Doctors: You have a duty of care to learn about SARS-CoV-2. Remember Semmelweis?

Remember the Semmelweis reflex? Also known as the Semmelweis effect, described the tendency to reject new evidence or knowledge that contradicts established norms, beliefs or paradigms, often with strong emotional resistance.

Please share this brilliant video, by a doctor (Nancy Malek) for doctors, with family & friends who are medics. Uninformed healthcare workers are causing harm, not just to patients but also themselves & their loved ones. Their trauma (working on the frontline at the start of the pandemic) is being exploited. 

It's a brilliant piece of communication targeted at healthcare workers. It could be the thing that cuts through with someone you know. Please share widely: With medics & beyond🙏

Resources & references here👇

https://nancymalek.com/ 

Fascism Must Never Trump Democracy

I wrote this when Trump was elected in 2016. Much worse now, thanks largely to the genocide supporting, plague pushing, "pick us, we're less fascisty 😜" Democratic party 💩

"If it's possible to become the president of the United (now Divided) States of America by detonating a dirty bomb of bigotry, inciting hatred and civil unrest, we either accept that fanning the flames of fascism is a legitimate means by which to obtain power, or we reject it. There's no middle ground"....

"Donald Trump's campaign bore all the hallmarks of Nazi propaganda. The slogan "Make America great again" and the proposed Muslim database, are straight out of Hitler's handbook. Appointing Steve Bannon, a man accused of misogyny and endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan, as chief strategist, was a gratuitous act of provocation.

Fascism thrived in the aftermath of the economic depression of the 1930's, preying on fears and pitting communities against each other, competing for dwindling resources. In the wake of a global economic crash now, the far right is invoking the same dangerous tactics.

Capitalism, the illegitimate child of corporate greed and de-regulation, has made a mockery of democracy. There is nothing free about the markets. Corporate giants, with their ubiquitous lobbies buy government policies favourable to their survival. Eroding competition, democracy, human rights and environmental protections in the process.

Rather than concede that unrestrained capitalism has failed, and unable to extol any discernible benefits for the masses, Trump, like neoliberal proponents in the UK and elsewhere, seek instead to divert public rage against those they perceive as "other". Lack of jobs, school places and affordable housing is blamed on immigrants, rather than a bankrupt ideology that starves public services of investment and siphons public funds into the pockets of the rich".

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tess-finchlees/fascism-must-never-trump-_b_13135302.html

Must watch: "Without ethics, humanity has no future"

A year old, truer now than ever. Max Porter's take down of the UK government, now with Keir Starmer as arms dealer in chief,  supplying ammunition to the genocidal, psychopathic, child murdering, starvation, torture cult that is the evil Israeli zionist regime.

Geneva convention reminder 101: Silence is complicity.

"I see now, I know now, I'm done now". Maya Anjelou on dealing with narcissists

I always declined to work with narcissists (male & female) because so many of my patients' lives have been destroyed by them. I can spot them a mile off but many can't. Covert narcissism is especially hard to detect. The vid below could save you a lot of heartache.

Don't play in the narcissist's rigged playground. Don't argue or explain. Your worth is not debatable. Walk away with dignity👇💪💖

We are in Israel’s genocidal endgame for Gaza — we must stop it now

 My article in Today's Examiner. Please read, share, speak, act.

Read the whole article here: https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41632717.html

We are bequeathing our children a world of horror and death, livestreamed, with no consequences for the perpetrators 

Ahmed El-Sheikh Eid, 7, shows signs of malnutrition, at his family tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Mawasi Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. Picture: AP Photo

"News coverage of this genocide was recently dictated, not by these human rights experts, but by Sharon Osborne's thoughts on Kneecap. On Monday, Save the Children warned, “Every single child is at risk of famine … They are being starved by design, under Israeli authorities' total siege. There is food, water, and medical aid ready to go, but it’s being blocked at the border while families are forced to eat animal feed and leaves, taking unimaginable and dehumanising measures to survive”.

The same day, RTÉ news at 9pm distorted the Pope’s speech, changing his call for the release of “all” hostages to “Israeli” hostages. This isn’t just bias, the erasure of Palestinians in this way is emblematic of dehumanising reporting that has arguably enabled the manufacturing of consent for the actual erasure of Palestinians in Gaza."

