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According to the Ministry of Public Health authorities, last year, the Dominican Republic ended with 24,735 cases and 23 deaths due to the disease transmitted by the bite of the infected Aedes aegypty mosquito.

The expert recalled that there is a very high viral load in the country, which implies many infected mosquitoes. For dengue cases to occur, a vector must specify that the mosquitoes did not disappear; they are still there. However, the population decreased, but as there is such a high viral load and so many viruses in human reservoirs that are still circulating, only a tiny population is needed for the disease to be transmitted.

Interviewed by Héctor Herrera Cabral in the program D’AGENDA, which is broadcast every Sunday on Telesistema Channel 11 and TV Quisqueya for the United States, the expert explained that it is estimated that in dengue-endemic countries, 85% of the population does not have clinical manifestations of the disease.

He added that that implies that if the Dominican Republic was seeing many symptomatic people at the end of last year, it means that only 15% of the entire population was being seen to be infected, and that is why the controversy of whether the Ministry of Public Health is telling the truth regarding the infections, but it can never tell it because you only know that a patient has dengue when they present the symptoms of the disease.

“It is very similar; we are going to have fewer probabilities, fewer cases, but we are going to have many cases of dengue, very similar to last year,” responded virologist Robert Paulino when questioned about the behavior of dengue for 2024.

He argued that “firstly because last year’s trend was to generate a permanence of a continuous viral load, and secondly, that the climatic factors are not going to disappear.”

“Because now we are experiencing the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which is what happened in South America, Brazil currently has many cases that, although it is true that they have begun to distribute a vaccine, it does not represent anything that will change the trend, that is, that you will have a co-circulation of the virus in the population,” said the doctor.

He maintained that this is why the Pan American Health Organization’s alert is because this year, the indicators are identical or worse than those of 2023 from the climatic point of view because, although it may seem a cliché, every year it is reported that temperatures are higher than those of the previous year. Still, this is indeed happening.

“2024 is not visualized to be different from 2023, from the point of view of factors, and that potentiates the issue of dengue and, in addition, as type 3 was introduced last year, type 4, which we have not had that dengue for seven or eight years, at least in the genetic record of identifications, in the present year, because it is circulating in South America, which is now in summer, could enter the country because of human displacements,” he said.

Regarding the possibility of the Dominican Republic having a vaccine against dengue, Dr. Robert Paulino considers it very remote that it will be ready to be applied this year, and it would be necessary to wait until 2025 for it to become a reality.

Paulino warns that tourism is an element of risk for introducing new pathogens.

Roberto Paulino, a renowned researcher of tropical diseases at the Universidad Iberoamericana, warned that tourism is a risk factor for introducing new pathogens.

“I know that at the governmental level it looks bad to say it, but we have to understand that tourism is an element of risk for the introduction of new pathogens, it is not wrong to understand it, what we have to do is to armor ourselves,” said Dr. Paulino Ramirez when he was interviewed in the program D’AGENDA.

He insisted that “what we have to do is to take care of our borders, and not only the air borders, but also the land borders, because there is a country with which we share the island that does not have control of its territory, and we even have to watch over that.”

“That is to say, here we still have elements in the elimination agenda such as the case of malaria, which depends strictly on the climatic factors as well, because it is transmitted just like dengue, with another type of mosquito, and although it is said that it is more rural, those who live in the South are Dominicans just like us, and therefore we must take care of all our population,” warned the doctor.

He clarified that “these are elements that, more than feeling them as an attack, should call our attention to the importance of looking at ourselves and determining how our epidemiological system works, how sensitive we are being at the moment of understanding the signals and, in addition, understanding that epidemiological surveillance includes, today, elements as simple as social networks.”

“People already write things and say things, in the media there is already such a high democratization of information that anywhere we have television channels and journalists that do not necessarily reach the traditional media, but those media are the ones that give us the alerts, and that is public health, not the institution as such, but public health as a concept, that is where we have to see ourselves in a more integrated way,” he said.

There is an urgent need for an awareness campaign on measles because it kills and is transmitted very quickly.

According to Dr. Robert Paulino Ramirez, a specialist in viral diseases, the only way Latin American countries can avoid the appearance of cases and possible outbreaks of measles is by increasing vaccination.

