"OCCUPY WALL STREET' Protesters Face Many Disease & Sanitation Challenges: A Biochemist Explains Them All" By Rev. Barbara Sexton 'Dear Ones Healing Ministry'

courtesy: http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/mrsa_initiative/skin_infection/mrsa_photo_007.html

Dear Ones:

     There are a number of health concerns that the "OCCUPY" protesters, their supporters/visitors/sight-seers, law enforcement, public health and all who have contact with their 'camps' and 'campers' should be aware of.
     You may want to read my article series on the risks of TSA 'pat-downs' at airports as a 'primer' of sorts, to get yourself acquainted with what one needs to be on the 'look-out' for in tight quarters, especially when there is person-to-person contact.
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/p/tsa-pat-down-page-by-reverend-barbara.html
     As bad as the unsanitary conditions of TSA 'pat-down' areas are, the conditions "OCCUPY" campsights are infinitely worse.
    Essentially, what we have with these protesters is minimal and ineffective sanitation coupled with poor or non-existent medical care.
     "OCCUPY" areas are, in many cases, merely 'outdoor homeless shelters' run (for the most part) by those who may or may not have the professional training to do so...And who, even if they do have such training are, according to most news reports, woefully lacking in adequate supplies and back-up.
     "OCCUPY" encampments all over lack adequate sheltering materials, not to mention toilet facilities, heat and refrigeration.
     Most important of all, many of these "OCCUPY" camps lack the capability to address what even the BEST legitimate 'non-profit homeless shelters' have difficulty adequately handling, which is: mental illness, substance abuse and what is known as 'dual-diagnosis' (mental illness combined with substance abuse of some sort.)
     I offer here no remediation other than the obvious, but rather an impartial, apolitical list of 'things to consider' for my fellow human beings at this time in history.
     As a 'homeless advocate' for three decades, and as a health care professional well-versed in 'disaster and emergency preparedness' and 'epidemiology', I have a great understanding about what is necessary for the safe and sanitary administration of emergency housing for men, women and pregnant women and women and children.

 courtesy www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/body/

     Let me state simply that "OCCUPY" protesters and others involved with persons involved in this movement, have a great number of sanitation, health, wellness and environmental concerns to contend with.
     There are 'human factors' (i.e. acts of violence/man-made disasters) and natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and the like), as well.
     Who does "OCCUPY" call in the event of crimes of assault and rape?  Who will they 'turn to' if a storm strikes or a diarrheal disease breaks out in the camp?

courtesy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mrsa_cyst_exploded.jpg

     Many of the 'illnesses and diseases' listed below are reasonably easy to avoid and eradicate nowadays using simple methods of 'good hygiene', camp cleanliness...and impeccable professional medical care at the first sign of trouble.
     I'm not sure that "OCCUPY" camps can make the grade, even if and when everyone involved are brought into the mix for the 'betterment of all'.  Human nature just does not work that way and we will always have those who, for one reason or other, are 'marginalized'.
     What I see is that the "OCCUPY" 'tent cities' will likely go the way of most 'tent cities'.
      The cold-hard fact is that an 'urban OCCUPY protester' eating his or her 'designer poached salmon donation' with a working 'grey water' project at their feet will fare no better than a natural disaster victim across the world eating a WHO rations reconstituted with donated clean water.

     In fact, camp refugees overseas may well get superior medical and other care if relief workers can get to them and they accepts their offers.

     Oh, human pathogens are 'great equalizers' indeed.

 courtesy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox

     Diseases we used to 'be protected from' are quite mobile, thanks to jet travel.  Diseases, such as smallpox, once believed to be have been 'wiped out' due to worldwide immunization, may not have been...And "OCCUPY" campers must consider whether their close-quarters' 'neighbors' have or have not been immunized against certain pathogens.

     My best advice is this: don't rule anything in the following lists IN or OUT if you are feeling ill after having attended an "OCCUPY" event, and visit your health care professional IMMEDIATELY if something doesn't feel right.

     Parents: if you 'visit' an "OCCUPY" campsite or live in one, I beg you to consider the health and well-being of your children.

     Children, like the elderly and those who are immuno-compromised, are at greater risk when it comes to illness, disease and exposure to extremes of temperature, both heat and cold.

     For "OCCUPIERS" and others of all ages, here's your 'list' of things to watch out for.

     It's not necessarily 'fully inclusive' and will be updated as necessary.

