Virus Archives - Fitness Blue Prints https://fitnessblueprints.net/tag/virus/ Get Fit get Inspired Fri, 06 Sep 2024 07:31:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://i0.wp.com/fitnessblueprints.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-cropped-Green-Simple-Fitness-Logo-270-×-80-px.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Virus Archives - Fitness Blue Prints https://fitnessblueprints.net/tag/virus/ 32 32 218996870 Panic: Anthrax Returns to US State After Decades https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/panic-anthrax-returns-to-us-state-after-decades/ https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/panic-anthrax-returns-to-us-state-after-decades/#respond Fri, 06 Sep 2024 07:31:28 +0000 https://fitnessblueprints.net/?p=950 A fatal disease has posed a serious threat to cattle and wild animals in Wyoming, making a comeback after several decades in the state. Authorities continue to assess the outbreak situation.

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]]> United States: Anthrax, a fatal disease, is a deadly bacterial disease that has been posing bioterrorism among – cattle and wildlife in Wyoming that has resulted in the death of many animals.

Therefore, health officials are warning people to be careful as experts try to determine the reason behind the outbreak, which is the first one in the region in the last three decades.

More about the news

In response to what they have identified as Anthrax in a confirmed dead moose in Carbon County, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory has made the confirmation, Wyoming Game and Fish Department said.

In Carbon County, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory has confirmed a case of dead moose, as stated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, forbes.com reported.

The bacterial disease has been confirmed in wildlife in Wyoming for the first time in several decades, and the state agency said the moose is “the only documented case reported in wildlife at this time.”

More about Anthrax

Officials also reported that Anthrax has also infected cattle in the neighboring Carbon County; it is the first time that Anthrax has infected Cattle in Wyoming since the 1970s.

In late August, the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory reportedly made the diagnosis and confirmed that Anthrax had infected cattle from various herds in the Elk Mountain area.

Wyoming State Veterinarian Hallie Hasel said at least fifty cattle have died as a result of Anthrax, and the figure could go higher as authorities continue to assess the outbreak situation, forbes.com reported.

According to Hasel, the outbreak seems to be tanged within the localized area during the present period, where Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department said it “will continue to monitor the situation and assess impacts to wildlife.”

Moreover, although “human cases are rare,” Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department added “precautions are warranted” in light of the outbreak.

Risk to human life

As a precaution, Wyoming officials advised hunters and the public not to approach any dead cattle or wildlife they come across, not to shoot any cattle or game that looks sick, and not to collect roadkill in the elk Mountain area, and also one should use gloves when field dressing or handling the dressed animals.

The agency also advised owners of dogs, horses, and other pets to avoid the animals from coming into contact with any carcass they may find across the region and those who came across dead wildlife to take note of the location and report the incident, forbes.com reported.

Also, the health experts and agencies are recommending seeking medical support; in case Anthrax exposure takes place, then antibiotics could be provided in the form of post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, in order to prevent Anthrax from developing if symptoms haven’t developed.

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]]> https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/panic-anthrax-returns-to-us-state-after-decades/feed/ 0 950 Encephalitis-Causing JCV Virus Discovered in US County https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/encephalitis-causing-jcv-virus-discovered-in-us-county/ https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/encephalitis-causing-jcv-virus-discovered-in-us-county/#respond Tue, 09 Jul 2024 19:28:17 +0000 https://fitnessblueprints.net/?p=839 JCV, a mosquito-borne virus causing fever and fatigue, is found in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The risk is considered low but testing and mosquito control efforts are underway.

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]]> United States: In the latest news from Pennsylvania, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection reported of presence of a mosquito-borne virus, that causes encephalitis or meningitis has been found in the New Florence area of Westmoreland County.

As per the official report, the tests are planned to be performed this month, in order to find out the gravity of persisting situation in Armstrong County.

More about Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV)

The virus which was first reported in 1961, as the health officials describe JCV as a mosquito-borne orthobunyavirus, first identified in Jamestown Canyon, Colorado.

As per DEP Press Secretary Neil Shader, “this discovery appears to be an isolated incident that does not pose an elevated risk to people,” as indianagazette.com reported.

