WHO declares an end to second Ebola outbreak in Guinea

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June 21, 2021

The World Health Organisation has officially announced the end of second Ebola outbreak in Guinea.

The outbreak which was declared in February, had 16 confirmed cases and seven probable infections with 12 lives lost, according to WHO figures.

The limited size of the latest flare-up has been credited to experience from the 2013-16 epidemic, which killed more than 11,300 people mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“I have the honour of declaring the end of Ebola” in Guinea, WHO official Alfred Ki-Zerbo said at a ceremony in the southeastern Nzerekore region where the disease surfaced at the end of January.

International rules meant that Guinea had to wait 42 days — twice the virus’ incubation period — without a new case before declaring the epidemic over.

That wait was over on Friday, weeks after the last person was declared cured on May 8, according to a senior health ministry official.

Health Minister Remy Lamah also declared the outbreak finished “in the name of the head of state” President Alpha Conde.

Saturday’s event in a health ministry building was attended by around 200 people including local religious and community leaders.

“We must also thank the communities who pitched in to overcome the disease,” the WHO’s Ki-Zerbo said.

During the last decade’s outbreak, reluctance and outright hostility towards anti-Ebola infection control measures led some people in Guinea’s forested southeast to attack and even kill government employees.

“Community engagement, effective public health measures and the equitable use of vaccines” had this time been key to overcoming Ebola, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

The UN body said it had delivered around 24,000 vaccine doses to Guinea and that 11,000 people at high risk had received shots, including more than 2,800 frontline workers.

“We’ve beaten Ebola but let’s remain vigilant” read a banner unfurled at Saturday’s ceremony.

“We must stay alert for a possible resurgence and ensure the expertise in Ebola expands to other health threats such as COVID-19,” WHO Africa director Matshidiso Moeti said.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement that genetic sequencing showed links between the previous outbreak and the latest epidemic.

This year’s outbreak could have been caused by “persistent infection in a survivor from the West Africa outbreak” back then, the CDC said, emphasising “the necessity for strong and ongoing survivor programs” as well as more research.

Ebola causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable bleeding.

It is transmitted through close contact with bodily fluids, thereby leaving people who live with or care for patients mostly at risk.

Health Benefits of Cassava Flour

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 21, 2021

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Cassava is a starch-tuber that can be eaten as a whole root or root chips, or grated to make flour for things like bread and crackers. It is also used for puddings or drinks made with tapioca pearls.

Cassava is popular in many parts of Africa, Asia, and South American. Along with other roots and starch-rich foods like yam, taro, plantains, and potato, it’s a necessary part of the carbohydrate diet for millions of people.

Cassava flour is made by grating and drying the fibrous cassava root. It’s a great substitute for wheat and other flours. You can use it in any recipe that calls for wheat flour, making baking and cooking gluten-free meals easy.

Cassava flour is very rich in carbohydrates. A cup of cassava flour (285 grams) has about 110 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, and 4.5 grams of sugar. It’s also rich in vitamin C, with one cup containing close to the recommended daily value.

Cassava Flour and Your Health

Cassava flour can be helpful in many ways:

Cassava can replace wheat flour. It can replace grain-based flour or a gluten-free flour mix. It doesn’t have a strong taste, which makes it great for baking, thickening sauces, or making burger patties. Cassava flour is gluten-free. It is a great choice for gluten-free baking, ideal for people who have gluten sensitivities or disorders.

Cassava flour is low in calories, fat, and sugar. Compared with other gluten-free flours, such as coconut or almond, cassava flour has a low fat content. It has high water content and a lower calorie density than flours like corn, plantain, rice, coconut, sorghum, and wheat.

The best way to use cassava flour is to mix it with other nutrient-dense foods to boost fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Cassava flour is not harmful. But you shouldn’t eat it in its raw form, as it contains cyanogenic glycosides, which can turn into cyanide in the body.

Sweet cassava roots have less than 50 milligrams (mg) per kilogram of hydrogen cyanide on a fresh weight basis, and the bitter types have up to 400 mg per kilogram.

You can reduce cyanide content in cassava by cutting the roots into small pieces, soaking them in water, and then boiling, roasting, sun-drying, fermenting, or grating them. Processed cassava-based products such as tapioca flour have very low cyanide content.