1)  Used/exchanged clothing, bedding, sleeping bags, towels, wash-clothes, anything of cloth (especially when 'damp' or wet) can transmit:

• bed bugs
• lice ('crabs')-head/armpit/body/pubic areas
• fleas
• scabies (mites)
• ringworm (a fungus, not a 'worm'!)
• MRSA 'Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus' (a bad 'staph' skin infection)
• Molluscum contagiosum (a virus)
• molds of all types
• mildew
• roaches (potential hitch-hikers in anything made of cloth or paper)

2)  Used/Exchanged personal items, razors, utensils, plates, cups, shared childrens' toys, toothbrushes, 'surfaces', used and improperly disposed of bandages, dressings, tampons, sanitary pads, condoms, toilet paper, cigarette butts and all items contaminated with blood, semen, saliva, sputum, feces or any other bodily secretions have the potential to transmit:

• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C
• viral hemorrhagic fevers
• Salmonella
• E. coli
• HIV/AIDS
• influenza
• SARS
• bacterial infections

3)  Improperly cooked/handled/heated/stored/prepared food can transmit:

• Campylobacter
• Salmonella
• E. coli O157:H7
• Calicivirus or Norwalk-like virus
• Listeria
• Shigella
• Hepatitis
• Giardia lamblia
• Cryptosporidia
• Clostridium botulinum 
• link: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodborneinfections_g.htm#mostcommon
• Rat bite fever link: http://www.cdc.gov/rat-bite-fever/
• Yersiniosis
• diarrhea
• nausea
• skin rashes

4) Poor hygiene can encourage:

• vaginitis ('yeast infection')
• bacterial vaginitis ('vaginosis')
• toxic shock syndrome
• bladder infection
• jock itch
• athlete's foot
• folliculitis (infection of the hair follicles)
• furuncles (boils)
• Necrotizing Fasciitis ('Flesh eating disease) due to Streptococcus pyogenes
• blepharitis (eyelid inflammation) complicated by bacterial infection
• warts
• flea infestation complications
• lice (head/body/pubic) complications
• scabies (mites)

5) Person-to-Person contact, especially when combined with poor hygiene, can transmit:

• gonorrhea
• syphilis
• vaginitis
• jock itch
• anal abscess
• scabies
• fleas
• lice
• furuncle (boil)
• carbuncle (group of furuncles)
• impetigo
• genital warts
• herpes
• viruses
• influenza
• bacteria
• tuberculosis (via a TB patient coughing, sneezing, speaking or singing) link: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm

6)  Wounds, punctures, lacerations, abrasions improperly or not treated can cause:

• tetanus
• bacterial, viral, protozoan infections
• many diseases included here
• sepsis
• amputation

7a)  Mice in camp can transmit:

• Salmonella
• Ratbite fever
• dermatitis
• Favus
• tapeworm
• Lyme disease
• Tularemia
• Leptospirosis
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
• Hantavirus
• Rickettsialpox

7b)  Rats in camp can transmit:

• rabies
• plague
• Salmonella
• Tularemia 
• rat bite fever (Streptobacillus moniliformis North America, Spirillum minus Asia)
• other infections (due to bites, droppings)

8)   Insects in camp can transmit:

• West Nile virus (mosquitoes)
• Eastern Equine virus (mosquitoes)
• Lyme's disease (ticks)
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever (ticks)
• malaria (mosquitoes)
• Tick-Borne Relapsing fever (ticks)
• MRSA (Brown recluse spider bites)
• dermatitis-like skin conditions-intense itching with and without secondary infections

9)  Contaminated water for drinking, bathing, recycling (when some gets into eyes/nose/body orifices/is accidentally swallowed, etc) can transmit:

• Amebiasis   
  
• Buruli Ulcer
• Campylobacter
• Cholera
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Cyclosporiasis
• Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease)
  
• Escherichia coli
• Fascioliasis
• Giardiasis
• Hepatitis
• Leptospirosis
• Norovirus
• Rotavirus
• Salmonella
• Schistosomiasis
• Shigellosis
• Typhoid Fever
• viruses, bacteria, protozoans and parasites ('worms') of all sorts
• Botulism
• Dysentery (Shigella and/or Salmonella)
• Legionnaire's Disease (caused by Legionella)
• 'Swimmers Ear' (Otitis externa)
• Vibrio illness 
• Adenovirus
• Ascariasis (roundworms)
• Echinococcosis (caused by tapeworm larvae)
• Enterobiasis (pin worms)
• Fasciolopsis 
• Gastroenteritis
• Hymenolepiasis (dwarf tapeworm)
• Microsporidiosis (Protozoan)
• SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
• Hepatitis A
• Polio (rare overall, but found in US, esp in CA, TX & PA http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/vasp/default.htm
• Polyomavirus infection ( JC and BK variants)
• Taeniasis
• Brain-eating Amoeba (Naegleria fowleri-rare-enters through the nose, to the brain)  link: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html 
• Rat bit fever link:  http://www.cdc.gov/rat-bite-fever/ 

10)  Dogs, cats, other pets improperly vaccinated and cared for medically can transmit the following to humans, especially those living in close, unsanitary quarters:

• Bartonella ('Cat Scratch Disease')
• Dog and Cat Flea Tapeworm (Dipylidium Infection)
• Giardia
• Leptospirosis (from dogs)
• Mange (rarely, from dogs)
• MRSA (dogs, cats)
• Plague (cats, dogs bitten by infected fleas)
• Rabies (dogs, cats)
• Ringworm (dogs, cats)
• Sporotrichosis (dogs, cats--a fungus)
• Toxocara infection (roundworms from dogs, cats)
• Toxoplasmosis (protozoan in cats)
• Yersiniosis (usually from pigs, but from dogs and cats, too)
• other infections (due to bites, scratches)

