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Covid-19 spread among white-tailed deer in US causes concern over new variants

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Covid-19 spread among white-tailed deer in US causes concern over new variants

The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic has infected millions of people around the world. In the two years since it emerged, the virus has mutated, become more powerful, and led to waves of infections that initially resulted in a large number of deaths.

That’s why health experts around the world are advising people to minimize physical contact, wear protective gear like masks and face shields, and sanitize their hands and wherever they go to protect themselves from the virus.

But now, a new development is worrying doctors and experts in the U.S. — the coronavirus has been found in white-tailed deer in Iowa. Even more dangerous, according to health care experts, is that there are 30 million such animals, and they often come into contact with humans.

When scientists sifted through frozen samples of deer killed by hunters or cars in 2020, they found that 60 percent of them were infected with the coronavirus, according to a New York Times report.

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“It’s fantastic,” Penn State microbiologist and infectious disease expert Vivek Kapur told The New York Times. To date, his team has analyzed samples of 4,000 dead deer and mapped the location of each infected animal. “It’s totally crazy. It looks like it’s everywhere,” he said.

Adaptation of animals is one way in which new variants may emerge. “This is the number one concern in America right now,” Dr. Kathy Barton Bellavish, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office of Unified Health, told The New York Times.

Last August, the United States reported its first case of Covid-19 in a deer. But the new finding has reignited concerns about a new wave of infections believed to be spread by animals. The USDA has previously reported Covid-19 in animals including dogs, cats, tigers, lions, snow leopards, otters, gorillas and minks.

Minks have attracted a lot of attention, leading to mass culling of the animals.

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Scientists have long feared that the infection could spread from animals to humans, but sought more research before drawing any conclusions. In the latest case from Iowa, they said those who ate cooked venison had a lower risk of contracting the Sars-CoV-2 virus than those who came into contact with feces and feces. In addition, the virus can be transmitted in lions, which kill deer by biting into their windpipe or nose and mouth.

The New York Times, citing scientists, said early research suggested cows and pigs had the lowest risk of contracting the coronavirus. But in the deer’s body, which shows few symptoms, it can turn into a pathogen capable of infecting the livestock.

According to the CDC, the risk that animals will transmit Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, to humans is low.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times

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Music

Korean soloist IU sues ex-classmate and 180 others over online harassment, deepfakes, and slander

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Korean soloist IU sues ex-classmate and 180 others over online harassment, deepfakes, and slander

IU’s agency, EDAM, reports ongoing court proceedings and additional charges as they address severe online threats against her.

Korean singer-songwriter IU, also known as Lee Ji Eun, has taken decisive legal action against over 180 individuals involved in cyberbullying. These legal proceedings, initiated in 2023, are ongoing, with some cases already reaching the formal court hearing stage, according to the recent update from the agency.

The accusations against these individuals range from severe harassment, including threats and defamation, to the creation and distribution of harmful deepfake content. IU’s agency has cited the gravity of these offenses, which they believe meet the criteria for criminal charges

Also read: Yellowstone season 5 Part 2: How to watch for free; time, TV, live streaming details, date, and more

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IU files legal lawsuit against 180 individuals over cyber bullying

K-pop idols and celebrities frequently face online harassment, often seen as the darker side of fandom culture. In some cases, cyberstalking escalates to the point where idols are subjected to physical threats. On November 11 (KST), EDAM issued a statement announcing they had filed complaints citing severe harassment cases.

“Our agency, in collaboration with a law firm, has filed complaints targeting those who have engaged in criminal acts, including threats, defamation, malicious false accusations of plagiarism, death threats, privacy violations, sexual harassment, distribution of obscene content, creation and distribution of illegal deepfake materials and other illegal activities,” EDAM ent said in an official statement according to the Korea Times.

IU sues ex-classmate for cyber bullying

According to insiders, in addition to the 180 lawsuits already filed, more charges are lined up. One individual accused in the case also involves the singer’s former classmate. “Among them, there is one individual who is presumed to be a middle school classmate of IU. Despite the ongoing case, it has been found that they continue to harass IU. So, we are responding,” EDAM said.

Also read: ‘Is Kate Middleton a smoker’: TV host Narinder Kaur blasted for spreading conspiracy, apologises, ‘an Indian woman..’

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The case which grabbed a lot of limelight back in 2023 resulted in a major controversy and has so far resulted in six fines, three cases with mandatory education, and one case with probation, according to the agency. Among these cases are accusations from April and May last year, where the singer was targeted with baseless claims of plagiarism.

EDAM also highlighted a particular case where IU faced serious online harassment, including false rumors, sexual harassment, and death threats. Prosecutors have requested a fine of 3 million won (about $2,240) for the person involved. The individual is reportedly appealing the sentence, with a formal trial yet to take place.

EDAM revealed that it has collaborated with “relevant” sources to track individuals using foreign IP addresses or living abroad in attempts to avoid legal trouble. In one case, a suspect accused IU of espionage, claiming she was a spy. However, progress has been delayed as the suspect has continually refused to appear for questioning. This case has now been handed over to the prosecution for further investigation.

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