DOGS: LEARN ALL ABOUT CANINE INFLUENZA.

DOGS: LEARN ALL ABOUT CANINE INFLUENZA.Canine Influenza – A Year Round Concern.The cold winter months are typically peak flu season, right? Well, in humans that’s true. But when it comes to the furry members of our family the flu is a year round canine health concern. It’s vital for every dog owner to know the risks of canine influenza, the dog symptoms to watch for and what to do if you have a sick dog. Flu Facts Canine flu is a fairly recent problem having been first diagnosed in 2004. It originally mutated from equine influenza and was initially detected among the greyhound population found in racing kennels. Over the past 10 years, the dog flu has spread and become more common among all dog breeds. Currently there has never been even one case of canine influenza being transferred from a dog to a person. However, flu viruses have been known to successfully modify themselves to infect other animals so there is always a possibility that people could be at risk. NewsCosmic bursts solve Universe's 'missing matter' problem Canine flu is highly infectious. Dogs who are exposed to it have close to a 100% chance of getting the flu. Senior dogs and puppies are more susceptible to serious illness if infected. Since it is spread via airborne particles, being on the receiving end of another pooches’ sneeze or cough is enough to make your dog sick. Also, the virus has the ability to survive on surfaces for up to 48 hours so sharing a toy or food bowl with an infected friend can spread it more quickly. More from DR POL HERE

COVID19: Japan Ends Coronavirus Emergency With 850 Deaths and No Lockdown.

COVID19: Japan Ends Coronavirus Emergency With 850 Deaths and No Lockdown.Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced the end of his state of emergency declaration for the novel coronavirus pandemic, with just 851 deaths reported and without ever implementing a lockdown. "I have decided to end the state of emergency across the nation," Abe said during a televised press conference on Monday. "In just over a month and a half, we almost brought (the infection) situation under control." Abe cautioned that lifting the order did not mean that the novel virus was gone from Japan. "Our battle against the virus will continue," he said, while urging the Japanese people to continue following stringent social distancing guidance.

COVID-19:A close relative of SARS-CoV-2 found in bats offers more evidence it evolved naturally.

COVID-19:A close relative of SARS-CoV-2 found in bats offers more evidence it evolved naturally.There is ongoing debate among policymakers and the general public about where SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, came from. While researchers consider bats the most likely natural hosts for SARS-CoV-2, the origins of the virus are still unclear. On May 10 in the journal Current Biology, researchers describe a recently identified bat coronavirus that is SARS-CoV-2's closest relative in some regions of the genome and which contains insertions of amino acids at the junction of the S1 and S2 subunits of the virus's spike protein in a manner similar to SAR-CoV-2. While it's not a direct evolutionary precursor of SARS-CoV-2, this new virus, RmYN02, suggests that these types of seemingly unusual insertion events can occur naturally in coronavirus evolution, the researchers say.

AGRIBUSINESS: How fishmeal and oil alternatives can support aquaculture growth.

AGRIBUSINESS: How fishmeal and oil alternatives can support aquaculture growth.As the world increasingly turns to aqua farming to feed its growing population, there's no better time than now to design an aquaculture system that is sustainable and efficient. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara, the University of Tasmania and the International Atomic Agency examined the current practice of catching wild fish for forage (to feed farmed fish) and concluded that using novel, non-fishmeal feeds could help boost production while treading lightly on marine ecosystems and reserving more of these small, nutritious fish for human consumption.

COVID-19: PPE, plus training, lowers risk of COVID-19 for health care workers.

PPE, plus training, lowers risk of COVID-19 for health care workers.Health care workers carry a significant burden of coronavirus infections worldwide, but a new evidence review shows the rate can be lowered with the use of personal protective equipment combined with proper training in infection control. Adequate supplies of personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns and eye protection have been the subject of heightened attention throughout the pandemic. Chou said the evidence suggests that lowering the rate of infection among health care workers must also include adequate training and education to ensure workers use the equipment properly. "Infection control training is important," Chou said. "It's not just about providing the equipment, but helping health care workers understand how they need to use it. Training and education were consistently associated with decreased risk of infection."

Tackling airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors.

Tackling airborne transmission of COVID-19 indoors.Preventing airborne transmission of Covid-19 should be the next front of the battle against the virus. In a study published by the City and Environment Interaction journal, scientists from Surrey's Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), together with partners from Australia's Queensland University and Technology, argue that the lack of adequate ventilation in many indoor environments -- from the workplace to the home -- increases the risk of airborne transmission of Covid-19. Madonna posted a video tribute to George Floyd, and it didn't go down well Covid-19, like many viruses, is less than 100mn in size but expiratory droplets (from people who have coughed or sneezed) contain water, salts and other organic material, along with the virus itself. Experts from GCARE and Australia note that as the water content from the droplets evaporate, the microscopic matter becomes small and light enough to stay suspended in the air and over time the concentration of the virus will build up, increasing the risk of infection -- particularly if the air is stagnant like in many indoor environments. The study highlights improving building ventilation as a possible route to tackling indoor transmission of Covid-19.

AGRIBUSINESS:Global food production to be transformed using new technology..

AGRIBUSINESS:Global food production to be transformed using new technology.The world's growing population will necessitate a 30-70% increase in food production over the next 3 decades. If we are to succeed, it will require a complete overhaul of the way we produce food. Researchers have now created an overview of solutions that include a number of new technologies that can collectively address this global challenge.Together with an array of leading researchers from the 'Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization' and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, Svend Christensen has identified a number of new and upcoming technologies that together, and each with their own approach, will be able to solve this global challenge for society. Most of these technologies are fully developed, while others are just a few steps away.