Also Cassava Flour is known to have the following benefits

It’s allergy-friendly

Flour alternatives like cassava flour surely come in handy when it comes to accommodating food allergies and dietary preferences. According to registered dietitian Andrea Mathis, RDN, cassava flour is naturally vegan, plus free of nuts, grain, and gluten making it a great option for those with food sensitivities.

It contains useful nutrients

Thanks to the cassava root, this flour is a good source of vitamin C. “Vitamin C is important for immunity and skin health. It also features some manganese, which is an essential trace mineral, important for bone health.

It’s a great baking alternative

It’s a mild and neutral flavour, which actually makes it preferred in baking, when comparing to other gluten-free flours and since the swap is a simple 1:1 ratio, it makes for a super-easy substitution.

Take-home

Cassava flour is a great grain-free choice, known for its mild and neutral flavor. Not to mention, it’s totally allergy-friendly—ideal for anyone with gluten, nut, and dairy sensitivities. Plus, it’s practically foolproof to swap it in and out of recipes in place of standard flour. Of course, it does cost more than wheat flour and may be slightly more challenging to acquire. But all in all, it’s a fantastic flour substitution for any pantry.

Swedish Government Toppled In Vote Of No Confidence

By

faith Jegede

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June 21, 2021

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FILED - Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven speaks during a press conference on the sidelines of the day two of the EU Summit on Brexit at the European Union headquarters. Lofven will start a visit to South Korea on 18 December 2019. Photo: -/European Council/dpa - ATTENTION: editorial use only and only if the credit mentioned above is referenced in full

Sweden’s parliament has passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. The Social Democrat leader has a week to resign or call a snap election.

A total of 181 of the 349 members of parliaments voted in favor of the motion, with 51 abstentions. It is the first time in Swedish history that a prime minister has been ousted in such a vote.

The result means a collapse of the Social Democrat’s minority coalition government with the Green Party.

If the prime minister decides to step down, the parliament’s speaker will have to begin cross-party negotiations to form a new government.

Sweden’s Left party called for the no-confidence vote last week amid a row over proposals to end a rent cap on new-build flats. The vote was proposed by the nationalist Sweden Democrats and backed by two centre-right opposition parties.

A new government would remain in place until general elections, which are set to take place next year September.

Kano declares state of emergency on open defecation

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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June 21, 2021

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Kano Government has declared a state of emergency on open defecation in the state.

The Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Kabiru Getso, made the announcement, also stating a state of emergency on water, Sanitation and Hygiene

A statement signed by Mr. Sanusi Kofarnaisa, the ministry’s public relations officer, which disclosed this on Sunday, quoted the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as making the declaration at the launch of the “Keep Kano Clean” campaign on Saturday, at the Government House.

It said that the Governor had ordered the state Ministries for the environment and water resources, as well as other relevant agencies, to develop a road map to end the phenomenon.

According to the statement, “The state has also spent more than N20 million for the procurement of sanitation equipment for distribution to 100 self-help groups in the State.”

“The items included wheel-barrows, shovels, rakes, diggers, cutlasses, personal protective equipment like nose masks, hand gloves and rain boots, to protect the people participating in the sanitation exercise.”

Furthermore, the statement said the commissioner had warned the public against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways.

Similarly, he also called for collective efforts to complement the government in keeping Kano clean and free from the effects of flooding and other environmental challenges.

According to the NAN, Governor Ganduje launched a week-long keep Kano clean campaign on Saturday, June 19.

The campaign tagged “Keep Kano Clean 2021”, is an annual project of the Ganduje administration, usually launched shortly before the rainy season.

The exercise featured a series of activities that included awareness creation on community participation in environmental hygiene and the mass clearance of drains across the state.

Impressive Benefits of Combining Garlic and Ginger

By

Olasunbo Okoromi

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June 21, 2021

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Garlic and ginger are both famous for their health benefits.

Decades of scientific research have shown that these popular ingredients have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may offer some protection against disease.

Combining them may also have health-promoting effects. You could do this by consuming them in dishes like stir-fries, soups or by taking them as supplements form, or even more beneficial as Tea

Provides anti-inflammatory benefits

One of the most well-known benefits of both ginger and garlic is their ability to decrease inflammation. Although the body’s inflammatory response is essential for keeping you healthy, chronic inflammation is linked to the progression of many diseases, including heart disease and certain cancers. Garlic and ginger contain powerful anti-inflammatory plant compounds that may help inhibit pro-inflammatory proteins associated with chronic inflammation.

