The Washington Post has published a multi-day series on the Global Food Crisis.
Today's focus is:
Siphoning Off Corn for Our CarsDrive for ethanol links food and fuel prices just as oil is rising to new records, pulling up the price of anything that can be poured into a gasoline tank.
Some fascinating data, and eye-opening visuals.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/globalfoodcrisis/
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Must see TV - Illegal trade and Water quality
Public television has premiered two new series:
1. "Illicit" - Investigates illegal trade in humans and products...Fascinating look at $500 billion market that is growing dramatically. Includes look at consequences of mislabeled medication and mislabeled ingredients.
http://www.pbs.org/illicit/
2. "Strange Days on Planet Earth - WATER" - Episode 5 of this series, "Deadly Catch," looks at over-fishing and the dramatic impacts on human and animal health, and contributing to environmental damage...There's a connection between overfishing and greenhouse gas production.
http://www.pbs.org/strangedays/
1. "Illicit" - Investigates illegal trade in humans and products...Fascinating look at $500 billion market that is growing dramatically. Includes look at consequences of mislabeled medication and mislabeled ingredients.
http://www.pbs.org/illicit/
2. "Strange Days on Planet Earth - WATER" - Episode 5 of this series, "Deadly Catch," looks at over-fishing and the dramatic impacts on human and animal health, and contributing to environmental damage...There's a connection between overfishing and greenhouse gas production.
http://www.pbs.org/strangedays/
Silent Tsunami - Global food shortages
Global food shortages triggering riots, widespread misery and malnutrition.
World Food Programme now facing shortages and budget shortfall.
1 billion people live on $1 a day.
Read more: http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11050146
World Food Programme now facing shortages and budget shortfall.
1 billion people live on $1 a day.
Read more: http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11050146
Mutating adenovirus suspected in deaths in Peru
Deadly virus
Medical examinations have determined that 8 other Chinese sailors have the deadly virus, but have not developed any illness. The cook, aged 40, and a crewmember of the vessel, aged 38, died on 9 Apr 2008,after suffering high fevers for hours. No medication was able to stop the progression of the disease.
Experts of the Forensic Medicine Institute of Public Prosecutions[IML] have determined that the cause of death was an adenovirus that has become extremely deadly.
Adenoviruses are spread by physical contact or through the air andare one of the causes of the common flu, but were not considered fatal. At least, not so far.
The virus that causes severe acute respiratory [syndrome], anatypical pneumonia that first appeared in November 2002 in Guangdong Province, China, has been ruled out.
The head of the IML, Luis Bromley Coloma, indicated that "we are facing an adenovirus that has mutated and become deadly, but it is still unknown what caused the mutation and how fast it can spread",which is why an Epidemiological Alert has been declared.
The autopsy performed on the 2 victims showed multiorgan edema in the brain, lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, and kidneys, and microhemorrhages in all organs. Toxicological, biological, and pathological tests performed revealed the presence of the mutated adenovirus.
Now, health authorities are working to establish where and what generated the mutation to find a cure or a way to contain it.
"Chan An 168" is a squid and shrimp fishing vessel that sailed from the port of Yautay, China, on 19 Aug 2007 with 23 people on board. Since then they have not had contact with dry land. On 13 Dec 2007 it delivered its catch to another boat and received 2 other crewmembers. The same happened on 15 Mar 2008.
On 9 Apr 2008, the port captaincy of Callao received a distress call from the captain of the "Chan An". That morning 2 Chinese crewmembers-- the cook and a fisherman -- had died. The only symptom was a high fever lasting from 2-5 hours; none of the medicines on board helped.
Unfortunately, the Navy and International Maritime Health personnel boarded the Chinese ship to provide the care they needed, without taking the precautions needed to avoid contagion, hence it has been decided to quarantine them. The disease can manifest itself in 14 days to 3 months.
Specialists from the IML, and epidemiologists from the Ministry of Defense, the Navy, and the Ministry of Health, met yesterday 19 April, to assess the results of the biological and pathological examinations in order to take the necessary preventive measures toavoid spread of the virus.
"The autopsies carried out indicate that the 2 Chinese crewmembersdied from pneumonia resulting from an adenovirus, a cause of the fluthat is not usually fatal. What happened in this case is that thevirus has mutated and become deadly, and we are on an epidemiological alert,'' the head of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, LuisBromley, said yesterday [19 Apr 2008]. The specialist added that this outbreak has 2 characteristics: the victims are people with weakened immune systems, having been almost a year at sea, isolated and living in subhuman conditions. The other factor is still being studied -- still unknown are the cause that led to the mutation and how to fight it.
"The entire crew has been evaluated and it has been found that 8 crewmembers are infected with the mutated adenovirus and are underobservation; they can not be treated, because we do not know how to fight this virus," stressed Bromley.
