Showing posts with label AIDS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AIDS. Show all posts

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Beware: 'Kissing' bug spreading deadly disease called 'The New AIDS'

The deadly disease AIDS has already created a scare the world over since no authentic and permanent antidote has so far been found to cure the disease, that perhaps it was not enough. Now a new disease called the 'The New AIDS' has surfaced which has already affected 300,000 people in the United States and over 8 million the world wide.

Triatomine beetle
As reported by the Business Insider in its recent post quoting a lengthy editorial in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Chagas disease is slowly — and surreptitiously — spreading to the U.S. from Latin America. It was once largely limited to Latin America, but now the illness is spreading north because of travel and immigration. 

Chagas is caused by a black wingless beetle called theTriatoma bug, which feeds on human blood and releases a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. The tiny 0.78 inch (20 mm) insect typically feeds near the lips of sleepers, earning the nickname "kissing bug." When the beetle is done feeding, it defecates, "pooping out copies of the parasite," says Maryn McKenna at Wired. A sleeping person scratches the itch and unknowingly smears the feces into the wound. "Voila, Chagas infection." 


Read more about the disease / symptoms: Business Insider

Friday, April 6, 2012

Google Glass: It is all 'in front of you'

Where is technology taking us - what was fiction till a few years back is now turning into reality. From flying cars to reality glasses. It seems that a day would come when the office work will also be automatically done be a memory chip installed on our desktops, connected through a chip installed in our brains. The chip will automatically connect our thought process to the computer chip and take decisions based on market trends collected by computer chip, assisted by our mindset thoughts.....


Google: Project Glass
Whaever I said may be one day reality. But for now, let us talk about the reality glasses that are making headlines around the world. These futuristic glasses being developed by Google are to revolutionize our 'seeing' abilities manifold. I came across these glasses through a promotional video on YouTube and was really impressed.

Imagine you are a tourist, visiting a foreign country of which you know very little about. Instead of getting lost in finding your way out, if you have these glasses, your tour is just going to be more fun than a chaos. And what is more, you can talk to your wife or  a friend while walking through the busiest of alleys without holding your cellular phone in your hand, with the hazard of its slipping out of your hand or even mugged away in the rush hours.


Here some of the screen shots of the promotional video [you may have to scroll down a little bit more to see the video itself]:


The options that would be displayed in front of you through transparent glass - just like the HUD (Head-Up Display) in the fighter pilot's cockpit that comes in front of the cockpit front glass screen
Going to the subway? But the service is suspended, you are told by your glass - so what to do?
Here is a map that flashes in front of you to take a walk to your destination - and you will be continuously guided for directions and distance remaining.


Like something - take a shot from your glass - simple!!

Google is still experimenting with these glasses through their own workers and asking passerby for comments by allowing them to wear these and see a different world altogether. Before I say any more, see the video below and see for yourself how much this tiny device has in store for you:


Amazing!! Isn't it? Well it may take time to get adjusted to the idea - many may find it making life too complicated. But may be one day this become a reality for everyone to wear and get benefited from its many facets. Specially for tourists this may be something very useful.


Time will tell - and we wait...

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

1st December - World AIDS Day

1st of December is dedicated to create awareness about the most deadly and incurable disease – AIDS. Over 90,000 people are living with HIV in UK alone, and this number is rising. Nearly half a million babies were born with HIV positive last year. This year the number could be more. Unless we harness the root cause of this disease, our future generations would continue to be threatened with this deadly disease for no fault of theirs.

The incidence of AIDS in Pakistan is not alarming as until September 2004, only some 300 cases of full-blown AIDS and another 2300 cases of HIV infection were reported to the National AIDS Control Program. But as per UN and other surveys, there may around 40,000-50,000 people suffering from this disease. The AIDS in Pakistan is generally attributed to usage of used drug syringes by the poor and unemployed, male sex workers and repatriated immigrants.

UNAIDS took the lead on World AIDS Day campaigning from its creation until 2004. From 2004 onwards the World AIDS Campaign's Global Steering Committee began selecting a theme for World AIDS Day in consultation with civil society, organisations and government agencies involved in the AIDS response.

But committees and conferences are not enough. It is WE who can make the difference. Let us live a life clean of all evils that lead to onset of AIDS. If we do so, we can realise the aim of 2015 as a world free of AIDS.

Related Reading: Preventing HIV/AIDS in Pakistan