COVID 19: NCDC Confirms Deadly Delta Variant In Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Thursday said it has detected a confirmed case with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, also known as lineage B.1.617.2.

The NCDC in a statement said the variant was detected in a traveller to Nigeria, following the routine travel test required of all international travellers and genomic sequencing at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory, Abuja.

The deadly Delta variant is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a variant of concern, given its increased transmissibility.

The variant has been detected in over 90 countries and is expected to spread to more countries, according to the NCDC.

The NCDC Head of Communications, Dr Yahya Disu, in the statement said the variant had also been linked to a surge in cases in countries where it is the dominant strain in circulation.

“There are ongoing studies to understand the impact of the variant on existing vaccines and therapeutics. As part of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, NCDC has been working with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, and other laboratories within the national network, to carry out genomic sequencing.

 “This is to enable the detection of variants of concern, and initiate response activities. All data on variants from Nigeria have been published on GISAID, a global mechanism for sharing sequencing data. Given the global risk of spread of the Delta variant, positive samples from international travellers to Nigeria are sequenced regularly,” the statement partly read.

The Federal Government through the Presidential Steering Committee had initiated several measures to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19.

The measures include the introduction of travel restrictions from countries where there is a surge in cases associated with widespread prevalence of variants of concern.

“The national travel protocol which includes compulsory seven-day self-isolation and repeat test on the seventh day after arrival, are in place to reduce the risk of spread of the virus.

“It is very important that this is strictly adhered to, to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases in Nigeria. Given the high transmissibility of the Delta variant and following its detection in Nigeria, NCDC urges all Nigerians to ensure strict adherence to public health and social measures in place,” the statement said.

  

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Nigeria Moves Closer To Local Vaccine Production - NAFDAC

The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the drugs and food regulatory agency in Nigeria,  Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has said that Nigeria has 30 left on the list of requirements put in place by the World Health Organisation for the production of local vaccines in the country.

The NAFDAC boss disclosed this during an interview with news men.

According to Adeyeye, the WHO laid down 240 requirements and Nigeria has been able to meet 210 of them.

She said, “What the world body is trying to do right now is to make sure that Africa has the capacity to manufacture vaccines and that is what is going on as we speak.

“However, to be able to manufacture vaccines, NAFDAC has to be strong enough to control.

“We have been working on this for about three years. When I came in, that was what I dug into.

 “We have over 240 quality system requirements that we have to meet. As of a week plus ago, we had about 30 requirements left.

“It is still a lot, but as we are speaking because the WHO people are coming in three weeks; we have sent them everything we have to serve as evidence. When we get to that level, Nigeria can start manufacturing vaccines.”

  

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How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Delivery?

After adjusting the monitor on my patient’s stomach so I could hear the baby’s heartbeat, I pulled up her chart to see her history.

“I see here it says you had your first child… [pause]… nine months ago?” I asked, not being able to hide the surprise from my voice.

“Yes, that’s right,” she said without hesitation. “I planned it that way. I wanted them to be really close in age.”

And close in age they were. According to my patient’s dates, she got pregnant again almost the moment she left the hospital. It was kind of impressive, actually.

As a labor and delivery nurse, I saw the same mothers coming back almost exactly nine months later more often than you would think.

So exactly how easy is it to get pregnant right after you have a baby? Let’s find out.

The breastfeeding factor

Breastfeeding, in theory, is supposed to prolong the return of the menstrual cycle, especially in the first six months postpartum. Some women choose to use this as a form of birth control called the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), assuming that their cycle won’t return while they’re breastfeeding.

But exactly how long breastfeeding can delay the return of fertility varies. It depends how often and regularly a baby nurses, how long the baby will sleep for stretches at a time, and environmental factors, such as:

• sleep disturbances
• sickness
• stress

Every person is different. For example, I didn’t get my period back until eight or nine months postpartum. But one of my friends who also exclusively breastfed got her period at only six weeks postpartum.

Although doctors have confirmed that the delay of the menstrual cycle with breastfeeding can be effective, it’s important to remember that relying on LAM for birth control is most effective if your baby is:

• under 6 months old
• exclusively breastfed: no bottles, pacifiers, or other food
• nursing on demand
• still nursing at night
• nursing at least six times a day
• nursing at least 60 minutes a day

Keep in mind that any fluctuation in the nursing routine, like if your baby sleeps through the night, can cause your cycle to return, too. To be safe, don’t rely on exclusive breastfeeding as effective birth control past nine weeks.

The return of fertility

How soon you’ll get pregnant again depends if you’ll be breastfeeding or not.

Breastfeeding and the hormones that go along with milk production can suppress ovulation from returning.

