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Friday, June 10, 2011
WHAT THE SPAN
GROVEL TIME FOR Spanish press SORRY GERMANS want me dead Regret for accusing Spanish farmers By DAVE BULL
By SPIKE THE German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero moved to calm a diplomatic row over the source of the deadly E.coli bacterium that has continued to spread around the world from its source in northern Germany, reaching a dozen countries by last Friday evening. Confusion still reigns, though, and the Czech Republic and USA have joined the list of those dealing with cases that have raised concern that at least some of those infected had not visited Germany and therefore must have been infected elsewhere. Chancellor Merkel announced that she would be asking for EU help for farmers in Spain - the same farmers whose cucumbers were wrongly blamed by German authorities for the outbreak in the first place. Up to last weekend Germany had reported another 200 cases diagnosed during the first two days of the month. The total number of people infected around the world increased to more than 1,800 with 19 deaths reported in Germany. A further 11 cases have been confirmed in England.
Infection In a statement the World Health Organisation said: "All these cases except two are in people who reside in or had recently visited northern Germany during the incubation period for the infection … or, in one case, had contact with a visitor from northern Germany.” The good news is the outbreak of cases in Germany has begun to slow down but the authorities were hesitant about raising hopes that the epidemic might be controlled as Germans took note of the warnings to wash and prepare vegetables carefully and
Joint concern: Chancellor Merkel and Spanish prime minister Zapatero avoid raw cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce. Dr Reinhard Brunkhorst of the German Nephrology Society confirmed the decrease saying: "There is no reason for hysteria because it's not spreading and it's not increasing. It is decreasing." Scientists at the University of Adelaide’s Research Centre for Infectious Diseases are working to try to understand how the new strain evolves. They commented that the O104:H4 strain causes illness by colonising the human gut and releasing a toxin called Shiga into the intestines. A professor from the centre told the press: ‘‘The toxin is absorbed into the blood and then attacks the kidneys and the small blood vessels, resulting in a life-threatening condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Damage to the blood vessels supplying the gut is also largely responsible for the severe, often bloody diarrhoea suffered by patients with ... infection.”
KING Juan Carlos dramatically attacked the Spanish press following unfavourable headlines and frenzied speculation over his health since he had a tumour removed from his lung last year. The Spanish monarch admonished the usually respectful media for their obsession with his health and showed his anger as he was asked during a press call how he was feeling. He barked back at the reporter: "Terrible, terrible, terrible, can't you see that?"
Coffin He added: "What you like to do is kill me and have me in a coffin every day. This is what you do in the press." His outburst was captured on camera and became an instant Youtube hit. But with his heir, Crown Prince Felipe, prepared to take on more responsibilities, such as hosting official functions and other royal duties including the visit of the Prince of Wales in April, the press in general took it as a clear signal that Juan Carlos was preparing to step down or move sideways. This would indicate that his health was becoming a worry for officials. In a statement, Zarzuela Palace
KING HITS OUT OVER HEALTH HEADLINES
announced that the king Juan Carlos would remain in hospital overnight for observation after the successful knee surgery and would be transferred to a ward for physiotherapy. A statement from the San Jose Clinic in Madrid :, "The surgery was concluded with success under epidural anaesthesia and involved carrying out a total artheroplasty of replacing the joint. ‘’The King is now feeling well and will stay under observation for the next 24 hours before being transferred to a floor where he will begin specialised physiotherapy." According to sources, the apparent discolouring around the eyes suffered by the king fuelled rumours of haematomas which were later proved to be . But the recent appearance of a scruffy and dishevelled beard on the king’s face only led to more press speculation that he is suffering from ill health.