As per the reports, Crawford and Luzerne counties also experienced JCV incidents in 2024.

The DEP press secretary further mentioned, “The mosquito sample was taken from an isolated habitat near a blocked culvert and woodland pools producing mosquitoes.”

“The blocked culvert and woodland pools were treated with larval mosquito control products and stakeholders are being engaged to address the blocked culvert,” he continued.

What more are the experts stating?

As per a fact sheet from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, JCV is widely spread across North America, with the transmission done by a large number variety of mosquito vectors, which depends upon the geographic location and time of year.

The official report states that there were a total of 281 cases related to JVC infections found between 2011 and 2022, identified in 23 states across different regions of the country.

According to the DEP press secretary, “The first round of Jamestown Canyon Virus sampling and testing in Armstrong County is scheduled to begin July 8,” indianagazette.com reported.

Infection severity of the JCV

Furthermore, as the mosquito control products are being used in the New

Florence, Shader mentioned these actions should limit the spread of infected mosquitoes.”

The health department states that various people who get infected with JCV do not appear to have any symptoms.

According to the health department, “JCV may present as a non-specific febrile illness; initial symptoms could include fever, fatigue or headache,” as indianagazette.com reported.

“For people with symptoms, the time from mosquito bite to feeling sick (incubation period) ranges from a few days to two weeks. Some people reported respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, or runny nose,” it added.

In severe cases, symptoms involve encephalitis or meningitis, which gets along with stiffness in the neck, dizziness, lack of coordination and balance, and seizures.

As reports mention, the transmission of the virus is done through a bite of an infected mosquito.

What more are the experts stating?

According to the health department fact sheet, “Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on deer or other animals that have the virus in their blood,” and “Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to people and other animals by biting them. People do not develop high enough levels of the virus in their blood to infect mosquitoes and further spread the disease.”

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]]> https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/encephalitis-causing-jcv-virus-discovered-in-us-county/feed/ 0 839 USDA Proposes Bulk Milk Testing to Combat Bird Flu Spread in Dairy Cows https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/usda-proposes-bulk-milk-testing-to-combat-bird-flu-spread-in-dairy-cows/ https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/usda-proposes-bulk-milk-testing-to-combat-bird-flu-spread-in-dairy-cows/#respond Thu, 30 May 2024 19:28:59 +0000 https://fitnessblueprints.net/?p=644 USDA has introduced a proposal aimed at allowing dairy farmers to conduct bulk testing of milk for avian influenza, rather than testing individual cows.

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]]> United States: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has put forward a proposal that would allow farmers to conduct bulk testing of milk from their dairy cows for avian influenza, as opposed to testing individual cows before receiving clearance to transport them across state boundaries. This information comes from state and industry officials as well as agency documents.

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The transmission of the virus to bovine species and two dairy workers since late March has heightened worries about a potential pandemic. Government authorities are striving to control the disease’s spread while limiting economic repercussions for the agricultural sector.

In late April, the USDA mandated that lactating cows must test negative for the virus before being transported across state lines. They later asserted that this measure likely prevented the virus’s spread to new states.

As of Wednesday, the USDA reported 2,492 pre-movement tests, though this figure does not correspond to the number of individual animals tested.

According to documents the USDA sent to industry officials this week, a pilot program for bulk milk testing might commence in June for farmers who opt to participate, which Reuters obtained.

Agricultural authorities in six states informed Reuters on Wednesday that they were examining the USDA’s proposal for the program, which had not been previously disclosed. The USDA declined to comment.

“With the backing and involvement of farms, the USDA initiative could diminish the threat of H5N1 in dairy herds, lessen the risk among farm workers, and safeguard our nation’s commercial milk supply,” the International Dairy Foods Association conveyed in a statement to Reuters.

The USDA has identified the H5N1 avian flu virus in cattle across nine states. The US Food and Drug Administration has estimated that 20% of the US milk supply shows signs of the virus, suggesting a broader spread is probable.

Farmers argue that testing milk from bulk storage tanks provides a means to collect a representative sample from all cows within a herd, proving more efficient than testing individual animals.

