Letter (see Thursday 13th, 2 blogs ago) got in to the Independent. Now trying to place this longer article in one of the broadsheets - not that they are broadsheets any more.
So: for the flu - stay home if you are ill. And ask the Government to implement the following measures:
Meeting the Threat of Transmissible Viral Disease: Air Transport Reforms
If the avian flu virus gains the capacity to pass from human to human, the world would face a threat of the magnitude of the 1918 flu epidemic that killed more than 20 million people. Vaccination and anti-viral medication will protect some, but the first line of defence, and the most cost-effective, is isolation of cases and quarantine of contacts.
The WHO successfully contained the SARS virus in 2003 using these techniques. They will need to be reviewed, amplified and extended if we are to contain an influenza-type virus. Some might even argue that it would be impossible to do, and therefore should not be attempted. Nevertheless, some measures might lessen the prevalence.
If an outbreak occurs, air passengers from the infected area should be monitored. Infra red detectors to pick out people with raised core temperatures at airports have a place, but are imperfect since a person who is incubating the virus may be shedding it, but may not have a raised temperature. On the other hand, it would be feasible to change airliner cabin air filters at the end of each leg of the flight. PCR tests could identify aircraft with cabin air carrying the virus within hours. Passengers and crew from an infected flight would have to be quarantined.
In addition, hygiene standards in aircraft toilets should be vastly improved.
I would be very grateful if you would ask the Minister of Health to evaluate this proposal.
(copy, past, add your name here and send to your democratic representative.)
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Friday, October 14, 2005
Good news from Somalia
Telephone rings. Ali Said Omar's voice is clear, but long pauses between speaking, I suppose from the micro-delays at each satellite or node. Good news though. One of the CPD workers has had his operation (I get the impression it is the leg wound) and he is doing fine.
Again I feel embarrassed that a man who is in daily danger in the name of peace and freedom is thanking me, an overindulged Western keyboard basher, for writing a few latters. Ali Said, you and the thousands of human rights activists who are at the the battle front between human kindness and human cruelty, you are the ones who deserve thanks.
It feels unreal to be involved with this kind of event. The reality is happening in Somalia, but in our unreal, TV/film/indulgence dominated culture, reality seems unreal.
Again I feel embarrassed that a man who is in daily danger in the name of peace and freedom is thanking me, an overindulged Western keyboard basher, for writing a few latters. Ali Said, you and the thousands of human rights activists who are at the the battle front between human kindness and human cruelty, you are the ones who deserve thanks.
It feels unreal to be involved with this kind of event. The reality is happening in Somalia, but in our unreal, TV/film/indulgence dominated culture, reality seems unreal.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Flu - Avian or not, if it hits you, stay home
Letters Editor
Independent
1 Canada Sq
Canary Wharf
E14 5DL
STAY HOME WITH YOUR FLU
Liam Donaldson is right to advise us to wash our hands to ward off the flu (Government advice to beat bird flu, 13th October) but he has not communicated another, more important piece of advice: "Stay Home with your Flu".
It is vital that people learn not to go out and mix with others if they have any illness that makes them feel weak, hot and cold. This it is the most efficient way of reducing the prevalence of a virus.
The only real argument against "social distancing" (the modern term for isolation, the time-honoured way of responding to epidemics) is that the bosses assume that an ill employee is a malingerer until proven otherwise. This leads to sick employees spreading their viruses on public transport and in the office. Once it has been noted by management that they are really ill, they get sent to spread the virus in doctors waiting rooms as to get their sickness certificates. This is a crazy system, and it has to change immediately. If the current avian flu virus does end up marrying a human influenza virus, and their progeny go pandemic, we will do somewhat better if we are already in the habit of staying home with our influenza symptoms. This is a far reaching and multi-faceted policy change, but one that is based on impeccable medical logic.
Dr Richard Lawson
Independent
1 Canada Sq
Canary Wharf
E14 5DL
STAY HOME WITH YOUR FLU
Liam Donaldson is right to advise us to wash our hands to ward off the flu (Government advice to beat bird flu, 13th October) but he has not communicated another, more important piece of advice: "Stay Home with your Flu".
It is vital that people learn not to go out and mix with others if they have any illness that makes them feel weak, hot and cold. This it is the most efficient way of reducing the prevalence of a virus.
The only real argument against "social distancing" (the modern term for isolation, the time-honoured way of responding to epidemics) is that the bosses assume that an ill employee is a malingerer until proven otherwise. This leads to sick employees spreading their viruses on public transport and in the office. Once it has been noted by management that they are really ill, they get sent to spread the virus in doctors waiting rooms as to get their sickness certificates. This is a crazy system, and it has to change immediately. If the current avian flu virus does end up marrying a human influenza virus, and their progeny go pandemic, we will do somewhat better if we are already in the habit of staying home with our influenza symptoms. This is a far reaching and multi-faceted policy change, but one that is based on impeccable medical logic.