Palestinian children struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip. Picture: AP 

US support

The US proposition of putting mercenaries in charge of aid in Gaza is akin to putting Jeffrey Epstein in charge of a centre for vulnerable teenagers. The US consistently voted against a ceasefire. It supplies the bombs to blow children to smithereens and destroy aid depots. Donald Trump has announced plans to desecrate Gaza with a golden Riviera where global fascists can convene to exchange torture techniques whilst eating happy meals, washed down by Coca-Cola to the soundtrack of Israel’s Eurovision entry. Because make no mistake, if the US and Israel get away with genocide in Gaza, it won’t end there.

The UN says at least 100 children have been killed or injured every day in Gaza since the Israeli strikes resumed on March 18. 

One of them was 4-month-old Youssef who was starved to death. The footage of his tiny, emaciated body, bones poking through a thin layer of skin, terror in his bulging eyes, will haunt me forever. This is what moral collapse looks like

If you’re tuning in to watch Israel dance on the mangled bones (there are no graves) of the butchered at the Eurovision this week, think of the 500 children who will be killed, starved or injured over the course of those five days. What’s another year — of normalising genocide.

Our youth are watching this horror, livestreamed on their phones, witnessing the decimation of world order and humanity by the collective moral breakdown of Western governments, aided and abetted by a largely supine Western media. Knowing their silence is complicity, they protest peacefully, many arrested and labelled terrorists — for wanting peace. Is a world infused with hate and cruelty, rampaging with impunity, what we want to bequeath our children?"

While you're here, please don't forget about the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. The UN is also warning of famine unfolding there.

 https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1161766. When will learn to stop voting for war mongers.

Amnesty analysis (December 2024): Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

"Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now. 

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International

For  details of Amnesty's forensic investigation of the evidence, please read full report here👇

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/

The international community’s seismic, shameful failure for over a year to press Israel to end its atrocities in Gaza, by first delaying calls for a ceasefire and then continuing arms transfers, is and will remain a stain on our collective conscience".

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International

Tomorrow: Protest calling for Eurovision Boycott to take place at RTÉ Studios - singers, musicians, artists and activists to take part in mini-concert

Press Release, Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Thursday May 8th 2025

Tomorrow evening, Friday 9th May, between 5pm and 6:30pm the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign will stage a mini-concert calling for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2025 outside RTÉ Studios gates (Stillorgan Road entrance). The action will feature artists, musicians, and LGBT and human rights activists, and the chairperson of RTÉ NUJ Broadcast Branch.

Great visuals for photographers and television reporting. Interviews with musicians, artists, and activists available at the RTE gate.

Israel is determined to artwash its genocide in Gaza and West Bank war crimes, and is using the occasion of the Eurovision Song Contest to project an image of itself as a 'normal' state - when it is anything but. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural boycott of Israel (PACBI), and the Palestinian led global BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement have called on all countries to refuse to participate because of Israel’s inclusion by the EBU - the same EBU that indefinitely suspended Russia and Belarus in 2022.

This week we have seen great strides in the Boycott Eurovision Campaign across Europe with Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, Spain publicly questioning Israel's participation. More than 70 former contestants signed a letter demanding that Israel’s national broadcaster KAN be banned, including Irish Eurovision contestants; Charlie McGettigan, Mickey Harte, Brian Kennedy and Mark Caplice. Speaking to the Irish Times, Charlie McGettigan said “When we see what is going on in Gaza, on our televisions, every evening, it is horrifying, it is pitiful…The Eurovision Song Contest has an audience of 200 million around the world. People love Eurovision. If we can use that platform to make people aware, it should be used”.

In addition to this the RTÉ broadcasting branch of the NUJ publicly announced that they had written to RTÉ’s Director General Kevin Bakhurst. The pressure of the campaign, including more than 600 emails from the public, has compelled RTÉ to contact the EBU to raise concerns about Israel’s participation. However, the EBU has remained committed to the position that Israel remains part of the Eurovision, and RTE has reiterated to continue with Irish participaction whether or not Israel is allowed to compete.