11)  Environmental factors can elicit"

• hypothermia/frostbite (cold)
• hyperthermia/heat stroke (heat)
• sunburn/burns/skin cancer (sun exposure)
• dehydration (heat, usually)
• electrolyte imbalance (heat and dehydration)
• trench foot (immersion in water, lack of sock change/foot hygiene)
• asthma/lung/'breathing' issues (dust, 'mites' in bedding & clothes, perfumes/oils, cleaning solutions, roach dropping inhalation, second hand smoke, candle smoke, incense)
• skin rashes/dermatitis (scabies ('mites'), molds, mildews due to rotted food, reused clothing/bedding, allergies to plastics used as 'tarps', etc, DEET allergies, scented baby wipes, perfume allergies, smoke allergies (facial rash usually, swelling), incense allergy (exposed skin 'itches'), second hand smoke, etc
• vaginitis (women be careful with different brands of sanitary products)
• hives (full body) ( something ingested or grossly exposed to-check for food allergies and be careful with 'donated' skin care products such as lotions, powders, sprays, make-up)
• anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction to something exposed to and/or ingested)

     It is very difficult to live with minimal creature comforts, especially when the weather (and other factors) are against you.

     Winter is coming and the flu season is here.  Cold is a 'stressor' which taxes the immune system, thereby weakening it.

     Having the 'flu' in an urban 'tent city' will be no picnic.

     Influenza readily turns into pneumonia when conditions are poor and a person is not receiving adequate food, rest and relief from the elements.

     Also, please note that 'strep throat' (due to Streptococcus bacteria) is extremely common and spreads like 'wildfire' in contained areas when food and water are shared...presenting as yet another thing for "OCCUPY" campers to be on the look-out for.

     A 'strep throat' can turn into life-threatening 'Scarlet Fever' very quickly, so if you have a sore throat and notice a head/neck/chest red rash, get medical help IMMEDIATELY.

     Remember that the 'fecal-oral' route is responsible for many bad 'infections' such as those caused by E. coli.

     So, as much as possible....wash, wash and wash again with soap and water after using the bathroom and whenever you can, all "OCCUPY" participants!

     Don't depend on 'hand gels' or 'baby wipes', alone, in lieu of showering.

     Also, when you use hand gels or (even better in my opinion70% isopropyl alcohol), do not wipe/shake-off the 'excess'.

     Let things 'air dry' for maximum effectiveness of these sanitizers.

     Any comments/questions can be directed here (below) or to BarbaraKSexton@aol.com

God Bless & Keep You

Rev. Barbara Sexton

"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

courtesy www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5524a3.htm

"STEC O104:H4 E. coli (EHEC) Outbreak-Understanding The Terminology" By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

E.coli bacteria courtesy http://foodpoisoning.pritzkerlaw.com/archives/cat-e-coli.html

Dear Ones:
     Scientific terminology can be confusing enough as is, but when one considers the various conventions amongst different countries in the world, it can become even more confusing.
     Rest assured that all this 'biomedicalese' is eminently understandable once one understands what each term stands for and without further ado, let me break it down for you.
     When you hear about the 'STEC O104:H4' outbreak in Europe, this same outbreak is called 'E. coli O104:H4' in the Americas and is called an 'EHEC' outbreak in the rest of the world, by organizations such as WHO (the World Health Organization). 
   ---'E. coli' stands for Escherichia coli.  (esh-er-REEK-ee-uh  KOHL-eye)  By convention, Latin names such as this are either italicized or underlined.

---'STEC' stands for "Shiga toxin - producing E. coli". This is what E coli. bacteria are called in Germany.  ---'EHEC' stands for "enterohemorrhagic E. coli". This is what E. coli is called globally by organizations like the WHO.      So, 'STEC' O104:H4 = 'EHEC' O104:H4 = E. coli O104:H4.      Note that it is 'the letter O' (O104:H4) and  not a 'zero" (0104).      There are also spelling differences such as hemolytic-uremic syndrome and haemolytic-uraemic syndrome to consider, but they are both known as 'HUS'.      As far as regulatory agencies are concerned, the U.S. has the CDC  LINK: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/outbreak-notice/2011-germany-europe-e-coli.htm      And the FDA (Food And Drug Administration) LINK: http://www.fda.gov      Europe has the eCDC LINK: http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/escherichia_coli/Pages/index.aspx      And the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) LINK:  http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/110601a.htm      The RKI is the health regulatory agency in Germany. LINK: http://www.rki.de/EN/Home/homepage__node.html?__nnn=true      I hope this clears up some confusion for you.      Unfortunately, whatever we may 'call it', this latest 'STEC' O104 outbreak is ominous, indeed.      Still, with vigilance on the part of consumers and diligence on the part of regulatory agencies, there is no reason why this outbreak cannot be broken down epidemiologically and brought to a halt.      Until then, please be careful. God Keep You & Yours Safe Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross" www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

"STEC O104:H4 E. coli Outbreak In Europe: eCDC Stats For June 2, 2011 & What They Mean For You & Your Family" By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

eCDC Headquarters 'Tomteboda' http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/Pages/home.aspx

 Dear Readers:

      The eCDC (The European Center For Disease Prevention And Control) has published some new statistics today related to the recent E.coli STEC O104:H4 outbreak attributed to contaminated 'raw vegetables', including cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce.