According to USDA documents dated May 24, bulk tanks of milk from individual herds would need to show three consecutive weeks of negative test results to demonstrate the herd is free of avian flu and qualify for the new program.

Farmers would then need to submit weekly milk samples from bulk tanks to maintain their status, as per the documents. Continued negative results would obviate the need for additional testing before shipping cattle between states.

The USDA noted that disease-free status could be established in states or regions if sufficient farmers participate. If a herd tests positive within the program, there would be an epidemiologic investigation and an evaluation of movement for animals deemed low-risk, according to the documents.

Veterinarians stated that the program would predominantly benefit large dairies that frequently transport animals.

However, Gail Hansen, a veterinary and public health consultant, cautioned that three weeks of bulk tank milk testing is insufficient to confirm a herd is free of avian flu. She explained that samples from healthy cows could dilute those from a few infected cattle when their milk is mixed in the tank.

“It might provide a misleading sense of security,” Hansen remarked.

State officials expressed concerns about the logistics of the proposed program. Texas officials mentioned that while the USDA had informed state animal health officials about the program, final implementation details have not yet been provided.

The initiative aims to assist in controlling the disease among cattle but could have adverse market effects for farmers, according to Bret Marsh, Indiana’s state veterinarian.

“Indiana’s primary concern is: How will the collected information be utilized? Any detection in Indiana could place us in the affected-state category, subjecting Hoosier producers to increased restrictions from other states,” he stated.

Michigan, which has reported more cattle infections than any other state, is interested, according to Tim Boring, director of the state’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“One fundamental precaution here is to restrict animal movement,” he said. “The last thing we want is to transfer sick cattle among different farms, thereby propagating the disease further.”

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]]> https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/usda-proposes-bulk-milk-testing-to-combat-bird-flu-spread-in-dairy-cows/feed/ 0 644 Rising Cases of Mysterious Illness Claim Lives as Children Remain Vulnerable https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/rising-cases-of-mysterious-illness-claim-lives-as-children-remain-vulnerable/ https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/rising-cases-of-mysterious-illness-claim-lives-as-children-remain-vulnerable/#respond Tue, 14 May 2024 19:02:53 +0000 https://fitnessblueprints.net/?p=581 A concerning surge in cases linked to a mysterious illness, with approximately four individuals already succumbing to its effects.

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]]> United States: The cases linked to MYSTERIOUS illness have been increasing, which has led to the deaths of approximately four individuals. Amid this time, health experts have outlined that “children are at high risk.” 

The outbreak has been noted in Nigeria and the disease has been probed by the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention after the local doctors fail to identify the same. 

Amidst the affliction gripping Zamfara state, nestled in the north-western expanse of the nation, afflicted individuals have endured symptoms such as bloating, fluid in the abdomen, an enlarged liver and spleen, and general flu-like symptoms, including fever and general body weakness, as reported by the Sun. 

A tally of no less than 177 individuals are presumed to have contracted the infection. The origin of this disease is believed to stem from the water reservoirs within Tsibiri village.

Subsequently, its spread has encompassed numerous other settlements, including Maradun, Shinkafi, and Gusau.

The intricacies of this enigmatic disease were explained within an official proclamation from the regional administration, as reported in the esteemed Nigerian daily Punch newspaper.

Dr Aisha Anka, the regional Health minister, articulated, “Predominantly, children bear the brunt of its impact, with the infections correlating with water ingestion.”

“To date, four fatalities have been documented, alongside the identification of 177 cases.

The Health Ministry presently embarks upon an urgent response phase to ascertain the nature of the illnesses and their causative agents.

“Diverse biological specimens from both human and animal sources, along with soil, water, agricultural, and comestible samples, have been dispatched to laboratories in Lagos and Abuja for meticulous analysis,” according to the Sun. 

“The ministry pledges to furnish continual updates to the populace and pertinent stakeholders concerning any developments regarding this epidemic,” she appended.

This development coincides with reports of 45 fatalities attributed to an obscure ailment in Gundutse village, situated slightly east of Zamfara, within the Kano state.

The conundrum persists as to whether this lethal affliction, claiming the lives of women, children, and the elderly, corresponds to the ongoing crisis in Zamfara.

