(2020-04-14). Why is Canada Refusing Cuban Doctors? counterpunch.org 
We all have this feeling right now. Fear, sometimes verging on terror, and the main strategy to stay human is to never panic. Still, there is a lot of reason to be greatly afraid. Covid-19 has passed into every country, and most people on earth are on some variant of lockdown. The psychology of it is immense. There is an invisible enemy, somewhere out there, and it is threatening immediately our families and loved ones, and it has removed all outdoor life, socialization, schooling, etc.
(2020-04-14). U.S. company buys ventilator suppliers and then cancels shipments to Cuba. peoplesworld.org 
HAVANA (Granma)—While Cuban medical collaboration is extended around the world to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the blockade imposed by the United States on that country has just denied its public health system access to two regular suppliers of ventilators, key to the care of the most serious cases of the disease. Manufacturers IMTMedical AG …
(2020-04-14). President Maduro announced 6 new confirmed coronavirus cases for a 181 total—Venezuela moving to massive screenings. mronline.org 
The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros , reported this Sunday that 6 new positive cases for Covid -19 were recorded in the country, for a total of 181 infected patients and zero [new] fatalities.
(2020-04-14). Lucha contra COVID-19 refleja amistad profunda entre China y Venezuela. peoplesworld.org 
CARACAS (Xinhua) — La solidaridad demostrada por China a Venezuela en medio de la pandemia del nuevo coronavirus refleja la amistad profunda entre ambos pueblos de Venezuela y de China, expresó hoy el analista internacional Sergio Rodríguez Gelfenstein. En entrevista con Xinhua, el experto explicó que "esta es la continuidad de lo que se ha …
(2020-04-14). Combatting COVID-19 through solidarity. mronline.org 
Despite a deep economic recession, a profound political crisis and international sanctions that have ravaged its health sector, the South American nation of Venezuela is demonstrating that prioritising lives is possible in the battle against COVID-19.
(2020-04-14). HaàØti au bord du précipice en raison des ravages du coronavirus et des dirigeants imposés par les États-Unis. thegrayzone.com Alors que le gouvernement d'HaàØti, soutenu par les États-Unis et largement méprisé, encourage officiellement la distanciation sociale pour restreindre la…
(2020-04-14). California to Vote on Protections for Imperiled Mountain Lion Populations. indybay.org SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 14, 2020 — In response to a petition authored by the Center for Biological Diversity, the California Fish and Game Commission will vote April 16 on advancing Southern California and Central Coast mountain lions to candidates for protection under the state's Endangered Species Act.
(2020-04-14). Preventing Cytomegalovirus Infection After Liver Transplant: An Evolving Approach. jamanetwork.com Despite recent advances in the management of patients following liver transplant, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among this population. Clinicians and transplant centers have adopted varying approaches to managing CMV-seronegative liver transplant recipients with CMV-seropositive donors, a recipient group that is at highest risk for developing CMV-associated complications. Antiviral prophylaxis is typically initiated soon after transplant for a period of several months. Although the most widely used strategy, prophylaxis is limited by the incidence of delaye…
(2020-04-14). The Cuban Missile Crisis and US Terrorist Campaigns Against Cuba. globalresearch.ca Perhaps the most serious revelation to have emerged from the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, is President John F. Kennedy's willingness to knowingly increase the possibility of nuclear war by up to 50%. | US General David Burchinal, …
(2020-04-14). Cuba Is Developing a Vaccine to Activate the Immune System. telesurenglish.net Cuba applies a clinical trial for a vaccine aimed at activating the innate immune system to combat COVID-19. This experimental vaccine has been developed with Cuban technology and scientists amid the U.S. blockade against the Island. | RELATED: | The drug called CIGB 2020 is undergoing clinical trials at Havana's Luis Diaz Soto hospital with volunteer patients suspected of being carriers of the disease, the director of re…
(2020-04-14). Venezuela Has the Lowest Contagion Rate in Latin America. telesurenglish.net According to data compiled through April 11, Venezuela had carried out 181,335 COVID-19 tests, which allowed this South American country to detect patients in time and become the Latin American nation with the lowest infection rate. | RELATED: | "
(2020-04-14). Turkey Lifts Social Security Requirements for Getting Free COVID-19 Treatment – Reports. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Turkish authorities have adopted a new regulation enabling all citizens, including those who are not registered with the social security system, to be treated for the coronavirus disease for free, the Daily Sabah newspaper reported on Tuesday.
