"A Biochemist Explains 'Zuccotti Lung' Blamed On Norovirus" By Rev. Barbara Sexton 'Dear Ones Healing Ministry'

courtesy: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/133669113.html

Dear Ones:
     The 'seriousness' of various illnesses and diseases for the human body resides on a scale of relativity.
     Lice...while a nuisance, in general...is not that big a deal when it is properly dealt with. (OCCUPY PORTLAND)
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/11/biochemists-natural-traditional.html
     Then we have a couple of cases of what is known as 'drug resistant tuberculosis (TB), and all of a sudden things take a serious turn for the worse. (OCCUPY ATLANTA)
     Much worse, in fact.
LINK:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001141/  
     Indeed, the two known cases of drug-resistant TB are now being treated so that they will: 1) not die and 2) not potentially spread this difficult-to-eradicate form of TB to others in the population.
LINK: http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/11/10/tuberculosis-breaks-out-at-occupy-atlantas-base/
     Are you with me so far?  When those with SERIOUS illnesses and diseases DO NOT SEEK AND/OR RECEIVE TREATMENT, they pose a risk not only to THEMSELVES...but to OTHERS, as well.  This is a FACT.
     Whatever one might think about the "OCCUPY" protests, society must be protected from disease outbreak, even when the patient his or herself refuses same.
     Here is a link to an article I wrote on ALL the possible 'outbreaks'/illnesses/diseases OCCUPY protesters may have to contend with:
LINK:  http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupy-protesters-face-many-disease.html
     Not so surprisingly,  we are now receiving reports of recent outbreaks of what has been dubbed 'Zuccotti Lung'.
     Here's a 'local report' on this:
LINK: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/11/11/report-health-concerns-grow-at-zuccotti-park/
     The interesting thing is that, according to medical authorities, COUGHING is not necessarily a sign or symptom of the Norovirus which is claimed by some to be the infectious agent responsible for 'Zuccotti Lung'.
     For those who are interested, Norovirus was previously known as the Norwalk agent (Norwalk, Ohio, that is).
LINK: http://www.ictvonline.org/index.asp?bhcp=1
     It's also known as the 'Winter vomiting sickness'.
LINK: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/Pages/Introduction.aspx
     OTHER symptoms not routinely listed by the CDC which can accompany Norovirus infection include: "general lethargy, weakness, muscle aches, headache, coughs, and low-grade fever".
LINK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norovirus
LINK: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/norovirus/Pages/symptoms.aspx
     And here:
LINK: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/norovirus/Pages/Introduction.aspx

     Since a virus--any virus--'commandeers' the body, every single cell and organ system are affected one way or another and to one degree or another.  It all depends upon the particular viral agent involved.
     We must take a person's immune status into account as well.
     Thus, it is quite possible that 'Zuccotti Lung' is due to Norovirus alone, although I would like to see more epidemiological data before I draw that specific conclusion.
     It is possible that this 'food-borne' disease, which is spread by humans and their secretions and primarily affects the GI tract, happens to have a strong 'respiratory' ('coughing') component in Zuccotti Park for some reason.
     These are the factors at Zuccotti which could well contribute to lung involvement in the norovirus outbreak: moisture and MOLD GROWTH, close quarters, sharing of saliva via food, drink and smoke and contamination of food with feces transferred by unwashed hands.
     Those who smoke, by definition, have compromised lung immunity, so Zuccotti Lung may well turn out to be a 'rogue' gastroenteritis gone wild, causing coughing and breathing difficulties along with the vomiting and diarrhea...but only time will tell if this is the case. 
     It may well be that authorities will be forced to close the place down as more and more cases of 'Zuccotti Lung' appear over the next days and weeks.

     But my concern goes way beyond this obvious fact.
     I would like to say here and now the exact same thing I would tell any of my loved ones who presently are 'camping' in NYC and anywhere else where DISEASE AND ILLNESS have OBVIOUSLY broken out...and that is to LEAVE IMMEDIATELY!

     Yes, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY if you are in an OCCUPY camp area where either TB or Norovirus or both and/or something else have emerged.

     And GET YOURSELF CHECKED OUT AND TREATED IF NECESSARY BY A COMPETENT HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL.

     I'm not just saying this as 'Rev. Barb', but as a mother and grandmother, as a biochemist, but also as an epidemiologist who has been 'studying these things' since way before many of the "OCCUPIERS" were even born.

     Please use your common sense and good intentions to care about others as you care about yourself!

     Under ideal conditions with good medical care and an intact immune system, most individuals can 'weather' the Norovirus just fine with good 'supportive care'.

     However, when the body is 'stressed' by cold, noise, agitation, anxiety, etc. and when there is a lack of ability to provide for regular bathing, clean clothes, good hygiene and sufficient containment and disposal of vomit and feces...plus there is 'sharing' of food, drink and 'smokeables'....NOROVIRUS BECOMES A PROBLEM, INDEED!

