Science News –

DOH: Leptospirosis cases rise to 1,500

The Department of Health (DOH) on July 5 confirmed the rise of

leptospirosis cases all over the country.

Dr. Benjamin Herrera, an alumnus of the University of Santo Tomas,

said that local cases have reached 1,500.

He also added that the National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest
cases of leptospirosis, followed by CALABARZON (Region IV-A) and Central
Luzon (Region III).

In NCR, Malabon has the highest case of leptospirosis, followed by

Navotas, Caloocan, Marikina, Valenzuela and Makati. These cities were
determined by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as flood
prone areas.

One of the common misconceptions about leptospirosis is that it on

only came from rat urine.

According to experts, bacteria can penetrate in the body through any

skin opening or wound.

To avoid turning a news article into a feature article, adhere to the following
guidelines:

Objective Reporting:

Focus on presenting facts rather than personal experiences or emotions.

Avoid using subjective language or injecting personal opinions into the

content.

Limit Descriptive Elements:

Minimize vivid descriptions and storytelling elements that are common in

feature articles.

Stick to providing essential information without embellishing details.

Straightforward Language:
Use clear, concise language without adding literary flair or narrative
techniques.

Keep sentences and paragraphs straightforward, avoiding creative writing

elements.

Neutral Tone:

Maintain a neutral and objective tone throughout the article.

Steer clear of tone shifts that might lead to a more subjective or reflective
style.

Avoid Personal Anecdotes:

Refrain from including personal anecdotes, interviews, or experiences unless

they are directly related to conveying factual information.

Minimize Analysis and Interpretation:

Steer clear of extensive analysis or interpretation of events. Stick to

reporting what is known and verified.

Resist the temptation to delve deeply into the implications or broader

context of the news.

Concise Structure:

Structure the article in a concise manner, focusing on presenting key

information without unnecessary details or diversions.

Avoid extended background stories or in-depth character profiles common in

feature articles.

Limited Quotations:

Use quotations sparingly and focus on statements that directly contribute to

the factual reporting of the news.

Avoid using quotes primarily for emotional impact or to elicit a particular

reaction from readers.

Emphasize Timeliness:

Prioritize timeliness in reporting and resist the urge to delve into historical
context or extensive background information unrelated to the news.

Stick to the Inverted Pyramid Style:

Arrange information in order of importance, following the inverted pyramid
style commonly used in news reporting.

Place critical details at the beginning and less essential information toward
the end.

ACHOO-POCALYPSE
PH FLU SURGE WAVE
Influenza-like illnesses (ILI) are illnesses accompanied by similar symptoms
as the common influenza viruses, such as fever beyond 38 degrees Celsius
with coughing or sore throat, among other symptoms like chills, dry cough,
loss of appetite, body aches, nausea, and sneezing.

While some people may dismiss these symptoms as being from a common
illness, ILI can present itself in alarming ways.

Therefore, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva took the forefront in

questioning the capability of the Philippines’ health system, particularly with
the recent spike in ILI cases in the country.

“The emergence of new flu strains or other viruses capable of triggering

pandemics typically starts with undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness. In
fact, both SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome] and COVID-19 were
first reported as unusual types of pneumonia,” Villanueva said.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), as of November 25, 2023, a
total of 182,721 ILI cases have been reported, further linked to the period
from January to October 2022, revealing a 45 percent increase in the total ILI
cases.

Moreover, in the weeks between October 15 and 28, 2023, data showed a 20
percent decline from the previous weeks, showing only 10,242 cases in this
period.

Although ILI cases have declined over the following weeks since the spike of
cases, prevention and safety are still a top priority, especially for those who
may have a weaker immune system, such as children and elders.

For Grade 12 student Fionna Cloza, she always suffer from a flu, especially
during cold days, making it challenging for her to wake up every morning
and sleep every night.“Singhot dito, singhot doon; singa rito, singa roon;
bahing dito, bahing doon. Kaya palaging nakahanda ang aking gamot sa
trangkaso sa bag,” Cloza said.

According to the World Health Organization, the number one best way to
prevent influenza and ILI is through vaccination while other prevention
methods include washing your hands regularly, covering your mouth and
nose when coughing or sneezing, staying at home when unwell, avoiding
close contact with sick people, and not touching your eyes, mouth or nose.

Meanwhile, the DOH has assured that they have implemented strategies to
enhance preparedness for ILI cases, drawing on the knowledge gained from
lessons learned during the peak of the pandemic season.

