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People in protective gear

Ebola outbreak

New rapid response tactics are needed to defeat the Ebola virus in Liberia, according to the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
More than 6,600 people have been infected in the country, but figures suggest the number of new infections has started to fall.
MSF says it now has more hospital capacity than patients and called for a shift in tactics.
It wants rapid response teams to tackle Ebola hotspots when they flare up.
Liberia has been the worst-hit country in the Ebola epidemic with nearly half of all cases.
However, it is the first to begin to turn around its fortunes - the rate of new infections is continuing to increase in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
The World Health Organization said it was feeling confident that it was getting the upper hand on the virus in Liberia.
MSF said that its treatment centre in the capital Monrovia had 250 beds but was treating just 50 patients.
Meanwhile a site in Foya, in the north of the country, has not had a single patient since 30 October.
Ebola cases
map of areas affected by Ebola
MSF's head of operations in Liberia, Fasil Tezera, said: "The international response is finally getting off the ground.
"Isolation units in Monrovia and some other parts of the country now have adequate capacity and we must adapt the strategy if we want to stay ahead of the curve and beat the epidemic."
Sudden outbreaks of Ebola will continue to emerge in towns and villages in Liberia as the epidemic progresses.
Mr Tezera said: "Priority should be given to a more flexible approach that allows a rapid response to new outbreaks and gets the regular healthcare system safely up and running again."
Such teams would specialise in isolating patients, tracing those who came into contact with the sick, organising safe burials, decontamination and mobilising local communities.
US, Britain and other countries have been building treatment centres and training healthcare workers in the affected countries.
Hospitals
Alongside these teams, MSF called for efforts to support the few remaining hospitals in the country.
It is setting up Ebola screening points next to hospitals so that fear of Ebola does not force them to close.
In order to achieve their new strategy, MSF is calling on governments to be more flexible with the money they pledge to tackling Ebola.
Dr Nico Heijenberg, the MSF emergency coordinator, said: "Much of the international aid funding for the Ebola response is earmarked for specific projects.
"Instead, international donors and implementing organisations should deploy their resources with flexibility so that they can be used where they are needed most."
However, there remains concern that the number of cases could go up again in Liberia. There have already been false dawns in Guinea, where the number of patients increased following earlier drops in hospital admissions.
Meanwhile in Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says four soldiers and their commanding officer will be punished after a boy was killed during protests against quarantine measures in Monrovia.
The boy was shot and others were injured in the incident in August.
A disciplinary board found the soldiers were "guilty of indiscretion and exhibited indiscipline".
A close up of the legionella bacteriaSymptoms of Legionnaires' disease include high fever, muscle pain and persistent cough

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An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has killed five people and infected more than 230 others in Portugal, the authorities there say.
Most of the cases have been in Vila Franca de Xira, a town about 25km (16 miles) north-east of Lisbon.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the outbreak constitutes a "major public health emergency".
Legionnaires' disease is a pneumonia-like lung infection caused by the legionella bacteria.
The source of the outbreak is yet to be found. Local media report that the bacteria has been discovered in a cooling tower in Vila Franca de Xira, but it is thought there may be other sources.
'Unusual and unexpected'
Thirty-eight people are being treated in intensive care, officials say. Facilities in many of the capital's hospitals were stretched because of the outbreak, Portuguese media reported.
"This is the biggest Legionnaire's disease (outbreak) in Portugal and is considered a major public health emergency," WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said.
The outbreak was "unusual and unexpected", Mr Lindmeier added.
Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva has expressed his condolences to the victims. He said the public should trust the health authorities to deal with the outbreak.
A map showing Vila Franca de Xira relative to the Portuguese capital Lisbon
Legionnaires' disease is caught by inhaling infected water. The bacteria can grow in cooling towers, air conditioning and other artificial water supply systems.
It mostly affects people aged over 50, with those already in poor health most at risk.
It was first identified in the US in the 1970s following an outbreak at a hotel hosting a veteran organisation known as the American Legion.

