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Author: John Hanno
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Bogan High School. Worked in Alaska after the earthquake. Joined U.S. Army at 17. Sergeant, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 84th Artillery, 7th Army. Member of 12 different unions, including 4 different locals of the I.B.E.W. Worked for fortune 50, 100 and 200 companies as an industrial electrician, electrical/electronic technician.
Russia’s economy is set to lose another source of income that Ukraine controls
Huileng Tan – December 24, 2024
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Russia’s natural-gas transit deal with Ukraine is set to expire soon, which would cut billions in revenue.
The deal’s possible end affects European countries relying on Russian gas via Ukraine.
Russia has shifted much of its energy exports to India and China amid Western sanctions.
Russia is set to lose yet another source of income for its war chest in days — and it’s Ukraine calling the shots.
An agreement to let piped Russian natural gas transit via Ukraine to Europe is set to expire at the end of the year, depriving Moscow of billions of dollars in income for its wartime economy.
European countries receiving gas from the pipeline have voiced concerns about the end of the supply, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that the five-year agreement will not be renewed.
Russia has meanwhile said it’s ready to extend the agreement — though President Vladimir Putin said last week that it was “clear” there wouldn’t be a new contract.
Still, the situation could change.
Zelenskyy said last week that Ukraine could consider continuing the arrangement if Russia doesn’t receive payments for the fuel until the war ends.
On Monday, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said the gas transit was complicated.
“The situation here is very difficult, requiring greater attention,” Peskov said, according to the TASS state news agency.
Russia is probably making $5 billion in gas sales via Ukraine this year
The end of the five-year transit deal would be a blow for Russia, which could make about $5 billion from gas sales via Ukraine this year alone, according to Reuters‘ calculations based on Moscow’s gas price forecast.
It would also impact several European countries that still depend on Russia for gas, including Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Austria. There are alternative energy sources and pipelines available, but they could be pricier.
Ukraine could lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year in transit fees — a Kyiv consulting firm told Bloomberg in September that this amounted to about $800 million.
But Ukraine’s $800 million revenue from transit would just be a “paltry 0.5% of the country’s annual GDP,” analysts at the Center for European Policy Analysis, a think tank, wrote in a report last week.
They argued that it was “simply preposterous” to think that continuing the transit deal would offer Ukraine a security guarantee as Russia would want to preserve its gas flows to Europe.
This is because “Russia always put itself first,” the analysts added.
Russia diverts energy flows away from Europe
The end of the Ukraine transit route for Russia’s gas would put more pressure on Putin’s wartime economy, which has plummeted because of sweeping Western sanctions targeting its massive oil and gas trade.
Energy accounts for about one-fifth of Russia’s $2 trillion GDP. The country’s energy revenue fell 24% last year on the back of sanctions and continues to be under pressure this year as Europe weans itself off Russian gas.
Russia once accounted for as much as 40% of Europe’s gas market, but the EU has cut its reliance on the fuel since the Ukraine war.
In response, Russia has diversified its energy customer base, diverting most of its previously Europe-bound oil to India and China.
On Friday, the Russian energy giant Gazprom said in a Telegram post that it delivered a record amount of gas to China via an eastern Siberian pipeline. It didn’t specify the volume of gas it delivered but said it was above its contractual obligations with the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation.
Elon Musk wants to ‘delete’ many Americans’ financial lifeline
Sharon McGowan, opinion contributor – December 24, 2024
Nearly every exit poll conducted on Election Day found that, more than any other issues, voters’ concerns about the economy helped to return Donald Trump to the White House and put Republicans back in charge of both houses of Congress. Americans who felt the sting of inflation and who had trouble making ends meet, as companies steadily increased prices for essential goods like groceries and clothing, voted in the hopes that a new administration and new Congress would bring relief for their families.
So it is especially surprising that one of the first federal agencies to come under scrutiny from the incoming administration is one that has returned billions of dollars to many of the same consumers who were counting on leaders in Washington to look out for their wallets.
On Nov. 27, Elon Musk — who, along with Vivek Ramaswamy, has been tasked by President-Elect Trump with running a new Department of Government Efficiency — posted on his platform X that he wants to “Delete CFPB,” referring to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The agency, Musk said, was part of a problem of “too many duplicative regulatory agencies” in Washington. But there are no other agencies in the federal government returning money to Americans’ bank accounts in the way the CFPB does.
Since its founding, the agency has returned more than $19 billion in cash to people who have been scammed by financial institutions, including predatory payday lenders and even some of the largest banks in the country. It has done so under Republican and Democratic presidents, including major actions against Wells Fargo and Equifax during President Trump’s first term in office, which, combined, returned $425 million to consumers. (Those actions both began under the Obama administration, but Trump’s CFPB directors oversaw the execution of those fines.)
