(2020-04-11). New People's Army fights COVID-19, Armed Forces of Philippines spreads lies. fightbacknews.org Over the past few days the Armed Forces of the Philippines (APF) has stepped up in its propaganda drive against the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People's Army (NPA) in a desperate attempt to discredit the ongoing public health and economic campaign of the people's army and the mass organizations to help the efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. | According to an April 11, statement from Marco L. Valbuena, Information Officer, Communist Party of the Philippines, "The AFP's anti-NPA propaganda drive smacks of pure lies and accusations based solely on AFP-manufactured inf…
(2020-04-10). Covid-19 'mass graves' on New York's Hart Island spark frenzy of fake news amid grim reality. rt.com 
Photos of a 'mass grave' for coronavirus casualties on New York City's Hart Island sent the media into overdrive overnight, even launching calls to dig up President Trump's properties instead. The truth, while grim, was different. | Drone imagery from the island showing a dozen undertakers — some in full white protective suits — stacking coffins in a trench has spread around the world, with tabloids from London to New York itself latching on to them as an iconic shot depicting New York City's struggle with Covid-19. | Prisoners wearing full hazmat suits bury caskets in mass grave on New York's Hart I…
(2020-04-10). Trump gloats over ABC 'fake news' as medical intelligence refutes shock report, denies warning Washington of Covid-19 in November. rt.com 
A bombshell ABC News report that claimed US military intelligence warned the White House about a looming coronavirus outbreak was denied by the service itself, giving President Trump an opportunity to gloat at his accusers. | The story, released on Wednesday, claimed the National Center for Medical Intelligence (NCMI) reported in November that a possible "cataclysmic event" was in the making in China's Wuhan city. The NCMI — part of the Pentagon's intelligence apparatus — gave a warning to the US government, but it failed to act early to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic in the country or t…
(2020-04-10). Freedom from Fear: John Pilger Discusses Coronavirus Propaganda, Imperialism, and Human Rights. counterpunch.org John Pilger is the world-renowned journalist and filmmaker. The author of several books and maker of over 60 documentaries (the latest being The Coming War on China and The Dirty War on the NHS), Pilger has won dozens of prestigious awards and has been honoured by several universities. I asked him about the coronavirus in
(2020-04-10). Cuban Development of Biomedical High Technology. counterpunch.org As the United States and the nations of Europe experience the sad tragedy of an uncontrolled pandemic, they for the most part have not noticed the well-organized and coherent plan of the Cuban government against Covid-19, being carried out with the determined and patriotic support of the people; nor the availability of a Cuban created
(2020-04-09). All about the haters: Behar says she can't leave 'The View' because she's a job creator for right-wing media. rt.com 
'The View' co-host Joy Behar shot down rumors she was leaving her position, confirming that mainstream US media in recent years is more about inspiring outrage with critics than thoughtful debate. | "The rumors of my retirement have been greatly exaggerated," Behar said on Thursday's show, after being asked about rumors she was exiting 'The View'. | Behar's reason for staying? The pundit says the coronavirus doesn't make retirement very appealing, plus she's a "job creator" for right-wing media. | Our
(2020-04-09). Colonialism & coronavirus: 800,000 Haitians may die of COVID-19. thegrayzone.com Gutted by US-allied, neoliberal governments which have controlled the country since 2004, Haiti's healthcare sector braces for a potential catastrophe….
(2020-04-08). The stark contrast between MSM coverage of #ClapForBoris and reality on the streets. thecanary.co 
The front pages of mainstream media outlets on 8 April claimed that 'the nation' had come together the previous night to show support for Boris Johnson. Some even suggested that the country had stopped to clap for the PM as he spent his second night in intensive care with coronavirus (Covid-19). | The actual response around the country, however, seemed to be very different. | Corporate media out of step with reality? Whatever next?: | The Times
(2020-04-08). As US Consigns Iranians to Death, Corporate Media Look the Other Way. fair.org 
Covid-19 has hammered few countries as hard as it has hit Iran, which reports (as of
(2020-03-20). [Comment] Second-line anticonvulsants for paediatric convulsive status epilepticus. thelancet.com Convulsive status epilepticus is the most common life-threatening neurological emergency in childhood. Mortality is low but morbidity is not, which could substantially affect the child, their family, and health and social care systems. The cause and the management of convulsive status epilepticus are the two most important factors in determining its outcome.1 Benzodiazepines are the recommended first-line drug treatment of convulsive status epilepticus and for which reasonably good scientific evidence based on a number of randomised controlled trials exists to support their use.
(2020-02-28). [Articles] Feasibility of controlling COVID-19 outbreaks by isolation of cases and contacts. thelancet.com In most scenarios, highly effective contact tracing and case isolation is enough to control a new outbreak of COVID-19 within 3 months. The probability of control decreases with long delays from symptom onset to isolation, fewer cases ascertained by contact tracing, and increasing transmission before symptoms. This model can be modified to reflect updated transmission characteristics and more specific definitions of outbreak control to assess the potential success of local response efforts.
(2020-02-21). Paul Paz y Miño, Saqib Bhatti & Beverly Bell on Environmental Justice & Cross-National Solidarity. fair.org 
There will only be an increasing number of frontline struggles between extractive, climate-disrupting industry and those willing to stand up to it. Corporate media's inadequate attention, and unwillingness to truly call out the moneyed interests causing present and future harms, make them more often part of the problem than the solution.
(2020-02-19). [Correspondence] Asymptomatic cases in a family cluster with SARS-CoV-2 infection. thelancet.com Since December, 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a serious epidemic in China and other countries, resulting in worldwide concern.1 Family clusters of infected individuals have been reported, and this phenomenon could present a serious threat to public health if not strictly controlled. In a previously reported family cluster, most infected individuals had clinical symptoms, decreased lymphocyte counts, and abnormal chest CT images, and were positive for the virus on quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis.