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Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Arthur Phillips said the health ministry was monitoring the development, while Chief Veterinary Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture Dr Mark Trotman disclosed that his ministry is setting up its own surveillance system.

A poultry facility in Michigan and an egg producer in Texas both reported outbreaks of bird flu  — also known as the highly pathogenic avian influenza — this week. The latest developments also include infected dairy cows and the first known instance of a human catching bird flu from a mammal. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the human case in Texas. The infected person, who reportedly had exposure to dairy cattle presumed to have the bird flu virus, complained of eye redness and is currently recovering, the CDC said.

Although US health officials say the risk to the public remains low, there is rising concern, emerging partly from the news that the largest producer of fresh eggs in the US reported an outbreak.

Dr Trotman said the flu is of concern to Barbados because the virus is “maintaining itself” not only in the US but globally. Of particular concern to him is the virus’ unprecedented animal-to-human transmission.

“This is an alarming development which we still have to analyse and do some risk analyses and see what the implications are. Not only was it seen in a human, but there was also an outbreak in some dairy cattle in Texas not too long ago,” the chief vet told Barbados TODAY.

“So, the nature of the virus seems to have mutated slightly. We are not yet seeing any evidence of direct transmission between animals or between people, which is really the measure that would cause us to think about taking more actions.

“We are detecting bird flu now in species that have never been detected before. So, we are watching it very closely to see how that develops and also trying to put our own preparedness in place in the event it does get to Barbados,” he added.

While Dr Trotman acknowledges that there is no evidence yet of the virus being passed from human to human, he is not ruling out the possibility.

“It is such a new development in this particular strain of virus, that it is something we are obviously watching very closely for any human-to-human transmission. As far as I can find, and the information that has been sent to me and that we have also looked at, there is no evidence of that happening.

“But we are still watching it very closely and taking our own precautions. [But] you never rule that out. COVID-19 was a big call for us in the medical field . . . . How something can spread so rapidly and so severely from humble beginnings is something that we are now very, very acutely aware of.

“So, it’s certainly not something we will rule out, but something we will consider when we are watching the development of the disease if it further changes or mutates,” he said.

Dr Trotman also gave an assurance to Barbadians that poultry imports from the US would be flu-free.

“We are not concerned about the risk of importation of commercial poultry as a result of it, because we have an agreement with the USA to make sure that all the poultry that is brought in commercially is certified by them as free from bird flu and from premises that don’t have any outbreaks,” he declared. “So, we have been able to maintain the supply chain where that is concerned. However, many countries across the world are still experiencing outbreaks.”

He pointed out that the means by which the disease is being transmitted now is mainly through wild birds.

“So, we are still on the alert, we are developing our own surveillance and we are also monitoring very closely all outbreaks that are going on, not only in the US but also in most of our trading partners,” he added.

Some flu viruses mainly affect people, but others chiefly occur in animals.

Avian viruses spread naturally in wild aquatic birds like ducks and geese, and then to chickens and other domesticated poultry.

The bird flu virus drawing attention today — Type A H5N1 — was first identified in 1959. Like other viruses, it has evolved over time, spawning newer versions of itself. Since 2020, the virus has been spreading among more animal species — including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even seals and porpoises — in scores of countries.

In the US, this version of the bird flu has been detected in wild birds in every state, as well as commercial poultry operations and backyard flocks.

Nationwide, tens of millions of chickens have died from the virus or been killed to stop outbreaks from spreading.

US officials said it had been found in livestock last week and by Tuesday, it had been discovered in dairy herds in five states — Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico and Texas — according to the US Department of Agriculture.

The virus, which is highly contagious among wild birds and poultry, has now spread to dairy farms. The American Veterinary Medical Association said that not only is this the first time that bird flu has been found in dairy cattle but this is also only the second time a human has contracted the virus in the US.

Symptoms are similar to that of other cases of flu, including cough, body aches and fever. Some people don’t have noticeable symptoms, but others develop severe, life-threatening pneumonia.

The vast majority of infected people have received it directly from birds, but scientists are on guard for any sign of spread among people.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Endometriosis Association (ASOENDO), in partnership with the Medical Center of Diabetes, Obesity, and Specialties (CEMDOE), recently hosted the inaugural conference day for endometriosis patients in the Dominican Republic. The event aimed to equip women affected by endometriosis with tools to enhance their quality of life and empower them in managing their health effectively.