The money recovered is made available to those who have been impacted by the institutions’ wrongdoing through the CFPB’s victims’ relief fund. To date, more than 200 million Americans have been eligible for payments from the fund. The agency has also cancelled many consumers’ debts altogether and reduced loan principles for many others.
In fact, just days after Musk posted his message on X, the CFPB announced that it was mailing refund checks to more than 4 million people who were scammed by so-called credit repair companies, including Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com, which illegally collected fees from consumers seeking relief for the effects of economic woes weighing down them and their families. The companies will pay $2.7 billion in consumer redress and civil penalties; $1.8 billion of that will go directly to those who lost money as a result of the scam.
It’s no wonder the agency enjoys broad, bipartisan support, with more than eight in 10 Americans supporting the CFPB’s various enforcement actions. In red and blue states, Americans seem to support returning money to those who have been cheated.
The agency’s impact is felt in other ways, too. In Oklahoma, CFPB collected evidence that helped retired Lt. Col. Susan Parisi in her fight against loan company GreenSky — which scammed her into a high-interest loan she never agreed to. The CFPB found that GreenSky was using “deceptive” and “fraudulent” tactics and ordered the company to return $9 million to consumers. My organization is representing Lt. Col. Parisi in her class action on behalf of others who were scammed by GreenSky.
So why is an agency that has been so effective, and returned so much money to so many people, being targeted for “deletion?” Because, in the course of holding wrongdoers accountable, it has crossed paths with some of the most powerful people in the country.
Musk’s post on X, for example, seems to have been prompted by complaints from Marc Andreessen, a venture capitalist whose companies have been sanctioned (and, in the case of LendUp Loans, shuttered) because of CFPB investigations and actions. Andreessen accused the agency of “terrorizing financial institutions,” and was clearly infuriated when the CFPB found that LendUp had misled customers about high-interest loans and overcharged U.S. service personnel.
President-elect Trump and Republicans in Congress should not let Andreessen’s views overshadow the overwhelming opinion among Americans that the agency is doing important work that makes a real difference to those who turn to financial institutions and lenders for help during tough financial times. By one count, even under the first Trump administration’s CFPB directors — who tended to enforce far fewer fines against companies than Biden and Obama appointees — the agency brought more than $1 billion in redress back to consumers’ wallets. That’s direct relief, and money in wallets, for millions of Americans. “Deleting” the agency would almost certainly ensure that no such future relief ever reaches consumers again.
Fortunately, neither Musk nor the incoming administration can completely eliminate the CFPB, whose funding comes from the Federal Reserve in a model, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, that is meant to protect it from political meddling. Republicans and Democrats alike should ensure that firewall remains in place, and the CFPB remains on the job, if they’re serious about providing real, meaningful economic relief to Americans.
Sharon McGowan is the chief executive officer of legal advocacy organization Public Justice.
What to know about infectious diseases during this holiday season
Susanne Rust – December 24, 2024
Infectious diseases tend to spread during the winter holiday season in the Northern Hemisphere. (Manuel Romano / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
It’s that time of year, when families and friends come together to share their holiday cheer and a few circulating pathogens.
Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Francisco, said people should be on the lookout for the “Big Four”: three respiratory viruses currently moving through the U.S. — influenza, COVID-19 and RSV — and one stomach virus — norovirus.
According to WastewaterScan — an infectious disease monitoring network led by researchers at Stanford and Emory universities, with lab-testing partner Verily, Alphabet Inc.’s life sciences organization — those four viruses are running hot around the nation.
In the case of COVID-19, the half of the U.S. east of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico — is trending “high,” while the Western states are still generally low, with some hot spots in major cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake and Boise, according to WastewaterScan.
But that’s likely to change as holiday travel moves those viruses around in what Chin-Hong referred to as “the Great Holiday Equalizer.”
It’s flu, though, that is grabbing most physicians’ and researchers’ attention right now, he said.
Chin-Hong suspects the CDC’s outlook is based on the assumption that people have some “carryover immunity” from last year, and he said vaccinations help.
But until flu season gets into full swing, it’s difficult to know exactly what it’ll look like and whether the vaccines have the circulating strains fully covered.
Chin-Hong said there are two predominant strains of the virus circulating: H1N1 and H3N2, with the latter virus associated with more severe disease, which may be causing the surges of hospitalizations abroad. But he said this year’s vaccine should cover it.
“It’s never too late” to get vaccinated, he said, noting that flu season in the U.S. is just beginning.
In addition, with the ominous threat of H5N1 bird flu simmering in the background, there is concern that it could mix with a human seasonal flu. Getting vaccinated and keeping the seasonal flu at bay, he said, will decrease the chances for such an occurrence.
Researchers and health officials say there is no evidence that H5N1 can be transmitted between people. But to keep extra safe as the virus moves through the nation’s dairy herds and commercial poultry operations, people should avoid raw milk, raw eggs and undercooked meat. Pasteurization and proper cooking techniques inactivate the virus.