Interestingly, different preparations of garlic contain different types of anti-inflammatory organosulfur compounds. Fresh garlic is packed with S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (alliin), γ-glutamyl cysteine derivatives while dried garlic powder contains the compounds alliin, diallyl disulfide (DADS) and Ground garlic offers sulfide family compounds, dithiines and (E–Z)-ajoene compounds.

Ginger is loaded with anti-inflammatory substances as well, including the phenolic compounds gingerols and shogaols. A number of studies have demonstrated that ginger and garlic have anti-inflammatory effects.

One of such is a 2020 review of 109 high quality studies found that ginger may be particularly effective when people with arthritis use it to reduce inflammation and pain.

Little is known about the combined effects of ginger and garlic on inflammation in humans. However, based on the available research, it’s likely that using garlic and ginger together could help reduce markers of inflammation.

May protect against cellular damage

Oxidative stress occurs when there’s an overload of molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) that overwhelm your body’s defenses.

The body’s antioxidant defense system includes antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. These help keep the level of ROS in balance. However, when this system is overwhelmed, oxidative stress occurs, which leads to cellular damage.

Studies show that garlic and ginger may help reduce markers of oxidative stress, including the highly reactive and damaging compound malondialdehyde.

May Benefit cognitive health

Regular consumption of garlic and ginger or taking garlic and ginger supplements may help protect your brain and improve cognition. Some population studies have suggested that consuming garlic may be particularly helpful for protecting against cognitive impairment in certain populations.

A 2019 population study that included 27,437 older Chinese people found that those who consumed garlic more frequently were less likely to experience cognitive impairment. They also lived longer than those who rarely consumed garlic. More research is needed on this phenomenon, especially in other groups of people.

Studies have shown that taking garlic powder may improve memory and attention in healthy adults . Research suggests the organosulfur compounds in garlic may help protect against nerve cell inflammation and degeneration.

Research has also linked ginger to cognitive benefits. In a 2011 study, taking 400 or 800 mg of ginger extract per day for 2 months helped improve cognitive performance and memory in healthy women, compared with a placebo.

May reduce heart disease risk factors

Studies have shown that garlic and ginger have strong heart-protective properties and may help decrease some risk factors of heart disease, including, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels.

A 2014 review of 22 high quality studies found that consuming garlic powder significantly reduced levels of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as fasting blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

Other studies have shown that garlic helps reduce blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, and that it helps prevent atherosclerosis, or the buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Studies have also linked ginger to heart health benefits. A 2017 study including 4,628 participants found that consuming 1 gram of ginger daily decreased people’s risk of high blood pressure and coronary heart disease by 8% and 13%, respectively.

Ginger supplements may also help improve blood sugar control and reduce levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and inflammatory markers in people with diabetes. This is significant because people with diabetes have an increased risk of heart disease.

Therefore, consuming garlic and ginger regularly or taking garlic and ginger supplements may help you promote heart health.

However, you should check with a healthcare professional before taking high dose garlic and ginger supplements because they may interact with certain medications. These include blood thinners, which healthcare professionals use to treat heart disease.

May be beneficial for those with diabetes

Garlic and ginger may help reduce blood sugar levels and improve other markers of health in people with diabetes.

A 2020 study in 103 people with type 2 diabetes gave participants 1.2 grams of ginger supplements daily for 90 days. Those who took it experienced a greater reduction in blood sugar and total cholesterol levels than those who took a placebo.

Potential anticancer properties

Some evidence suggests that a diet rich in garlic and ginger may help protect against certain types of cancer. This may be due to their concentration of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that help protect against cellular damage.

For example, results from population studies have suggested that people who consume more garlic in their diet are less likely to develop colorectal cancer.

A 2020 study in 660 Puerto Rican women found that high garlic and onion consumption was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Studies have also found that garlic intake is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer and gastric cancer.

May promote a healthy immune response

Garlic and ginger have potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. Thus, adding them to your diet may help keep your immune system healthy.

Garlic contains compounds, including allicin and diallyl sulfide, that may help enhance immune cell activity and inhibit the expression of inflammatory proteins like interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and TNF-α.

They may also decrease the production of damaging molecules by suppressing certain enzymes.