Eman Mohammed, Palestinian award-winning photojournalist from Gaza and Trevor Keegan, RTÉ presenter, producer and chair of the RTÉ’s broadcasting branch of the NUJ will speak on the importance of Journalistic integrity and the need for RTÉ to stand on the right side of history. They will be joined by a host of amazing and talented Irish and Palestinian musicians such as Keith Donald (Moving Hearts), Eoghan Scott, Talha WiseWolf, Aoife Kelly & Ciara Murphy (Biird), Ellen O’Meara, Tarrach (Groveline), The event will be MCed by Bronadh Ní Bhrian (IPSC). 

IPSC Chairperson, Zoe Lawlor said: “The Times of Israel reports that the staging for Israel’s performance this year will include a balcony that Kan says is a 'symbolic nod' to the famous image of Zionism's founder Theodor Herzl standing on a balcony in Basel, Switzerland. We are repulsed by this blatant attempt by Israel's national broadcaster to culture-wash the apartheid state's official, racist, ideology Zionism at the Eurovision. It’s vital to exclude the genocidal apartheid state of Israel from this global cultural platform, NOW! Ireland showed the way in the 1980s, standing resolutely against the racist and murderous crimes of Apartheid South Africa. RTÉ can help do the same now, by withdrawing its participation, and standing on the side of humanity, equality and human rights. Boycott Eurovision 2025!” 

"Forgive me, mother. Forgive me. I chose this path to help people. Forgive me." Rifaat Radwan Paramedic slaughtered by the IDF in Gaza

 Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh spoke as part of the Palestinian delegation at the ICC in their case against Israel👇

Must watch: "The settlers". In which Louis Theroux calls out zionist extremist ideology as sociopathic

 Pure unadulterated evil. Don't look away👇 Free Palestine💓

Shown on BBC iplayer👇

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002bm1y/louis-theroux-the-settlers

CENTRAL BANK COMMISSION MUST ACT TO END COMPLICITY IN GENOCIDE

 Protest at the Central Bank of Ireland, TOMORROW Tuesday 29^th March 12.30pm - 2pm

Press Release, Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Monday 28th April

A protest, organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will take place outside the meeting of the Central Bank Commission at the Central Bank of Ireland on North Wall Quay, TOMORROW Tuesday 29^th March between 12.30pm and 2pm, to demand that the Central Bank stops regulating Israel Bonds.   

Why? Israel Bonds fund genocide. By acting as the regulator of Israel Bonds the Central Bank of Ireland is acting as the gateway into Europe for these “war bonds”. It is the lynchpin of apartheid Israel’s fundraising machine in the European Union.

Recent research conducted by Netherlands-based financial research group Profundo, found that Israel issued sovereign bonds with a total value of $19.4bn between October 2023 and January 2025. Marketed with the slogan Israel is at War – Stand with Israel, these bonds were underwritten by a small number of investment banks, four in the US, one in the UK and two in Europe - Deutsche Bank (Germany) $2.49 bn and BNP Paribas (France) $2bn. The Central Bank of Ireland by facilitating the sale of Israel Bonds has enabled Israel to raise almost $4.5bn in Europe in the sixteen-month period from October 2023 to January 2025.

IPSC Vice Chairperson Fatin Al Tamimi said: "Genocidal Israel has systematically destroyed Gaza, reducing 80% of it to ruins and wiping out critical infrastructure in a relentless campaign of collective punishment. The scale of our human losses is unprecedented, the most in our history ever, perhaps more than what we lost since the beginning of the Zionist invasion of Palestine. Over a quarter of a million Palestinians have been slaughtered, maimed, wounded, burned alive, buried beneath rubble, disabled, or disappeared into Israeli detention centres. While the two million survivors, remaining in Gaza, endure a living hell, displaced, stripped of dignity, denied water, food, medicine, and electricity, and left to live on restricted aid, all under Israel’s suffocating siege. Death threatens 300,000 children in Gaza due to Israel's slow and deliberate killing, via lack of food and clean water. Already, more than 60,000 children in Gaza suffer from severe malnutrition. 50 have lost their lives to starvation so far. 

