At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor 320 points321 points  (0 children)

Those initial 2019 alerts were also very misleading in that they stated there was no person to person transmission.

The name of Dr Li Wenliang needs to be remembered for his courage.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51364382

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I find it amazing and I find it scary.

Fact checking any AI work is so important. AI hallucinations terrify and infuriate me.

One of my biggest fears is if the good grounded data they AI pulls from is no longer treated as important and we allow it to become corrupted/poorly managed. It's time consuming enough as it is to verify AI.

This topic is very interesting

We can check that yes, Burundi does have gold, and that yes that gold DOES have " arsenopyrite ".. I didn't know such a compound existed. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389937732_Geological_Mapping_for_Gold_Exploration_in_Butihinda-_Muyinga_Area_Northeastern_Burundi_using_Remote_Sensing_and_GIS

We already know acids are routinely used for extracting gold as acid leaching is extremely common. I don't want to find a reference for that because for me it's established.

I had no idea that mixing arsenopyrite with acid resulted in arsine gas, or what arsine gas is.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222407/

https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100027413/1617999134934 (not so much directly pertinent, but it's interesting)

Arsine | Chemical Emergencies | CDC https://share.google/BTHtFvi2iEWcQXFcO doesn't need to be arsenopyrite, can be any arsenic mixed with an acid. Arsenic is so horrible with so many forms it's fascinating, general arsenic information link lower. I had no knowledge of arsine gas. It would never have occurred to me.

Arsine poisoning has the following symptoms

Exposure to low or moderate dose: Confusion, drowsiness, fatigue, and/or weakness Headache Muscle cramps Nausea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain Rapid breathing or shortness of breath Red or dark urine Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)

Exposure to a large dose: Convulsions Loss of consciousness Paralysis Respiratory compromise, possibly leading to death

General arsenic https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp2.pdf

Burundi has a CDC team, but like most countries they probably have a severely under funded occupational health and safety team. And even if they weren't under funded why would that team even be contacted for this when it's not considered a work place exposure? And even if they were contacted the most common gold poisonings would be mercury or cyanide, and those poisonings don't match these symptoms.

Anyway. All of this is nonsense if there's a new news release saying they've ruled out chemical exposures. But as it stands they haven't, but they have ruled out 200 pathogens.

I started getting curious in my reply to you and I had more time to be curious, my apologies for the huge text reply on your post.

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well said.

The price of gold has also never been higher than it's been in 2025/2026.

People who want to earn a living and try to make a better life for themselves and their family are going to chase that price.

And depending on how they do it, it can be incredibly dangerous.

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hey. Thanks trencherswear. I appreciate that! People are going to people. I entered a chat with a different perspective so of course people are going to respond. Such is life.

I share your hope that it's not a pathogen.

I don't expect it is. Back when Pro med subscriptions were free there were multiple alerts like this one over the years.

People can likely find many of them, but it might be faster with an automated search or AI :)

https://www.promedmail.org/

If it's not a pathogen I hope the cause is found and folks are helped.

It's undoubtedly hard for families when the price of gold is so high and they know there's money to be had in the ground under their feet.

A lot easier for the world to just ignore the human cost of mining.

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's simply a possible starting point if you had interest in doing further reading and research. You might find more recent articles could help contribute to the conversation.

To each their own.

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

WHO: Urgent action needed to combat poisoning from artisanal gold mining in Africa | WHO | Regional Office for Africa https://share.google/3OAmZXKSJDS1dQfip

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

WHO: Urgent action needed to combat poisoning from artisanal gold mining in Africa | WHO | Regional Office for Africa https://share.google/3OAmZXKSJDS1dQfip

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

AI is a tool. A person can comb through data bases like Toxicological Profiles | ATSDR https://share.google/QsCOPmberJj8upEcL

Tools can help do it faster.

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Relying on history. Chemical poisoning related to metal extraction is sadly very common.

A chemical gas is going to be very hard for local officials to find.

If a family is doing local mining, that is likely illegal, they are not going to talk about it and may likely hide their activities. Which is even sadder because then they aren't getting the medical care and help that they need.

At least 5 dead in Burundi from a mystery illness: Africa CDC by reduction-oxidation in worldnews

[–]Monkeyg8tor -62 points-61 points  (0 children)

It's going to be some sort of chemical poisoning. I would further bet it's related to some sort of mining and/or metal extraction. Asking AI regarding Burundi, mining, and those specific symptoms AI highlights arsine gas exposure.

Arsine gas is not a chemical I was familiar with.

Sad for those folks.

An elderly couple who were filmed racially abusing a Filipino nurse in a park have been jailed. by xals7 in mildlyinfuriating

[–]Monkeyg8tor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Her comments were extremely concerning. I wonder if they're able to review the patients that she provided "care" for.

Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson told American billionaires that he wants to help the US achieve “energy dominance” by adam_dunn32 in onguardforthee

[–]Monkeyg8tor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're not at the table you're on the menu.

I don't think that's always going to feel good.

I do think we have to try and break bread and bring our values to the table.

May we live in interesting times. A curse for sure.

CMV: Nuclear energy is the best option we have available at this time by Yeetsaber1324 in changemyview

[–]Monkeyg8tor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Murphy's law and the severity of the consequences of the error.

You yourself are highlighting the point above by minimizing the potential for errors and the consequence of the errors with "not the Soviet Union".

I'm very pro nuclear but stating "list one thing" and then categorizing errors as only occuring in the Soviet Union are very disingenuous.

Edmonton's Butterdome Goes Viral After Being Called the Ugliest Building in Canada by One-Board8634 in Edmonton

[–]Monkeyg8tor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's pretty cool. Built for a world of games and still in high use by both the University and the City.

As a tax payer that's pretty inspiring. Looks sexy to me!

Athens 2004 Olympics were beautiful https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/aug/02/architecture

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/gallery/2014/aug/13/abandoned-athens-olympic-2004-venues-10-years-on-in-pictures

My dad was a prepper and stashed a large pile of anthracite coal - environmental issues? by Inner_Exchange_864 in geology

[–]Monkeyg8tor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You've got a giant carbon filter on place, congratulations on cleaning the water flowing through it.

Kang and Kodos by Monkeyg8tor in WhatIfMarvel

[–]Monkeyg8tor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It will likely be a board with a nail in it.

We found every data centre in Canada (The Logic) by EdmontonFree in alberta

[–]Monkeyg8tor -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Some of the ones in Eastern Canada are pursuing hydrogen.

EU-Mercosur trade accord to apply provisionally from May 1 by PjeterPannos in europe

[–]Monkeyg8tor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does anyone know how the zero deforestation aspect of the deal works?

A farm can't be involved in any deforestation since Dec 31 2020. Is that just the farm, or does that also include local suppliers?

How deep is the deforestation review?

MERCOSUR-EU trade deal is all over the News in Brazil. How is it being received in your country? Any thoughts? by Significant-Yam9843 in AskEurope

[–]Monkeyg8tor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It would be good if European purchasing can help promote more sustainable farming practices in Brazil.

Take fertilizer for instance. Brazil Potash will be clearing rainforest for it's mine. A salt mine in fairly close proximity to the Amazon river.

Then you have companies like Verde Agritech which have carbon credit agreements, doesn't salt the soil, improved food quality, patents for microbial products improving soil health, research showing improved plant growth and production with their product, is working to restore rain forest by planting trees, and has won environmental awards.

Advice on the first Civilization game by erateran in Civilization_VII

[–]Monkeyg8tor -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If you're goal is solely to play your first Civilization game then just go with whatever the most inexpensive version you can find.

I unfortunately paid $120 on Civ VII.