Scientists have confirmed that minks on two fur farms in the Netherlands contracted SARS-COV-2 and passed the disease back to humans. Farmers in the south of the Netherlands noticed minks exhibiting respiratory symptoms in April and had veterinarians test the animals for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, adenoviral infection, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All tests came back negative – except for SARS-COV-2. Both farms had had workers that had shown symptoms of coronavirus or had been hospitalized. Wim van der Poel, veterinarian and one of the author’s of the study published in Eurosurveillance, speculates that the disease spread through the air.

The animals are in cages with wire tops and closed walls between them…So it probably spread through droplet or aerosol transmission, from the top of one cage to another, when an animal is coughing or heavily breathing.”

Wim van der Poel

There is also evidence to suggest that the virus was passed back to humans from minks on the farms.

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At NB2, one worker had been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalised on 31 March (Figure 1). A clinical sample was retrieved, but the viral load was too low for sequencing analysis. At farm NB1, one person who stayed on the farm, showed mild respiratory disease and was diagnosed with SARS-CoV by 28 April. Based on preliminary sequencing results, this person was assumed to have attracted the virus from mink.”

Eurosurveillance

Since the news, the Dutch government has announced that all mink farms in the Netherlands will be screened, and all employees are required to use protective clothing. In addition, more than 500,000 minks have been culled to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus to humans.

A new, more-infectious strain of the novel coronavirus is moving from Europe to the U.S., according to a new study in the journal Cell. This mutation of the COVID-19 virus is called G614, and it spreads more quickly than the previous mutation, D614.

Our global tracking data show that the G614 variant in Spike has spread faster than D614…We interpret this to mean that the virus is likely to be more infectious. Interestingly, we did not find evidence of G614 impact on disease severity…Through March 1, 2020, the G614 variant was rare outside of Europe, but the end of March it had increased in frequency worldwide…The increase in G614 frequency often continues well after stay-at-home orders are in place and past the subsequent two-week incubation period.”

Tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2

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The G614 first emerged in Europe in February, and gradually spread to become to dominant strain of COVID-19 by April. G614 multiples faster in the upper respiratory tract, and that facilitates the spread of the virus. Scientists have not seen a corresponding increase in the death rate. There are many factors involved in the recent uptick in coronavirus cases in the United States, but it’s possible that the increased presence of a more contagious strain of the virus has played a part in that.

Sources:

• Tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 Spike: evidence that D614G increases infectivity of the COVID-19 virus – Cell
• Study confirms new version of coronavirus spreads faster, but doesn’t make people sicker – CNN

The water bottle brand Starkey, produced by Whole Foods, has tested positive for high levels of arsenic according to tests from Consumer Reports. Starkey water is sold by Whole Foods and is also available at Amazon.

Consumer Reports tested dozens of water bottle brands and found that Starkey water contained high levels of arsenic, ranging from 9.45 to 10.1 ppb (parts per billion). These numbers are nearly 3 times higher than any other water bottle brand tested and is very close to the federal regulations limit of 10 ppb. Data was collected from 4 samples of water, and only one sample tested above federal regulations.

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Arsenic is a dangerous heavy metal that has been linked to health problems such as a higher risk of cardio vascular disease, cancers, and lower IQ scores in children. Experts do not believe that the federal regulations for arsenic protect the health of the public.

A 2014 study in the journal Environmental Health found that an arsenic level of 5 ppb or greater in a child’s household water supply was associated with a 5- to 6-point reduction in IQ, compared with those who lived in homes that had arsenic levels below 5 ppb.

Bottled Water Made by Whole Foods and Sold on Amazon Contains High Levels of Arsenic

Many consumers are paying more for bottled water under the impression that it is safer. New Jersey and New Hampshire have both lowered the level of acceptable arsenic in water to 5 ppb. Many consumers would probably be surprised to know that there are stricter regulations for arsenic in tap water than bottled water. California requires distributors to disclose if their water has arsenic levels higher than 5 ppb.

To know what’s in your water you can look at the companies water quality tests reports. Consumer reports has compiled a list of more than 120 water bottle brands.

In today’s society, it’s proven to be much harder for the younger generation to accomplish things the older generation seemed to have an easy time with. Buying a house, finding a job, and now, staying skinny, are all significantly harder than they were in decades past.

A study done in 2016 by the Obesity Research and Clinical Practice journal shows that adults today have to work out more and eat less than adults 20-30 years ago to maintain the same weight. The study examined the diets of 36,400 Americans from 1971 to 2008 and the physical activity of 14,419 Americans between 1988 and 2006. The data showed that people in 2006 taking in the same number of calories and the same nutrients, as well as working out the same amount as someone in 1988 would have a BMI that was around 2.33 points higher.

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While the data shows that people today are heavier, it also shows that there are environmental changes that make it much harder to maintain the same weight as someone in decades past.

Unfortunately, while the mainstream media appears to be catching up to us, they’re not there yet. The study and another article that covered the study pointed towards numerous possibilities for our newfound weight gain but neglected to mention some of the more important ones.