"This is not a tragic humanitarian crisis—it is a deliberate genocide, a calculated erasure of Palestinian life, witnessed by the world in real time. And the horrifying reality is, that part of the funding for these killing machines, missiles, and bombs, are coming from the Israeli war bonds facilitated by the Irish central bank. 

"Our Central Bank of Ireland is the sole regulator in the European Union of Israel Bonds. Since Brexit, the CBI has acted as the gateway into Europe for these bonds and they must take action immediately. They have the power and the responsibility to end regulation of the bonds and if they fail, our government is obliged to make sure that our state and its institutions do not facilitate genocide as Ireland is a signatory to the Genocide Convention."

Ms. Al Tamimi concluded: "Irish hunger striker Bobby Sands wrote that ‘our revenge will be the laughter of our children.’ Today, Palestine’s children weep - our revenge against injustice must be their freedom. We say ENOUGH to complicity and impunity - and we demand that the Central Bank stop funding genocide!"

Also speaking at the protest will be Senator Frances Black, Senator Alice Mary Higgins, Lynn Boylan MEP, Fergal Costello of  Monkstown Vigil Group, Paul McSweeney of Trade Union Friends of Palestine.

A review of Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), Far-UV & HEPA filters

This project was motivated by my interactions with healthcare workers who wanted to know where I got my CleanSpace Halo. Many abandoned their baggy blues when they failed to prevent SARS-Co-22 infections on the basis that “masks don’t work”. I invariably explain that gappy baggy blues let air in, hence airborne infections & that snug fitting ffp2/3 respirators do work. However, other medics failed fit tests (small faces, beards), caught covid & gave up on masking. So, for those who don’t get a good fit with an ffp respirator & those who can’t live without showing their toothy smiles, PAPRs seem to have appeal. Apart from the cost that is, so I’ve negotiated discount codes on the PAPRs, as well as the Far-UV & HEPAs cited below.

Disclaimer: I acknowledge, up front, the privilege involved in being able to afford this tech. Two members of my family get a good fit with their 3m ffp3 auras, swear by their efficacy & that’s their preferred mask. 

This is an account of my experiences of clean air tech. I’m not going to go into technical details here because I’m not an engineer or tech expert (I therefore won't reply to technical questions). I recommend that anyone interested in procuring any of the items reviewed below do your own research. Having done mine and, based on mine & my family’s needs & requirements, I invested in the items cited below.

Full disclosure: I asked CleanSpace for a discount  (we didn’t have wads of cash growing up, my mam always haggled, it rubbed off). They said they don’t do discounts but offered me one for free. I accepted (gratefully) on condition that it wasn’t contingent on a favourable/any review. I bought our Halos 14 months ago & CleanSpace never contacted me, at all. This is an unsolicited review based on 14 months of use.  CleanSpace  recommended the UK retailer, Cires, to procure the other 2 halos & I’m chuffed to report that they’ve kindly offered my readers a better discount than I managed for myself🙏  Other retailers were also recommended by CleanSpace but Cires was by far the most reasonable price (much cheaper than buying direct). Customer service was also excellent.

The discount code rates on all of the tech cited below are the same or better than I negotiated for myself. I do not receive commission on any sales. One provider offered. I declined for obvious reasons.

 Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)

PAPRs work by blowing filtered purified air. If there’s a minor leak, the system compensates by blowing more air, harder. PAPRs are therefore really useful for people who fail ffp2/3 respirator fit tests. I have a small face & although I love the ffp3 Auras (my go to mask for outdoor gatherings), I don’t get a good seal & wouldn’t pass a fit test for high risk indoor situations, such as healthcare. As a result, I delayed critical healthcare checks, something I wasn’t comfortable with. Hence, my first PAPR purchase: The CleanSpace Halo

CleanSpace Halo: Reasons for buying/Pros

    

It’s compact, comfortable & although I sound a bit Darth Vaderish when I speak, I’ve been told it looks  quite cool, in a high tech geeky kinda way. I style mine with the brightest clothes & bling in my repertoire, so the Halo looks like just another mad fashion accessory.

