Meanwhile In Russia This Month

The Russian president said,” Talks with Ukraine have reached a dead”, end during a speech at Vodtochny Space Centre. The Russian president blamed that Ukraine had derailed because the Ukrainian side had made "fake claims" about war crimes and extra demands for security guarantees. "We have again returned to a dead-end situation for us," he said. He added that Russia would continue its operation to defend the Russian speakers of eastern Ukraine. However, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters that though negotiations were hard, they were continuing.

President Putin has described the events in Ukraine as a "tragedy", according to remarks transcribed by the Tass news agency. The Russian leader reportedly said his country had "no choice" other than to launch what he calls a special military operation. And during a public appearance, President Putin praised Russia's military objectives in Ukraine as being noble. Reports and satellite images suggest Russia is building up troops and equipment in at least three places on Ukraine’s border: Belgorod and Voronezh regions, and around the town of Matveev Kurgan to the south. They might be hoping to encircle the Ukrainian forces. And to response to this development, some of Ukraine’s most experienced and best-equipped units were positioned in key regions to disrupt Russian troop’s advancement. Many people believe that the Russia/Ukraine is now in a slow war of attrition. Slowly but steadily lessening the resources of their opponents while their economy decays. 

Another interesting development is that, a Ukrainian battalion claims a Russian drone flew over and a cloud of smoke was seen. After that its fighters had suffered minor injuries while some experienced breathing difficulties. The US and Britain say they are looking into reports of possible use of chemical weapons by Russian forces attacking Mariupol. Britain’s Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said the incident needed proper investigation. He said that if Russia were found to have used banned chemical weapons then "nothing was ruled out" in terms of Nato's response.

Finally, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) pleads to not make us take food from children that are hungry to give to children that are starving, will likely die without the aid. The crises in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria among others have only got worse since the Ukraine war. Soaring food and fuel costs, together with budget cuts in some traditional donor countries, have forced the WFP to halve the amount of food it is giving to millions of people living in those countries. In December 2021, the UN made a record appeal for $41bn (£31bn) to help 273 million people this year. Many African countries, while not dependent on UN aid, import grain from Ukraine. Somalia gets more than 60% of its grain from Ukraine and Russia, while Eritrea gets nearly 97% of its wheat from Ukraine, and they need to compete with other European and North Americans on the international market for food. 

Rest of the world is in midst of recovery after the pandemic, yet some people are starving while others are fighting for their lives and country.

Source : BBC

Resignation is not the end of the story for Will Smith

 US actor Will Smith has resigned from the Oscars Academy after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during the ceremony. "My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable," his statement said. To this the Academy's president David Rubin said it had accepted Smith's resignation, but would continue its disciplinary proceedings.

In an Analysis from BBC Peter Brown said,” Resignation is not the end of the story”. Resigning from the Academy is a big deal. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, is a global organization with around 10,000 members. Membership of this illustrious, invitation-only body is seen as a mark of achievement in itself. Most people cannot apply to join - they must be nominated by at least two existing members. People nominated for an Oscar are automatically considered and do not need to be nominated. And to this day, only a handful of people have ever been expelled: they include Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and Roman. He would have found out in a few weeks. But the actor decided to seal his own fate, and forfeit his esteemed role as an Oscar voter - by quitting now.

The Academy's disciplinary review over the incident was originally scheduled for 18 April but that changed when Smith resigned on 1st April. "The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards," Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a statement on Friday, 8th April,2022. The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said banning Smith was aimed at protecting performers and guests and "restoring trust in the Academy". The Academy said that directly after the slap it did not "adequately address the situation in the room" and had been "unprepared for the unprecedented". It apologized for this. It also thanked Rock for "maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances".

 Source : BBC / CNN

Suez Canal Blockage

On March 23 around 8 am local time (UTC +2) a container vessel EVER GIVEN ran aground in the Suez Canal halting traffic of both ways. This accident occurred at 6 nautical miles from the southern entry of the Canal as the container ship proceeded northbound through the waterway from the Red Sea. EVER GIVEN is a 20,000 TEU-class container ship, currently leased by Evergreen Marine Corp. under a time charter agreement with the crew hired by the ship owner. It is one of the longest ships in service with a length of 400m and width of 59m, its gross tonnage is 219079 and is capable of travelling at peak speed of 22.8 knots. The ship got stuck diagonally due the high wind and dust storm in the busiest gateway to link Asia to Europe. A video showing ECDIS of the ship showed its movement was erratic and the ship seems to be going form 8 Knot at the entry point to 13 Knot after it entered the canal.

