Hellkom graphic
discuss this article
Looking at the post on my blog prior to the one on crappies, I really like Hellkom's image I got from their site. I think I'll post it again.
It looks very professional. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - September 16, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Crappies, anyone?
discuss this article
A few months back, smut was killing the sugarcane in Australia. Now bacteria are killing the crappies near Ashby, MN, USA.Most crappies were small, "but 10- to 15-inch crappie were also observed."It's not all bad news:"Assuming good numbers of adult crappie remain, they'll be very successful in producing lots of young crappie in 2008 to fill the void ..." - ProMED-mail, 15 Sept 2007 (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - September 16, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Telkom - free at last!
discuss this article
As of this morning, I am free of Telkom. Good riddance. Maybe in a new town. Here the people are not able to communicate and not able to get my line working.Just so I don't lose them, the work orders from Telkom:7CEZ260707121CEZ020807ARS129288677CEZ280807Finally, the disconnection: 637427/53I don't need it ... I've got internet via Vodacom's 3G, and my cell for talking, and I'm very happy with both. Even in Umtata, I've found the quality of service to be excellent, on a par with Vodacom elsewhere in the country.It doesn't look like 5.5 weeks is an abnormal amount of time to wait for service from Tel...
Source: A rural virologist - September 3, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Latest telkom joke
discuss this article
I just wrote the following letter of complaint to Telkom on their submission page.
My telephone has been out of order for more than 5 weeks, and Telkom in Umtata is wasting my time. I now have 3 work orders, two of which have been "completed" without any success. The latest fault number is 677CEZ280807. That was given 5 weeks after the original report from me.Somebody arrived at my house on Wednesday 29 August, and I was not informed that they were coming. Nobody was home - which is why I specifically asked, when reporting the fault, that I be contacted when they want to come out - each time. ...
Source: A rural virologist - September 1, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Telkom - denial of service
discuss this article
Telkom staff in Umtata expect you to remain at home waiting for them, if they choose to pitch up to check your line.If you specify that you're not at home and need to be called when their technician comes out, surely they should call when their technician comes out?No.If you specify that you need to be called, and they come out without calling you first, and they find nobody at home ... this is called denial of access, and the job can be closed as completed.It is now more than 5 weeks since I reported my dead line for the first time. I've had to repor...
Source: A rural virologist - September 1, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Can telkom officials read?
discuss this article
This afternoon, it will be 28 days ago that I reported my phone being out of order.This morning I tried to phone the local Telkom office. 047 535 1133, if anyone else wants to try and see if they can find a literate person on the other end. Usually the number is never answered - this time it was. Or you can always try OFaultB@telkom.co.zaI asked about the status of my phone line, and was told by the woman who answered that I had to report the number to Telkom's fault line. I told her I had. She said I should report it again. I told her I'd reported it several times - with weekly enquirie...
Source: A rural virologist - August 22, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Warning - headless snakes can bite
discuss this article
Headless Snake Bites Hapless Man
In fact, "decapitated snake heads are dangerous for between 20 and 60 minutes after removal from the body of the snake," Jeffrey Suchard of the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix told SciAm's own Steve Mirsky earlier that year. So remember: wait an hour before handling a dead snake.So says Scientific American, which also refers to the NEJM article:Dead rattlesnakes can bite? Mayo Clin Health Lett 1999;17:4.PubMedSuchard JR, LoVecchio F. Envenomations by rattlesnakes thought to be dead. N Engl J Med 1999;340:1930.PubMedExcerpt at NEJMSo be careful. Don't be bitis. ...
Source: A rural virologist - August 11, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Puff the magic adder
discuss this article
Skillie might have a new friend, if I can persuade Wolfgang to adopt.Yesterday, a baby puff adder was found in Jeevs' garden. Very cute, and about 25cm long (an estimate - he didn't stretch himself out for us.) Species name: Bitis arietans - you have to be careful because they bitis! Apparently quite common in Mthatha.He was very cold, and hiding under a box, safely stowed away in the back of a bakkie. We put him in a smaller box, and took him inside. He took a liking to one of the pieces of the box he could hide in - maybe just because we were inspecting him and he didn't like that.Luckily he...