“In fact, the only alert of international importance that is still open is measles, and the only way we can prevent an outbreak or an onset of cases in Latin America is by increasing vaccination,” reiterated Dr. Ramirez Paulino.

He called attention that from 2020 to 2022, the Dominican Republic experienced a 15% reduction in vaccination coverage. However, he does not know the data for 2023 to see if that situation could be reversed.

“Measles needs at least 99% of children born or living in the Dominican Republic to be vaccinated, we have to carry out a very strong awareness campaign directed towards parents and guardians regarding the measles vaccine, because it is a disease that kills and is transmitted very quickly,” the physician warned when questioned about this disease on the D’AGENDA program.

He recalled the case of the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus that infected all the people in a house, “well, measles is like that, it is a disease that has a transmissibility rate of 16, that is, for every infected child, if there are 16 susceptible children, all of them will be infected.”

“So, if we want to prevent this phenomenon from occurring, we have to armor ourselves as a population, because the United States has already had several outbreaks, which means that it is right next to us,” urged Dr. Paulino.

He clarified that this is not only a responsibility of the state authorities through the Ministry of Public Health but also a duty of all people, mainly parents or guardians.

Santo Domingo – The director of the National Health Service (SNS), Mario Lama, delivered more than 29 million pesos in medical equipment for four hospitals of the Regional Metropolitan Health Service (SRSM) to strengthen the attention to the users who come to these centers.

The head of the SNS said that this equipment is part of Luis Abinader’s government plan to improve the quality of care for Dominicans. “We have to continue saving lives, which is the most important thing, to provide quality service in hospitals and that a patient should not be told there is no such thing when they arrive at a public health center.”

Dr. Mario Lama also highlighted that thanks to the constant interventions of remodeling, equipment, and appointment of new collaborators in the health centers, there has been an increase in services never seen before, “Since 2021,5 the amount of services that the Public Network has reported in January has never been reflected,” he emphasized.

Likewise, he called on the collaborators in all the benefited hospitals to make proper use of the equipment and translate it into services, the reinforcement of their centers.

Equipment delivered
The Darío Contreras Hospital received a vascular, orthopedic C-arm, and nine five-parameter vital monitors with a wall base for a total of RD$6,645,766.63.

The El Almirante Hospital received a medium-sized electric autoclave and a digital monopolar/bipolar electrosurgical scalpel with cart, valued at over one million pesos.

Likewise, the Ciudad Juan Bosch Hospital received a portable digital X-Ray with printer, two instrument trays (one for minor surgery and the other for IUD insertion), two examination couches with three positions, five wheelchairs for adults, a five-drawer file, two clinical office desks, four stackable metal chairs, two executive armchairs with P20 arm, two computers with UPS, a medical office display case and 15 computers complete with UPS, valued at 5.8 million pesos.

Meanwhile, Dr. Francisco Vicente Castro Sandoval Hospital (Hospital Nuevo de Boca Chica) received an echocardiograph, a three-channel adult pediatric electrocardiograph with cart, digital mammography, an intrauterine and cardio fetal activity monitor, three standard binocular microscopes, 25 five-section metal shelves, a placenta crusher, six instrument trays (three for minor surgery and three for IUD insertion) and three LED goose-neck examination lamps.

Also, seven three-position examination couches, three three-drawer files, a five-drawer metal file, four clinical office desks, a laboratory refrigerator (reagent), eight visitor’s chairs, four P20 executive chairs, ten C7 comfortable swivel chairs, a 42-inch LED television with wall base, three office display cases and 15 computers complete with UPS, with a total investment of RD$15,535,385.76.

The delivery of the equipment took place in the different hospitals. The directors of the SNS attended it, Alexander Ramírez of Infrastructure and Equipment and Yoany Arias of Clinical Laboratories and Medical Imaging, as well as Edisson Féliz Féliz, director of the SRS Metropolitano, the directors of the benefited health centers and collaborators.

The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness will concentrate its mosquito eradication efforts in the east and north of the island this week.

The team will start on Monday, February 26, in St Andrew, in the following districts: Boy School Road, Worrell Road, Walkers, Lakes, Bawden’s Road, and surrounding areas.

The Unit will focus on spraying communities in St Lucy for the next three days from Tuesday, February 27, to Thursday, February 29.

