Category Archives: environment

Avian influenza case confirmed in Guangdong, China | Vaccine News Daily

A 31-year-old woman from Dongguan in the Guangdong Province of China was diagnosed with avian influenza A (H7N9), Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) announced on Friday.

The patient is currently in critical condition at a Guangzhou hospital.

via Avian influenza case confirmed in Guangdong, China | Vaccine News Daily.

Bird flu in Kerala is of H5N1 strain

Thiruvananthapuram: The strain of avian influenza that caused deaths of thousands of duck in the three districts of Kerala has been identified as H5N1, which could also spread to human beings though the infection caused by it can be cured, officials said on Thursday.

The state government stepped up precautionary and containment measures in the affected areas to check the spread of the virus.

via Bird flu in Kerala is of H5N1 strain.

Filipino Farmers Protest Government Research on Genetically Modified Rice | Inter Press Service

Considered by Filipinos as the eighth wonder of the world, the 2,000-year-old Ifugao Rice Terraces represent the country’s rich rice heritage, which some say will be at stake once the golden rice is approved.

The protesting farmers also delivered to the BPI, which is responsible for the development of plant industries and crop production and protection, an ‘extraordinary opposition’ petition against any extension, renewal or issuance of a new bio-safety permit for further field testing, feeding trials or commercialisation of golden rice.

via Filipino Farmers Protest Government Research on Genetically Modified Rice | Inter Press Service.

Avian flu: urgent request for scientific advice – EIN News

SOSO – Same Old-Same-Old – want to blame wild birds for spread of avian influenza and not increased industrialized global poultry industry getting billions of birds ready for holiday markets in Europe and then in Jan/Feb for Chinese New year and Tet celebrations. When billions of birds are brought together, nature senses over populations and birds are stressed due to overcrowding thus viruses are re-created to balance the system and billions of birds are more vulnerable to disease. This has always been the way influenza strikes first birds, then pigs, horses and humans. But with a globalized industrial market, the disease factory is now in process year round and the chase for more profits increases chances of more deadly viruses. Duh? Wild birds do catch the influenza from produced birds which are housed in the open or from their waste that is used as fertilizer or added to fish farms to aid growing of fish food. Someday, maybe before we are all dead from a flu we cannot respond to quickly enough, some greedy poultry farmer will suggest killing all wild birds – which will do nothing but advance our own demise.

 

EFSA is assessing the current situation on the H5N8 avian influenza A virus in Europe and the world, following an urgent request from the European Commission. Experts are focussing on the possible entry routes of the virus into Europe- in particular on the role of wild birds.

The highly contagious avian influenza virus has recently been detected in three European countries: in a turkey holding in Germany; three chicken holdings in the Netherlands and in a duck breeding holding in the United Kingdom.

The flu viruses found in the EU are similar to one that affected poultry flocks in South Korea earlier this year. To date, there are no recorded cases of humans contracting the H5N8 virus.

EFSA’s role is to provide EU risk managers with independent scientific advice and assistance on animal health and welfare related to avian influenza and any possible food safety issues.

In previous risk assessments EFSA provided information on the risks of influenza viruses entering and spreading amongst poultry in Europe and made recommendations to prevent existing risks. EFSA experts also concluded that there is no scientific evidence that avian influenza can be transmitted to humans through consumption of food.

The scientific report will be delivered in early December 2014.

via Avian flu: urgent request for scientific advice – EIN News.

Bubonic plague festers in Madagascar′s slums | Africa | DW.DE | 25.11.2014

Ankasina is a poor and overcrowded slum on the northern edge of Madagascar’s capital city Antananarivo. Waste water flows through open gutters; dirt and garbage collects in heaps on the streets. The area is infested with rats, local residents say. Many blame the state for neglecting the neighborhood.

And now, the rats have brought in an even bigger problem: the plague. For the first time in ten years, the disease has started to spread in Madagascar’s capital. A young woman from Ankasina died from the bubonic plague; she most likely contracted it after being bitten by a flea, which had contracted the bacteria from the rodents. She is one of 47 people who have died in the current outbreak on the island.

Warm climate, poor hygiene

Madagascar’s Prime Minister Kolo Roger admits that the plague has now also entered the capital city. He speaks of an epidemic on the island. “For each case, all the necessary measures have been taken to stop the spreading,” he announced. “All cases, whether far away or in the capital of Antananarivo are being dealt with seriously.”

via Bubonic plague festers in Madagascar′s slums | Africa | DW.DE | 25.11.2014.

The Yallahs River, one of the main water sources for Jamaica’s Mona Reservoir, has been dry for months. Credit: Desmond Brown/IPS | Flickr – Photo Sharing!

The Yallahs River, one of the main water sources for Jamaica’s Mona Reservoir, has been dry for months. Credit: Desmond Brown/IPS

via The Yallahs River, one of the main water sources for Jamaica’s Mona Reservoir, has been dry for months. Credit: Desmond Brown/IPS | Flickr – Photo Sharing!.

Rosebud Sioux Tribe: House Vote in Favor of the Keystone XL Pipeline an Act of War

In response to Friday’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to authorize the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, the Rosebud Sioux Tribal president announced that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe (Sicangu Lakota Oyate) recognizes the authorization of the this pipeline as an

“act of war.”

The Tribe has done its part to remain peaceful in its dealing with the United States in this matter, in spite of the fact that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe has yet to be properly consulted on the project, which would cross through tribal land, and the concerns brought to the Department of Interior and to the Department of State have yet to be addressed.

