Closing Thought–08Jan24

Can you remember Covid?

How about ‘hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)’?

This was the ‘magical’ cure for Covid that was passed around by our fearless leader back in the day.

Sad thing is people believed the crap and died.

In news that’s sure to kickstart a wave of recriminations, researchers have estimated that almost 17,000 people died in six countries during the first COVID-19 wave due to the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an anti-malaria medication that gained viral traction as a potential treatment against COVID even after scientific evidence failed to back up its efficacy.

A team of researchers from France, Canada and China revealed the findings in a new study published in the science journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. They arrived at the number after performing statistical analysis on medical and hospital data about excess mortality.

“During the first wave of COVID-19, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was used off-label despite the absence of evidence documenting its clinical benefits,” the researchers write. “Since then, a meta-analysis of randomised trials showed that HCQ use was associated with an 11 percent increase in the mortality rate.”

The scientists looked at data from Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and America.

“Although our estimates are limited by their imprecision, these findings illustrate the hazard of drug repurposing with low-level evidence,” the scientists conclude.

Other existing medications had been repurposed to combat COVID because of their track record in treating viruses, like the HIV/AIDS drug ritonavir, the paper notes.

https://futurism.com/neoscope/deaths-hydroxychloroquine-estimate

This is why you should always consult your medical professional before taking any advice from amateurs.

Covid was tragic enough without idiots adding to the misery of others.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

It’s ISIS Again

They are baaaaaack!

We have not really heard much about the savagery of this group for some time now….almost makes me think we have extinguished their effectiveness….and then a recent terror attack breaks that thought into little pieces.

The recent attack took place in of all places Iran…..

The Islamic State claimed responsibility Thursday for two suicide bombings in Iran on Wednesday that claimed more than 80 lives. Experts who follow the group confirmed that the statement came from the extremists, who likely hope to take advantage of the chaos gripping the region amid Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, per the AP. Wednesday’s attack in Kerman killed at least 84 people and wounded an additional 284. It targeted a ceremony honoring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike in 2020.

On Thursday, chunks of asphalt appeared missing from the roadway where one bomb went off, suggesting the bomb had been packed with shrapnel to increase its deadly effects. Another spot still bore congealed blood from the wounded. ISIS identified the two attackers as Omar al-Mowahed and Seif-Allah al-Mujahed, saying the men carried out the attacks with explosive vests. It also used disparaging language when discussing Shiites, which the group views as heretics.

“This falls under the modus operandi of (ISIS), especially since it was such a mass casualty attack,” said Aaron Y. Zelin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “They are kind of like the Joker. They want to see the world burn. They don’t care how it happens as long as it benefits them.” The claim of responsibility came as the extremists separately called on supporters around the world to avenge the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip by attacking Christians and Jews. The group also criticized Palestinian factions for allying with Iran, saying that Tehran has taken advantage of the situation to appear as the defender of Palestinians.

ISIS took credit for the Wednesday bombing in Kerman, Iran, that killed at least 84 people, but Iran has yet to formally attribute blame for the attack.

According to Iran’s PressTV, ISIS issued a statement on its Telegram channels that said two of its members detonated explosive belts in a suicide attack. Iranian officials initially said two bombs were likely placed in bags at the scene, but a source told Iran’s IRNA news agency that at least one of the explosions was the result of a suicide bombing.

Is this a resurgence of the terror group?

Will more attacks be coming?

What say you?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”