Dominica has suspected cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease
Dominica’s Ministry of Health has informed the public of a recently reported increase in cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) within the community.
In the first week of October, the Ministry identified one suspected case. This resulted in the release of a circular by the Environmental Health Department on October 11, 2023. Since then, there have been suspected cases in 5 out of 7 health districts among children below six years old.
HFMD is a common childhood illness caused by various strains of enteroviruses, primarily the Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. It usually affects children under the age of five but can also occur in older children and adults. The disease presents as a mild to moderate illness but can cause discomfort and concern.
Symptoms of HFMD usually appear within three to seven days after exposure to the virus and may include fever, sore throat, a rash on the hands and feet, and small, painful blisters in the mouth. In some cases, individuals may also experience a loss of appetite, irritability, and feel generally unwell.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease can easily spread from person to person through close contact with saliva, nasal discharge, fluid from blisters, or fecal matter. Therefore, it is crucial to practice good personal hygiene, such as washing hands frequently, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces.
To help control the spread of HFMD, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Social Services recommends that parents keep their children home from school or daycare if they exhibit symptoms. It is equally important to seek medical advice promptly if HFMD is suspected, especially if an individual experiences high fever, dehydration, difficulty swallowing, or if the symptoms worsen.
While there is no specific treatment or vaccine for HFMD, most individuals recover within seven to ten days with appropriate care, ample rest, and fluid intake to prevent dehydration. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage the discomfort caused by mouth blisters and fever. It is crucial that individuals affected by HFMD avoid contact with others until they have fully recovered to prevent further transmission.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Social Services is closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with healthcare providers and the Ministry of Education to ensure the adequate management of cases and further prevent the spread of HFMD within communities.
The Ministry is urging the public, particularly school teachers, parents, and children, to raise their awareness of symptoms and promote hygienic practices.
Source- Loop News
Israel 'retakes control of border fence'; hundreds of overnight strikes across Gaza
Israel's military says it has successfully retaken control of the border fence and has recorded no further Hamas incursions over the past 24 hours. Elsewhere, the air force conducted another night of devastating and wide-sweeping airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.
In one of the most devastating stories of this bloody conflict, Hamas gunmen stormed Israel's Supernova festival, killing hundreds of partygoers and kidnapping others.
Mark Austin reports on how the attack unfolded.
The Israeli military has told Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to flee to Egypt to avoid further risk from airstrikes.
The Israeli air force struck some 200 hundred targets overnight and this morning nearly 700 Palestinians have been confirmed as dead as a result of retaliatory strikes since Saturday.
"I am aware that the Rafah crossing is still open," Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, the Israeli Defence Force's (IDF) international military spokesperson, said.
The crossing is situated on the Gaza-Egypt border.
"Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out," he said.
A bit more detail on the wide-scale airstrikes we reported on in our 5.30 a.m. post.
The Israeli Air Force says it has conducted attacks on over 200 targets within the Gaza Strip, specifically in the Khan Yunis and the Rimal areas.
"In the last few hours, fighter jets of the Air Force have attacked many targets of the terrorist organizations throughout the Gaza Strip," it said in a statement.
It shared a video of a building collapsing under a strike from one of its jets.
Among other targets, it destroyed a mosque which it said was "housing weapons" for Hamas.
Another mosque was struck, which the air force said was an "operational headquarters" for the militant group.
These claims have not been verified.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) will dispatch officers today to inform over 100 Israeli families that their relatives are being held in Gaza by Hamas, The Times of Israel is reporting.
Its report quotes Israeli army radio.
Many Israeli families have been left in the dark after their loved ones went missing following Saturday's armed incursion.
The number of hostages is disputed, with the IDF saying yesterday that around 30 people are being held. At the same time, UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan told CNN that the number is "between 100 and 150 people".
Volleys of rockets have been launched at Israel, blazing fire through the sky. Airstrikes have rained down on the densely populated Gaza Strip. The threat of Israeli tanks rolling across the border in a ground invasion is very real.
The escalating and deadly conflict sees two sides with very different military capabilities clash in a struggle that has left more than a thousand dead.
Israel has a more conventional military comparable to that of America or Britain - with the notable difference that it operates conscription - while Hamas is a very well-armed guerrilla organization.
Sky News speaks to a military expert and looks at the different weapons and equipment each side has at its disposal.
Source- BBC
Canada to welcome Caribbean leaders to Ottawa to strengthen ties
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will welcome leaders from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to Ottawa for the first Canada-CARICOM Summit on Canadian soil.
He will co-chair the Summit, which will run from October 17 to 19, 2023, alongside the Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, the current Chair of CARICOM.