Important Self-Care Tips for Workaholics
Nowadays life is so busy that you often don’t have a free minute to relax with a cup of tea. We’ve got used to work as much as we can, but such tempo of life is extremely dangerous to your mental and physical well-being. The progress of electronic technology makes you accessible for work and other people all day long. You often respond to phone calls, because you are afraid to look selfish and indifferent to others. Consequently, if you don’t take time off, you may feel exhausted and emotionally frustrated. If you prefer to work too much, you should find time to take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself is a key component of minding your mental health. Unfortunately, when we are busy, we tend to focus on our immediate activity levels and forget about resourcing ourselves for the future. Read on to find out 15 important self-care tips to follow when you work too much.

1. Don’t forget to sleep

Sleep is going to be the best way of your body renewal. Adequate sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. It can benefit your mind, weight and improve your overall well-being. If you aren’t sleeping enough, you should be ready to face indisposition and other problems. Your body needs a good rest at night to generate the power to start a new day with a smile on your face.

2. Listen to your body

It’s better to listen to your body and let your intuition prompt you to find time for rest or exercises. Your body always gives you signals to fulfill its needs. Your body often lacks various nourishing elements and minerals. It analyzes the information about the work of different systems and sends an impulse to your brain. If you feel that your body needs some kinds of foods, you should try to eat them with enjoyment. Human body is a unique and smart mechanism that gives you signs. Your task is to notice them and to do all possible things to stay happy and healthy.

3. Take vitamins daily

Today it’s hard to be sure that you get all the nutrients and vitamins that your body needs to be healthy. Taking vitamins is a great nutrition insurance policy. I think it’s better to take vitamins daily than to spend big sums of money to cure various diseases. I prefer multivitamins, because they include all necessary minerals the body needs. If you want to take a certain group of vitamins, then consult your doctor.

4. Time alone

Nowadays many people tend to spend more time alone. Solitude allows you unwind and reboot your brain in order to get rid of massive amounts of information. Sometimes you may find out that you follow the routine and don’t have a clear perception of your reality. Furthermore, spending more time alone will help you identify your needs. If you discover yourself and find your own voice, you’ll be able to get a new vision of the world. Plus, it will help you rest from your long hours of work and responsibility.

5. Exercises

If you spend a lot of time sitting in the office, you need to exercise every day, because movement is life. Sports and other physical activities improve your chances of living longer and healthier. It is important to know that regular exercise helps many of the body’s systems function better. Try to use your work time for exercise and you will have an opportunity to spend your free time in the evening together with your family.

6. Time outside

Office isn’t the best place for your body and mind. Try to find time to breathe fresh air in and enjoy the sun. Sunlight enriches your skin and body with vitamin D that is so useful for your health. Long outside walks will improve your concentration and make you happier. Moreover, you’ll have a chance to replace time in front of television or computer by walking and doing others things that put your body in motion.

7. Vacation time

If you’re tired of spending your life in the office, then try to use your vacation time properly. Those who are fond of travelling can visit various exquisite and majestic places. Moreover, there are many useful tips on how to spend your vacation at home, especially if you cannot afford travelling. There is a great variety of parks, museums, swimming pools and sports grounds. You may also renovate your house or gather friends and go to the country for the weekend.

Self-Care Tips for Workaholics

8. Read books

I’m sure that all workaholics face stress at work every day. This negative energy accumulates and causes different health disorders. One of the best ways to reduce stress is to read a good book. When you open the book, you allow yourself to be invited into a wonderful literary world that helps you escape from daily stressors and negative thoughts. The main point is to find a book that attracts you much.

9. Use your sick time

Even if it is tempting to go to work when you are sick, you should realize that it is very dangerous to both you and your workmates. Many workaholics feel that they are letting the team down, but health should be the main life priority. By all means, don’t force yourself to go to work if you’re feeling bad, because you may get the risk of complications. Consequently, it will be harder to recover. Mind your health, because it is the core element of your success and happiness. Furthermore, you should remember that initiative is punishable.

10. Prepare a relaxing bath

Free yourself from all chores and homework and let yourself relax a bit. Taking a hot and relaxing bath is a wonderful way to let your worries drift away. Hot bathing stimulates blood circulation and calms the nervous system. If you want to increase positive effect of hot bathing, then use herbs to prepare the water.