Evergreen Marine Corp. has stated in their official report released on about the incident that the cause of the grounding of the container ship was suspected due to gusting wind which was about 30nots. The Operators of the Suez Canal say that the accident could have been caused by technical or human error. The chairman of the Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie said in a press release that more than just strong winds caused the accident. He said that an accident this big has several mistakes and several causes, part of it could be technical and part of it could be human error and both are undergoing investigation and everything will be clear after the investigation has completed. He also informed that possibility of removing the containers to free the ship is the third and the last option. To free the container ship multiple tug boats and excavators were used. Previously, they estimated that it would take weeks to free the boat but due to the arrival of more tug boats things could be different.

According to report published on March 29, 2021 by Evergreen Marine Corp. ship was freed at 13:26 UTC, 6 days after its initial grounding. The container ship which started its journey in Yantian, China and was bound to Rotterdam, Netherlands has stopped at 15:00 UTC in Great Bitter Lake, an artificial lake in the canal for inspection. Till the ship was freed it was estimated that nearly 400 ships were waiting in either side of the canal.

Suez Canal is Open

As of 1500hrs UTC, March 29 2021 EverGiven container ship has arrived at Great Bitter Lake, an artificial lake in Suez Canal.

Tree Of Life

 

 

Two Kingdom Classification (1735)

 

Regnum Animale (animals)

Regnum Vegetabile ('vegetables'/plants)

 

 

Three Kingdom Classification (1866)

 

Kingdom Protista or Protoctista

Kingdom Plantae

Kingdom Animalia

 

 

Four Kingdom Classification (1938)

 

Empire Prokaryota

Kingdom Monera

Empire Eukaryota

 

 

Kingdom Protista or Protoctista

 

Kingdom Plantae

Kingdom Animalia

 

 

Five Kingdom Classification (1969)

 

Empire Prokaryota

Kingdom Monera

Empire Eukaryota

Kingdom Protista or Protoctista

Kingdom Plantae

Kingdom Fungi

Kingdom Animalia

 

 

Six Kingdom Classification (1977)

 

Empire Prokaryota      

Kingdom Eubacteria (Bacteria)

Kingdom Archaebacteria (Archaea)

Empire Eukaryota

Kingdom Protista or Protoctista

Kingdom Plantae

Kingdom Fungi

Kingdom Animalia

 

 

Six Kingdom Classification (1998)

 

Empire Prokaryota

Kingdom Bacteria

Empire Eukaryota

Kingdom Protozoa       

Kingdom Chromista     

Kingdom Plantae       

Kingdom Fungi

Kingdom Animalia

Seven Kingdom Classification (2015, Latest)

 

Empire Prokaryota

Kingdom Bacteria

Kingdom Archaea

 

Empire Eukaryota

Kingdom Protozoa       

Kingdom Chromista     

Kingdom Plantae       

Kingdom Fungi 

Kingdom Animalia

 

 

Eight Kingdom Classification (1993)

 

Superkingdom Prokaryota

Kingdom Eubacteria

Kingdom Archaebacteria

Superkingdom Archezoa

Kingdom Archezoa

Superkingdom Metakaryota

Kingdom Protozoa

Kingdom Chromista

Kingdom Plantae

Kingdom Fungi

Kingdom Animalia

 

 

 

Three Domain Classification (1990)

 

Domain Bacteria/Eubacteria

Domain Archaea/Archaebacteria

Domain Eukarya/Eukaryota

 

 

 

Two Empire Classification (1925)

 

Prokaryote

Eukaryote

 

 

Eukaryotic Supergroups (2005)

 

Domain Bacteria

Bacteria

Domain Archaea

Archaea

Domain Eukaryota

Excavata

Amoebozoa

Opisthokonta

Rhizaria

Chromalveolata

Archaeplastida (or Primoplantae)

Swine Flu Report Nepal 2015

Influenza (A) Report

These report was published by NISN Director Dr. Geeta Shakya under the super vision of MOHP.