(2020-04-14). Cuba Under Media Attack for Sending Doctors, Not Bombs, to Help Covid-19 Victims. fair.org 
As coronavirus ravages the world, Cuba has exhibited disproportionate heroism, deploying medical personnel to
(2020-04-13). Wash Your Hands? Despite Pandemic, Thousands Still Have No Water in Detroit, a Coronavirus Hot Spot. democracynow.org 
Water shutoffs continue amid the coronavirus pandemic in Detroit, despite a moratorium and a program to help thousands of residents restore service last month. The lack of water access comes as nearly 1,500 people in Michigan have died from COVID-19, and 40% of those who have died are African-American, despite making up just 14% of the state's population. We speak with community pastor and activist Rev. Roslyn Bouier, who has been working with residents to restore their water.
(2020-04-13). Cuba: from AIDS, Dengue, and Ebola to COVID-19. mronline.org 
Cuba's preparation for COVID-19 began on January 1, 1959. On that day, it laid the foundations for what would become the discovery of novel drugs, bringing patients to the island, and sending medical aid abroad. Coping with HIV/AIDS, dengue fever and Ebola helped Cuba develop the ability to cope with pandemics, both internally and abroad.
(2020-04-13). Community organisation key to fighting COVID-19. mronline.org 
While, by April 9, Brazil to its east had registered more than 16,000 cases and 822 deaths and Colombia to its west, had seen its tally climb above 2000 cases and 54 deaths, Venezuela had only recorded 167 cases and 9 deaths.
(2020-04-13). Thousands Still Have No Water in Detroit, a COVID-19 Hot Spot. truthout.org Water shutoffs continue amid the coronavirus pandemic in Detroit, despite a moratorium and a program to help thousands of residents restore service last month. The lack of water access comes as nearly 1,500 people in Michigan have died from COVID-19, and 40% of those who have died are African-American, despite making up just 14% of the state's population. We speak with community pastor and activist Rev. Roslyn Bouier, who has been working with residents to restore their water. | TRANSCRIPT: | AMY GOODMA…
(2020-04-13). Exactly 18 Years After US Coup Against Venezuela, Pompeo and Abrams Warn Another is Coming. mintpressnews.com US regime change cheerleaders Mike Pompeo and Elliot Abrams warned Venezuala's government not to resist the upcoming implementation of a "transitional government."