11. Meditation

The best choice to relief chronic stress and refresh your mind is meditation. When you’re practicing meditation, your breathing slows down and you use more oxygen efficiently that improves your immune system. This relaxing activity will effectively clear your mind and make you forget about all work issues. Plus, it will help you increase your creativity and productivity.

12. Forgive yourself

Everything depends on the type of your character, but forgiving yourself can be much harder than forgiving other people. It is an extremely important act of releasing yourself from the past. Moreover, it helps you get rid of negativity and stop blaming yourself for all failures you’ve ever done. If you don’t do it, you will always look inside and hate yourself. If you forgive yourself, you will open your mind and enjoy your life without hatred in your heart.

13. Forgive other people

In order to be forgiven for your sins, you need to forgive others. Forgiveness is a good remedy to heal spiritual wounds. People who forgive others are free from anger, revenge and bitterness. Plus, they sleep better and relate to others with respect. Oscar Wilde once said a wise thing, “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”

14. Enjoy your hobby

I think everyone has some kind of a hobby. It’s desirable to dedicate it enough time, especially if you work a lot. Hobbies often make you focus on something fun, positive and involving. You might be a happy person, if your hobby is a part of your work. When I have some free time, I love to plant my garden with majestic flowers and trees. It acts like a therapy and makes me feel wondrous.

15. Get pedicure and manicure

Getting manicure and pedicure on my own is my favorite self-care activity. It helps me get pleasure and save some cash, because professional manicures can be expensive and time-consuming. Moreover, pedi and mani usually draw me away from negative thoughts.


Fact: Wearing a skirt or dress while riding a bike is cute.
Another fact: It is near-impossible to enjoy the combination (even if you've mastered the art of fashionable cycling) because you ride in constant fear that a gust of wind will flounce up your skirt and expose your underpants to cabbies and pedestrians alike.
Fix: The cycle-loving ladies in the video above exhibit a brilliant way to remedy this common conundrum.
First, wrap a penny in the center of your skirt, placing the coin in the rear side first. Then, secure the penny with a rubber band.


That's it! Ride free!
Exercises That Will Transform Your Body
Looking for some effective ways to transform your body? There are a few great exercises that will help you to reach your fitness goal. These exercises are easy but effective in strengthening your body along with burning unwanted calories. However, sticking to these exercises is not enough to transform your body, you should also eat healthy and get enough sleep regularly. Don’t waste your precious time doing other workouts, here are seven exercises that will help you transform your body in no time.

1. Jumping rope

Jumping rope
A cheap and easily portable exercise that you can do anywhere is jumping rope. This workout burns more calories per minute than any other workout. Get jumping for a perfect exercise and plenty of fun. One of the best things about jumping rope is that you can do it with your kids.

2. Squats

Squats
This powerful exercise helps tone your glutes, strengthen your body and burn a lot of calories. To boost your calorie expenditure and raise your heart rate, you can try to do jump squats. Or stay in a squat hold with dumbbells in the hands to increase the resistance as well as feel the burn. Doing squats regularly is one of the best ways to transform your body.

3. Pushups

Pushups
Unfortunately, many people avoid doing pushups since this exercise is a bit harder to perform, but it can do wonders for your body. There are plenty of different pushups that work the different muscles in the shoulders and arms. Try to vary your pushup style to lower your risk of becoming bored with exercise. Not only do pushups work the upper body, but also work the core. Do pushups a few days a week to help sculpt the arms and overall transform the body.

4. Lunges

Lunges
To tone the muscles in your legs try doing lunges. Lunges give you such amazing results because they isolate every leg individually, helping transform your body. To add some cardio and boost the intensity, do some jump lunges. I suggest you to do 3 sets of 10 lunges a day for the best results.

5. Swimming

Swimming
The great news for all lovers of swimming and for those who are trying to transform their bodies – swimming is a super effective workout that will bring you astonishing results. Swimming helps strengthen your core and work different muscle groups.

6. Running

Running
There are many benefits of running. It helps to relieve stress, reduce the risk of depression, burn mega calories and improve your overall health. I enjoy running, especially early in the morning, and I think it’s one of the best exercises to do every day. I always feel a great sense of accomplishment after my run.