On Tuesday, Crab Hill Development, Content, Stroud Bay Road, Coles Cave Road, Grape Hall, Archers Bay, Salmond, and environs will be fogged. It will then be the turn of Cluffs, Roaches, Retreat Road, Hope Development, Springer Road, Animal Cave Road, North Point Gardens, Northumberland, and River Bay on Wednesday.

The team will complete its exercise in St Lucy on Thursday, in the following areas: Pie Corner, Little Bay, Upper Salmond, Josey Hill, Rock Hall, Mount View, Chance Hall, Cave Hill, Bishops, and neighbouring districts.

The fogging exercise for the week will conclude on Friday, March 1, when the team visits St James, to spray Crusher Site Road, Prospect Road, Johnson Road, Jordan Road, and Berbice No.1 and No.2.

Fogging takes place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily. Householders are reminded to open their windows and doors to allow the spray to enter. Children should not be allowed to play in the fog.

Members of the public are advised that the completion of scheduled fogging activities may be affected by events beyond the Unit’s control. In such circumstances, the Unit will return to communities affected in the soonest possible time.

(BGIS/PR)

The post Fogging schedule for February 26 – March 1 appeared first on Barbados Today.

America needs nurses — and some schools are implementing accelerated programs to train them. 

To shorten the process, these programs cut training time from up to four years down to one.

"I really do think this is a win-win for students and local hospitals and facilities," said Elizabeth Mann, assistant clinical professor at the University of New England, in an interview with Fox News. She's based in Maine. 

LESS THAN HALF OF NURSES ARE ‘FULLY ENGAGED’ AT WORK, WHILE MANY ARE ‘UNENGAGED,' NEW REPORT REVEALS

Prospective students must have a previous bachelor's degree and need to complete eight prerequisite courses. 

This is dramatically shorter than the typical two- to four-year nursing program. 

"I think the ability to get a second degree in something like a bachelor's in nursing is very appealing to many people," UNE Nursing School's interim director Donna Hyde told Fox News.

"They don't have to have a health care background. We will get them there."

NURSING SHORTAGE HITTING RURAL AMERICA HARDEST

The new fast-track nursing program at the University of New England is slated to begin in May. 

The goal is to help students get into the workforce sooner, but they’ll have to put in some serious training as well, experts say.

"There's nothing cut back. They do the same amount of clinical hours, so we allow time for that," said Hyde. 

"Their schedule may have to be a little more flexible to include consideration of weekends."

There's a projected shortage of over 78,000 registered nurses next year, according to the National Center of Health Workforce Analysis. 

NURSING PROGRAMS STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP AMID A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF NURSES

The states most in need of nurses are Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan and Georgia.

"As different states are looking at their own options to increase their nursing workforce, this is one of those options," Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, the Oregon-based president of the American Nurses Association, told Fox News. 

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The shortened 12-month program not only appeals to students, but will also benefit local health care facilities, Mann said.

Hyde noted that she speaks to many of the nurse administrators at local health care partners, and "they obviously see the need for more nurses sooner rather than later."

Some have expressed doubt that students can be ready in just a year, Mann pointed out.

​​"They may interpret it as [offering] a lesser quality [of training] or that we are pushing students through, and I do want to emphasize that is truly not the case," she said.

Up to 40 students are expected to start the program in May at the University of New England.

Once students complete the program, they will have to pass a national exam — just like a traditional four-year student — to officially become a nurse. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. 

Furthermore, health officials said they were aware of the disquiet it has caused among residents in the area, and are working with property owners to have the pool drained and maintained. The Ministry also pointed out that it would continue to monitor the situation at the property.

It added that while there is still a dengue fever outbreak on the island, the number of suspected and confirmed cases continues to decline.

Health authorities urged Barbadians to remain vigilant and take the necessary actions to prevent mosquito breeding on their properties.

The Ministry noted that it would continue its weekly fogging programme, which aims to reduce the population of the adult aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits dengue.

(PR)

The post Health Ministry: No mosquito breeding at old Silver Sands Hotel appeared first on Barbados Today.

Given Williams’ reported history of alcoholism, experts are speaking out about the potential link between her alcohol abuse and current cognitive issues.

Thursday’s announcement of Williams’ diagnosis came ahead of a new Lifetime documentary — titled "Where Is Wendy Williams?" — that will premiere on Saturday, as her representative aims to "correct inaccurate and hurtful rumors about her health."