If you’re not breastfeeding, ovulation usually doesn’t return until at least six weeks postpartum for most women. One review from 2011Trusted Source found, on average, that ovulation returned for nonlactating women on day 74 postpartum. But the range of when ovulation occurred and if that ovulation was functional ovulation (meaning the woman could actually get pregnant with the ovulation) varied greatly.

A woman will ovulate before her period returns. Because of this, she might miss signs that she’s ovulating if she’s trying to avoid pregnancy. This is how some women can get pregnant without even having their periods back between pregnancies.

Getting pregnant again

Ideally, mothers should wait at least 12 months between pregnancies, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Research has foundTrusted Source that the risk for premature birth or your baby being born with a low birth weight increased for gaps shorter than 6 months, compared to those of 18 to 23 months. Intervals that are too short (under 18 months) and too long (over 60 months) have been associatedTrusted Source with negative outcomes for both mom and baby.

Takeaway

In general, most women won’t start ovulating right away after having a baby, but the return of the menstrual cycle ranges widely for women.

Every woman’s personal cycle is different and factors like weight, stress, smoking, breastfeeding, diet, and contraceptive choices will affect the return of fertility.

If you’re planning on avoiding pregnancy, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about family planning options, especially if you’re breastfeeding and aren’t sure when your cycle will return.

  

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The Benefits Of Drinking Water (2)

 

Health Benefits to Kidneys

No More Kidney Stones

More and more people are developing kidney stones. Staying well hydrated can help prevent the formation of stones. Water dilutes salts and minerals that might otherwise concentrate in the kidneys and become stones. The kidneys serve important functions in the body like maintaining water levels, regulating blood pressure, and filtering waste. Watch your sodium intake if you are concerned about kidney stones. Sodium increases calcium levels in the urine. Drinking warm lemon water when you first get up in the morning is a healthy habit that benefits not just your kidneys but also your overall health. Urine pH affects the formation of kidney stones. Acidic urine promotes the formation of some types of stones, while alkaline urine encourages the formation of different stones. Citric acid and calcium citrate are protective against the formation of kidney stones. How do you know if you are drinking enough water to take good care of your kidneys? Your urine should be a pale yellow color. If it is darker, you may be dehydrated. If it is colorless, you may be overhydrated.

 

How Much Water Should You Drink?

Follow Some General Guidelines

Many people think you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. There really is no evidence to back that up, but it's an easy approximate amount to remember. The amount of water you should drink every day depends on a variety of factors including your weight, activity level, the weather, and how much you sweat. In reality, people meet their daily fluid requirements by drinking water and other beverages. We also get water from food that we eat. People get about 80% of their daily fluids from drinking water and other beverages. About 20% of total water comes from food. In general, an adult woman needs approximately 11 cups of total water per day from food and beverages. An adult man needs approximately 15 1/2 cups of total water per day. Caffeinated beverages have a slight diuretic effect. Of course if you are thirsty, you need to drink more fluids. Adequate hydration aids in weight loss and has numerous other healthy benefits.

Sources:

  

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Weight Loss: Coffee Can Help Burn Your Fat - Study

Long gone are the days when doctors strongly advised against drinking coffee, thinking it could strain the heart and stunt growth. This was based on outdated research that often failed to factor in other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, according to Time.

Even before this new study from the University of Nottingham, coffee was riding high in public opinion with studies showing three cups of coffee daily will lower the risk of heart disease, liver disease and stroke, as well as contribute to a longer life expectancy. Another recent study found that java aficionados do not even need to consume coffee to benefit from its stimulating effects, which can focus the mind and enhance concentration.

Despite the recent accolades, coffee has never been linked to activating brown fat cells. In fact, scientists have not yet discovered why it activates these cells, according to researchers. It was not easy to conclude that coffee caused the effect. Researchers first determined stem-cells exposed to the caffeinated beverage had higher temperatures, which indicated the activation of brown fat cells. Researchers then duplicated this effect in adults through temperature monitoring, which showed after a few swallows of coffee, the clavicle area, which contains the densest population of these cells, displayed increased activity.

Adding fat burning and potential weight loss capabilities to the laundry list of benefits associated with consuming coffee will likely be beneficial for the market. These findings can assure health-minded consumers their morning jolt of caffeine offers more advantages than just a boost. It could also expand the market to those who have yet to jump on the coffee train by repositioning the classic morning cup of joe as a functional beverage, a trendy category that is receiving increased investment.

Coffee is big business in the U.S. The country is the leading global consumer of coffee, with Americans drinking about 400 million cups per day.​ The high consumption of coffee translates to projected sales reaching nearly $80.9 billion in 2019, increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5% through 2023, according to Statista. Seeing the growing popularity of coffee, CPG companies have not been waiting around.