·       Healthcare & routine checks are extremely important to maintain & although I always strive for the Swiss cheese (infection control protocol) when booking appointments, the first appointment of the day, for example, isn’t always possible & delaying appointments isn’t always advisable.

·       It’s transparent so your face/smile is visible, which seems to be less trauma/denial inducing/triggering than white respirators in all situations. It looks like a medical apparatus, which, in my experience, garners more understanding & kinder reactions.

·       We travel a lot in our campervan & are frequent ferry & Eurotunnel users. Since donning our Halo’s, immigration & customs can see our faces so there’s no need to pull masks down. We’ve never encountered any hostility with officials (even in auras).

·       I highly recommend ordering a car charger to recharge on the move

·       The CleanSpace pro reportedly has a longer battery life & comes with more bells & whistles. Others have complained of ongoing glitches (including randomly cutting out for a few seconds) associated with the pro but not the Halo, which is why I opted for the Halo. If you’re in the market for a CleanSpace, it’s worth checking if the glitches in the pro have been ironed out

·     Cons:

·       The Halo’s battery life is estimated to be up to 8 hours, though I’ve never worn it for that long. There’s no replacement battery but a car charger allows recharging on the go.

·       The filter is at the back of the neck so lying down for prolonged periods (e.g  hospital admission) would prevent airflow.

I was incredibly impressed with Cires customer services & speed of delivery. They have very generously offered readers a 10% discount (I only managed 5% for myself) on a very fair price🙏:  https://www.cires-safe.com/product-page/cleanspace-halo-powered-respirator

To access the discount: sales@cires-safe.com and quote the discount code: Cires2025Healthcare

 3m Versaflo

Reasons for buying/Pros

·       The 3m Versaflo is a hooded PAPR with battery life up to 12 hours (9-12). Not only does it have a longer battery life, you can replace the battery with a spare for continuous use. I bought one Versaflo to have in case of a medical emergency, to cover long waiting times. I bought the large hood to fit all of us. I expected it to be a bit big on me but it fits just fine.

·       Hospital admission: In the event of any family member being admitted to hospital, the hooded PAPR is more comfortable for continuous ongoing use.

·       The filter can be moved to the front making lying down/being reclined (hospital admission) possible, though care would have to be taken with hose.

·       People who own & use their Versaflo tell me it’s possible to use a straw without compromising safety. The positive air pressure boots up & blows out air to compensate. Useful in A&E/ED, needing to stay hydrated.

·       Dental hacks: lift to just below nose so the purified air blows into the face

I know someone who bought a small hood & uses it with their immunocompromised toddler, too young to mask, when accessing healthcare. She dresses her up like an astronaut – making it into an adventure

If you can't live without lippy & teethy smiles, this bad boy is for you👇

Cons:

·       Attention grabber. You won’t fade into the background in this but if I’m sick enough to be in need of emergency healthcare,  spending hours in over crowded, under ventilated health care settings with unmasked peeps, I won’t be giving a flying feck what anyone thinks of me.

·       I bought mine from the facemask store @20% discount & have secured the same discount for readers. Since buying mine a few weeks ago, cheaper options are now available: 

https://thefacemaskstore.co.uk/product/3m-versaflo-tr-315uk-powered-air-starter-kit-with-s-333lg-respirator-hood/

I can't get the above url to embed here so please cut & paste it. Apologies

Shipping & delivery: The facemask store is UK based but do ship to Europe. I’m told they will deliver to Ireland but please do check with them directly. This is from their website: https://thefacemaskstore.co.uk/shipping-returns/

The facemask store is a treasure trove of masks for all ages, all colours, shapes & sizes. It sells singles so you can buy in different sizes & see which one is the best fit. It has regular special offers & excellent customer service. 🙏

Discount code: Badass

Far-UV: Sterilray Sabre "May the force be with you"👊

From the Sterilray website: “There are now dozens of studies that have proven the efficacy and safety of Far-UV Sterilray”: https://sterilray.com/

I love love love my Sabre. Together with my Darth Vader-y Halo, I feel like a Starwars extra! Given my family’s lifestyle, which involves a lot of travel & using holiday rentals, the Sabre cuts airing time considerably. Innovative tech like this, lacking investment for production at scale, is expensive to manufacture & produce but it makes my life a lot easier & safer so for that, the investment was worth every penny.

