Category Archives: environment

WHO | Chikungunya – United States of America

WHO risk assessmentThis is the second time that autochthonous circulation of chikungunya virus is reported in the United States: autochthonous circulation of chikungunya virus was first reported in the state of Florida in July 2014 (12 cases). The risk of large-scale outbreaks of Chikungunya virus in the United States is considered to be low. Nevertheless, given the presence of the competent vectors (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) in different areas of the United States as well as the occasional reporting of cases among incoming travellers, the possibility of the establishment of autochthonous cycles of transmission cannot be completely ruled out. Furthermore, there is a risk of extension of disease transmission to other countries where the competent vectors are present. WHO continues to monitor the epidemiological situation and conduct risk assessment based on the latest available information.

Source: WHO | Chikungunya – United States of America

Localised Community Spread Of Zika Virus Infection With More Cases Confirmed | Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed 41 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in Singapore. Of these cases, 36 were identified through active testing of potentially infected persons.Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive Cluster2.    All the cases are residents or workers in the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive area.  They are not known to have travelled to Zika-affected areas recently, and are thus likely to have been infected in Singapore. This confirms that local transmission of Zika virus infection has taken place.  At this point, the community transmission appears to be localised within the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive cluster.

Source: Localised Community Spread Of Zika Virus Infection With More Cases Confirmed | Ministry of Health

Zika, a Formidable Enemy, Attacks and Destroys Parts of Babies’ Brains – The New York Times

The images tell a heartbreaking story: Zika’s calamitous attack on the brains of babies — as seen from the inside.With a macabre catalog of brain scans and ultrasound pictures, a new study details the devastation done to 45 Brazilian babies whose mothers were infected with Zika during pregnancy. The study, published Tuesday in the journal Radiology, is the most comprehensive collection of such images so far, and it reveals a virus that can launch assaults beyond microcephaly, the condition of unusually small heads that has become the sinister signature of Zika.Most of the babies in the study were born with microcephaly, but many of them also suffered other impairments, including damage to important parts of the brain: the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain; the cerebellum, which plays a significant role in movement, balance and speech; the basal ganglia, which are involved in thinking and emotion.

Source: Zika, a Formidable Enemy, Attacks and Destroys Parts of Babies’ Brains – The New York Times

‘Next year or the year after, the Arctic will be free of ice’ | Environment | The Guardian

Why should we be concerned about an Arctic that is free of ice in summer? People tend to think of an ice-free Arctic in summer in terms of it merely being a symbol of global change. Things happen, they say. In fact, the impact will be profound and will effect the whole planet and its population. One key effect will be albedo feedback. Sea ice reflects about 50% of the solar radiation it receives back into space. By contrast, water reflects less than 10%. So if you replace ice with water, which is darker, much more solar heat will be absorbed by the ocean and the planet will heat up even more rapidly than it is doing at present.Sea ice also acts as an air-conditioning system. Winds coming over the sea to land masses such as Siberia and Greenland will no longer be cooled as they pass over ice and these places will be heated even further. These effects could add 50% to the impact of global warming that is produced by rising carbon emissions.

Source: ‘Next year or the year after, the Arctic will be free of ice’ | Environment | The Guardian

Deadly Yellow Fever Spreading, Amid Global Vaccine Shortages | Inter Press Service

As deadly yellow fever spreads to seven provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), new measures have been introduced to ensure that as many people as possible are immunised, despite global shortages of the yellow fever vaccine. Global emergency stocks of just 6 million yellow fever vaccines have been strained by the current outbreak, which began in Angola and has now spread to neighbouring DRC. To reach as many people as possible with the limited supply

Source: Deadly Yellow Fever Spreading, Amid Global Vaccine Shortages | Inter Press Service

Puerto Rico reports first death from Zika-related paralysis | World news | The Guardian

Puerto Rico has reported its first death from a paralysis condition that developed from a Zika infection as the US territory fights an epidemic of the mosquito-borne virus.The victim was a man between 35 and 45 years old from the San Juan metro area who died from Guillain-Barré, according to state epidemiologist Brenda Rivera. The condition can cause temporary paralysis and, in rare instances, death.Rivera noted that it was unusual for the victim to be so young.“What does this tell us? That all of us are susceptible,” Rivera said as she urged Puerto Ricans to protect themselves from the virus.The man, who died last month, was obese but did not have any other health conditions, she said. No further details about the victim were provided.The US territory has a total of 13,186 confirmed Zika cases, with a total of 102 hospitalizations and 34 cases of Guillain-Barré. The number of Zika cases is believed to be much higher because eight of 10 people have no symptoms and many do not go to the doctor. Those infected include 1,106 pregnant women, which is a concern because Zika has been linked to severe birth defects.“We are not going to see the effects of Zika today,” Rivera said. “We are going to see them in the next couple of months, in the next several years.”

Source: Puerto Rico reports first death from Zika-related paralysis | World news | The Guardian

Avian Flu Diary: Additional H3N2 (in Swine) Reported At Michigan Fairs – deja vu again

20 Pigs Had Swine Flu At Cass County Fair August 15, 2016 Local Stories      There are no reported human illnesses, but the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department says 20 pigs at the Cass County Fair last week were infected with the H3N2 strain of the swine flu. The health department is working with Cass County Michigan State University Extension 4H, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to monitor the situation. Human infection with swine flu is most likely to happen when people are in close proximity to the infected animals, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. The H3N2 strain is considered relatively mild for people.The Van Buren/Cass County Health Department has issued H3N2v Influenza Guidance for Healthcare Providers, along with a statement on the Cass county fair.

Source: Avian Flu Diary: Additional H3N2 (in Swine) Reported At Michigan Fairs

Background on the Dakota Access Pipeline — LRInspire

The Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation is home to Dakota and Lakota people of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Since time immemorial, they have lived and governed a vast territory throughout North and South Dakota, and parts of Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. Currently, the Tribe is located in central North and South Dakota.

via Background on the Dakota Access Pipeline — LRInspire

Florida governor criticizes Washington for lagging in Zika fight | Reuters – This after his people refused to work with CDC two weeks ago – Scott is just CYA for being a dummy!

Scott said he asked U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Thomas Frieden earlier this week for 10,000 additional Zika preparedness kits.

Source: Florida governor criticizes Washington for lagging in Zika fight | Reuters

Under-reporting of catches threatens Caribbean marine life — Repeating Islands

When factoring in tourist and resident consumption of locally sourced seafood, the number of fish removed from waters is almost three times as high as previously thought, Stephen Fellers reports for UPI. In order to prevent the destruction of fisheries, regulations limit the amount of fish that can be caught in Caribbean islands, but researchers […]

via Under-reporting of catches threatens Caribbean marine life — Repeating Islands