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
27th Feb. 2015	Kathmandu	17	1
	Pokhara	6	0
	Bharatpur	7	0
	Other	1	0

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
1st   March  2015	Kathmandu	5	0

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
2nd   March  2015	Kathmandu	10	0

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
3rd to 4th March  2015	Kathmandu	15	0
	Pokhara(up to 4th March)	8	0
	Bharatpur(up to 4th March)	4	0

  

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
5th to 7th March  2015	Kathmandu	29	1
	Pokhara	11	0
	Bharatpur	4	0

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
5th to 7th March  2015	Kathmandu	6	0
	Dhangadi	1	0

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
10th to 11th March  2015	Kathmandu	18	0

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
12th to 13th March  2015	Kathmandu	40	0

The total number of cases from 1st jan. 2015 to 13th march 2015 is 234.

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
14th to 15th March  2015	Kathmandu	21	0
	Pokhara	10	0
	Bharatpur	13	0
	Dhangadi	1	0

The total number of cases from 1st jan. 2015 to 15th march 2015 is 278.

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
16th March  2015	Kathmandu	20	0
	Pokhara	5	0
	Bharatpur	5	0

The total number of cases from 1st jan. 2015 to 16th march 2015 is 308.

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
17th  March  2015	Kathmandu	15	0

The total number of cases from 1st jan. 2015 to 17^th  march 2015 is 323.

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
18th  March  2015	Kathmandu	8	0

The total number of cases from 1st jan. 2015 to 18^th  march 2015 is 331.

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
16th March  2015	Kathmandu	34	0
	Pokhara	15	0
	Bharatpur	25	0

The total number of cases from 1st jan. 2015 to 22^nd march 2015 is 405.

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
17th  March  2015	Kathmandu	13	0

The total number of cases from 1st jan. 2015 to 2^nd april 2015 is 523.

Food to avoid swine flu

What to eat ?

As swine flu attacks weak immune system or people who are malnourished. Although there are many ways to prevent an infection, not all of them are foolproof anyone wishing to build a strong immune system can avoid swine flu.


According to Ms.Neelanjana Singh, Clinical Nutritionist, PSRI Hospital, New Delhi some specific foods that have documented evidence of working as immunity enhancers are:

• Holy basil(Tulsi): There are 3 varieties of tulsi and a combination of all three of them can work very effectively to prevent viral infections of all kinds. One could incorporate the leaves to make a kadha (decoction) along with some spices such as cinnamon and black pepper. Add honey to the kadha as honey has antioxidant and anti-viral properties too!
• Consuming Indian Gooseberry (amla) regularly will boost Vitamin C levels in your system and will help prevent even the deadliest of infections. It is therefore not a surprise that Chawanprash has been so popular!
• Almonds- with the skin intact- make for a potent way to keep the viruses at bay. Like almonds, peanuts are also rich in micronutrients that can keep one healthy.
• Garlic should be consumed in the raw form in order to get its full benefit. Its regular intake will keep one free from the current threat of swine flu. After all, garlic is loaded with a sulphur compound Allicin that acts by boosting the white blood cell population in the body.
• Specific probiotic preparations can also play a role in boosting immunity during this season.
• Turmeric or haldi is a well-established immunity enhancer. Use turmeric liberally in your food preparations.

Also,

• Foods rich in protein, like meat, chicken, eggs, fish, milk, beans, nuts, seeds and soy-based foods. Having a minimum of 3 servings of these foods per day will help build a barrier against viral infections like swine flu.
• Lots of bright orange (carrots, pumpkins, apricots, and mangoes) and green (spinach and cabbage) fruits and vegetables. The vitamin A in these foods helps strengthen the respiratory membranes.
• Vitamin D3 is key to immune system health, so it's also a good idea to talk to your doctor about supplementing with this vitamin.
• Vitamin C-rich foods like peppers, spinach, citrus fruits, berries, and peas, which have anti-viral properties and help, mobilize bug-eating macrophage cells.
• Beef, eggs and seafood (especially crabs, oysters and sardines) for Zinc, which helps to form antibodies to fight the infection of swine flu.
• Whole grains and pumpkin seeds, which also build antibodies against swine flu.
• Apples, spinach, and other greens with iron in them.
• Two Echinacea tablets and a 300 mg tablet of St John’s Wort three times a day.
• Herbal tea with equal parts mint, elderflower and yarrow.
  
  
  
• Take immediate action to include these healthy foods in your diet to build up immunity and avoid the swine flu.

While flu shots and wearing masks is useful, having a strong immune system is also very important to prevent the virus from damaging your health. It is important to realise the how your immunity is weakened and the reasons behind it. Poor lifestyle habits like smoking, not getting enough sleep, living a stressful life, not consuming a proper diet, etc. can take a toll on your immunity, making you susceptible to swine flu.

