‘Totally drug-resistant’ tuberculosis now sweeping India, 25% fatality rate so far

A highly-contagious lung disease that has become increasingly difficult to treat, tuberculosis (TB) appears to be making a deadly comeback in India. As was predicted by the World Health Organization (WHO) back in 2009, drug-resistant strains of TB for which there is…

‘Big Latch On’ holds breastfeeding awareness day to help eliminate cultural stigmas

(NaturalNews) Mothers who breastfeed their babies in public are probably used to frequent stares and occasional negative comments about keeping such affairs in private. However, Big Latch On , an international group started in 2005 to promote breastfeeding, is hoping to change the cultural stigmas that look down on breastfeeding, and raise awareness about its importance for childhood health and development. On Saturday, August 6, 2011, a provisional total of 4,123 women from 294 different locations around the world gathered together to breastfeed their babies simultaneously. Big Latch On, which partnered with La Leche League USA and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Breastfeeding Week to coordinate the event, had attempted to break the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records total of 15,128 simultaneous breast feedings at 295 sites across the Philippines. “This is the first year the event has been held nationally in the USA so this is a really fantastic start,” said Annie Brown, a Le Leche League Leader from Connecticut and coordinator of this year’s event. “Now we have our own record to beat next year!” The cultural stigma against breastfeeding in public has contributed to many mothers choosing to simply bottle-feed their babies instead. Breastfeeding is vital for the proper development of babies, as it contains countless immunoglobulins and antibodies that build a healthy immune system and promote vibrant development. Baby formula, of course, simply cannot achieve any of this and widespread acceptance of breastfeeding is crucial (http://www.naturalnews.com/031663_breast_milk_nutrition.html). “This event is held to develop the support of local communities for the wonderful job that nursing mamas do,” said Joanne Edwards, another Big Latch On coordinator. “I know many friendships were formed … and all those who were involved had lots of fun. It is really important that we continue to make nursing in public a normal and supported part of having a child.” Sources for this story include: http://www.biglatchon.org/index.html http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2254752&spid=

Antimicrobial copper kills 97 percent of deadly bacteria, reduces infection rate by 40 percent

(NaturalNews) A new study presented at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 1st International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) in Geneva, Switzerland, has revealed that the use of antimicrobial copper surfaces in hospitals helps reduce the rate of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) by 40 percent. The metal also effectively kills 97 percent of bacteria, as well as many viral and fungal pathogens. Conducted at three intensive care units (ICUs) in the US, the study found that when conventional surfaces were replaced with copper surfaces, patient HAI rates dropped by 40.4 percent. And direct tests involving deadly pathogens and copper surfaces revealed that the antimicrobial metal quickly and effectively kills the vast majority of pathogens it comes into contact with, including many pathogens that have developed resistance to antibiotics and other drug interventions. “Copper’s rapid destruction of pathogens could prevent mutational resistance developing and also help reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance genes to receptive and potentially more virulent organisms, as well as genes responsible for virulence,” said Prof. Bill Keevil, head of the Microbiology Group and director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit at the University of Southampton in the UK. “Additionally, copper touch surfaces could have a key role in preventing the transmission of healthcare-associated infections. Extensive laboratory tests have demonstrated copper’s antimicrobial efficacy against key organisms responsible for these infections, and clinical trials around the world are now reporting on its efficacy in busy, real-world environments.” The findings support previous ones involving antimicrobial silver, which is also known to have powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal capabilities. In 2008, a company actually developed antimicrobial silver hospital pajamas for patients concerned about contracting deadly hospital superbugs like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (http://www.naturalnews.com/023879_silver_health_hospital.html). “Bacteria present on ICU room surfaces are probably responsible for 35 to 80 percent of patient infections, demonstrating how critical it is to keep hospitals clean,” said Dr. Michael Schmidt, professor and vice chairman of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), one of the three hospitals involved in the trial. “The copper objects used in the clinical trial supplemented cleaning protocols, lowered microbial levels, and resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the number of infections contracted by patients treated in those rooms.” Sources for this story include: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/01/us-copper-antimicrobial-idUSTRE76031820110701 http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-07/uos-cri070111.php