Source: A rural virologist - August 9, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
The post office joins telkom
discuss this article
Now it appears that the Post Office has joined Telkom in making a mess of things in Umtata.They've locked my postbox, and on their website the postbox number is listed as unpaid. I've logged a complaint on their website, but will try to visit them tomorrow to show them the receipt.Perhaps they don't keep records themselves. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - August 7, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Anna vissi concert, johannesburg, 14 october
discuss this article
I've just been informed that there will be another Anna Vissi concert in South Africa, this time on 14 October, in Johannesburg.Thanks George!See the Άννα Βίσση blog. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - August 2, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Telkom in umtata
discuss this article
On 25 July I reported that my telephone was out of order - there was no dial tone.On Sunday 29 July, which I thought was quite fast, someone from Telkom came to check the phone and the line. He checked the line where it entered the house, and it was dead there. No signal. He then disappeared, and later came back after some investigation and told me that the problem was with an underground cable that had broken. They'd be seeing to it.Later in the afternoon, person #2 phones, and wants directions to my place to fix the line. I told him someone had already been, but he knew nothing about that, s...
Source: A rural virologist - July 30, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
The latin mass in africa - contacts
discuss this article
Over at LumenGentleman's site, the Summorum Pontificum Contact Database has been set up.So far, only 3 from South Africa - one from Onderstepoort, the country's veterinary centre, and two from the Eastern Cape - me and someone from Grahamstown. Quite far, and I'd hope for something closer, but I've never visited Grahamstown, and I might if they have the Latin Mass in its extraordinary form.I went to Mass here in Umtata tonight. This time they said the creed. Communion was via the "take and dip" method, with no extraordinary minister of the Eucharist assisting - the chalice was on the altar, the priest dow...
Source: A rural virologist - July 28, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Driving skills in umtata
discuss this article
Driving in Umtata is quite amusing, and quite dangerous at times. Probably a collection of the worst drivers in South Africa, probably excellent drivers compared to the rest of Africa.I think a very high percentage of drivers here either have no licence, or they bought it. If you're a government official, or work for one, the rules of the road don't apply to you, as the newspapers recently pointed out. But they don't apply to anyone else either.The yellow lane is a passing lane for taxis in many parts of the country; here, that holds true, but the oncoming lane is also a passing lane for taxis here. ...
Source: A rural virologist - July 28, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Hiv treatment in a warzone
discuss this article
Taken from HIV treatment in a conflict setting: outcomes and experiences from Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, by Heather Culbert et al in PLoS Medicine, 2007 May;4(5):e129PubMed linkArticle on PubMed CentralArticle on PLoS MedicinePatient 1Followed in the clinic since 2002, on ART since December 2003. Lives in Rwanda.
When the fighting started, I thought that it was the end of our lives. I had only treatment for three days and five days of security. I had interrupted my treatment for two days when another patient arrived with the treatments sent by MSF. I was afraid it was the end of my life because more than jus...
Source: A rural virologist - June 12, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Australian smut
discuss this article
Smut? Australia? Yes, they have smut in their sugarcane. Particularly in the Bundaberg/Isis, Mackay, and Ingham districts in Queensland.And no, it has nothing to do with sheep.Pictures of this smut can be seen here and here.The full report is on ProMED-mail. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - June 4, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Technovirology in action
discuss this article
As you know, I am a medical virologist. Which means I deal with the biological type of virus, and their consequences. But sometimes computer viruses can be interesting too, and I amuse myself at times with technovirology - computer viruses.Jeevs' son, Reshlan, had a project for medical school on a flashdisk, and every time it was plugged into a PC with antivirus software, that file got deleted. The file was a Word document. The virus had inserted executable code in the beginning of the file, and renamed it with the extension SCR. SCR files are usually screensavers.The logical person to ask for...
Source: A rural virologist - May 11, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Dstv installation and repairs
discuss this article
Three (3) weeks ago (10 April) I contacted S & K Unicom in Umtata to ask them to check my dish installation, which was not picking up DSTV. They took my details, and said they might be able to help me the following week. I have not yet heard back from them.On the page listing them, it says "Services : n/a".Last week I contacted Video Effex and they were extremely helpful, polite, and professional. I was expecting another week's wait, but they solved my problem the same day.On the page listing them, it says "Services : installations".If you want a DSTV installation or repairs done in Umtata, get hold o...
