Category Archives: planetkillers

The Icarus Syndrome Strikes Again! Avian Flu Diary: Cell Host & Microbe: Wolbachia Blocks Zika Virus In Brazilian Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes

  1. Infecting many mosquitoes with Wolbachia will result in Wolbachia resistant mosquitoes.
  2. Pretending that mosquitoes are an enemy or pest that can/should be destroyed ignores why mosquito populations explode (human interventions) and what the role of the mosquito is in nature.
  3. Someone will profit greatly and will not pay for any unintended consequences.

“The idea has been to release Aedes mosquitoes with Wolbachia in the field over a period of a few months, so they mate with Aedes mosquitoes without Wolbachia living in the place and, over time, replace the mosquito population,” says senior author Luciano Moreira of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. He is also actively involved in the Eliminate Dengue Program, a non-profit that is testing the approach in 40 locations around the world.

Source: Avian Flu Diary: Cell Host & Microbe: Wolbachia Blocks Zika Virus In Brazilian Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes

Zika virus in the United States | Zika virus | CDC

As of April 27, 2016 (5 am EST) Zika virus disease and Zika virus congenital infection are nationally notifiable conditions. This update from the CDC Arboviral Disease Branch includes provisional data reported to ArboNET for January 1, 2015 – April 27, 2016. US States Travel-associated Zika virus disease cases reported: 426 Locally acquired vector-borne cases reported: 0 Total: 426 Pregnant: 36 Sexually transmitted: 8 Guillain-Barré syndrome: 1 US Territories Travel-associated cases reported: 3 Locally acquired cases reported: 596 Total: 599 Pregnant: 56 Guillain-Barré syndrome: 5

Source: Zika virus in the United States | Zika virus | CDC

Mosquito Repellent Guidelines | Mosquito Research and Management

In 2011, I produced a document designed to provide guidelines on the use of mosquito repellents. I put these guidelines together because I’d noticed that the mosquito repellent recommendations provided by local health authorities didn’t reflect the wide range of products available or questions I was asked by the community. You can download this document for free here:

Source: Mosquito Repellent Guidelines | Mosquito Research and Management

CDC analysis concludes Zika causes microcephaly | CIDRAP

Despite urgent pleas from top federal health officials for Congress to approve Obama’s $1.9 billion emergency request to battle Zika virus earlier this week, House Republicans said they’ll probably grant part of it, but perhaps not until September, the Associated Press reported today. Federal health officials have said the money is needed to help states boost mosquito surveillance and control, to assist efforts in Puerto Rico and other US territories where the disease is already spreading, and to follow through on countermeasure development.

Source: CDC analysis concludes Zika causes microcephaly | CIDRAP

Can Great Apes Be Vaccinated Against Ebola and Other Diseases? | Smart News | Smithsonian – AKA – Human intervention and hubris destroys their environment and sets stage for vulnerability – so more will…?

“Our research has made it clear that viruses such as Ebola can affect gorillas and chimps, as can human respiratory viruses,” Walsh tells McKie. “Within five years, I would want all gorillas and chimpanzees that come anywhere near humans to be vaccinated against Ebola or respiratory diseases. That is the only way we can go.”

Source: Can Great Apes Be Vaccinated Against Ebola and Other Diseases? | Smart News | Smithsonian

Baldwin Hills 1963 – the first fracking failure

The role of central graben subsidence, accelerated by oil extraction, supplemented by reinjection of waste brine into the ground, on fault movement beneath the reservoir is indicated in the animated graphic following. Injection pressures exceeded hydrofracture pressures and the recorded timing of the fault offset (which was dutifully recorded by the reservoir owner) indicate the injection as being the decisive factor.