Endometriosis, a condition impacting 200 million women globally, took center stage during the conference, which brought together experts from various fields including gynecology, surgery, human reproduction, nutrition, diagnostic imaging, psychology, sexual and pelvic floor therapy, and endocrinology. This diverse range of specialties enabled attendees to engage with all professionals involved in endometriosis treatment and management under one roof.

The first panel focused on the clinical perspective of endometriosis, featuring distinguished doctors such as Omar De la Rosa, a specialist in Human Reproduction and Endocrinology; José Eugenio Colón, specialized in endometriosis and minimally invasive surgery; Raúl Sánchez, a sonographer and specialist in Human Reproduction and Infertility; and José Ángel García, specializing in Human Reproduction and high-risk pregnancy.

The panel included graduates Clara Sánchez, a psychologist and psychotherapist; Katy Gómez, a urogynecological and pelvic floor physiotherapist; as well as doctors Génesis Tiapa, a functional doctor and nutritionist, and Mirtha De León, a sexologist and couples therapist.

Paola Paniagua, president of ASOENDO, emphasized the complexity of endometriosis and the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach for effective management. She expressed satisfaction in providing patients with valuable insights and opportunities to connect with experts in various relevant fields.

Dr. Gricely Pozo, medical director of CEMDOE, underscored the significance of education for patients and their families. She reiterated the commitment to offering comprehensive support to patient groups like ASOENDO, acknowledging their role in raising awareness, educating, and facilitating access to appropriate medical care.

The inaugural Endo360 conference day marked a pioneering effort in the Dominican Republic, emphasizing the importance of addressing endometriosis holistically and creating a vital platform for knowledge exchange and shared experiences between patients and healthcare professionals.

There has also been important discussion about social, economic, and institutional access of families and their need for support in these spheres. While this can certainly help families cope, it does not directly address autism as a condition.

Autism is diagnosed under guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is diagnosed based on social, emotional, and cognitive behavioural deficits and impairments. However, researchers across the globe are searching for testable biomarkers for autism. Autism is therefore a medical-psychiatric/psychological, and mental health diagnosis. It is not an educational diagnosis.

Autism is diagnosed by developmental paediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, or neurologists. Speech and language therapists can assess and contribute to an autism diagnosis, usually as part of a multidisciplinary team. Autism cannot be diagnosed by an educational psychologist. Autism is not a learning disorder, but it is a condition that can have implications for learning. Additionally, people with autism may have learning disorders like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and others, along with their autism diagnosis.

There is an unquestionable need for a comprehensive education policy for children with autism. There is also a need for an approach to lifelong learning with continuous intervention support across the lifespan of all people with autism, of any age. However, some of the most significant contributors to the experience of autism from birth to old age, are matters related to health and mental health. There is therefore a need for a comprehensive autism health policy in Barbados.

How we generally think about autism

When we speak about autism, the focus is usually on the outputs of behaviours and learning and not the inputs to behaviour and learning. That is, we do not focus on what causes behaviour, we tend to look at the behaviour as the starting point and try to stop problematic behaviours. All human behaviours are rooted in functions of the brain and its development – the central nervous system and sensory experience, neurotransmitters, hormones, metabolic processes, motor control and several other integrated biological factors. Behaviour is also influenced by social and emotional factors, but they too are influenced by the workings of the brain as we engage with the physical and social world around us. Doctors, psychiatrists, and psychologists know this but the conversation in Barbados about autism only focuses on teachers and the education system. It is time for the conversation to include health and medical issues in autism intervention, care, and management.

Notably, whenever things reach an emergency point for a child, adolescent or adult with autism, the response is usually a health or mental health response, not an educational response. When people must be hospitalised for gastrointestinal disease, or psychological/psychiatric crises and emergencies, or children medicated to manage their behaviour in classrooms, the response is within the health and mental health systems. So, what happens to create a gap between the moment of diagnosis within the medical-psychiatric-psychological fields and the situations of emergency requiring hospitalisation? How is it within the health fields at the start and in the worst-case scenarios, but in between there, it is treated as an educational matter?