A statement says as CARICOM celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the Summit will highlight Canada’s strong ties with the Caribbean and provide an opportunity for leaders to continue to strengthen cooperation and chart a better future for people in both regions.
Under the Summit’s theme of “Strategic Partners for a Resilient Future”, the Prime Minister and CARICOM leaders will advance shared priorities, including building inclusive and sustainable economies, increasing trade and investment, and promoting multilateral collaboration. The leaders will also work to fight climate change and address its impacts in the Caribbean, including exploring ways to improve access to financing for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean.
During the Summit, Prime Minister Trudeau will highlight the importance of reinforcing democratic values, promoting human rights and the rules-based international order, and strengthening coordination on regional security, including responding to the ongoing security, political, and humanitarian crises in Haiti. Finally, the leaders will engage with Canadian business leaders and investors to further commercial opportunities in the region.
As co-chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates group, Prime Minister Trudeau will take the opportunity to advance the SDGs – the pathway for the world to build a more sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous future for everyone.
Prime Minister Trudeau: “I look forward to welcoming leaders from the Caribbean Community to Ottawa this month. Canada and the Caribbean Community have built an enduring partnership over the last 50 years, based on ties between our people and our shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. At this Summit and beyond, we will keep working together to take climate action, build strong economies, and keep people safe, now and into the future.”
Source- Caribbean Loop News
Just Stop Oil protesters storm stage at Les Miserables show in London's West End
Just Stop Oil protesters have halted a West End performance of Les Miserables after invading the stage.
During the song Do You Hear The People Sing?, members of the group stormed the stage with banners emblazoned with Just Stop Oil.
Footage showed the actors on stage continuing to perform the song briefly before stepping back, with the safety curtain then coming down.
Some members of the audience booed and shouted at the protesters, while a member of Just Stop Oil addressed the auditorium.
The activists then locked themselves to the set, prompting the Sondheim Theatre to be evacuated.
The Metropolitan Police said five people have been arrested.
William Village, chief executive of Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, told Sky News: "During the first half of our performance of Les Miserables, individuals from Just Stop Oil invaded the stage, abruptly stopping the show.
"Following our safety protocols, the audience was asked to leave the auditorium and the Met Police attended.
"Regrettably, there was insufficient time to enable us to complete the rest of the performance. Whilst we recognize the importance of free expression, we must also respect our audience's right to enjoy the event for which they have paid."
Refunds will be offered to audience members, the theatre group has said.
Addressing the group's latest protest, Just Stop Oil member Hannah Taylor said: "The show starts with Jean Valjean stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal loaves of bread? How long before there are riots on the streets?
"The show cannot go on. We are facing catastrophe. New oil and gas means crop failure, starvation, and death. It is an act of war on the global south and an utter betrayal of young people."
Poppy Bliss, who also took protest action, added she was "absolutely terrified for my future".
"I don't want to be disrupting people's evenings out, but I have been left with no other choice," she said.
"Our government is betraying the young and putting everyone's futures on the line for the sake of a few votes.
"I am doing this because I am desperate."
Videos showed Just Stop Oil members explaining why they took the action, wearing t-shirts saying: "The show can't go on".
It is the latest in a string of public protests for Just Stop Oil, which has previously disrupted high-profile sporting events including The Ashes and Wimbledon, as well as carrying out walking protests through the capital during rush hour.
The group was also accused of causing criminal damage by a government minister after spraying the Department for Energy and Net Zero with orange paint.
Last month, Fossil Free London carried out a similar protest at Sadler's Wells Theatre during a performance of a ballet version of Romeo & Juliet, demanding an end to the involvement of Barclays in the production.
Source- Sky News
Over 75,000 US healthcare workers go on strike
Over 75,000 union workers at healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente have gone on strike, beginning the largest walkout by health workers in US history.
The three-day work stoppage involves nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians in five US states and Washington DC.
Nearly 13 million patients could be impacted by the strike, which follows stalled contract negotiations between the unions and Kaiser Permanente.
Hospitals and emergency facilities will remain open throughout the strike.
A previous labour agreement between the eight unions in the coalition and the company expired on 30 September,
Through the strike, the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions hopes to pressure the California-based company to address staffing shortages that began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as well as better wages.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kaiser Permanente said that it had made "a lot of progress" in discussions with the unions overnight and "remained committed to reaching a new agreement".
The strike's greatest impact will be felt in California, Oregon, Colorado and Washington state, where hundreds of medical support staff will strike for three days.
While Kaiser Permanente has said that hospitals and emergency departments will continue to function - partly staffed by "contingent workers" - non-essential services such as routine check-ups or elective procedures may have to be rescheduled.