(2020-04-13). Venezuela and Iran Strengthen Ties Against US Sanctions. telesurenglish.net Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani spoke over the phone Monday in order to strengthen cooperation and brotherhood in the face of the illegal unilateral measures imposed by the United States on both nations. | RELATED: | Both leaders "are evaluating making a common front to fight against the imperial sanctions that affect our nations," the Venezuelan president wrote on his Twi…
(2020-04-13). Interview with Tom Burke of FRSO on Trump's war moves against Venezuela. fightbacknews.org Fight Back! interviewed Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) Organizational Secretary Tom Burke, who led the FRSO labor delegation to Venezuela on March 8. | Francisco Torrealba, president of the Venezuelan Transport Workers Federation, elected Venezuelan National Assembly member, and important leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) invited Burke and four Teamsters to see for themselves the changes happening in Venezuela. | Fight Back!: Why did President Trump order U.S. Navy ships to patrol near Venezuela? | Tom Burke: It is a military provocation by the U.S., and it is dangerous. Preside…
(2020-04-13). US: African-Americans Are More Vulnerable to COVID-19. telesurenglish.net The U.S.' African-American population is more vulnerable to COVID-19, according to social and demographic studies on the virus. | RELATED: | The reason for this exposure of the African-American population is not its genetics or physical conditions, but the systemic discrimination it suffers. Many of the non-white citizens of the United States are lacking health insurance, so they may also have underlying health problems tha…
(2020-04-13). Caricom Calls Emergency Summit Due to COVID-19. telesurenglish.net The Summit of Caribbean States (Caricom) will hold an extraordinary emergency meeting on April 15 to analyse the situation in the region in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | The extraordinary meeting was convened this Sunday by the pro tempore President of the Summit and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley. | At the meeting, the representatives of the member countries will discuss and exchange experiences on COVID-19,…
(2020-04-13). Latin America's GDP Expected to Fall in 2020 Due to COVID-19. telesurenglish.net The COVID-19 pandemic will cause a sharp drop in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in Latin American and Caribbean countries in 2020, according to the World Bank. | RELATED: | A new report by the international organization estimates that the drop in GDP in the region will be 4.6%. | The decrease will occur due to the impact that the pandemic has had on the world economy. Millions of people have lost their job…
(2020-04-13). Cuba is Willing to Send More Medical Brigades to the World. telesurenglish.net Cuba is in condition to send more medical brigades to countries that need support to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cuban government said | RELATED: | "We defend solidarity, even in times of pandemic," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said on Sunday on the social network Twitter. | According to Rodriguez, new Cuban medical brigade from the Henry Reeve International Contingent left for Italy, in Europe, this…
(2020-04-12). ILPS U.S. Chapter Stands Firmly with Venezuela. fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the International League of Peoples' Struggle – US chapter. | The International League of Peoples' Struggle – US chapter (ILPS US) expresses our deep and genuine solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their government under duly-elected President Nicolas Maduro. We absolutely reject the war mongering of the Donald Trump administration, including the fabricated charges of drug trafficking against President Maduro, the deployment of the U.S. Navy to Venezuela under the flimsy guise of fighting drug trafficking, and the continuing economic san…
(2020-04-11). [Comment] Centring sexual and reproductive health and justice in the global COVID-19 response. thelancet.com Global responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are converging with pervasive, existing sexual and reproductive health and justice inequities to disproportionately impact the health, wellbeing, and economic stability of women, girls, and vulnerable populations. People whose human rights are least protected are likely to experience unique difficulties from COVID-19.1 Women, girls, and marginalised groups are likely to carry a heavier burden of what will be the devastating downstream economic and social consequences of this pandemic.
(2020-04-10). Phantoms of "The Operation" dissidentvoice.org Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind. — Shakespeare, King Lear Many thousands of New Yorkers have temporarily moved into the small Massachusetts town (permanent population approximately 7,000) where I live because of fear and panic created by fraudulent disease and death data gathered and disseminated under the umbrella term Covid-19. Such deceitful, …
(2020-04-09). Colonialism & coronavirus: 800,000 Haitians may die of COVID-19. thegrayzone.com Gutted by US-allied, neoliberal governments which have controlled the country since 2004, Haiti's healthcare sector braces for a potential catastrophe….
