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First Bird Flu Case in Louisiana Raises Health Concerns

Transmission of avian flu to human still poses a rare occurrence yet complicating its chances to jump from animals to humans and prompting a strengthened surveillance.


United States: It looks like this is the first case of avian flu in Louisiana.

In a health alert issued Friday, state officials said the case involves “a resident of southwestern Louisiana. The individual had exposure to sick and dead birds that are suspected to have been infected with H5N1,” the virus that causes bird flu. The patient has since been hospitalized, as reported by HealthDay.

Avian Flu Cases Across the U.S.

At least 60 people have been reported with human bird flu this year in the United States. Most of the reported cases have been from California and Washington, and most of the infections have occurred where humans were exposed to infected poultry or dairy cows.

At the moment, there is no information on the transmission of bird flu from person to person, and most reported cases have been quite mild; the worst sign of it has been conjunctivitis or pinkeye. No deaths have been reported.

Only the week before, U.S. health officials said that the type of bird flu that was found in a young California boy is the same type that has infected flocks of birds and livestock. This raises questions about how the patient became infected, given that no direct contact with sick poultry was reported.

Although those results were not conclusive, tests showed that ‘the virus resembled viruses identified in both dairy cattle and birds as well as A[H5N1] viruses that have been transmitted previously to dairy farmers in California’.

“This case does not change CDC’s assessment of the immediate risk to the general public, which remains low at this time,” the agency added.

California Case Raises Questions

However, California health authorities said last week that they are still working to determine how the child may have been infected with bird flu. The child was treated with flu antivirals and has made a recovery.

Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital who focuses on flu, doesn’t believe the community spread contributed to the new case in California. However, other animals that may have been exposed to the virus, like cats, dogs, or rats, tend to contribute to its spread.

Indeed, a study conducted last week indicated that cats could be silent weavers of bird flu.

Concerns Over Animal-Human Transmission

Scientists have been concerned for months now that the virus roaming through humans and animals will develop a propensity for passing easily from human to human.

In the California case, there is no evidence that the virus was passed from one person to the other, and all the family members of the child tested negative.

Avian flu cases in humans — which have been contracted by nearly all the victims, farm workers — have now been reported in seven states.

Global Implications

California has the highest incidence of human avian flu cases, with 34 recorded positive infections in the country. According to the CDC data, 11 cases have been recorded in Washington and 10 cases in Colorado.

In early May, authorities in Canada reported that a teenager in British Columbia was in critical condition with what is believed to be bird flu.

Avian Flu Impact on Livestock

The source of the infection is not known either because the patient is not reported to have any way of coming across infected poultry, mentioned authorities. They pointed out that this was the initial human illness caused by this virus in the given province and throughout Canada.

Throughout the country, continued infections involving over 845 dairy herds in 16 states have occurred since last summer when the outbreak in dairy cows was identified. Epidemiological studies of avian influenza have confirmed its existence in wild and domestic birds across the US for some time now, as reported by HealthDay.

“We should be very concerned at this point,” Dr. James Lawler, co-director of the University of Nebraska’s Global Center for Health Security told New York Times. “No one should be pressing the panic button just yet, but everyone should be throwing a lot of money at trying to find out why it is happening.”

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FDA Approves Self-Injectable Vyvgart Hytrulo for gMG and CIDP 

FDA Approves Self-Injectable Vyvgart Hytrulo for gMG and CIDP 

United States: The U.S. FDA has approved Vyvgart Hytrulo’s (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) self-administered form for treating adult gMG patients who carry anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies and adult CIDP patients, as reported by HealthDay. 

Fast and Easy Subcutaneous Injection 

The Vyvgart Hytrulo prefilled syringe now functions as an approved subcutaneous device that needs 20 to 30 seconds during patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional administration.  

Testing between the Vyvgart Hytrulo prefilled syringe, and the Vyvgart Hytrulo vial led to the approval of this product by the FDA. The human factors validation studies demonstrated that both gMG or CIDP patients, along with their caregivers, could execute acceptable prefilled syringe preparation and administration of Vyvgart Hytrulo safely and effectively, as reported by HealthDay. 

Designed for Independence and Flexibility 

“Today’s FDA approval provides a new self-injection option across both approved indications in the U.S. that is designed for patients who seek more independence with their treatment,” Luc Truyen, M.D., Ph.D., the chief medical officer at argenx, said in a statement. “Whether patients prefer to receive their treatment in a physician’s office, at home, or while traveling, they can experience treatment on their own terms and continue to benefit from Vyvgart Hytrulo’s favorable safety profile and strong efficacy.” 