So what should you do to boost your immunity and fight infections strongly?

 Healthy diet: Ensure that your diet is wholesome, which means that that it includes vitamins A, B ,C and E. Your diet should also comprise foods rich in zinc and selenium. Include crustaceans, meat, sunflower seeds and brown rice to build a strong immune system. Also, foods like ginger and garlic help in flushing out toxins from the body.

Include probiotics in your diet: Probiotics are bacteria that are good for your health and help in digestion. They are also known to improve your immunity by creating an acidic environment, which prevents the growth of other harmful bacteria in the stomach. Include foods like milk and curds which are a great natural source of probiotics.

Reduce stress: Be it work stress or emotional stress, it takes a huge toll on your immunity. Increasing  stress levels aid the release of the stress hormone. This hormone affects the working of the thymus, which in turn affects the production of immune cells in the body.

Get enough sleep: A minimum of 7 hours sleep is important for the proper functioning of the body. Interrupted and lack of sleep can compromise your immunity severely as it helps in the release of stress hormones and other inflammatory substances. 

Exercising regularly: Regular exercise improves blood flow, which helps in circulating immune cells throughout the body more efficiently. It also promotes the release of endorphins or ‘feel good’ hormones that help in stimulating the lymphatic system for release of blood cells. 

There are various myths associated about the spread of swine flu like eating chicken can cause swine flu or going vegan can protect you from swine flu. One should realise that these are only myths and not an actual facts.

Swine flu symptoms and recommendation

What to expect from Swine Flu

Since the news of swine flu is out people are worried about many things and uncertain about few things Swine Flu. So here are few things that may help you out.

Although swine flu seems to infect people having lower immunity, people who are high priorities for H1N1 vaccination are:

• Pregnant women

• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age

• Health care and emergency medical services personnel

• People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years

• People ages 25-64 who have chronic health conditions or weak immune systems 

The seasonal flu vaccine doesn't protect against swine flu. The symptoms of H1N1 swine flu is similar to that of seasonal flu so first get treatment for the normal flu before reaching out to swine flu drugs, experts have advised only to take swine flu medicine after you are sure it is swine flu.  And also advised not to leave home if you've got flu-like symptoms. 

Don't rush to the emergency room unless you have certain symptoms. Only seek emergency medical care

 if a child show any of these symptoms:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing

• Bluish or gray skin color

• Not drinking enough fluids

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Not waking up or not interacting

• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough

  

and for adults symptoms are:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Doctors’ recommends staying home at least 24 hours after you are free of fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or signs of fever, without taking fever-reducing medicines. Having a high fever for more than three days is another danger sign, according to the WHO.

 In a study seasonal flu or its complications kills an average of 36,000 people per year and hospitalizes more than 200,000 people. Face masks are excellent way to prevent the swine flu infection; experts have said that wearing mask can reduce the chance of being infected by 50%. However, don't rely on a face mask as your only protection -- you still need to take other swine flu prevention steps:

• Wash your hands often.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• If you've got flu-like symptoms, avoid others until you've been free of fever for 24 hours.

• Stay at least 6 feet away from people with flu-like illness.

If you do wear a face mask, don't reuse it. Face masks should be worn once and then thrown out.

One of the golden rules for dealing with swine flu is for sick people to stay home. That means planning ahead in case you or someone in your family gets sick. Staying in isolated environment can prevent the out spread of the virus. So people infected with swine flu are kept in observation wards or are advised to stay home under strict guidance. While laundering linens/clothes of someone who has flu, don’t hug the laundry before washing it, and set the clothes dryer to the hot setting/use hot water. Wash your hands with soap and water (or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after handling dirty laundry.

Swine Flu in Nepal 2015

Influenza A H1N1 in Nepal 2015

The current swine flu outbreak around the world is caused by influenza A viruses that contain gene elements from swine, avian and humans. It started to affect persons in Mexico in March 2009 and  since then has spread to USA, Canada, several countries in Europe, New Zealand, Israel and many other countries around the world have suspected cases. The virus has demonstrated sustained human to human transmission leading WHO to declare pandemic level 5 with the swine flu as of 29 April 2009. Most human cases of swine flu have occurred in previously healthy children and young adults. Symptoms are similar to classic flu with fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, vomiting, diarrhea. Most cases have been mild but there have been significant number of deaths in Mexico and a single death in USA.

