3 April 2020 (UN Environment)* — In recent decades, zoonotic diseases–those transferred from animals to humans–have gained international attention. Ebola, avian influenza (or bird flu), H1N1 flu virus (or swine flu), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Rift Valley fever, sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), West Nile virus, the Zika virus–and now, the novel coronavirus COVID-19–have all either caused or threatened to cause major pandemics, with thousands of deaths and billions in economic losses.
3 April 2020 (UN Environment)* — To help prevent further outbreaks of zoonotic viruses like COVID-19, the illegal wildlife trade and the destruction of habitats must stop. We cannot go back to business as usual. And we will need to rebuild by working with nature, not against it.
According to the president of a country with 210 million inhabitants, the Health Minister, a doctor who recommends social isolation, is not “humble” enough to lead the COVID-19 war.
President Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia, Brazil, March, 2020. | Photo: Twitter/ @festhiago | Photo posted here fromteleSUR’s article.
3 April 2020 (teleSUR)* — After lashing out at his health minister because he does not have a “humble attitude,” Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro Thursday announced that he and other religious leaders will perform a fast as a form of sacrifice to rid Brazil of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CARACAS, Apr 4 2020 (IPS)* – Health systems in Latin America, already falling short in their capacity to serve the population, especially the poor, are in a weak position and face serious risks when it comes to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congestion in public hospitals is frequent in Latin America even without epidemics. Long waits and the need to resort to out-of-pocket spending to obtain medical assistance are common in the region. CREDIT: Courtesy of Integralatampost
Low levels of health spending and a relative scarcity of hospital beds are indicators that most countries in the region do not guarantee universal access to healthcare and risk being overwhelmed by the wave of the new coronavirus.
3 April 2020 (Wall Street International)* — The Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has revealed that there are certain human beings more susceptible to heightened risks of infection, serious illness and death. You hear terms to describe this group of people like the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, impaired respiratory systems, pre-existing conditions, and those whose health is frail etc.
Mexico need external assistance to cope successfully with the forthcoming Coronavirus effects | Image from Wall Street International.
Photo by Cheng Feng/ Unsplash
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 