Reliable information on COVID19 2023

If you have been looking at social media on the - #coronavirus, #COVID19, #COVID-19, #coronavirusoutbreak you may be finding it hard to keep up with what is happening. Particularly if you have a chronic medical condition, now that this pandemic remains ongoing around the world.

Amongst the facts being pushed out by the various public health and government organizations involved in the ongoing response to this virus, there are a steady stream of variable quality posts continuing to be posted from individuals, news organizations and companies. At times there are multiple perspectives on the same topic which continue to be confusing for many people. However, what is apparent is that the situation is continuing to evolve in many countries -ie how many people are being affected by what strain of the virus along with what measures authorities continue to have in place.

So, what are the most important things that you as an individual can continue to do right now? There are 4 things, and they are (as contained in this useful video)-

https://youtu.be/1APwq1df6Mw


a) wash your hands regularly, especially after going to the bathroom or being in contact with other people. Good old fashioned soap and water will do if you are not able to access hand sanitiser (see image below). 

b) cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and avoid shaking hands with other people. Plus wear a mask if you are out and about around other people whilst there is ongoing community transmission of the COVID19 virus (or any of its variants). Of note the type of mask is important-a respirator type mask is better than either a surgical or cloth mask (see link below on masks).

c) understand what social distancing means should there be further outbreaks of coronavirus near where you live and/or work. This means avoiding people who are sick.

d) understand what you need to do if asked to self isolate for a period of time and put plans into place in case you need to

e) keep an eye on reliable web sites for information. This may vary depending in which country you reside

f) keep up to date with your vaccinations against COVID19. The type of vaccine you will receive along with the timing of the first, second and now subsequent booster doses will depend on which country you live in. There is some indication that for people who live in some countries that a fifth or even sixth dose of the vaccine will be required, particularly if they have underlying health conditions. If in doubt speak to your doctors and or specialist (if you are a solid organ transplant recipient). The latest info on vaccinating solid organ transplant recipients can be found here-

https://www.myast.org/statement-covid-19-vaccination-solid-organ-transplant-recipients

Some useful web sites are-

WHO information on coronavirus

WHO COVID 19 measures

US CDC Coronavirus travel information

Interim Guidance US CDC on the coronavirus for householders

Advice for Transplant Recipients (tailored to recipients within the United States)

Information on COVID19 vaccination United States Transplant recipients

Kidney Care UK COVID advice

Information about masks

How to Contribute to the Organisations Caring for Injured and Displaced Wildlife due to the BushFires in Australia

Over an 8 month period from the second half of 2019 until February 2020 there were a number of devastating bush fires which occurred, particularly along the east coast of Australia. In addition, parts of South Australia (including the iconic Kangaroo Island) were also involved. Along with vast areas of bushland being burnt there was some loss of buildings but fortunately to relatively few lives were lost of the local human inhabitants. The farm animal losses numbered in the tens of thousands. There was also a colossal loss of wildlife habitat which will have medium to long term implications. This has translated into millions of wildlife being killed including most recently on Kangaroo Island where it is estimated that 25,000 koalas have perished.

Due to the ferocity and extent of these fires a lot of the wildlife were not able to escape in time. This includes reptiles and the marsupials including possums as well as the koalas. There have been some dramatic rescues of the koalas one of which attracted a lot of media attention when it involved a woman saving a koala. This particular koala went on to die despite being intensively nursed in a wildlife hospital.

A video of this same rescue effort can be seen here https://youtu.be/YzRix8ktta4


The list of organisations some of which you may wish to contribute include-

1) The Rescue Collective (rescuing and feeding injured & displaced wildlife on the east coast of Australia) -https://therescuecollective.com/

2) Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation Kangaroo Island (includes koalas)- https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-kangaroo-islands-koalas-and-wildlife?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&fbclid=IwAR0nhRxUpEZlzegf7ZBOCRaJT6aJlUP8fe3hQNGxbg8ekOrtUZdGGqujt1E

3) South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management (helping with treating wildlife injured on both Kangaroo Island as well as in the Adelaide Hills) https://www.savem.org.au/

4) Adelaide and Hills Koala Rescue (South Australia Fires Dec 2019) - https://www.gofundme.com/f/sa-koala-burn-victims?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&fbclid=IwAR1yhfuolxBQ8n5li7300q0QaC3XDM4fj4YuEY47lo7mpWQgsNTVG2ZIzJo

5) Adelaide Koala Rescue - https://www.akr.org.au/

6) Cobargo Wildlife Centre, Cobargo New South Wales -NB severely impacted by the bushfires https://www.gofundme.com/f/wildlife-fire-ground-carers

7) The Nature Foundation of SA Kangaroo Island Conservation programs         https://www.naturefoundation.org.au/support-us/kangaroo-island-conservation-programs

8) Fauna Rescue South Australia (NB Kangaroo Island fires) https://www.faunarescue.org.au/