7. Cycling

Cycling
A cycling workout is a foolproof way to get a great sweat and work your legs. Cycling is a wonderful exercise since you can push yourself at a higher intensity. Bring along your significant other or friend, or cycle solo, and ensure you get the most out of your workout.

Happy Family Why It’s So Important to Your Kids
Today I’m going to reflect on the importance of a happy family in the life of children. This topic is of current importance since many people experience both economical and social crisis these days. There’re millions of single-parent families, which can be dangerous for child development. Studies show that rearing kids in single-parent families exerts negative influence on their development.
If you’re already a parent, you should realize that children cannot develop without your support. You should act like a guide and help them explore this wonderful and challenging world. Try to create a correct model of relationships inside your family – children have to live according to your rules. They absorb your behaviors, habits, manners, lifestyles and phrases. These words prove that living in a healthy relationship helps children become smart personalities.
Happy people understand that only a wonderful environment inside the family can bring up healthy and full-blown children. Hopefully, the following advice will open your eyes and help you believe in this little truth.

Happy Family – Happy Kids

A happy family is the most comfortable ground for children to grow up and become successful people. Parents look like gods in the eyes of their children. That’s why it’s important for parents to accept the responsibility for their actions and words.
I’m a happy person because I had a chance to grow up in a wondrous family. I’m very grateful to my parents for filling my life with love and positivity. I was taught to break bread together and appreciate everything I have in my life. My family spent much time and efforts on my education. They believed that constant and persistent development was the earnest of my future success. My dad was always afraid to spoil me, while giving me small gifts and making surprises. When I’m already a grown up, I realize that it’s normal to spoil children reasonably, because no one knows what life has in store for them in future.
Children, who have grown up in happy families, usually reach their goals with ease and have more chances to live their life to the fullest.

The Role of a Happy Family in Children’s Psychological Formation

A family usually plays a big role in children’s emotional, social and physical maturation. If you’re a parent, you should demonstrate how to behave in a correct way and serve as a role model to your child. But be careful, children can memorize and imitate both good and bad things. Happy families often teach their kids to build positive social skills. These crucial skills will help them find a common language with people around and develop the sense of leadership.
Moreover, good parents want their children to be better and happier in life than them. That’s why they try to raise their kids according to their type of temperament. Temperament appears in childhood and cannot be changed later. The formation of temperament depends on emotional stability in the family and the way the child was taught to perceive the reality. Nowadays, I realize that emotional stability in the family is the crucial factor in successful formation of child’s type of character and self-esteem.

Being a Good Parent is a Difficult Thing

Parenting is not as easy as you may think, because this twenty four hour job requires you to be always ready to teach, support and find a proper word to motivate your child. As a first teacher, you should help your children master different useful skills that will provide them more opportunities in future. Children in happy families are usually treated with love and respect, because these qualities teach the child to cooperate with the society and cope with stress without problems.
I think that the phrase “give a life” is a polysemantic one. First of all, parents give birth to a child and it’s a significant thing. I’ve noticed that happy families have a tendency to give their children a start in life, because nowadays it’s extremely difficult to succeed without somebody’s help. It doesn’t mean that parents should spoil children and give them everything they want. I believe that caring parents will do their best to help their children find their calling in life and use their fullest potential to reach more goals.

The Importance of Family Values and Traditions

I’m absolutely sure that every family has its values and traditions, which they’re passing from one generation to another. All parents should know that they have to foster the best values in their kids and teach them respect the traditions of their ancestors. Correct values and relationships built on mutual understanding and respect will help you grow a happy family and healthy kids.
Furthermore, I’d like to mention that values and traditions create special emotional connection inside the family. My family has a lot of values and traditions that still bring all members together. We have a tradition to go to the country every weekend to visit our dearest and nearest and enjoy the moments of communication with them. I’ve already got used to these traditions and they’ve become an inevitable part of my life. I’ll certainly pass these family treasures to my future kids. I believe these treasures will make them mentally rich.

