Latest news with #Thakore
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alberta's measles case counts have topped 500 and doctors are worried
It has taken Alberta less than three months to top 500 measles cases sparking concern about the speed at which the virus is spreading and fears it could lead to the death of a child. By midday Wednesday, the province's total case count had surged to 505, more than doubling since the beginning of May. Alberta's outbreaks began in March. Dr. Sidd Thakore, a pediatrician at Alberta Children's Hospital, said some of the sickest kids from the south and central zones are at his hospital in Calgary for treatment. "100 per cent. We are seeing it now," he said. "There's some severe outcomes whether it's severe pneumonia or more severe issues with … inflammation of the brain. I've seen it myself, several times now in hospital." According to Thakore, some of these children are ending up in intensive care. The south zone is by far the hardest hit with 362 measles cases to date. The central zone has had 92 cases. Alberta Health confirmed on Tuesday one Albertan under the age of 18 was in ICU at that time. According to Thakore, it's difficult for parents and health care providers to watch children suffer from a vaccine-preventable illness. "You see the emotional toll it takes on the family and the psychological toll it takes on the family." Like most health care providers, he had never treated measles prior to this year's outbreaks. It was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998. Dr. Stephanie Smith, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alberta Hospital, is not surprised Alberta's outbreaks have snowballed to 500 cases, given that the virus is so highly contagious. And she's worried about the potential for children to die as the outbreaks grow. "Statistically, the more cases we have the more likelihood that we will end up seeing a child that dies of measles," she said. A toddler died of measles in Ontario last year. And Texas, which has the worst outbreak in the United States, has reported two children have died due to measles this year. Both of them were unvaccinated, according to the state's health department. The Alberta government'smeasles website states between one and three in every 1,000 people infected with measles will die. Publicly available data shows 35 Albertans had been hospitalized due to measles as of May 10. "It's heartbreaking and terrible to see children with severe brain inflammation, severe liver inflammation ... or severe pneumonia … when many of those could have been prevented," Smith said. "The message is really quite simple: please, please, please get your children vaccinated if you haven't already." Two doses of the vaccine offer 97- to 98-per cent protection, she said. The vast majority of Alberta's cases have been among the unimmunized, provincial data shows. Alberta's routine childhood immunization schedule recommends children receive their first dose of the measles vaccine at 12 months of age and the second at 18 months. However, babies as young as six months old, who are living in the south, central and north zones, are being offered an early and extra dose due to the level of risk. Meanwhile, Smith believes there are likely more cases in the community that haven't been tested or confirmed. "It does not appear that we've hit our peak yet. And so I think we'll continue to see this increase in numbers of cases in these communities where there's very low vaccination rates," she said. Measles symptoms include: High fever. Cough. Runny nose. Red eyes. Blotchy, red rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts. In darker skin colours, it may appear purple or darker than surrounding skin. Alberta Health provides detailed information on measles case counts, symptoms and free immunizationshere. A list of possible exposure alerts can be foundhere and a measles hotline is available for people with questions about symptoms, immunization records or to book an appointment: 1-844-944-3434
Scroll.in
18-05-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
Gujarat Samachar: A newspaper with a long history of criticising Modi is now under siege
This week's raids by the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate on the offices of Gujarat Samachar, a leading Gujarati daily, along with the arrest of co-owner Bahubali Shah, have once again raised serious doubts about the government's motives. It is no secret that this administration has little tolerance for dissent. The prime minister's occasional nods to freedom of expression do little to change that reality. The raids and Shah's arrest on Thursday (he was granted interim bail on medical grounds the next day) are said to be related to an old case. In an ideal situation, such matters would be judged solely on their merit. But considering how often this government has turned investigative agencies into political instruments, one cannot help but wonder if other factors are at play – especially Gujarat Samachar 's longstanding criticism of Modi, despite its recent mellowing. A legacy in print Gujarat Samachar began its journey in 1932 as an extension of the Gujarati weekly Prajabandhu, which had been launched by the Thakore family. By 1940, it had been transformed into a public limited company, Lok Prakashan Limited. With a nationalist spirit and big dreams, the owners bought land and erected a state-of-the-art building. It included one of the few elevators in Ahmedabad in 1950. The new building was officially opened by Devdas Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's son and an editor of the Hindustan Times. However, financial overreach forced the Thakore family to relinquish control