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."
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"