But it’s not only the flu that’s threatening to dampen the nation’s good tidings.
COVID-19, RSV and norovirus are also prevalent.
COVID-19 has recently begun to show up in high levels in municipal wastewater, but Chin-Hong said that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see a surge in hospitalizations. Indeed, while the number of COVID cases is ticking up, the CDC predicts there will be fewer cases in the U.S. this year than in 2023.
“Some people think the reason why people are not getting it as much this year is because we got it so recently, particularly in California, and so that carryover immunity is kind of protecting us, at least for the time being,” Chin-Hong said. “The other hypothesis is that we just had enough cycles of it in the population, so maybe it kind of is low this year.”
But, he said, COVID has proven itself a nimble and adaptable virus, continually spawning recombinant variants, so “coupled with low vaccination rates, that’s always the fear with COVID, that it’ll surge back.”
The best things one can do to avoid the three respiratory viruses — influenza, COVID and RSV — is to follow “The three V’s: Vaccinate, ventilate and wash your hands very often,” he said. If you must be indoors or in close proximity to others, masks do make a difference. But try to mingle and cavort outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
As for norovirus, which causes gastrointestinal distress and typically spreads via items handled by multiple people — such as airplane trays, handrails and buffet serving spoons — washing your hands is key. In addition, keeping your hands away from your face is critical; that’s the primary route of infection.
Chin-Hong said norovirus is seemingly everywhere these days.
“Anecdotally, a lot of colleagues of mine have been out with it,” he said.
In addition, there is some rhinovirus (common cold), pertussis and walking pneumonia circulating, he said.
And of course, he said, if you’re not feeling well, stay home. Nothing stops a virus or contagious bacteria is its tracks like keeping isolated — even if it means missing out on holiday revelries.
President Musk? The DOGE leader’s government-shutdown push shows how he’ll wield power in Washington
Bryan Metzger – December 23, 2024
Lawmakers in both parties say Elon Musk played a major role in tanking a government funding bill.
Now the government is on the brink of shutting down.
It’s an early sign of how he’ll wield influence as the co-lead of DOGE.
After a government funding bill went down in flames on Wednesday, lawmakers in both parties were in agreement about one thing: Elon Musk played a huge role in bringing Washington to the brink.
“Yesterday was DOGE in action and it was the most refreshing thing I’ve seen since I’ve been here for 4 years,” Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia wrote on X.
“The leader of the GOP is Elon Musk,” Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania wrote. “He’s now calling the shots.”
President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance put the final nail in the coffin of the bill, but their joint statement trashing the continuing resolution — and issuing a new demand for Congress to raise the debt ceiling — came after several hours of silence on the matter.
That void was filled by Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency co-lead, Vivek Ramaswamy, who savaged the bill as an example of the wasteful spending that Trump has empowered them to target for elimination during his second term. Newly galvanized by DOGE and lacking any guidance from Trump, several Republican lawmakers publicly cited arguments put forward by the two leaders to justify their opposition to the bill.
“This omnibus is the very thing the incoming Department of Government Efficiency is trying to put an end to,” Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri wrote on X. “A vote for this monstrosity is a vote against DOGE.”
As Republican support for the bill dried up, passage through the GOP-controlled House became an impossibility, and the bill was scrapped.
Federal funding is set to run out at midnight on Friday. If lawmakers are unable to agree upon and pass a new bill by then, the government will shut down for the first time in six years, prompting flight delays, closures of national parks, and paycheck delays for federal workers.
In a statement to Business Insider, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition, disputed the notion that Musk is the leader of the GOP.
“As soon as President Trump released his official stance on the CR, Republicans on Capitol Hill echoed his point of view,” Leavitt said. “President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Full stop.”
Musk did not respond to a request for comment.
‘This bill should not pass’
Over the past several weeks, Democrats and Republicans had been hammering out a compromise bill to fund the government through March 14. After significant delays, the bill’s text was released on Tuesday night.
Aside from extending government funding at current levels for another three months, the bill also included language allowing the District of Columbia to take control of a stadium that the Washington Commanders have long sought to use, a modest pay increase for lawmakers, billions of dollars in disaster relief for states affected by recent hurricanes, and other provisions that Trump and Vance later characterized as “giveaways” to Democrats.
Over the course of several hours, what began as a simple statement of opposition turned into something much larger, including Musk endorsing shutting down the government until January 20 and saying that any Republican who voted for the bill would deserve to be voted out of office.
Along the way, Musk made and amplified false claims about the contents of the bill, including that it included a 40% pay raise for lawmakers (it was 3.8% maximum) and $3 billion for the Commanders’ stadium.
