2019 Novel Coronavirus (CoVID-19): Part XXXI
2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV (first named); COVID-2019 (later named disease); SARS-CoV-2 (final name of the virus causing COVID-2019), COVID-2019 Pandemic:

 

April 17, 2022 update Part 31
Paul Herscu ND, MPH
Herscu Laboratory 

 

The last phase of the COVID-2019 Pandemic:

The End of Science

 

Hello and welcome. This piece concludes any new discussions on Covid-19 pandemic, and follows update #30 from the end of December 2021, as well as the notice to public health officials on the last day of 2021, posted earlier.

 

First A Prelude Note:

For the people who do not think that this virus exists, or the people who think this virus exists but is harmless, or the people who do not think this virus was widespread, this blog is really not geared for you.

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I have not written formally on this blog for 4 months because, oddly, or predictably, nothing new has occurred in regards to COVID-19. I know it sounded very odd when in the Fall of 2021 I mentioned that, while the virus remains, the pandemic will end by and large by May, then shortened it to April, and that most if not all large scale restrictions will end, and that only local ones will be in place. I know it sounded odd to folks since friends, colleagues, and strangers were mad at me for saying such foolishness. But in fact, it happened just as we described. Separately, we described the high likelihood that the Omicron variant would cause tremendous havoc in healthcare and society, yet have a fraction of the mortality, and that wound up being also how it played out. At the time we offered along with that prediction a way to prevent the clogging of the health care system but it was not widely implemented and thus we had the winter we had. If you go back to the news at the time in September, October, November, December you will see that there is nothing new from what we described would be the situation now, in April, 2022. So, I did not have a need to write. As the pandemic is now for all intents and purposes over, it is replaced by local, regional, and in some areas national epidemics and outbreaks. We talked about this before. (Think about how you live your life now as compared to October. A big change. Yes. But not unpredicted.) So, with that, this is going to be the last planned update on the pandemic, with Update #32 being a sort of time capsule for the future. And then I can rest.

2022 Radiation Issues:

March 1, 2022 Part 3

Paul Herscu ND, MPH

Herscu Laboratory

What follows is a description of radiation that I wrote in 2012, related to one exposure, one event, but the issues are universal, so worthwhile reading.  

 

Electromagnetic Radiation - update #2

Harley-Davidson Makes One Solid Bike
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION: Part 2
May 2012

(For Part One from a year ago, please click here)

Paul Herscu, ND, MPH

Sometimes, the topic at hand is so serious that it is hard for me not to interject a little humor in the title, in order to break the tension. The effects of radiation is one such topic. Radiation, as a threat fits into that part of our psyche that also inhabits ghosts, goblins, and the supernatural. As highlighted previously, the main reason this topic is in a different category than, say, tornadoes or bears is that we do not have the sense organs to tell when radiation is around. It is invisible, tasteless, odorless, and makes no sound. The topic has a sort of ‘creepiness’ to it, making it uncomfortable to consider in a logical manner. This leads us to panic when the news is worrisome, and just as soon as the news is over, to bury the topic in our memory and agree to not think about it again, and carry on as if nothing was ever wrong. We psychically put the panic away, as it is too overwhelming to face to a daily basis.

 

2022 Radiation Issues:

March 1, 2022 Part 2

Paul Herscu ND, MPH

Herscu Laboratory

What follows is a description of radiation that I wrote in 2011, related to one exposure, one event, but the issues are universal, so worthwhile reading.

Topic: Radiation Issues from Japanese Tsunami Aftermath (2011/2012)

In light of occurrences in Japan 2011, we have received numerous questions on the topic of radiation.  Please find a primer on radiation in general in Update #1.  As information becomes available, Dr. Herscu will update recommendations through this format.  Please share this information with anyone that might be interested.

Electromagnetic Radiation - update #1

by Paul Herscu, ND MPH
April 5, 2011

In light of recent occurrences in Japan, we have received numerous questions on the topic of radiation. What seems in order is a quick primer on radiation in general.

This particular writing is designed to provide more complete information to those wanting to understand where the Japanese nuclear emergency fits into the larger topic of radiation. The first part represents a condensed overview describing radiation, both non-ionizing and ionizing. The second part begins the discussion on the Japan power plant crisis of 2011, first describing what happened, but more importantly, placing it in context.

 

2022 Radiation Issues:

March 1, 2022 Part 1

Paul Herscu ND, MPH

Herscu Laboratory

Hello and welcome.

 

Let me say that I hate to even bring this topic up. I really do.

 

It has been several months since the last time I wrote here. For me there has not been any real new news on the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for the past three months. I know it sounded odd when described in the fall of 2021, but I think it is starting to be agreed by everyone at this point that the pandemic mandates will mostly cease to exist by April at the latest. I know, it seemed odd for me to say this almost half a year ago, but there you go. I am not writing about this virus here, now. I will do that soon.

 

This update is a short one, just related to the war in Europe just now. And just as a prudent cautionary suggestion. In my sleepless nights, and nightmare scenarios, as I am pacing the floor praying for some peace, I think about what are worst case scenarios, (as if war is not enough.) I do not think this will happen. But human error…Here I think about human errors and a simple mistake that escalates war to the use to radioactive munitions. Without any one actually planning it, human error could lead to some radiation escape. And while radiation escape from a bomb releases several elements and isotopes, much we could not do anything about, there is one that we could, that of iodine. In a very short description, when an explosion occurs, it releases amongst other things iodine that is radioactive. Our bodies need iodine, and we take it up readily. The radioactive iodine then travels to the thyroid causing problems, as in thyroid cancers. However, if your body was sort of full of iodine, then the receptor site is ‘taken up’ and the radioactive iodine is not taken by the thyroid. In other words, taking nonradioactive iodine into the body protects you from taking radioactive iodine into the body. It does nothing for the other radiation, but does protect against the iodine portion of it.