CDC issues travel alert to Florida due to increase in leprosy cases

Healthauthorities warn that a fifth of the reported cases of leprosy in the US have occurred in this region of the country.

MIAMI, USA — US health authorities have issued a travel advisory due to the increasing number of cases of leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, in the Central Florida region.

According to data from a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Central Florida has experienced a significant increase in leprosy cases. In this region, 81% of the cases reported in the state have occurred, representing almost a fifth of all cases reported in the country.

“Every time [the] CDC notices an increase in the diagnosis of cases, doctors have to be alert because, sometimes, these types of diseases are not easy to detect and can be confused with many other diseases such as lupus or problems simple from the skin,” says Dr. Carlos Riveros, who has a medical practice in South Florida. Regarding this, he points out that "early diagnosis is essential" to appease the spread of this disease, "but for that you have to suspect it." "For this reason, these alerts become important and it is an important weapon that we doctors have to put on the table these types of diseases that become undetectable until they have advanced a lot," he says. Leprosy peaked in the US in the 1980s.

This disturbing increase is in stark contrast to the history of leprosy in the United States, where it has historically been rare. In the 1980s, the incidence peaked, and since then there has been a drastic reduction in the annual number of documented cases. However, the most recent reports show that the incidence of leprosy has been gradually increasing throughout the country, doubling in the southeastern states over the past decade.

Most worrisome is that several of the reported cases in Central Florida show no clear evidence of zoonotic exposure or known risk factors for disease transmission.

A case of lepromatous leprosy has even been reported in a male resident of the area with no identifiable risk factors.

What is leprosy?

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that mainly affects the skin and the peripheral nervous system of the patient. It is transmitted through close and prolonged contact with an untreated patient. "Leprosy is a disease caused by a microbacterium that can generally enter through the respiratory tract or openings in the skin," says Dr. Riveros, clarifying that, initially, "it is not very contagious." From there, the disease affects "other parts of the body" and "produces some reactions" in the body. What symptoms are there when someone has leprosy?

Known symptoms of leprosy include the appearance of discolored patches on the skin, thickened and dry skin, growths on the skin, loss of eyebrows and eyelashes, muscle weakness or paralysis, and enlarged nerves.

“You get lesions on the skin that are kind of round, broad, they look kind of pale but red somewhere. They become chronic and can easily be confused with anything else because one could not suspect that they have leprosy," adds the specialist consulted by VOA, while warning that "it can also cause some problems in the peripheral nerves," such as neuropathy. And it is that if it is not treated in time, the disease can lead to serious complications such as blindness, ulcers on the soles of the feet and paralysis or deformities in the extremities. Only 150 cases in the US Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) registers more than 200,000 cases of leprosy every year in more than 120 countries. In the United States, the CDC reports that approximately 150 people become infected with the disease annually. Although there are no causes for concern, health authorities in Central Florida are urging the public to be alert for any suspicious symptoms and to seek immediate medical attention if they occur. The importance of early detection and timely treatment is emphasized to avoid serious complications associated with leprosy. In addition, extensive research is being carried out to identify the reasons behind the increase in cases and to better understand the risk factors involved in the spread of the disease. Collaboration between health authorities, medical professionals and the community is essential to control and prevent the spread of leprosy in the region. Ultimately, public awareness and education about leprosy are critical to removing the stigma associated with this disease and ensuring that those affected receive the appropriate treatment and support to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

Who are the people at risk?

Patients at risk would be the elderly and those with chronic diseases. Also "children, between the ages of 5 and 10, who could have a deficiency in their immune system that could allow the microbacteria to advance in the body."

The health authorities recall that the fight against leprosy requires the joint effort of the entire society to eradicate this disease and protect the health of the population. Doctors recommend carrying out optimal hygiene and implementing the same protocols that were carried out during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We recommend doing something similar to what we have done with all infectious diseases: hand washing, avoiding respiratory contact with people who could potentially be sick, keeping a certain distance. All of this becomes very important”, settles Dr. Riveros. Ultimately, public awareness and education about leprosy are critical to removing the stigma associated with this disease and ensuring that those affected receive the appropriate treatment and support to live healthy and fulfilling lives. Who are the people at risk?