Important steps to help protect yourself against harmful radiation

(NaturalNews) Damaging radiation comes from many everyday sources besides just damaged nuclear power reactors. Mobile phones and their signal towers, wireless cards and their network routers, airplanes, microwaves, and many other devices all emit radiation, and prolonged exposure to them can lead to serious health problems including cancer. But there are some simple steps you can take to help minimize exposure to radiation of all forms. As we have written about previously on NaturalNews , one of the best ways to help mitigate exposure to radiation is to load up on superfoods like chlorella and spirulina, both of which have demonstrated radioprotective benefits. You can learn more about these amazing sea-based superfoods by visiting: http://www.naturalnews.com/031779_spirulina_radiation.html Iodine, another sea-based nutrient, offers radioprotection as well, and it is important for the glandular system. The thyroid gland in particular, which requires iodine in order to produce healthy levels of thyroid hormones, will quickly deteriorate in the presence of radiation if it does not have enough iodine. In the US especially, where iodine deficiency is prevalent, it is crucial to supplement daily with high-quality iodine in order to maintain proper glandular function (http://www.naturalnews.com/031708_iodine_radiation.html). “Any iodine in your diet will be protective against the destructive radioactive iodine that is one of the by-products of uncontrolled nuclear fission reactions,” says Dr. David Blyweiss, an expert in nutrition and functional medicine.” While there is little that can be done to avoid potential exposure to the radiation continuously being emitted by Fukushima, there are ways you can help reduce your exposure to the continuous stream of radiation emitted from your cell phone: – When not in use, keep your cell phone away from your body as much as possible. Mobile phones constantly communicate with radio towers even when not in use, which means they are constantly emitting damaging electromagnetic radiation. – When charging your cell phone at night, keep it at least five feet away from your body. Remember, those radioactive signals will be transmitting all night long, so the farther your phone is away from your body, the better. – When using your cell phone, always wear a headset device that maintains a distance between the transmission antenna and your head. Holding a cell phone right against your ear sends a steady stream of radiation directly in the brain, and even the World Health Organization (WHO) now admits that cell phones are a potential carcinogen (http://www.naturalnews.com/032609_cell_phones_cancer.html). Sources for this story include: http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=11314&Section=Vitamins

WHO panel warns that cell phone use may cause cancer

(NaturalNews) Scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a group affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO), say that mobile phones are a “possible” carcinogen that may be a cause of cancer. The findings, which support previous research on the subject, add to the growing body of evidence which suggests that the electromagnetic radiation emitted from mobile phones causes serious health problems. “A positive association has been observed between exposure to the agent and cancer for which a causal interpretation is considered … to be credible,” states the IARC. However, in the same train of thought, the agency claims that evidence is “limited” to suggest that mobile phone usage is linked to glioma or acoustic neuroma, two types of brain cancer. In 2009, IARC published a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that linked mobile phone usage to an 18 percent increase in brain tumor risk. And because it was observed that such tumors tended to form on the sides of brains where mobile phones were primarily used, the connection between the two is even more striking (http://www.naturalnews.com/027448_cell_phone_brain_health.html). Another report issued in 2010 by the International Electromagnetic Field Cooperative (IEFC) also found a link between mobile phone usage and increased rates of brain tumors. Included in this report is a Swedish study that found a 420 percent increase in brain cancer rates among children who began using mobile and cordless phones as teenagers, as opposed to those that did not (http://www.naturalnews.com/028078_cell_phones_brain_cancer.html). With all of this research now available and the latest announcement from IARC, one would think more people would be concerned about the risks involved with the excessive use of mobile phones and looking for less-risky alternatives or using hands-free devices at the very least. But because the period between when a cancer patient is exposed to this radiation and when he or she develops tumors typically spans several decades, some experts claim that the link between the two is inconclusive and are content to tell the public there is really little to worry about. Sources for this story include: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110531/ap_on_he_me/eu_med_cellphones_and_cancer

Do cell phones cause cancer?