Source: A rural virologist - April 30, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
The dead movies
discuss this article
I am a fan of George Romero's Dead movies:Night of the Living Dead [1968]Dawn of the Dead [1978]Day of the Dead [1985]Land of the Dead [2005]Diary of the Dead, for release in 2007, is a 5th, but not a sequel to Land of the Dead, as it takes place at the during the initial outbreak of the zombies that occurred in Night of the Living Dead.Remakes of these movies by other directors:Night of the Living Dead [1990]Dawn of the Dead [2004]Night of the Living Dead 3D [2006]Day of the Dead [2007]And then of course there's Shaun of the Dead [2004], a spoof of the above, not by George Romero. See also Night of the Living Bread ...
Source: A rural virologist - April 24, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Anna vissi blog
discuss this article
I haven't a clue what this means:
Και ενώ η περιοδεία της Άννας στην Αμερική συνεχίζετε ανακοινώθηκε ότι
η Άννα Βισση στις 12 Μάιου 2007 θα δώσει μια συναυλία στο Sun City /
South Africa.Probably something to do with Άννα Βισση coming to Sun City in May.They linked to me ... so here's the Anna Vissi blogspot. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - April 20, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Influenza vaccines
discuss this article
My deltoid muscle hurts tonight. I had my flu vaccine today ... and that's a fairly common minor side effect, but a sign that something's going on there.The flu vaccine recommendations for the last few years are as follows:2004/5 Northern hemisphere winter:an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus an A/Fujian/411/2002(H3N2)-like virusa B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus2005 Southern hemisphere winter:an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virusan A/Wellington/1/2004(H3N2)-like virusa B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus2005/6 Northern hemisphere winter:an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus an A/California/7/2004(H3N2)-like vi...
Source: A rural virologist - April 20, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Anna vissi concert
discuss this article
As I pointed out before, South African virologists like Anna Vissi music.She'll be here in South Africa soon, and will have a concert at Sun City.Tickets can be booked on the Kalahari.net website. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - April 13, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
The usefulness of boxes and other junk
discuss this article
I have a reputation, and am living up to it. I think this is quite a good way to use a box, but it needs a table cloth - when I get round to getting one.
This is some sort of crate packing support device that I have turned into a shelf for my DVDs and CDs, and maybe a few books when I get more of those unpacked.
Very fashionable. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - April 10, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Gmail paper
discuss this article
Here in Umtata we don't always have good access to our e-mail.Google has the answer - Gmail paper. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - April 10, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Congratulations estrelita!
discuss this article
I trained as a medical virologist at Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Medical Campus, and, prior to the current head of department, Prof Estrelita Janse van Rensburg was the head there, so I spent the first few years of my training under her. Now she's head of the virology department at Pretoria University, where I did my undergraduate medical training.On 28 March, she was awarded an Exceptional Achievers Award.The Pretoria News (which we don't get in Umtata - my mom e-mailed me the article) said:
University of Pretoria spokesperson Stella du Plessis said: "The university is extremely proud of those people who are ...
Source: A rural virologist - April 5, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Tb is not a virus!!!!!
discuss this article
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and related bacteria are bacteria, NOT viruses.The following are also not viruses:
malaria
typhoid
tick bite fever
syphilis
gonorrhoea
cats and dogs"More hospitals to treat TB virus" published on 14 March 2007 in The Mercury (a newspaper) should have a better headline.Some snippets:
She acknowledged that the department had been grappling with the challenge posed by MDR TB and XDR TB.I am sure they are ... it's quite a problem. The local stats sound quite scary.
MDR TB and XDR TB result from the failure of patients to take their treatment as directed when diagnosed with tuberculosis.Hmmm .....
Source: A rural virologist - April 4, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Electricity in umtata
discuss this article
We've all seen the photos of power cuts in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Now I am providing some from Umtata.
Here the power doesn't go out because too much is being used. It goes out because it rains. And sometimes just for fun. It's very frustrating, because I take a lot of work home with me, and I'd like to be able to use my computer to do that work. I've thought about a generator with a UPS to stabilise the current, but maybe I should go to bed early sometimes. Power failures are usually at night, the most impractical time.
