Karamoja Traders Abandon Cattle for Donkey Business.

Karamoja Traders Abandon Cattle for Donkey Business.Cattle traders in Karamoja have turned to dealing in donkeys because of the proceeds in the new trade. Currently, trade in donkeys is booming in the pastoralist communities of Karamoja of Uganda and Turkana of neighbouring Kenya. High demand for donkeys comes from Chinese traders who deal in donkey products in Lodwa Town in Turkana County in Kenya, about 140 kilometres from Moroto Town in Uganda. The Chinese buy donkey hides which they boil to produce gelatine, one of the key ingredients in a medicine called ejiao. Ejiao is used to treat conditions such as anemia, heavy menstruation periods, as well as dry coughs. continue

African Youth Take Technology to Agriculture.

African Youth Take Technology to Agriculture.Africa's youth are turning to technology for new and smart agricultural practices,according to Rita Kimani, the co-founder and chief executive of FarmDrive, youth-led innovations in agriculture. This could help the continent move towards a productive, sustainable agriculture system. FarmDrive aims at using data analytics and mobile phone technology to connect smallholder farmers in rural Kenya with financial institutions.more

Baby born with parasitic twin.

Baby born with parasitic twin,the rare birth occurrence was in India and doctors have performed surgery to save the child.Doctors in India have saved newborn girl’s life after removing the head of her parasitic twin that was feeding off on her blood supply. The bay girl, yet to be named, was born via caeserean section and weighed only 5lbs, at a private hospital in Bhilwada in Rajasthan in northern India on April 26th to a farmer couple,the doctors were shocked to see the baby with an extra head complete with eyes, ears, nose and lips and a malformed left hand hanging down her chest. continue

Anthrax from shaving brushes.

Anthrax from shaving brushes,has occurred before as according to a historical review published by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Poorly disinfected animal hair shaving brushes caused a mini-epidemic of head and face anthrax during World War I. The contaminated brushes were fake as the World War I cut off the regular supply of badger hair from Russia, the market opened up for alternatives to badger hair. Brushes were made from horsehair from Russia, China, and Japan. This shows that horses and other herbivores are at higher risk for anthrax infections than badgers and pigs, which are omnivores. Anthrax spores can get into the skin through a cut e.g when shaving, these spores cause swelling, itchy bumps or blisters, and also painless ulcers with a black center. Anthrax skin infections are the least deadly kind of anthrax infection, but it kills one in five people who are infected if it’s left untreated. The World War I notably had high anthrax cases,as many started cropping up in the US and UK,then officials with the British armed forces thought that the anthrax infections of soldiers’ heads and necks were because of diabolical strategy of the enemy until researchers were able to trace and track the outbreak back to the shaving brushes provided to the soldiers. This prompted the surgeon general and the New York City Board of Health to state the new recommendations for disinfecting and labeling sterilized brushes to prevent infection. This recommendation still applicable today to ensure health and safety is extended to all types of brushes.

Ooni Approves Training 6,000 Southwest Youths In Agriculture.

Ooni Approves Training 6,000 Southwest Youths In Agriculture.The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has given approval for the Ojaja II national image sustainable agricultural empowerment training scheme in South West States programmed to train over 6,000 youths in agricultural skills. The oba, in his letter of approval said the project cannot come at a better time than now when youth are disillusioned and lack adequate attention.continue

Antibiotics Increase Bowel Cancer Rates.

Antibiotics Increase Bowel Cancer Rates.When you take antibiotics, there are both short- and long-term risks, the latter of which may not become evident until long after you've stopped taking the drugs One of their greatest risks is also their mechanism of action: wiping out the bacteria in your gut. In 2014, researchers linked antibiotics use to a slightly increased risk (8 percent to 11 percent) of developing colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, possibly because of alterations to the gut microbiome. Likewise, past research has also shown that people with less bacterial diversity in their gastrointestinal tracts are more likely to develop colon cancer.The latest research further suggests altering your microbiome via antibiotics also reduces your resistance to bacteria that could increase the development of precancerous growths in your colon, known as polyps. Colon polyps are small masses of cells that can develop on the lining of your colon. While typically harmless, colon polyps can be precursors to colorectal cancer, which includes both cancers of the colon and rectum, and may lead to cancer development if left untreated. New research, published in the journal Gut, used data from more than 16,600 women aged 60 years and older, spanning 2004 to 2010. Women who had used antibiotics for two months or more were at an increased risk of developing colon polyps continue

Deer antler tea responsible for two botulism cases in LA County.

Deer antler tea responsible for two botulism cases in LA County. Deer antler is promoted on the internet as a component of “Chinese medicine” with properties that are “useful” for people suffering from arthritis, helpful for the prevention of osteoporosis, and with “collagens” that help promote joint health and repair connective tissues. Deer antler is also said to prevent bone marrow diseases, “nourish” the spleen and kidney, defend against cancer cells, treat anemia and sexual disorders.Deer antler, specifically local deer-antler tea, has been associated with one confirmed and one suspected case of potentially deadly botulism, according to Los Angeles County Public Health. The county’s public health officials also say people who’ve drunk the tea should immediately seek medical attention if they are experiencing symptoms of botulism. Botulism is a rare, but life-threatening illness caused by nerve toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium. Symptoms include blurred vision, double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and weakness. All are symptoms of muscle paralysis caused by the bacterial toxin. Without treatment, these symptoms may progress to cause paralysis of respiratory muscles, arms, legs and trunk. continue