      Please exercise care when listening to 'headlines' regarding the number of deaths and illnesses allegedly taking place.

      Make no mistake: this is a horrible infection which is spread very easily and it is deadly.

     However, at the present time, the eCDC, the U.S. CDC and the individual health agencies of the European states are AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER when it comes to 'NUMBERS of DEATHS and ILLNESS'.

     For background information, be sure to also read the FIRST in my series of articles, for you so that you and your loved ones may be safe during this food crisis: 
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/06/e-coli-outbreak-in-europe-stec-0104h4.html

     It is important to not PANIC in Europe or elsewhere at this time, but do exercise proper food-preparation precautions, and, for now, AVOID ANY AND ALL FOODSTUFFS IMPLICATED IN THIS RECENT STEC O104:H4 OUTBREAK!

     Remember that it is the 'SHIGA-Type Toxin' which causes death and tissue destruction with this STEC O104:H4 outbreak and this toxin cannot be washed away.

     Also, it is impossible to totally disinfect (i.e. wash with soap and water or with water and chlorine) foods such as vegetables.
     Thus, unfortunately for now, the only way to avoid becoming infected with this E. coli species is to AVOID ALL FOODS REPORTED TO BE CONTAMINATED IN EUROPE.

     For those in the U.S., I urge that you maintain a 'high index of suspicion' with fresh vegetables until and unless the situation in Europe is better understood and dealt with.

     Until then, we pray for those at risk at this time that they be safe and be made well.
     Since this is 'reportedly' a strain 'hitherto unseen until now' (which is true outside of academic circles), then the possibility of bioterrorism must be addressed at once by officials!

     As long as 'experts' quibble amongst themselves, the consumer is at risk and must seek their own counsel. 
     If you suspect that you or your family exhibit sign/symptoms of E. coli food-borne disease, wherever you are in the world, get them to a proper health care provider immediately.
     Do not wait, especially with children and infants!
     While this bacteria species is difficult to 'kill', supportive care can be provided and lives saved.
     Remember to keep an eye out for: stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea-bloody or otherwise, nausea, vomiting, weakness, 'feeling sick all over', brain-fog, seizures, urinary/kidney pain and problems, bleeding anywhere, dehydration...and ACT IMMEDIATELY AND GET HELP!

     And be sure to check in here regularly as I attempt to provide you with the very latest advice and VERIFIABLE DATA related to the European STEC O104:H4 outbreak.

God Bless You

Reverend Barbara Sexton 

"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com
LINK FOR ARTICLE BELOW:
 http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/activities/sciadvice/Lists/ECDC%20Reviews/ECDC_DispForm.aspx?List=512ff74f-77d4-4ad8-b6d6-bf0f23083f30&ID=1096&RootFolder=%2Fen%2Factivities%2Fsciadvice%2FLists%2FECDC%20Reviews

Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in Germany Epidemiological update, 2 June 2011, 11:00 On 22 May, Germany reported a significant increase in the number of patients with haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and bloody diarrhoea caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Since 2 May 2011, 499 cases of HUS have been reported from European Union Member States, including 470 cases in Germany. See table below. While HUS, caused by STEC infections, is usually observed in children under 5 years of age, in this outbreak the great majority of cases are adults, with more than two thirds being women. Ten of the HUS cases have died. Laboratory results indicate that STEC serogroup O104:H4 (Stx2-positve, eae-negative, hly-negative, ESBL, aat, aggR, aap) is the causative agent. PFGE results shows indistinguishable pattern of 7 human O104:H4 outbreak strains in Germany and 2 strains of O104:H4 in Denmark. The source of the outbreak is under investigation, but contaminated food seems the most likely vehicle of infection. There is currently no indication that raw milk or meat is associated with the outbreak. Most cases are from, or have a history of travel to the North of Germany (mainly Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, North-Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg). Within the EU, Sweden, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark and Spain have reported cases of HUS, related to the ongoing outbreak. Number of HUS cases and associated deaths per EU Member States as of 2 June 2011, 11:00 Member States Number of HUS cases Number of death associated Countries reporting cases Denmark 7 0 Germany 470 9 Sweden 15 1 The Netherlands 4 0 The United Kingdom 2 0 Spain  1 0 Based on the available information, cases are associated with an exposure in Germany (mainly northern parts). The vehicle of the outbreak has not yet been identified and intensive investigations are ongoing. The results of these investigations will determine the assessment of this risk. Rapid identification of potential cases linked to this outbreak, within Germany or among persons who have travelled to Germany since the beginning of May, is essential to prevent the development of severe disease. STEC is a group of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains capable of producing Shiga toxins, with the potential to cause severe enteric and systemic disease in humans. Read more Escherichia coli (E.coli) health topic site: See ECDC risk assessment, list of all epidemiological updates, disease information

"DOHMH Officials Confirm 3 Cases Of 'Cholera in NYC, Presumably From Dominican Republic/Haiti" By Reverend Barbara Sexton DOHM

http://www.who.int/topics/cholera/en/ 

Officials confirm 3 cases of cholera in NYC

----------------------------------------------------------------

February 6, 2011 (AP) -- New York City officials have confirmed that three New Yorkers contracted cholera while in the Dominican Republic for a wedding.