of the publication. · By 1952, Shantilal Shah, who regularly visited the Gujarat Samachar office as the owner of an advertising agency, had gathered resources and gained gradual control of the company. Former owner Indravadan Thakore relocated to Bangalore, where he took up a managerial role at the Deccan Herald. For a time, Gujarat Samachar was packaged along with the company's celebrated children's weekly, Zagmag, famous for the captivating stories of writer Jivram Joshi. Among his most beloved series in Zagmag was 'Miya Fusaki', a tale highlighting the friendship between the boastful yet impoverished Miya Fusaki and his Brahmin companion, Tabha Bhatt. This portrayal of friendship carries a sharp irony when viewed against the backdrop of Gujarat Samachar's coverage during the 2002 Gujarat violence, which a report of a fact finding mission of the Editors Guild of India described as 'provocative [and] irresponsible'. A media powerhouse Until 1962, Gujarat Samachar upheld a tradition of journalist-editors, a legacy that came to an end when its last editor, Kapilray Mehta, stopped attending the office due to his advancing age. After his departure, owner Shantilal Shah took over the editorial responsibilities, according to the book Aath Columnni Aalam, edited by Bela Thakar. He later brought his sons, Shreyans Shah and Bahubali Shah, into the fold. Shreyans Shah's wife, Smriti – who died in April after a prolonged illness – also became actively involved in business operations. Regarded as an urban, elite publication, Gujarat Samachar stood in sharp contrast to its rival, Sandesh, which had a strong foothold in rural Gujarat. The two dominated Gujarati journalism, steering its course in ways that were often contentious. Neither could be credited with upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Yet, under Shreyans Shah's editorial leadership, Gujarat Samachar adopted an anti-establishment stance as a business strategy, using tactics that were sometimes fair, sometimes, claimed its critics, not. With its influence extending across Gujarat, the newspaper was more than a news outlet; it was a force in the state's political arena. Careers could be made or undone by its editorial choices, and readers relished the paper's gladiatorial battles – while rivals watched, envious. It was the paper of Ellis Bridge and Paldi, the upscale enclaves of old Ahmedabad, where competitors schemed relentlessly to crack its stronghold. The impact and legacy of Gujarat Samachar have been deeply shaped by Shreyans Shah's sharp instincts – his exceptional ability to weave together journalism, business interests, and public sentiment with remarkable finesse. He stands out as one of the sharpest Gujarati editors I have known and worked with. During my eight-year stint as a staff columnist (2008-2015), I witnessed Shreyans Shah's journalistic acumen firsthand. He personally reviewed news stories, suggested additions and even called sources at night for additional details. His headlines were sharp and direct, never indulging in wordplay for its own sake – often leaving rivals unsettled. During the 1985 Gujarat riots, the Gujarat Samachar office was set on fire, reportedly due to Chief Minister Madhavsinh Solanki's growing frustration with the paper's relentless criticism – some justified, others veering into personal attacks on the Congress leader. It was a devastating setback, forcing publication to halt for about a week. Yet, true to its spirit, the paper emerged stronger than ever. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited its office during his trip to Gujarat. Generous financial compensation was ensured and the newspaper reestablished as an even more formidable force. The Modi conundrum The relentless criticism of Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state's newspapers – including the Gujarat Samachar – after the 2001 earthquake created the perfect political storm that enabled Narendra Modi to secure Gujarat's top job. However, his relationship with Gujarat Samachar quickly soured and never truly recovered. While Modi's popularity surged, the paper remained defiant, refusing to tone down its criticism – even poking fun at him at times. His consecutive electoral victories did little to deter its editorial stance. At one point, the renowned Ram Kathakar, Morari Bapu, attempted to broker peace between the mukhya mantri (chief minister) and the mukhya tantri (the chief editor). But the truce was short-lived. Gujarat Samachar would occasionally align with the government's messaging, especially during Vibrant Gujarat summits, publishing supportive banner headlines. Yet, it always found ways to maintain its anti-establishment stance. The Shah brothers, Shreyans Shah and Bahubali Shah, have had their share of runs-ins with the law. Their business and journalistic practices resist simplistic categorisation; their methods reflect shades of both ambition and controversy. Given their past friction with political power, many expected eventual retaliation. For more than two decades, no substantial action was taken – until now. The pressing question is: why has the crackdown finally begun? Speculation abounds. One widely circulated assumption suggests that Gujarat Samachar is being lined up for a takeover by a mega corporation, mirroring the NDTV acquisition – an attempt to silence a longtime critic, even one whose sharp edges have dulled over time. Others believe the government is genuinely pursuing misdeeds under the guise of justice, but with a streak of political vengeance. The Shah brothers, well into their 70s, are navigating challenging times – resisting with resolve and wrapping their resistance in the rhetoric of defending free speech.