     Read this from the Gastroenteritis and Respiratory Virus Laboratory Branch of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), which is under the auspices of the  Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    
"Norovirus—the stomach bug

• Norovirus is a highly contagious illness caused by infection with a virus called norovirus. It is often called by other names, such as viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and food poisoning.
• Norovirus infection causes acute gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines); the most common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
• Anyone can get norovirus, and they can have the illness multiple times during their lifetime.
• Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States.

Norovirus illness can be serious

• Norovirus can make people feel extremely ill and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day.
• Most people get better within 1 to 2 days.
• Dehydration can be a problem among some people with norovirus infection, especially the very young, the elderly, and people with other illnesses.

 

 Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly

• Noroviruses are highly contagious, and outbreaks are common due to the ease of transmission.
• People with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days and perhaps for as long as 2 weeks after recovery, making control of this disease even more difficult.
• Norovirus can spread rapidly in closed environments like daycare centers and nursing homes

Many sources for norovirus infection

Noroviruses are found in the stool and vomit of infected people. People can become infected by

• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus.
• Touching surfaces or objects that are contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth.
• Having direct contact with an infected person; for example, by exposure to the virus when caring for or when sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils with an infected person.

Tips to prevent the spread of norovirus

Practice proper hand hygiene: Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (containing at least 62% ethanol) may be a helpful addition to hand washing, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and water. See “Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives.”

Take care in the kitchen: Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them.
Do not prepare food while infected: People who are infected with norovirus should not prepare food for others while they have symptoms and for 3 days after they recover from their illness.
Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces: After an episode of illness, such as vomiting or diarrhea, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the product label or a solution made by adding 5–25 tablespoons of household bleach to 1 gallon of water.
Wash laundry thoroughly: Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or fecal matter. Handle soiled items carefully—without agitating them—to avoid spreading virus. They should be laundered with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried.

No specific treatment or vaccine for norovirus infection

• There is no vaccine to prevent norovirus infection, although this is an area of active research.
• There is no specific drug to treat people with norovirus illness.
• Rehydration is important for infected people—they must drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost through vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, fluid may need to be given intravenously."

LINK: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-keyfacts.htm

     No specific 'cure' for Norovirus exists and the possibility of 'complications evolving' for affected Zuccotti Park OCCUPY protesters increases every day.

     So please, I beg you, take care of your health and with the health of those around you, if you occupy or visit any of the OCCUPY campsites!

God Bless You

Rev. Barbara Sexton

"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

"Triad Alcohol Swabs Implicated In Houston Toddler's Meningitis Death" By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

LINK:

http://www.khou.com/news/local/Company-recalls-alcohol-swabs-after-toddlers-meningitis-death-116197699.html

Triad Alcohol Products-prep pads, swabs & swabsticks

Dear Ones:

     I've been praying something like this would not have to be written. 
     But there is a possibility that a Houston toddler died as a result of Triad alcohol prep products being used on his recent lumbar surgical incision area after cyst removal surgery.
     And it is, in fact, the tragic story of this youngster Harrison Kothari which may have been the case that triggered the Triad alcohol prep pad and swabstick RECALL I've been writing about here on this blog since January 20, 2011.
     Note: LINKS below are listed chronologically:
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/01/contaminated-alcohol-swabs-recalled-in.html
     Here are some additional follow-up articles:
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/01/genentechinjectables-boniva-fuzeon.html
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/01/now-pfizer-progenics-recalling-relistor.html
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/02/neuro-resource-group-issues-recall-due.html
     Below are the heart-wrenching details of the ordeal parents Sandra and Shanoop Kothari went through with their two year old son Harrison:-
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company recalls alcohol swabs after Houston toddler's meningitis death "by Leigh Frillici and Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
www.khou.com 
Posted on February 14, 2011 at 6:17 PM
Updated Monday, Feb 14 at 10:46 PM
HOUSTON—Looking at the pictures of 2-year-old Harrison Kothari in his family’s home, you see a smiling, laughing child.
What you’d never know is the little boy had brain surgery a month earlier to remove a benign cyst.
"He was a happy, beautiful 2-year-old boy," said Sandra Kothari, Harrison’s mother. "He loved music, he loved playing with his 7-year-old sister."
Shortly after turning 2, Harrison died during his hospital stay at Children’s Memorial Hermann. At the time, he had a drain inserted in his spine to remove some fluid, and he was set to go home the next day.
"He had healed fabulously," said Shanoop Kothari, Harrison’s father. "He was going to get the drain removed the next day."
That night, the boy developed bacterial meningitis. He died hours later.
The Kotharis believe alcohol swabs made by TRIAD Group, Inc., were to blame. They say the swabs were used to clean their son’s drain. The Kotharis believe the swabs were contaminated with a nasty bacteria called bacillus cereus—more commonly known to cause food poisoning.
"In managing a lumbar drain, they use the swab on the portal," said Jim Perdue, the Kotharis attorney. "And so, it’s pushed in and pulled back out so there is literally an opportunity to have injected this bacillus cereus into the lumbar drain every time they used an alcohol swab."
Triad Group has voluntarily recalled all of its alcohol products. The company also makes alcohol pads and swabs for dozens of other stores, like CVS, Kroger, Safeway and Walgreens.
Perdue says the concerns aren’t just for patients like Harrison, but also for people who use Triad alcohol pads for injections.
They are suing the company."
"It’s a very resistant bacteria (bacillus cereus)," said Perdue. "The body is able to fight it off if you have a healthy person. But when you’re talking about injections for people with M.S. or diabetes and they’re literally using this at the injection site and then puncturing the skin, it can cause some really serious problems."
Houston endocrinologist Dr. Eric Orzeck said if there was in fact contamination, the very young that don’t have as strong as an immune system are particularly at risk.
"When it’s applied to the skin and there’s an open area in which you would use when you’re getting an IV, that can cause a very severe local infection," said Dr. Orzeck.
He says symptoms could develop within 24 hours of using it.　 Those who haven’t seen symptoms past two days are probably OK, Orzeck said.
There are several symptoms the doctor says to keep in mind.
"It might be headaches or difficulty breathing, obviously infection at the site which would be apparent with redness and swelling," he said.
What concerns the Khotaris is that most people haven’t heard of the recall.
"People could have these in their homes, in their bathrooms right now," said Sandra Kothari.
And so as painful as it is to talk about their son, the Kotharis hope that people will remember their little boy and do a simple thing—check their medicine cabinets.
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital released a statement in response to the tragic news.
"Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital is deeply saddened by the death of any child in our care," it read. "Memorial Hermann was notified of the product recall in January, one month after this child died. At that time, the product was removed from our shelves. We are dedicated to providing the highest standard of quality care and patient safety at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital."
The manufacturer has not responded to an 11 News request for information, but its website states:
"This recall has been initiated due to concerns from a customer about potential contamination of the products with an objectionable organism that may or may not be related to Triad’s manufacture of these products. We are, out of an abundance of caution, recalling these lots and revalidating our production lines…"
LINK: http://www.khou.com/news/local/Company-recalls-alcohol-swabs-after-toddlers-meningitis-death-116197699.html 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     If you haven't already, you may want to sign up for my FREE NEWSLETTER and get the latest news 'explained' and sent right to your email box.  See details below.
     Please have a 'care and a prayer' for this poor grieving Kothari family as we continue to stay on top of the Triad alcohol product FDA Recall.
     And pray for those who manufacture Triad products and for those who manufacture products co-packaged with Triad brand alcohol products.
     It is a worst fear and a nightmare to know that one may be inadvertently, partly or even completely responsible for a tragedy such as the loss of little Harrison Kothari.
God Grant You His Blessings
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com




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"Biochemist Recommends: Always Request Glove Changes You're Entitled To During TSA Pat-Downs!" By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

TSA Pat-Down

Dear Ones:
     Well, I searched for it and here is a link on the TSA website which states that you have every RIGHT to ask TSA Officers to change their gloves when they touch your person and your property.
"You have the right to ask a Security Officer to change her/his gloves during the physical inspection of your accessible property, before performing a physical search (pat-down,) or any time a Security Officer handles your footwear." 
LINK: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1567.shtm
     I have already discussed contamination and contagion possibilites at the hands of TSA agents
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/11/tsa-luggage-searches-infective.html 
     Regular 'glove changes' are prudent for travelers and TSA Officers alike.
     The only caveat is that since the gloves only cover up to the wrist, it is important to realize that any 'exudates', weeping/oozing fluids, bacteria, viruses, protozoans and so forth entrapped on the sleeves and other uniform parts of the TSA Officers (and on their bare skin for those wearing short sleeves) STILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR YOU.
     Should any of the above contaminate you via the TSA Officer's clothes, you may be at risk, especially, should the contaminated uniform make contact with your eyes, mouth, nose, ears, broken skin, mucous membranes, 'rashy areas' and other 'areas'.
     Many microbes can live for an amazingly long time on so-called 'non-living surfaces' like clothing, pens, communication devices, clipboards, 'wands' and all the other items TSA Officers are likely to use when examining you.
     And the contamination potential can be even WORSE when the TSA Agent has bare arms which can carry not only fellow travelers' contamination, but his or her OWN population of bio-organisms, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic, as well!

