Swine flu death rates higher for Black, Latino children than Whites

Health & Fitness
Swine flu death rates higher for Black, Latino children than Whites
By Nicole Austin NNPA Special Correspondent
Updated Dec 21, 2009 - 9:16:40 AM

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Black and Hispanic children have suffered higher proportional death rates from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) than their White counterparts.

According to the Center for Disease Control, Black and Hispanic children have a greater number of H1N1 deaths since the epidemic started sweeping the nation last March. The agency is not clear about the reason for the disparities. “Blacks and Hispanics are represented in a greater proportion among seasonal and H1N1 deaths in children, than their representation in the U.S. population,” says a report from the CDC, released to the NNPA News Service. “The reasons for more severe outcomes among Black and Hispanics are unknown but may be related to the frequency of underlying conditions that increase the risk for influenza complications in that population or the timing of medical care and or treatment … This racial ethnic disparity requires further study.”

In the most recent numbers acquired, from Sept. 1 to the end of October, Black children made up 32 percent of the children who had died from the virus although they comprise only about 12 percent of the nation's population of children. Hispanic children made up 21 percent of children who had died although they make up only 15 percent of the nation's population of children. On the other hand, White children, who make up 67 percent of the nation's population of children, made up only 25 percent of the children who had died.

The rate of death for regular seasonal flu among Black, Hispanic and White children is also racially disparate—at 18 percent, 25 percent, and 42 percent respectively.

Dr. Louis Sullivan, former president and founder of the Morehouse School of Medicine, agrees with the CDC about possible threats from “underlying conditions.” Bad nutrition, asthma, diabetes, obesity among Black and Hispanic youth and disproportionately poor overall health are ongoing problems, he said. Therefore a serious virus like H1N1 have more severe affects, he added.

For example, Dr. Sullivan said the combination of asthma and H1N1 and also seasonal flu, can lead to death.

“African-Americans and Hispanics have a high concentration in low-income neighborhoods,” Mr. Sullivan said. “Poor communities have higher incidents of asthma. (It) is one condition that increases susceptibility to influenza.”

Please read more at http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/printer_6687.shtml

The Beard

Beards

By Messenger Elijah Muhammad

Reprinted from Muhammad Speaks Newspaper

There are a lot of people who have a lot of beards. For some reason or another they go around with a bearded face. I do not question the reason why you want these beards. However I do say that they are germ-carriers. They catch germs. When a man drinks water, milk or any other liquid, he has to be awfully careful that he wipes his mouth and the beard around his mouth. Anytime he tries to drink some liquid out of his glass, he cannot get the liquid into his mouth without getting his beard in it.

THE BEARD is no more clean than the surface of your clothes which is exposed to filth of all kind. This is why we wear clothes; it is to clothe our bodies against things that would make our bodies unclean. To cover our face with hair serves the same purpose for the face. The beard catches all that would light upon the face. It is more troublesome to clean a beard than it is to clean the skin of the face from which the beard is grown. We can easily cleanse a clean-shaven face with soap and water. Some people wear beards to emphasize their holiness. Others wear beards for style or for disguise or because they want to be noticed as a distinguish himself from others or according to some office that he holds. Regardless to the reason, I want to set forth in these words, that the beard is unsanitary. People just wear them to be distinguished one from the other. If I were you, I would leave them off and try to keep my face clean. Imagine your wife, trying to find her way to your mouth, in order to kiss you, through all of that beard. She would be kissing beards before she got to your mouth. Maybe she could pick up a germ, with which you are not acquainted. One that had lodged in your beard. Beards would be fine if you wanted a basket for germ-catching.

IN WINTER...in cold frigid zones like the one of Chicago, Illinois and Michigan...these are cold zones that we have here in North America, North of the Ohio River, except far west...which is warmer. We are living in cold zones and have zero weather with snow, ice and sleet. When the least liquid hits these beards they freeze up, without the wearer knowing it. He had better not be a tobacco-chewer trying to expectorate in zero and sub-zero weather.