Dr Richard Lawson
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
News from Somalia
Two activists for the CPD, a Somali Non-Governmental Organisation that campaigns for peace and democracy are in Madina hospital in Mogadishu, in urgent need of being moved to an advanced medical facility for surgery for gunshot wounds.
Mohamed Abdi Halim and Adan Osman Mohamed were shot by unknown gunmen on October 1st 2005 as they left the office of the Center for Peace and Democracy (CPD) in Mogadishu. The vice chair of the CPD was also shot, but is receiving attention at a hospital in Dubai.
Ali Said Omar Ibrahim, the chair of the CPD, writes:
To brief you about my friends injuries situation. Thank God they are both conscious and mindful. The most serious case is that of Mohamed Abdi Halim. We have fear he might lose both or one of his legs if he does not receive emergency advanced surgery immediately. He has been in Madina hospital for 10 days without the necessary medical treatments needed. He is 32 years old. The shot hit both of his legs. His left leg received probably two bullets and is badly injured. His right leg also received a number of shots and is badly broken in the shinbone just near and above the ankle. The bullets exploded on impact upon with the shinbone. This leg is badly broken and as doctors suggested will need extra bones to fill the holes. The doctors here have just covered his legs with bandage and gave him some antibiotic injections. This a brief about Mohamed Abdi Halim.
On the other hand, Adan Osman Mohamed is 38 years old. He has been shot at the right lower back and the bullet is still lodged. The bullet is probably lodged near his kidneys.
The CPD campaigns for empowerment of civil society organisations to end the fifteen years of factional fighting and absence of civil government. Its aims and methods are entirely non-violent. Here is their website
It is in everyone's interests to restore peace and democracy to Somalia. If gunmen are able to intimidate and assault non-violent civil society campaigners with impunity, the rule of law throughout the world is weakened. If their victims are given the best care possible, it signals to the gunmen and the international community that the world values the work of civil society volunteers.
I have spoken to the Foreign Office in London, who have given me contacts with the UK High Comissioner in Nairobi; I have just spoken to Nick Pyle, who works for the UK foreign office in Nairobi, but he says that there is no chance of diverting resources to non-UK passport holders. He will speak tomorrow ot ?Asher al-Elmi, a Somali MP, but she is about to take time out in Harvard, USA - sounds as if she is losing heart. I have also spoken to my MP who promised help if getting visas is a problem.
This is not a great deal of help, I am sorry to say, but I will keep trying. I have yet to phone through to the BMA (British Medical Association), Medecins sans Frontieres, and Amnesty International, but I am not hopeful that they can do anything.
Somalia is awash with guns and ammunition. Would that arms and ammunition manufacturers were compelled to carry insurance to pay for adverse effects of their products...
Mohamed Abdi Halim and Adan Osman Mohamed were shot by unknown gunmen on October 1st 2005 as they left the office of the Center for Peace and Democracy (CPD) in Mogadishu. The vice chair of the CPD was also shot, but is receiving attention at a hospital in Dubai.
Ali Said Omar Ibrahim, the chair of the CPD, writes:
To brief you about my friends injuries situation. Thank God they are both conscious and mindful. The most serious case is that of Mohamed Abdi Halim. We have fear he might lose both or one of his legs if he does not receive emergency advanced surgery immediately. He has been in Madina hospital for 10 days without the necessary medical treatments needed. He is 32 years old. The shot hit both of his legs. His left leg received probably two bullets and is badly injured. His right leg also received a number of shots and is badly broken in the shinbone just near and above the ankle. The bullets exploded on impact upon with the shinbone. This leg is badly broken and as doctors suggested will need extra bones to fill the holes. The doctors here have just covered his legs with bandage and gave him some antibiotic injections. This a brief about Mohamed Abdi Halim.
On the other hand, Adan Osman Mohamed is 38 years old. He has been shot at the right lower back and the bullet is still lodged. The bullet is probably lodged near his kidneys.
The CPD campaigns for empowerment of civil society organisations to end the fifteen years of factional fighting and absence of civil government. Its aims and methods are entirely non-violent. Here is their website
It is in everyone's interests to restore peace and democracy to Somalia. If gunmen are able to intimidate and assault non-violent civil society campaigners with impunity, the rule of law throughout the world is weakened. If their victims are given the best care possible, it signals to the gunmen and the international community that the world values the work of civil society volunteers.
I have spoken to the Foreign Office in London, who have given me contacts with the UK High Comissioner in Nairobi; I have just spoken to Nick Pyle, who works for the UK foreign office in Nairobi, but he says that there is no chance of diverting resources to non-UK passport holders. He will speak tomorrow ot ?Asher al-Elmi, a Somali MP, but she is about to take time out in Harvard, USA - sounds as if she is losing heart. I have also spoken to my MP who promised help if getting visas is a problem.
This is not a great deal of help, I am sorry to say, but I will keep trying. I have yet to phone through to the BMA (British Medical Association), Medecins sans Frontieres, and Amnesty International, but I am not hopeful that they can do anything.
Somalia is awash with guns and ammunition. Would that arms and ammunition manufacturers were compelled to carry insurance to pay for adverse effects of their products...
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