By the time Trump and Vance weighed in on Wednesday afternoon, the bill already appeared dead, and the two men had a different demand: Lawmakers shouldn’t simply shut down the government but pass a spending bill without “giveaways,” while raising the debt ceiling.
Musk, the ‘shadow president’
It remains unclear what legislation will emerge. Democrats have insisted on moving forward with the deal they struck with Republicans, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected in Thursday-morning a Bluesky post the idea of raising the debt ceiling.
The government spending bill’s collapse was an early demonstration of Musk’s newfound clout with Republicans on Capitol Hill, previewing how the mercurial billionaire might handle the role of DOGE co-lead under Trump.
Over the past two years, a pattern has emerged in government funding and other fiscal fights. Both parties work on compromise legislation, hard-line Republicans rail against it, and both the House and the Senate easily pass it with mostly Democratic votes.
On Wednesday, that pattern was broken, with a shutdown appearing imminent.
For hard-line Republicans who’ve typically opposed government funding bills, it marked a moment of elation and a sign that with the advent of DOGE, the balance of power is set to shift in their direction under Trump.
Some Democrats, meanwhile, have seized the moment as an opportunity to embarrass Trump, painting him as subordinate to Musk.
Mark Pocan “Who’s a good boy? You’re a good boy. Go grab the deal to keep the government open. Fetch. Bring it to me. Good boy.”
In a steady drumbeat of social media posts and TV interviews, Democrats have begun referring to Musk as the “president-elect,” the “shadow president,” the “copresident,” and even the “decider in chief” as they’ve attacked Republicans for opposing the bill.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, released a fact sheet about “what Elon will cost your state” that said “President-Elect Musk’s” opposition to the government funding bill had also derailed disaster-relief funds.
“It is dangerous for House Republicans to have folded to the demands of the richest man on the planet, who nobody elected, after leaders in both parties came to an agreement to fund the government and provide this disaster aid,” DeLauro said in a statement. “There was no need for a government shutdown.”
Musk, for his part, rejected the notion that he was the real leader of the GOP.
“All I can do is bring things to the attention of the people,” he wrote on X, “so they may voice their support if they so choose.”
Rates of COVID, flu, and RSV on the rise in Illinois, health officials say
Alex Ortiz – December 23, 2024
The Brief
Rates of COVID-19, flu and RSV are on the rise, according to Illinois public health officials.
With hospital admissions for respiratory disease on the rise, Illinoisans are at greater risk of exposure during the holidays.
CHICAGO – Health officials warned that rates of respiratory illness are on the rise in Illinois in recent weeks as the holidays approach.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said the state’s overall level of illness rose from “low” to “moderate,” meaning that residents face a higher chance of being exposed to illnesses as families gather.
What we know
Data collected by the IDPH indicate that hospital admissions for COVID-19, flu and RSV all ticked up as a percent of all hospital admissions in the week ending Dec. 14.
The percentage of emergency department visits due to respiratory illness also increased from 13.8% in the previous week to 14.7%.
Illinois is also seeing a rise in ICU admissions due to RSV driven by children age 0 to 4.
“As we gather with our loved ones during the holiday season, please use all the tools at your disposal to protect friends and family who are most vulnerable to severe outcomes,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra in a statement. “This includes those who are over 65, very young children and people who are immunosuppressed.”
What you can do
Vohra added that the best protection against severe illness caused by COVID-19, flu, and RSV are highly effective vaccines that are widely available.
Other effective tools include enhanced ventilation and good hand hygiene.
Those with concerning respiratory symptoms should seek medical care, Vohra said.
Record Ky. holiday travel meets rising RSV cases: Experts offer safety tips for families
Kiley Hill – December 23, 2024
KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — As the holiday season peaks, a record number of travelers are hitting the road.
At the same time, cases of the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are all on the rise.
Experts are urging extra precautions, particularly when it comes to young children, who are at higher risk of severe complications.
In recent weeks, healthcare professionals across the country have been reporting an uptick in RSV cases. At Norton Children’s Hospital in Kentucky, doctors are seeing a concerning rise in infections, averaging 56 new RSV cases daily throughout the state.
“RSV started a little bit later this year when compared to last year, but we’re seeing a lot of RSV, and cases are continuing to go up. So emergency departments are very busy,” said Dr. Kris Bryant with Norton Children’s Infectious Diseases
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that more than 58,000 children under age 5 have been hospitalized due to RSV, a highly contagious respiratory virus. Norton Children’s Hospital alone had 25 RSV patients admitted as of last week.
For parents concerned about their child’s health, experts emphasize the importance of recognizing serious symptoms early. “Trouble breathing, having bluish lips or a gray tint to the skin, signs of dehydration, vomiting, confusion, or lethargy—those are all worrisome signs that should prompt immediate medical evaluation,” added Bryant.
With family gatherings and travel on the horizon, health experts are stressing the importance of preventative measures to protect the most vulnerable populations, especially young children.
Walking Pneumonia Is on the Rise. Here Are the Symptoms to Look Out For
Erica Sloan – December 23, 2024
Mina De La O/Getty Images
You might know this time of year as cold and flu season, but that’s just the headline—respiratory infections of all sorts often spike in the chilly months. In recent years, surges in COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) have added to that story. And this year, there’s another plot twist: Infections with a type of bacteria known as Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae), which can be a common cause of walking pneumonia, have been on the rise.
As its name implies, walking pneumonia is a kind of pneumonia (an infection where the air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid or pus) that is milder than what you’d typically expect—so you’re not bedridden and you’re able to go about your daily tasks, Lauren Pischel, MD, MSc, an infectious disease specialist and instructor at Yale School of Medicine, tells SELF. Whereas the symptoms of a classic case of pneumonia—usually caused by other types of bacteria (like Streptococcus pneumoniae) or a virus—can include fever, shortness of breath, nausea, confusion, and stabbing chest pain so severe that you wind up in the hospital, the “walking” or “atypical” variety of pneumonia presents more like a bad, lingering chest cold.
Though M. pneumoniae is estimated to infect as much as 1% of the US population each year, the CDC issued an alert this fall noting that infections increased in late spring (across all age groups but especially in young children) and have stayed at unusually high levels since. That intel is mainly from emergency room visits and some lab test data, but since doctors aren’t required to report M. pneumoniae and plenty of folks may not seek care for milder symptoms, walking pneumonia may be more prevalent than the numbers show. (Plus, viruses and other bacteria besides M. pneumoniae can trigger the condition, too.)
Walking pneumonia tends to peak every three to seven years, Dr. Pischel says, but the reason for this pattern—and why it’s surging this year, in particular—isn’t totally clear. Doctors have some theories, though. Like other respiratory bugs, walking pneumonia spreads via droplets (the spray that happens when you cough or sneeze). During the COVID pandemic, we avoided a lot of these pathogens by simply distancing from others and wearing masks—but that lack of exposure may have limited our ability to develop some immunity to them, too. Now that we’re spending more time in close quarters again, we may be less prepared to fend off M. pneumoniae and other microbes, Jorge Mercado, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at NYU Langone Hospital – Brooklyn, tells SELF. It is also possible that the current strain of M. pneumoniae is just more damaging or contagious than other recent ones, Dr. Pischel says.
In any case, it’s worth getting acquainted with the latest respiratory offender making waves so you can steer clear of its wrath. Below, experts share the typical signs of walking pneumonia and how it’s diagnosed, plus what treatment and prevention look like.
What are the symptoms of walking pneumonia?
As noted above, the thing about walking pneumonia that distinguishes it from traditional pneumonia is the relative mildness of the symptoms. But both illnesses exist on a spectrum, Dr. Pischel notes, meaning that cases of walking pneumonia can still range in severity, and different people can respond to similar symptoms in distinct ways.
Generally, the common symptoms of walking pneumonia include:
Cough
Low-grade fever
Sore throat
Headache
Chest pain
Fatigue
As a result, it’s tricky to differentiate it from a cold, the flu, or any other respiratory tract infection, like COVID or RSV. One thing to look out for? A wet or productive cough, where you’re hacking up a lot sputum, Purvi Parikh, MD, MD, FACAAI, FACP, a New York-based allergist and immunologist and a member of the medical advisory council of the Allergy & Asthma Network, tells SELF.
There’s also the duration of these symptoms to consider, Dr. Mercado says. He notes that many of his patients blame a nagging cough or sore throat on allergies—but if it’s not letting up for several days, even after taking an allergy medication or avoiding the allergen, a pathogen like M. pneumoniae could be the culprit. Walking pneumonia symptoms also tend to come on gradually and outlast those of the common cold or flu. (Some, like a cough, can even linger for months.)
In young kids, walking pneumonia can also trigger an array of gastrointestinal woes, like diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, Dr. Pischel says. And she adds that less commonly, both children and adults can develop a skin rash from the bug, too, that shows up as blisters or target-like lesions (think: concentric circles) as well as swelling of the lips and mouth.
Because none of the above symptoms are specific to just walking pneumonia, it’s important to see a doctor who knows what to look for and can do the appropriate testing if they think it’s necessary.
How is walking pneumonia diagnosed?
There are two main paths toward a walking pneumonia diagnosis: lab testing and a physical exam—and sometimes, just one of these may be sufficient.