TSA Pat-Down

     DON'T BE SHY!  ASK FOR A GLOVE CHANGE FOR THE FOLLOWING:
--before anyone handles and inspects your carry-ons
--after anyone handles your shoes and intends to continue
--after a TSA Officer touches their face/nose/mouth/ears/hair or anywhere else on their own body
--after anyone sneezes and/or coughs and/or has a runny nose and/or drools or 'splatters saliva while speaking' during your pat-down
--after a cast or brace is 'swabbed for explosives'.  It is virtually impossible to keep a cast or brace absolutely sterile and the swabbing procedure is essentially a 'microbe-collecting procedure' which will contaminate the TSA Officer's gloves no matter what he or she does.
--any time you feel uncomfortable with sanitation levels during your pat-down.
     Of course, these suggestions are as much for the benefit of the TSA Officers as they are for the traveling public.
     In an ideal world, TSA Officer's would be provided with new, clean disposable cover-ups and multiple sets of gloves for each and every passenger.
     If it were up to me, they would wear face masks, as well.
     But as it stands now, I suppose it will be necessary for some sort of airport and travel-related epidemic to break out before those safe-guards are in place.
     I've already written about 'Dominican Republic/Haitian Cholera' in New York City:
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/02/dohmh-officials-confirm-3-cases-of.html 
And about the emergence of Dengue Fever in the United States:
LINK:  http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/08/dengue-fever-redux-socio-medical.html
     I also have a word or two for those with allergies.  Certainly, latex gloves themselves have a high allergenic potential for some people. 
     Please be sure to carry a note from your health care provider IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO LATEX and request the use of NON-LATEX GLOVES by any TSA Officers patting you down and touching your property.
     For those of you allergic to strong scents, be sure to request a 'glove change' whenever you suspect that a TSA Officer's gloves are contaminated with perfume or any other highly odoriferous substance.
      If the TSA Officer themselves has any overpowering odors themselves which are likely to aggravate your allergies, you may have to ask for a 'TSA Officer change', as well! 
    I imagine TSA Officers are counseled to not wear strong fragrance, etc and if not, they should be. 
     But in the course of the day, it is pretty likely that something or other from some one's Dopp kit will spill on a TSA Officer's clothing or work area, so you must be prepared to advocate for yourself if you or your loved ones have allergies. 
     I pray this information is of some help to you.  Please be sure to read all the 'tips' provided on the TSA Pat-Down Page entitled "Tips For The Screening Process":
LINK: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1567.shtm
     They're good ones as we attempt to 'cope' with the realities of modern air travel in an uncertain world.
God Bless You & Bon Voyage
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com
BarbaraKSexton@aol.com 

"Today Dec 1 Is World AIDS DAY: A Reflective Lesson" By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

http://blog.bioethics.net/2008/12/world-aids-day-how-far-weve-comeand-still-how-far/

Dear Ones:
     You may have 'heard me' say this before; "If HIV AIDS were easily transmissible, I would be dead by  now". 
     I say it because it's true.
     I was 'in' biomedicine in the years immediately preceding the full 'out-cropping' of this horrific disease, during which time I literally handled and processed as many as twenty liters at a time of pooled human blood serum for 'cell culture' at Sloan-Kettering.
    We all knew what we were exposing ourselves to potentially and we all knew what the risks were.
     Prior to the full-emergence of 'AIDS', our main concerns in the lab were the usual blood-borne infectious agents such as hepatitis, reasonably well-understood and accepted 'risks'. 
     My technique was always excellent, but one can never discount the occasional bad-luck, unavoidable 'accident', such as a slip or spill or 'needle stick'. 
     Thank God I never suffered one of those, although in those late-70's/early 80's years I didn't do much praying (or any) for I was yet a proud atheist-agnostic back then.
     Coincidentally, a few years later, AIDS as a 'community concern' was just rearing it's head where I was living in Stamford, CT and a 'new Christian'.
     You can believe that few 'knew' about AIDS and HIV in those days and even 'fewer' cared about it, if they did.  And NO ONE wanted to 'work' with HIV+ patients if they could avoid it.
     But my universe was working with homeless individuals, female prostitutes, male prostitutes and many i.v. drug users. 
      So there was no escaping anything related to that emerging terror known as 'AIDS'.
     In my capacity first as a 'secretary' and then as a Soldier in The Salvation Army...I was there on the front lines. 
     I didn't want to be and I didn't ask to be, but I was immersed up-to-my-eyeballs when 'AIDS' first reared it's head in our area.
     I was there when the first few clinic patients walked into my office for a counseling session, test results in hand and 'collapsed' in grief, misery, fear and disbelief. 
     These poor souls were amongst the first to be diagnosed as 'HIV Positive' and who were struggling to know 'what does that mean'?  And they were amongst 'the first' to be modern-day 'lepers' as far as society was concerned.
     I write about this in detail in my upcoming book 'ENTERTAINING ANGELS' LINK:  http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/01/entertaining-angels-book-by-former_27.html
     You will read about those 'first' heart wrenching months when we began regular HIV testing.  You will read how exposed I was to the body fluids and substances of HIV+ individuals who were 'acting out' due to concurrent psychiatric issues.
     No distinction was made back then between 'HIV Positive' and 'AIDS', but you can imagine where my biochemist's mind was going each time a situation presented itself.
     You will read how I clutched a dear HIV+ lady to myself, resulting in my having a soaked-to-the-skin tear-drenched blouse and slip as I consoled her and she asked me to 'explain her test results'.
     In those early days of AIDS, you will read how I managed to get my own personal physician (a Stamford doctor many of you know!) to volunteer in our Clinic downstairs and how he monitors me to this day.
     And you will read how I 'gave permission' for the very first 'AIDS SUPPORT GROUP' to meet in the 'conference room' across from my tiny Salvation Army office on the first floor on (the old) Beehler Street HQ (Headquarters).
     Finally, you will read about my 'crisis pregnancy work' of many years wherein I was just as likely to 'send a gal for a pregnancy test' as I was to send her for an 'AIDS test' and the agony of waiting it all out. 
     You will read of the shock and disbelief of those early days when few acknowledged, let alone understood, the vagaries of this multi-faceted, multi-formed Human Immunodeficiency Virus in all its 'incarnations'.
     No one wanted to 'be involved' back then.  Everyone was 'afraid' and those who say otherwise are not being truthful. 
     My story needs to be told of the emergence of AIDS in Fairfield County, CT.  The 'early days' of this socio-medical saga must not be forgotten or glossed over, or, worse still, ignored.
     It is a tale of fear turned to hope, and of prejudice turned to compassion.
     And in it lies hope and guidance for dealing with what the future may hold.
God Bless You this World AIDS DAY 2010 & every day
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/