WENDY WILLIAMS CONTROVERSY: INSIDE DEMENTIA, EXPLOSIVE DOCUMENTARY, FAMILY WAR TO VISIT TALK SHOW QUEEN

Williams entered a facility in April 2023 to allegedly treat "cognitive issues" reportedly due to alcohol abuse, as her family communicates with her through a court-appointed legal guardian.

"In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)," Williams’ care team stated in a press release.

"Aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder impacting behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy's life."

Fox News Digital reached out to Williams' team requesting additional comment. 

Dr. Suzette Glasner, PhD, a psychologist in Los Angeles, California, has not treated or examined Williams but said heavy drinking and alcoholism can cause damage to both white and gray matter in the brain, and over time can lead to deteriorating cognitive functioning, including dementia.

"These neurocognitive impacts are a result of a combination of alcohol’s direct neurotoxic effects, depletion of nutrients in the body, impacts on liver functioning and disruption of communication between nerve cells in the brain," said Glasner, who works with Pelago, a digital health company focused on substance use management.

WHAT IS FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA, THE DIAGNOSIS BRUCE WILLIS HAS RECEIVED?

When heavy and chronic alcohol use leads to brain damage, an individual can experience problems with their attention, memory and reasoning, the expert told Fox News Digital.

"In many cases, individuals who misuse or are addicted to alcohol and drugs struggle with overlapping chronic medical and psychiatric conditions, and this can make it very challenging to determine the etiology or cause of neurocognitive symptoms such as those observed in Wendy Williams," Glasner said.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms including cognitive impairment are common in Grave’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder Williams has spoken about battling over the years.

"Those symptoms often improve with treatment; however, like other chronic diseases, alcohol or drug use can complicate or interfere with treatment response, making improvements less likely," noted Glasner. 

NEW ALZHEIMER’S TREATMENT ACCELERATES REMOVAL OF PLAQUE FROM THE BRAIN IN CLINICAL TRIALS

Elizabeth Landsverk, M.D., a geriatric and dementia expert in San Francisco, also has not treated Williams but said that substance misuse has been previously linked to cognitive decline. She also noted that the extent of its impact isn’t clear.

"Not enough research has been conducted on the matter to give us precise data," she told Fox News Digital.  

"What has been noted is that alcohol abuse — as well as taking a number of other medications — does increase the risk of developing dementia." 

Brain damage and neurocognitive impacts can occur with heavy drinking in individuals with moderate or severe alcohol use disorders, Grasner said — "so there is a wide variation between individuals in the quantity of alcohol that leads to these neurotoxic effects."

"The specific reasons that some individuals develop alcohol-related dementia whereas others do not are not well understood, so we don't currently have guidelines specifying that if you drink a certain amount, you are likely to experience cognitive impairments," she added. 

Women are generally more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol on the brain and body, Glasner noted, which means the onset can occur at a younger age than it would in men.

"Expert evaluation of the contribution of substance use and other underlying medical conditions such as Grave’s Disease to cognitive symptoms would be very important for Williams to ensure that she receives the right treatments at the right time," Glasner recommended.

STUDY FINDS THAT PROTEINS MAY PREDICT WHO WILL GET DEMENTIA IN 10 YEARS BASED ON BLOOD SAMPLES

"Often involving a family very closely to evaluate the symptoms and the timing of their emergence relative to alcohol or other substance use can be helpful as part of determining an accurate diagnosis and plan of care," she added.

Abstinence from alcohol is a crucial part of treatment for alcohol-related neurological deficits, noted Glasner.

If the condition is caught in time, abstaining from alcohol can at least partially, if not fully, reverse the symptoms, according to the expert.

While symptoms of FTD can vary depending on what part of the brain is affected, most people with the condition experience some common symptoms, as listed on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. 

Behavior or personality changes are often the most obvious indicators. These may include public outbursts or socially inappropriate actions.

DEMENTIA AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE IS LINKED TO 15 FACTORS, MAJOR STUDY REVEALS

People with FTD also tend to have impaired judgment, a lack of empathy and lower self-awareness, Johns Hopkins states. 

This type of dementia is also marked by a reduced ability to understand or formulate language.

People may struggle to remember the names of objects, string words into sentences or even recall the meanings of words they used to know. 