I AM against wearing beards. I am against men wearing long hair like women. This is also traditional of the time of Moses. When the white man came out of the cave, he was full of hair. Hair covered his whole body and face. He had no barber-shop. They did not have such tools as we have today. But we see how they go today. Most of them are clean-shaven except those who want to distinguish themselves like Rabbi's and priests. However, most priests are clean-shaven...even the Pope of Rome. Every now and then we find some who want to wear long beards. They wear them but that does not mean that the beard is sanitary. They house germs. I will not wear such germ-catchers and I will not tolerate with my followers wearing such germ-catchers. HERE OF late there has been a great upsurging of the Black Man...old and young men also, coming out with a face covered with beard.

YOUNG BROTHER, it does not make you look modern when you let your hair down on your neck and shoulders. They let their hair grow when there was no barber-shop or barber who could trim people's hair. Cut off that pillow of hair behind your head, at the nape of your neck and trim your hair-line around the back of your neck, like the modern man. When you let the hair of the face and head grow long, you are wearing the style of ancient traditional people and you are not classified with the modern man of today. If we desire to look distinct from other people, let us have something that the world will admire and not something which was the tradition of our people before these modern times.

ALLAH (God) even said that He would bring a new heaven and a new earth, Is:65:17 to get rid of the stale world. PROPHETS, of the Bible, say He will make all things new, Bible Rev. 21:1, and that we should love that thing which He made new. I certainly am one who loves it. I do not want to return to a traditional garb of my fathers before four hundred (400) years ago. I am not going to adopt any of those jungle styles of our people. I ASK you, if you would like to be a modern man, get away from trying to imitate the non-modern man.

Questions about swine flu vaccine won't go away

Health & Fitness
Questions about swine flu vaccine won't go away
By Jesse Muhammad -Staff Writer-
Updated Oct 29, 2009 - 1:51:25 PM

(FinalCall.com) - Top officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the United States has exceeded 1,000 deaths from the declared swine influenza pandemic and has witnessed “many millions of cases” since the virus first emerged six months ago.

“We have seen, since the beginning of the pandemic in April and May, more than 1,000 deaths from pandemic influenza and more than 20,000 hospitalizations in this country,”said Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC, in a news briefing.

“We have had, up until now, many millions of cases of pandemic influenza in the U.S., and the numbers continue to increase,” said Mr. Frieden.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4,735 people have died globally from swine flu infections since the H1N1 virus was first reported in Mexico. The seasonal flu causes an estimated 36,000 deaths yearly according to the CDC.

Plans of mass vaccinations by the government are now underway and originally included an estimated 50 million vaccine doses slated to be disseminated to every state's health center. As of mid-October, just 11 million doses have been sent out and over 16 million are ready for shipping, according to the CDC.

Mr. Friedman admitted, “We are nowhere near where we thought we'd be by now.”

The shortage in doses has mothers standing in long lines at clinics for hours and still not receiving the vaccines for their children.

WHO has declared a Level 6 global pandemic of swine influenza. A pandemic is something prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; an epidemic is over a large area.

“I really don't know what to believe. Every day it seems like we are being frightened by the media coverage,” said Veronica Wallace, a mother of five children.

Social networking sites were recently stirred with the circulation of an Inside Edition interview with 25-year-old Desiree Jennings of Ashburn, Virginia. She is claiming her recent flu shot caused her to suffer from a neurological disorder called dystonia, for which there is no known cure.

Prior to getting the shot, Ms. Jennings was a healthy and trying out to be cheerleader for the Washington Redskins. Ten days after getting the shot, she could only walk smoothly going backwards and talks with a severe slur when she's standing still. Oddly she can run forward without problems and her speech is clear while running also.

“After watching that video, I am 1,000 percent sure I will not be taking any vaccinations,” said Robert Washington of Houston. “Some people think the video is a hoax but I believe otherwise. I think it is message to us as Americans to wake up,” said the 29-year-old.