(2020-04-08). "A Systematic Issue of Disparity": Black People in Louisiana Account for 70% of COVID-19 Deaths. democracynow.org 
Louisiana faces one of the worst outbreaks of the coronavirus in the United States. New data shows black people account for 70% of all the state's coronavirus deaths, though they comprise just 32% of the state's population. Louisiana also has the highest incarceration rate in the country, and more than 65% of the people in its jails and prisons are black. At least 28 people are infected, and 22 corrections staff have tested positive. State corrections officials are sending infected prisoners to the Louisiana State Penitentiary — known as Angola, the largest maximum-security prison in the United States [mdas…
(2020-04-08). Billionaire-backed Human Rights Watch lobbies for lethal US sanctions on leftist governments as Covid crisis rages. thegrayzone.com Regime change-hungry HRW is proudly taking credit for crushing new US sanctions on Nicaragua while pushing to escalate Washington's economic…
(2020-04-07). Headlines for April 7, 2020. democracynow.org Boris Johnson in Intensive Care for COVID-19, U.K.'s Foreign Secretary Deputized | , Most of U.S. Population Told to Stay Home as Medical Equipment Shortages Continue to Mar Response, Trump Ignored Coronavirus Warnings from His Own Administration as Early as January | , Grocery Stores Report Coronavirus Deaths as Workers Say They Are Not Receiving Adequate Protection, WI Primary Vote Goes Ahead After Ruling by State Supreme Court; SCOTUS Throws Out Mail-in Ballot Extension, New York Appears to Flatten COVID-19 Curve as Cuomo Tightens Preventive Measures, Gov't Called to Release Data on Racial Makeup of COVID-19 D…
(2020-04-07). Celiac Disease and Mortality Risk in a Swedish Population. jamanetwork.com This population epidemiology study used Swedish histopathology registry data to estimate mortality risk in patients with vs without celiac disease.
(2020-04-07). USPSTF 2020 Recommendations on Screening for Asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy. jamanetwork.com Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is associated with higher risks of pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, whether or not symptoms are reported. Bacterial vaginosis is currently considered to be a microbial imbalance of the lower genital tract characterized by low levels of "healthy" Lactobacillus and overgrowth of a mixed population of other bacterial genera, including Gardnerella, Atopobium, Prevotella, Mobiluncus, Sneathia, and other taxa. Many of these microbes are also common isolates from sites of intrauterine infection, including the placenta and amniotic fluid. These findings have motivated…
(2020-04-04). [Research Paper] Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing surgeries during the incubation period of COVID-19 infection. thelancet.com In this retrospective cohort study of 34 operative patients with confirmed COVID-19, 15 (44 ∑1%) patients needed ICU care, and the mortality rate was 20 ∑5%.
(2020-04-03). Ex UN anti-narcotics chief & mob expert says US Treasury running 'mafia racket' against Venezuela. thegrayzone.com Pino Arlacchi, the former Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Prevention, says US is behaving…
(2020-04-03). Haití en el precipicio mientras el coronavirus y el liderazgo impuesto por EEUU hacen estragos. thegrayzone.com Mientras que Haití es ampliamente despreciado, el gobierno respaldado por Estados Unidos promueve oficialmente el distanciamiento social para reprimir al…
(2020-04-01). Pompeo's 'transition' plan tells Venezuela to suffer into submission. thegrayzone.com Declaring that "Nicolas Maduro will never again govern Venezuela," Mike Pompeo unveils a so-called "transition" plan that tells Venezuelans to…
(2020-04-01). Database Inaccuracies and Disparities in Care Among Hospitalized Homeless Adults. jamanetwork.com To the Editor In a recent issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, Wadhera and colleagues reported that hospitalized adults experiencing homelessness are less likely than those who were not homeless to undergo indicated cardiovascular interventions, including coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft. Those who were homeless experienced higher mortality rates. Their study adds to the literature on poor health outcomes in homeless populations by demonstrating that disparities may, in part, be because of disparities in care provided to hospitalized patients.
(2020-04-01). Implementation of HIV Self-Testing Program in New York City—Reply. jamanetwork.com In Reply We were pleased to read the letter from Edelstein and colleagues about successful HIV self-testing programs supported by the New York City Health Department since 2015. The distribution of HIV self-tests to men who have sex with men and to other at-risk populations has the potential to increase HIV testing, awareness of HIV infection, and to initiate access to treatment and prevention services for more than 150‚ÄØ000 people living in the country with undiagnosed HIV. HIV testing programs could distribute HIV self-tests via the internet, community-based organizations, or other avenues. T…
(2020-03-30). [Correspondence] Dementia care during COVID-19. thelancet.com Older adults are vulnerable at the onset of natural disasters and crisis, and this has been especially true during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.1 With the aggressive spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the death toll has risen worldwide. According to an interactive online tool that estimates the potential number of deaths from COVID-19 in a population, by age group, in individual countries and regional groupings worldwide under a range of scenarios, most of those who have died were older adults, most of whom had underlying health problems.
