The 2012 Summer Olympics are raising concerns of a pandemic spreading in London, as masses of people flock to the city from around the world, according to the Influenza Pandemic Risk Index released by Maplecroft. At the same time another report from Cambridge University found that the H5N1 virus (a bird flu strain) is just three mutations from human to human transmission. These mutations, one of the study’s authors speculates, could happen in one human host. Continue reading “Preparing for Pandemics”
Author: chrismtwo
Every day I try to learn and experience new things. The infinite wonder of the universe provides endless opportunity for adventures. My favorite thing is to enjoy these adventures with friends, and to share my stories with others.
At the very core, all people are storytellers. Whether it is a full length motion picture or a chat over a cup of coffee, most of what makes up the human experience is the communication of ideas. For this reason, I am always looking for opportunities to write. I would like to share what I've seen with as many people as possible.
Losing the Medical Arms Race
Most of us have heard of the flesh eating bacteria that Aimee Copeland is currently recovering from. But how many people know that 47 % of meat sold in supermarkets in U.S. contained drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (staph), according to a study conducted by Translational Genomics Research Institute? How about the two incidents in a Rhode Island hospital where a carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) form of Klebsiella was found? There are many “super bugs” cropping up around the world, and many of them are more common than necrotizing fasciitis (Flesh Eating Bacteria), which only occurs in about 1 in 453,333 people in the U.S. annually. Continue reading “Losing the Medical Arms Race”
Antibiotic Resistance: What Causes It?
In many cases, it is patients who are causing the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Whenever you take an antibiotic for a viral infection, you are making yourself resistant to the drug. When you don’t take the full regiment of prescribed antibiotics because you “feel better,” you are creating super bugs. This is because whatever bacteria are still alive in your system are now resistant to that antibiotic. Continue reading “Antibiotic Resistance: What Causes It?”
A Brief History of Disease
In the before times, there was the influenza pandemic of 1918. It killed more people than World War I, between 20 and 40 million. The virus ravaged the globe with high infection and mortality rates, and science could do little to stop it. Eventually the pandemic died out, but not before the damage was done. Continue reading “A Brief History of Disease”
Miserable Moms? Recent poll shows stay at home moms more likely to have negative emotions
There is approximately 5 million stay at home moms in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A recent Gallup poll suggests that they may not be as happy as their working counterparts. Continue reading “Miserable Moms? Recent poll shows stay at home moms more likely to have negative emotions”
Stalkers: Not Just for Celebrities
Each year, an estimated 3.4 million people are victims of stalking in the United States, according to a Bureau of Justice Statistics report. That amounts to around 1.4% of the total population. In 75% of cases, the victims know the stalker in some way. Only in 10% of cases is the stalker a stranger. Continue reading “Stalkers: Not Just for Celebrities”
Facebook is Watching You
Do you want your current geographic location a matter of public record? A new Facebook App did just that before being pulled a day later. The worst part is that the app was never even formally announced. Continue reading “Facebook is Watching You”
Spoiled Adults Have Spoiled Kids
By comparing the standard of living and the consumerism of 1980 and today, it is easy to see that we simply have more stuff now. Since we, as adults, have more, it is only natural that our children have more. The difference is that adults remember a time when they had less, when for kids this is all they know. Continue reading “Spoiled Adults Have Spoiled Kids”
“I Want It Now”
Kids are expensive. No one can argue with that. But are they less expensive than we think? Are we spending more on our kids than we have to? Are we spoiling them? Continue reading ““I Want It Now””
Who Owns the Air?
The central argument over the right to smoke versus the right to have “smoke free air” is an issue of property rights, i.e. who owns the air. In a public place, all citizens have equal rights to the air, just like they have equal access to the land and facilities. Continue reading “Who Owns the Air?”
Ronin Pen 