(NaturalNews) This week the World Health Organizations officially classified cellphones as possibly carcinogenic to humans. This statement was made from a team of 31 scientists from 14 countries who made this decision after reviewing the data from previous peer-reviewed studies. The team looked for links between cancer and the type of radiation found in cellphones. Their conclusion was to classify cellphones in category 2B which means cellphones are possibly carcinogenic to humans. Other compounds in the 2B category include lead, nickel, DDT, chloroform and gasoline exhaust. Dr. Christopher Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said this new WHO report is important “first and foremost just because of the large number of users worldwide that have access now to this technology.” Globally, it’s estimated there are 5 billion cell phones being used, that’s three fourths of the population on earth. However, because cellphone usage habits have changed since the early studies, it’s difficult to know whether the conclusions from previous studies are still relevant today. Also, the current studies haven’t looked at usage longer than 10 years. So, there is a lot more research to be conducted to get a clear sense of whether cell phones actually cause cancer. In the meantime, if you are concerned about any potential health risks of cellphones the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have suggested some steps to take including: – Use of cell phones mainly for shorter conversations, or for times when a landline phone is not available. – Switch to a cell phone with a hands-free device that will place more distance between the phone and your head. Sources: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/cellular.html http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/HomeBusinessandEntertainment/CellPhones/ucm116293.htm

Swine flu vaccine linked to 900 percent increased risk of developing narcolepsy

(NaturalNews) The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently investigating reports from 12 different countries claiming that the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination is responsible for causing narcolepsy, a disorder involving extreme chronic fatigue and the tendency to fall asleep suddenly and without warning. One of the reports from Finland, for instance, found that children who received the swine flu vaccine were 900 percent more likely to develop narcolepsy than non-vaccinated children. “Since August 2010, following widespread use of vaccines against influenza (H1N1) 2009, cases of narcolepsy, especially in children and adolescents, have been reported from at least 12 countries,” said WHO. ” Officials admit the concerns are valid and say they will look into them further, but WHO continues to recommend swine flu vaccines anyway, including GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Pandemrix. The Finnish study, which was released by Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), stopped short of fully blaming the vaccines, adding a caveat about a possible “joint effect of the vaccine and some other factor(s).” But the vaccine is clearly correlated to the condition, and by all preliminary appearances, seems to be a primary causative factor. Considering WHO’s lead role in promoting the swine flu “pandemic” that led to mass vaccination campaigns in the first place, it is highly unlikely that this corrupt agency will ever come out and condemn swine flu vaccines, no matter how many reports and studies emerge. After all, admission that the vaccines were not all they were claimed to be would expose the agency as a purveyor of lies. Early in 2010, the truth came out that WHO’s pandemic was nothing more than an organized farce to generate fear and reap obscene profits. Drug companies were exposed for putting pressure on WHO to declare a pandemic in order to push their vaccines. GlaxoSmithKline’s Pandemix raked in over $1.4 billion as a result of the scare campaign (http://www.naturalnews.com/027984_swine_flu_vaccines.html). Sources for this story include: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.51545331ef25e8332488f60044e7f059.101&show_article=1

Infant formula manufacturers routinely violate marketing rules in Africa

(NaturalNews) Infant formula companies regularly promote their products in violation international standards adopted to protect infant health, an article on AllAfrica.com charges. So widely accepted are the benefits of breastfeeding that in 1981, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) adopted an international code for the promotion of infant formulas and other breast milk substitutes. The purpose of the guidelines is to promote breastfeeding and the make sure that breast milk substitutes are used only with informed consent and only when absolutely necessary. Breast milk provides important nutrition and disease protection, and plays a critical role in the development of a child’s immune system. “[Breastfeeding] could save 41 percent of newborns who would otherwise die in their first month of life,” writes Andreas Moritz in Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation . “Breastfeeding right away not only increases the likelihood that infants will continue to breastfeed, but also gives them colostrum, a mother’s first milk,” Moritz writes.” As research has demonstrated, colostrum is rich in antibodies and essential nutrients, important for building a strong immune system right from the start. Early breastfeeding also helps mothers through improved lactation and less loss of blood.” Yet UNICEF estimates that 1.4 million children under the age of two die each year due to the improper promotion of infant formula over breast milk, particularly in low-income countries. Improper practices include giving bottles to newborns, which interferes with a mother’s own milk production and can make it difficult for her to resume breastfeeding; giving away formula and related products to health care facilities; advertising formula directly to mothers; offering discounted formula; placing advertisements disguised as “educational materials” in health facilities; and failing to prominently label formula packages in a language easily understood by the mother. “Specified text should be on the packaging, warning that breast feeding is best for babies and that the products should only be used on the advice of a health professional,” the code reads. “There should be no pictures or text that might idealize the use of infant formula.” Sources for this story include: http://allafrica.com/stories/201008050648.html.