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Quick Walking May Prevent Heart Rhythm Issues 

Quick Walking May Prevent Heart Rhythm Issues 

United States: A new research finds that individuals who walk vigorously for long periods reduce their chances of developing heart rhythm abnormalities. 

Faster Walking, Healthier Heart 

The research in the Heart journal revealed that individuals walking over 4 miles per hour had a decreased chance of 43% developing heart rhythm abnormalities compared to walkers moving less than 3 miles per hour, as reported by HealthDay. 

According to researchers, the duration of movement together with average or brisk pace walking worked to decrease heart rhythm issues by 27%. 

Duration and Pace Matter 

“These new findings reinforce the promotion of faster walking pace in physical activity recommendations,” concluded the research team led by Jill Pell, chair of public health with the University of Glasgow in the U.K. “Walking at a brisk pace may have a role in … prevention of cardiac arrhythmias.” 

Inside the Research 

Study data originated from the UK Biobank health study, which encompassed 421,000 participants, with accelerometer-wearers representing 82,000 individuals who tracked their walking pace. 

A brisk walking pace existed in 41% of study participants, whereas an average walking pace occurred in 53%, and a slow pace was observed in less than 6%. 

The study results revealed that walking swiftly reduced heart rhythm issues by 43% or walking moderately reduced them by 35%. 

Atrial Fibrillation Risk Also Drops 

Analysis of data from UK Biobank demonstrates that brisk or average-paced walkers experienced a 46% and 38% decrease in atrial fibrillation risk rates, which elevates stroke risks, as reported by HealthDay. 

Quick Walking May Prevent Heart Rhythm Issues 
Quick Walking May Prevent Heart Rhythm Issues 

The connection between heart rhythm problems and walking pace appears to be shaped by 36% through inflammation alongside metabolic factors, according to expert estimation. 

What’s Behind the Benefits? 

Research from the past supports these findings because brisk walking leads to lower obesity levels and better blood sugar control, in addition to preventing diabetes and lowering high blood pressure, according to scientists. 

“This study is the first to explore the pathways underpinning the association between walking pace and arrhythmias and to provide evidence that metabolic and inflammatory factors may have a role,” researchers concluded. “Walking faster decreased the risk of obesity and inflammation, which, in turn, reduced the risk of arrhythmia.” 

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Smart Shirt Technology Monitors Heart Health in Real Time 

Smart Shirt Technology Monitors Heart Health in Real Time 

United States: The “smart shirt” coupled with an electrocardiogram (ECG) device enables researchers to detect people with elevated cardiovascular risks, according to recent study findings. 

The wearable shirt measures heart rate recovery after workouts, so it tracks how long it takes for the heart to stabilize, as reported by HealthDay. 

“The heart’s response to exercise provides us with an early indicator of changes in health, in particular cardiovascular function and mortality,” senior researcher Manuel Hernandez, a professor of biomedical and translational sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said in a news release. 

How It Works: Tracking the Heart’s Response to Exercise 

Researchers employed smart shirts developed by Carré Technologies based in Quebec for their investigation. Continuous heart performance measures are collected using sensors attached to the smart shirt that record heart rate and electrical cardiac activity. 

Study Participants Show Promising Insights 

The research team selected 38 participants from 20 to 76 years old to complete treadmill walking exercises. The seven participants underwent medical examinations, which revealed high blood pressure as their diagnosis. 

Sounds from the laboratory tests enabled researchers to establish risk prediction systems for targeting heart disease in individuals. 

Researchers declared the investigation kickstarts the development of heart health risk understanding for individuals. 

“We want to use it to provide us with some greater insight in terms of our underlying cardiovascular function,” Hernandez said. “And we want to make something that’s clinically actionable.” 

According to a co-author, wearable technology should give physicians access to a wealth of helpful data. 

A Game-Changer for Rural and Remote Healthcare 

“One would like to have a whole bunch of data from wearables, and then that data is transmitted to a doctor’s office, and the doctor can interpret it,” said co-researcher Richard Sowers, a professor of industrial & enterprise systems engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  

Based on Sowers’ statement in the news release, these wearable devices would benefit most people who live in rural areas and places where medical resources are scarce. 

Future investigations plan to extend study participant numbers and monitor their progress longitudinally, according to researchers. 

Research groups investigate various applications of the “smart shirt” technology. 

Global Use Cases Emerging 

During the European Association of Urology conference a month ago, scientists from Italy introduced a new tracking system using smart shirts to monitor the vital signs of patients after hospital discharge, as reported by HealthDay. 

“Our patients found the T-shirt easy to use, and over 90% reported it allowed them to feel safe and cared for while recuperating at home,” lead researcher Dr. Antonio Pastore, an associate professor of urology at Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, said in a news release. 

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