Forbes
04-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Can Prefabricated And Modular Homes Make Construction More Sustainable?
Pre-fabricated dwelling, East London, UK. (Photo by David Potter/Construction ... More Photography/Avalon/Getty Images) From the heavy use of raw materials to logistics and transportation, there are numerous challenges facing the construction sector in terms of becoming more sustainable One possible solution could be more prefabricated and modular homes, which are built offsite, with less material going to waste and faster construction times. The Canadian prime minister Mark Carney recently announced a new housing plan, which includes $25 billion in debt financing and $1 billion in equity financing to innovative prefabricated-home builders. According to a briefing note on the plans, modular housing can reduce construction times by up to 50 per cent, costs by up to 20 per cent, and emissions by up to 22 per cent compared to traditional construction methods. Dr. Renuka Thakore, a lecturer in environment and sustainability at the University of Central Lancashire said modular housing is a 'game-changer for a greener future' in an email. Dr. Thakore added modular homes minimise waste by reducing errors and excess materials, because they are constructed in controlled factory environment. She said their adaptable designs meet diverse customer needs, from affordable housing to emergency shelters, thanks to their quick assembly. 'Many modular housing projects use recycled waste materials, cutting landfill waste and conserving resources,' said Dr. Thakore. 'Their compact designs also make them perfect for repurposing in future projects, extending their lifespan.' 'Modular housing is the way forward for developers to align with the circular economy principles: reuse, refurbishment, and recycling. Prioritising these is the key to more sustainable housebuilding,' she added. The chief executive of the Navana Property Group, Harry Fenner said modular houses are usually built off-site in a controlled environment with sustainability in mind in an email. Fenner added in some cases, this type of building can reduce material waste by up to 90 per cent when compared to the construction of a traditional property. He said the excess materials can also be cleared up and taken back to the manufacturer's factory to be broken down and reused rather than being thrown away. "Because modular houses are prefabricated, it also means there is less waste on site which reduces the disruption to the environment too,' he told me. "Modules for the house are almost always assembled off-site and transported via road in bulk which also means there are less vehicle trips so less carbon emissions. "Typically, many companies that build modular houses try and source materials locally so this can also reduce fuel consumption, so suppliers aren't having to drive a long way to the modular housing site,' added Fenner. And it is not just the construction of new properties where modular techniques can be applied. Modular concepts can also be used to refurbish or redesign the interiors of existing buildings. Benjamin Urban, the chief executive of interior modular construction business DIRTT, said the construction sector is starting to see a shift in how projects are delivered in an interview. Urban said this shift is being caused by a number of factors, including the need for faster lead times, a shortage of skilled labour and a growing recognition that a more circular approach is needed, with more materials being reused, instead of going to landfill. And he emphasised how interior modular construction can help repurpose existing buildings. 'In North America particularly, the decline in the commercial office and real estate market has forced developers and building owners to think differently,' Urban told me. 'It no longer makes financial sense to tear a building down and build a new one. And the more materials we can divert away from landfill and put back into the circular economy, the better it is for the environment and ultimately, the customer.' Urban added he has seen a growing interest in more circular approaches to construction over the last five years, and modular costs have fallen to a point where it has become less expensive than building something new.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'It's the perfect storm': Doctors urge measles vaccinations as Alberta case counts rise
