“Flu” (Influenza)-What is Influenza?

By Patrick Olabode

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness the outcome of which can result in hospitalization or death.  The elderly, children and people with chronic health conditions are at high risk of serious flu complications.

Signs and Symptoms

Fever* or feeling feverish/chills

Cough

Sore throat

Runny or stuffy nose

Muscle or body aches

Headaches

Fatigue (very tired)

Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

“Flu virus spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. “

Flu virus spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. A person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or possibly their nose. Flu can be passed on to someone else before falling sick as well as while one is sick.

“The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a Flu vaccine each year. “

Prevention

The first and most important step in preventing flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyday preventive actions such staying away from people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes and frequent handwashing to help slow the spread of germs that cause nose, throat, and lungs’ diseases such as flu.

Treatment

If you get the flu, you may need to see a healthcare practitioner who will prescribe an antiviral drug which may be a treatment option. Check with your doctor promptly if you are at high risk of serious flu complications and you get flu symptoms.  People at high risk of flu complications include young children, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a Flu vaccine each year. GET YOUR FLU SHOT TODAY!

· (Courtesy of Center for Disease Control (CDC) website)

Patrick Olabode, MSN, RN, CPN (patolabode@yahoo.com)

U. S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery begins Tue, Oct. 3

The online registration for the 2019 United States’ Diversity Visa Lottery will begin on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Time and will end on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Time.

The United States’ Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Lottery program allows for up to 50,000 immigrant visas to be awarded each year. It gives foreign nationals of countries that have low rates of immigration to the U.S. an opportunity to participate in a random drawing for the potential of getting an immigration visa.

Participation in the Lottery can only be done online. It is a web form only and cannot be downloaded. There is no charge for registering.

Those who qualify for a Green Card, can only enter into the United States in 2019.

However, in the 2019 program, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years: - 

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

Election Board fixes Oct. 10 deadline for 2017 voter registration

The Franklin County Board of Elections, Columbus, Ohio has fixed October 10, 2017 as last day for voters registration in the November 7 general elections. The latest totals show there are more than 851,000 registered voters in Franklin County. 

A statement by the Board spokesman, Aaron Sellers stated that “Voter registrations must be received by Tuesday, October 10, 2017. The Franklin County Board of Elections will be open until 9:00 p.m. October 10 to accept registrations.”

He added that, “Registration forms are available at http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov and at the following locations where they can also be submitted:

*Ohio Secretary of State, 180 E. Broad Street, Columbus

*Any public high school, vocational school, college, public library or BMV.

*Agencies providing public assistance and disability programs.

*Franklin County Treasurer, 373 S. High Street, Columbus.

Registered voters who have changed their name and/or address need to update their registration by October 10 to vote a regular ballot in the general election.

New registrations and/or changes can be made by mail as well as in person at 1700 Morse Road or online through the secretary of state’s website http://MyOhioVote.com.

Registration is open to U.S. citizens living in Franklin County at least thirty days prior to the election and who will be at least 18 years old by Election Day.

U. S strips 70 years old naturalized citizen of status for false declaration

A U.S. naturalized citizen, Rasmieh Yousef Odeh, from Jordan has been stripped of her American citizenship for withholding information of her conviction in Israel for participating in a deadly terrorist bombing.

Odeh was deported Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removals Operations (ERO). The removal marks the culmination of a multiyear probe by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Rasmieh Yousef Odeh, 70, was ordered deported from the United States in August 2017, following a federal immigration fraud conviction, and order revoking United States citizenship. She was removed to Jordan via commercial flight under escort by Detroit-based ERO deportation officers.

Upon arrival at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, she was turned over to Jordanian officials without incident. Odeh is barred for life from reentering the United States.

“Removing individuals who pose a threat to national security remains ICE’s highest enforcement priority,” said Rebecca Adducci, field office director for ERO Detroit.

Before immigrating to the United States, Odeh had been convicted overseas for her participation in two 1969 terrorist bombings in Israel, and for having been a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.

Specifically, she was convicted of placing two bombs at a supermarket that killed two individuals and of planting a bomb at the British Consulate in Jerusalem, as well as membership in an illegal organization. Odeh was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was released after serving more than 10 years in prison as part of a prisoner exchange with the PFLP.   

Odeh obtained a United States immigrant visa in 1994 and had lived in the United States for the last 22 years. In 2004, she obtained United States citizenship. She unlawfully failed to disclose her arrest and convictions regarding the bombings in both her application for her visa and her separate application for United States citizenship.

According to the plea agreement signed by Odeh , she admitted that in those applications, she lied about her criminal history by falsely denying that she had ever been arrested, charged with a crime, convicted, or imprisoned.

In her plea, Odeh also admitted that at the time she made the false statements, she knew the statements were false, and that “she made the false statements intentionally and not as a result of any mistake, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or any other psychological issue or condition”, as she had previously claimed in court proceedings, “or for any innocent reason”.

Odeh also admitted that at the time she made the false statements, she knew that it was unlawful for her to provide false information to the United States government in connection with her application for Immigrant Visa and her application for naturalization.

Had Odeh revealed the truth about her criminal history, as she was required to by law, she never would have been granted an immigrant visa, admitted to the United States, allowed to live here for the last 22 years, or granted United States Citizenship.