The Sabre doesn’t just clean the air, it disinfects surfaces too. I view it as a much more efficient, effective, economical & an environmentally friendly solution versus wiping surfaces down with sprays/wipes. I also use it to zap fresh produce that doesn’t come wrapped, in addition to rinsing with water.

From a recent paper: “Far-UVC lamps are a highly cost-effective solution for societies during normal winter and pandemic scenarios. Implementation in the settings studied should be considered as a safe and effective measure for infectious disease  control”

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.02.25325071v1

Sterilray’s Mike Olsen has very generously offered readers a 20% discount on the Sabre and a free tripod as well🙏 Offer ends on 24 May 2025. This offer is confirmed to include the US & UK. I am checking if it includes Ireland & elsewhere in Europe.

Enter discount code: Starwars. Free packs of jelly tots if you can guess which discount codes I got to name!

While you're here, please sign this petition for better mitigations against airborne infections in healthcare. It ends in 2 weeks🙏https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700304

HEPA Filters (high efficiency particle arresting energy filters)

Smart Air all the way

I absolutely love my Sqair, Smart Air HEPA filter, which has been a trusted companion for over two years. We bought it for it's portability, i.e. fits snugly on the bunkbed in the camper. The legs unscrew so it can be stored like a box. We also have 3QT hand held HEPA filters which we used before buying PAPRs for healthcare appointments. They consistently outperform generic brands in performance tests.

Staying in holiday lets, my Sqair gets to work while I make my way round with the Sabre. The 3QTs are very handy airing bathrooms with no windows. Pre-charge with a USB cable & they're good to go or attach to a power pack.

Friends also pop the 3QT's in their kids' back pack to put on their desks at school & I know a lot of academics & office workers who do the same. Another common use is on public transport, including buses and planes.

The SA600 is perfect for larger spaces & absolutely should be a regular feature in schools & healthcare settings. 

See my recent article below re importance of HEPA filters in schools & healthcare, drawing on research proving the efficacy of HEPA filters, alongside ventilation and masks. On 29 April, a study documented what happened when air purifiers were placed in 95 randomly chosen classrooms across 5 schools in Milan. The results show that the air purifiers reduced indoor air pollution 28%, corresponding with 11% reduction in student absences. 

Parents, teachers, head teachers, healthcare managers & workers: Now's your chance to get a discounted SA600 for your classroom, wards, clinics. Obvs, anyone sharing air with others would be wise to get either the Sqair or the SA600. See discount details👇

Smart Air technology is top notch & they're lovely people to deal with. They're heavily invested in clean air education & community advocacy. Their sustainability, & that of the other brilliant innovators cited here, relies on our support for their sustainability.

My article on clean air in schools: https://archive.ph/6f4Hz

Smart Air UK is very kindly offering UK readers a 10% discount on purchase of Sqairs  and the SA600  

Coupon code: TFL-CL34N4!R. You can use this link: www.airbon.co.uk/EU-shop

The discount code is valid from Friday 4th May to Sunday 4th June 2025

Smart Air US is also very kindly offering readers a 10% discount on all air purifiers  & air quality monitors using the code: Badass10. You can use this link: https://www.smarterhepa.com/

While you're here, Burley Oaks Primary School is fundraising to buy 30 HEPA purifiers. If you could spare a small contribution, it would be very much appreciated🙏https://justgiving.com/campaign/cleanairburleyoaks

Me 2022: "There's evidence of a plausible link between child hepatitis deaths & SARS2 infections". Minimisers: "Fear mongerer" BMJ 2025: There's a plausible link...

Three years ago, I reported on the science showing a plausible link between child hepatitis deaths & SARS2 infections. There was no shortage of evidence, even then, to justify invoking the precautionary principle to protect children. 

It has taken 3 years to confirm that (already) plausible link, but the news cycle has moved on, public health is dead and society's duty to protect children now deemed too burdensome on the economy, a drain on billionaires' bonuses. Our children's right to health & life - shredded to a pulp, recycled into dividend cheques for our corporate overlords. 

