Facts, not fear: Inside Mexico's pioneering drug harm reduction programs
The initiative, known as 'Checa tu Sustancia' (Check Your Substance), is one of several recent efforts by Mexican civil society to reduce risk among people taking drugs. Spearheaded by the Instituto RIA, a Mexico-based drug policy research and advocacy organization, it aims to address drug use from a public health and social justice perspective, rather than a security one.
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Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Another Royal Caribbean cruise outbreak hits 140+ passengers. Are outbreaks getting worse?
2025 has already seen as many cruise ship outbreaks as all of last year. Is this the new normal? More than 140 passengers and crew members aboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas fell ill with gastrointestinal symptoms during a week-long cruise that ended July 11, marking yet another outbreak in what's shaping up to be a particularly challenging year for the cruise industry. The outbreak affected 134 of the ship's 3,914 passengers — roughly 3.4% of those aboard — along with seven crew members out of 1,266 total crew. Passengers experienced the familiar trio of cruise ship illness symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The Navigator of the Seas had departed Los Angeles on July 4 for a round-trip voyage to Mexico, making three stops before returning to port, where the outbreak was officially reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What makes this outbreak particularly concerning isn't just the numbers — it's the broader trend. We're only halfway through 2025, and this incident brings the year's total cruise ship gastrointestinal outbreaks to 18, already matching the entire total for 2024. That's a significant jump from the 14 outbreaks recorded in 2023. Is this the future of cruising? A troubling pattern in the U.S. The CDC tracks these incidents carefully, but only reports outbreaks that meet specific criteria: the ship must be under Vessel Sanitation Program jurisdiction (operating voyages that include both U.S. and foreign ports) and at least 3% of passengers or crew must report gastrointestinal symptoms to the ship's medical staff. This means the Navigator of the Seas outbreak, at 3.4% of passengers affected, just barely crossed the threshold for public notification. Most of these outbreaks stem from norovirus, the highly contagious stomach bug that spreads rapidly in enclosed environments. The CDC noted in April that "a newly dominant strain is currently associated with reported norovirus outbreaks on land," and ships typically mirror land-based outbreak patterns. This suggests the current surge may reflect broader public health trends rather than cruise-specific problems. But that's not great news, either. For the record, Royal Caribbean implemented enhanced sanitation protocols and isolated sick passengers and crew members during the voyage. The company emphasized that "the health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority," noting their cleaning procedures exceed public health guidelines. However, the CDC has yet to identify the causative agent behind this latest outbreak. The streak continues — across all cruise lines This isn't Royal Caribbean's first outbreak rodeo this year. The cruise line has been dealing with multiple outbreaks across its fleet, joining other major operators like Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Cunard in facing similar challenges. Earlier this year, a Cunard luxury liner experienced an outbreak affecting more than 240 passengers and crew during a monthlong international voyage, while Princess Cruises saw over 80 people fall ill during a 16-night cruise in February. The timing of these outbreaks raises questions about whether cruise lines are adequately prepared for what appears to be a particularly virulent norovirus season. While companies have implemented enhanced cleaning protocols and isolation procedures, the close quarters and shared facilities aboard cruise ships create ideal conditions for rapid transmission of gastrointestinal illnesses. Are cruises... actually safe? Despite the alarming headlines, perspective matters. The Navigator of the Seas carried nearly 4,000 passengers, and while 134 falling ill sounds significant, it represents a relatively small percentage of the total. For comparison, norovirus outbreaks occur regularly on land — in schools, nursing homes, and restaurants — but cruise ships draw more attention because they're self-contained environments where outbreaks can be easily tracked and reported. The CDC emphasizes that cruise ship outbreaks represent only 1% of all reported gastrointestinal outbreaks. However, the concentrated nature of cruise ship populations means that when outbreaks do occur, they can affect a substantial number of people in a short timeframe. For prospective cruisers, the key is understanding that while these outbreaks are concerning, they remain relatively rare events. The cruise industry serves millions of passengers annually, and the vast majority complete their voyages without incident. That said, the uptick in reported outbreaks suggests passengers should be particularly vigilant about hand hygiene and other preventive measures, especially during peak norovirus seasons. The real question isn't whether cruises are safe — they generally are, all things considered. Instead, we should be asking whether the industry is doing enough to adapt to evolving public health challenges (never mind sustainability) and whether current protocols are sufficient to handle increasingly virulent strains of common illnesses. Because in 2025, there's work to be done. Solve the daily Crossword
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian aid agency workers call for action saying starvation is rampant in Gaza
TORONTO - Canadian aid agencies say malnutrition and starvation is rampant among children in Gaza, as well as among the aid workers trying to help them. The Toronto-based president and CEO at Save the Children Canada said Friday the global agency's clinics are inundated by 200 to 300 people arriving each day. Danny Glenwright said there's been 'a tenfold' increase in the number of children suffering acute malnutrition over the past two months, and that even clinic staff are bringing their children in for help. 'Every single child is now coming in malnourished,' Glenwright said. 'We're also seeing their parents increasingly malnourished and skin-and-bones.' That's echoed by Canada's executive director of Doctors Without Borders, with Sana Beg adding that members of her organization have had to donate their own blood to patients because supplies are so short. Beg said Doctors Without Borders welcomed Canada's recent denunciation of the Israeli government for failing to prevent the humanitarian crisis but called for immediate concrete actions that would open borders to aid trucks carrying desperately needed food and medical supplies. 'Just recently we've had a couple of a handful of trucks that came in with the fuel that was required. A drop in the ocean of needs, really,' said Beg. 