The best way to officially confirm walking pneumonia is with a nasal or throat swab and PCR test that detects a microbe’s genetic material (much like a COVID test). In some cases, your provider may run a “multiplex” respiratory panel that tests for a bunch of pathogens, including M. pneumoniae, with a single swab, Dr. Pischel says. But because these tests can be expensive and inaccessible outside of a hospital setting, they may start by ruling out other more common respiratory infections, like COVID, RSV, and influenza. If all those tests turn up negative and they’re still suspicious of walking pneumonia, then they might test you for M. pneumoniae in particular (or send you to a lab that can).
There’s also a blood test that can check for antibodies your body may have made to the bacteria, though it can take some time for your immune system to develop those (so you might not get a positive result in the early stages of an infection). Another option is a sputum culture: You cough into a container, and the test scouts for M. pneumoniae in your phlegm—but these bacteria don’t always stick around in the sample. (Because neither of these methods is as accurate as the PCR test, they aren’t used as frequently as they used to be, but may still be cheaper and more accessible in some settings.)
Given the challenges and costs associated with testing—and the fact that mild cases are treated simply with rest (more on that in a minute)—your doc may instead simply assess your symptoms, examine your throat, and listen to your lungs with a stethoscope to check for crackling sounds as you breathe. They might also do an X-ray of your chest to look for signs of inflammation typical with this type of pneumonia, Dr. Pischel says. And depending on the exam findings, they may be able to diagnose you without any lab testing.
What is the treatment for walking pneumonia?
Many people recover from walking pneumonia sans treatment, Dr. Pischel says—though you should expect for it to take longer than if you had a cold or the flu. Cases tend to linger for up to four to six weeks, with that chest-y cough being the thing that sticks around longest. In the meantime, OTC pain relievers, cough suppressants, and fever reducers can help you deal with the symptoms. You’ll also want to rest and drink plenty of fluids to lend your immune system a hand.
In some cases, your doctor may prescribe you an antibiotic to knock out the M. pneumoniae infection (if testing definitively shows you have it), which could help you feel better sooner, Dr. Pischel says. Macrolides like azithromycin (a.k.a. a Z-pack) are the most commonly used option, but if you live in an area known for high rates of antibiotic resistance to macrolides (or microbes that have evolved to thwart this treatment), your doctor may opt for fluoroquinolones like moxifloxacin or levofloxacin, she adds. Though these are all generally well-tolerated drugs, any antibiotic can mess with your GI tract, potentially causing diarrhea, Dr. Parikh says. Azithromycin has also been linked with arrhythmia (an off-kilter heartbeat) and other cardiac issues especially in older people and folks with existing heart conditions, Dr. Mercado says.
It’s important to stay in touch with your doctor if your symptoms get worse or you’re experiencing any new ones, whether you’re taking an antibiotic or not. Though it’s rare, the condition can morph into a more serious form of pneumonia (potentially requiring oxygen support) and cause or worsen asthma, among other complications.
How can I avoid getting walking pneumonia?
The people most at risk are the ones “in intense contact settings,” Dr. Pischel says. Think: anywhere that involves frequently sharing airspace with a bunch of other people, like daycares, schools, and college dorms—which are especially susceptible to outbreaks. That’s because the condition has a long incubation period (the time from when someone gets exposed to when they have symptoms), meaning people can catch it and then pass it around to several others in their vicinity over days or even weeks before feeling sick, Dr. Pischel explains.
While spending a brief time in a crowded area is less likely to result in infection, if you’ll be surrounded by people, you can lower your chances by wearing a mask, Dr. Parikh says. All the things you’ve already heard about preventing the spread of respiratory illness also apply here, Dr. Pischel says: Wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and put some space between you and anyone who’s coughing or otherwise spewing droplets.
Another helpful tactic? Make sure to stay up to date on your vaccines, Dr. Parikh says, including COVID and flu, as well as RSV (if you’re 75 or older, or over 60 and at increased risk) and the pneumococcal vaccine (if you’re 50 or older, or at increased risk), which helps prevent infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae (the bacteria that causes the classic variety of pneumonia along with ear and sinus infections and meningitis, among other things). The reason to be sure you’re fully immunized is to “reduce your chances of everything else [besides walking pneumonia] that you could get,” Dr. Parikh says. Ultimately, the less strain on your immune system, the more prepared you’ll be to fend off walking pneumonia should you cross paths with it.
Norovirus is rampant. Blame oysters, cruise ships and holiday travel
Cindy Krischer Goodman – December 23, 2024
Amy Beth Bennett/Sun Sentinel/TNS
Tis the season to wash your hands and watch what you eat.
Norovirus, a vomit- and diarrhea-inducing stomach bug, is sickening Floridians through tainted surfaces and contaminated shellfish.
The Sunshine State is one of 12 in the U.S. with a high number of confirmed outbreaks of the virus. Anyone suffering from a bout of the nasty, extremely contagious virus, beware: it has no specific treatment and typically has to run its course.
Also of note: On average, one infected person will infect two to seven other people.