Therapies and education are the engagement tools to stimulate brain plasticity for change and learning to occur. The focus of every therapy is to use an external tool, method, or approach to stimulate an internal change in the brain. The indicator of change is a new output of expected behaviour. But even before we get to therapeutic interventions, even before we get to new learning, there must be consideration of what the child starts with, from the time of conception and development; the state of their health as the foundation for learning; and the early exposures to factors that affect their health and developmental trajectory.

A missing piece of the autism puzzle that we are never speaking about in Barbados is health. Thus, we are only barely touching the surface of the potential autism support that could be available here. There is so much more that needs to be done to optimise the lives, well-being, and full potential of persons with autism.

Health status of women prior to conception and the relationship to autism

For years, it was thought that autism had a genetic basis. However, the most current research on autism recognises the interaction of a combination of both genetic susceptibilities and environmental factors, or epigenetics, as contributing to the development of autism. Epigenetic factors related to autism consider the link between exposure to chemical and environmental toxins and pollution, medications, viruses, bacteria, etc. and the genetic profiles of some individuals. Susceptible people may have difficulty with detoxification and a decreased capacity to reduce the inflammatory responses that exposure to certain environmental factors may trigger.

Recent research, like Association Between Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matters and Risks of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children: a Systematic Review and Exposure-response Meta-analysis, in the Journal of Environmental Research Letters 2021, and other similar research, have identified exposure to and bioaccumulation of toxins within women’s bodies prior to conception. In multiple studies, toxins which have been found in the placenta and cord blood of pregnant women, the breastmilk of mothers, and within some infant formulas, have been identified as related to autism. This means that exposure to environmental pollutants and toxins like heavy metals, pesticides, and many other pollutants may be occurring from conception within the mother-to-be, throughout pregnancy, very soon after birth and in the early infant and toddler period.

Therefore, if we really want to look at making a difference with autism in Barbados, we need to address pollution and toxic chemical and environmental exposures. We need to examine gardening and farming practices that are pesticide, antibiotic and hormone free, rearing animals for consumption that are organically raised and grass fed. It is also necessary to seek to reduce exposures to air pollution and other sources of pollution, so that pre-pregnancy exposures are reduced and developing infants and children are protected from exposure from conception to birth and beyond. There must also be encouragement of breastfeeding by mothers who are eating an organic, non-toxic diet, and provision of safe organic baby foods and infant formulas for our infants and toddlers, as other research has found toxins in some baby food. These types of considerations are a preventative health matter.

The post A Missing Piece of the Autism Puzzle is health – Part 1 appeared first on Barbados Today.

As people across the globe marked World Autism Awareness Day today, Barbadians were not left out. Blue was the hue of the day as individuals wore the colour designated for autism. This evening, members of the Autism Association of Barbados and representatives of both the House of Assembly and Senate converged at the Parliament Buildings which were lit up in the colour which is also associated with calmness and acceptance. Family members Nadia, Aidan, and Robert Simmons were among those in attendance for the lighting up.

(Photo by Jeffrey Bishop)

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“World Autism Awareness Day serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for individuals with ASD”

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday that a person in Texas has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, otherwise known as H5N1 bird flu.

"This person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering," the CDC said in a statement. "The patient was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug for flu."

The CDC said this is the second case of a human testing positive for H5N1 in the United States, after a previous case was observed in Colorado in 2022.

"This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low," it added. "However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection."

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Last week, dairy cows in Texas and Kansas were reported to be infected with bird flu – and federal agriculture officials later confirmed infections in a Michigan dairy herd that had recently received cows from Texas.

This bird flu was first identified as a threat to people during a 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong, according to the Associated Press. More than 460 people have died in the past two decades from bird flu infections, the World Health Organization says.

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Texas officials did not identify the newly infected person, nor release any details about what brought them in contact with the cows.

The CDC said it is "working with state health departments to continue to monitor workers who may have been in contact with infected or potentially infected birds/animals and test those people who develop symptoms." 

"Human illnesses with H5N1 bird flu have ranged from mild (e.g., eye infection, upper respiratory symptoms) to severe illness (e.g., pneumonia) that have resulted in death in other countries," the CDC also said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.