World
El Nino may transport cholera-like diseases: Study
London: El Nino, the climate cycle that develops along the tropical west coast of South America every 3 to 7 years, could be transporting cholera-like diseases through bacteria that thrive in seawater, a study said.
A team of international researchers observed that reported illnesses caused by waterborne bacteria in Latin America seemed to be moving in tandem with when and where warm El Nino waters made contact with the land.
Drawing on new data derived from whole genome sequencing of bacterial strains, they suggested there were links between organisms that were causing illnesses in Asia with those that emerged in South America.
The study, published in the journal Nature Microbiology, found that over the past 30 years, coinciding with the last three significant El Nino events, new variants of waterborne pathogens emerged in Latin America.
The study linked the phenomenon with the 1990 cholera outbreak in Peru that claimed over 13,000 lives, and two instances in 1997 and 2010 where new variants of the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus led to a widespread human illness through contaminated shellfish.
“Through our findings we suggest that so-called vibrios, microscopic bacteria commonly found in seawater, can attach to larger organisms such as zooplankton to travel oceans,” said lead author Dr Jaime Martinez-Urtaza from the University of Bath.
“The effects of El Nino events and their impacts on local weather, fisheries and the risk of more extreme meteorological events are already well documented. Understanding the role, the ocean currents are playing in transporting these diseases, has a huge significance for public health campaigns in those countries,” he added.
“An El Nino event could represent an efficient long-distance ‘biological corridor’, allowing the displacement of marine organisms from distant areas,” said study co-author Dr Craig Baker-Austin from Britain’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture.
“This process could provide both a periodic and unique source of new pathogens in America with serious implications for the spread and control of diseases,” he warned.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.