Patients at risk would be the elderly and those with chronic diseases. Also "children, between the ages of 5 and 10, who could have a deficiency in their immune system that could allow the microbacteria to advance in the body."

The health authorities recall that the fight against leprosy requires the joint effort of the entire society to eradicate this disease and protect the health of the population. Doctors recommend carrying out optimal hygiene and implementing the same protocols that were carried out during the coronavirus pandemic. “We recommend doing something similar to what we have done with all infectious diseases: hand washing, avoiding respiratory contact with people who could potentially be sick, keeping a certain distance. All of this becomes very important”, settles Dr. Riveros. Note published in Spanish in:: VOA Translated by: BDN

Laselección estadounidense, que tiene un récord de cuatro mundiales en total e intentaba conseguir un inédito tercer título en fila, fue eliminada en octavos final por primera vez en la historia del equipo.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA —

Lina Hurtig convirtió su penal y Suecia eliminó a Estados Unidos del Mundial femenino de fútbol por 5-4 en los penales, tras un empate a cero.

La portera de Estados Unidos, Alyssa Naeher, alegó sin éxito que había detenido el disparo de Hurtig, pero se declaró que había cruzado la línea. En el estadio sonó “Dancing Queen” de ABBA mientras las suecas celebraban.

Estados Unidos, que tiene un récord de cuatro mundiales en total e intentaba conseguir un inédito tercer título en fila, fue eliminada en octavos final por primera vez en la historia del combinado.

El peor lugar de las estadounidenses había sido un tercer puesto, en tres ocasiones.

Era el primer encuentro de este torneo que iba a la prórroga.

Era la cuarta ocasión en la que un partido de Estados Unidos en el Mundial iba a la prórroga. Los otros tres también llegaron a penales, incluida la final de 2011 que ganó Japón. Estados Unidos ganó en penales su duelo de cuartos de final de 2011 contra Brasil, y la final de 1999 en el Rose Bowl contra China.

Suecia eliminó por penales a Estados Unidos en los Juegos Olímpicos de 2016, en cuartos de final.

La selección sueca se enfrentaría en cuartos de final a Japón, ganador del Mundial de 2011 y que el sábado por la noche se impuso 3-1 a Noruega.

Suecia nunca ha ganado un gran torneo internacional, ni el Mundial ni los Juegos Olímpicos. Lo más cerca que han estado las suecas fue como finalistas del Mundial en 2003. Terminaron terceras en 1999, 2011 y 2019, y ganaron medallas de plata en los dos últimos Juegos Olímpicos. Las estadounidenses tuvieron problemas en la fase de grupos, con apenas cuatro goles en tres encuentros. Estuvieron cerca de ser eliminadas el martes pasado por Portugal, que se estrenaba en el torneo, aunque lograron un empate 0-0 que les permitió pasar como segundas de grupo por segunda ocasión en un Mundial. Las estadounidenses jugaron mucho mejor contra Suecia, dominando la posesión y con 5 tiros a puerta frente al único intento de las escandinavas en el primer tiempo. La arquera Zecira Musovic, que hizo seis paradas en el tiempo regular, atrapó un disparo de Lindsey Horan en la segunda mitad, después de que su primer intento chocara con el arco antes del descanso.

Suecia, por su parte, ganó sus tres encuentros de la fase de grupos, incluido un demoledor 5-0 sobre Italia en el último partido. El técnico Peter Gerhardsson hizo nueve cambios en el encuentro y dejó descansar a sus titulares antes de enfrentarse a Estados Unidos.

El partido fue tenso desde el principio.

Naeher apartó con el puño el balón de una meta abarrotada en un saque de esquina de Suecia. Tres de los goles suecos contra Italia fueron jugadas de equipo.

Musovic atrapó con facilitad un tiro lejano de Trinity Rodman a los 18 minutos, y frustró otra oportunidad de Rodman a los 27.

