First human bird flu case in US – National & International News – FRI 29Apr2022

First human bird flu case in US. Dems probe possible gas price gouging. Suicide bomber kills 50 in Kabul mosque.

NATIONAL NEWS

First human bird flu case in US

The H5N1 avian flu virus has been circulating widely in the US since late February, endangering both wild birds and poultry flocks. Now Colorado has announced the first human case of the virus. A prisoner in a work-release program likely contracted the virus on a poultry farm. The inmate, who is under 40, suffered mild symptoms such as fatigue and received treatment with the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu). He’s since made a full recovery.

Health officials stress that the risk of humans contracting the virus is low and that human-to-human transmission of H5N1 is very rare. However, this recent outbreak has caused the death of some 35 million birds. Several hundred have likely died as a result of the disease itself, while millions have had to be culled to contain outbreaks. The recommended course for poultry farmers is to cull their entire flock at the first sign of avian flu. The infected prisoner was participating in a culling operation.

While the public shouldn’t be overly concerned about contracting the virus, the massive culls have contributed to rising food prices.

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Gas prices rise again; Dems look at possible price gouging

After a slight 2-week slump, gas prices are once again on the rise. While there are many contributing factors, including the war in Ukraine and a reluctance by oil-producing nations to increase production post-pandemic, there isn’t much that can be done to offset or control those factors. President Biden has already begun a major release of oil from the US’ strategic reserve that will continue through to the fall. Domestic oil production has also risen by 300,000 barrels/day since mid-March.

Democrats are also investigating the corporate practices of oil companies to uncover and discourage price gouging. Despite sluggish production and supply chains and other rising costs, many oil companies have been reporting record profits for months. For example, Exxon’s profits are $31 billion more than they were a year ago, even after taking a $3.4 billion hit from abandoning its Russian operations.

Two weeks ago, New York State Attorney General Letitia James launched a probe into price gouging by oil firms in her state. Senate and House Democrats have also accused oil firms of price gouging. Currently, they’re crafting a bill that would empower federal and state governments to enact curbs on high prices.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Suicide bomber kills 50 in Kabul mosque

Today, a suicide bomber slipped in among a crowd of worshippers near a Sunni mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. The blast killed at least 50 people and wounded many others. The mosque was particularly crowded because today is the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. Last Friday, a similar attack in Kunduz killed 33. Suicide bombings, some claimed by ISIS have been occurring more frequently in recent weeks. The Taliban government, a sworn enemy of ISIS, has struggled to contain the group. 

Ex-Afghan general prepares for war with Taliban

Former Afghan general Sami Sadat says he is planning a military offensive to take on the ruling Taliban government. Lt. Gen. Sadat vowed that he and his followers would “do anything and everything in our powers to make sure Afghanistan is freed from the Taliban and a democratic system is re-established”. The London-based Sadat says that he plans to return to Afghanistan next week after the Eid holiday and that the campaign would commence then.

Eight months after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the country is rife with poverty and violence. Many young people who only knew a more liberal system of government under 20 years of US patronage have also bristled at the Taliban’s theocratic conservative policies, such as keep girls out of classrooms and requiring men to grow beards.

The US has also been withholding billions in much needed funds belonging to Afghanistan because Western powers are reluctant to legitimize the Taliban government. This has created widespread liquidity problems and leaves many unable to buy even basic staples such as bread. Sadat and his followers see restoring democracy as the country’s only path to survival.

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