In Virginia and Washington DC, a smaller total of approximately 400 pharmacists and optometrists, planned to stop work for a day. Kaiser Permanente has expanded its network of pharmacies to ensure access to medicines if outpatient pharmacies close during the strike action.
The unions have repeatedly pointed to Kaiser Permanente's profits - which reached about $3bn (£2.47bn) in the first half of this year - as a sign that contracts should be renegotiated. In a July statement, the coalition also claimed that the firm's CEO makes $16m (£13.18m) a year, with 49 executives earning over $1m (£820,000).
Caroline Lucas, the executive director of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions told BBC News that executives' inaction over the last six month have led to treatment delays
"These kinds of conditions mean that things that could be preventable and caught in time become crises," she said, adding that the company refused to "listen to frontline health care workers".
"Our frontline health care workers had no choice but to escalate that issue outside of the hospitals."
Michael Ramey, an ultrasound technician at a Kaiser Permanente facility in San Diego, told the BBC's US partner CBS that his job had become "heartbreaking" and "stressful" as a result of chronic staffing issues.
"You don't have the ability to care for patients in the manner they deserve," said Mr Ramey, the head of his local union.
"We are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure we have a contract in place that allows us to be staffed at the levels where we need to be".
The Kaiser Permanente strike is one of several high-profile labour actions that have swept across the US this year, including ongoing strikes by the United Auto Workers and the Screen Actors American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
US Bureau of Labour statistics show that more than 309,000 workers went on strike through August this year alone.
Source- BBC
MrBeast and BBC stars used in deepfake scam videos
The world's biggest YouTuber, MrBeast, and two BBC presenters have been used in deepfake videos to scam unsuspecting people online.
Deepfakes use artificial intelligence (AI) to make a video of someone by manipulating their face or body.
One such video appeared on TikTok this week, claiming to be MrBeast offering people new iPhones for $2 (£1.65).
Meanwhile, likenesses of BBC stars Matthew Amroliwala and Sally Bundock were used to promote a known scam.
The video on Facebook showed the journalists "introducing" Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, formerly Twitter, purportedly promoting an investment opportunity.
Similar historical videos have claimed to show him giving away money and cryptocurrency.
The BBC approached Facebook owner Meta for comment and the content has since been removed.
Previously, the videos were gated by an image warning viewers that they contained false information checked by independent fact-checkers FullFact, which first reported the issue.
"We don't allow this kind of content on our platforms and have removed it," said a Meta spokesperson.
"We're constantly working to improve our systems and encourage anyone who sees content they believe breaks our rules to report it using our in-app tools so we can investigate and take action."
Meanwhile, a TikTok spokesperson said the company removed the MrBeast ad within a few hours of it being uploaded, and the account that posted it has been removed for violating its policies.
TikTok specifically bars "synthetic media" which "contains the likeness (visual or audio) of a real person".
In a post on X viewed more than 28 million times, the YouTuber shared the fake video and asked if social media platforms were ready to handle the rise of these deepfakes.
It was a normal Monday night and I was headed to bed early, as I was due in the BBC Newsroom at 3 am on Tuesday.
My husband received a call from a friend. He then asked: "Sally have you interviewed Elon Musk lately?" "No... I wish," was my reply.
That was the beginning of my realization that I'd been done.
A deepfake video of me, in the BBC News studio, apparently presenting a "breaking business news" story has been swirling around social media. It looks like me, it sounds like me, it is quite convincing, but it is not me. Wow, I was shocked.
In this brave new world, I wondered, was it just a matter of time? The mind boggles.
But once the hairs on the back of my neck had resettled, then followed the questions - what now? The concern is this fake video, created using Artificial Intelligence, is pointing viewers to a financial scam.
It claims, using the fake me that British users of a new investment project created by Elon Musk can receive a substantial return on investment - so much so that you can give up work.
It sounds too good to be true, and that is the key, it is too good to be true. It is a scam.
There have been a series of high-profile deepfakes in recent weeks, with Tom Hanks warning on Monday that an advert appearing to be fronted by him shilling a dental plan was not real.
As AI systems have grown in power and sophistication, so have concerns about their ability to create ever more realistic virtual versions of real people.
Generally speaking, the first clue that a video may not be what it seems is simply that it's offering something for nothing.
But the MrBeast video complicates this.
The YouTuber has made his name giving away cars, houses, and cash - he even gave trick-or-treaters iPhones last year on Halloween - so it's easy to see how people might believe he was gifting these devices online.
But eagle-eyed viewers, and listeners, will be able to spot the telltale signs that something is amiss.