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http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/01/entertaining-angels-book-by-former_27.html

"TSA Luggage Searches & Infective Potential Due To Dirty Unchanged Gloves & Bad Technique" By Reverend Barbara Sexton

Dear Readers:
     First of all, let me say that I am in no way blaming any TSA shortcomings on TSA Officers alone...but also on those who train, equip, monitor and discipline them.
     The fact is that TSA Officers are, at present, not CERTIFIED nor can they be EXPECTED TO conduct body and luggage searches with any type of consideration for 'sanitation', 'hygiene' or 'good health practices'. 
     As far as we know for now, all they are required to do is 'wear gloves' and conduct their searches without hurting, spilling, breaking or losing anything.  We can't expect of them anything resembling 'aseptic technique' and that's just a fact...especially at their paltry salary level.
     In a perfect world, care would of course be taken to make sure that persons' bodies and belongings were examined under as 'sanitary' conditions as possible.  Yes, this takes longer and costs more, requiring 'regular glove changes', as well as the wearing of masks and perhaps other protective gear apparel by the examining TSA Officer.
     And let us not forget that TSA Officers are deserving of more training and HAZARD PAY if Officials are determined to 'stay this course' of unsanitary 'pat-downs' and luggage searches, as well as 'dubiously safe 'scannings'.
     But as it is today, how is one to know if the TSA person examining their person and luggage is not harboring some kind of respiratory pathogen-viral, bacterial or even more exotic?  We'd like to know that the TSA Officer is not sneezing and hacking all over our luggage contents, but how can we know?
     The fact is, even 'in the best of scenarios', we just can't!
     How do we know that a 'good sneeze' on our toiletries did not take place, thus contaminating our personal items destined for use on our skin?
     We can't!
     How do we know that a TSA Officer's dirty gloves--contaminated with staph or strep or worse from a 'previous toiletries check'--has not just 'contaminated' our undies, handkerchiefs and personal items? We can't! 
     'Used' and 'sticky' personal hygiene items, toiletries and cosmetics--we all have them in our little plastic bags.  But few realize what GREAT HARBORERS and potential TRANSMITTERS of microorganisms they also are.
     Or, maybe we do and, if so, it's time to remember it!
     Don't we tell our children and young people NOT TO SHARE lipglosses, lipsticks, mascaras, deodorants, hairbrushes, washclothes and the like, product preservative systems notwithstanding?  Yes, we do.
     Is the public, let alone the TSA, cognizant of the fact that many 'soaps', far from being part of the 'cure' for our microbial contamination issues, are actually HAVENS for some of our worst water-loving pathogens?
     I don't know if they do.  But the fact is that the water-loving and living Pseudomonas aeruginosa (which produces a blue-green discoloration to the flesh and nails it infects), for instance, has been found to actually live in and 'EAT' certain (liquid) soaps!
     Pseudomonas' notoriety stems from the fact that systemic infection with it is overwhelmingly fatal.  And it 'loves' soap.
     With the advance of science, humankind is astounded to grasp the significance of the vast ability of the tiniest forms of 'life' to hunker down and survive and even thrive in any number of substances we use every day.
     And this knowledge ought rightly reduce us to humility as we realize that organisms invisible to our naked eyes can bring us not only to our knees, but to our Maker. 
     Thus my prayer is that such 'humility' will compel us to consider that which we might not otherwise and I start 'here' by way of simple example:
     You've packed 'damp' swimsuits for 'quick travel', haven't you?  Maybe you gave your child's suit a 'quick soapy rinse', packed it in a plastic bag for a flight and thought nothing of it.
     But have you considered the consequences of dirty, unchanged, potentially contaminated TSA Officer gloves closely examining this 'damp garment', since it is 'out of the norm'?  Have you considered that a little 'soap' can serve as a culture medium for some bad bugs?
     Or maybe you've just packed that suit, still damp with some chlorinated pool water.  In this case, I ask, "You DO realize that that little bit of chlorine is useless as an antimicrobial in the event of gross TSA Officer glove contamination, don't you?
     Unless you literally 'disinfect' that suit post haste, it is a real health hazard. 
     In a forthcoming article, I will detail some effective and practical ways to 'disinfect' items that have been subjected to 'TSA Screening'.  If you've never given this much consideration before, you will now...or you should, anyway.