Being right (covering the correct science) gives me the opposite of comfort. I am livid. The evidence has always been there. Why are my colleagues in the media ignoring/suppressing/minimising it? 

Full article👇

I wrote:

 "The WHO is investigating adenovirus and Covid-19, or a combination of both, as possible causes of the unexplained acute paediatric hepatitis.

Covid vaccines have been categorically ruled out as a cause, because most of the children with unexplained hepatitis were too young to receive such a vaccine.

The UK and US have been criticised by scientists internationally for taking a slow and narrow approach to diagnostics – such as the reliance on PCR tests without testing for antibodies. But as Raina MacIntyre, professor of global biosecurity at the University of New South Wales, points out, hepatitis presents as a late complication after acute infection, so negative PCR tests are unsurprising.

Over-emphasising adenovirus found in bloods and downplaying its absence in the liver is another concern. There is a body of credible international evidence which, although inconclusive, merits scrutiny.

This month, the Journal of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition documented the case of a three-year-old previously healthy girl who developed acute liver failure secondary to type 2 autoimmune hepatitis preceded by mild infection with Covid-19. “This case highlights a possible association between SARS-CoV-2 infection (Covid) and subsequent development of autoimmune liver disease presenting with acute liver failure,” it said.

In May, the Italian paediatric infectious disease journal reported a recent increase in incidence of children with Covid-associated multi-system inflammatory conditions, presenting later with prominent hepatic involvement post Covid.

The majority of patients tested negative for Covid but positive for Covid antibodies".

And...

"In India, a study of acute paediatric hepatitis between July and April 2021 found that the one common factor was previous Covid infection.

Lead author Dr Sumit Rawat indicated that hepatitis cases seemed to drop off when Covid stopped circulating widely in the region but picked up again when cases were high.

Last week, Kyoto University professor Hiroshi Nishiura revealed research looking at the relationship between the cumulative number of Omicron Covid cases in 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

Those with large numbers of Omicron infections, such as Britain and the US, were also found to have reported a relatively higher number of childhood hepatitis cases.

Prof Nishiura warned that “since toddlers and infants are ineligible for coronavirus vaccines, they may be at an increased risk of severe hepatitis following an adenovirus infection if they are in countries where large-scale Covid-19 infections are occurring”. The professor cautioned: “We cannot deny the possibility that infection with Omicron has some relation to the occurrence of severe hepatitis in children.” To prevent acute childhood hepatitis, he said, “governments should focus on mitigating the spread of the Omicron variant”.

Full article here: https://archive.ph/8uhDO

https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2025/04/05/gutjnl-2024-333880

Lockdown chronicles (a retrospective): Mastering the art of walking and cutting in straight lines

To mark the 5 year anniversary of the ongoing pandemic, I've been posting my lockdown diaries.

My grandparents used to buy the Connacht Tribune every week to read about the cattle marts, who was fined for not contributing to the "voluntary" collections at mass, who was shortlisted for the Rose of Tralee at the ballroom of  (no)romance. And the death notices. 

As a child, I read the letters section  (granny didn't have a tele). I was fascinated by the things that made ordinary people, mostly men, mostly farmers, so impassioned to come in after milking the cows, between the angelus & the boiled bacon & cabbage & take pen to paper. It started my love affair with words & helped me appreciate that the most interesting stories are told by authentic voices. In sentences constructed to fit their words & meaning, Zero rules. Zero fecks given. 

When SARS-CoV-2 struck, I was ensconced in a little cottage by the sea in Galway & began writing lockdown chronicles for the Tribune. A satirical column intended to give light relief during that early, terrifying lockdown phase (all of 6 weeks). It was a great privilege & career highlight. Sad that my mam & dad weren't alive to read the column which I secretly dedicated to them & my grandparents. I hope I did them proud. Ar dheis dé go raibh a n-anamacha.

Connacht Tribune

Mastering the art of walking and cutting in straight lines

Published

 5 years ago

on

 May 14, 2020

By

 Our Reporter

TESS FINCH-LEES

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Sinking sourdough and DIY haircuts aside, TESS FINCH-LEES is viewing lockdown in a positive light.

“Who’s that?” says Gobnait (not her real name) whose house I used to pass on my pre-lockdown walk. “It’s me,” I’d say, lifting my oversized red framed sunglasses to prove I’m not Lady Gaga incognito.

It’s her way of telling me I should catch myself on for wearing sunglasses in the middle of January. I could tell her I have light sensitive eyes but she doesn’t suffer fools gladly and I admire her astuteness.

I’ve changed my route since lockdown because the road isn’t wide enough to accommodate my ego and social distancing. That’s what Gobnait would say and I miss our daily dalliance.

Despite that, and with the easing of lockdown imminent, I find myself reluctant to relinquish my newfound bubble, for various reasons.

My DIY haircut with blunt scissors didn’t go as planned. Just cut in a straight line, what could possibly go wrong?

Everything.

One side was shorter than the other and in a scene reminiscent of Father Ted’s dented car sketch (I’ll just give it one more tap), I kept cutting until one side was aligned with my upper ear while the other hovered in follicular limbo just below the chin.

Panicking ahead of a Zoom meeting, my options included the following: a bandana (a la Duran Duran), a balaclava (a la bank robber) or a baseball cap (a la who’s that eejit?). I went with the latter and kept my head down until someone said: “who’s that in the baseball cap”?

I also haven’t mastered the art of making sourdough bread (my heart’s not really in it) and, while the rest of the country has been spring cleaning since March, I haven’t even started.

I’m not ready to stop listening to the sound of the cuckoo, carried in the wind from the Burren across the bay and the butterflies of giddiness it unleashes, leaving endorphin infused contrails in their wake.

Whilst I cling to lockdown like Paschal Donohoe clings to his ministerial salary, many are chomping at the bit for "freedom".

A vexed psychologist on RTE, warned of the psychological impact of children not being able to hug their grannies.

If there’s a second wave, as already seen in Germany and China, what about the psychological impact on the child if granny dies of Coronavirus?

What about the psychological impact on the doctor working with dwindling resources who has to decide who gets the last ICU bed and/or ventilator?

And what about the psychological impact on the nurse who has to tell the family that their loved one has died?

At time of writing, 30% of the people diagnosed with Coronavirus are previously healthy Health Care Workers. What of the psychological impact on them and their families who risk their lives to save ours?

The shortage of PPE is an ongoing worry for healthcare staff with reports of post-traumatic stress disorder emerging, unsurprisingly. If there is a second wave, our capacity to respond could be significantly depleted.

Meanwhile, having spent six weeks in lockdown, leaving many financially destitute, it emerged that people continued to enter Ireland and the safeguards, such as self-isolating and filling in contact tracing forms, weren’t actually mandatory and therefore as effective as a chocolate tea pot.

Data from one week alone revealed that more than a third of passengers arriving at Dublin Airport and a quarter of those coming in at Dublin Port who were asked to self-isolate did not respond to follow-up calls, many were untraceable.

When confronted with this revelation in the Dáil last week, Leo Varadkar said that mandatory quarantine might be forthcoming but warned about the impact on tourism.

The elephant in the room of course is Britain. Our nearest neighbour, which has the second highest death rate from Coronavirus in the world.

In non-lockdown conditions, one contagious person can infect, on average three people, who will then potentially infect another three.

By the time you multiply that variable ten times, exponentially the original person could have infected over 88,000 people.

That’s why New Zealand’s premier, Jacinda Ardern locked down early, quarantining everyone entering the country and rolling out rigorous contact tracing and testing regimes.

After one month and twenty deaths, she reduced the infection rate to zero enabling the safe easing of lockdown.

As long as Ireland’s border strategy against Coronavirus remains that of voluntary quarantining, I’ll be maintaining a social distance.

Gobnait and I have started a Zoom Book Club and our first book is, “Who’s that” by D.U. Lally.

It’s about a girl with lopsided hair who wears dark glasses in January and goes cuckoo trying to make sourdough bread in a ramshackled kitchen, somewhere in County Galway (recommended reading age 0-3 mths).