El cabezazo de Horan en un corner de Andi Sullivan a los 34 minutos pegó en el larguero y salió sobre la portería. Horan habría marcado a los 53, pero Musovic se lanzó para desviar el balón. Horan se agachó en la cancha en gesto de frustración mientras la arquera era festejada por sus compañeras. Estados Unidos jugaba sin Rose Lavelle, que se llevó su segunda amarilla del torneo en la fase de grupos contra Portugal y tuvo que quedarse fuera contra Suecia.

En ausencia de Lavelle, el técnico estadounidense Vlatko Andonovski recurrió a Emily Sonnett, que hacía su primera salida como titular desde 2022. La incorporación de Sonnett permitió que Horan avanzara en el medio campo. Suecia presionó en los últimos 10 minutos del tiempo regular. Sofia Jakobsson, que salió a los 81 minutos, estuvo a punto de anotar a los 85, pero Naeher logró atrapar el balón en su primera parada del torneo.

Ni Caroline Seger ni Megan Rapinoe fueron titulares, aunque Rapinoe salió en lugar de Alex Morgan en la primera parte de la prórroga.

Seger, que batió el récord europeo con 235 partidos con Suecia, comenzó el juego en la banca. La jugadora de 38 años ha tenido problemas en la pantorrilla todo el año y entrenó sola en los dos días previos al juego con Estados Unidos. Rapinoe, también de 38 años, había anunciado que este sería su último mundial. Ha adoptado un papel secundario en su último torneo con la selección. Fue suplente en el primer y tercer juego de la fase de grupos y no salió de la banca en el segundo. Hizo su 200 aparición con la camiseta de Estados Unidos en el mundial. Nota publicada en: VOA

The US team, which has a record four World Cups in total and was trying to win an unprecedented third title in a row, was eliminated in the round of 16 for the first time in team history.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—

Lina Hurtig converted her penalty and Sweden eliminated the United States from the Women’s World Cup 5-4 on penalties, after a goalless draw. United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher claimed unsuccessfully that she had stopped Hurtig’s shot, but she pleaded that she had crossed the line. ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” played in the stadium while the Swedes celebrated. The United States, which has a record four World Cups in total and was trying to win an unprecedented third straight title, was eliminated in the round of 16 for the first time in the team’s history. The worst place for the Americans had been a third place, three times. It was the first game of this tournament that went to extra time. It was the fourth time that a United States game in the World Cup went to extra time. The other three also went to penalties, including the 2011 final that Japan won. The United States won their 2011 quarterfinal against Brazil on penalties and the 1999 Rose Bowl final against China. Sweden eliminated the United States on penalties at the 2016 Olympics in the quarterfinals. The Swedish team would face Japan in the quarterfinals, winner of the 2011 World Cup and who beat Norway 3-1 on Saturday night. Sweden has never won a major international tournament, neither the World Cup nor the Olympic Games. The closest the Swedes have come was as World Cup finalists in 2003. They finished third in 1999, 2011 and 2019, and have won silver medals at the last two Olympic Games. The Americans struggled in the group stage, scoring just four goals in three games. They were close to being eliminated last Tuesday by Portugal, which was making its debut in the tournament, although they managed a 0-0 draw that allowed them to pass as second in the group for the second time in a World Cup. The Americans played much better against Sweden, dominating possession and having 5 shots on target to the Scandinavians’ only attempt in the first half. Goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who made six saves in regulation, caught Lindsey Horan’s shot in the second half after her first attempt hit the goal before the break. Sweden, meanwhile, won all three of their group stage matches, including a 5-0 demolition of Italy in the last game. Coach Peter Gerhardsson made nine substitutions in the game and rested his starters before facing the United States. The match was tense from the beginning. Naeher punched the ball away from a crowded goal on a Sweden corner. Three of the Swedish goals against Italy were team plays. Musovic easily caught Trinity Rodman’s long shot in the 18th minute, and thwarted another Rodman chance in the 27th. Horan’s header from an Andi Sullivan corner on 34 minutes hit the crossbar and went over the goal. Horan would have scored at 53, but Musovic dove to deflect the ball. Horan crouched on the court in frustration as the goalie was cheered on by her teammates. The United States was playing without Rose Lavelle, who picked up her second yellow of the tournament in the group stage against Portugal and was sidelined against Sweden. In Lavelle’s absence, US coach Vlatko Andonovski turned to Emily Sonnett, making her first start since 2022. Sonnett’s addition allowed Horan to step up in midfield. Sweden pressed in the last 10 minutes of regulation time. Sofia Jakobsson, coming on after 81 minutes, nearly scored in the 85th, but Naeher managed to snag the ball on her first save of the tournament. Neither Caroline Seger nor Megan Rapinoe started, although Rapinoe came on for Alex Morgan in the first part of extra time. Seger, who broke the European record with 235 caps for Sweden, started the game on the bench. The 38-year-old has had calf problems all year and she trained alone in the two days leading up to the game with the United States. Rapinoe, also 38, had announced that this would be her last World Cup. She has taken a supporting role in her last tournament with the national team. She was a substitute in the first and third games of the group stage and did not come off the bench in the second. She made her 200th appearance in the United States jersey at the World Cup.