“It only takes a few virus particles to cause infections, so it doesn’t take much exposure to get sick from norovirus,” said Margaret Gorensek, an infectious disease doctor at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale.
Norovirus can spread through food, touch, and air particles.
Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration issued two separate seafood recalls in states over potential norovirus contamination.
On Monday, the FDA warned restaurants, food retailers, and consumers in seven states, including Florida, not to eat or sell oysters and Manila clams from Rudy’s Shellfish in Washington. Two days later, the agency issued another recall in 15 states, including Florida, for oysters sold as Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi Oysters from British Columbia, Canada. Both recalls cited potential contamination with norovirus. The recall did not mention any reported illnesses connected to the oysters and clams.
Shellfish can absorb untreated human sewage containing norovirus; when humans eat the contaminated shellfish, they can become infected.
Most people experience symptoms 12 to 48 hours after eating contaminated food. The common symptoms are nausea, stomach pain, fever, headaches, and body aches.
When norovirus spreads through direct contact, it tends to be from shaking hands or touching contaminated surfaces and then putting your hand in your mouth. That type of spread often happens in restaurants, schools, and on cruise ships.
This month, the norovirus has been wreaking havoc on cruise ships. So far, in December, four ships have reported outbreaks, with one ship reporting more than 100 passengers falling ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
There have been 13 reported norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships this year, but this is the first time the virus has been confirmed on three ships within a single month, and suspected on a fourth. Those ships include Holland America’s Zuiderdam and Rotterdam and Princess Cruise’s Ruby Princess. The most recent outbreak was on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, and while passengers experienced norovirus-like symptoms the exact gastrointestinal illness has not been confirmed.
In all cases, the cruise lines isolated ill passengers and crew and increased cleaning and disinfection procedures.
Gorensek at Holy Cross said norovirus is seasonal and often spreads more in the winter. “We usually see it more whenever people are spending time together.”
She said that anyone handling food for holiday meals without thoroughly washing their hands can quickly spread it.
Unlike other viruses, norovirus is hard to kill on surfaces or hands.
“A quick dose of hand sanitizer doesn’t work, only soap and water,” she said. “On surfaces, bleach-based products are best.”
Noroviruses also are relatively resistant to heat and can survive temperatures as high as 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Inhaling airborne norovirus particles can happen — potentially in an airplane’s bathroom — but that method of spread is less common than contact with contaminated surfaces or food.
Anyone who gets norovirus needs to be careful with staying hydrated. Gorensek recommends Pedialyte, Gatorade or broth. “Water isn’t good because it doesn’t give you the necessary electrolytes,” she said.
Young children and anyone with an underlying condition need to be particularly cautious, she said, because “they are susceptible to dehydration and are most at risk.”
Elon Musk’s Drug Use Becoming a Problem for Government Security Clearance
Victor Tangermann – December 17, 2024
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk may not receive top security clearances — even though roughly 400 staffers at his rocket company already have those permissions.
As the Wall Street Journal reports, SpaceX lawyers advised executives not to attempt to secure higher security clearances for the mercurial CEO, since that would force him to disclose information about his frequent contacts with foreign nationals, including Russian president Vladimir Putin, as well as his much-rumored drug use.
Musk currently holds a “top secret” security clearance, giving him access to “some national security secrets,” but not the full clearance required by staff who work on classified programs, sources told the WSJ.
Worse yet, by seeking an even higher security clearance, Musk may risk losing his current “top secret” clearance, the lawyers worry.
But now that he’s been put in charge of a so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by president-elect Donald Trump, these concerns may soon be a moot point. Now that Musk has secured himself prominent placement among the incoming administration’s ranks, the richest man in the world may soon have a much easier time accessing highly classified information.
Without permissions for “sensitive compartmented information,” which several hundred SpaceX employees have, Musk is reportedly unable to access certain information about his company’s spy satellite program, called Starshield. According to the WSJ, he isn’t even allowed to enter most facilities where related work is being done.
Earlier this year, the WSJ reported that Musk had a long history of using psychoactive drugs, including LSD and psychedelic mushrooms. His lawyer, however, later disputed the report, arguing that he had “never failed” a drug test at SpaceX.
Whether Musk will have to fill out a full questionnaire and disclose his drug use, as well as his extensive communications with foreign nationals, remains to be seen. With the ear of the president of the United States, Musk could soon have unfettered access to highly classified information without having to jump through additional hoops.
Besides, now that they’re in charge of DOGE, both he and pharma exec Vivek Ramaswamy will likely have to sift through some highly classified data anyway — as they’ve already promised to slash the Pentagon’s spending in the coming years.