It has been arranged for 30 Peruvian people who have been to the ship to provide help and have come into contact with patients remain under epidemiological surveillance, isolated, and without contact withtheir families until the deadly disease has been ruled out. In these cases ''security measures may sound extreme, but prevention is betterthan later to have to bear the consequences if nothing was done,"asserted emphatically the head of the Institute of Forensic Medicine.
The identification of a 'mutated' adenovirus as the suspected causeof the deaths of members of the crew of a Chinese fishing vessel anchored off Callao is surprising. Adenoviruses are ubiquitous viruses that can be isolated from both sick and healthy individuals. Antibodies can be detected in virtually all humans, indicative ofinfection early in childhood and possible life-long persistence in adenoid and lung tissue. Morbidity and mortality associated with adenovirus infection are low, but adenovirus-associated respiratory and gastrointestinal disease can be serious especially in immunologically compromised patients. There are at least 170 serotypes of adenoviruses, about 50 of which have been isolated from human sources. The designation 'mutant' or'mutated' adenovirus is meaningful only in the sense that the adenovirus recovered from the affected individuals is associated with signs and symptoms not usually encountered in adenovirus infections.An adenovirus, however, cannot be excluded as the potential etiologicagent, particularly as the description of living conditions on board the fishing vessel suggest that the resistance of the crew to any infectious agent may have been very low. Information of the condition of the other crewmembers and those in quarantine will be relevant in confirming the diagnosis.
Medical examinations have determined that 8 other Chinese sailors have the deadly virus, but have not developed any illness. The cook, aged 40, and a crewmember of the vessel, aged 38, died on 9 Apr 2008,after suffering high fevers for hours. No medication was able to stop the progression of the disease.
Experts of the Forensic Medicine Institute of Public Prosecutions[IML] have determined that the cause of death was an adenovirus that has become extremely deadly.
Adenoviruses are spread by physical contact or through the air andare one of the causes of the common flu, but were not considered fatal. At least, not so far.
The virus that causes severe acute respiratory [syndrome], anatypical pneumonia that first appeared in November 2002 in Guangdong Province, China, has been ruled out.
The head of the IML, Luis Bromley Coloma, indicated that "we are facing an adenovirus that has mutated and become deadly, but it is still unknown what caused the mutation and how fast it can spread",which is why an Epidemiological Alert has been declared.
The autopsy performed on the 2 victims showed multiorgan edema in the brain, lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, and kidneys, and microhemorrhages in all organs. Toxicological, biological, and pathological tests performed revealed the presence of the mutated adenovirus.
Now, health authorities are working to establish where and what generated the mutation to find a cure or a way to contain it.
"Chan An 168" is a squid and shrimp fishing vessel that sailed from the port of Yautay, China, on 19 Aug 2007 with 23 people on board. Since then they have not had contact with dry land. On 13 Dec 2007 it delivered its catch to another boat and received 2 other crewmembers. The same happened on 15 Mar 2008.
On 9 Apr 2008, the port captaincy of Callao received a distress call from the captain of the "Chan An". That morning 2 Chinese crewmembers-- the cook and a fisherman -- had died. The only symptom was a high fever lasting from 2-5 hours; none of the medicines on board helped.
Unfortunately, the Navy and International Maritime Health personnel boarded the Chinese ship to provide the care they needed, without taking the precautions needed to avoid contagion, hence it has been decided to quarantine them. The disease can manifest itself in 14 days to 3 months.
Specialists from the IML, and epidemiologists from the Ministry of Defense, the Navy, and the Ministry of Health, met yesterday 19 April, to assess the results of the biological and pathological examinations in order to take the necessary preventive measures toavoid spread of the virus.
"The autopsies carried out indicate that the 2 Chinese crewmembersdied from pneumonia resulting from an adenovirus, a cause of the fluthat is not usually fatal. What happened in this case is that thevirus has mutated and become deadly, and we are on an epidemiological alert,'' the head of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, LuisBromley, said yesterday [19 Apr 2008]. The specialist added that this outbreak has 2 characteristics: the victims are people with weakened immune systems, having been almost a year at sea, isolated and living in subhuman conditions. The other factor is still being studied -- still unknown are the cause that led to the mutation and how to fight it.
"The entire crew has been evaluated and it has been found that 8 crewmembers are infected with the mutated adenovirus and are underobservation; they can not be treated, because we do not know how to fight this virus," stressed Bromley.
It has been arranged for 30 Peruvian people who have been to the ship to provide help and have come into contact with patients remain under epidemiological surveillance, isolated, and without contact withtheir families until the deadly disease has been ruled out. In these cases ''security measures may sound extreme, but prevention is betterthan later to have to bear the consequences if nothing was done,"asserted emphatically the head of the Institute of Forensic Medicine.