9) Wildlife Victoria - *** really need help (for wildlife impacted upon by bushfires in Victoria) https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/

10) East Gippsland Wildlife rescue (Victoria bushfires) - https://mkc.org.au/donations/koalaisland?fbclid=IwAR2KRGo1f9_d9FT5qNjFxaN7atKtyR8KXY_RcXlM6r-dPr29tfOqkm_E3bU

11) Wildlife Rescue Habitat Boxes (because so many trees have been destroyed) https://wildlifeboxes.raisely.com/

12) Science for Wildlife (based in Sydney, New South Wales - medium to long term assistance programs including for koalas) -http://scienceforwildlife.org/

13) Native Animal Rescue Group, Braidwood, New South Wales- http://narg.asn.au/

14) Koalas in Care (New South Wales) - http://www.koalasincare.org.au/

15) Bangalow Koalas - http://www.bangalowkoalas.com.au/support-bangalow-koalas/

16) Port Stephens Koalas (New South Wales) https://portstephenskoalas.com.au/

17) FAWNA (care for all other injured wildlife except koalas) https://www.fawna.org.au/donating-to-fawna/

18) Shoalhaven Bat Clinic https://www.facebook.com/pg/Shoalhaven.Bat.Clinic/posts/

19) Rural and Hive Aid (Support Farmers & Honey Bees) https://www.ruralaid.org.au/donate/

20) Wombat hospital http://www.cedarcreekwombatrescue.com/

21) Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary https://sleepyburrows.com.au/

22) Dingo Sanctuary Bargo (impacted upon by the bushfires but the animals have been saved) https://dingosanctuarybargo.com.au/

23) Wildlife Rescue South Coast -***Really need help (Rescue all types of wildlife South Coast New South Wales) https://www.wildlife-rescue.org.au/

24) Wildcare Australia (build nest boxes- medium to long term efforts) https://wildcare-australia-inc.giveeasy.org/urgent-help-for-our-wildlife

25) Blue Mountains Koala Project https://www.givenow.com.au/koalaconservation

26) Trillion Trees Australia (ongoing recovery strategy to plant trees restore habitat) https://trilliontrees.org.au/

27) Birdlife Australia Bushfire appeal http://www.birdlife.org.au/current-appeal

28) Port Macquarie Koala Hospital https://www.koalahospital.org.au/ (As of 23rd November 2019 the team at the hospital are requesting that donations of supplies be made to the other organisations)

29) Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary koala appeal https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-our-koala-bushfire-victims

30) Australian Wildlife Conservancy (medium to long term conservation efforts) https://www.australianwildlife.org/

31) Aussie Ark (conservation efforts in the medium to long term) https://www.aussieark.org.au/

32) WIRES New South Wales (*** are reasonably well off due to donations currently) https://www.wires.org.au

33) Friends of the Koala https://friends-of-the-koala.giveeasy.org/urgent-help-required?fbclid=IwAR2BZucQgc6U7zKUX83j-gcTGW2ieVWZvaCYmwC2b27VFM7fRH_xDGFtDr4
(Update-they are replete with funds as from the 24th November)

33) WIRES Northern Rivers (Caring for burnt possums)- https://www.facebook.com/Wires-Northern-Rivers-129514553790887/4

Published articles being retracted from scientific journals including Transplantation

There is now confirmation that 15 scientific articles have been retracted from journals from around the world due to concerns that organs from executed prisoners were used for the purposes of transplantation. These articles are all from China.

As outlined in this online post from Retraction Watch the majority of the studies were published in PLOS One and the Transplantation journal.

This has been confirmed in an open access Editorial published in Transplantation where it is confirmed that some of the relevant scientific publications will now be retracted. It is understood that  a decision has been made at PLOS One to also retract a number of publications following a review having been undertaken. This intention of PLOS One to review previously published articles, was signalled earlier in 2019 Statement PLOS One In addition the scientific journal Kidney International has published online an expression of concern over 2 manuscripts that were previously published.

For all healthcare professionals involved in organ donation and or solid organ transplantation this is an important development as all possible measures are brought to bear on countries around the world where there are issues with how organs from organ donors are actually obtained.

Update : What is involved in the end to end process of assessing a potential deceased organ donor?

Following on from an earlier post in this blog on this particular topic, the time has come to provide an update as to what is involved in the end to end processes around the world  of undertaking a full medical/surgical assessment of a potential organ donor. This process extends from the initial identification of a potential organ donor in hospital through to the surgical recovery of the organs that are then deemed suitable for transplantation. In particular this information applies to deceased donors whether it be that they proceed via the donation after circulatory death (DCD) pathway or whether it be following the neurologic determination of death (otherwise known as brain death - DBD).

