Lifestyle
New York Health Department says hundreds of people may be infected with polio virus
New York state well being officers have discovered indications of further circumstances of polio virus in wastewater samples from two completely different counties, main them to warn that lots of of individuals could also be contaminated with the possibly severe virus.
Simply two weeks in the past, the New York Well being Division reported the nation’s first case of polio in nearly a decade, in Rockland County, north of New York Metropolis. Officers mentioned that case occurred in a beforehand wholesome younger grownup who was unvaccinated and developed paralysis of their legs. Since then, three constructive wastewater samples from Rockland County and 4 from neighboring Orange County had been found and genetically linked to the primary case, the well being division mentioned in a press launch on Thursday, suggesting that the polio virus is being unfold inside native communities. The most recent samples had been taken from two areas in Orange County in June and July and one location in Rockland County in July.
“Based mostly on earlier polio outbreaks, New Yorkers ought to know that for each one case of paralytic polio noticed, there could also be lots of of different individuals contaminated,” State Well being Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett mentioned. “Coupled with the newest wastewater findings, the Division is treating the only case of polio as simply the tip of the iceberg of a lot higher potential unfold. As we be taught extra, what we do know is obvious: the hazard of polio is current in New York right now.”
The well being division reiterated that it’s nonetheless investigating the virus’ origin, and mentioned that it’s not but clear whether or not the contaminated particular person in Rockland County was linked to the opposite circumstances.
Polio is “a severe and life-threatening illness,” the state well being division mentioned. It’s extremely contagious and may be unfold by individuals who aren’t but symptomatic. Signs often seem inside 30 days of an infection, and may be delicate or flu-like. Some people who find themselves contaminated might turn into paralyzed or die.
Earlier than the polio vaccine was launched within the Nineteen Fifties, hundreds of Individuals died in polio outbreaks and tens of hundreds, lots of them kids, had been left with paralysis. After a profitable vaccination marketing campaign, polio was formally declared eradicated within the U.S. in 1979.
Unvaccinated New Yorkers are inspired to get immunized immediately, the well being division mentioned. Unvaccinated individuals who stay, work or spend time in Rockland County, Orange County and the higher New York metropolitan space are on the biggest threat.
Most school-aged kids have acquired the polio vaccine, which is a four-dose course, began between 6 weeks and a pair of months of age and adopted by one shot at 4 months, one at 6 to 12 months, and one between the ages of 4 and 6. In keeping with the well being division, about 60% of youngsters in Rockland County have acquired three polio pictures earlier than their second birthday, as have about 59% in Orange County — each under the 79% statewide determine.
In keeping with the CDC’s most up-to-date childhood vaccination knowledge, about 93% of 2-year-olds within the U.S. had acquired no less than three doses of polio vaccine.
In the meantime, adults who will not be vaccinated would obtain a three-dose immunization, and those that are vaccinated however at excessive threat can obtain a lifetime booster shot, in line with the well being division.
The vaccine is 99% efficient in kids who obtain the complete four-dose regime, well being officers mentioned.
“It’s regarding that polio, a illness that has been largely eradicated via vaccination, is now circulating in our neighborhood, particularly given the low charges of vaccination for this debilitating illness in sure areas of our County,” Orange County Well being Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman mentioned. “I urge all unvaccinated Orange County residents to get vaccinated as quickly as medically possible.”
Rockland County Division of Well being Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert issued an analogous assertion, calling on people who find themselves not vaccinated to get the pictures “instantly.”
Polio has hardly ever appeared within the U.S. because it was declared eradicated over 40 years in the past. The final reported case was introduced by a traveler in 2013, in line with The Related Press.
Lifestyle
Blake Lively accuses 'It Ends With Us' studio of harassment and smear campaign
This past summer, the press tour for the release of It Ends With Us, a movie that deals with domestic violence, saw public opinion turn against one of its stars, Blake Lively.
But behind the scenes, Lively alleges in a legal complaint published by The New York Times, she faced sexual harassment, repeated violations of her physical boundaries, and a “multi-tiered plan” designed to “destroy” her reputation.
In the undated legal filing, which the Times said was filed Friday to the California Civil Rights Department, she accuses co-star and director Justin Baldoni and his team of attacking her public image after a meeting was held to address “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” by Baldoni and a lead producer on the movie.
If the California Civil Rights Department accepts the case, it could investigate, potentially resulting in legal action.
An attorney for the studio, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement emailed to NPR that Lively’s allegations are “categorically false” and “another desperate attempt to ‘fix’ her negative reputation.”
At the Jan. 4 meeting, attended by Lively, Baldoni, studio CEO and producer Jamey Heath and others, the complaint alleged they discussed “inappropriate conduct” experienced by Lively and other cast and crew. All parties agreed to a list of conduct that would cease which allowed for the movie’s production to resume, lawyers for Lively said in the filing.