Here's the photo of Umtata at night with no electricity.
If y...
Source: A rural virologist - March 25, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Rabies preexposure vaccination in travelers
discuss this article
More on rabies vaccination ar the Journal of Travel Medicine, March/April 2007.Gautret P, Parola P, Shaw M, Torresi J. Rabies preexposure vaccination in travelers. J Travel Med 2007; 14: 136. PubMed abstractProbably worth reading ... I can't get at it, though. I'll try other ways. All my usual ones are exhausted. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - March 25, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Rabies vaccine update
discuss this article
In the February Weekly Epidemiological Record, put out by the World Health Organisation, there is an update on rabies vaccination.I've previously commented on rabies and post-exposure prophylaxis on one of my other blogs. I've had my pre-exposure prophylaxis. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - March 24, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Virological music
discuss this article
Virologists have good taste in music. Άννα Βίσση, or Anna Vissi, is one of the most popular modern music artists amongst virologists in South Africa, and probably worldwide. Those virologists who haven't heard her music should listen ASAP. They'll be hooked.Anna is a Cypriot Greek with an incredible voice. She was born in 1957, so she turns 50 this year ... but she looks like she's in her 20's or 30's, at least in concert and on her CD covers and in her music videos. Her husband, Nikos Karvelas, is 6 years older than she is, and he looks his age.She took part in the Eurovision contest...
Source: A rural virologist - March 24, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Some random photos
discuss this article
I still need to get used to the new camera - it has nearly as many settings as my PC. But here are some photos.
This is Walter Sisulu University, previously University of the Transkei (Unitra), by day and by night:
The hills seen from the townhouse I stay in:
Umtata Dam after the rain, seen from where I stay:
The driveway and garages in the place where my townhouse is:
From my balcony looking onto the nearby nature reserve in a misty day:
The Anglican Cathedral, which looks very much like a Catholic one from the outside. I must still find the Catholic Cathedral here.
Welcome to Umtata! (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - February 20, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Chersina angulata
discuss this article
That is Skillie's other name. She's now eating well, and her health has improved a lot.
You can read all about Skillie and her relatives here:
Angulate tortoiseAngulate tortoise care
Okay ... this blog isn't only about Skillie and elevators lifts ... so I'll put a post on with some photos of the Eastern Cape and Umtata. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - February 18, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
My boss
discuss this article
This is a photo of Jeevamoney Govender (Jeevs), the currently acting business manager of the Umtata NHLS laboratory - NMTL, or Nelson Mandela Tertiary Laboratory. There's always a cup of coffee waiting in her office for you ... except during power failures.
This is Jeevs with her secretary, Mardi Nolands.
They're in Jeevs' office. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - February 16, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Lifts vs stairs
discuss this article
The laboratory is connected to the academic hospital, and is partly on the 2nd floor (level with the ground) and partly on the 3rd floor (one up from the 2nd floor.) The lift has buttons for floors 2, 3, and 4. The first thing I thought odd was that there were no stairs near the lifts. If you want to go up or down, the lifts are the only option. If you really need to take the stairs, you can go to the other side of the building, which isn't far, and on that side there are no lifts.
I feel quite silly going up one floor in a lift instead of taking the stairs, and even worse going down one floor, but ...
Source: A rural virologist - February 15, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Welcome to mthatha
discuss this article
I arrived in Umtata on the evening of 27 January, and my belongings arrived the following day.
This is a photo of Umtata at night, taken from the Garden Court hotel along the N2 highway as it passes through Umtata, where it is known as Nelson Mandela Drive. A larger picture will load if you click on it.
Some scenic photos of the area later ... but after doing some of my unpacking, I started work on 1 February. At first I felt a bit lost, and although the lab is in somewhat of a rectangle with passages going right around, it was a bit confusing in the beginning. I still have to think about which way the l...
Source: A rural virologist - February 13, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Skillie's stepdaughter
discuss this article
There are wedding plans for Skillie, for when she's better.This is her future stepdaughter.
Her future stepdaughter likes apples, and prefers to eat them out of her adoptive mother's hand.
She thinks she can climb stairs. Not very well, it seems.
