Bindi Irwin's surgery and Valley fever spike, plus fat-burning treadmill trend
DOSE DIVIDE - A major medical group goes against the CDC by recommending COVID shots for young kids. Continue reading…
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4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Zealand sends Australia details of $66,000 trial as killer virus looms
A major vaccine advancement could protect some of the world's rarest creatures from a deadly disease that's killed hundreds of millions of birds and animals. Australia and New Zealand are the last major destinations where a highly virulent strain of avian influenza, HPAI, has not spread, and both countries are preparing for its inevitable arrival. Because the two countries' ecosystems evolved in isolation, their wildlife is believed to have little immunity to the virus, and experts have warned it could cause extinctions. New Zealand has the highest proportion of threatened species in the world, and it has been leading the way in protecting its birdlife with a vaccine trial. The Department of Conservation (DOC) announced this week it has completed a year-long intensive trial on five captive species, the first time this has been done in the world. All of the participating species have populations that are worryingly low and threatened with extinction. They included the kākāpō, takahē, kakī, tūturuatu and kākāriki, and up to 10 birds from each species were vaccinated. Because of the vulnerability of the remaining orange-fronted kākāriki, only red-crowned kākāriki could be used in the trial. The trial was completed for a modest $66,000, but its results are priceless, because officials concede that once the virus arrives in New Zealand, eradication will be limited, and management options will be "limited'. DOC senior science advisor Kate McInnes said trials had been conducted overseas but it was not known how New Zealand's unique species would respond. 'It won't be possible to vaccinate all our endangered birds, but we can focus on species in captivity where the full two doses of the vaccine can be given,' she said. Related: Three virus changes trigger concern as odds of new human pandemic rise Key vaccination research shared with Australia Australia and New Zealand are understood to have worked closely on their preparations to respond to the virus. DOC's vital research has now been shared with Australia, as that country's wildlife experts and politicians decide how to proceed in protecting birdlife when HPAI arrives. Whether Australia will also turn to vaccinations is unknown. A Commonwealth government spokesperson told Yahoo News via email it is 'considering' vaccination of priority threatened species in captivity, noting the intention would be to 'build on' biosecurity measures already in place. The country's Department of Agriculture published a policy in February advising vaccination was not an alternative to 'effective biosecurity'. 'If rare and valuable birds are already housed in biosecure units, vaccination may not significantly increase their protection,' it advised. 🚨 Five 'high-priority' pathogens discovered entering Australia via airplane toilets 🦠 Shoppers urged to change expectations as new potato disease breaches Australia's biosecurity 💰 Mutant invasive snails linked to $170 million damage bill in Australia Ongoing habitat destruction, an inability to control invasive species, and failed threatened species laws have led to a growing number of bird species facing extinction in Australia. Earlier in August, environment minister Murray Watt announced a component of the government's plan to protect its birdlife from HPAI, by investing in zoos to improve quarantine populations of species like the plains-wanderer and the Regent honeyeater. "Of course, what we want to do as Australians is make sure that we have these populations of threatened species for the future," Watt said at the time. The response will include a $2.8 million investment from the Albanese government to be shared between 23 captive-breeding facilities and support 20 threatened species. Last October, it announced that $35.9 million had been earmarked to help protect native fauna from HPAI, which was welcomed by conservation groups. The New Zealand vaccine trial was completed with technical expertise donated by PacificVet, and most of the laboratory testing was donated by BioPacifica Laboratories. The $66,000 figure does not include staff time. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
SPS one of 16 school districts awarded funds to fight opioid abuse
The Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board awarded cities, counties and school districts with $16.6 million to help address the state's opioid crisis, according to a press release by Attorney General Gentner Drummond Wednesday. Stillwater Public Schools made the list, along with 15 other school districts in Oklahoma. The school districts received $3.7 million in total. The funding also went to 31 cities, counties and public trusts (with some of those being joint applications), with a total of $12.9 million. The State Treasury uses a revolving fund for the Office of the Attorney General to disperse the monies. 'These grants represent Oklahoma's commitment to fighting the opioid epidemic at every level, from our communities to our classrooms,' said Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who chairs the board. 'We believe these dollars will provide the tools needed to save lives and strengthen communities across our state.' The release said the grants 'will fund treatment and recovery programs, mental health assistance, opioid abuse education and strategies to decrease the supply of narcotics across the state.' SPS received $75,000 in grant funds from the Opioid Abatement Grant Act last school year, which it planned to use to supplement existing programs in prevention and mental health, provide expanded substance abuse screenings, offer more treatment with agencies who provide services both inside and outside of the school district and foster community engagement. Kira Frisby, the wellness and trauma emergency response coordinator for the SPS district, wrote the 2024 grant with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and Grant Coordinator Lindy Zamborsky and Substance Abuse Counselor Rachel Roberts. Frisby, who is a registered nurse and a mental health nurse, previously told the News Press the two most alarming trends she's seen in the past 15 years are negative social media usage and vaping/THC. She said the increase in medical marijuana dispensaries has given more access to students who may not understand how to properly control its use. 'The impact that THC in this very high potency has on the youth is really concerning,' Frisby said. 'None of this is to provide judgment or shame for parents and caregivers; it's truly just to educate them on how dangerous these things can be to developing minds. … Any type of education is key.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The 224-pound, fast-food-loving president has supposedly inspired two of his cabinet secretaries to adopt healthier habits.
That's some serious brownnosing. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, a longtime fitness freak, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Army infantry officer, have credited President Donald Trump as their inspiration to get 'fit, not fat.' Kennedy, 71, challenged Hegseth, 45, to a fitness challenge on Monday that required them to rush to complete 50 pullups and 100 pushups in less than 10 minutes.