Kash Patel, Trump’s FBI pick, would turn the agency into the Federal Bureau of Retribution
Doyle McManus – December 16, 2024
Kash Patel, shown campaigning for Donald Trump this year, has vowed to purge the FBI of anyone who doesn’t fully support Trump and to prosecute those he accuses of conspiring to undermine the president-elect. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)More
He has called for the prosecution of a long list of people he accuses of conspiring to undermine Trump, including President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and outgoing FBI Director Christopher A. Wray.
“These people need to go to prison,” Patel said last year. If he delivers on that threat, he would turn the once-independent FBI into the Federal Bureau of Retribution.
Patel has vowed to purge the federal law enforcement agency of anyone who doesn’t fully support Trump, and says he will transfer all 7,000 employees in the bureau’s Washington headquarters to other cities — apparently including agents who now focus on international terrorism and foreign espionage.
“Go chase down murderers and rapists,” Patel said. “You’re cops. Go be cops.”
The president-elect has called on prosecutors to investigate the Biden family, Harris, Clinton, former President Obama, the members of the congressional committee that investigated his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, even the police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol against rioters on Jan. 6, 2021 — “The cops should be charged and the protesters should be freed” — among many others.
And he has long harbored a special animus toward the FBI, which he blames for investigating allegations that his 2016 campaign colluded with Russia and for the 2022 search of his home and social club in Florida that turned up more than 100 classified documents he claimed not to have.
Since his election last month, Trump has said — not entirely reassuringly — that he does not intend to order up investigations from the Oval Office.
But he added: “If they think that somebody was dishonest or crooked or a corrupt politician, I think he probably has an obligation to do it.”
Patel may not find that a difficult call. He has already published an enemies list of 60 people he considers “corrupt actors of the highest order.”
The record from Trump’s first term suggests that these threats should be taken seriously.
During his four years in the White House, Trump frequently demanded that the FBI and the Justice Department investigate his adversaries. His aides often pushed back, but eventually bowed to his pressure and opened investigations of Clinton, former Secretary of State John F. Kerry, former national security advisor John Bolton, former FBI Director James B. Comey and other former FBI officials. None was charged with a crime.
Those episodes reflect a sobering fact: It’s easier for the FBI to open an investigation than you may think.
“There’s basically no limit, at least when it comes to opening a preliminary investigation,” said Paul Rosenzweig, a former federal prosecutor.
For a full-scale investigation, which could include search warrants and electronic surveillance (if a judge approves), the standards are tougher.
“They have to have an articulable factual basis to believe a federal crime has been committed,” said Michael R. Bromwich, a former Justice Department inspector general. “There’s a lot that can fit within that, but it’s not limitless.”
“If Patel goes to his deputies and says, ‘Let’s open an investigation into Liz Cheney,’ they’re going to ask: ‘What’s the factual predicate?’” he said, referring to the Republican former congresswoman from Wyoming, a vigorous Trump critic. “There will be resistance in the FBI … unless he finds compliant officers who are willing to make something up.”
Prosecution is harder. A criminal indictment requires clear evidence that the person under investigation committed a specific federal crime.
But merely being investigated can have devastating consequences.
“There’s a lot of damage that can be done by an investigation even if there’s no indictment,” Bromwich said. “Investigations are very expensive; a target needs to hire a lawyer. They affect a target’s ability to gain a livelihood. And they are extremely stressful.”
“Lives get ruined,” said Faiza Patel of the Brennan Center for Justice (who is not related to Kash Patel). “People get fired from their jobs.”
An investigation also opens a target’s private life to scrutiny, potentially putting embarrassing information in the hands of the FBI director.
Under J. Edgar Hoover, who ran the FBI for almost half a century until 1972, the bureau assiduously collected private information about politicians and other prominent figures.
The most infamous example was the FBI’s attempt to blackmail civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by threatening to expose his extramarital affairs.
So if a president wants retribution, opening investigations is a good way to start.
The irony, of course, is that Trump and other Republicans have spent years condemning what they claim has been a “weaponization” of the Justice Department and FBI under Democratic presidents.
Now that they’re about to regain the White House, they appear to have decided that weaponization is now their friend.
But senators in both parties should resist that dangerous trend.
They should look carefully at Patel’s skimpy qualifications beyond his loyalty to Trump. In 2020, when Trump proposed giving Patel the No. 2 job in the bureau, his attorney general, William Barr, threatened to quit. “The very idea of moving Patel into a role like this showed a shocking detachment from reality,” Barr wrote later.
They should ask Patel if he realizes that transferring all the FBI’s staff out of Washington would disrupt the bureau’s efforts to stop espionage by Russia and China.
And they should ask whether he really intends to turn the bureau into a weapon of partisan retribution against every target of Trump’s boundless ire.
GOP senators might want to ask why so many of the names on Patel’s enemies list are Republicans who disagreed with him during Trump’s first term, including Barr, Bolton and former Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
Then they should think twice about giving Patel power to investigate anyone he chooses. One day they may find themselves in his sights as well.