As concerns about measles grow, and case counts tick up, health-care workers are preparing for a surge and pleading with Albertans to ensure they're fully vaccinated. According to Alberta Health there were 13 confirmed cases in the province as of midday Tuesday, including two in the Calgary zone, three in the Edmonton zone and eight in the north zone. That's an increase of two cases (one each in the Calgary and Edmonton zones) since Monday, when the province reported one person was hospitalized with the highly contagious virus. While the province has yet to provide age ranges for the latest cases, as of Monday, the youngest Albertan confirmed with measles at this time is a baby under one year of age, and the oldest is an adult between the ages of 35 and 54. According to Alberta Health, the age breakdown, as of Monday, was as follows: Under one: 1 case Ages 1-4: 3 cases Ages 5 -9: 4 cases Ages 10-14: 2 cases Ages 35-54: 1 case "I think we're just at the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Sidd Thakore, a pediatrician at the Alberta Children's Hospital, who expects Alberta will see more cases in the next couple weeks. "It's the perfect storm of a very contagious virus — that can last in the air or on surfaces — and with people that are not as vaccinated [as] before. I think we're going to see pockets of it increasing in the next one to two weeks." In addition to being airborne, Thakore said the virus can also be difficult to contain because people can be contagious for up to four days before the rash appears. He said Alberta Children's Hospital staff are preparing for more cases of a vaccine-preventable illness some of them have never had to deal with before. "In the early 2000s you never heard about it. You never saw it," he said. "Now we're seeing it and we're going to have to deal with it. So my whole group in the hospital, we're just making sure we're up to date on what needs to be done." Seeing Alberta's case count rise is frustrating for physicians, including Dr. Isabelle Chapados. "This is 100 per cent preventable," said Chapados, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Alberta. "It was written in the sky as rates of vaccination were coming down." Alberta's routine childhood immunization schedule recommends children get two doses of the measles vaccine — the first at 12 months and the second at 18 months of age. However, vaccination rates have been dropping. Provincial data shows 69.3 per cent of Alberta children were fully vaccinated with two doses by the age of two in 2023, with some parts of the province dipping well below 50 per cent. The target is 95 per cent. Thakore is urging people to ensure they and their children are fully vaccinated. People who are unsure should talk to their health care provider, he said. "It would be very unfortunate if you're not getting vaccinated because of false information," he said. "The measles vaccine is a safe vaccine. And it works." According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the single MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine was introduced in the provinces between 1974 and 1983. The routine two-dose MMR vaccine was brought in nationally between 1996 and 1997. The country saw a dramatic decrease in measles cases after the vaccine was introduced, and in 1998 the virus was considered "eliminated" in Canada because endemic transmission was no longer taking place. Daily updates Alberta's Health Minister, Adriana LaGrange, said the province is working to get information out to Albertans. "We've seen vaccine hesitancy not just in Alberta, but right across Canada and globally. So we're giving the information out as much as possible," she said on Monday. Alberta Health plans to start publishing a daily update on measles case counts on Tuesday. The numbers are expected to be updated at 12:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. When asked about whether or not she endorses two doses of the measles vaccine, LaGrange said she does. "We continue to work with young families and make sure they have the information they need to make good choices for themselves and their families," LaGrange said. Measles can be dangerous, leading to complications including swelling of the brain, pneumonia and even death, Alberta Health says. "That's scary. So that's the risk we have to deal with and we may be facing ... over these next couple of weeks," said Thakore. Between one and three in every 1,000 people who contract the virus will die, the province said. And more than 90 per cent of people who are not immune to measles and who come into contact with the virus will become infected. Babies are among those most at risk, Chapados said, because they're not protected until after they get their second dose at 18 months. "The only protection we have is to collectively all get our vaccinations done. Otherwise those babies are sitting ducks," she said. Adults born before 1970 are likely immune because measles circulated widely at that time, according to the province. People born on or after 1970 are susceptible if they don't have two doses, AHS said. Meanwhile, the province said it's aware of several separate and unrelated ways that measles was introduced into Alberta, noting it was brought in through an Ontario connection and through "at least two international sites." The Alberta government's measles website provides more information on how the virus spreads, its symptoms, immunization and what to do if you think you may be infected.
