Friday, August 3, 2012

Ebola outbreak suspected among Uganda prisoners

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/02/health/uganda-ebola-virus/index.html?hpt=wo_c2


From David McKenzie, CNN
updated 4:54 PM EDT, Thu August 2, 2012




Kagadi, Uganda (CNN) -- The hospital at the center of an Ebola outbreak in Uganda is now dealing with 30 suspected cases, including five from Kibaale prison, Dr. Dan Kyamanywa said Thursday.
Three patients at Kagadi hospital have been confirmed as having the virus, said Kyamanywa, a district health officer.

Doctors are now testing the suspected cases urgently so they can separate confirmed cases from those who do not have the disease, Doctors Without Borders said.

Suspected cases are still trickling into the hospital, Kyamanywa said.

At least 16 people have died in the current outbreak.

The five prisoners have been showing Ebola-like symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever, the doctor said.

"We do expect the number of suspected cases to increase," he said. "It's important to break transmission and reduce the number of contacts that suspected cases have."

There is a fear that the outbreak will spread to the capital, but it is unlikely, he said.

Many patients fled Kagadi hospital when Ebola was confirmed, he said, and the hospital is struggling to respond to all the call-outs to suspected cases.


"Right now there is no treatment for Ebola, so the most effective measure we can take is to contain the spread of the disease," said Olimpia de la Rosa, the Doctors Without Borders emergency coordinator for Uganda Ebola intervention.

"That is why we need to start working immediately. Other cases need to be rapidly identified because containment is what can stop it," said the expert from the aid group, which is also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres.

The Ugandan government has asked people in western Uganda to travel by public transport only if it is necessary.

The outbreak began in the Kibaale district in western Uganda.

The deaths have stoked heightened fear about the spread of the virus, a highly infectious, often fatal agent spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, a measles-like rash, red eyes and, at times, bleeding from body openings.
Market day was canceled Wednesday after Uganda's president warned people not to gather in large groups.
Health officials urged the public to report any suspected cases, to avoid contact with anyone infected and to wear gloves and masks while disinfecting bedding and clothing of infected people. Officials also advised avoiding public gatherings in the affected district.

Teams in Uganda are taking an aggressive approach, including trying to track down anyone who came into contact with patients infected with the virus and health workers have been gearing up for better protection of health workers and an influx of cases.

The workers include people from Uganda's ministry of health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

The outbreak initially went undetected because patients did not show typical symptoms, Ugandan Health Minister Dr. Christine Ondoa told CNN on Sunday. Patients had fevers and were vomiting, but did not show other typical symptoms, such as hemorrhaging.

Diagnosis in an individual who has only recently been infected can be difficult since early symptoms, such as red eyes and skin rash, are seen more frequently in patients who have more common diseases, the CDC said.

Uganda's Ministry of Health declared the outbreak in Kibaale district Saturday after the Uganda Virus Research Institute identified the disease as the Sudan strain of Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
The Ebola virus was first detected in 1976 in the central African nation of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The virus is named after a river in that country. There are five strains of Ebola viruses, all named after the areas where they were found: Zaire, Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire, Bundibugyo and Reston, according to the WHO.


Thursday, August 2, 2012

Plan Early for 2013. DHS Summer Law Intern Program

Office of the General Counsel Summer Law Intern Program

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Overview

Program Name
Office of the General Counsel Summer Law Intern Program

Description
The Summer Law Intern Program is a competitive program for compensated
positions in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters located in Washington D.C. Our Summer
Law Intern Program also includes an extensive orientation on the operating
divisions of DHS and the federal government.

Program Length
10-12 weeks

Component
Office of the General Counsel
Location
Washington, D.C.

Salary
The starting salary for a Summer Law Intern who join the program after
completing his or her second year of law school is normally at the GS-9/01
level. (GS-7/01 for those who have completed their first year of law school)
Eligibility Requirements

The Department selects candidates based on multiple factors including:

*       Academic achievement (GPA of 3.0 or higher or top 1/3 of the class
preferred);
*       Exceptional research, writing, and analytical skills; and
*       Demonstrated involvement in activities beyond required coursework is
encouraged.

Candidates for the Honors Attorney Program must be United States citizens.


Application Deadline
October 1, 2012 (Application period for 1Ls is December 1 - December 16,
2012)

Application Requirements and How to Apply
Candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, law school transcript
(unofficial copies will be accepted) and list of three references to
ogcsummerlawprogram@hq.dhs.gov.

Who to Contact for Additional Information
Alexandra Edwards, DHS Office of the General Counsel
atAlexandra.edwards@hq.dhs.gov

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<http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/careers/gc_1287065109250.shtm#content>


About the Summer Law Intern Program


The Summer Law Intern Program is a competitive program for compensated
positions in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters located in Washington D.C. Summer Law
Interns may expect to be assigned positions which offer both valuable
experience and substantial individual responsibility. Successful candidates
will be afforded the opportunity to work in the different legal divisions
within OGC headquarters, including Immigration, Regulatory Affairs,
Operations and Enforcement, Legal Counsel, General Law, Technology Programs,
National Protection and Programs, and Intelligence. They may interact with
clients, attend legislative hearings, and meet with attorneys and
representatives from other agencies over the course of the summer.

Our Summer Law Intern Program also includes an extensive orientation on the
operating divisions of DHS and the federal government in Washington D.C.,
including visits to the U.S. Coast Guard Washington Air Station, the
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Forensic Document Laboratory, and the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspections facility at Dulles
International Airport.

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<http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/careers/gc_1287065109250.shtm#content>


Eligibility


Only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment in DHS's Summer Legal Intern
Program.

The Summer Law Intern Program is open to second-year law students, as well
as third-year law students in four-year programs. DHS OGC also will consider
eligible first-year law students starting December 1, 2012, contingent upon
available vacancies.

DHS selects candidates based on multiple factors including:

*       Academic achievement (GPA of 3.0 or higher or Top 1/3 of the class
preferred);
*       Exceptional research, writing and analytical skills; and
*       Demonstrated involvement in activities beyond required coursework is
encouraged.

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<http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/careers/gc_1287065109250.shtm#content>


Application Process and Deadlines


Interested 2Ls (or 3Ls in four-year programs) should submit a cover letter,
resume, references, and a transcript (unofficial is acceptable) to
ogcsummerlawprogram@hq.dhs.govstarting August 15, 2012. The application
period closes on October 1, 2012.

OGC may also consider applications from ILs depending upon remaining
vacancies. Interested 1Ls are not eligible to apply until December 1, 2012.
The application period for 1Ls will close onDecember 16, 2012.

OGC will make its hiring decisions between December 2012 and January 2013
for 2L and 3L candidates; decisions on 1L candidates would be made in late
January or early February. Subject to budgetary or security clearance issues
individuals selected for the Summer Law Intern Program can expect to
commence employment with DHS after Memorial Day following the completion of
their spring semester.

Alexandra Edwards, DHS Office of the General Counsel at
Alexandra.edwards@hq.dhs.gov.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the
basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation,
sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an
employee organization, or other non-merit factor.

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