A number of professional organizations and statutory organ donation organizations also have relevant up to date information which can be accessed via the relevant web sites. This includes NHS Organ Donor , the United Network of Organ Donation in the United States ( UNOS ), and the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority via it's DonateLife website

However the best practice principles of assessing each and every organ donor are the same regardless of either the location or the circumstances. This involves putting together the relevant data and information for every point of interest as summarized in each of the pieces of the jigsaw in the following graphic-

One particular point of note and that is that along the way, from the beginning of the assessment process through to the end of the organ retrieval/recovery surgery being performed on an actual donor, as new information comes to hand this may rule out some or all of the organs for transplantation purposes. For example testing for infectious disease involves a battery of tests being performed the results of which are not available for a number of hours. As each year goes by the tests either become more sophisticated for eg the nucleic acid testing (NAT) for viruses. In addition as new blood tests are developed these are added to the battery of tests being undertaken, depending on the circumstances.

At times additional tests such as echo cardiograms, ultrasound scans and even computerized tomographic imaging may be performed if there are concerns that the donor may have additional medical problems which may need to be investigated further. On occasion more sophisticated tests are also performed on tissue obtained from undertaking a biopsy of one or more of the donor organs. These biopsies may also be undertaken during the organ retrieval/recovery surgery if the surgeons are concerned that there are specific abnormalities which need to be investigated further.

Acknowledgements: Lesley Logan NHS Scotland for providing feedback on this updated graphic prior to this blog post going live.

Everest - What it takes to climb to the summit - it is the end result of determination and planning (& some luck)

How hard is it to reach the summit of Mount Everest? As you can see and hear in the above link to this video footage, it is very hard. This condensed, YouTube footage consists of climbers who are initially on the approach to and then subsequently reach the summit of Mount Everest. It was put together by adventurer Elia Saikaly who recently made it available online.

For more on Elia you can check out the information that is available at the end of the video.

Many people climb Everest as a way of raising attention to and/or advocating on other human interest type issues that are of a significant interest to them. On occasion organ donation has been flagged as being an issue of particular importance to an Everest climber. This was the case in 2017, when a physiotherapist from HongKong successfully summitted the mountain. As outlined in this following online post (via the link), Elton Ng Chun-ting mentions how difficult it was to actually undertake the climb and how he also developed some temporary visual disturbance whilst on the mountain. The article also contains a video which is worth watching.

What both of these posts reveal is that is takes determination, along with physical conditioning and experience in high altitude mountain climbing to reach the summit of Everest. In addition a reasonable amount of forward planning and sound decision making are both required to achieve such a goal. The element of chance (or luck) is always a factor with this type of activity, as sudden illness of any of the team members, an unforeseen equipment failure or adverse weather conditions can either alone or in combination rule out reaching the end goal of a summit attempt.

Public disagreement via social media over the first lung transplant in Romania

Even if the information in the following online post about the first ever lung transplant having been performed in Romania is only half correct, it is still of concern First-lung-transplant-Romania

It appears that an argument has been waged via social media by officials over whether or not the Sfanta Maria hospital in Bucharest had received the appropriate authorisation.

Regardless of who may or may not be correct here, this is no way to deal with this, for multiple reasons, not least maintaining public confidence in the hospital system. Hopefully the issues that are alluded to in the article will be addressed and most importantly the war of words via social media will cease.

Meanwhile it does seem that the first transplant in Romania has actually been performed. Of note up until recently lung transplants for Romanian citizens were performed in Vienna, Austria (as mentioned in the article).

For information on the actual lung transplant procedure as it was reported in Romania, click on the following link -Lung transplant at Sfanta Maria hospital

Cessation of content curation via the Scoop.it platform

As alluded to in a previous post, one of my advocacy roles in the online space had involved content curation via the Scoop.it platform - www.scoop.it mainly pertaining to the topics of organ donation and organ transplantation.

However nothing in the online space remains static from year to year (think Facebook and the Cambridge Analytica story in 2018). Hence it can be expected that the developers and/or business owners of the various social media platforms will introduce changes on a regular basis. In addition individual users of social media platforms have to balance the rewards of using any particular online platform versus the risks and costs.

Hence from April 2018 how I go about my various advocacy roles in the online space will evolve.

The following changes will now occur-

A) Cessation of use of the Scoop.it platform predominantly due to the increasing charges being levelled by the owners for the same degree of functionality. This no doubt partly reflects the success of pitching this particular tool to users in the online space who are heavy users of content curation for specific purposes.

This means there will be no more new posts onto either of the following two sites-

            1) Organ Donation Transplant Matters www.scoop.it/t/organ-donation-transplant-matters

            2) Organ Donation Transplant Matters Resources www.scoop.it/t/organ-donation-transplant-matters-resources

B) Greater emphasis on the use of the second Twitter Handle @ODT_M https://twitter.com/ODT_M for pushing out content specifically on organ donation and transplantation

C) Ongoing use of Google+ and Linked In for advocacy purposes

D) An ongoing search for another content curation tool which is fit for purpose for this blogger