Canada passes Codex food law that permits police to trespass, seize private property without warrant

(NaturalNews) The Canadian Parliament recently passed its own form of legislation S. 510, the draconian U.S. “food safety” bill that threatens to eliminate the freedom to grow, sell and buy clean food. Bill C-36, deceitfully branded by the Canadian mainstream media as a “consumer protection” law, is actually part of the larger CODEX Alimentarius food tyranny plan. It eliminates the law of trespass and allows Canadian police to invade private property and confiscate whatever they wish without a warrant. Massive outcry from natural health product companies and consumers killed several previous versions of Bill C-36, including C-52 and C-6. Proponents of the new bill say it will protect consumers by banning the producing, importing, advertising or selling of any products that pose an unreasonable danger to consumers. But in actuality, Bill C-36 is nothing more than the same affront to health freedom that the previous versions were. Passed on December 14 by the Canadian Senate, Bill C-36 allows government authorities and health inspectors to invade personal property and arbitrarily confiscate any items deemed “unsafe”. It completely bypasses all existing privacy and confidentiality laws that protect citizens from such unlawful interference, and restricts citizen access to courts for due process in such matters. And perhaps worst of all is Canadian citizens are now considered guilty until proven innocent rather than innocent until proven guilty as has long been the standard. Several Canadian Senators, including Elaine McCoy, Josephy Day, Celine Hervieux-Payette, George Furey and Tommy Banks all spoke out against the bill as a violation of civil liberties. Banks even told the Natural Health Products Protection Association (NHPPA) that the bill “is undoing 400 years of common law.” In accordance with CODEX Alimentarius guidelines, Bill C-36 will harmonize Canadian law with international law and trade restrictions concerning food. So whatever outside groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) decide concerning food safety will now hold sway over Canadian law. To read Bill C-36 for yourself, visit: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2330951&Language=e&Mode=1 Sources for this story include: http://www.suite101.com/content/bill-c36—health-canadas-new-powers-put-canadians-at-risk-a321906 http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/draconian-food-legislation-passed-into-law-by-canadian-senate/

Most Canadians, Americans skipped H1N1 vaccine last year

(NaturalNews) Despite all the scare tactics, fear mongering, and pseudoscience about the alleged importance of being vaccinated, a new report from Statistics Canada has revealed that 60 percent of Canadians decided against getting an H1N1 influenza vaccine last year. Even the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of a stage 6 pandemic was not enough to convince most Canadians to get the shot. According to the report, 74 percent of the people who refused the shot said they “did not think it was necessary,” indicating a high level of distrust among the public towards federal and international authorities, even during supposed health emergencies. Other reasons for not getting the shot included “had not gotten around to it yet” and “fear”. “Many people don’t think that they needed it, and that might help us understand how public health education campaigns could improve in the case of another pandemic,” explained Heather Gilmour, a researcher in the analysis division of Statistics Canada. But government-funded “public health” campaigns are exactly what most people seem to be ignoring these days. After all, the mainstream media continually repeated the mantras of federal health agencies about the dangers of swine flu and the importance of getting vaccinated, and people simply did not believe it. As a case in point, the lowest vaccination rate in Canada was in Ontario, where a universal vaccination campaign has existed for almost a decade. Of all the provinces and cities throughout Canada, health experts believed the H1N1 vaccination campaign would have fared better in Ontario than in most other places. Vaccination rates were even lower in the U.S. where 80 percent of adults refused the H1N1 shot. Sources for this story include: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11443945

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