At the zenith of this enigmatic infection, it is purported that the Gundutse community was interring up to five individuals on a daily basis.

Lassa fever

Presently, Nigeria grapples with an upsurge in Lassa fever cases, with the death toll exceeding 150 within the country this year following hundreds of fatalities in 2023.

Lassa fever, an ailment engendered by the Lassa virus, features prominently on the World Health Organization’s roster of pernicious pathogens harboring epidemic or pandemic propensities.

It is endemic to Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria, with potential existence in other West African territories as well, as per reports by the Sun.

In 2022, three instances were documented in Britain within a family returning from West Africa to Bedfordshire, tragically resulting in the demise of a newborn infant from a viral infection.

The affliction precipitates symptoms including cephalalgia, asthenia, expectoration, emesis, diarrhea, myalgia, and pharyngeal discomfort.

In severe cases, the infection can lead to bleeding from the nose, ears, eyes, and mouth, along with breathing problems, chest pain, facial swelling, and shock. 

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]]> https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/rising-cases-of-mysterious-illness-claim-lives-as-children-remain-vulnerable/feed/ 0 581 CDC Warns of Avian Flu Pandemic Potential: H5N1 Mutations Surge, Heightening Infectiousness and Drug Resistance https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/cdc-warns-of-avian-flu-pandemic-potential-h5n1-mutations-surge-heightening-infectiousness-and-drug-resistance/ https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/cdc-warns-of-avian-flu-pandemic-potential-h5n1-mutations-surge-heightening-infectiousness-and-drug-resistance/#respond Mon, 06 May 2024 19:57:31 +0000 https://fitnessblueprints.net/?p=558 The CDC has issued a stark warning regarding the potential for a bird flu pandemic as evidence emerges of significant mutations within the H5N1 virus.

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]]> United States: Amidst the concern of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, emerges as a potential catalyst for the next human pandemic. The CDC’s recent report, discreetly released, underscored the pandemic potential of avian flu strains, particularly in the context of human transmission and the necessity for vaccine deployment.

Simultaneously, a distinct study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture unveils genetic alterations within the H5N1 strain, wreaking havoc across dairy farms. This genetic evolution may render the virus more adept at interspecies transmission, potentially affecting not only bovines but also humans while possibly conferring resistance to antiviral treatments, according to reports published by Daily Mail. 

Despite these concerning developments, both the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) maintain that the risk to the general populace of the United States remains minimal; however, WHO underscored the moderate risk of infection for individuals with direct exposure to infected birds, animals, or contaminated environments.

In a proactive response, the CDC recently convened a webinar attended by infectious disease specialists and CDC officials following the alarming revelation of new H5N1 mutations by USDA researchers. The USDA’s findings suggest that certain mutations detected within the virus population, albeit at low frequencies, could potentially alter its transmission dynamics, particularly following adaptation within dairy cattle.

Published as a pre-print on BioRxiv, the USDA study scrutinizes nasal and milk samples from numerous infected cows, unveiling a plethora of mutations, some of which are linked to functional changes within the virus. These genetic adaptations may enhance the virus’s pathogenicity, mammalian adaptability, and interspecies transmission capabilities.

Moreover, retrospective analysis indicates that the cattle outbreak commenced in late 2023, preceding official reports by approximately four months. The virus is believed to have initially jumped from avian hosts to bovines in the Texas Panhandle before disseminating across various herds in multiple states, including Kansas, Michigan, and New Mexico, as reported by news daily Daily Mail. 

The widespread dissemination of avian influenza among cattle poses an imminent threat, with at least 36 infected herds documented across nine states, although the true extent of the outbreak likely surpasses current estimates. Furthermore, concerns linger regarding potential transmission to farm personnel, with reports indicating a reluctance among sick individuals to undergo testing, thereby exacerbating the risk of further spread within both agricultural and wild animal populations.

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]]> https://fitnessblueprints.net/news/cdc-warns-of-avian-flu-pandemic-potential-h5n1-mutations-surge-heightening-infectiousness-and-drug-resistance/feed/ 0 558