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, where thousands have died from the disease.

A medical epidemiologist for the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene told The New York Times Saturday that all three people who were infected last month have recovered.

Dr. Sharon Balter says the city typically sees an average of one cholera case per year.

City health officials are now working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to determine whether the current strain is similar to the one that has been raging in Haiti since October.http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-cases-cholera-nyc.html
Three cholera deaths have been reported in the Dominican Republic.

Posted By:
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.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

"The Sudden BED BUG PROBLEM Explained" By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

OUR LITTLE 'FRIENDS' Cimex lectularius

"All bedbugs mate by traumatic insemination.[3][20] Because the female has no genital opening, the male pierces her abdomen with his hypodermic genitalia and ejaculates into the body cavity. Male bedbugs sometimes attempt to mate with other males and pierce the latter in the abdomen.[21]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbug 

Dear Ones:
     The exposition below is from an e-mail, which I believe to be quite accurate even if it only tells PART of the story!
     I have and I am doing extensive RESEARCH on this 'BED BUG PROBLEM' for you and will report on the same once this election season comes to a close, no worries.  My newfound political activism is the reason I have temporarily suspended distribution of my FREE NEWSLETTER.  (If you'd like to receive my FREE NEWLETTER for up-to-date health news in 'real time', just email me at BarbaraKSexton@aol.com with your name own email address.)
     For now I'll resist 'the urge' to suggest that this is anything more than a result of 'our global economy'.  But these little blood-suckers really ARE a health menace. 
     Don't you wonder how they suddenly FLARED UP in the UNITED STATES?
      I do.
For You in Christ,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbug

BED BUGS

A bit of information that you might like to know about.

We have friends here in our community and one of their sons is an entomologist (insect expert), and has been telling them that there is an epidemic of bed bugs now occurring in America. Recently I have heard on the news that several stores in NYC have had to close due to bed bug problems, as well as a complete mall in New Jersey. He says that since much of our clothing, sheets, towels, etc. now comes from companies outside of America, (sad but true), even the most expensive stores sell foreign clothing from China, Indonesia, etc. The bed bugs are coming in on the clothing as these countries do not consider them a problem.


He recommends that if you buy any new clothing, even underwear and socks, sheets, towels, etc. that you bring them into the house and put them in your clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes. The heat will kill them and their eggs. DO NOT PURCHASE CLOTHES AND HANG THEM IN THE CLOSET FIRST. It does not matter what the price range is of the clothing, or if the outfit comes from the most expensive store known in the U.S. They still get shipments from these countries and the bugs can come in a box of scarves or anything else for that matter. That is the reason why so many stores, many of them clothing stores have had to shut down in NYC and other places. All you need is to bring one item into the house that has bugs or eggs and you will go to hell and back trying to get rid of them. He travels all over the country as an advisor to many of these stores, as prevention and after they have the problem.

From e-mail.  THANK YOU UNCLE CHARLIE--You're the BEST!
Love & Blessings,
Barb

'Major Egg Recall Per FDA, CDC, etc. Due To Salmonella in USA' By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

http://rockinthestove.com/2009/07/05/incredible-edible-and-local-eggs/

Dear Readers:
      Not long ago, I alerted you to the plethora of Salmonella-laden MICE and CHICKS intended as food for reptiles.  I alerted you to the important implications that (and all similar Salmonella outbreaks in any animal species) has for HUMAN food and food products...and for all of us.
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2010/08/fda-warns-of-salmonella-risk-from.html
     Recent news indicates that there is a major recall of chicken EGGS due to gross Salmonella contamination. Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa conducted a nationwide voluntary recall of shell eggs.  LINK: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis/       Some 228 million eggs have been recalled due to this recent Salmonella recall and an ongoing investigation is being coordinated by the FDA, CDC, State and Local Depts. of Agriculture and others via an entity known as PulseNet.
      Be assured that although California, Colorado and Minnesota are mentioned, other states must be on alert as well.  Chicken 'farmers' get their 'stock eggs and birds' from MAJOR suppliers and no doubt these distributors are being investigated by the various agencies, too.  The eggs were distributed around the country and packaged under the names Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp.
LINK: http://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/whatis.htm  
     But don't be fooled by the numbers, for not all cases have been reported.
     Believe it or not, just as 'humans' can be identified by their DNA, so can eggs and egg-products be identified.  Epidemiologists use this technique to determine the source of and spread of various food-borne infectious agents...a kind of 'CSI' for pathogens.
      An overall perspective for the month of August 2010 can be found at the link below:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5931.pdf 
     The breaking news reads as:
"Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Shell Eggs
FDA is collaborating with Federal and state partners to investigate a nationwide increase of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) infections. Partners include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state public health and agriculture officials. Joint FDA/CDC field investigation teams are working to identify potential sources of SE infection in shell eggs."
And here is where you can read more:
www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WhatsNewinFood/ucm222684.htm
      The usual number of EGGS causing Salmonella illness is up a full FOUR-FOLD for a few months now in certain regions.  This means that we need to be careful with what we eat!
Since May 2010, CDC has identified a nationwide, four-fold increase in the number of SE isolates through PulseNet, the national sub typing network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories. CDC received reports of approximately 200 SE cases every week during late June and early July. Normally, CDC has received an average of some 50 reports of SE illness each week for the past five years. Many states have also reported increases of this pattern since May 2010.
LINK: (SAME AS ABOVE)  http://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/WhatsNewinFood/ucm222684.htm   
     Reverend Barb's advice for YOU!:

1. ADVOCATE FOR HUMANE POULTRY  FARMING and persuade producers to treat their birds well, which by definition means caring for their health and well-being, thus producing a better product for YOU!
2. ONLY BUY EGGS FROM PRODUCERS WHO ENGAGE IN  SUCH HUMANE POULTRY FARMING.
3. EXPECT TO PAY A BIT EXTRA FOR THE ABOVE...Well worth it if you value the health of yourself and your families, as well as the health and well-being of God's creatures.
4. INSPECT YOUR EGGS.  Any that are cracked, chipped, broken, off-color or look or smell odd should be placed in a small plastic bag and discarded in the trash.  Do NOT feed suspect eggs to 'pets' or wildlife.  Do NOT COMPOST suspect eggs.  Salmonella thrives in such an environment.  If you know for certain that you have infected eggs, follow the instructions here: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis/
5. CHECK here frequently for Salmonella updates and request my FREE NEWSLETTER in order to get the latest in significant health-related news: mail request to:  BarbaraKSexton@aol.com  
6. CHECK these LINKS yourself to stay up-to-date: http://www.fda.gov/   www.cdc.gov  http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/baildon-hartford/  

God Bless You & Your Loved Ones!
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
http://www.dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/

'The H1N1 PANDEMIC IS OVER' By Reverend Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

www.cdc.gov

Dear Ones:

     You may not have 'caught it' or 'heard it' with all the news of late, but the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic is now declared to be 'OVER' per the same World Health Organization (WHO), who announced it in the first place--a cause for celebration to be sure.
     It turns out that this pandemic flu variant was NOT the 'Big One' many of us who 'follow these things' feared it might have been. And that's good. But let no one be fooled into thinking that the 2009 H1N1 'bug' has disappeared for good, for it hasn't. What the experts tell us is that it has merely been manifesting itself 'more like the regular seasonal flu' we have learned to live with over the years.
     Where, why and how the 'Swine flu' (a term we health care workers were advised to NOT use) of 2009 settled down is NOT EXACTLY KNOWN, though theories abound. Thus, we must remain vigilant. Here's WHO's 2009 H1N1 link for you check out for yourself: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html  (HEY do I see usage of the word "SWINE" HERE??  But, anyway...)
     My favorite line of the month is one spoken by the Director-General of WHO, who said, "No two pandemics are ever alike". That line is almost as amusing as the one that I have in response to, "When will I see you?". My snappy answer is, "When the poop hits the fan". Of course I only say that when I am fairly certain the someone I am speaking with has a good sense of humor and who can appreciate mine.
     Maybe WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan's quote is more ironic than anything else. Here it is in it's entirety if you are curious: "As I said, pandemics are unpredictable and prone to deliver surprises. No two pandemics are ever alike. This pandemic has turned out to be much more fortunate than what we feared a little over a year ago."   Did she say 'FORTUNATE'?  Why yes she did and here's the link: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2010/h1n1_vpc_20100810/en/index.html
     Sure hundred of millions, if not over a billion, were spent on vaccines for the 2009 H1N1 and 2009 Seasonal Flu. Sure millions of doses were 'dumped' after not being needed and/or as their expiration dating called for it. Some would say last year's vaccination program was one big waste of taxpayer money, but I beg to differ.
     Those of you in lower Fairfield County may have met me at one of the H1N1 Vaccination Clinics. I've been a 'first responder' for many things over the years around here.  I volunteered at the vaccine clinics for some very good reasons.
     Not the least of these was having studied and tracked various communicable diseases since 1964, I feared that 'this could be the one' and so I wanted to be on the 'front lines'. 
     I was the one--who as a gifted and upcoming student--relished being granted access to the 'reactor pool catwalk' at uber-radioactive Brookhaven Lab on Long Island, for Pete's sake.  I don't have the BRAINS to be scared of the kind of 'nerdy things' most people flee from.  My history of 'front line service' is nothing new and if I weren't 'cut out for it', I don't believe I would be here to tell you what I am about to tell you, simple as that.
     I wanted to be able to help from Day 1 if it was a Pandemic we would be facing.  Since I have unique qualifications as a biochemist well-versed in both traditional and alternative biomedicine, I'm kind of useful in many ways.
     And that I am 'clergy', I felt, might make my services even more valuable, God forbid that a full-blown pandemic should break out, with attendant need for comfort and consolation; I know I'm good at that.     
     Pandemic scenario involvement is not for everyone. True, many health care providers are 'mandated' to help out, as are government agency members from certain areas, along with law enforcement, our military and some social service non-profits.
     But the truth is that in disasters, not everyone is a willing volunteer.  Not all can cope and not all who are mandated to serve will do so.  This is where I can honestly say that my faith provides me with the 'inner-strength' I need to do what I do.   
     The best kind of heroes in my mind are the kind who 'actually show up' and who 'do what needs to get done or undone'.  This concept is easy to speak of, but is not so easy to actually witness when a REAL-LIFE situation presents itself.
     Personally, I was grateful to be with those of you I know during our 'H1N1 time of need' and it was marvelous to meet those of you in this area who I didn't know previously, despite the conditions. And no offense, but I hope we never 'meet' like that again, if you know what I mean.  
     I thank God in Heaven that we have the 'Type A influenza subtype H1N1' outcome that we do...meaning that the Pandemic of 2009 is now officially considered to be 'OVER'.  We are all now free to resume worrying about the many other things we are prone to fret about.
     But please, those of you who might be inclined to bemoan a 'waste of money in the 2009 Type A influenza subtype H1N1 Vaccination Program', please DON'T! Ordinarily I would be first amongst us to decry 'medical money waste', but I don't in this case.  Please let me explain.
     Yes, some doses..Alright MANY doses...of H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu-a term we healthcare providers were not supposed to use) vaccine were deemed subpotent.
     Yes, the batches were rushed.
     Yes, expiration dating on many batches were changed and then changed again...to the point of, yes, in some cases 'justifying' the 'throwing out' of so-called 'expired batches' which, truth to tell would never be used and some justification had to be made to throw the stuff out!
(Surely, those of you who receive my FREE NEWSLETTER were kept up-to-date on all of this, with all the bells and whistles and links you could ask for. Sign up by emailing me with your request and your contact information at: BarbaraKSexton@aol.com  )
     Well, I'm here to tell you that the scenario above is in no way all that unusual and it is done in order to help the public be more 'complacent' when it comes to vaccine-production shortages, overstocks, insufficiencies and errors in the 'efficiency and efficacy' of the 'drugs, modalities and treatments' we technical types like to talk so much about.
     What I'm trying to say is that if you believe ANYTHING I've told you so far about the H1N1 Pandemic of 2009, please believe that it was 'money well spent' this last go-round for you and for your family and loved ones. 
     The U.S. government and public and private agencies did their very best to try to keep us all safe at a potentially scary time. Global agencies like WHO, likewise, kept as good control and tracking as they could in this day and age of jetliner travel where pathogens have no borders WHATSOEVER.
     I'm not giving any vaccine manufacturers any passes in general, but in this case I am going light on them, for I believe they did their best. We are grateful that not as many died as could have and we learned a very great deal about dealing with the inevitable 'real' Pandemic (which will likely be an influenza strain, in my opinion) yet to come. We had some real on-the-ground training and all that is very good and very useful.
     Sometimes people ask me, "Where is your congregation?" and I answer, "Right here with you". Usually that conversation is held in a hospital room, at Tully's Day surgery waiting room, amidst a group of grievers or on the streets of Stamford doing whatever God has in store for me.  I just never know.
     Lately, I even might be spotted at a political meeting or two, but I am not the type of 'pastor' that you are likely to WANT to run into, since it will probably be during something unpleasant and you will likely be in need of healing as much as medical and emotional, if not financial help. This is all on my mind right now since I recently wrote about my 'involvement' in Stamford on September 11, 2001 and the next two years afterwards dealing with aftermaths.
     So it seems that it is appropriate to close this piece about the GOOD NEWS that the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic is OVER officially on paper, at least.  But it isn't really and anyone with any sentience at all has the sober realization that that Pandemic is by no means over for everyone.
     It is not over for the loved ones of the 18,449 people (according to WHO, anyway) who died during this pandemic, as confirmed by lab findings. 
     It is not over for those who lost loved ones to the many MORE deaths due to 2009 Influenza A pandemic who died without 'laboratory-testing confirmation'. Look at the chart at the link below.  At least WHO has the compassion to use the term 'at least' when recording 'the of deaths': http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_08_06/en/index.html  
     Least of all, I cannot imagine that the 2009 H1N1 pandemic will EVER BE OVER for those who lost children to it. Just so you know, the CDC stats covering the pandemic period are for the United States are as follows:
285 2009 H1N1 pediatric deaths
 53 Influenza A-Subtype Unknown pediatric deaths
   3 Seasonal Influenza pediatric deaths
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
341 TOTAL pediatric deaths
for the latest Apr.26, 2009-May 22, 2010 CDC reporting period
next update due Oct, 2010) Link: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/  
     Look at the world 'Death Maps' for the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic and reflect upon how people in more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities lives were inexorably changed by death and/or illness. And here is the 'CDC' link for you: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ 
      I will not report on how many pediatric deaths there were for the 2009-2010 influenza A/H1N1 season IN THE WORLD, for I cannot come up with what I feel is a valid statistic from any source.  But I do believe that if America lost at least 341 precious children, then the rest of the world lost thousands, least.
     I know my life was changed by the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic, as was yours. I was blessed by those I met and by those I saw so eager to serve their fellows. I saw what's good about us as a society and witnessed the incredible caring that people can manifest for each other--when it counts.
     It's a good thing, too, for none of us is guaranteed anything NEAR safe-passage on this whirling globe of life in the midst of a teeming pool of microbes.  Those little critters--some are destined to SUSTAIN us in this life, like the 4-6 POUNDS of bacteria we carry in our colons every day.  Believe it or not, it is thanks to these same putrid gut bacteria that we go 'dust-to-dust' in a natural setting.  In a most convenient way, our bodies start to decay after death in the 'lower left abdominal area with a greenish-blue hue' indicating efficient bacterial putrefaction.
     Yet other microbes are here to DELIVER US from our earthly life, like flesh-eating bacteria, renegade E.coli species. and smaller yet viruses like the ones which cause influenza and the even smaller yet 'prions' of 'Mad Cow Disease'.
     How we handle this is up to each of us, alone.  That we humans are at risk of infection is no longer up for debate.  But I will give you the 'heads up' that the vaccine for the 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against three different flu viruses: an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the H1N1 virus, based on WHO recommendations which our CDC has apparently agreed with: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/1011_vac_selection.htm 
    Just so you know, the H3N2 virus which infects humans is both a bird AND a swine influenza virus. What flavor lollipop do you want?
For you in Christ,
Reverend Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

