LONDON -- The World Health Organization was holding an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after over 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe. In what Germany described as the largest outbreak in Europe ever, cases have been reported in at least nine countries – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom - as well as the United States, Canada and Australia. Spain reported 24 new cases on Friday, mainly in the Madrid region where the regional government closed a sauna linked to the majority of infections. A hospital in Israel was treating a man in his 30s who is displaying symptoms consistent with the disease after recently arriving from Western Europe. First identified in monkeys, the disease typically spreads through close contact and has rarely spread outside Africa, so this series of cases has triggered concern. … [Read more...] about WHO calls emergency meeting as monkeypox cases top 100 in Europe
Polio like neurological cases confirmed by cdc
Explainer: Why monkeypox cases are rising in Europe
A handful of cases of monkeypox have now been reported or are suspected in the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain. The outbreaks are raising alarm because the disease mostly occurs in west and central Africa, and only very occasionally spreads elsewhere. Here's what scientists know so far. 'Highly unusual' Monkeypox is a virus that causes fever symptoms as well as a distinctive bumpy rash. It is usually mild, although there are two main strains: the Congo strain, which is more severe – with up to 10% mortality – and the West African strain, which has a fatality rate of more like 1% of cases. The UK cases are least have been reported as the West African strain. "Historically, there have been very few cases exported. It has only happened eight times in the past before this year," said Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who said it was "highly unusual". Portugal has logged five confirmed cases, … [Read more...] about Explainer: Why monkeypox cases are rising in Europe
Kickbacks in medical equipment procurement exposed in Vietnam
Giving and taking kickbacks in procuring coronavirus test kits during the COVID-19 pandemic has been uncovered across Vietnam, with dozens of health officials arrested for involvement in price gouging for illegitimate profit by a supplier discovered five months ago. So far, more than 30 health officials, including three seniors from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science and Technology, and eight directors of provincial centers for disease control (CDC), have been arrested for receiving 'commissions' as kickbacks from Viet A Technology Corporation (Viet A Corp.), which had illegally raised prices of test kits to earn huge profits. The latest arrest took place on May 11, when Ha Giang Province CDC director Nguyen Tran Tuan and his two subordinates were apprehended on charges of taking bribes. They were found to have taken bribes of billions of dong (VND1 billion = US$43,000) from Viet A Corp. which they had handed in to police after their offense was uncovered. … [Read more...] about Kickbacks in medical equipment procurement exposed in Vietnam
WHO says no urgent need for mass monkeypox vaccinations
The World Health Organization does not believe the monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa requires mass vaccinations as measures like good hygiene and safe sexual behaviour will help control its spread, a senior official said on Monday. Richard Pebody, who leads the high-threat pathogen team at WHO Europe, also told Reuters in an interview that immediate supplies of vaccines and antivirals are relatively limited. His comments came as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was in the process of releasing some Jynneos vaccine doses for use in monkeypox cases. Germany's government said on Monday that it was assessing options for vaccinations, while Britain has offered them to some healthcare workers. Public health authorities in Europe and North America are investigating more than 100 suspected and confirmed cases of the viral infection in the worst outbreak of the virus outside of Africa, where it is endemic. The primary measures to control the outbreak … [Read more...] about WHO says no urgent need for mass monkeypox vaccinations
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – May 17
Here are today’s leading news stories: Politics -- Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Greek counterpart Katerina Sakellaropoulou agreed on measures to promote the Vietnam-Greece relations during their talks in Hanoi on Monday, the Vietnam News Agency reported. -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received the CEO of Kohlberg Kravis Robert (KKR) investment company, president and CEO of Visa, as well as CEOs of Citigroup and Standard & Poor’s on Monday morning (local time), as part of his U.S. visit. COVID-19 Updates -- The Ministry of Health documented 1,550 COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the national tally to 10,698,180, with 9,359,763 recoveries and 43,067 deaths. Society -- Three children aged four to six drowned after falling into a pond while playing near their homes in southern Binh Phuoc Province on Monday morning, local authorities confirmed later the same day. -- Two men aged 33 and 34 were killed after their car crashed into … [Read more...] about Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – May 17
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News — May 21
Check out the news you should not miss today: COVID-19 Updates -- The Ministry of Health confirmed an additional 1,587 COVID-19 cases on Friday, raising Vietnam’s patient tally to 10,706,111. Society -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday uncovered a garage in the Go Vap District that specialized in modifying motorcycles for street racing. -- Forest protection officers of Ho Chi Minh City received two pig-tailed macaques on Friday, including one that had escaped its cage more than a month ago and had stolen food from local children to survive. -- Two young people drowned after being swept away in a whirlpool while swimming at a beach in Tuy Hoa City in the south-central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen on Friday afternoon. -- A 10-year-old child drowned while swimming at a beach in Phu Vang District in the central Vietnamese province of Thua Thien-Hue on Friday. Sports -- Vietnamese athlete Nguyen Duc Tuan won the gold medal in men’s table tennis singles … [Read more...] about Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News — May 21