Skillie's babies will fortunately have four legs. (Source: A rural virologist)
Source: A rural virologist - January 21, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
A sick tortoise
discuss this article
My current head of department, Wolfgang, and his fiancée were recently in the Eastern Cape, and came across a tortoise that had been hit by a car. They rescued her, and she has been to hospital. Unfortunately she had to have her foot amputated, and gets daily antibiotic injections, which she doesn't like at all.It's unlikely that she will be able to be released back into the wild, so she's getting a new home, all legal with the right permits.Her name is Skillie.This is her being told she's going to get her medicine. When she realises this, she goes into her shell fast. The vet taught Wolfgang how t...
Source: A rural virologist - January 17, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
A rural virologist - new blog
discuss this article
I have started a new blog, which I hope to post to at least once or twice a week, called A Rural Virologist. The link is http://www.theotokos.co.za/umtata/My first post:
Welcome to my new blog, about medical virology, rural medicine, and the Eastern Cape in South Africa.In 2005, I qualified as a medical virologist, FCPathSA(Virol), and in 2006 I finished my MMed in virology at Stellenbosch University.As from February 2007, I will be working in Umtata, as the only medical virologist in the Eastern Cape province, with plans to build up the virology service there, and to consult on laboratory, diagnostic, and clinical v...
Source: Medical / Science issues - January 14, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Welcome to the rural virologist
discuss this article
Welcome to my new blog, about medical virology, rural medicine, and the Eastern Cape in South Africa.In 2005, I qualified as a medical virologist, FCPathSA(Virol), and in 2006 I finished my MMed in virology at Stellenbosch University.As from February 2007, I will be working in Umtata, as the only medical virologist in the Eastern Cape province, with plans to build up the virology service there, and to consult on laboratory, diagnostic, and clinical virology in the Eastern Cape.On this blog, I plan to document my journey in rural medicine, and let people know more about the life of a virologist, and about the Eastern Cape.P...
Source: A rural virologist - January 13, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Rabies prophylaxis
discuss this article
This is me getting my rabies vaccine, dose 2, day 7. I got the first dose last week. One more in 3 weeks.
Soon I'll no longer have the urge to bite the postman.In some parts of the world, rabies is a problem, and South Africa's Kwazulu Natal region has reported an increase among dogs. Port Shepstone has the highest concentration in KZN, says the Pretoria News of 3 Jan 2007. Countrywide, there were 28 cases of human rabies infection reported in 2006, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the NICD.People who may be exposed to rabies, such as lab workers, veterinary surgeons, e...
Source: Medical / Science issues - January 5, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Love-acquired flora
discuss this article
Once upon a time, long long ago, infections like genital herpes, syphilis, and gonorrhoea were called "venereal diseases."
Then a more scientific term was developed - sexually transmitted. So they were called Sexually Transmitted Diseases - STDs.Then along came political correctness.Diseases were terrible things - nobody wanted to be called "DISEASED."So they called them infections. Now STDs are known as STIs - Sexually Transmitted Infections.But surely INFECTION is a bad thing too? "I have an INFECTION." "I AM INFECTED." It sounds like you have an STD. That's not good.Why not simply ref...
Source: Medical / Science issues - January 1, 2007 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Rabies, kruger park
discuss this article
Here is an interesting report from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, in their December 2006 Communiqué:
Two people were exposed to a jackal, later confirmed as rabid, in a private lodge in the Greater Kruger Park area. This is the first confirmed rabies in a wild animal originating from within the Kruger Park. Surveillance has been heightened in the park and it is hoped that this will be an isolated incident.Wild animals with rabies typically display unusual behaviour and frequently appear “tame”. It is essential that members of the public exercise extreme caution when interacting with stray anim...