Coca-Cola, J.M. Smucker and Nestlé have recently made big investments into the space. Last August, Coca-Cola announced the purchase of Costa Coffee from U.K. drinks and hotels group Whitbread. Smucker's Folgers brand introduced a high-end brand of 100% Arabica coffee, while Nestlé made a noteworthy investment in Blue Bottle, acquired Chameleon Cold-Brew, and bought the rights to sell Starbucks brand coffee in stores.

These premium coffee options offer a sense of luxury to consumers as they look for upscale options to sip at home. However, cold brew and other chilled coffees are posting the strongest growth. The segment skyrocketed 580% between 2011 and 2016, Mintel research noted.

If researchers can confirm the caffeine in coffee is activating the fat-burning brown cells, big companies investing in coffee — as well as the recent proliferation of caffeine-infused snacks and sparkling waters — could reap the benefits.  

  

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The Health Benefits Of Drinking Water (1)

Drinking Water to Lose Weight

Water Helps You Slim Down

Drinking water benefits the body in a variety of ways. Sipping cold water increases your metabolism and can help with weight loss. The body has to expend more energy to increase temperature after drinking cold H₂O. This means you burn more calories. In one study, overweight young women were instructed to drink about 2 cups of cold water a half hour before breakfast, lunch, and dinner for eight weeks. By the end of the study, the women experienced weight loss, a lower body mass index, and improved body composition scores. Water also makes a great replacement for beverages that are high in sugar and calories like soft drinks and juice. Replace these beverages with water on the cool side to help your waistline.

Stay Energized with Water

H₂O Fights Fatigue

Mild dehydration has negative effects on mood and energy levels. About two-thirds of the human body is comprised of water, so dehydration affects most of the body's functions. In studies, dehydration has been associated with increased fatigue, anger, and confusion as well as mood problems and decreased vigor. You need to be well hydrated for your cells to work properly. Drinking water also helps maintain a healthy heart rate and blood pressure. You need adequate fluid to produce lymph, an important bodily fluid and component of the immune system. All systems of the body work better in a water-rich environment. Drink water steadily throughout the day to avoid dehydration. If you wait until you feel thirsty, you are probably already dehydrated. Try some lemon water if plain water is not appealing to you.

Fight Stress with Water

H₂O Improves Your Mood

Dehydration is known to contribute to stress. Fatigue, anger, negative mood, and cognitive problems all increase when you're dehydrated. Stay ahead of stress and sip water throughout the day. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times and drink some every half hour or hour during the day. You'll be less likely to get dehydrated and feel stressed. Remember, don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink. Thirst occurs when you're already dehydrated.

Work Out Better with H₂O

Drink Enough Water Before Activity

Adequate hydration is a boon to workouts. Drinking water helps you work out longer and avoid muscle cramps. Water helps lubricate joints in the body. Not sure how much water you need to drink while working out? That depends on a variety of factors including your weight, how much you sweat, your activity level, and the weather. However, a good rule of thumb is that you should drink 5 to 10 ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes while you exercise. Drink 2 to 2 1/2 cups of water every 2 hours prior to exercise to make sure you go into your workout well hydrated. If you sweat a lot, it may be a good idea to consume water that contains electrolytes (substances that the body needs to function properly, like sodium and potassium). Lemon water or water infused with other fruit flavors is also a good option to stay hydrated.

Boost Skin Health

Water Fights Wrinkles

Drinking adequate water helps plump up skin cells, which minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles so you look younger. Water also supports detoxification and helps flush toxins and impurities out of the body that dull your complexion. Stay well hydrated to support good circulation and blood flow, all of which will help your skin glow. If you don't like the taste of plain water, add a little lemon juice to make it more palatable. Vitamin C in citrus fruit is an antioxidant that fights skin-damaging free radicals and supports healthy collagen, a major component in skin. Along with drinking enough water, eat fruits and vegetables high in polyphenols and flavonoids to boost skin health. Sipping warm, vitamin C rich lemon water is believed to help you detoxify, which will help your skin glow.

Hydration Supports Digestion

Health Benefits for Your GI Tract

Water and fiber work together to keep you regular and avoid constipation. Water dilutes waste and helps eliminate toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. Water and fiber bulk up stools and make them easier to pass. Hydrate and make sure you're getting adequate fluids every day to stay regular. If you do become dehydrated, stools will become hard, dry, and more difficult to pass. Squeeze a little lemon juice into plain water to make it more palatable. Foods and beverages containing probiotics, like kombucha, are also a boon to digestive health. One of the side effects of consuming too much sodium or fiber without enough water is bloating. Drink more water or sip peppermint tea to eliminate bloating. Be extra mindful of taking in more fluids if you develop diarrhea. Significant dehydration and loss of important electrolytes may occur if diarrhea, vomiting, or both are present. The absorption of fluid and nutrients is decreased when diarrhea occurs. Severe cases of dehydration may require IV fluid replacement. 

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