Date	Place	No. of Influenza A H1N1	No. of death from Swine Flu
27th Feb. 2015	Kathmandu	17	1
	Pokhara	6	0
	Bharatpur	7	0
	Other	1	0

Latest report of total swine flu here

Screeening of influenza

According to the  National Influenza Surveillance Network (NISN)  the total influenza H1N1 cases has reached 9 in kathmandu and 4 in chitwan  in the period between 15th feb to 24th feb 2015. The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has sounded an alert that the viral Swine Flu, which is spreading in India, has high chances of entering Nepal. A large number of people cross the open border from India and come to Nepal every day. In a statement addressed to the common people, medical authorities and media persons, the MoHP has stressed the need for adopting necessary safety measures to prevent the outbreak and onslaught of Pandemic Influenza A H1N1. Cases of viral flu, reported as increasing in Rajasthan , New Delhi and Madhya Pradesh of India, have already claimed more than 837 lives. Looking at the spread of the disease across the border, the MoHP has placed western Nepal in the vicinity as being at a greater risk of viral outbreak than other parts of the country. In the far-western development region, the District Public Health Office (DPHO), Kanchanpur, has set up health desks at Gaddachauki and Belauri citing high possibility of the disease entering the country owing to the open border with India as hundreds of Nepalese and Indian nationals enter Nepal through these check point every day. Likewise, high alertness has been maintained in Nawalparasi district. Chief of the District Health Office, Jay BahadurKarki, said that all health workers in the health posts and centres and from different organizations bordering to India have been directed to remain in condition. Hundreds of people enter Nepal from India through different entry points as Maheshpur and Triveni.

 Though the people of bordering towns with India were said to be more susceptible to contracting the disease, two people were found to have been 'infected' with H1N1 influenza virus in Pokhara.

According to Bal Krishna Bhusal, chief of the district public health office at Pokhara, the swine flu was detected while conducting tests on the blood sample of two patients admitted at Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara. The infected are 21-year-old male and an 11-year-old child. Since both are residents of Pokhara, Bhusal stressed on the need to intensify the awareness programme about swine flu in the tourist town.

How is it transmitted ?

Electron microscope image of the re assorted H1N1 influenza virus

The transmission of flu is mostly via droplets produced by an infected person when she /he coughs or sneezes. Infected individuals may also contaminate surfaces with their secretions. Surfaces can harbor infectious material for longer periods of time. Because all influenza viruses have the ability to change, scientists are concerned that the current H1N1 virus could change or mutate to a more virulent form that is capable of spreading more easily from person to person and causing severe disease leading to an influenza pandemic that is capable of causing millions of deaths worldwide.  Because swine flu viruses do not commonly infect humans, there is little or no immune protection against them in the human population.

What are the symptoms and can we do to prevent?

If you have a flu like illness without any history of travel to swine flu affected countries in the past one week, it is suggested that you stay away from school or office. Authorities are looking out for cases in travelers who have visited areas with swine flu outbreaks who may have been in contact with persons with the swine flu. If these persons develop  influenza like illness, a certain precautions are followed. Simple measures like washing hands frequently cuts down the rates of infection. Surfaces, door knobs etc. need to be kept clean at home and in the work place.  Alcohol based hand sanitizers can also be used especially if there is water shortage. Obtain the flu vaccine which will not protect you from the swine flu but it will protect against regular flu.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses; however, the majority of people infected with the virus make a full recovery without requiring medical attention or antiviral drugs. Nepal has a small stock of this antiviral medication with the Health Ministry and it is believed that this or other antiviral medication will be available should there be cases of swine flu in Nepal. CIWEC have a small stock of Oseltamivir and significant amounts of personal protective equipment for clinic use and will continue to monitor the situation around the world closely. In the meantime, if you have a fever, postpone travel to and from countries with swine flu outbreak. Also, find out if there are any travel restrictions in the countries that you plan to visit. If you have traveled to a country experiencing a swine flu outbreak, monitor your health for one  week after return and see a healthcare provider if fever or respiratory symptoms should develop.

Where to go to test for swine flu ?

In Nepal swine flu test is controlled by National Influenza Surveillance Network (NISN) which is a active body of National Public Health Laboratory which works under the supervision of Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP). For the test you can visit Teku Hospital in Teku and goto the top floor of the National Public Health Laboratory. It is necessary you to show the doctor's prescription. Also it is advised to visit only the person has developed symptoms such high fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Contact Details of the screening center

Coordinate  27.695438° N  85.306321°E