My favorite 'Infectious Control Specialists: I seem to remember Dr. Michael Parry of Stamford Hospital likes the 'cream soda' ones best , but I'm not quite sure of Dr. Arthur Yee of Norwalk Hospital's favorite!-Rev. Barbara Sexton "The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"

www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com  

WHO Declares End to 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
On August 10, 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee and the WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, declared an end to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. This declaration was based on strong indications that influenza, worldwide, is transitioning toward seasonal patterns of transmission.
In the majority of countries, out-of-season 2009 H1N1 outbreaks are no longer being observed, and the intensity of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus transmission is lower than that reported during 2009 and early 2010. Members of the Emergency Committee further noted that the 2009 H1N1 viruses will likely continue to circulate for some years to come, taking on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus.
This does not mean that the H1N1 virus has disappeared. Rather, it means current influenza outbreaks including those primarily caused by the 2009 H1N1 virus, show an intensity similar to that seen during seasonal epidemics. Pandemics, like the viruses that cause them, are unpredictable. WHO noted that continued vigilance is extremely important, and it is likely that the virus will continue to cause serious disease in younger age groups and pregnant women, at least in the immediate post-pandemic period.
The WHO Director-General ended the Public Health Emergency of International Concern in accordance with the International Health Regulations (2005). More information about the WHO declaration is available on the WHO website at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2010/h1n1_vpc_20100810/en/index.html
Implications for United States
This is a formal WHO declaration regarding the end of the pandemic at the global level. The U.S. Public Health Emergency determination for 2009 H1N1 Influenza expired on June 23, 2010.
The only impact on the United States resulting from the WHO declaration will be a cessation in weekly reporting under the International Health Regulations (IHR) to the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization. CDC has reported weekly to IHR since early in the pandemic.
There are no changes for the United States in terms of CDC’s recommendations for the upcoming influenza season and the United States is already proceeding with the understanding that the 2009 H1N1 virus is now part of seasonal influenza virus circulation.
As is customary, beginning in October, 2010, CDC will provide weekly reports of influenza surveillance information throughout the season with the publication of FluView available at www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly .
Protecting Yourself and Others from Influenza
CDC recommends a three-step approach to fighting flu: vaccination, everyday preventive actions and the correct use of antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them. The first and most important step in protecting against the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season.
The U.S. 2010-2011 influenza vaccine will protect against an H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus that caused the first global pandemic in more than 40 years and resulted in substantial illness, hospitalizations and deaths. In the United States, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older be vaccinated against influenza each season. Pregnant women, young children, and anyone with underlying health conditions like asthma, diabetes and neuromuscular diseases are at especially high risk for influenza-related complications and, therefore, should be vaccinated as soon as vaccine becomes available. Vaccine manufacturers are predicting an ample supply of influenza vaccine for the upcoming 2010-2011 U.S. influenza season.
Influenza (the flu) is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Anyone can get sick from the flu. For more information about influenza and how to protect yourself and your family
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2010/h1n1_vpc_20100810/en/index.html