The Impact of Family Issues on the Life of Children

I don’t like to dwell on negativity, but life is not a bed of roses that’s why it’s necessary to be aware of the influence of family issues on the life of children.
Parents should know that it’s dangerous to project their own problems onto their children, because it can damage their psyche. Consequently, their children may become diffident due to the influence of fears on their subconscious mind. The outlook of diffident children is considerably limited and they usually cannot succeed in life, since they lack confidence to believe in their abilities. Plus, a childhood in an unhappy family with unstable emotional atmosphere can be the reason of different psychological and emotional traumas, which usually make child’s life harder. Sometimes, it seems easier to prevent a big problem than waste many years looking for an effective solution.
To sum it up, I’d like to say that a happy and full family should be the main priority in the life of every person, because it’s the key element in successful development of both children and parents. Life in a happy family requires constant work in order to build respect and mutual understanding in relationships. Cultivating family traditions and values is the best way to broaden your children’s horizons. If you want your child to be a successful and confident person, try to create a happy family first. Do you find your family happy? Share your thoughts and tips with us, please.
Reasons to Be Kinder to People Who Have Hurt You
When someone hurts you, it’s hard to find the reason to be kinder to them. Sometimes people say and do things that hurt us deeply and most of us try to hurt them in return, but that’s a huge mistake. Being rude or vengeful will make you feel worse and can even cause you lots of problems. No matter how painful your situation might be, it’s important to be nice and kind to others. Just like Henry James once said, “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Below is the list of a few undeniable reasons to be kinder to people who have hurt you.

1. It shows what a good person you are

While you don’t have to prove anything to anyone, being kinder to people who’ve hurt you will prove what a wonderful and intelligent person you are. People around you will perceive you as a smart and strong person who knows what to say in a difficult situation. Many of us can’t find the right words to say to the people who’ve hurt us. Try to be kinder to people around you, even if they’ve hurt you many times, and inspire others to do the same.

2. It softens your attitude towards them

Another reason to be kinder to someone who’s hurt you is because it can soften your attitude toward them. Sure, you can respond to them as mercilessly as they’ve been to you, but this will only make a bad situation worse. Being kinder to them is a smart way to respond to them. This way, you’ll feel less hatred toward them. I always pity someone who’s hurt me for being such a miserable and hateful person.

3. You won’t feel miserable and guilty

If you’re kind to people who have hurt you, you will have nothing to feel guilty about. Being rude in return means that you might feel down about two things. You might feel miserable because they’ve hurt you and you might feel guilty because you was rude to them. The best way to respond to unkindness is to smile and be kind to those who have hurt you.

4. You’ll feel good about yourself

When you’re kinder to someone who has hurt you, you’ll feel good about yourself and you will know that you are better than that person. Rudeness won’t make you feel better. Always set an example for others by being kinder to people who have hurt you, and everyone will respect you for it.

5. You’ll kill them with your kindness

It’s always a good idea to kill people who’ve hurt you with kindness (as the saying goes) than hurt them in return. Maybe your kindness will make them admit their mistake and apologize. Even if they won’t admit their mistake, your kindness will simply drive them crazy and they will leave you alone. Avoid communicating with them, instead surround yourself with kind and positive people who make you happy.

6. It’ll change their rude behavior towards you

Being kinder to people who have hurt you could change their rude behavior towards you. Your kindness might make them reconsider their actions. It’s hard to change someone’s behavior towards you, but you need to at least try. My kindness made many people who had hurt me sorry for their rude behavior towards me. This is a good reason for me to be kinder to rude people and those who’ve hurt me.

7. Others will speak well of you

When someone hurts you in front of others, being kind to them won’t show to others that you are weak. It will allow others to know what a wonderful and smart person you are. They will definitely notice this personality trait and they will respect you even more than ever before. Moreover, the person who’ve hurt you will notice your kindness as well, whether they want it or not.
Being kinder to people who have hurt you is both a skill and an art. It’s a challenging task, but try not to hurt anyone in return. Many people think that kindness is a sign of weakness, but it’s not true. Khalil Gibran said, “Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.” Remember it the next time someone hurts you. What’s your best way to respond to those who’ve hurt you?