The condition can also lead to agitation, irritability and drastic mood swings.

There is no treatment for FTD other than managing symptoms and educating family members and caregivers, according to Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute in New Jersey.

Some aphasia symptoms can be managed with speech therapy.

"Treatment focuses a great deal on family education," said Reena Gottesman, M.D., a behavioral neurologist at the Center for Brain Loss and Memory Health at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute, in a press release.

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Approximately 50,000-60,000 people may have FTD, per data from the Alzheimer’s Association, a nonprofit group based in Chicago.

Recently, actor Bruce Willis’ FTD diagnosis brought new attention to the rare condition.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

The resolution notes that over one million people contract an STD daily, with a majority being asymptomatic. Annually, approximately 374 million people contract curable STDs, including chlamydiasis, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.

The proposed program, to be implemented in the region, including the Dominican Republic, is to be based on a public health and human rights approach. It aims to employ innovative strategies for education, health promotion, research, prevention, training, detection, epidemiological surveillance, and comprehensive care for STDs.

The resolution recommends that the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic adopt common and specific measures for managing these diseases, supported by actions from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Health coverage is emphasized in the resolution, ensuring protection against financial risks and better access to quality essential health services. The expansion of vaccination programs against human papillomaviruses and hepatitis B is also encouraged, along with operational research for introducing new vaccines.

The resolution guides the health sector in applying strategic responses to control STDs, considering the epidemiological context and technological advances. It suggests promoting education and awareness campaigns in various sectors, focusing on vulnerable populations such as women, adolescents, sex workers, people with multiple partners, prisoners, children living on the streets, and drug users.

In addition, the initiative recommends fostering learning in all areas of these diseases and capitalizing on innovations and new knowledge for a more effective response to STDs. Education and awareness campaigns are also suggested for the general population, educational centers, primary health care centers, clubs, worker associations, media, churches, neighborhood associations, and other influential groups in society.

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Hello! Today, we discuss how the FDA is holding firm in how it handles non-compliant trial sponsors and investigators, how PhRMA is rebuilding its ranks, and offer up a fabulous podcast.

The need-to-know this morning

• Advisers to the European Medicines Agency recommended the approval of Qalsody, a treatment for ALS from Biogen.

What do CEOs owe the world?

Did Humira break the system? And can you CRISPR a fetus? We cover all that and more this week on “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast.

Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Education in the Dominican Republic (Minerd) has unveiled its ambitious plan to extend the School Health Program to encompass all educational institutions across the nation by 2024. This strategic move aims to instill a culture of disease prevention and foster healthy eating habits among students.

The comprehensive initiative, designed for both the medium and long term, seeks to address various health challenges faced by children, adolescents, young people, and teachers. These challenges include combating rates of overweight and obesity, addressing malnutrition, ensuring immunizations for preventable diseases, prioritizing mental health, conducting health evaluations, and implementing preventive measures. The ultimate goal is to enhance educational achievements and positively impact the overall well-being of families.

The Ministry of Education is collaborating closely with the Ministries of Public Health and Social Assistance, Economy, Planning and Development, as well as the National Health Service, Essential Medicines Program, and Central Logistics Support (Promesecal). This collaboration aims to guarantee health within the educational community, reduce disruptions to learning, and promote a culture of self-care and a healthy lifestyle.

A noteworthy addition to the program is the involvement of the Dominican Medical College (CMD) and its president, Waldo Ariel Suero, reflecting a commitment to bringing healthcare closer to the school population. The program is set to incorporate medical care within schools, representing a significant enhancement to the School Health Program.

Numerous coordination meetings have taken place with various ministries and entities involved in the program. These meetings have resulted in coordinated actions, including vaccination campaigns, initiatives focused on hearing and dental health, and other measures aimed at benefiting students.

In 2023, Minerd, in collaboration with allied entities, initiated the pilot phase of the program at the Inmaculada Fe y Alegría School in Los Frailes II, part of Educational District 10-06. This pilot phase involved 1,014 students and 63 members of the teaching and administrative teams.

Furthermore, extensive training and awareness-raising efforts have been conducted for all stakeholders involved in a sample of 50 educational centers, representing 19,000 students across the seven health regions affiliated with the National Health Service of the Dominican Republic.