     I'm not suggesting that we all adopt what some call 'Howard Hughes Syndrome'.  I'm not advising that we get OCD when it comes to 'germs'.  But we must get realistic and practical.  
     What is 'good for the traveler' is ALSO 'good for the TSA Officer', I might add.  From the standpoint of sheer exposure, the group MOST at risk from luggage and body-handling 'woes' is not the public, but the TSA workers themselves.
     So we all must listen and we all must act. 
     When it comes to the realities of living and travel today, "These are not 'our parents microorganisms' at all".  Gone are the good old days when eating a peck of dirt in a lifetime would help assure a 'good immune system'.
     We've 'blown out' our immune systems via various pharmaceuticals, environmental conditions and lifestyle choices.  And... 
     We have many more pathogens (microorganisms that cause disease in humans and other animals and even in plants).  And...
     Not only are there more pathogens, but many of them have become more virulent, meaning their 'infectious capability' and potential deadliness have also increased. 
     Far from being 'panic talk', what I am saying here is long-overdue for public consumption, in my opinion.  I've personally never worked in a biology or chemistry lab which didn't work in close association with a microbiology unit and sometimes a virology unit, as well.
     Many of us have 'cross-trained' and for good reason in both academic and manufacturing settings.  And some of us will speak openly about things the public needs to know in order to make intelligent decisions.
     By now you Readers are aware that the  'traditional medical establishment' is loathe to speak openly about nosocomial (hospital-acquired) and community-acquired infections...especially since the line between the two has become increasingly 'blurred' in the last decade.  You'd better bet that hospitals and health care facilities of all sorts are very dirty places!
     Just ask any patient or family member who has been unfortunate enough to have suffered from an infection in a health care setting.  Or just ask an honest health care provider and they will tell you also.
     The time to address all this is now.  How fortuitous in a sense, the TSA situation is, if only because it forces all to take a good look at 'public sanitation issues'.  
     In this age we do well to be concerned about our 'global health'.  As all 'flu outbreaks' originate in Asia and migrate sequentially to Hawaii, to California and onward to the east coast per epidemiological studies (typically, but not always!) we see new 'patterns' emerging every day. LINK: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/
     Dengue Fever, for instance, despite a popular and misleading commercial to the contrary, is alive and well in Miami, Fl.  Here's a recent article I did on this, in fact: LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/08/dengue-fever-redux-socio-medical.html    
     MISinformation dies hard, it would seem.
     Simply put, just because 'the public does not hear about it', doesn't mean that global patterns of disease spread are not morphing and changing before our very eyes, via the 'human vector'.
     You know what 'disease vectors' are.  Mosquitoes are one, as are birds and swine.  Vectors are, simply put, the factors by which disease is spread.
     And now, since 'man' is 'the most deadly predator', I am fearing that likewise, man in the end will be the 'deadliest disease vector' as well, a la 'the 'TSA Dirty-Glove Syndrome'.
     When we consider the natural and bioengineered microbial variants being discovered every day, we wonder how, with the status quo, we are to be safe in this 21st century.
For You In Christ,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/

Join Us: The Medical Reserve Corps By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

courtesy Doug Kidd  http://www.leatherneck.com/dougkidd/index.html 

From Reverend Barbara Sexton to those in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Norwalk, New Canaan and Surrounding Areas:
     Are you the type of person who tends to step up and help during emergencies?  Would you be willing to help out in the event of: bioterrorism, chemical terrorism, natural outbreaks, radiation emergencies, hurricanes/natural disasters and/or mass trauma?  If so, then perhaps you would consider signing up to serve (voluntarily, of course) in the Stamford Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).  Here's the LINK:
 http://www.cityofstamford.org/content/25/52/140/214/364/402/103692/default.aspx  
On the national level, here's some information about the MRC: http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/About#plan
--The MRC was founded after President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address, in which he asked all Americans to volunteer in support of their country. It is a partner program with Citizen Corps, a national network of volunteers dedicated to ensuring hometown security.

courtesy of Doug Kidd http://www.leatherneck.com/dougkidd/index.html  Semper Fi!

