China fights mosquito-borne chikungunya virus with drones, fines and nets as thousands fall ill
Authorities had reported more than 7,000 cases of the virus as of Wednesday, mostly in the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Foshan, some 170 kilometers (105 miles) from Hong Kong. The number of new cases appears to be dropping slowly, according to authorities.
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Canada News.Net
6 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Traditional Chinese medicine bridges cultures, generations
HARBIN, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- For Yelena Sergeyevna Morozova, a 52-year-old woman from Khabarovsk, Russia, simply tying her shoelaces was once a painful ordeal due to chronic lumbar issues until she discovered unexpected relief across the border in northeast China. Last year, Yelena received a traditional needle knife treatment at Heihe Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital in Heilongjiang Province twice. Afterward, she was able to bend pain-free for the first time in years and gained a newfound faith in this millennia-old medical tradition. FROM LOCAL REMEDY TO GLOBAL APPEAL Located on the China-Russian border, Heihe faces Blagoveshchensk City across the Heilongjiang River. Thanks to its proximity, Heihe's TCM hospital has become a cross-border health destination. In 2024, over 600 Russian patients received treatments ranging from acupuncture and cupping to Tuina massage and needle knife therapy, along with more than 300 tailored herbal prescriptions. To serve its growing international patients, the hospital has established a bilingual medical team and upgraded its herbal preparation facilities. Booking is quite simple. Russian patients can make appointments online using just a scanned copy of their passport and receive full support from interpreters throughout their visit. In the future, the hospital plans to promote wellness tourism by combining TCM treatments with nearby natural attractions like the Wudalianchi volcanic springs, creating a "treatment-while-traveling" approach that blends ancient wisdom with modern convenience. TCM has won greater international recognition in recent years. The Chinese government encourages international TCM cooperation, including the opening of overseas TCM clinics. So far, China has signed TCM cooperation agreements with over 40 countries and organizations, and Chinese medical practices have reached 196 countries and regions. For instance, the Sanya Hospital of TCM has partnered with the Canadian College of Acupuncture and TCM to establish a new treatment center. China also plans to train 1,300 TCM professionals from Belt and Road countries by 2028. ANCIENT WISDOM, NEW FOLLOWERS TCM's appeal isn't just for foreign patients. At home, it's experiencing a revival among younger Chinese, especially city dwellers. In Heihe, the hospital is tapping into the trend by offering popular portable wellness products like herbal teas for liver detox and weight loss, mosquito-repellent sachets, and home health kits. In cities like Shanghai, herbal-flavored ice cream has become an unexpected hit with Gen Z. On social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, traditional practices are getting a digital makeover. The hashtag for Baduanjin, a traditional breathing and stretching exercise, has amassed nearly 900 million views. Another called TCM Tea has attracted 1.68 billion views as users share videos of moxibustion, sunbathing rituals, and herbal brews aimed at curing screen-related issues like insomnia and eye strain. "Young people are becoming more proactive about their well-being," said Deng Yong, a professor at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. "The idea of treating the root cause and balancing the body fits their mindset." From Russians seeking back pain relief to Chinese youth sipping herbal tea while scrolling Xiaohongshu, TCM is undergoing a quiet transformation. Rooted in tradition yet adapting to the times, it is honoring its origins while connecting with a global and younger audience. (Huang Wanru, Huang Qiuyu and He Yiran also contribute to the story.)
Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cuban animal lovers struggle to feed stray cats and dogs as economic crisis bites
HAVANA (AP) — Every afternoon, 81-year-old Nélida Pérez begins her familiar walk down the cobblestone streets of Old Havana, a procession of hungry cats trailing close behind her. For years, Pérez has taken it upon herself to feed some of the street cats that roam this part of town, which is also one of the most popular tourist spots in the Cuban capital. She once relied on her own food or restaurant donations, but as the island's economic situation worsened and tourism declined, it has become increasingly difficult to provide for them. 'I have never in my life asked anyone for a plate of food to feed my cats,' Pérez told The Associated Press. 'Now I see myself in difficulties because there is no tourism and there is an economic crisis.' Since 2020, Cuba has faced a worsening economic crisis, driven by COVID-19 shutdowns, stricter U.S. sanctions, and an internal monetary reform that triggered inflation. Although the government provides vaccines, sterilization and some free clinics, it does not have the means to provide shelter and food for street cats and dogs. While official data is unavailable, activists say that many pet lovers have turned their homes — even small apartments — into shelters, but they are struggling to keep up with the demand and provide adequate care. 'The streets will kill them,' said Bárbara Iglesias, a 51-year-old pharmacist who adopted five dogs and has rescued and found homes for a dozen others. Iglesias explained that the hardest part is getting food. A 20-kilo (44-pound) bag of dog food, which lasts one dog for about 45 days, costs around $80 — a sum that is out of reach for most. This forces people to feed animals with pig organ meat (offal), chicken parts or mince meat — which are also not easy to obtain. On top of that, annual vaccines cost about $20 and a vet visit is another $10, all while the average monthly salary on the island is only about $12. Experts say that the abandonment of animals in Cuba is a result of several factors, including rising food and medicine prices, the migration of hundreds of thousands of Cubans in the last five years, and a high mortality rate among older adults. 'People are more focused on their problems, which are numerous: Cubans don't have water, they don't have electricity, and getting food is becoming increasingly difficult,' said Annelie González, one of the leaders of the Aldameros Project, a cat colony located in a park in Havana's historic center. 'Having an animal in your care involves feeding and caring,' said González, 36, who works as a restaurant manager and spends much of her income on the cats. She and a small group of volunteers began feeding 15 cats in Aldameros Park at the beginning of the pandemic. Today, they care for more than 150. Over the years, through their own efforts and some donations, they were able to install water pumps, pens for special cases, and cages for the kittens. González points to a number that she said reveals the shocking scale of the problem: at the start of the decade, roughly three abandoned cats appeared in the park each week. This year, that figure has soared to 15 per day. Back in Old Havana, Pérez recounts with sadness how she has seen people mistreat, beat and even kill stray cats. 'As long as I'm alive and healthy, and people help me,' she vowed, 'I'll always find them something to eat.' ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
The Province
7 hours ago
- The Province
China tackles chikungunya virus outbreak with wide range of measures as thousands fall ill
Protocols have been adopted in a sign of China's determination to eliminate the outbreak and avoid public and international criticism Published Aug 06, 2025 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 2 minute read Residents walk past a residential entrance gate displaying a slogan urging mosquito control, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 6, 2025. The slogan reads "Let's work together to clear stagnant water and eliminate mosquito breeding." Photo by Chinatopix / AP TAIPEI, Taiwan — An outbreak of the chikungunya virus in China has prompted authorities to take preventive measures from mosquito nets and clouds of disinfectant, threatening fines for people who fail to disperse standing water, and even deploying drones to hunt down insect breeding grounds. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors More than 7,000 cases of the disease have been reported as of Wednesday, focused largely on the manufacturing hub of Foshan near Hong Kong. Numbers of new cases appear to be dropping slowly, according to authorities. Chikungunya is spread by mosquitoes and causes fever and joint pain, similar to dengue fever, with the young, older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions most at risk. Chinese state television has shown workers spraying clouds of disinfectant around city streets, residential areas, construction sites and other areas where people may come into contact with virus-bearing mosquitos that are born in standing water. Workers sprayed some places before entering office buildings, a throwback to China's controversial hardline tactics used to battle the COVID-19 virus. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. People who do not empty bottles, flower pots or other outdoor receptacles can be subject to fines of up to 10,000 yuan ($US1,400) and have their electricity cut off. The U.S. has issued a travel advisory telling citizens not to visit China's Guangdong province, the location of Donguan and several other business hubs, along with countries such as Bolivia and island nations in the Indian Ocean. Brazil is among the other countries hit hard by the virus. The crisis in China has been worsened by heavy rains and high temperatures, which are generally common in tropical areas but came on unusually strong this year. China has become adept at coercive measures that many nations consider over-the-top since the deadly 2003 SARS outbreak. This time, patients are being forced to stay in hospital in Foshan for a minimum of one week, and authorities briefly enforced a two-week home quarantine, which was dropped since the disease cannot be transmitted between people. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Reports also have emerged of attempts to stop the virus spread with fish that eat mosquito larvae, and even larger mosquitos to eat the insects carrying the virus. Meetings have been held and protocols adopted at the national level in a sign of China's determination to eliminate the outbreak and avoid public and international criticism. Read More Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here. Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Canucks Local News Sports Crime
