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US faces triple epidemic of flu, RSV, and covid
The US is now in a flu epidemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and faces a triple epidemic of flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in young children, and covid-19, as cases rise and new variants appear, said a report by the British Medical Journal.
The BMJ report by award-winning medical journalist who writes for the public and for doctors, Janice Hopkins Tanne, says: Many precautions, such as mask wearing and social distancing, have been discarded and few Americans have taken the latest bivalent vaccines, behavioural changes that may have contributed to the spread of the viruses.
The CDC has reported that the early increases in seasonal influenza cases have continued nationwide. The south eastern and south central areas of the country had the highest levels of activity followed by the mid-Atlantic and the south central west coast regions. A second child is reported to have died from influenza.
So far this season, the CDC estimates there have been at least 1?600?000 illnesses, 13?000 hospital admissions, and 730 deaths from flu. It recommended that people over six months old receive an annual flu vaccine.Jose Romero, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said, “We’re seeing the highest influenza hospital admission rates for a decade.”
At the same time, cases of RSV have increased across most of the country. Most children get an RSV infection and recover by the time they are two years old. RSV has symptoms similar to a cold or flu, but it can be dangerous and sometimes fatal. There is no vaccine, although several are in development.
RSV is especially dangerous for premature infants, infants younger than six months, children younger than two years old who have chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, children with weakened immune systems, and children who have neuromuscular disorders, including those who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus secretions. RSV can cause severe illness such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The CDC said that 1-2% of children younger than six months with RSV infection may need to be admitted to hospital—58?000 to 80?000 children each year.RSV can also be serious for older adults and an infection can worsen chronic health problems such as asthma or congestive heart failure.
Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions are rising modestly for the first time in several months but have increased dramatically in several states in the south and west. Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah have seen a 50% increase in cases in the past two weeks, according to the New York Times tracker. Hospital admissions have increased by 20% or more in eight states. Deaths have remained at about 350 per day. Until recently the BA.5 variant was the most common, but two new variants—BQ.1.1 and BQ.1—are increasing from about 3% of cases two weeks ago to about 11% now.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
