Zika virus fails to spoil carnival

Millions of people in Brazil still celebrates the first day of their annual carnival festivities despite concerns about the recent Zika virus outbreak

Mosquitos and Zika: the insect behind the outbreak

A major problem with the current Zika break is that there is, at present, no vaccine for the virus. Researchers worldwide are stepping up efforts toward a vaccine, but such research invariably requires a lot of time and money. For now then, the focus on tackling the disease turns elsewhere.

 Following an Emergency Committee meeting, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan stated that the most important protective measures to be taken were "the control of mosquito populations and the prevention of mosquito bites in at-risk individuals, especially pregnant women."

The mosquitos that are behind the transmission of the Zika virus are those belonging to the Aedes species, namely Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These mosquitos spread the virus by feeding on people already infected with Zika, becoming infected themselves and then passing the virus on when feeding on another human.

In this spotlight, we take a look at why mosquito-borne diseases such as those spread by the Aedes species have risen to prominence, as well as examine methods that are being suggested for halting the spread of these worrying viruses.

"There's just so many factors," she explained, "like climate change, increased travel and increased urbanization."

• Climate change: "A lot of these mosquitos prefer warmer climate, so as the climate becomes warmer, they will become prevalent so to speak," said Sirohi. Richard Duhrkopf, an expert on mosquitos and associate professor of biology at Baylor University in Waco, TX, believes that "as the weather warms up and there is a greater flow of the virus into the [US], I am confident we will see transmission this summer."
• Increased travel: According to WHO, Aedes aegypti mosquitos will spend their lifetime in and around the area that they emerge as adults, with studies indicating that they usually fly an average of 400 meters in their lifetimes. As a result, it is the movement of humans rather than mosquitos that is behind the spread of the virus. "As people travel, these mosquito-borne viruses travel with them," explained Sirohi, and upon returning home mosquitos endemic to their region can pick up with viruses and begin transmitting them.
• Increased urbanization: Densely populated cities, such as those in Brazil where the Zika virus has spread, provide ideal conditions for virus transmission. "If people are very close together as they are in metropolitan areas, they are more likely to encounter an infected mosquito," Sirohi said. Buildings also protect mosquitos from the weather, increasing their longevity.

LASSA FEVER KILLS FOUR IN TARABA

More breaking news as officials in Taraba confirms four more people have died from Lassa fever, bringing the total to seven at the federal medical centre in the capital Jalingo.

A total 19 people suspected to have Lassa fever were hospitalised at the centre.

Six have been quarantined,treated and discharged, and three others are still on admission.

Head of clinical services at the centre, Dr. Iliya Attah confirmed the latest deaths.

He said the hospital has organized lectures for workers with a view to help reduce the risk  of contracting the Lassa fever virus.

Meanwhile the centre medical director, Dr, Wiza Inusa, has advised Taraba state Government to embark on enlightenment on the risk involved in consumption of rat meat.

He said the call became necessary because despite the risk posed by rats many people in the state are still eating rat meat.

Old Man Remains Attached To Prostitute After He Died During Sex (Photos)

A disturbing video purporting to show a prostitute still attached at the genitals to an elderly man who died while having sex has emerged online.

The bizarre footage shows paramedics transporting the alleged dead body with the woman still on top out of a building on a hospital stretcher.

The pair are hidden under a blanket, but the woman does seem to be moving, as a crowd of people stand around and watch in horror. The video appears to have first emerged on Chinese video sharing website Miaopai, before it was later shared by users on LiveLeak.

It is believed that the incident took place in China, although the exact location is unknown. The duo were presumably taken to the hospital to be surgically separated before the man could then be brought to the morgue.

People are also able to get stuck together while having intercourse – a rare occurrence known as ‘penis captivus’, where the vagina muscles clamp down on the penis much more firmly than usual.

One way in which doctors are able to separate people stuck together is by giving the woman an injection commonly used to dilate the uterus of pregnant women It is not known what happened to this particular lady and how she was later separated.

Eating Fruits And Vegetables Regularly Can Help Quit Smoking

According to a study, if you want to quit smoking, consuming more vegetables and fruit could help you give up and stay free from tobacco for longer. The study found that smokers who eat a lot of vegetables and fruit are 3 times more likely to quit smoking.

1,000 smokers of 25 years and more were surveyed by means of telephone interviews. Later there was a follow up survey 14 months later, when the respondents were asked if they had abstained from using tobacco in the month previously.

The study found that the smokers who ate the most vegetables and fruits were 3 times more likely to be free from tobacco for a minimum of one month 14 months later compared to those who ate the lowest amount of vegetables and fruit. These results persisted even though adjustments were made to consider age, gender, education, race/ethnicity, health orientation and household income.

It was also found that cigarette smokers having higher vegetable and fruit intake smoked less cigarettes each day, waited longer before they smoked the 1st cigarette for the day and also scored less on a nicotine dependence test.

A number of explanations are possible, like less nicotine dependence for those who eat lots of vegetables and fruit or the fact that higher fiber intake from vegetables and fruit make people feel fuller.

It’s also possible that vegetables and fruit give people more of a feeling of fullness so they feel less of a need to smoke, as smokers often confuse hunger with an urge to smoke.

And compared with a number of foods that are known to complement the taste of tobacco, such as caffeinated beverages, meats and alcohol, vegetables and fruit don’t enhance the taste of tobacco and could actually worsen the taste of cigarettes.