Just what those other changes might be, though, are still a matter of hypothesis. In an interview, Kuk proffered three different factors that might be making it harder for adults today to stay thin.

Why It Was Easier to Be Skinny in the 1980s

First, the article points to chemicals that people are more regularly exposed to than they were in decades past. People are more widely exposed to pesticides, flame retardants, food packaging, and other chemicals that could be altering our hormonal process and the way we gain and maintain weight. While this is true, they don’t go into many of the more important toxins and chemicals that are causing weight gain, like vaccines. Data has shown a direct correlation between increases in vaccination and and weight gain.

Additionally, the study points to the use of prescription drugs which has rapidly increased since the ’70s. Prozac, the first blockbuster SSRI, came out in 1988. Antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs today and are frequently linked to weight gain.

Lastly, the article talks about an increase in meat consumption as a cause of weight gain. Americans consume more meat than they did in the ’80s, and meat is more commonly treated with growth hormones and antibiotics. The article neglects to mention that most meat that comes from factory farms is raised on corn as opposed to grasses and other healthier alternatives.

While the article links antibiotics in animals to weight gain, it does not link an increase in human antibiotics to weight gain. Antibiotics destroy important gut bacteria that make it harder to maintain a healthy weight. The article suggests that our gut microbiome has “somehow changed” between the 1980s, and now without pointing out what might cause changes in gut health. Additionally, the article does not point to a rise in refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or glyphosate as reasons for our weight gain.

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Bayer has announced that they will settle approximately 75% of the approximately 125,000 lawsuits from plaintiffs who claim to have developed non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma due to Roundup exposure. The German pharmaceutical giant has been plagued with litigation regarding the world’s most used herbicide since it purchased Monsanto in 2018. Bayer issued a press release on Wednesday with the details of this move.

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The company will make a payment of $8.8 billion to $9.6 billion to resolve the current Roundup™ litigation, including an allowance expected to cover unresolved claims, and $1.25 billion to support a separate class agreement to address potential future litigation.”

Bayer

Only three cases against Roundup have gone to trial. Each trial ended in a substantial decision for the plaintiffs, with monetary awards of $289 million, $80 million, and $2 billion. The newly announced settlements are subject to approval by Judge Vince Chhabria, who has previously upheld jury verdicts against the company and was also responsible for reducing $80 million in damages to $25 million. These previous jury verdicts are not part of the settlement agreement, and Bayer has indicated they will continue to appeal those cases.

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A PHE (Public Health and Environment) report was released on Tuesday that confirmed COVID-19 disproportionately affects minorities. However, many have been quick to point out that the PHE has not acknowledged the cause of this problem.

Communities that are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 tend to be in areas of higher air pollution. This has been shown in communities in the US, UK, and all over the world. Consequently, this puts these communities at higher risk for health problems that exasperate COVID-19. Air pollution causes an estimated 40,000 deaths a year in the UK alone (very close to the coronavirus death counts to date).

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“Air pollution is linked to diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, asthma attacks, and those with underlying health conditions are dying more from Covid-19,” she said. “So I expected the black and minority ethnic community to come out worse, because health inequalities are worst in the BAME community, let alone adding a lethal respiratory virus.

Omission of air pollution from report on Covid-19 and race ‘astonishing’

Many experts are surprised that the PHE report neglected to bring up air pollution as the cause for minorities being disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The evidence that air pollution contributes to diminishing health in these communities is overwhelming.

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Prof Francesca Dominici, of Harvard University in the US, also said pollution was an important factor. “We have a large body of evidence that health risks associated with air pollution exposure are higher among ethnic minorities.” Her research has shown that even a small increase in previous pollution exposure is linked to an 8% rise in Covid-19 deaths.

Many have said it is irresponsible to leave out this information. To neglect to mention the fact that minorities are disproportionately affected because of air pollution perpetuates systemic racism. It sets a precedent that these communities are wholly responsible for their own circumstances despite the fact that they are continually oppressed by the system.

Scientists have found that coronavirus particles in fecal matter could be ejected into the air when you flush the toilet. The research, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, measured the toilet plume caused by the turbulence of flushing and saw that 40%-60% of particles reached above the toilet seat. These particles could increase the spread of coronavirus, especially since bathrooms are high-traffic, poorly ventilated areas.

The research didn’t analyze the toilet droplets for coronavirus, although it is possible that fecal matter particles will contain smaller amounts of the virus than respiratory droplets. COVID-19 is most often found in the lungs and respiratory tract, although some studies have found coronavirus in the small intestine. In addition, virus symptoms can include nausea and diarrhea.

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The study concluded with steps you can take to limit the potential spread of coronavirus through toilet particles. These include closing the toilet lid before flushing, cleaning the toilet seat before use, andwashing hands after flushing.

Sources:

• Flushing the Toilet May Fling Coronavirus Aerosols All Over – New York Times
• Can a toilet promote virus transmission? From a fluid dynamics perspective – Physics of Fluids