Ginger may also help promote immune health by inhibiting your cells from producing proteins that promote inflammation, like TNF-α and interleukin-8 (IL-8).

Garlic and ginger offer powerful antiviral and antibacterial effects against a variety of pathogens, including the flu and respiratory infections.

Combining Garlic and Ginger in foods have long been the practice among some people and some even go ahead to grate fresh garlic and ginger and drink as a hot Drink and have been enjoy the benefits of these two great spices. However, if you’re interested in taking high dose of garlic and ginger supplements, speak with your healthcare professional first. This is especially important if you have a medical condition or are currently taking medication.

KwaHlathi ‘Diamonds’ Turn Out To Be Quartz Stones

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 21, 2021

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Unidentified stones that lured thousands of fortune seekers to a rural South African village to mine the land with picks and shovels were not diamonds as hoped, officials said on Sunday, but quartz stones with relatively low, if any, value.

People from across South Africa travelled to KwaHlathi in the country’s eastern KwaZulu-Natal province where villagers had been digging since June 12 after a herder discovered the first stone in an open field and put out the word.

Provincial executive council member for economic development and tourism, Ravi Pillay, told a media briefing on Sunday he had counted some 3,000 there during a visit to the site, where samples were taken to identify the stones.

“The tests conducted conclusively revealed that the stones discovered in the area are not diamonds as some had hoped,” he said, adding they were in fact quartz crystals.

“The value, if any, of the quartz crystals is yet to be established but it must be mentioned that the value of quartz crystals is very low compared to that of diamonds.”

The event had highlighted the socio-economic challenges faced by local people, he continued. Like many areas in South Africa, high levels of unemployment and poverty have left communities living hand to mouth.

People in the area had also raised concerns specifically around roads and water during the visit, which officials at the briefing said they would address.

Meanwhile, the number of people mining the land had dwindled to less than 500, Pillay continued, though significant damage had already been done with an area of around 50 hectares covered in holes of up to one metre, posing a danger to cattle.

Euro 2020: Turkish Defender, Demiral Apologises After Swiss Defeat

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 20, 2021

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Switzerland face an anxious wait to see if they will make Euro 2020’s last 16 after Xherdan Shaqiri’s superb double helped them secure third place in Group A on Sunday with a 3-1 win over a dismal Turkey, who were sent packing after another defeat.

The Swiss, who finished level on four points with Wales but behind on goal difference, will hope to secure a spot in the knockout round as one of the four best third-placed finishers from the six groups.

Turkey, who finished fourth with three defeats, were tipped as pre-tournament dark horses but instead will head home after a hugely disappointing campaign that saw them lose all three games, conceding eight goals and scoring only once.

The game encapsulated Turkey’s tournament, as they began full of fire and fury and started at a scintillating pace, only to collapse quickly as Switzerland outmanoeuvred them tactically to take an early lead.

The Swiss took the lead when Haris Seferovic received a pass from Steven Zuber on the edge of the area before rifling the ball into the bottom right corner in the sixth minute.

Exasperated, Turkey regrouped and tried again, only to go 2-0 down 20 minutes later when Zuber found Shaqiri in a similar position, and he curled an exquisite shot beyond the despairing dive of Ugurcan Cakir.

Turkey had their chances, but Swiss keeper Yann Sommer made a string of superb first-half saves as they searched for their first goal of the tournament.

Irfan Kahveci finally delivered it, salvaging some pride for the Turks in the 62nd minute with a spectacular strike from distance to reduce the deficit.

Whatever joy their thousands of supporters in the stands felt was short-lived as their shortcomings were shown up again six minutes later as Shaqiri fired home another Zuber pass to complete a surging counter-attack.

With Shaqiri withdrawn, Granit Xhaka hit a post with a powerful free kick as the Swiss continued to chase the goals that might have enabled them to take second spot, but to no avail.

With Burak Yilmaz was left isolated up front, the Turkish challenge fell away. All too often, they settled for wild shots from distance, but it was the defence that was the source of their problems.

Switzerland created 23 scoring opportunities, getting 10 of them on target, and Turkey never got to grips with the scheming Zuber as he set up all three goals.

“When the expectations are high, the disappointment is bigger … I apologise to our nation. I trust my friends, we have learned a lot from this experience,” defender Merih Demiral told Turkish TV.

