November 2009 Archives

Another six new H1N1 deaths have been confirmed in Minnesota. In total, 32 Minnesotans have died from the swine flu, according to WCCO reports. So far only pregnant women, health care workers, and children from the ages of six months to four years old, but the Health Department has been changing their guidelines so that more people will be eligible for the vaccine.                                          As of Nov. 21 The Associated Press confirmed 1,767 people have been hospitalized because of the swine flu. That number has increased to about 70 people over the last week. Although 10 new cases have been detected in Minnesota schools between Nov. 15 through Nov. 21, the number continues to decrease since October.                                                                                                State epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield recommends that people should still remain cautious of the H1N1 virus. "I don't want to say that we have peaked, because we do want to have several weeks of data. We have seen in other parts of the country that there have been a decrease in hospitalizations, and then an increase the week after or the following week," Lynfield said.       

            South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will be charged on 37 counts of ethics violations. As stated in The New York Times, he has been charged for using the state's money to fly first class, in addition to flying the South Carolina's aircraft to attend both personal and political events. This is not the first time Sanford has faced ethics charges. Back in June of 2009, Sanford had also used public resources to set up a private trip to Argentina to visit his mistress.                                The Legislature has already filed an impeachment resolution ahead of time, while the Ethics Commission thoroughly investigate Sanford's financial and travel records. An ethics panel will likely take place sometime next year, and if cases rule against him, Sanford will be facing nearly $74,000 worth in fines.                                                                                                                                    According to NPR Sanford's lawyers claim that the charges were minor, and said that the governor was not likely to face criminal charges. Many are still waiting for more details from the ethics commission about Sanford's allegations. These allegations will determine whether Sanford will be forced out of office in January 2010.  

CNN reported on Saturday that four gang members in Peru were arrested on a charge of killing people for human fat. It was said that the fat was sold to the European market for thousands of dollars, and potentially used it for reconstructive surgery and cosmetic products.                                                     

The disappearances of at least 60 other people have been linked to the same gang, and Jorge Sanz Quiroz, the lead prosecutor, said the police will continue to follow up on the case.  Back in September of this year, officials found a small container of what seemed to be human fat at the the Bella Durmiente bus station in Lima, the capital of Peru.

The Associated Press has also reported on the story, however in a different angle. Medical expert, Julio Castro at Peru's Medical College in Lima, found the Peruvian police reports highly unlikely.                                                                          Castro said that human fat was easy to acquire from liposuction, so he doubted that the gang members could have sold it for thousands of dollars, as was reported by police officials. "It doesn't make sense that the (body) fat would be sold at prices of US$15,000 dollars a liter," said Castro. Claims of the police reports have not been verified yet.