Goyaves de Chine or Chinese guavas!

-
Image
Have you ever tasted Goyaves de Chine or Chinese guavas? They are small fruits that resemble guavas but are miniature in size.  Goyaves de Chine or Chinese guavas  These small-sized fruits are found in ample in Mauritius in the month of April. They ripen in that month and are a traditional delicacy sold in the streets.  The color of these fruits range from green to red to yellow. The green fruits are not yet ripe and are a bit firmish. The red ones are softer and have a sour taste while the yellow ones are larger in size with a sweet taste.  Chinese guavas or  Goyaves de Chine  These fruits get softer and rot faster. Therefore consume them on the same day you purchase them. Also, this is the reason that vendors pluck them up early from the trees when they are still red.  These fruits are also called cherry guavas or strawberry guavas or lemon guava. It is native in Brazil and also grows in Hawaii.  The skin or peel of the fruit is quite thin and i...
Post a Comment

Double Trouble! Oregon COVID-19 strain has the backbone of the UK coronavirus variant strain B.1.1.7 and also the mutation of the South African virus variant!

-

 Coronavirus is testing the medical fraternity. Over the past few months, it has undergone several mutations that are increasing its inter-human transmission capacity. And now to add to this list is another variant of the virus discovered in Oregon. It has the backbone of the variant virus from the UK ( B.1.1.7) and also has the mutation of E484K or “Eek” that are seen in the variants from South Africa, Brazil, and New York City. So it is double trouble!!!

The Oregon variant of the coronavirus

Scientists from Oregon have discovered a variant of the coronavirus bug that has the high transmission capacity of the UK strain and also resistance to vaccine-induced immunity problem of the South African strain. It is double trouble and a formidable combination. There is a growing concern about this finding though it was isolated only from one patient until now. 

Genetic analysis has revealed that this strain has been acquired from the community and not developed de novo in the patient. 

Click to read here on Pineapple fruit-the wonder tropical fruit with health benefits! 

Scientists and their opinion on the Oregon strain

Oregon strain of coronavirus is doubly-potent [Source: Koin]

Brian O’Roak, a geneticist at Oregon Health and Science University revealed:

“We didn’t import this from elsewhere in the world — it occurred spontaneously,”

The UK strain also has spread like wildfire in the USA. 2500 cases of it were detected from 46 states. This is overwhelming. And now this new virus. It is fast-spreading and also deadlier. It could worsen the fragile state of the USA as regards the virus. 

More on the two-in-one mutation found in Oregon

This new virus has the backbone of the UK virus and also the mutation of the strain found in South Africa, Brazil, and New York. The Eek mutation has made the vaccines ineffective against them since they blunt the immune response. This is worrying and hence Pfizer and Moderna are trying new versions of the vaccine to counter this new strain. 

Such a dual mutated virus strain was also discovered in the UK but this from Oregon is an independent one. 

Stacia Wyman, an expert in computational genomics at the University of California, Berkeley stated:

“We’re at the point where B.1.1.7 is just being introduced in the USA”

“As it evolves, and as it slowly becomes the dominant thing, it could accumulate more mutations.”

But it is important to continue with the precautions. Stacia adds:

“People need to not freak out but to continue to be vigilant,"

“We can’t let down our guard yet while there’s still these more transmissible variants circulating.”


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Morton's toe: Everything you need to know about your longer second toe

-
Image
 Often, one notices that the second toe of some people is longer than the great toe. People say different things for it. Many of them say that it implies that the owner of such a longer second toe is a dominant, creative, energetic person in real life and very ambitious and peace and happiness-loving. But no one has tried to understand the reason, science, medicine and problems of having such a toe. It is called as Morton’s toe or Greek foot.  What is a Greek foot? Many people in the world have a longer second toe of the foot. Such feature may be on one side or in both the feet. It is called Morton’s toe or Greek foot. The other names for it are Morton’s foot or royal toe. But the reason is not the second toe is longer but the fact is that the first metatarsal below the great toe is shorter. Thus it is not due to the faulty phalanges but due to the difference in height of the metatarsals. Since the second metatarsal is relatively longer than the first metatarsal, the joint at ...
Read more

Loneliness is a growing epidemic especially during this coronavirus pandemic in the USA!

-
Image
  The coronavirus pandemic has increased social segregation and this has proven to be bad particularly for the elderly population. They are unable to catch up with their children and grandchildren and are finding themselves extremely lonely. They are the worst affected by the pandemic in terms of physical as well as emotional health. THE OLD AGE AND LONELINESS Old age is a time of loneliness for many people. Usually, people have lost their partners at that ripe age and depend on their children and grandchildren for support and to beat the loneliness. Though their younger family members used to occasionally visit the parents, now with the coronavirus pandemic this has become difficult due to the risk of the children carrying the infection to their aged parents and grandparents. So the visits have come down drastically and the contact remains only on phone or via digital technology. This though good does not suffice and cannot substitute the physical visits and the warmth that th...
Read more

Covid-19 pandemic and exercise regimes recommended for different categories of people by WHO!

-
Image
 Covid-19 pandemic is still on and it is known that overweight and obesity is associated with risk of enhanced severity of the infection necessitating hospitalization. WHO has issued guidelines on exercise for adults between 18-64 years, children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and those with chronic illnesses.  Healthy adults and exercise during Covid-19 pandemic WHO has stated that 150-300 minutes of moderate and 75-150 minutes of vigorous activity should be done weekly by people in the age group of 18-64 years. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a news release said: "Being physically active is critical for health and well-being — it can help add years to life and life to years,"  Remain active in pandemic (Source: Facebook WHO) Also, read Walking and its benefits He added: "Every move counts, especially now as we manage the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. We must all move every day — safely and creatively." WHO states: Be active, s...
Read more