“We have already set in place mechanisms and systems to be able to be

more prepared and we’ve learned lessons from the COVID-19 experience,”
DOH Assistant Secretary for Public Health Services Mylene Beltran said.

Google is testing AI tool 'Genesis' that can write news articles

Google is currently in the process of testing a tool called 'Genesis,' which

uses artificial intelligence technology to generate news articles.
According to The New York Times, Google pitched the product to them, The
Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal’s owner, News Corp., as a
"personal assistant for journalists" that will allow them to multitask and focus
on other projects while the tool helps write the stories.

Allegedly, the tool possesses the capability to intake information, including

details about ongoing events and proficiently produce comprehensive news
content with the information it gathers.

The New York Times reports that according to three people familiar with the
matter, "some executives who saw Google’s pitch described it as unsettling,
asking not to be identified discussing a confidential matter. Two people said it
seemed to take for granted the effort that went into producing accurate and
artful news stories."

The news comes as news organizations express interest in using artificial

intelligence tools. The Associated Press announced last week that it licensed
a portion of its news story archive to OpenAI to explore how AI can be
harnessed to advance news content generation.

These tools have raised concerns among writers from not just media outlets
but also authors and script writers due to the system’s tendencies to
inaccurately push information that closely mimics human language and
grammar, which makes it challenging to spot.

A Google spokeswoman, Jenn Crider, told The New York Times that this tool
and partnerships with outlets are in the earliest stages of "exploring ideas,"
but the tool is mostly intended to provide help with writing styles or headline
ideas.

"Quite simply, these tools are not intended to, and cannot, replace the
essential role journalists have in reporting, creating, and fact-checking their
articles," said Crider.

Google is testing AI tool 'Genesis' that can write news articles

Google is currently in the process of testing a tool called 'Genesis,' which

uses artificial intelligence technology to generate news articles.
 Describes 'Genesis' as an AI tool utilizing artificial intelligence
technology for generating news articles.
 Mentions the intended purpose as a "personal assistant for journalists,"
allowing multitasking while aiding in writing.
According to The New York Times, Google pitched the product to them, The
Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal’s owner, News Corp., as a
"personal assistant for journalists" that will allow them to multitask and focus
on other projects while the tool helps write the stories.
 Stakeholder Response:

Quotes The New York Times, reporting unsettling reactions from some
executives who found Google's pitch presumptive about the effort required
for accurate news stories.

Allegedly, the tool possesses the capability to intake information, including

details about ongoing events and proficiently produce comprehensive news
content with the information it gathers.

The New York Times reports that according to three people familiar with the
matter, "some executives who saw Google’s pitch described it as unsettling,
asking not to be identified discussing a confidential matter. Two people said it
seemed to take for granted the effort that went into producing accurate and
artful news stories."

The news comes as news organizations express interest in using artificial

intelligence tools. The Associated Press announced last week that it licensed
a portion of its news story archive to OpenAI to explore how AI can be
harnessed to advance news content generation.
 Industry Interest:

Connects Google's initiative with a broader trend, mentioning news

organizations expressing interest in AI tools. It cites The Associated Press
licensing its news story archive to OpenAI for exploring AI's potential in news
content generation.

These tools have raised concerns among writers from not just media outlets
but also authors and script writers due to the system’s tendencies to
inaccurately push information that closely mimics human language and
grammar, which makes it challenging to spot.

 Concerns:

Discusses concerns raised by writers, including those from media

outlets, authors, and scriptwriters, regarding the system's tendency to
mimic human language and grammar inaccurately.

A Google spokeswoman, Jenn Crider, told The New York Times that this
tool and partnerships with outlets are in the earliest stages of
 "exploring ideas," but the tool is mostly intended to provide help with
writing styles or headline ideas.

"Quite simply, these tools are not intended to, and cannot, replace the
essential role journalists have in reporting, creating, and fact-checking their
articles," said Crider.

1. Write in a conversational manner.

2. Do not leave your readers hanging.

3. Define scientific terms.

4. Learn how to appreciate data.

5. If there are figures provided, make sure this will be included in your
headline.

6. If the expert is not famous, do not mention him/her in the headline and in
the lead

7. Make sure that your lead is the explanation of your headline.

8. When you mention the name of the expert, the first time, write his full
name. For organization and agencies, spell it out.

9. Stick to the scientific angle of the story.

10. Do not provide other information unless it is from a known authority or a

data accessible to the public.

11. Do not forget to define terms, explain/cite the sources, implications and
cures of diseases.
12. Always provide a solution but quote an expert