'We have no sterile equipment, we have no clean sheets in the hospitals, our hospitals themselves are barely functional, as I said. There is no adequate or safe passage for either civilians, patients, or aid workers to be able to even arrive at medical facilities such as hospitals or clinics.' International experts have warned that a 'worst-case scenario of famine' is playing out in Gaza, where Israel's military offensive against Hamas has made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food to starving people. Glenwright said Friday that Canadians should be upset by the crisis, calling it 'a profound moral, political, and legal failure.' 'There's no food anywhere else in Gaza and the limited supplies we have are running out,' said Glenwright, whose agency has a clinics in Khan Younis and one in Deir al Balah. 'The trucks that are sitting on the border — thousands of them with these life-saving supplies — are not being allowed in at the scale that is required. And it's a calamity.' Several aid agencies detailed a near-total collapse of the humanitarian system in a press conference Tuesday in London that included members of Oxfam, War Child Alliance, Save the Children International in Gaza and the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network. Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday accused the Israeli government of violating international law by denying aid as it controls aid distribution, and called on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire. Beg detailed a catastrophic decline in a region where dire shortages had already forced some doctors to carry out surgeries and limb amputations without anesthesia. 'Today we're talking about a crisis that has magnified tenfold since then,' said Beg, noting premature babies now have to share a single ICU incubator. 'So three or four babies crowded into one incubator at the ICU. Our teams are talking about having to donate their own blood for the patients because there is such a shortage.' Beg said her organization, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières Canada, has about a thousand staff in Gaza, most of them locally hired Palestinians. About 30 to 35 international staff come in for temporary assignments, among them about five Canadians. As malnutrition cases increase, she said staff have had to make gruelling choices over who can be considered dire enough to receive treatment for severe acute malnutrition. Glenwright suggested Canada could do much more diplomatically and economically, noting how strongly the country mobilized to help Ukraine. 'Our government's inability to do more is shameful to all of us,' Glenwright said. 'Canadians can pressure their government – call your MP, say that you want candidates to do much more.' Beg agreed and called on Canadians to inform themselves about the crisis and act. 'Call your local MPs. Write to the Canadian government. Sign petitions,' she said. 'Make your voice heard. Use all of your avenues as a citizen of a democracy to speak truth to power.' – With files from The Associated Press. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
8 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian aid agencies call for action saying starvation is rampant in Gaza
TORONTO - Canadian aid agencies say malnutrition and starvation is rampant among children in Gaza, as well as among the aid workers trying to help them. The Toronto-based president and CEO at Save the Children said Friday its clinics are inundated by 200 to 300 people arriving each day. Danny Glenwright said there's been 'a tenfold' increase in the number of children suffering acute malnutrition over the past two months, and that even clinic staff are bringing their children in for help. 'Every single child is now coming in malnourished,' Glenwright said. 'We're also seeing their parents increasingly malnourished and skin-and-bones.' That's echoed by Canada's executive director of Doctors Without Borders, with Sana Beg adding that members of her organization have had to donate their own blood to patients because supplies are so short. Beg said Doctors Without Borders welcomed Canada's recent denunciation of the Israeli government for failing to prevent the humanitarian crisis but called for immediate concrete actions that would open borders to aid trucks carrying desperately needed food and medical supplies. 'Just recently we've had a couple of a handful of trucks that came in with the fuel that was required. A drop in the ocean of needs, really,' said Beg. 'We have no sterile equipment, we have no clean sheets in the hospitals, our hospitals themselves are barely functional, as I said. There is no adequate or safe passage for either civilians, patients, or aid workers to be able to even arrive at medical facilities such as hospitals or clinics.' International experts have warned that a 'worst-case scenario of famine' is playing out in Gaza, where Israel's military offensive against Hamas has made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food to starving people. Glenwright said Friday that Canadians should be upset by the crisis, calling it 'a profound moral, political, and legal failure.' 'There's no food anywhere else in Gaza and the limited supplies we have are running out,' said Glenwright, whose agency has a clinics in Khan Younis and one in Deir al Balah. 'The trucks that are sitting on the border — thousands of them with these life-saving supplies — are not being allowed in at the scale that is required. And it's a calamity.' Several aid agencies detailed a near-total collapse of the humanitarian system in a press conference Tuesday in London that included members of Oxfam, War Child Alliance, Save the Children International in Gaza and the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network. Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday accused the Israeli government of violating international law by denying aid as it controls aid distribution, and called on all sides to negotiate an immediate ceasefire. Beg detailed a catastrophic decline in a region where dire shortages had already forced some doctors to carry out surgeries and limb amputations without anesthesia. 'Today we're talking about a crisis that has magnified tenfold since then,' said Beg, noting premature babies now have to share a single ICU incubator. 'So three or four babies crowded into one incubator at the ICU. Our teams are talking about having to donate their own blood for the patients because there is such a shortage.' Beg said her organization, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières Canada, has about a thousand staff in Gaza, most of them locally hired Palestinians. About 30 to 35 international staff come in for temporary assignments, among them about five Canadians. As malnutrition cases increase, she said staff have had to make gruelling choices over who can be considered dire enough to receive treatment for severe acute malnutrition. Glenwright suggested Canada could do much more diplomatically and economically, noting how strongly the country mobilized to help Ukraine. 'Our government's inability to do more is shameful to all of us,' Glenwright said. 'Canadians can pressure their government – call your MP, say that you want candidates to do much more.' Beg agreed and called on Canadians to inform themselves about the crisis and act. 'Call your local MPs. Write to the Canadian government. Sign petitions,' she said. 'Make your voice heard. Use all of your avenues as a citizen of a democracy to speak truth to power.' – With files from The Associated Press. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