The Swiss will now have to wait for the knockout picture to become clearer, but their industrious performance and Shaqiri’s finishing bodes well for the next phase if they make it.

“I think we played like a unit, and it was crucial today against this team. We knew if we play good we’re going to create a lot of chances against this team, and we did so,” Shaqiri said.

KwaHlathi ‘Diamond’ Turn Out To Be Quartz Stones

By

Angel Gimalo

-

June 20, 2021

0

Unidentified stones that lured thousands of fortune seekers to a rural South African village to mine the land with picks and shovels were not diamonds as hoped, officials said on Sunday, but quartz stones with relatively low, if any, value.

People from across South Africa travelled to KwaHlathi in the country’s eastern KwaZulu-Natal province where villagers had been digging since June 12 after a herder discovered the first stone in an open field and put out the word.

Provincial executive council member for economic development and tourism, Ravi Pillay, told a media briefing on Sunday he had counted some 3,000 there during a visit to the site, where samples were taken to identify the stones.

“The tests conducted conclusively revealed that the stones discovered in the area are not diamonds as some had hoped,” he said, adding they were in fact quartz crystals.

“The value, if any, of the quartz crystals is yet to be established but it must be mentioned that the value of quartz crystals is very low compared to that of diamonds.”

The event had highlighted the socio-economic challenges faced by local people, he continued. Like many areas in South Africa, high levels of unemployment and poverty have left communities living hand to mouth.

People in the area had also raised concerns specifically around roads and water during the visit, which officials at the briefing said they would address.

Meanwhile, the number of people mining the land had dwindled to less than 500, Pillay continued, though significant damage had already been done with an area of around 50 hectares covered in holes of up to one metre, posing a danger to cattle.

President Ghani’s Visit To Highlight Enduring Partnership Between U.S and Afghanistan

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 20, 2021

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U.S. President Joe Biden will meet at the White House with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah on Friday to discuss U.S. troop withdrawal amid a surge in fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban across the country.

In their first face-to-face meeting, Biden will seek to reassure Ghani and Abdullah of U.S. support for the Afghan people including diplomatic, economic and humanitarian assistance, the White House said in a statement. Biden will also repeat his pledge to ensure that the country never becomes a safe haven for terrorist groups.

“The visit by President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah will highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues,” the White House said.

However, since Biden’s decision in April to pull out all U.S. troops before Sept. 11 to end America’s longest war after nearly 20 years of conflict, at least 30 districts have been seized by the Taliban.

The group has staged a campaign to expand its influence across the country as the United States began withdrawing troops on May 1 and closed some bases and handed them over to the Afghan government.

The Taliban said the visit would be “useless.”

“They (Ghani and Abdullah) will talk with the U.S. officials for preservation of their power and personal interest,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. “It won’t benefit Afghanistan.”

There was no immediate reaction from Ghani’s office but a senior Afghan official said the Afghan president would be seeking assurances from the United States over its continued support for Afghan security forces in the aftermath of the withdrawal.

The visit would also come in the face of slow progress in talks between the Taliban and Afghan government representatives in Qatar. Officials have raised concerns over the stalling negotiations and have said the Taliban has not yet submitted a written peace proposal that could be used as a starting point for substantive talks.

In May, U.S. intelligence analysts released an assessment that the Taliban “would roll back much” of the progress made in Afghan women’s rights if the Islamist extremists regained national power.

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur Makes History With WTA Title Win

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 20, 2021

0

Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur made history on Sunday when she became the first Arab woman to win a WTA title, beating Russian Daria Kasatkina in the final of the grasscourt event in Birmingham.

Jabeur, a trailblazer for North African women’s tennis, won 7-5 6-4 to finally claim a title after losing two previous finals.

“I’m so proud. I’ve struggled a lot and it was tough for me to win a WTA title,” Jabeur told the crowd on the Ann Jones Centre Court. “I had to go for it. I had to win this title just to breathe out a little bit and also to be the example.

“There are not a lot of Arabic or Tunisian players playing and I hope this inspires them to go on and do more. I want to see more of them playing alongside me.”

Jabeur, known for her creative shot-making and a trademark dropshot, had lost to Kasatkina in the final in Moscow in 2018 but got the better of the Russian his time.

“The last time I played Dasha I lost and I was crying. This morning I was thinking am I going to be crying and disappointed tonight or am I going to celebrate?,” second-seed Jabeur said.