Source: Baldwin Hills

More Evidence that Monarch Butterflies Should be Listed as Endangered | Civil Eats

Now, new research by a group of scientists from around the nation reveals that monarchs may be even more vulnerable to extinction than previously understood. And this in turn means that listing the monarch as endangered under the Endangered Species Act is even more urgent than we thought. These revelations come despite the fact that there was an initial increase in this year’s overwintering monarchs in Mexico. While some news sources reported that the monarchs were “making a comeback” or “on the rebound,” such increases have commonly occurred in previous years. And while the latest news stories linked the reported increases to more milkweed planting, most of these often substantial population fluctuations are more likely caused by factors such as favorable or unfavorable weather. And, as if on cue, a major winter storm has recently reduced the overwintering population. So the optimism about this year’s population increase seems to have been premature. And, in much the same way that a particularly cold winter in one part of the world does not have anything to do with fact that the surface of the planet is getting warmer due to climate change, this year’s increase in monarchs provides no evidence that the long-term trend toward their decline has been reversed. And if the welcome, but limited, planting of milkweed along roadsides, and in parks and gardens has helped, any effect is likely to have been very small. We know that monarch butterfly populations fluctuate greatly, but this new research may also help us better understanding their historic fluctuations by enabling the scientists to place actual numbers on them. By using analytic methods not previously used, these scientists estimate that if current trends are not reversed, there is between an 11 and 57 percent risk of extinction of the Midwest migrating population (the main population by far) within the next 20 years.

Source: More Evidence that Monarch Butterflies Should be Listed as Endangered | Civil Eats

Avian Flu Diary: WHO SitRep : Zika, Microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome – March 31st

Zika virus, Microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome Read the full situation report Summary From 1 January 2007 to 30 March 2016, Zika virus transmission was documented in a total of 61 countries and territories. Four of these (Cook Islands, French Polynesia, ISLA DE PASCUA – Chile, and New Caledonia) reported a Zika virus outbreak that is now over. Six countries have now reported locally acquired infection in the absence of any known mosquito vectors, probably through sexual transmission (Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand and the United States of America). In the Region of the Americas, the geographical distribution of Zika virus has steadily widened since the presence of the virus was confirmed in 2015. Mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission has been reported in 33 countries and territories of this region. In the Western Pacific Region, mosquito-borne Zika virus cases have been reported in 16 countries and areas. Microcephaly and other fetal malformations have been reported in Brazil (944 cases), Cabo Verde (two cases), Colombia (32 cases), French Polynesia (eight cases), Martinique (one case) and Panama (one case). Two additional cases, linked to a stay in Brazil, were detected in the United States of America and Slovenia. In the context of Zika virus circulation, 13 countries or territories have reported an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and/or laboratory confirmation of a Zika virus infection among GBS cases. Based on observational, cohort and case-control studies there is strong scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of GBS, microcephaly and other neurological disorders. The global prevention and control strategy launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Strategic Response Framework encompasses surveillance, response activities and research. This situation report is organized under those headings.

Source: Avian Flu Diary: WHO SitRep : Zika, Microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome – March 31st

New Finnish Forestry Act could mean the end of Sami reindeer herding – Intercontinental Cry

Sámi Culture Under Threat There is an urgent need to ensure that Metsähallitus and others are prevented from undermining present or future opportunities for the Sámi to practice and foster their culture. The new Act needs to include clauses that provide a protective zone and mechanisms for the Sámi to safeguard their cultural practices. These are missing from the existing legal proposal leaving both Indigenous Sámi leaders and Arctic scientists concerned about the proposed new reforms. “Sámi reindeer herding and the Sámi way of life are in danger of disappearing if the new Forestry Act legislation passes in the Finnish Parliament. In this case we will have few opportunities to influence the decision making over our lands. Rather, our territories will be controlled by market economy values,” says Jouni Lukkari, President of the Finnish Section of the Sámi Council.

Source: New Finnish Forestry Act could mean the end of Sami reindeer herding – Intercontinental Cry

To Save The Economy, We Have To Break Its One Sacred Rule | {He is right/wrong – “progress” or more, bigger, and more is the trap, is it not?}

The rule of GDP growth may seem sacred, but it is not. As quickly as we created it, we can pull it apart. And pull it apart we must—it’s time for the giant stone heads to roll. There are already movements in this direction. A number of states and countries have adopted much more sensible alternatives, like the Genuine Progress Indicator, which seek to promote human and environmental well-being. There are many others we might consider, and it doesn’t much matter which we choose—indeed, each city or country could pick a different measure, or no measure at all. The important thing is that we shake off the tyranny of GDP growth and open up a creative, democratic conversation about what kind of world we want to live in.

Source: To Save The Economy, We Have To Break Its One Sacred Rule | Co.Exist | ideas + impact