CBC
18-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
'It's the perfect storm': Doctors urge measles vaccinations as Alberta case counts rise
Social Sharing As concerns about measles grow, and case counts tick up, health-care workers are preparing for a surge and pleading with Albertans to ensure they're fully vaccinated. Alberta Health said there were 11 confirmed cases in the province as of Monday afternoon, including one in the Calgary zone, two in the Edmonton zone and eight in the north zone. One person is currently hospitalized with the highly contagious virus. The youngest Albertan confirmed with measles at this time is a baby under one year of age, and the oldest is an adult between the ages of 35 and 54. According to Alberta Health, the age breakdown is as follows: Under one: 1 case Ages 1-4: 3 cases Ages 5 -9: 4 cases Ages 10-14: 2 cases Ages 35-54: 1 case "I think we're just at the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Sidd Thakore, a pediatrician at the Alberta Children's Hospital, who expects Alberta will see more cases in the next couple weeks. "It's the perfect storm of a very contagious virus — that can last in the air or on surfaces — and with people that are not as vaccinated [as] before. I think we're going to see pockets of it increasing in the next one to two weeks." In addition to being airborne, Thakore said the virus can also be difficult to contain because people can be contagious for up to four days before the rash appears. He said Alberta Children's Hospital staff are preparing for more cases of a vaccine-preventable illness some of them have never had to deal with before. "In the early 2000s you never heard about it. You never saw it," he said. "Now we're seeing it and we're going to have to deal with it. So my whole group in the hospital, we're just making sure we're up to date on what needs to be done." Seeing Alberta's case count rise is frustrating for physicians, including Dr. Isabelle Chapados. "This is 100 per cent preventable," said Chapados, a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Alberta. "It was written in the sky as rates of vaccination were coming down." Alberta's routine childhood immunization schedule recommends children get two doses of the measles vaccine — the first at 12 months and the second at 18 months of age. However, vaccination rates have been dropping. Provincial data shows 69.3 per cent of Alberta children were fully vaccinated with two doses by the age of two in 2023, with some parts of the province dipping well below 50 per cent. The target is 95 per cent. Thakore is urging people to ensure they and their children are fully vaccinated. People who are unsure should talk to their health care provider, he said. "It would be very unfortunate if you're not getting vaccinated because of false information," he said. "The measles vaccine is a safe vaccine. And it works." According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the single MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine was introduced in the provinces between 1974 and 1983. The routine two-dose MMR vaccine was brought in nationally between 1996 and 1997. The country saw a dramatic decrease in measles cases after the vaccine was introduced, and in 1998 the virus was considered "eliminated" in Canada because endemic transmission was no longer taking place. Daily updates Alberta's Health Minister, Adriana LaGrange, said the province is working to get information out to Albertans. "We've seen vaccine hesitancy not just in Alberta, but right across Canada and globally. So we're giving the information out as much as possible," she said on Monday. Alberta Health plans to start publishing a daily update on measles case counts on Tuesday. The numbers are expected to be updated at 12:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. When asked about whether or not she endorses two doses of the measles vaccine, LaGrange said she does. "We continue to work with young families and make sure they have the information they need to make good choices for themselves and their families," LaGrange said. Measles can be dangerous, leading to complications including swelling of the brain, pneumonia and even death, Alberta Health says. "That's scary. So that's the risk we have to deal with and we may be facing ... over these next couple of weeks," said Thakore. Between one and three in every 1,000 people who contract the virus will die, the province said. And more than 90 per cent of people who are not immune to measles and who come into contact with the virus will become infected. Babies are among those most at risk, Chapados said, because they're not protected until after they get their second dose at 18 months. "The only protection we have is to collectively all get our vaccinations done. Otherwise those babies are sitting ducks," she said. Adults born before 1970 are likely immune because measles circulated widely at that time, according to the province. People born on or after 1970 are susceptible if they don't have two doses, AHS said. Meanwhile, the province said it's aware of several separate and unrelated ways that measles was introduced into Alberta, noting it was brought in through an Ontario connection and through "at least two international sites."
