LEPROSY IN INDIA

LEPROSY - INDIA (05): (ANDHRA PRADESH) INCREASED INCIDENCE ********************************************************** A ProMED-mail post ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases Date: Sat 21 Dec 2013 Source: The Times of India Times News Network (TNN) [edited] Leprosy is increasing alarmingly in Andhra Pradesh with the government doing little to check the bacterial infection from spreading, experts said as a staggering 8285 cases were reported in the state during 2012-13. As many as 239 new cases were detected in Hyderabad in the same period. Health department officials said Andhra Pradesh now figures among the top 12 states with the highest caseloads of leprosy in the country. The proportion of new paediatric cases in the state was also among the highest in the country, experts said. Data from the National Leprosy Eradication Programme shows that out of the total new cases, a substantial 911 cases (11.34 per cent) are of children, officials said. Experts said the numbers have gone up particularly in the last 2 years. During 2011-12, 7820 cases were detected, they pointed out and attributed the situation to the state government's apathy towards the health issue, so much so that it is now regaining ground. "We could not identify these cases well in time," said Dr Michael Sukumar, a WHO consultant who is working with the state leprosy cell [in Hyderabad], underscoring a situation when agencies are sometimes helpless when local governments fail to read health warnings.

INDIA :Supreme Court declares HOMOSEXUALITY ILLEGAL.

With 1.2-Billion expect increase in Refugee applications based recent Legal ruling.

CANADA 2014 IMMIGRATION PLAN

Canada's 2014 immigration plan to 'drive economic growth' Canada has announced its immigration plan for 2014. Total immigration will remain between 240 and 265,000. Of these, 63% will be economic migrants. 68,000 will be in the family stream and 28,400 will be humanitarian entrants. Two visa programmes will be significantly expanded; the Canadian Experience Class and the Provincial Nominee Program. The Canadian Experience class enables people who have completed a year’s skilled worked in Canada to apply for a Canadian permanent resident visa. 15,000 CEC visas will be issued in 2014. The Provincial Nominee Program will also be expanded. This program allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate immigration candidates for permanent residence. 44,000 to 47,000 permanent resident visas will be issued under the PNP in 2014, up from 41,000 in 2012. Many provinces are seeking graduates. Skilled workers and tradespeople with valid Canadian trades certificates are also much in demand.

ProMed:MYCO.LEPRAE in soil

Infect Genet Evol. 2012 Jan;12(1):121-6. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.10.023. Epub 2011 Nov 11. Dynamics of Mycobacterium leprae transmission in environmental context: deciphering the role of environment as a potential reservoir. Turankar RP, Lavania M, Singh M, Siva Sai KS, Jadhav RS. Source Stanley Browne Laboratory, TLM Community Hospital, Nand Nagari, Delhi 110093, India. Abstract Leprosy is a disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Various modes of transmission have been suggested for this disease. Transmission and risk of the infection is perhaps related to presence of the infectious cases and is controlled by environmental factors. Evidence suggests that humidity may favor survival of M. leprae in the environment. Several reports show that non-human sources like 'naturally' infected armadillos or monkeys could act as reservoir for M. leprae. Inanimate objects or fomites like articles used by infectious patients may theoretically spread infection. However, it is only through detailed knowledge of the biodiversity and ecology that the importance of this mode of transmission can be fully assessed. Our study focuses here to decipher the role of environment in the transmission of the disease. Two hundred and seven soil samples were collected from a village in endemic area where active cases also resided at the time of sample collection. Slit skin smears were collected from 13 multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients and 12 household contacts of the patients suspected to be hidden cases. DNA and RNA of M. leprae were extracted and amplified using M. leprae specific primers. Seventy-one soil samples showed presence of M. leprae DNA whereas 16S rRNA could be detected in twenty-eight of these samples. Samples, both from the environment and the patients, exhibited the same genotype when tested by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing. Genotype of M. leprae found in the soil and the patients residing in the same area could help in understanding the transmission link in leprosy. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Garcia Arreaga c. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration) - 2013 CF 977 - 2013-09-25 [ Français ] Sandoval Aramburo c. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration) - 2013 CF 984 - 2013-09-26 [ Français ] Singh v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 988 - 2013-09-26 Rangel Gomez v. Canada (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) - 2013 FC 1008 - 2013-10-02 Rezmuves v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) - 2013 FC 973 - 2013-09-23

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Case name Ganeshan v. Canada (Citoyenneté et Immigration) Date 2013-08-01 Neutral citation 2013 FC 841 File numbers IMM-6624-12

FEDERAL COURT DECISIONS

Case name Balasubramaniam v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration) Date 2013-06-21 Neutral citation 2013 FC 698 File numbers IMM-4243-12