the uterus, the one inside us.

The Indians call it “Garbha” and is obviously symbolic. Our emplacement and our inner receptacle, home to our inner God, since forever.

This natural process, is the cycle of life!

 

Taken from: “Maturity” Osho Source: https://www.conoscenzealconfine.it/i- cycles-seven-year-of-life /"



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Wellness Tip: It is Possible to Send Distant Energy Healing to Anyone

Our thoughts are powerful. So powerful in fact that often just thinking about someone can send a small stream of energy their way.

We are all energetic beings and we all have energy that flows from within and around us. When we start to become aware of this energy and its potential, we can use it to send healing, good thoughts and wishes to people we care about all over the world.

We all have the ability to do this as long as we are open and confident in who we want to send loving, healing energy to.

Here is how to send distant healing energy to another person, animal or plant:

How to Send Distant Energy Healing to Anyone

1. Set Up Your Space

Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Try to make sure the space has been cleansed and is free from clutter and other distractions.

2. Quiet Your Mind

Still your mind by taking a few deep breaths and then set your intention for your healing. You may even want to state clearly who you are sending the healing energy to.

3. Build Up Your Energy

To send a positive ray of healing energy, start rubbing your hands together in a circular motion until you can feel the energy building between them. You should be able to feel the energy pulsing from your hands as you slowly separate them.

4. Make an Energy Ball

Once you can feel the energy pulsing through your hands imagine the energy taking on the shape of a ball. You can also give the energy ball its own colour based on the type of healing you are wishing to send:

• Blue: emotional healing
• Orange: physical healing
• White: spiritual healing/ general healing
• Green: heart healing
• Purple: psychic protection

Recommended: Psi Ball – What is it and How to Make it

Keep focusing your attention on this energy ball, making it bigger and stronger and more powerful with every breath.

5. Send the Energy

When you feel your ball of energy is buzzing and strong, visualise sending it to your chosen person (or animal). You may even want to picture the person you are sending it to receiving the energy and feeling the beautiful healing effects of what you have sent.

6. Recharge Your Batteries

Once the healing energy has been sent, it is important to recharge your batteries by grounding your energy. This could include taking a walk in nature, meditating, having a relaxing bath or simply nourishing your body with some healthy food.

Sending energy healing to another is a very powerful tool and is a great way to help others when you can’t be there for them physically.

Recommended: 5 Things To Do When You Feel Your Energy Has Been Sucked Out Of You

There are just a few things to remember about sending healing energy-

• The quality of your healing energy begins with you, so avoid sending healing energy when you are physically ill or feeling emotionally drained.

• It is not necessary to tell the person you are sending healing energy to them, however if you do tell them, it can make them more open to receiving the energy.

• Healing energy has to be sent with love. If you find yourself feeling any negative emotions towards the person you are sending this energy to, stop.

• Whatever you send out comes back to you three times. This means whatever energy you send out into the world will come back to you three time as strong.

Learning how to send distant energy healing is a valuable and special tool that we can all learn to do. So if someone you know could use a dose of healing energy, why not give it a try.

Source: How to Send Distant Energy Healing to Anyone:



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