“I am instructing my children to just practice cleanliness. I don't really see a need for them to get vaccines,” said Ms. Wallace. Her children range from 5 to 19 years of age.

“Many critics, including myself, have spoken out against the widespread use of an inadequately tested, ‘fast-tracked' vaccine,” said Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad, Nation of Islam minister of health.

Pediatrician Jason Terk disagrees with that opinion. “This H1N1 vaccine is being produced just like any regular seasonal flu vaccine. It is not being rushed but there is a sense of urgency because of the potential impact of this second wave of those getting infected.”

Dr. Terk, based in Keller, Texas, is also an executive board member for the Texas Pediatric Society. He said there is a great need for concern with an estimated 40 percent of the American people expected to be infected with the swine flu.

“That puts millions of people at risk. People should get a vaccination that will prime their immune system to not be at risk,” Dr. Terk told The Final Call.

Washington, D.C.-based journalist Wayne Madsen said, “Even scientists who helped develop vaccines for small pox are saying that they are not going to take the vaccine (H1N1) and urging their family and friends not to take the vaccine either.”

“The U.S. government's swine flu mass vaccination plan is going full steam,” said Kevin Muhammad, a researcher who is advising people not to take the vaccines.

“This will cause huge injuries and fatalities because these ‘secretive' vaccines contain active viral material, mercury, aluminum and other lethal chemicals,” said Kevin Muhammad.

Kevin Muhammad, who authored the book “Against Compulsory Vaccination,” also says “the vaccines have not been properly tested, which makes them experimental—thereby, making each citizen an ‘experimental subject.'”

Mr. Muhammad launched an anti-swine flu mobilization campaign with an official Website (antivaccinationcampaign.net), national educational seminars and informational door hangers warning about the possible dangers of the vaccination, its ingredients and the needs for preventive measures in personal health care.

Keep reading at...
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/Health_amp_Fitness_11/article_6541.shtml

Raw Milk and Raw Milk Products, Safety, Health, Economic and Legal Issues

Please visit http://www.realmilk.com/ppt/index.html and view the powerpoint by the Weston A. Price Foundation on raw milk.

Submitted by Sis. Trina Muhammad

Notes on Depression: Impeding Progress to Mental Wellness

What is "Depression"?

Why do people get "depressed"?

What can a person do to guard against it?



Depression could be said to have four (4) fundamental causes:

1) The perceived inability to make happen what one wants to make happen,

2) The perceived inability to prevent from happening what one doesn't want to happen,

3) The perceived inability to stop or change what IS happening,

4) The awareness that something "has happened" that one could not, or did not, prevent from happening.

Any one, or any combination, of these conditions - persisted in - can produce in a person the feeling that he or she is incapable of effectively dealing with the natural challenges of his or her existence, thus making him/her feel "de-pressed", meaning "pressed down" or "held down" by the circumstances of life.

Much of the time, it is the result of MISUNDERSTANDING -- misunderstanding of events, actions, words, etc. When our FUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS about Life are based on flawed information ("false data"), or on traumatic experiences, then the result can be anything from "unrealistic expectations" to "low self-esteem"...both of which can lead to disappointment and depression.



Example:

A man or woman is depressed. When asked why, he or she explains that "I will never find a mate". (perceived inability #1) When asked "why not?", the person responds, "Because all men/women are _______", or, "Because I'm not good enough".

Upon being further questioned as to why he or she believes this, he/she responds, "Because every relationship I have been in...I've been cheated on." (perceived inability #2, 3 and/or 4) When asked how many relationships he/she has been in, the answer comes back, "two or three". (How did "two or three" relationships become "all men/women"?)

Here, we have an individual who has sentenced himself/herself to a life of solitude and disappointment because he/she misinterpreted the reality of what happened in his/her relationships, and thus made an erroneous assumption that is against his/her well-being and natural desires for happiness.

What is "false data"?

