The outbreak of avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus in eastern China^1,2 has reminded the world of the imminent threat of unexpected pathogens, including an "old" virus, influenza. Recent conversation has centered on H5N1, H9N2, H7N3, and H7N7, but never before had we considered H7N9 to be the cause of outbreaks of human infection or the next possible pandemic. Maybe we have to take a closer look at the possibility of reassortment among any of the 16 hemagglutinins and 9 neuraminidases subtypes, and even within the newly identified bat-derived, influenza-like virus H17N10.^3,4

A new coronavirus, called human coronavirus Erasmus Medical Center (hCoV-EMC) (with a recent proposed new name as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV in abbreviation), has caused alarm in the Middle East, as human infection was first reported in March 2012.⁵ In one year, as of May 12, 2013, there have been 34 cases, with 18 fatalities in total (www.who.org). More importantly, human-to-human transmission has been reported, with second-generation infections in France and the UK in those individuals who have had close contact with patients with a history of travel to the Middle East.

Less publicized but equally significant, the recently emerged severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) expanded its geographic spectrum in 2012 - 2013, from China to the USA, and now to Japan.

SFTSV-induced disease was first suspected in China in 2009, and the virus was isolated and confirmed in 2011.⁶ SFTSV is a new member of the genus Phlebovirus, with over 70 known members in the genus, which is in the family Bunyaviridae. Although the phlebovirus has been found in Africa and Europe for many years, SFTSV is the first-ever virus of this type isolated in China.^6,7,8,9,10 The virus is known as the Heartland virus after the name of the place (Heartland, Missouri) where the virus was first isolated in the USA. The Heartland virus is phylogenetically distinct from SFTSV isolated in China, although similar clinical manifestations have been observed.⁹

Medical personnel in the town of Purranque, Chile have a medical mystery on their hands, one that is getting a lot of attention outside their region.

20-year-old Yaritza Oliva has been crying tears of blood starting a month ago. Much of Oliva's crying is not voluntary and occurs several times a day, which she describes as a very painful experience.

Oliva's parents do not have the resources to have the condition further diagnosed and are currently treating the bleeding with eye drops. The family is seeking financial help to take Oliva to a larger city for medical attention.

Refined carbohydrates such as corn syrup could trigger food cravings not unlike the cravings that drug addicts experience, new research suggests.

The findings, which are published today (June 26) in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that the quick spike and subsequent crash in blood sugar that comes after eating highly processed carbs activates reward and addiction centers in the brain.

The study was small and looked only at overweight and obese men, but if the findings can be replicated in a larger population, they would imply that avoiding refined carbohydrates is a good weight-loss strategy because people would avoid not only the calories, but the strong cravings they induce.

"Refined carbohydrates seem to be able to provoke food cravings many hours after consumption, at least in susceptible people," said study co-author David Ludwig, the director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center in Boston. "Limiting these foods could help overweight people avoid overeating."

Christopher Gardner, a nutrition scientist at Stanford University Medical Center who was not involved in the study, said that this study and others looking at the question of whether refined carbs can truly be addictive may have implications for how these foods should be regulated.

"If it can be demonstrated that addictive foods are bypassing an individual's ability to regulate their intake, then the possibility of designing, passing and enforcing legislation to help support Americans in making healthier food choices becomes more of a reality," Gardner wrote in an email to LiveScience.

Gardasil and Cervarix Don't Work, Are Dangerous, and Weren't Tested

Dr. Diane Harper was the lead researcher in the development of the human papilloma virus vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix. She is the latest to come forward and question the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines. She made the surprising announcement at the 4th International Public Conference on Vaccination, which took place in Reston, Virginia on Oct. 2nd through 4th, 2009. Her speech was supposed to promote the Gardasil and Cervarix vaccines, but she instead turned on her corporate bosses in a very public way. When questioned about the presentation, audience members remarked that they came away feeling that the vaccines should not be used.

"I came away from the talk with the perception that the risk of adverse side effects is so much greater than the risk of cervical cancer, I couldn't help but question why we need the vaccine at all." - Joan Robinson

I now have the official CDC flu-death statistics for the year 2010.

They were provided to me by Martin Maloney, who, some years ago, contacted me to show how the CDC was lying all the way along the line about numbers of flu deaths. Many thanks, Martin, for your good work.

2010 is apparently the most recent year for which the CDC has issued a final report. It was released on May 13 of this year.

The report comes through a sub-agency of the CDC, the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).

On page 89 of the report, "Deaths: Final Data for 2010," in Table 10, we find the following:

• Influenza and Pneumonia [deaths]: 50,097.
• Influenza [deaths]: 500.
• Pneumonia [deaths]: 49,597.

In 2010, the CDC reports 500 deaths from the flu.

But the CDC PR people have trumpeted, over and over, that 36,000 people die every year in the US from the flu.

