What's Been Going on This Week? (7/20-7/27)

Monkeypox. Heat Wave. COVID-19. Polio.

Such a critical week for the world of public health. Let's update ourselves on what's been going on, stay informed, and learn how to remedy or pacify some of these situations.

Polio

Polio was reported in Rockland County, New York on July 21, 2022.This case marks the first polio case in the United States in nearly a decade, sparking alarm and investigation in New York. Polio is preventable by vaccine, however there is no treatment which provides a cure. Polio is typically transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with an infected person.

Symptoms

Polio impacts the nervous system, typically causing muscle weakness. Many individuals with polio do not show any significant symptoms. However, in severe cases, this transmitted disease can result in paralysis and sometimes be fatal.

Muscle Weakness, Fatigue, Fever, Headache, Nausea.

No cure but treatments such as prescribed antibiotics, bed rest, fluids, and in severe cases, physical therapy can help.

Quick History

In the beginning of the 20th century, Polio was one of the greatest fears in many countries, paralyzing innumerable amounts of children, and adults, each year. At this time, Polio was a threat to all countries, not just developing ones.

Nevertheless, through public health efforts and the roll out of vaccines, industrialized areas had become less threatened by this infectious disease, rendering it relatively absent from countries such as the US providing its 'very rare' status in the United States.

This case marks the first in nearly 10 years in the US, alarming public health officials and prompting investigation.

Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection (viral zoonosis, transmitted from animals to humans) with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox is not a new disease, however is becoming more efficient at transmitting between people. In the past, symptoms were consistent with flu-like symptoms such as fever and muscle aches, and sometimes a rash following which denotes higher infectiousness; however, now in the recent outbreak , symptoms are becoming more atypical with a rash being the primary symptom or the only symptom.

Yesterday, July 23, the WHO declared monkey pox a Global health Emergency, demanding international attention and coordinated response

The monkeypox outbreak began in May 2022, with a cluster of cases confirmed in the United Kingdom. The last issued global health emergency was in 2020, due to the COVID-19 Outbreak. Although international travel and trade are not at risk of suffering in the foreseeable future due to this outbreak, the declaration by the WHO signifies the necessity for a coordinated international response to the monkeypox outbreak. This coordination and early response is necessary to potentially thwarting this outbreak from becoming a pandemic -- a disease widespread over an entire country or the world. Nevertheless, remember, the COVID-19 Pandemic is still not over.

The Heat Wave

In the United States, more than 100 million people are under various, danger-indicated, heat alerts, from parts of the American West, to the North East.

There are currently fires raging throughout Europe and record-breaking high temperatures in Great Britain.

This heat & sky-high temperature around the globe harms crop life, impacts power, interferes with infrastructure, exacerbates flood droughts (esp. west) and results in deaths (esp. Europe)

The Heat Wave and Climate Change

Climate change and global warming have created this hotter precedent for the summer.

There could be other forces worsening heatwaves: "feedback effects, such as the drying out of soil... beyond certain thresholds, this can accelerate warming during heat waves"... also, "so-called heat domes that bake large regions" (Technology Reviews)

Heat waves once thought rare are now becoming more common and deadly. "Linked rise in greenhouse gas levels & global average temp has tracked tightly within the spread of model predictions... even from the 1970s" (Technology Reviews).

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

Heat stroke occurs when the body is no longer able to regulate its temperature, namely the cooling mechanism (sweating) fails.

A heat stroke typically first begins as heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is not as serious as the illness it progresses to. It is important to cool down within 30 minutes of experiencing heat exhaustion to prevent a serious and critical emergency typically. If someone loses consciousness, has a seizure, or experiences shortness of breath and is nonresponsive, call 911.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion which could progress to heat stroke: headache, feeling sick, excessively pale, cramps, fast breathing or pulse, temperature above 106F or 38C, thirst, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, muscle fatigue.

Move to a cool place, lie down, drink water and electrolytes, and cool the skin with a sponge spray, fan, or cold packs, especially around the neck. ensure to keep an eye on someone experiencing these symptoms.

Check out DOs and DONTs (Heat 101) at the CBS link in resources