The scammers have attempted to look legitimate by embedding in the video MrBeast's name in the bottom-left corner, as well as the blue verification mark used on many different social media platforms.
But TikTok videos automatically embed the actual name of the uploader underneath the TikTok logo itself.
The account that posted the video is not verified, and now no longer exists.
Meanwhile, in the videos featuring BBC presenters, the errors are more pronounced.
For example, in the Sally Bundock video, the "presenter" mispronounces 15 as "fife-teen", as well as oddly pronounces project as "project".
She also says "more than $3bn 'were' invested in the new project", rather than "was invested".
These errors may be small, but as technology advances and visual clues become less apparent, verbal errors - much like the spelling errors you often find in a scam email - can be a useful way to identify if something is fake.
The fakers have used a legitimate video of Sally Bundock presenting - at the time talking about Mr Musk taking over X - but making it seem like she's talking about an investment opportunity involving him.
In the Matthew Amroliwana video, there are some similar audio cues, with garbled sounds at the start of certain sentences.
Source- BBC
The Ministry of Health and Human Services hosts “The Outbreak Session”
The Primary Healthcare Unit within the Ministry of Health and Human Services hosted “The Outbreak Session”, a refresher and sensitization training on measles and polio outbreak and response.
The Region of the Americas is constantly under threat of outbreaks and importation of communicable diseases because of travel and trade. The Turks and Caicos is no exception and as such, it is necessary that we remain vigilant and prepared for any threat. The training took place between 20 -21 September 2023 in Providenciales. Participants in this training were team leaders from government and private healthcare facilities across the TCI, who are responsible for response within their various islands and facilities.
On day one of this training, the focus was on the measles outbreak and response. In 2021, the Ministry of Health hosted a wider measles outbreak and response training which included participants from across healthcare facilities in the TCI at all levels. This year’s training was focused on offering the team leaders from all facilities a refresher in an effort to strengthen their response and reporting duties. Participants on day one benefitted from presentations by various team members on surveillance, laboratory response, clinical aspects, and outbreak response. At the end of the presentations, participants were placed in groups to carry out a tabletop simulation exercise.
On day two, team leaders were sensitized on the Turks and Caicos Islands polio outbreak and response plan. The plan was reviewed and discussed, and updates were made. Through the training, team leaders were able to identify areas of the response plan that required strengthening.
Commenting on this training was Ms. Alrisa Gardiner, Primary Health Care Manager with responsibility for the expanded program on immunization for the Turks and Caicos Islands. “The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the immunization program and the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases. Although the Americas lead in vaccination, we are a vulnerable region because of our many popular tourist destinations, creating a gateway for the importation of vaccine-preventable diseases. Coupled with the exodus of skilled public health professionals, particularly from the English-speaking Caribbean countries, this further creates a new level of vulnerability for us. Since the pandemic, the region of the Americas has lost many gains and there was a continuous call by the Pan American Health Organisation to all member state countries to strengthen their surveillance systems to improve early detection of any communicable disease to prevent disease spread and loss of life. A good vaccination program and a strong surveillance system work together to prevent outbreaks and control the spread of diseases. It was imperative that our team leaders were given an opportunity to refresh their skills and knowledge and gain new information to prepare them for any threat of measles and polio. With this refresher and sensitization session, it is our hope that we can continue to build on an already successful vaccination program and strengthen our disease surveillance system. We wish to thank the Pan American Health Organisation Office for the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos for their generous support in facilitating this two-day training”.
US sanctions Chinese firms in crackdown on fentanyl supply chain
The US has announced sanctions on 25 China-based firms and individuals allegedly involved in the production of chemicals used to make fentanyl.
Fentanyl, a potent opioid used as a painkiller or sedative, plays a major role in the US drug crisis.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the drug's supply chain "often starts with chemical companies in China".
China criticised the imposition of sanctions, saying the fentanyl crisis was rooted in the United States itself.
"We firmly oppose the United States' sanction and prosecution against Chinese entities and individuals, and the severe infringement of the lawful rights and interests of the relevant enterprises and persons," the Chinese foreign ministry told AFP news agency.
"The Chinese government has been strictly cracking down on drug crimes... and we deploy the harshest control on precursor chemicals.
"Imposing pressure and sanctions cannot solve the United States' own problems. It will only create obstacles in the China-US cooperation on drug control," it said.
In April, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said there was "no such thing as illegal trafficking of fentanyl" between China and Mexico.
This came after Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called on the Chinese government to help stop the alleged flow of fentanyl and its precursors into his country.
The US authorities blame Mexican drug gangs for supplying fentanyl to users across the US.
