Kes to Bring IzWe Concert Series Back to T&T Carnival

nHEALTH nENTERTAINMENT nRELATIONSHIPS nRECIPES nSPORTS nHOROSCOPE

BY JAMAICANS.COM

Kes launched IZWE (pronounced “Is We”) in 2021 as a series of five, socially-distanced concerts during what would have been that year’s Carnival season. The limited-capacity shows were the first sanctioned live music events held in Trinidad & Tobago after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which began one year earlier, and just days after the close of Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2020. As the world has opened up, Kes has exported IZWE in an expanded, festival form to New York City and Toronto, in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Some 8,000 fans attended each event, with July’s IzWe Toronto concert receiving national media coverage in Canada from outlets including CBC and Breakfast Television. With IZWE 2023, the band is set to bring the show back home to Trinidad on the Tuesday before Trinidad & Tobago Carnival — the same calendar spot where Kes held its Tuesday on the Rocks concert series from 2014 to 2020. Fans can stay tuned for guest artist announcements and more details at www.kestheband.com. Trinidad & Tobago Carnival, or Trinidad Carnival for short, is widely known as the Caribbean’s biggest and best carnival celebration, and the inspiration for cultural festivals like Notting Hill Carnival in London and Toronto’s Caribana. Held annually on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the event is known for participants’ colorful costumes and exuberant street celebrations, as well as the soca music that provides its soundtrack. With Carnival returning after three years — 2021 marked its first cancellation since WWII — anticipation is sky high and record attendance is expected, not only for the carnival itself but for the season of special events that precedes it. The homecoming follows a banner 2022 for Kes, which included a mainstage performance at ESSENCE Fest in July, where the band played for one of its largest audiences to date. Summer saw Kes usher in the return of carnival celebrations across the Caribbean and its Diaspora, with performances in Guyana, Barbados, Anguilla, Grenada, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Toronto, London, and New York City. Their Liki Tiki U.S. Tour followed in September and October, with sold out dates up and down the East and West Coast. “Liki Tiki” is currently up for GRAMMY® consideration in the Best Global Music Performance category.l

Photo courtesy: kestheband.com

Kitchen Corner Caribbean Carrot-Ginger Soup

Ideveloped this recipe while in the Dominican Republic. Living in a small, rural beach town, I had to be resourceful with ingredients that were available and affordable. Carrots grow like crazy there, so this was an easy, delicious recipe that I used to make for my friends during the rainy season. It's the first recipe I really ever developed myself, and I still love it. Garnish asdesired with microgreens, chopped chives, toasted sliced almonds, or chia seeds. By Jessica Lawson, AllRecipes.com

Ingredients 1 tablespoon salted butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cups coarsely chopped onion 1 ½ pounds carrots, peeled and cut into chunks 3 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, or more as needed ¼ teaspoon salt, or more to taste ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper ½ cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk

Directions Step 1 Heat butter and oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook until translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add carrots and ginger; cook for 1 to 2 minutes more. Stir in broth and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until carrots are very tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 2 Puree soup with an immersion blender until smooth and creamy, or let cool slightly and blend in a blender, working in batches as needed. Return to heat and add more broth as needed for desired consistency; soup should be thick. Season with pepper and additional salt if needed.

Step 3 Ladle soup into 4 bowls. Swirl 2 tablespoons coconut milk into each bowl.

Cook's Notes You can use black pepper instead of white.

Canned coconut milk can be pretty chunky, so shake it vigorously before opening the can.l

Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 35 mins Total Time: 55 mins Servings: 4 Yield: 4 servings

COVID-19, RSV and the Flu are Straining Health Care Systems – Two Epidemiologists Explain What the ‘Triple Threat’ Means for Children

BY REBECCA S.B. FISCHER & ANNETTE REGAN THE CONVERSATION.COM

Every fall and winter, viral respiratory illnesses like the common cold and seasonal flu keep kids out of school and social activities. But this year, more children than usual are ending up at emergency departments and hospitals. In California, the Orange County health department declared a state of emergency in early November 2022 due to record numbers of pediatric hospitalizations for respiratory infections. In Maryland, emergency rooms have run out of beds because of the unusually high number of severe respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, infections. So emergency departments there are having to refer patients across state lines for care. In the U.S., the winter respiratory virus season started earlier than usual this year. Since peak infections usually occur in late December or January, this uncharacteristic early wave suggests that the situation could get much worse for people of all ages, particularly children. We are epidemiologists with expertise in epidemic analysis for emerging disease threats, including respiratory infections. We watch patterns in these infections closely, and we pay particular attention when the patterns are unusual. We’ve grown increasingly concerned about the amount of pediatric hospitalizations over the last few months and the pattern that is emerging.

