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| | Salaam Alaikum,
Welcome to the 18th issue of Islam in 60 Seconds for 2009.
In response to an intensifying outbreak in the United States and internationally caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 5 on April 29, 2009. Accordingly, I have secured this information from the Centers for Disease Control to help inform you. Please note that in the coming days there will be a lot of media attention and news frenzy regarding the swine flu, but that there is nothing to worry about.
The normal progression of any disease is that it spreads, and it may even come to your state. However, please remember that the World Health Organization has stated the media has greatly exaggerated the effect of this disease, and despite news reports, there have only been 7 confirmed fatalities from this illness in the entire world.
What is Swine Influenza?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930.
What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
What medications are available to treat swine flu infections in humans?
There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.
So with that being said, remain calm, relaxed, smart and vigilant. God willing, inshallah, everything will be fine.
Stay tuned for more from IIC in the future!
May God Bless the world, and bring peace, justice, and prosperity to all.
Masalaama,
Rahat Husain
Executive Director
Islamic Information Center
| | Scholars see 'empathy' in Jews' study of Islam
New Jersey Jewish News
Two leading lights in the world of Jewish scholarship were at Princeton University on April 23 to reflect on the Jewish "fascination" with Islam. And while contemporary Jewish colloquia on Islam tend to dwell on conflict, Susannah Heschel and Rabbi Ismar Schorsch instead focused on how Jewish scholars helped shaped the study of Islam, and how Islam in turn shaped Jewish self-understanding. "What Jews brought to the study of Islam and Arabic was empathy," said Schorsch, chancellor emeritus and the Rabbi Herman Abramowitz Professor of Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. "Jewish scholars had an innate empathy for the study of Islam. Jews loved Islam for what it had offered them in the Middle Ages."
| | Europe unfriendly to Muslims, Princeton scholar says
The Lantern
Many Muslims today struggle to integrate into Western society, but those in the U.S. are better off than those in Europe, said Islamic scholar Ralph Ghadban during a lecture Monday at Ohio State. "Many of the millions of Muslims that have moved to the West wish not to integrate into society," Ghadban said. As a member of the Institute for Advanced Studies of Princeton University, Ghadban spoke in a small conference room in Hagerty Hall, with only 15 people in attendance.
| Saudi Government Cordons Off Imams' Graves in Baqi
Islamic Insights
Shock and disbelief was the initial response last Wednesday as pilgrims to the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery were faced with a barrier cordoning off the graves of the four Shia Imams buried there. According to a report by the Ahlul Bayt News Agency (ABNA), the graves of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba, Imam Zainul Abideen, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, and Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (peace be upon them) in the al-Baqi cemetery have been barricaded, preventing individuals from even casting their glance on the holy sites. Security personnel present at the site informed the pilgrims that the barriers will be permanent. | Iran's Former Revolutionary Guards Chief to Run for President
AFP
The former head of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezai announced on Wednesday that he would run for president in the June election, Mehr news agency reported."I thought the country would not need me given the plans and goals of other candidates who are running ... but I have decided to enter the election for a number of reasons," Rezai said in a statement carried by Mehr. Rezai, a veteran conservative who headed the guards corps for 16 years to 1997, ran in the 2005 presidential election which saw hardline Mahmoud Ahmadinejad victorious but pulled out of the race a day before the election. He said he felt compelled to run because Iran needs "a change in its management model."
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Pakistan's Army, The Taliban, and Washington
Juan Cole
Pakistan's army continues to face challenges, not the least of which is the growing insurrection by Taliban and Taliban-supporting tribesmen in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) abutting Afghanistan. There has of late been much international criticism of the army for allegedly failing to take action against militants, and according to London's Financial Times on April 26, Hillary Clinton "expressed bewilderment that one of the world's largest armies appeared unable to confront dozens of militants."
| Pakistani jets, choppers bomb Taliban near capital
AFP
Pakistani jets and attack helicopters bombed Taliban positions in a district near the capital Tuesday, the military said, in an expansion of an offensive against militants seemingly emboldened by a much-criticized peace deal.Troops and heavy artillery also joined the operation in Buner, which follows urgent calls from the United States for Islamabad to step up its fight against the militants, who moved into the region this month from the nearby Swat Valley. They set up checkpoints, patrolled streets and warned locals to abide by strict interpretations of Islam.
| Islamic Group Urges Closer Ties With U.S.
AllAfrica
A US-based African Islamic group, the Universal Islamic Centre has called for closer ties between the government of the United States of America and the Muslims in the world as only this could foster peace and unity around the globe. Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos at a press conference on a global conference to be hosted by the group in New York in May, the founder and president of the Universal Islamic Centre, Shaykh Ahmed Tijani Omar, said Muslims and US government should change how they viewed each other for peace to reign in the world. According to him, the notion held by most Muslims that America was anti-Islam is wrong and the notion held by most US officials that all Muslims were terrorists is also wrong.
| Scholar Discusses Jewish-Muslim Relations in North Africa
The Spec
When the Nazis occupied the countries of North Africa and sought to round up Jews and expropriate Jewish property, Satloff notes: "In every place that it occurred, Arabs helped Jews. Some Arabs spoke out against the persecution of Jews and took public stands of unity with them. Some Arabs denied the support and assistance that would have made the wheels of the anti- Jewish campaign spin more efficiently. ... And there were occasions when certain Arabs chose to do more than just offer moral support to Jews. They bravely saved Jewish lives, at times risking their own in the process. Those Arabs were true heroes." | | IIC Needs YOUR Support!
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