“THE HOUSE HAS NOW SIGNED OUR DEATH WARRANTS AND THE DEATH WARRANTS OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. THE ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE WILL NOT ALLOW THIS PIPELINE THROUGH OUR LANDS,” SAID PRESIDENT CYRIL SCOTT OF THE ROSEBUD SIOUX TRIBE.

“We are outraged at the lack of intergovernmental cooperation. We are a sovereign nation and we are not being treated as such. We will close our reservation borders to Keystone XL. Authorizing Keystone XL is an act of war against our people.”

via Rosebud Sioux Tribe: House Vote in Favor of the Keystone XL Pipeline an Act of War.

H9N2 influenza virus in China: a cause of concern – duh? Infectious Diseases 2014 | Infectious diseases | Poultrymed

Industry just does not get it! Influenza viruses are not accidents, something un-natural to be exterminated somehow. These viruses and diseases like them is the natural system’s means of maintaining a balance in ecosystems. Human efforts to industrialize the raising of many different types of poultry for

profit continuously triggers “disease” responses from the natural system. Humans cannot alter this but we can learn to “farm” differently, in a manner that does not trigger “disease” responses. Trying to outsmart or bypass nature is a fools’ game that sometimes buys a bit of time for massive profit which is followed by unexpected results and humans pay with death from diseases that pass on to humans or massive die-offs that cause starvation.

 

H9N2 influenza virus has become endemic in different types of terrestrial poultry in multiple countries on the Eurasian continent, resulting in great economic losses due to reduced egg production or high mortality associated with co-infection with other pathogens. In China, which is regarded as an epicenter of avian influenza viruses, the H9N2 virus has been detected in multiple avian species. The first outbreak of the H9N2 influenza virus in China occurred in Guangdong province of Southern China during November 1992 to May 1994. These H9N2 viruses killed broilers with mortality of 10%-40%, and reduced the laying rates by 14%-75%. The H9N2 influenza virus is now the most revalent subtype of influenza viruses in chickens in China. H9N2 infections occur throughout the whole year, with lower morbidity in the summer. To prevent H9N2 infection in chickens, China implemented long-term vaccination programs in chicken farms as early as 1998. At least over twenty different commercial vaccines are used in China, with the vaccines are frequently updated. However, H9N2 avian influenza viruses continues to persist in chicken populations, even in vaccinated flocks.

via H9N2 influenza virus in China: a cause of concern | Infectious Diseases 2014 | Infectious diseases | Poultrymed.

Study finds possible explanation for why yellow fever mosquitoes favor human blood | Vaccine News Daily

Anti-sulcatone cover-ups will be added to commercial mosquito repellants, if it looks like it would be a money maker!?!

Results of a new study recently reported in the journal Nature found that the yellow fever mosquito contains an odor-detecting gene in its antennae that is highly attuned to

Results of a new study recently reported in the journal Nature found that the yellow fever mosquito contains an odor-detecting gene in its antennae that is highly attuned to sulcatone, which is a common compound prevalent in human odor.

The study’s researchers reported that the AaegOr4 gene is more prevalent and sensitive in the human-preferring “domestic” form of the yellow fever mosquito than the “forest” form, its ancestor that typically goes after the blood of non-humans.

“The more we know about the genes and compounds that help mosquitoes target us, the better chance we have of manipulating their response to our odor,” Carolyn “Lindy” McBride, an assistant professor in Princeton University’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, said.

McBride performed the study when she was a postdoctoral researcher at Rockefeller University.

Uncovering the genetic basis of changes in behavior can help scientists and researchers understand the neural pathways that carry out that behavior, in addition to helping to develop ways to stem the yellow fever mosquito’s lust for human blood.

Yellow fever kills tens of thousands of people worldwide, most notably in Africa.

“At least one of the things that happened is a retuning of the ways odors are detected by the antennae,” McBride said. “We don’t yet know whether there are also differences in how odor information is interpreted by the brain.”

via Study finds possible explanation for why yellow fever mosquitoes favor human blood | Vaccine News Daily.

Chikungunya and Dengue Fever: A Public Health Responsibility | Petchary’s Blog

When it first arrived, it was made light of. “You’ll have pains for about three days, maybe a rash, then you’ll get better and will be immune to further attacks.” Not so for many, including myself. Those of us over 45 may take 1 to 2 or more months to get over the acute phase. After that there is the possibility of the subacute phase with arthritis and the possibility of disorders of the blood vessels. Then there is the chronic phase, occurring beyond 3 months and persisting for 2 -3 years. The symptoms include prolonged and severe arthritis, fatigue, body weakness, and depression (no wonder, with the prospect of these symptoms for 3 years!) The chronic phase occurs in 13% of people who contract the disease. If 2 million people in Jamaica contract it, that means that about 260,000 will be affected for up to 3 years. More tragically, many people have died. Yes, they had other conditions such as sickle cell, hypertension and diabetes, or were undergoing cancer treatment, but without chickV they would still be alive.

I think it is gross negligence on the part of WHO, PAHO and the Jamaican Ministry of Health, who were aware of this disease 2 years ago, to have done nothing. The least they could have done was to mount a public education campaign in the media, schools, churches and business places. The usual cry is that there is no money, but this outbreak has cost far more than a public education campaign would have. A public education campaign, at minimum could give the following information, which could be presented in simpler or more sophisticated ways depending on the audience.

via Chikungunya and Dengue Fever: A Public Health Responsibility | Petchary’s Blog.