• 2 Posts
  • 41 Comments
Joined 1 year ago
Cake day: July 4th, 2023
  • Zrybew@lemmy.worldtoWorld News@lemmy.ml•A Paradigm Shift in Social Policy: How Finland Conquered Homelessness
    17·
    2 months ago

    TL;DR: The program provides permanent housing to homeless individuals without prerequisites like sobriety, contrasting with other countries where conditions often apply.

    By focusing on stable housing first, Finland has created supportive environments where individuals can address other personal issues with professional help.

    The program has not only improved lives but also resulted in substantial public cost savings. However, recent political shifts and budget cuts threaten the future of these initiatives.

  • Zrybew@lemmy.worldtoBiodiversity@mander.xyz•Seal pup die-off from avian flu in Argentina looks 'apocalyptic'English
    6·
    5 months ago

    TL;DR: A highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain, H5N1, is causing significant mortality among elephant seal pups in Patagonia, Argentina, with an estimated 17,000 deaths in 2023. This event is notable for its scale and suggests mammal-to-mammal transmission, raising concerns about the virus’s potential to spread among other mammals, including humans.

    Massive Elephant Seal Mortality: Nearly 96% of elephant seal pups at three breeding sites in Patagonia died due to H5N1, contrasting sharply with the previous year’s successful weaning of 18,000 pups.

    Mammal-to-Mammal Transmission: The seals likely had little interaction with infected birds, indicating a possible mammal-to-mammal transmission route.

    Global Impact of H5N1: The virus has affected over 150 bird species worldwide, causing significant deaths in bird populations in South America, Greece, and the Netherlands.

    Spread Among Mammals: H5N1 has been detected in various mammals, including pumas, foxes, skunks, brown bears, and endangered Caspian seals, with a polar bear death reported in Alaska.

    Human Health Concerns: The World Health Organization urges preparedness for potential human spillover. Human infections are rare but could become more common if the virus evolves to transmit more easily between mammals.

    Call for Collaborative Approach: There’s a need for a global, collaborative effort to monitor bird flu strains and develop vaccines to prevent another pandemic.

  • Zrybew@lemmy.worldtoHacker News@derp.foo•Can Ultraviolet lightbulbs end the next pandemic before it starts?English
    6·
    5 months ago

    TL;DR: The article discusses the use of far-ultraviolet (far-UV) light as a promising technology to kill airborne viruses and bacteria in public spaces, potentially reducing the spread of respiratory infections. While it shows promise in being safe for humans and effective against pathogens, concerns about creating air pollution and the need for further research are highlighted.

    • Far-UV Technology: A novel form of ultraviolet light that can kill airborne viruses and bacteria, potentially reducing respiratory infections in public spaces.

    • Safety and Effectiveness: Far-UV light, especially around 222 nm wavelengths, is effective against pathogens and appears safe for human skin and eyes.

    • Historical Context: UV light has been known for over a century to kill bacteria and viruses, but traditional UV can harm humans.

    • Research Findings: Studies show far-UV light reducing airborne bacteria by 98.4% and killing 99.9% of coronaviruses in controlled environments.

    • Concerns: Far-UV light might generate ozone and interact with volatile organic compounds, potentially leading to air pollution and health risks.

    • Need for More Research: Further studies are necessary to understand the long-term effects of far-UV light and how to use it effectively alongside other air purification methods.