The list of agreed-upon demands included, the complaint says: No more showing nude videos of women, including the producer’s wife, to Lively and/or her employees; no more mention of Baldoni’s or Heath’s previous “pornography addiction” to Lively or to other crew members; no more descriptions of their own genitalia to Lively; and “no more adding of sex scenes, oral sex, or on camera climaxing by [Lively] outside the scope of the script BL approved when signing onto the project.”
Baldoni’s and Heath’s studio, Wayfarer, also agreed to provide an intimacy coordinator on set at all times, and other safeguards on set, according to the filing. The studio also agreed not to retaliate against Lively, it said.
The complaint includes excerpts from text messages and emails between Baldoni and his representatives that Lively’s lawyers said they obtained through a subpoena.
The movie, adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, is based on the relationship of the author’s parents. In it, Lively plays Lily Bloom, a florist who falls in love with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni). During their relationship Kincaid turns physically and emotionally abusive.
The complaint says Lively, a producer on the film, was under contract to follow a marketing plan that directed the cast to focus “more on Lily’s strength and resilience as opposed to describing the film as a story about domestic violence,” and to avoid depictions of the film as “sad or heavy … it’s a story of hope,” the complaint says.
During the film’s promotion, Lively drew backlash from fans for her attempts to speak about a story of domestic abuse with a lighthearted tone. Many social media comments, meanwhile, commended Baldoni’s promotional message for viewers to always have hope.
Around that time, the complaint alleges, Baldoni and his team were staging a well-financed plan “in retaliation for Ms. Lively exercising her legally-protected right to speak up about their misconduct on the set, with the additional objective of intimidating her and anyone else from revealing in public what actually occurred.”
The filing says Baldoni hired a crisis communications specialist who allegedly developed a plan to change the narrative on social media in the director’s favor in a way that could not be traced back to the studio’s team. Text exchanges between Baldoni and the Wayfarer PR team allegedly discuss the creation and amplification of misleading stories designed to discredit Lively, according to the actress’ legal team.
“He wants to feel like she can be buried,” wrote Baldoni’s publicist Jennifer Abel in an Aug. 2 message to the crisis management specialist, Melissa Nathan, excerpted in the complaint.
Freedman, the studio’s lawyer, said in the statement to NPR that Wayfarer Studios made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the movie’s marketing campaign, “due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production which included her threatening to not showing up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.
“What is pointedly missing from the cherry-picked correspondence is the evidence that there were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals,” Freedman added.
Chloe Veltman contributed reporting.
Lifestyle
Blake Lively's 'Sisterhood Of the Traveling Pants' Costars Blast Alleged Smear Campaign
Blake Lively is receiving support from some of her oldest costars and friends … America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel have issued a statement amid her “It Ends With Us” lawsuit.
The 3 actresses — all of whom starred in the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” film franchise with Blake in the ’00s and have remained her good friends — issued a joint statement on Instagram … where they made it clear they were standing behind BL amid her legal battle.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
They wrote … “Throughout the filming of ‘It Ends with Us,’ we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.”
As the women continued, they noted that they were upset to see “the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors’ stories to silence a woman who asked for safety” … and noted that the “hypocrisy was astounding.”
Before they signed off their statement, they praised Blake for speaking out, adding … “We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment.”
TMZ broke the story … Blake sued “It Ends With Us” director and costar Justin Baldoni, in which she alleged a smear campaign was conducted against her after she accused him of sexual harassment while filming the drama.
Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, later slammed the lawsuit … calling it an attempt to “fix her negative reputation.”
He also vehemently denied the claims made against Baldoni, noting they were “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”
Lifestyle
Sunday Puzzle: Can you conquer this Christmas carol puzzle?
On-air challenge: Every answer today involves a Christmas carol or a popular Christmas song.
- Rearrange the letters of TINSEL to spell a word. Then rearrange the letters of THING to spell a word. The two words together are the title of a Christmas carol. What is it?
- Take the phrase “He Threw Rings.” Change one letter in each word to get the first three words of a popular Christmas carol.
- The leading newspaper in Nebraska is the Omaha World-Herald. What Christmas carol has “World” in its title? What Christmas carol has “Herald” in its title?
- The refrain of what popular Christmas song consists of only two-letter words?
- Name two colors that come before “Christmas” in Billboard top 40 song titles.
Last week’s challenge: Last week’s challenge came from listener Joseph Young. Change one letter of a place on earth to get a familiar phrase much heard around this time of year. What is it? The answer consists of three words (5,2,5).
Challenge answer: Change one letter of “place on earth” to get “peace on earth!”
Winner: Heather Reed of Eureka Springs, Ark.
This week’s challenge: This week’s challenge comes from Dan Ezekiel, of Ann Arbor, Mich. Think of a two-word brand name for a food item that is marketed as upscale. Remove the last two letters of the first word and the first letter of the second word. Read the result from left to right and you’ll get a one-word brand name associated with the budget-conscious. What is it?
Submit Your Answer
If you know the answer to the challenge, submit it here by Thursday, December 26th, 2024 at 3 p.m. ET. Listeners whose answers are selected win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: include a phone number where we can reach you.
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