--MRC units are community-based and function as a way to locally organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living throughout the year. MRC volunteers supplement existing emergency and public health resources.
--MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, and epidemiologists. Many community members—interpreters, chaplains, office workers, legal advisors, and others—can fill key support positions" . READ THE REST HERE: http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/About#plan
     Think you might be interested?  We already had our (first) Orientation Meeting on May 19, 2010 at the Stamford Government Center, but volunteers are STILL NEEDED!  You needn't be a medical/health professional, by any means.  If you'd like to volunteer in Stamford and environs, please click here: http://www.stamfordmrc.org/volunteernow.aspx  
     Here is some of what you'll read on the City of Stamford website from Anne Fountain and team:
Welcome to the City of Stamford Medical Reserve Corps website! The Stamford MRC is a newly established unit here in lower Fairfield County, Connecticut, serving the City of Stamford and surrounding communities. We encourage anyone interested in assisting their community in an emergency to sign up and be a part of the response. In an emergency, local public health will need assistance from community volunteers, both medical and non-medical. We plan to provide on-going guidance and training to our MRC volunteers, including an annual meeting. We also will provide an option for you to train with other regional Medical Reserve Corps units in Fairfield County if desired. Please join the team by completing an application on-line.

Click on the "Volunteer Now" link on the left to join the Stamford MRC. I look forward to working with you!
Anne Fountain, MPH
Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator
Stamford MRC Coordinator
Stamford Department of Health and Social Services
(203)977-4369
     I ask you, if our community or one nearby (or even in a distant state) were hit with some horrendous terrorist or natural disaster, wouldn't you want to do everything you could do to help?  Please pray on this.
     I realize that in the current political atmosphere, some may find it difficult to make a commitment to a political regime they may not always agree with at all times.  But this is America, people.  We Americans stick together and help each other out, all other factors be damned, right? 
     Right!
God Bless You and God Bless America,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/

NOAA and NASA 

SEAFOOD SAFETY IN LIGHT OF THE GULF OIL SPILL By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

courtesy http://www.williamkalutaphotography.blogspot.com/ 

free wallpaper for personal use with back-link above

free wallpaper for any Tea Party use with back-link above 

Dear Ones:
     You've heard me repeatedly urge caution when it comes to eating certain seafood products, most notably RAW OYSTERS and other SHELL FISH.  Most recently my ongoing concern has been for norovirus in Mississippi and Louisiana oysters.  Here's the link: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/03/oyster-alert-miss-la-norovirus-posted.html 
     A little known fact that not many are familiar with is that this norovirus infection is highly contagious, unlike some other food-borne illnesses, which can only hurt and even kill 'one victim at a time'.  Here's a CDC link on norovirus for you: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-qa.htm
     My advice has been this for years now:  DO NOT EAT RAW OYSTERS.  THE RISK OF CONTRACTING SOME SEVERE AND PERMANENTLY LIFE-ALTERING VIRAL OR OTHER ILLNESS IS JUST TOO GREAT TO RISK IT.  This applies to the young, the elderly, those who are immunocompromised and pregnant and nursing women, especially.
     I understand that there's nothing better than a good 'Oyster/Seafood Bar'.  But from a microbiological standpoint, things have been dicey for a long time now.  Add to the recent Gulf area flooding (with attendant sewage and cemetery upheaval and run-off) and I am forced to ratchet up my alert level to you. 
     The Gulf Oil Spill is fouling all living things in the area.  From a biochemical point-of-view, chemical contamination, whether from petrochemicals, pesticides or putrefaction cannot be 'cooked or processed away'.  Therefore, I am expanding my standing ADVICE FOR YOU THAT GULF OF MEXICO STATIONARY BOTTOM-FEEDERS SUCH AS OYSTERS AND CLAMS AS WELL AS SHRIMP, FISH AND ALL SWIMMERS, BOTH RAW AND COOKED ARE LIKELY TO NOT BE SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
     It is very likely that the gulf stream will transport oil up the East Coast and as such, all of the sea and it's food will have to be monitored henceforth.
     NOTE FOR PET-OWNERS: Everything I write here pertains to animal and pet food, as well.  Take care to check the source of the fish and fish-byproducts, such as fish meal in your pet's food.  I just pray that pet food manufacturers are vigilant, conscionable and responsible when it comes to their raw material sources.  It is extremely difficult to know what it is exactly we are eating and to a certain degree, dining has become a literal act of faith.
     Since I've mentioned 'fish by-products', I will also mention 'meat by-products' in animal/pet food.  Simply put, by law these by-products are allowed to contain, meat scraps, organ meats, meat from 'downers' (sick animals which means infected tissue, tumors, etc), and everything else that's left over after filleting/deboning or butchering.  There is a very real risk of contracting the prion disease BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, known as 'mad cow disease' or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD in humans.  Forms of prion disease care capable infecting many mammals.  http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm136222.htm 
     MY ADVICE IS TO AVOID THESE BY-PRODUCTS AT ALL COSTS WHEN THEY ARE LISTED AS THE PREDOMINANT INGREDIENT IN YOUR PETS' FOOD.  CHANGE BRANDS AS NECESSARY IF YOU LOVE YOUR PETS.
     Even the bleakest situation has some upside and the morbid one in the current Gulf Oil spill is no exception.  I predict that microbial contamination of the Gulf is bound to change one way or another.  Petrochemicals are quite anti-microbial, even being used in the form of 'coal tar' in ointments and shampoos.  Petrochemicals, as coal tar and in other incarnations kill everything from bacteria to head lice, so we shall wait and see specifically transpires in the microflora and fauna of the Gulf waters. 
     It will be my sad duty to stay on top of the safety of food of Gulf-origin and to report to you regularly.  You can read it here...or sign up for my FREE NEWSLETTER at email: BarbaraKSexton@aol.com  and get health news immediately.  (For removal from NEWSLETTER LIST, Just write 'NO' in subject line, no worries.)
For You With Love in Christ,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/
Here's the FDA link about the multi-agency response to the Gulf oil spill.  Just remember it's from some of the same folks who insisted there would be no long-term health ramifications for Sept 11, 2001 first-responders!: 
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm210970.htm
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Update - May 5, 2010\Multi-government agency response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), other Federal agencies, and several state authorities in the regions affected by the recent oil spill. FDA continues to closely monitor this developing situation and its potential impact on the safety of seafood harvested from the area.
Although crude oil has the potential to taint seafood with flavors and odors caused by exposure to hydrocarbon chemicals, the public should not be concerned about the safety of seafood in stores at this time. There is no reason to believe that any contaminated product has made its way to the market.
Federal and state officials are monitoring the waters from which seafood is harvested and will act to close areas contaminated by the oil spill to fishing and shellfish harvesting. NOAA has the authority to close Federal waters to commercial fishing and states have the authority to close waters within the state 3-mile limit.
NOAA has already closed a large area of the Gulf of Mexico to commercial fishing and some state molluscan shellfish beds have been closed in anticipation of the oil nearing the shoreline. Closely monitoring and, if warranted, closing harvest waters which could be exposed to the oil spill should prevent unsafe seafood from reaching the market. If, despite these steps, adulterated seafood is found on the market, both the FDA and the states have the authority to seize such product and remove it from the food supply.
Fish and shellfish harvested from areas unaffected by the closures are considered safe to eat.
From: http://www.fda.gov/Food/ucm210970.htm 

OYSTER ALERT MISS & LA: NOROVIRUS Posted By Rev Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross" www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

William Kaluta Photography

http://www.williamkalutaphotography.blogspot.com/

Dear Ones:
     No matter what anyone tells you, my standard advice on oysters is to NEVER EAT THEM RAW.  And, please note, that with some contamination, even COOKING won't eliminate the 'toxins' in them. 
     Also, extremely high temperatures are required to 'kill' viruses, so COOKING is no guarantee that any foods contaminated with viruses are safe.
God Bless You,
Rev Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/ DOHM http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm206353.htm
Public Health Agencies Collaborate to Prevent Further Illnesses from Norovirus Outbreak Associated with Oysters Recently Harvested from Area Near Port Sulphur, La.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with state health officials from Mississippi and Louisiana to notify consumers, food service operators and retailers nationwide about an outbreak of norovirus associated with oysters recently harvested from an area near Port Sulphur, La. known as Area 7. The oysters were sold or distributed nationwide.

Public health agencies are warning consumers not to purchase or eat oysters from the affected area and warning retailers and food-service operators not to sell or serve them. Louisiana’s Area 7 is in the Gulf of Mexico near the mouth of the Mississippi River.

The FDA was notified by state authorities that nearly a dozen consumers in Mississippi fell ill with norovirus after eating raw oysters from the affected area on March 10. Norovirus is a foodborne pathogen that can cause acute gastroenteritis in humans.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has recalled oysters harvested from Area 7 on March 6 through March 24, 2010. State health officials closed the area to harvesting on March 24 to protect the public health.

Public health officials are currently working to investigate potential sources of pollution that may have caused the area to become contaminated.
    
Consumers who are uncertain about the origin of oysters they have in their possession should contact the place of purchase to determine if the oysters are from the affected area. Retailers and food service operators can check the tag or labeling that should accompany all raw molluscan shellfish to verify their origin.

Eleven people reported becoming sick after eating raw oysters at a conference center in Jackson County, Miss. Test results by the Mississippi State Department of Health confirmed that the patients were infected with norovirus.

Symptoms of norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people also have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for one or two days.

People who have eaten raw oysters harvested from the affected area during the specified dates and have had symptoms of norovirus infection are encouraged to contact their health care professionals and local health departments.

People with weak immune systems, including those affected by AIDS, chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease and those taking certain medications for rheumatoid arthritis or cancer chemotherapy, should avoid raw oyster consumption altogether, regardless of where the oysters are harvested.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm206353.htm
For more information on seafood safety, please visit:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/seafood1.html1 or call FDA’s Food Safety Hotline at 1-888-SAFEFOOD
For information on Norovirus, go to:
http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/norovirus.html2
For additional information on seafood, go to:
http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/types/seafood/index.html3