Fentanyl can be legally prescribed by doctors, but a dramatic increase in opioid addiction in the US in recent decades has led to a rise in illegal production and overdoses.
In 2022, the drug was linked to a record 109,680 deaths.
The US Treasury Department announced sanctions against what it called a "China-based network responsible for the manufacturing and distribution" of precursors of fentanyl and a number of other illegal drugs.
Officials say companies in the fentanyl supply chain routinely use false addresses and mislabelling to avoid their products being identified by law enforcement.
Those affected by the sanctions include 12 entities and 13 individuals based in China, as well as two entities and one individual based in Canada, the treasury said.
The sanctions will freeze the entities' US assets and bar Americans from dealing with them.
Merrick Garland is due to travel to Mexico with other senior officials for meetings on how to tackle the supply of illegal drugs.
"We know who is responsible for poisoning the American people with fentanyl," Mr Garland told reporters.
"We know that this network includes the cartels' leaders, their drug traffickers, their money launderers, their clandestine lab operators, their security forces, their weapons suppliers, and their chemical suppliers.
"And we know that this global fentanyl supply chain, which ends with the deaths of Americans, often starts with chemical companies in China."
The US Justice Department has also unsealed indictments charging eight Chinese companies and 12 of their employees with crimes related to fentanyl and methamphetamine production, the distribution of opioids, and sales resulting from precursor chemicals.
No one has been arrested and the Chinese government did not work with US authorities on the investigations, Mr Garland said.
Source- BBC
Ford announces 400 more layoffs in Detroit area due to UAW strike
Ford Motor Company announced about 400 workers in Metro Detroit have been laid off as a result of the United Auto Workers strike.
The automaker says 350 workers at the Livonia Transmission Plant and 50 workers at the Sterling Axle Plant have been instructed not to return to work effective Thursday, Oct. 5.
"These are not lockouts. These layoffs are a consequence of the strike at Chicago Assembly Plant because these two facilities must reduce production of parts that would normally be shipped to Chicago Assembly Plant," Ford said in a statement.
The layoffs come a day after Ford presented its seventh offer to UAW, calling it the "strongest" offer made.
The proposed agreement would run through April 30, 2028, Ford said on Wednesday. The company says the offer includes "unprecedented improvements in wages (putting employees among the top 25% of all U.S. jobs, hourly and salaried) and benefits, product commitments for every UAW factory, and job security."
On Monday, Ford announced about 330 layoffs at the Chicago Stamping and Lima Engine plants.
Source- News Channel
James Harden returns to 76ers' training camp despite trade request
James Harden returned to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, as the disgruntled guard who had been seeking a trade instead joined his teammates as an active participant at training camp.
The 10-time All-Star arrived on the Colorado State campus for practice in spite of a fractured relationship with the Sixers' front office. He skipped the team's media day in New Jersey on Monday and the first day of camp in Colorado on Tuesday.
Harden June picked up his $35.6 million contract option for this season with the belief the team would try to trade him. He blasted team president Daryl Morey at a promotional event in China when no trade materialized, calling Morey a liar.
The 76ers are conducting workouts this week at Moby Arena, which is the home of the Rams' basketball team. The Sixers are venturing out into the area, too. Joel Embiid and teammates recently made a trip to nearby Boulder for dinner and a chat session with Colorado Buffaloes football coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
Sanders discussed topics such as pressure, unity, being in the moment, and what it's like to go from a historically Black college or university in Jackson State to a struggling program at Colorado that was coming off a 1-11 season. The Buffaloes (3-2) remain the talk of college football.
David Adelman, one of the Sixers’ owners, said before the meal that new coach Nick Nurse requested the Colorado excursion to squeeze in some training at elevation. The Nuggets won their first NBA title in franchise history by beating Miami in five games last June.
“The road to a championship for the NBA goes through Denver,” Adelman said shortly after the team met Sanders. “We’re going to get used to it because you’ll see us here in June.”
Nurse is taking over for Doc Rivers, who never led the Sixers past the second round of the playoffs.
The team returns the reigning NBA MVP in Embiid. To bolster its roster, Philly added guard Patrick Beverley and center Mo Bamba. The team also brought in veteran Danny Green.
“You added some pieces. And you add some pieces that you feel should be the difference,” Sanders said to the Sixers at dinner. "Straight up, you guys really look at each other and hold each other accountable and you have to realize, how bad do you really want it? What are you willing to do for it? What are you willing to sacrifice for it, and how far are you willing to go for it? How hard are you willing to work for it?
“You all are among the best in the business, right? But you’ve got to put it together.”
Source- Loop News