The identification of a 'mutated' adenovirus as the suspected causeof the deaths of members of the crew of a Chinese fishing vessel anchored off Callao is surprising. Adenoviruses are ubiquitous viruses that can be isolated from both sick and healthy individuals. Antibodies can be detected in virtually all humans, indicative ofinfection early in childhood and possible life-long persistence in adenoid and lung tissue. Morbidity and mortality associated with adenovirus infection are low, but adenovirus-associated respiratory and gastrointestinal disease can be serious especially in immunologically compromised patients. There are at least 170 serotypes of adenoviruses, about 50 of which have been isolated from human sources. The designation 'mutant' or'mutated' adenovirus is meaningful only in the sense that the adenovirus recovered from the affected individuals is associated with signs and symptoms not usually encountered in adenovirus infections.An adenovirus, however, cannot be excluded as the potential etiologicagent, particularly as the description of living conditions on board the fishing vessel suggest that the resistance of the crew to any infectious agent may have been very low. Information of the condition of the other crewmembers and those in quarantine will be relevant in confirming the diagnosis.
New food safety regulatory agency to protect India
All food sold in India, at restaurants, retail chains, even roadside outlets, will come under the scanner of new regulatory body.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will start functioning in June.
Questions remain, however, about how a sector as wide and diverse as food will be regulated.
Read more: http://www.livemint.com/2008/04/18000009/Food-regulator-to-start-with-b.html
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India will start functioning in June.
Questions remain, however, about how a sector as wide and diverse as food will be regulated.
Read more: http://www.livemint.com/2008/04/18000009/Food-regulator-to-start-with-b.html
US Gov't looking at food safety reform / FDA
From Center for Science in the Public Interest:
Package introduced on April 17 urging reform of how U.S. addresses food safety.
Includes proposed FDA reforms in an effort to restore consumer confidence in the safety of the food supply.
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200804172.html
Package introduced on April 17 urging reform of how U.S. addresses food safety.
Includes proposed FDA reforms in an effort to restore consumer confidence in the safety of the food supply.
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200804172.html
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Fellowship offer from American Public Health
For American Public Health Association members:
1-year Fellowship opportunities in Washington D.C. are now available.
Visit http://www.apha.org/advocacy/fellowship/ for full details.
1-year Fellowship opportunities in Washington D.C. are now available.
Visit http://www.apha.org/advocacy/fellowship/ for full details.
What's your carbon footprint? What about a cheeseburger?
The average American eats 3 cheeseburgers per week.
How much is consumed to make billions of cheeseburgers per year?
How much greenhouse gas emission is produced?
Watch this intriguing video:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/video_jamais_ca.php
How much is consumed to make billions of cheeseburgers per year?
How much greenhouse gas emission is produced?
Watch this intriguing video:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/02/video_jamais_ca.php
A continent in crisis - Malaria blankets
Article from the United Methodist Church on the blankets for malaria campaign.
Includes startling data on Zimbabwe, specifically:
Includes startling data on Zimbabwe, specifically:
- 1/3 of the population depends on imported food handouts
- 1/3 has fled the country
- 80 percent is jobless
- Inflation is the highest in the world at more than 100,000 percent
- People suffer crippling shortages of food, water, electricity, fuel and medicine
- Life expectancy has fallen from 60 to 35 years
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2072519&ct=5191383
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Real food? Interview with Michael Pollan
Interview with Michael Pollan ("Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food") discusses organic food choices, the power of the consumer, the interaction / relationship between culture and food, and food companies.
What's your relationship with food?
What of the status of our traditional supply chain?
Full article:
http://lifestyle.msn.com/green/greenarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=6463090>1=45002
What's your relationship with food?
What of the status of our traditional supply chain?
Full article:
http://lifestyle.msn.com/green/greenarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=6463090>1=45002
CDC announces 1st hepatitis A case of 2008
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday announced this year's first fatal case of hepatitis A. The victim was a 30-year-old man who died four days after he was hospitalized.
So far this year, 82 new cases of hepatitis A have been reported, 47 affecting people under the age of 30.
Lin said the man was sent to a hospital in southern Taiwan on March 11. He was reportedly unconscious by the time he was brought in. The local CDC was notified the next day of his case. The man died of liver and kidney failure on March 14.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/04/01/2003407885
So far this year, 82 new cases of hepatitis A have been reported, 47 affecting people under the age of 30.
Lin said the man was sent to a hospital in southern Taiwan on March 11. He was reportedly unconscious by the time he was brought in. The local CDC was notified the next day of his case. The man died of liver and kidney failure on March 14.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/04/01/2003407885
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