The ‘triple threat’ In early November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory about increased activity in respiratory infections – especially among children. The CDC and other health experts are warning of the socalled “triple threat” of respiratory illness from RSV, influenza – or the seasonal flu – and COVID-19. The underlying reasons for the convergence of these viruses and the increase in infections so early in the season are not yet clear. But health experts have some clues about contributing factors and what it could mean for the coming months. When it comes to COVID-19, 2022 is expected to usher in another winter wave of infections, similar to patterns seen in 2020 and 2021. Previous winter surges stemmed from a combination of factors, including the emergence and spread of new viral variants, more people gathering indoors rather than distanced outside, and people coming together for the holidays. But unlike previous pandemic winters, most COVID-19 precautions – such as using masks in public areas or avoiding group activities – are more relaxed than ever. Together with the looming threat of new variants, it is difficult to predict how big the next COVID-19 wave could be. And while the seasonal flu has proved somewhat unpredictable during the COVID-19 pandemic, it nearly always hits during late October. Flu season also arrived about a month early and in greater numbers than in recent history. By our read of the data, pediatric flu hospitalizations are nearing 10 times what has been seen for this time of year for more than a decade. RSV infections tend to follow a similar seasonal pattern as the flu, peaking in winter months. But this year, there was an unexpected summer wave, well before the start of the typical fall respiratory virus season. In typical years, RSV garners little media attention. It’s incredibly common and usually causes only mild illness. In fact, most children encounter the virus before age 2. But RSV can be a formidable respiratory infection with serious consequences for children under 5, especially infants. It is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections in young children, and more severe illnesses can lead to pneumonia and other complications, often requiring hospitalization.

Why children are particularly at risk Children, especially young children, tend to get sicker from flu and RSV than other age groups. But infants younger than 6 months old stand to suffer the most, with nearly double the risk of RSV-related death compared to other children younger than 5. COVID-19 hospitalization rates are also four to five times higher for infants than older children. One reason the youngest children are at greater risk is that their immune systems are not yet fully developed and don’t produce the robust immune response seen in most adults. What’s more, infants younger than 6 months – who are most at risk of severe disease – are still too young to be vaccinated against influenza or COVID-19.

These viruses present challenges on their own, but their co-circulation and coinciding surges in infections create a perfect storm for multiple viruses to infect the same person at once. Viruses might even act together to evade immunity and cause damage to the respiratory tract.

Such co-infections are typically uncommon. However, the likelihood of coinfection is substantially higher for children than adults. Co-infections can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and can ultimately lead to greater disease severity, complications, hospitalization and death.

Factors behind the triple threat There are a few reasons why the U.S. may be seeing a surge in pediatric respiratory infections. First, COVID-19 protection strategies actually help prevent the transmission of other respiratory pathogens. School and daycare closures likely also minimized exposures children normally have to various respiratory viruses. These and other efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 seem to have suppressed the broad circulation of other viruses, including influenza and RSV. As a result, the U.S. saw an overall drop in non-COVID respiratory infections – and an almost nonexistent flu season in the winter of 2020. The decreased viral activity means that children missed out on some exposures to viruses and other pathogens that typically help build immunity, particularly during the first few years of life. The resulting so-called “immunity debt” may contribute to an excess of pediatric respiratory infections as we continue into this season. To further complicate the picture, the changing nature of viruses, including theemergence of new COVID-19 variants and the natural evolution of seasonal influenza viruses, means that we could be seeing a unique combination of particularly transmissible strains or strains that cause more severe illness.