They've hyped this number, to emphasize how dangerous the flu is. They use the 36,000 number as a way to promote the flu vaccine. They use it to work for their pimps in the pharmaceutical industy.

Researchers have discovered a new virus in patients in Vietnam suffering from severe brain infections, a team of scientists reported today in mBio, the journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

The virus was detected in 28 of 644 patients who had severe brain infections and none of 122 patients who had non-infectious brain disorders, according to researchers at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Wellcome Trust South East Asia Major Overseas Programme and the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam. It's tentatively called CyCV-VN and is part of a group of viruses known as Circoviridae known to circulate in animals such as birds and pigs, they said.

New studies in cell research are bringing up some alarming new questions concerning GMOs, and one of them in particular makes liver failure or cancer seem like child's play compared to the garish possibilities that arise when we start to look at how genetically modified foods likely affect our DNA.

Let's get one thing straight, first. All kinds of things can alter our DNA, for the better or worse. Bruce Lipton, a pioneering biology scientist, proved that emotions can change our DNA; research has shown that even exercise or chemotherapy can alter our DNA; ancient cultures have known that sound can affect our DNA; and the newest research states that we aren't relegated to a specific destiny because of our genes, but it seems our brains are being rewired via DNA to become 'new humans.'

Our DNA contains two strands of nucleotides that make up its stair-like structure. Each nucleotide contains one of four bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) a phosphate group and a sugar molecule. The bases contain nitrogen, which bond in very specific ways. In one species the way the four bases connect to each other are very different than how they will organize in another.

In fact, double stranded RNA (dRNA) GMO created by Monsanto can allegedly turn off certain gene signals and turn on others. Usually, if you put in a Roundup ready gene into a plant, it requires a protein that can make a Roundup ready plant that can resist Roundup and still grow. However, the new dRNA can survive without protein synthesis. This allows the dRNA to alter genes.

Disturbing discoveries relating to glyphosate - the active ingredient in Monsanto's broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup - keep emerging. No less than two shocking discoveries recently went public on the same day...

Earlier this month, groundbreaking research was published detailing a newfound mechanism of harm of the chemical.

Now, testing shows that people in 18 countries across Europe have glyphosate in their bodies, while yet another study reveals that the chemical has estrogenic properties and drive breast cancer proliferation in the parts-per-trillion range2. As reported by GreenMedinfo.com:

"Does this help explain the massive mammary tumors that the only long term animal feeding study on Roundup and GM corn ever performed recently found?"

Meanwhile, a new EU-US free trade agreement, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), has again cracked the door open for genetically engineered (GE) crops and foods into Europe.

This may effectively negate the hard work Europeans have done to limit the proliferation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their food supply, and with genetically engineered "Roundup Ready" crops and the food made from it come increased glyphosate exposure...

A 31-year old woman's heart problems and fainting might have had something to do with the fact that she drank only soda for about half her life, according to a report of her case.

The woman, who lives in Monaco, a small country near southern France, was brought to a hospital after she fainted. A blood test showed she had severely low potassium levels. And a test of her heart's electrical activity revealed she had a condition called long QT syndrome, which can cause erratic heart beats.

The woman did not have a family history of heart or hormone problems. But she told her doctors that, since the age of 15, she had not drunk any water - soda (specifically cola) was the only liquid she consumed. She drank about 2 liters (2 quarts) of cola daily, she said.

After abstaining from soda for just one week, the woman's potassium levels and heart electrical activity returned to normal.

Drinking too much cola may cause excess water to enter the bowels, which in turn leads to diarrhea, and loss of potassium, the researchers said. High amounts of caffeine can also increase urine production and decrease potassium reabsorption, the researchers said. Potassium plays a role in helping a person's heartbeat, and low levels of potassium may cause heart rhythm problems.

I recently spent the day with the family at the Taste of Colorado, a food and music festival in downtown Denver.

As soon as we got there, I spotted the bungee trapeze ride and ran to get in line. I was the only adult (past age 11) who was in line, but I didn't care. I'm a big kid and I'll never grow up.

As soon as I got strapped in, my heart was in my throat. I realized what I had gotten into. I exploded into the sky and I could feel my blood pressure rise. I bounced up and down into the sky for a several minutes. It took me awhile to come off that high.

If I had measured my blood pressure right after that craziness, I'm sure it would've been sky high.

Unfortunately, for many of Americans, elevated blood pressure is happening on a daily basis - without the bungee trapeze.

The most common diagnosis at the doctor's office is high blood pressure (hypertension). This affects Americans at a staggering rate, now reaching 1 in 3 Americans. Having a blood pressure reading that is greater than 140/90 on 3 occasions warrants the diagnosis of hypertension.

Addressing this for one's health is crucial because high blood pressure is the single most important risk factor for the development of heart attacks and stroke.

Health care costs related to hypertension reach several hundred billions of dollars per year, and that number probably won't change anytime soon. Hypertension costs 12% of total US health care costs - more than $185 billion per year. Madness, isn't it?