Source: Medical / Science issues - December 21, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Six imprisoned health-care workers in libya
discuss this article
Six Imprisoned Health-Care Workers in Libya Are Pawns in a Far Larger Strategic Game
The repercussions are enormousAuthor: Laurie GarrettSource: PLoS MedicinePDF (56K)HTMLCertainly something to read in the current politically tense world. (Source: Medical / Science issues)
Source: Medical / Science issues - December 2, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Technorati profile
discuss this article
This is a link to the Medical and Science Issues blog's Technorati profile.Technorati Profile (Source: Medical / Science issues)
Source: Medical / Science issues - October 31, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Fun with sewage
discuss this article
This sounds like a lot of fun:
Sewage. To simulate chemical-toilet and holdingtank sewage, which is generally stronger than typical domestic wastewater, a simulated sewage with a suspended-solids concentration of about 1,000 mg/liter was used in this study. The sewage contained per liter: 3.5 g (wet weight) of fecal material, 10 ml of urine, 0.25 g of toilet tissue, 0.4 ml of liquid hand soap, 100 ml of domestic raw sewage, and 885 ml of dechlorinated tapwater. The components were combined and blended for 1 min, and the mixture was used immediately.
Source: Sobsey MD, Wallis C, Melnick JL. Chemical disinfection of holding-...
Source: Medical / Science issues - October 5, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Cdc hiv testing recommendations - sept 2006
discuss this article
My HOD cc'd me on an e-mail where he said and quoted:
Another very relevant document has come out today:
Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health-Care Settings
It contains the following summary:
Major revisions from previously published guidelines are as follows:
For patients in all health-care settings
HIV screening is recommended for patients in all health-care settings after the patient is notified that testing will be performed unless the patient declines (opt-out screening).
Persons at high risk for HIV infection should be screened for HIV at least annually.
Sep...
Source: Medical / Science issues - September 23, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Treating malaria with e-mail
discuss this article
A bit old - 2004 - but it gave me a good laugh at the time.
The study describes 5 patients with malaria, with management followed up with the OptiMAL dipstick test.
Patients 1 and 4 were treated with intravenous quinine; patient 5 was treated with chloroquine; and patients 2 and 3 were given e-mail.
A second patient with malaria was unconscious and severely anaemic (Hb, 6 g/dl), with an asexual count of 298,880 parasites/ul. He was given e-mail, however, he died on the next day. The third patient was suffering from Parkinson’s disease with a parasite count of 112,800 parasites/ul (Hb 10 g/dl). He was also administered e-...
Source: Medical / Science issues - September 21, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Opt-out hiv testing
discuss this article
I think the opt-out system of HIV testing is a fairly good idea. Of course, it will have to be looked at carefully, and checks put in place to ensure confidentiality and avoidance of stigma. That is something I am not sure South Africa is ready for, but I'm also not sure that it isn't ready for it. Many of my patients have suffered from faulty bigoted public perceptions of HIV and AIDS. But only by attempting progress can we find out whether an opt-out system would change that for the better or the worse.
My HOD sent me these links ... I hadn't seen them before. They deal with this issue. ...
Source: Medical / Science issues - September 16, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Normalising hiv diagnosis and treatment
discuss this article
In the recent August 2006 Transcript, the newsletter of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society, the following article by Supreme Court Judge Edwin Cameron caught my attention. I've posted it here with his permission.
Normalising HIV Diagnosis and Treatment
By Judge Edwin Cameron
My friend Ronald Louw was dean of the law school at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a proudly gay man, and a treatment activist who was fully informed about AIDS and the fact that it can now be effectively treated and managed. He was also HIV+ – yet he didn’t know this fact about himself until he was tested and diagnosed on ...
Source: Medical / Science issues - September 16, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
Data and datums
discuss this article
Interesting criticism:
In these days of academic snobbery, one hears words like "rhinoceri" and "quora" used as plurals for "rhinoceros" and "quorum". It sounds intellectual to say "quotae" when speaking of the plural of "quota", instead of saying "quotas" like the commoners.
Unfortunately these terms expose their users as ignoramuses. (No, the plural is not ignorami - ignoramus is an English noun, not a Latin noun. As a Latin verb, it is already in the plural). They wouldn't be heard dead using the correct singular terms for one item in a collection of erotica, or one statement in a list of t...
Source: Medical / Science issues - September 5, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
China reports first cases of new bocavirus in babies
discuss this article
What a joke.
The Department of Health reports on human bocavirus on their website, while the minister of health promotes garlic and beetroot for the treatment of HIV.
HIV affects more people than the number of beetroot she has eaten ... bocavirus fades into the background relative to the impact of AIDS in this country. (Source: Medical / Science issues)
Source: Medical / Science issues - August 23, 2006 Category: Infectious Disease Specialists Tags: General Source Type: blogs