Proactive steps people can take The early surge in respiratory infections with high rates of hospitalization highlights the importance of prevention. The best tool we have for prevention is vaccination. Vaccines that protect against COVID-19 and influenza are available and recommended for everyone over 6 months of age. They have been shown to be safe and effective, and they can and do save lives. In particular, most recent data on the newly updated bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine suggests that it produces a more rigorous antibody response against the current circulating omicron variants than the original COVID-19 vaccines. The best way to protect infants younger than 6 months old against flu and COVID-19 is by vaccination during pregnancy. When a pregnant mother is vaccinated, maternal antibodies cross the placenta to the baby, reducing the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization in young infants by 61%. Vaccination of other caregivers, family and friends can also help protect infants. Other preventive measures, like handwashing, covering sneezes and coughs, staying at home and isolating when sick, can help to protect the community from these viruses and others. Paying attention to local public health advisers can also help people to have the most up-to-date information and make informed decisions to keep themselves and others – of all ages – safe. l

In the U.S., the winter respiratory virus season started earlier than usual this year. Since peak infections usually occur in late December or January, this uncharacteristic early wave suggests that the situation could get much worse for people of all ages, particularly children. Pediatric emergency rooms in some states are at or over capacity due to the surging number of respiratory infections.

Rebecca S.B. Fischer is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Texas A&M University. Annette Regan is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of San Francisco.

Stressing the Tie Between Climate Change and Violence Against Women

BY JR HOLGUIN

Scientists predict that over the next 30 years, close to 150 million people will move due to climate change affecting areas around the world; most of those seeking refuge are women and girls who are more vulnerable to violence based on their gender. The movement known as "climate change migration" is when an individual or a group of individuals are forced to or voluntarily choose to leave their usual residence due to a sudden or gradual shift in the environment, either temporarily or permanently, within a state or across international borders. During the 50th Session of the Human Rights Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, spoke of exploring the tie "between climate change and violence against women and girls through a human rights lens." Bachelet noted that though climate change affects the entire world, it is "women and girls who often suffer its harshest and most violent consequences." According to the UN Environment Program, women are predicted to make up 80 percent of people displaced by climate change, placing them at a significantly higher risk of violence, including sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is a terrifying facet of life for migrants and refugees, who are in danger of attack while in temporary shelters, tents, or camps. The threat of child, forced, and early marriages, as well as human trafficking, that traveling women and girls confront dramatically exacerbates the problem. Cross-border travel for women and girls who are refugees or migrants is frequently laden with hazards and issues, such as sexual and genderbased violence, mental distress, physical harm, and many forms of exploitation, including human trafficking. Countless reports worldwide of cases reported by women and children are ignored, or at times, the perpetrators are law enforcement. Between 2016 and 2022, Human Rights Watch recorded 11 cases of sexual abuse against refugees and asylum seekers from Sudan and Yemen and one child. All six women, one who identified as a transgender woman, said men raped them. In some cases, victims were assaulted more than once. A mother also reported that a man raped her 11-year-old daughter. Some victims said police declined to file incident reports, and others were afraid to report the incident. There was one incident of a police employee who sexually harassed a victim when she tried to report a rape. It's important to note that, at times, those in authority are the perpetrators who sexually abuse migrants and asylum seekers. Including here in the United States, authorities on the southern border have been known to sexually assault those seeking refuge. Human Rights Watch released a 26-page report that provides details of statements from asylum officers of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services about the conduct of personnel in the Department of Homeland Security. Bachelet told the UN Council that it is imperative that any climate change policy and approach have the human rights of women and girls positioned at the forefront and that no one is left behind. She provided five steps to ensure this: •They acknowledge that climate change and violence against women and girls are connected. •Women in power must be completely involved in climate issues and actions, as their insights will help protect women's rights better. •States must improve the development of "gender-responsive environmental and disaster risk reduction" policies, initiatives, and budgets. •States need enhanced accountability structures with zero exemption for perpetrators "no matter if they are spouses, family members, religious leaders, relief workers or government officials." •Governments must act quickly to uphold, defend, and execute their commitments under international humanitarian law to women, girls, and particularly female environmental human rights advocates. Whether it's climate change, wars, or global pandemics, the world has been and continues to be fraught with danger for women and girls. Be it the escalating attacks on women's autonomy over their bodies, mounting barriers to girls' leadership and education, and reports of women being murdered or going missing simply because they are women. The fight for gender equality often feels like the evil outweighs any progress. Bachelet highlights that leaders must take that action now because as nothing is being done, "the lives, safety, and dignity of millions of women and girls will continue to hang in the balance."l

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