(2020-03-13). Julio López Varona on Puerto Rico's Disaster Capitalism. fair.org 
Media…
(2020-03-13). No, Venezuela does not have a six child per family policy. zcomm.org I respect UK journalist Andrew Buncombe. As I noted for FAIR last year, he was one of the few corporate journalists who reported on a study linking Trump's financial sanctions on Venezuela to thousands of deaths by the end of 2018. Since 2018, Trump has repeatedly intensified the sanctions and threatened Venezuela with military action,
(2020-03-11). [Correspondence] Adoption of COVID-19 triage strategies for low-income settings. thelancet.com Despite major advances in epidemic preparedness, Africa remains uniquely susceptible to novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). According to the Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index,1 22 of the 25 countries most susceptible to an infectious disease outbreak are in Africa. The high prevalence of HIV, tuberculosis, and other pathogens might potentiate the severity of COVID-19 and contribute to diagnostic uncertainty. Health-care systems and human resources are already spread thin. And although the young age of the population (with more than half aged younger than 20 years) might prove protective, it also means…
(2020-03-09). [Comment] Getting to zero in the DR Congo Ebola outbreak. thelancet.com Any plan to stop the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo must be based on a quantitative understanding of the proportion of the at-risk population that needs to be protected by effective control measures for transmission to decline sufficiently and quickly enough for the outbreak to end.
(2020-03-09). [Comment] Patchy progress on the ICPD: are we asking the right questions? thelancet.com The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda, set in 1994 in Cairo and revisited 25 years later in Nairobi in 2019, included goals for equitable education of women, reduction of infant and child mortality, reduction of maternal mortality, and access to reproductive and sexual health services, including family planning, through its well known Programme of Action.1 The ICPD was ground-breaking in recognising the benefits that empowerment of women and girls would have for themselves, their families, and, ultimately, their countries.
(2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.
(2020-01-21). [Comment] Oral influenza vaccination—a possible solution for the next pandemic? thelancet.com Influenza is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by a constantly mutating virus, which means that the vaccine composition must be updated almost every year. The burden of seasonal influenza is high,1 but the emergence of a pandemic virus can cause substantially more damage to both populations and health-care systems.2 When a pandemic starts, demand for the specific vaccine soars, leading to a global shortage.
(2020-01-13). [Comment] Fighting malaria with ivermectin: a novel malaria control tool. thelancet.com Malaria is a complex disease involving three interacting living populations, each with its own evolutionary pathway and need of survival: the parasite of genus Plasmodium, which causes the disease in humans; the humans that can be infected by the malaria parasite; and the Anopheles spp mosquito (the vector), which transmits the parasite from human to human. Malaria control strategies targeting these different populations exist. These include mosquitocidal agents that target the aquatic and terrestrial life forms of the mosquito vector,1 prophylactic use of intermittent preventive treatment,2,3 early disease diagn…
(2019-12-02). [Comment] Active management of mild obstructive sleep apnoea: the evidence grows. thelancet.com Obstructive sleep apnoea is highly prevalent and reports indicate a prevalence for mild obstructive sleep apnoea of up to 35% in the general population.1 However, a lower prevalence of about 5% is reported in the general population for the clinical syndrome when sleep disordered breathing, as determined by the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), is combined with relevant daytime manifestations such as excessive sleepiness.1,2 Because many patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, even in the mild category, report debilitating symptoms of sleepiness and other measures of impaired quality of life, the active management of…