Rare, severe hepatitis affecting children far and wide, including Alabama; cause unknown – National & International News – THU 21Apr2022

Rare, mysterious liver damage affecting children in Alabama, elsewhere. FL: DeSantis goes to war with Disney over “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Ukraine: Putin declares “victory” in Mariupol.

NATIONAL NEWS

Rare, mysterious hepatitis affecting children in Alabama, elsewhere.

The CDC has warned doctors to be on the look out for severe hepatitis in young children. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. 

Nine cases of severe hepatitis in children 1-6 years old have appeared in Alabama recently, and another two in North Carolina. In Alabama, no deaths have resulted so far, but several of the children were sick enough to require liver transplants. Additionally, doctors in Europe have identified dozens of cases of severe hepatitis in children 2-5 years old. Cases have cropped up in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands. 

No one is sure what is causing this disease or how it is spreading. Hepatitis is often caused by viral infection, including the A, B, C, D and E-types. In this case,  all of the usual hepatitis viruses have been ruled out. Researchers have also ruled out COVID-19 infections and vaccinations as a potential cause.

However, social media users have baselessly suggested a link between the hepatitis cases and COVID-19 vaccination. According to the Reuters Fact Check team, none of the affected children have received COVID vaccine.  COVID vaccine is currently not available for children under 5.

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FL: DeSantis goes to war with Disney over “Don’t Say Gay” bill 

Florida Gov. Rick DeSantis is using the weight of his office to retaliate against Disney over the company’s stance on his controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The bill bars discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Critics say the sole purpose of the bill is to chill discussion of and support for the LGBT community. 

Disney, one of Florida’s largest employers, tourist draws and economic powerhouses, has long supported LGBT causes. Recently, Disney execs spoke out in opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, vowing to end political donations in Florida and to support organizations that oppose the bill.

Now, Florida’s legislature has passed a bill to repeal a law allowing Disney and other major firms to operate special administrative districts in the state. The law allows Disney World to operate a private government within its Florida park and its environs. The bill could have wide-reaching negative consequences for municipalities both near to Disney and statewide. Among other things, it would place the burden of operating Disney’s expansive infrastructure, fire services, and other services on the taxpayers. It would also force taxpayers to absorb considerable bond debt from Disney. 

“Punitive, petulant political payback”

DeSantis openly pushed for the bill, with his campaign fundraising email from yesterday reading, “If Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy”. 

There is some chance to avert the disastrous consequences for Florida taxpayers as the bill leaves a window open for Disney and similar districts to reapply for special status by 2023. State Sen. Gary Farmer, a Democrat, called this new bill “punitive, petulant political payback” by DeSantis. Farmer also implied that the bill was a shakedown by DeSantis, the message being “if they behave this next election cycle, maybe we’ll put it back together”.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Ukraine: Putin declares “victory” in Mariupol, backs off destroying defenders’ stronghold

Today, Vladimir Putin made a rare televised appearance with his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. In the (probably scripted) exchange, Putin and Shoigu discuss the siege in Mariupol. In recent days, the city’s last Ukrainian defenders and an unknown number of civilians have taken shelter in a sprawling steel plant, preparing for what defenders anticipated was a last stand. Russia had previously issued an ultimatum to the defenders to surrender or be annihilated.

In the video, Shoigu assures Putin his forces have “securely blocked” the steel mill. Putin decides against what would be a costly final ground assault. Instead, he instructs Shoigu to maintain the blockade “so that not even a fly gets through”.

It’s not clear what implications this will have for efforts to evacuate civilians from the compound and elsewhere in Mariupol. Since the war began, tens of thousands have died in the city. Its food, water and medical supplies have been dwindling for weeks.

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