Logically speaking, "false data" could be any data which, when acted upon, brings about a "false" conclusion.

The different types of "false data" could be classified as follows:
1) Data that is completely false.
2) Data that is partly true and partly false.
3) Data that is true, but incomplete.
4) Data that is true and complete, but misunderstood because of previously accepted "false data".

Like any computer, the Brain/Mind's answers to problems can be only as good as the information it has to work with. The more "true" the information being used to draw a conclusion, the more rational or "correct" the conclusion will be.

When one formulates rational conclusions, the outcomes from such conclusions are generally favorable, and one gains a certain satisfaction from this experience...accomplishing what one intends to do.

When one formulates irrational conclusions, the outcomes from such conclusions are generally unfavorable, and one experiences a feeling of disappointment or dissatisfaction, because he or she was not able to accomplish the intended objective.

Most people have experienced the feeling or sense that they are greater than their circumstances suggest. Where does this feeling or sense come from? The Bible Teaches that "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

The Idea here is that the Essence and Spirit and Power of God is in EACH of us. However, unless that Essence, Spirit and Power are Cultivated by the acquisition and application of proper Knowledge, then the "Greatness" of God within us will be "held down" by the circumstances of Life.

When a Divine Being perceives that He or She is UNABLE to manifest His or Her own Divinity and Power, that Being is without sufficient Knowledge of Self (and/or of that which He or She is attempting to do), and the result is...Depression.

The "bio-chemical imbalances" in the brain associated with depression are, in truth, more often the "effects" of depression...not the "causes".

Depression can be remedied with the Proper Knowledge...if spotted and handled in time.


http://caeringsolutions.webs.com/causesofdepression.htm

Submitted by Bro. Reuben Muhammad

Congratulations to Muhammad Mosque No. 54 new Converts!

Ramadan Reading Schedule

Juz’ 1 – Al Fatiha 1 – Al Baqarah 141
Juz’ 2 – Al Baqarah 142 - Al Baqarah 252
Juz’ 3 – Al Baqarah 253 - Al Imran 92
Juz’ 4 – Al Imran 93 - An Nisaa 23
Juz’ 5 – An Nisaa 24 - An Nisaa 147
Juz’ 6 – An Nisaa 148 - Al Ma’idah 81
Juz’ 7 – Al Ma’idah 82 - Al An’am 110
Juz’ 8 – Al An’am 111 - Al A’raf 87
Juz’ 9 – Al A’raf 88 - Al Anfal 40
Juz’ 10 – Al Anfal 41 - At Tauba 92
Juz’ 11 – At Taubah 93 - Hud 5
Juz’ 12 – Hud 6 - Yusuf 52
Juz’ 13 – Yusuf 53 – Ibrahim 52
Juz’ 14 – Al Hijr 1 – An Nahl 128
Juz’ 15 – Bani Isra’il 1 - Al Kahf 74
Juz’ 16 – Al Kahf 75 – Ta Ha 135
Juz’ 17 – Al Ambiyaa 1 - Al Hajj 78
Juz’ 18 – Al Mu’minoon 1 - Al Furqan 20
Juz’ 19 – Al Furqan 21 - An Naml 55
Juz’ 20 – An Naml 56 - Al Ankabut 45
Juz’ 21 – Al Ankabut 46 - Al Azhab 30
Juz’ 22 – Al Azhab 31 - Ya Sin 27
Juz’ 23 – Ya Sin 28 - Az Zumar 31
Juz’ 24 – Az Zumar 32 - Fussilat 46
Juz’ 25 – Fussilat 47 - Al Jathiya 37
Juz’ 26 – Al Ahqaf 1 - Az Dhariyat 30
Juz’ 27 – Az Dhariyat 31 - Al Hadid 29
Juz’ 28 – Al Mujadilah 1 – At Tahrim 12
Juz’ 29 – Al Mulk 1 - Al Mursalaat 50
Juz’ 30 – An Nabaa 1 - An Naas 6

For your Spiritual Health!