Japan Tag

NHK World, 3/5/2019
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190305_33/

Summary:

Japanese health officials have reported 109 cases of rubella in the week of February 18-24th. This brings the total 2019 rubella cases in the country to 650, four times higher than the same period last year. Officials predict that this year may be comparable to 2013’s record year of over 14,000 cases. The national government has begun offering free vaccinations to males between 39 and 56, an age group that did not receive childhood rubella vaccinations. In addition, some municipalities are offering free vaccines to women who may become pregnant and their families, in order to curb potential (visual, auditory, and cardiovascular) birth defects.

Connection:

We have just begun learning about viral structure and function in class, and how (for lack of a better term) virulent they can be. Rubella is another example of an airborne pathogen, and it was thankfully eradicated from the US in 2004, according to the CDC.

Critical Analysis:

This, as with other similar stories from NHK World, are meant as informative public broadcasts rather than in-depth scientific literature. It focuses mainly on raising public awareness of, and government response to, the outbreak. It does, however, touch on the complications rubella can present for pregnant women.

Question:

How prevalent are airborne viruses, and why is everyone not infected all the time by an airborne pathogen without the biological constraint to maintain life?

Additional Info:

https://www.cdc.gov/rubella/about/index.html

NHK World, 2/07/2019
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190207_16/

Summary:  Roughly 700 pigs have been culled at a farm in Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture (滋賀, middle left on map) after an outbreak of  Pestivirus CSFV, a Group IV virus responsible for classical swine fever. While this pathogen is highly contagious among domestic and wild swine and known to cause symptoms including fever, skin hemorrhaging, convulsions, and death [1], humans are not susceptible. The carriers were among a total of 60 pigs shipped from Aichi Prefecture (愛知, center bottom) to four other prefectures on January 31st. The first case of CSF in Japan in 27 years was discovered September 2018 in Gifu Prefecture (岐阜, center top), spreading from there.

Connection:

While we have not yet covered viruses or communicability in class, the precautions we take in lab to avoid communication of our unidentified strains is likely an afterthought on commercial farms. It’s no wonder that crafty and deadly pathogens could have such a devastating effect on food supply chains.

Critical Analysis:

This article is written more as an informative story than a piece of scientific literature. However, it does provide reliable information on what  Pestivirus CSFV is and the effects it can have. While it has been reportedly eliminated in many western countries, including America, Canada, and Australia, cases still arise such as East Anglia, United Kingdom in 2000 [1].

Question:

What makes pathogens selective in their attacking, and is it truly more advantageous to specialize and “hide under the radar” rather than diversify to obtain the maximum potential number of hosts?

Additional Info:

[1]:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_swine_fever