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Women with typhoid locked in an asylum until they 'went mad'
A BBC investigation has learned that at least 43 female typhoid carriers were locked up for life in a mental hospital in Epsom, Surrey between 1907 and as recently as 1992.
They had recovered from the disease but still excreted the bacterium and therefore were seen to pose a public health risk, and were incarcerated indefinitely.
Nursing staff told the BBC that some of the women may have been sane when they were admitted but went mad because of their incarceration.
Jeanie Kennett, a ward manager, said it was a "basic existence" for the patients.
"They're somebody's loved ones, they're somebody's mother, or sister, everybody had forgotten about them - they were just locked away," she said.
"Life was pretty tough; they were seen as objects, it was prison-like - everything was lock and key."
Can you believe that these kinds of secret incarcerations took place just a few years ago Were the authorities justified in keeping these typhoid carriers away from the general public, even after the advent of antibiotics? Why were no men subjected to the same treatment? A BBC investigation has learned that at least 43 female typhoid carriers were locked up for life in a mental hospital in Epsom, Surrey... more -
Deadly virus infects 3,000 children in China
"Almost 3,000 children in eastern China have now been infected by the deadly Enterovirus 71 (EV71) intestinal virus, according to state-run media.
A child died on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 21, and a total of 2,946 children had been infected by Friday morning, Xinhua news agency said.
The number of children infected with EV71 - which is highly contagious - has risen sharply since the outbreak was disclosed on Sunday. Most of the victims have been children under the age of six." "Almost 3,000 children in eastern China have now been infected by the deadly Enterovirus 71 (EV71) intestinal virus, according to... more -
Deadly Strain of Staph Passed in Gay Sex
A drug-resistant strain of potentially deadly bacteria has moved beyond the borders of U.S. hospitals and is being transmitted among gay men during sex, researchers said on Monday.
They said methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is beginning to appear outside hospitals in San Francisco, Boston, New York and Los Angeles. A drug-resistant strain of potentially deadly bacteria has moved beyond the borders of U.S. hospitals and is being transmitted among g... more -
PROJECT: SMILE OF HOPE - for the Earth full of smiles...
SMILE OF HOPE" is an independent, non-governmental, non-institutional, non-religious project for global awareness and responsibility with the aim to propel compassion and induce a feeling of hope and better tomorrow to the people / countries in peril. The globe is warming, the Earth is crumbling, nations are starving, people are dying... While there is no simple solution to fight the famine and erase the misery, there is one small thing that ANYONE can do - SMILE :) Pleasant smile induces a similar response. A smile can make others smile - it really is contagious! It can win friends and influence people. "A smile can induce a feeling of pleasure even if the smile is that of a stranger in a photo, as long as it's genuine." (Facial Expressions Are Contagious, Hietanen & Surakka, International Journal of Psychophysiology, 1997) Via the web portal at http://www.smileofhope.com/ participants of this project will be able to upload their smiley photo which will be posted not only on the web as a collective message of hope, but will become a part of an actual, jumbo poster - 4000 faces big - from the people all over the world. The poster will eventually be displayed in the country / city that will benefit from this kind of empathic support the most. Where exactly, is also to be determined by the participants of this project who will give their vote to the country in most dire need. Uploading cost to each participant is only 1EUR per photo, and will be used to cover the expenses and technicalities related to the project. You can do it too! Your smile can make others smile - a smile really is contagious! Make someone's day with your smile - send a smile of hope and connect people around the world! http://www.smileofhope.com BONUS *** FREE mp3 - upload your Smile of Hope photo and get a free download of mp3 track: Bozic dolazi (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town), by Jeshua, a band from Croatia. SMILE OF HOPE" is an independent, non-governmental, non-institutional, non-religious project for global awareness and responsibil... more
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Contagious