Note published in Spanish in:: VOA

Translated by: BDN

¡SABIAS QUE...! Iglesias de Nebraska Central

Hay casi 8 millones de posibles números de teléfono de siete dígitos por código de área. Cada código de área tiene 792 posibles prefijos o códigos NXX (por ejemplo, NXXXXXX o 555-1234), explica la Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Texas. Y cada "NXX" tiene adjuntos 10.000 posibles números de teléfono. Entonces, con un poco de matemática, sabemos que teóricamente hay 7,920,000 posibles números de teléfono de siete dígitos en cada código de área. Obviamente, no todos estos números se ponen en uso, por lo que no tiene que probar casi 8 millones de números si desea llamar al azar a un amigo que vive cerca.

Articulo

El ajiaco criollo es un plato súper sabroso que todos los cubanos acostumbramos a preparar cada vez que se nos dé la oportunidad.

Sobre todo, si estamos a punto de preparar una fiesta familiar ya que es la receta por excelencia que no puede faltar en este tipo de celebraciones.

Además, porque forma parte de nuestra tradición de más de 500 años, si así mismo, esta mezcla exótica de sabores surgió a partir de la unión de varias culturas que dio inicio a la gastronomía típica cubana.

INGREDIENTES:

Did You Know...!

There are almost 8 million possible sevendigit phone numbers per area code. Each area code has 792 possible prefixes or NXX codes (for example, NXX-XXXX or 555-1234), explains the Public Utility Commission of Texas. And each "NXX" has 10,000 possible phone numbers attached to it. So, with a little math, we know that theoretically, there are 7,920,000 possible seven-digit phone numbers in each area code. Obviously, not all of these numbers are put into use, so you don't have to try nearly 8 million numbers if you want to randomly dial a friend who lives nearby.

St. Mary’s Cathedral

112 S Cedar St. Grand Island, NE 68801

PH: (308) 384-2523

New Life Community Church 301 W 2nd St, Grand Island, NE 68801

Phone: (308) 384-5369

Iglesia Adventista del septimo dia

3205 Garland St

Grand Island NE

Phone: (308) 675-0838

New Hope Family Church

1220 Central Ave # 1, Kearney, NE 68847

Phone: (308) 237-0220

Trinity Lutheran Church

212 W 12th St, Grand Island, NE 68801

Phone: (308) 382-0753

Iglesia Evangelica

Pentecostes Redencion

Eterna 318 W 3rd St, Grand Island, NE 68801

Phone: (308) 850-5555

Vida Nueva

1424 N Eddy St, Grand Island, NE 68801

Phone: (308) 379-3772

Iglesia Ebenezer

508 E Capital Ave, Grand Island NE. 308.675.2314

St. Joseph church

507 S Howard St Kimball, Nebraska 69145 (308) 235-2162

St Pauls Lutheran Church

1515 S Harrison St Grand Island, Nebraska 68803

Hours 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (308) 382-2973

Asambleas de Dios Tabernáculo Pentecostés 411 E 8th St. Grand island, Ne. 68801 Pastor Oscar Suriano 308-218-9028