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Latest Events Being Reported Courtesy of RSOE EDIS - Emergency and Disaster Information Updated:  Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 15:49:20 UTC Event: HAZMAT Area: Africa Country: Rwanda State/County: Eastern Province City: Rwamagana Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: 26 persons Description: At least 26 people are hospitalised at Rwamagana Hospital after drinking a suspected poisoned banana juice locally known as 'Umutobe.' The victims, including seven men, three children and 16 women, were admitted on Monday. Medics said five are in critical condition. The victims, all residents of Bibare Village in Kigabiro Sector, Rwamagana District, were discovered ill, on Monday morning, by their neighbours. Emmanuel Nyirimanzi, a village local leader in charge of security told The New Times yesterday that they learnt with shock that three families were suffering with severe stomach pains. He added that the victims were members of an extended family and immediate neighbours. "We woke up in the morning, and all seemed okay, but we were surprised to be informed that some people were about to die. I later came to know that they drunk banana juice that could have been laced with poison," he said. Blandine Nyirabizi, 20, one of those admitted said they suspect one of their neighbours to be behind the suspected poisoning. "You see the container in which they prepared the juice was left outside the house for a night, to dry after washing. Someone must have taken advantage of that to contaminate it," she said. Dr. Herman Kalyama, who is attending to the patients, said that all of them have similar conditions; diarrhoea and vomiting. However, he said, majority of them were responding well to treatment. The results of their tests had not been released to confirm poisoning, he said. "We have carried blood samples for testing but in the meantime, we can't discharge any of them," he said. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Tropical Storm - India ocean - Maldives Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 15:21:46 UTC Event: Tropical Storm Area: India ocean Country: Maldives State/County: Capital City City: Male Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: A tropical storm hit the capital city of Male’ yesterday causing severe damage, while other areas in the country’s middle region were also impacted by wind speeds of up to 62 miles per hour. Deputy Director General for Meteorological Department (MET), Ali Shareef, said that yesterday the storm arrived at 2:50pm with strong westerly winds of up to 62 miles per hour. “The wind speed deteriorated after 4:30pm to an average of 30 miles per hour,’’ said Shareef. “Strong winds occur during the southwest monsoon every year. Last year wind speeds were recorded up to 50 miles per hour.’’ He said that weather would be unsteady at this time of year. “The wind speed may rise that high within the next two days,’’ he added. 10 different incidents were reported to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) following the storm, which issued a warning not to travel by sea and to take safety measures if forced to do so. The MNDF reported that roof of a shop was blown off by the strong wind and metal pipes on a 10th story building were also thrown to the street. A tree fell on top of a house, and many other trees were uprooted, the MNDF reported. The MNDF also said that minor injuries were caused to people and buildings during the incident. Meanwhile, the MNDF Coast Guard reported that 15 incidents at sea were reported. Yesterday when the storm arrived, a fishing boat with a crew of 11 men sank and the crew was rescued from the sea by the coast guard late afternoon. In another incident, a cargo ship drifted onto a reef near Hulhule’. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Transportation Accident - Africa - Democratic Republic of the Congo Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 12:30:42 UTC Event: Transportation Accident Area: Africa Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo State/County: Province of Bandundu City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 138 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: About 138 people have been killed in a boat accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo, police said. They said the accident took place in the country's western Bandundu province on Wednesday. Further details were not immediately available. Last year, at least 73 people were killed after a boat sank on Lake Mai Ndombe in Bandundu province. Despite its vast mineral wealth, roads are almost non-existent outside the country's main towns. Travel is often limited to aircraft and the boats that ply its huge network of rivers. Accidents are frequent due to overloading, lack of maintenance, and lax enforcement of safety standards. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Climate Change - Indonesian archipelago - Papua New Guinea Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 12:16:08 UTC Event: Climate Change Area: Indonesian archipelago Country: Papua New Guinea State/County: Bougainville City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Residents of the Carteret Islands off Papua New Guinea have been pleading for help from the international community since their homes began sinking into the ocean. The Carteret Islands, which have been described as the world's first climate change islands, are slowly disappearing under the Pacific Ocean. Because rising water has been flooding crops and spoiling water supplies, islanders will soon be turned into refugees, with some already making for nearby Bougainville. The few who have left are now pleading for help to save their relatives from sinking along with their island homes. So far only two families out of the total population of 2,300 have moved to Bougainville. The isolated islands are now suffering from food shortages and violence, with people fighting over the few resources available. The Carteret Islanders have been in the news over the past few years because of the fact that they will be largely uninhabited by 2015 because of imminent flooding. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Flash Flood - Asia - Pakistan Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 12:03:58 UTC Event: Flash Flood Area: Asia Country: Pakistan State/County: Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 180 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Flash floods and heavy rains across northwest Pakistan have left dozens of people dead after the worst storms in 35 years. Communication systems collapsed. As many as 108 people were killed as homes and bridges collapsed, live electric wires fell into the water and families were swept away in the floods in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, without citing anyone for the death toll. “The infrastructure of this province was already destroyed by terrorism,” Mian Iftikhar Hussain, provincial information minister, said in a televised news conference from Peshawar. “Whatever was left, was finished off by these floods. There are chances of further flooding and more damage.” He appealed for tents, boat and food for those left homeless and asked people to evacuate affected towns and cities. Pakistani television channels showed images of submerged huts, collapsed bridges and people grabbing onto wreckage on flooded roads to keep from being swept away by the water. “All communications are cut off and we’re unable to contact our rescue service in the province,” Anwar Kazmi, a spokesman for the Edhi Rescue Service said by telephone in Karachi. “The last time we spoke with them, their movement was severely restricted because of flood water.” In the last 48 hours, several cities including Peshawar, Kohat, Dir, Mianwali and Saidu Sharif “received some of the heaviest rainfall,” Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry, director general of the country’s weather office, said in a text message to reporters. “The rains are expected to continue for the next 24 hours.” Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Forest Fire - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 10:30:25 UTC Event: Forest Fire Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of California City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Some 40 homes have been destroyed and 2,000 residents were ordered to evacuate in the worst wildfires of the year so far, officials said Wednesday. The largest fire burned its way through 4,400 acres near the hamlet of Tehachapi some 180 kilometres north of Los Angeles. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the surrounding Kern County. The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon in the remote mountainous territory and 250 firefighters were battling the blaze Wednesday morning. "The wind has been the real factor out here," Kern County Fire Department spokesman Anthony Romero told the Bakersfield Californian. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Transportation Accident - Asia - Turkey Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 07:26:31 UTC Event: Transportation Accident Area: Asia Country: Turkey State/County: Mediterranean Sea City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: 3 persons Description: A Spanish tourist is missing at sea after a Turkish tour boat caught fire and sank in the Mediterranean. Turkish officials say 18 tourists and five crew jumped into the water after flames engulfed the Kayhan-9 on its way from the Turkish resort of Marmaris to Fethiye on Wednesday night. Fethiye governor Mehmet Ali Karatekeli says a Spanish citizen and two Portuguese were slightly injured. Rescue boats evacuated the survivors while the Turkish coast guard was searching Thursday for the missing Spaniard. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Transportation Accident - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 07:22:16 UTC Event: Transportation Accident Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Alaska City: Anchorage Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: A military cargo plane on a training run crashed Wednesday at an Air Force base near downtown Anchorage, but there was no immediate word on casualties, the Air Force said. Witnesses reported seeing a ball of fire rising hundreds of feet high. Four people were onboard the C-17, Air Force Capt. Uriah Orland said. Asked if there were deaths, he did not answer. After the 6:14 p.m. crash at Elmendorf Air Force Base, access routes to the site, which was not on a runway, were closed. The plane was from the 3rd Wing, based at Elmendorf, and Orland said it was on a local training run. He added more information would be released later Wednesday. Anchorage Fire Dept. Captain Bryan Grella said his crew was just getting done with dinner at about 6:30 p.m. at the downtown fire station when something caught his eye. "It was a big, gray plume of smoke, and I saw a fireball go up in it," he said. The fireball extended about 750 feet in the air. He estimated the plume to be about two miles from downtown. A board of officers will investigate the crash. It's the third airplane incident in Anchorage this summer. In June, one child was killed and four others burned when a small plane crashed after taking off from the city's small-airplane airport in downtown Anchorage. Days later, a small plane landed on the busy Glenn Highway, the only highway leading north out of Anchorage. There were no injuries in the latter mishap. Gov. Sean Parnell and Sen. Mark Begich issued statements late Wednesday expressing sadness over the crash and sending well-wishes to members of the military. "Alaskans are very connected to the military, and our thoughts and prayers are with Alaska's Air Force family," Parnell said. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 02:59:00 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Montana City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 1 persons Number of Injured: 2 persons Description: At least one bear rampaged through a campground near Yellowstone National Park before dawn Wednesday, killing one person and injuring two others before campers sought shelter in their cars, wildlife officials said. Tents were smashed in the 4 a.m. attack that left a male dead at the Soda Butte campground. A female suffered severe lacerations from bites on her arms, while another male was bitten on his calf and taken to a hospital in Cody, Wyo. Wildlife officials did not release the identities or ages of the victims. A response team was being sent to piece together what happened. "We don't know if it was one bear, two bears, a black bear or grizzly bear," Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Ron Aasheim said. "Obviously, the bear's gone now. Will it come back tonight? That's the question." Authorities cleared the campground after the attack was reported at 6 a.m., telling campers to go to their cars. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the campground at the time of the attack. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 02:57:03 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of New York City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Health officials in Westchester County, N.Y., are alerting the public about a case of measles that may have exposed high school students and some hotel visitors in Tarrytown. Westchester County Department of Health received word on July 27 of a confirmed case of measles and is now working with states health officials and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the case. Officials said that the person with measles may have exposed about 200 high school students at the EF International Language School in Tarrytown on July 23. In addition, visitors to the Westchester Marriott Tarrytown as well as the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse or Eva's Hair Salon, which are located inside the hotel, between 5 p.m. on July 23 and noon on July 24 may have been exposed, health officials reported. The person with measles stayed at the Marriott, but did not actually go inside the steakhouse or the salon. "However, there is the potential chance that airborne transmission of the measles virus could have occurred into the restaurant or hair salon due to shared ventilation systems with the hotel," Caren Halbfinger of the Westchester County Health Department said in a statement. The Health Department said that the risk of contagion is low because most people are likely to be immune to measles. However, officials are recommending that anyone who may have been exposed should consult his or her doctor to review vaccinations and immunity against measles and be on the alert for symptoms of measles. Symptoms include a blotchy rash, fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, feeling run down and achy, and tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth, according to the CDC. Those symptoms may appear as early as July 30, or as late as August 14, 2010, Westchester officials said. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic - Middle-America - El Salvador Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 02:44:46 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: Middle-America Country: El Salvador State/County: UnKnown City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Health authorities in El Salvador issued a flu epidemic alert, with an average of 14 000 cases a day, exceeding those of dengue fever. Health Minister Maria Isabel Rodriguez told local media that 11 of the 14 departments of the country are the worst affected by respiratory disease. According to Rodriguez, consultations in health units have increased with patients complaining of chest pain, runny nose, fever, cough and other symptoms of influenza. Even before last week, about 10 000 cases of influenza [i.e. respiratory illness] were reported daily, and in the week just ended, the figure amounted to 14 171 cases a day. So far this year [2010], the Ministry of Health estimates the total number of influenza cases to be 1 329 350 [out of a population of 7 million (2007)]. The rising incidence of respiratory diseases is the usual pattern in this country, with an increasing trend from July to September, Rodriguez explained. "We are conducting an analysis to determine the factors that influence the increase in each department. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 07/29/2010 02:39:44 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Michigan City: Harrison Township Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Officials at Selfridge Air National Guard Base are scrambling to determine the cause of a bacterial outbreak that sickened at least 31 people and led to 2 contracting Legionnaires' disease. On Monday [26 Jul 2010], doctors diagnosed 2 people with Legionnaires' [disease], an acute respiratory infection that kills 5-30 percent of patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 2 were a member of the Michigan Air National Guard and a civilian for Warren-based TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, one of the U.S. Army's largest weapons researchers and developers. During the 12-24 Jul 2010 respiratory outbreak, 6 people were hospitalized and later released, said Gen. Kurt Stein, commanding manager of TACOM Life Cycle. Doctors are monitoring those stricken with the upper respiratory illness to see whether they contract Legionnaires' [disease], which can be treated with antibiotics. Two buildings were closed for sanitizing. Results of air and water tests are expected back within 10 days. Legionnaires' [disease] cannot be spread from person to person and is mainly passed by inhaling contaminated airborne water droplets. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Explosion - - (Non-Localized) Alert Details: Date: 07/28/2010 09:29:20 UTC Event: Explosion Area: Country: (Non-Localized) State/County: Strait of Hormuz City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: An oil tanker owned and operated by Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd was damaged in an explosion suspected to have been caused by an attack near the strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. A crew member suffered minor injuries and the ship was heading to port to assess the damage, the company said. The impact to the spot Asian crude market was seen as minimal. The ship, the "M. STAR", was loaded with 270,204 tonnes when the incident occurred in waters off Oman, Mitsui O.S.K. said. It said the ship had been bound for Chiba port near Tokyo. The explosion occurred at around 00:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2030 GMT Tuesday), the transport ministry in Tokyo said. The ministry said there had been no reports of piracy in the area. There was no leakage of oil from the tanker, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with 16 Filipino and 15 Indian crew members on board. It was sailing under its own power towards Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates to check the damage, a spokeswoman for Japan's second-biggest shipper said. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Transportation Accident - Asia - Pakistan Alert Details: Date: 07/28/2010 05:46:07 UTC Event: Transportation Accident Area: Asia Country: Pakistan State/County: Capital City City: Islamabad Number of Deaths: 152 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Pakistani media reports a passenger plane, flying from Turkey to Pakistan, has crashed in Islamabad. At least 152 on board. Other information not available yet. A plane has crashed into hills behind the Pakistani capital Islamabad, where smoke was seen rising through heavy clouds, police and rescue service officials say. Police said it might be a a passenger plane, but it was unclear how many people were on board. Police official Gulab Khan said the crash happened in the Margalla Hills on Wednesday morning. Rescue workers were heading to the scene. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Enviroment Pollution - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 07/28/2010 02:54:04 UTC Event: Enviroment Pollution Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Michigan City: Battle Creek Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Kalamazoo County officials declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon as more than 800,000 gallons of oil released into a creek began making its way downstream in the Kalamazoo River. “I just came from Fort Custer and you can smell it now,” Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Pali Matyas said. “... It’s all rolling downhill and there are a lot of complications.” Matyas said police, local fire departments and local hazardous-materials companies are working to set up booms to trap the crude oil but workers are not able to use their trucks to remove oil from the water because high water levels have made the areas inaccessible to the vehicles. “We’re racing against time here too because the weather is supposed to get pretty bad tomorrow,” Matyas said. County officials said they began an emergency response at about 6 p.m. Monday after news spread that a 30-inch oil pipeline in Marshall sprung a leak and released oil into the Talmadge Creek, which feeds into the Kalamazoo River. Houston-based Enbridge Energy Partners said the pipeline has been shut down but that did not happen before more than 800,000 gallons flowed into the creek. Kalamazoo County officials said Tuesday that local health officials are monitoring the oil spill and advised residents to avoid all contact with water from the Kalamazoo River “until further notice,” according to a news release issued just after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. “All surface water activities, including swimming, wading, fishing and boating/canoeing/kayaking, should cease,” officials said in the news release. “Additionally, due to the fumes associated with a crude oil spill, people are warned to avoid (spending) time in the immediate area around the river. This order will remain in effect until further investigation indicates that risk has been minimized.” Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Forest Fire - North-America - Canada Alert Details: Date: 07/26/2010 07:11:52 UTC Event: Forest Fire Area: North-America Country: Canada State/County: Province of British Columbia City: Near Lillooet Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: A 600-hectare wildfire in the Yalakom Valley in the Lillooet area has caused officials to issue an evacuation order for the region’s residents. The Jade wildfire, which is in a steep valley, was discovered last Wednesday and is 15 per cent contained, according to a B.C. Wildfire press release. The Jade Mine Road blaze was likely caused by a lightning strike on July 21, fire officials say. Residents of the Yalakom Valley have been on an evacuation order since Thursday. Officials say they are making “good progress” on setting up fire guards on the blaze’s northeast flank on Saturday, despite high temperatures in the area. On Sunday, the BC Forest Service is continuing to reinforce and build additional machine guard along the north flank of the fire. Helicopters will focus on bucketing spot fires outside of the fireguard and firefighters will establish hoselays and work on extinguishing spot fires adjacent to the guard, officials said. One hundred firefighters, 14 structure protection people, eight helicopters and 10 pieces of heavy equipment are fighting the blaze Sunday, as high temperatures and low humidity are forecast. The Kamloops Fire Centre urges the public to be extra vigilant with recreational activities so resources can be allocated to naturally-caused wildfires rather than human-caused wildfires. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 07/24/2010 03:43:31 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Indiana City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: The Indiana State Department of Health is warning about possible high levels of blue-green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, at many of Indiana’s reservoirs and lakes. Blue-green algae are organisms that grow and live in fresh waters. They can grow quickly and can increase in abundance with warmer temperatures, sunlight, and nutrients. “We recommend people use caution when swimming, skiing, or participating in other recreational water activities,” said Jennifer House, DVM, veterinary epidemiologist at the Indiana State Department of Health. “Avoid coming into direct contact with the algae and try to avoid swallowing water if at all possible.” Exposure to a blue-green algae can lead to rashes, skin, eye irritation, and other uncomfortable effects such as nausea, stomach aches, and tingling in fingers and toes. Currently, there are nine reservoirs throughout the state being monitored for blue-green algae. At this time, the majority of the reservoirs that are being tested do have algae levels above that which would be considered high enough for the probability of causing health effects. While there are no U.S. standards regulating algal cell counts, the World Health Organization designates risk categories for recreational contact with water. At present, standard water treatments prevent algal toxins from affecting drinking water, but it may adversely impact recreational users of the reservoir, like swimmers, tubers, and jet skiers who have skin contact or may swallow large amounts of untreated water. Dr. House says it is always a good idea to take a bath or shower with warm, soapy water after coming in contact with untreated water in ponds and lakes. She also recommends people never drink, cook, or shower with untreated water from lakes, ponds, or streams. Pets and livestock should also not be allowed to swim in or drink untreated water from these sources. If you should experience any symptoms after water recreational activities, please contact your doctor. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - - Other Alert Details: Date: 07/22/2010 11:59:53 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: Country: Other State/County: Baltic Sea City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: A blue-green algae bloom the size of Germany has formed in the Baltic Sea, threatening marine life and even posing a danger to humans, authorities warned this week. The prolonged heat and lack of wind or storms has given the cyanobacteria the chance to form the largest carpet since 2005, covering about 377,000 square kilometres of the sea’s surface – roughly Germany’s entire land area. The Office for Environment, Nature and Geology in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania dispatched an observation ship on Thursday to take water measurements. The results were expected to be released Friday. But early indications were that the algae consisted of the types Anabaena and Nodularia. “The types are potentially toxic and can cause skin inflammtion,” said Karin Stein, head of the environmental analysis departments. Swallowing large quantities of water carrying the algae could cause gastro-intestinal problems, she added. “Really the animals mostly endangered by it are those that drink the polluted water,” she said. Nevertheless, authorities said it is safer not to swim in areas where the algae is visible. Swimmers on the beaches of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania need not be too worried for the moment, though. “The beaches in eastern parts of R�gen, Usedom, Stralsund and Greifswald are free from blue-green algae according to current measurements,” said Anja Neutzling, spokeswoman for health authorities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Nonetheless, warning signs were put up at four swimming spots at the lagoon on the island Usedom on the weekend. Jochen Lamp, head of the Baltic Sea office for the World Wide Fund for Nature, said about 90 percent of the semi-enclosed sea was affected by the algae film. The carpet stretches from Finland down to the Curonian spit on the coast of Lithuania, over to the Bay of Pomerania on the coasts of Germany and Poland and across to R�gen, the German island off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pommerania, Lamp said. While such blooms are natural phenomena, this year’s has spread to great dimensions because of the long period of high temperatures and little wind, coupled with unusually high concentrations of mineral nutrients. Microbiologist Klaus J�rgens, from the Institute for Baltic Sea Resarch in Rostock, said blue-green algae carpets have spread over the Baltic Sea every summer for decades. This is largely a man-made problem: the blooms result from the high concentrations of phosphates, most of which come from agriculture, J�rgens said. He said the northern and central parts of the sea were most affected – areas off the coasts of Finland, Sweden, Russian and parts of the Baltic states. “The satellite pictures are being analysed at the moment,” he said. J�rgens said that a good-sized storm would quickly break up the bloom, though. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Flash Flood - Asia - Pakistan Alert Details: Date: 07/22/2010 10:32:52 UTC Event: Flash Flood Area: Asia Country: Pakistan State/County: MultiStates City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 30 persons Number of Injured: 50 persons Description: At least 42 people were killed as a result of torrential rains and flooding in parts of Pakistan. Twelve people were killed in Lahore and other parts of northern Punjab and more than 15 were injured. Separately, a flood swept 50 people away in Balochistan's Barkhan region. Thirty bodies had been recovered from the area, Levies sources said. Flooding also destroyed several houses in the region. The flooding occurred due to the recent rains which led to the overflowing of the Bann river. Provincial minister Nasreen Khetran said area residents were facing difficulties due to the flooding. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Heat Wave - Asia - Japan Alert Details: Date: 07/22/2010 05:21:17 UTC Event: Heat Wave Area: Asia Country: Japan State/County: MultiPrefectures City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 66 persons Number of Injured: 15000 persons Description: The heat wave took its toll across Japan on Wednesday as five elderly people died due to heat exhaustion, according to local fire departments. In the city of Moka in Tochigi Prefecture, an 83-year-old woman collapsed in a field apparently due to heat exhaustion and was soon pronounced dead, while a 79-year-old man was found dead in a field in the city of Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture. In the town of Kanda in Fukuoka Prefecture, an 86-year-old woman, who collapsed in a field and was taken to a nearby hospital, died later, while two men in Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures died of heat exhaustion, according to the local fire departments. By 11 p.m., 177 people in Tokyo had been taken to hospitals due to heat exhaustion, with nine of them in serious condition, including an 89-year-old woman who became unconscious, according to the Tokyo Fire Department. Tatebayashi in Gunma Prefecture saw a temperature of 38.9 C on Wednesday afternoon, the day’s highest in Japan, due to a high-pressure system in the Pacific Ocean, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. In Tokyo, the Otemachi business district became the first location in the nation’s capital to see the mercury exceed the 35 C mark this year at 36.2 C shortly after 2 p.m. The high-pressure system spread over a wide area of Japan, except for Hokkaido and Okinawa Prefecture. Temperatures climbed to 30 C or higher in all of Japan’s 47 prefectures, the agency said, adding 676 observation stations nationwide saw temperatures above 30 C. Among the stations, 106 saw the mercury exceeding the 35 C mark. Record-high figures were observed in four locations in Gunma, Tochigi and Shimane prefectures. The heat was particularly intense in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, at 38.5 C, the Saitama Prefecture town of Yorii at 38.2 C, the city of Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, at 37.7 C and Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, at 37.6 C. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - South-America - Colombia Alert Details: Date: 07/22/2010 02:52:59 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: South-America Country: Colombia State/County: Departmento de Valle del Cauca City: Cali Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: 6 persons Description: A swarm of stinging bees descended upon bathers enjoying a swim in the Cañaverajelo river outside of the south Colombian city of Cali, hospitalizing two people and injuring another four. The river, which is normally free from bee attacks, is a popular local destination for bathers. Two people, who were severely stung and suffered complications, were taken to a nearby hospital. Another group of people visiting a cemetery not far away were forced to take shelter in neighboring houses until the bees had moved on. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - Asia - Pakistan Alert Details: Date: 07/22/2010 02:42:13 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: Asia Country: Pakistan State/County: State of Sindh City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: It's been six weeks since Cyclone Phet hit the city of Karachi in Pakistan. Since the storm ended many thousands of mollusks per day have washed ashore onto the popular tourist beach of Karachi and the smell is keeping everyone inside, away from the sea. Pakistan's Environment Minister says Cyclone Phet which was reported on in June by Digital Journal, is responsible for depositing thousands of the sea creatures and other assorted shells onto the beach in Karachi. Residents have complained of the foul stench caused by the dying shellfish and some people have been hurt by walking on broken shells. City officials dispatched dump trucks and loaders to clean up the mess but the mollusks are replaced each night with a brand new crop as the tide goes in and out leaving even more sea creatures to die while waiting to be cleaned up or harvested off the sandy beaches. Tourists are staying far from the sea and residents of the seaside community say the stench is unbearable. City and government officials are trying to determine why this continues to happen each night when it wasn't a problem in the days leading up to Cyclone Phet's uneventful visit to the coastal region of Pakistan. Resident's who are usually enjoying the cool breezes off the Arabian Sea are now suffering through the heat and humidity to keep the doors and windows shut in an effort to deal with this odorous aftermath. Horse and camel renting companies say that have had no business since the Mollusks took over since no vacationers were interested spending any time walking or riding along the ocean due to the sickening smell. A task force has been formed to clean up the large number of seashells that have carpeted Sea View beach since Cyclone Phet, announced the minister for environment, Shaikh Muhammad Afzal, on Friday reports the Express Tribune. Despite efforts to clean them, thousands of shells continue to amass in the area known as Seaview every day, resulting in a stench that has residents worried as to when there will be respite. Environmentalists say that the high waves of the monsoon season have started to awash the shoreline with shells since Cyclone Phet barely missed the metropolis, adding that this is not the first time that such a phenomenon has been witnessed along the coast of Karachi. “After the cyclone, these seashells are being washed ashore every day. And they arrive in the millions. From 7 am to 6 pm every day; all of our machinery and labour is being used to clean the beach,” said Noorudin, an employee of Saleh Mohammad and Brothers who is responsible for supervising the beach cleanup project. He said that while the shells are picked up each day, an ever greater amount is accrued at the beach by the time they arrive the next day. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - Australia - Australia Alert Details: Date: 07/21/2010 16:47:36 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: Australia Country: Australia State/County: State of Tasmania City: Hobart Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Tasmania's Department of Health says it is not concerned by several gastroenteritis outbreaks in Hobart. Two nursing homes and St Johns hospital in Hobart have notified the department about the highly contagious virus which causes vomiting and diarrhoea. A Calvary Health Care spokeswoman says one ward with elderly patients at St Johns was locked down on the weekend to prevent the infection spreading further. She says six patients and some staff contracted gastroenteritis but there have been no further cases. A department spokesman says the hospital and nursing homes are managing the situation well. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - Asia - Vietnam Alert Details: Date: 07/21/2010 05:51:03 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: Asia Country: Vietnam State/County: Province of Tien Giang City: Cai Be Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: A total of 563 workers of Dream Mekong factory in Cai Be Commune of the southern province of Tien Giang were taken to provincial hospitals due to food poisoning last Monday. Workers said that stomach aches, vomiting and dizziness had appeared a lunch featuring bamboo shoots and tuna. The provincial medical centre is carrying out tests on the food. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - Asia - Vietnam Alert Details: Date: 07/21/2010 05:48:19 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: Asia Country: Vietnam State/County: Province of Ca Mau City: Rach Goc Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Another three cases of vibrio cholerae have been diagnosed in Rach Goc town, Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province, raising the total number of patients with the virus to five, reported the provincial centre for preventive medicine. On July 15, Ngoc Hien General Hospital received three patients suspected of having cholera. The provincial centre for preventive medicine took samples from them, which later tested positive for vibrio cholerae. The patients are now isolated and being treated at the district hospital. Ca Mau has had more than 2,500 cases of acute diarrhoea treated at its hospitals from the beginning of the year, most of them children. In the face of a possible cholera outbreak, the provincial health department and Ngoc Hien district have worked together to raise public awareness of the issue and to take preventive measures such as spraying chemicals to disinfect contaminated areas, giving antibiotic to local inhabitants and treating water supplies that are used daily by local people. The province is also encouraging people to adopt hygienic practices with food, and preparing medicine and medical staff for the worst possible scenario. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - Europe - Spain Alert Details: Date: 07/21/2010 03:42:27 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: Europe Country: Spain State/County: Alicante City: Dénia Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: A swarm of 'exotic' jellyfish with a very painful sting has washed up onto the shores of D�nia (Alicante). The creatures, which are not native to the area, are said to be highly dangerous and around 2,500 people were treated for their sting two summers ago. Experts from the university of Alicante identified the jellyfish as the Carybdea marsupialis, which are just a few centimetres in size with a cube-shaped head. They are normally found in Caribbean and Pacific waters, although small populations of them have been seen in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic seas since 1878. Marine biologists, who have been studying these jellyfish since 2008 and expect to do so for a further three years, say they were alerted to their presence by the growing numbers of beachgoers having to be treated by the Red Cross on D�nia's El Raset beach. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Severe Weather - Asia - India Alert Details: Date: 07/21/2010 03:01:27 UTC Event: Severe Weather Area: Asia Country: India State/County: MultiStates City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 15 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: The south-west monsoon on Tuesday revived over northern parts of the country, including the national capital, with most parts of the region lashed by torrential rain that claimed over 15 lives. Heavy rain drenched parts of UP, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh while Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan received moderate rainfall. Thirteen people perished in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh where many areas experienced heavy downpour since Monday. While three children were killed in Lucknow as they fell into a drain, six died in Moradabad when a boat capsized and one death each was reported from Unnao, Gorakhpur, Sultanpur and Azamgarh. Incessant rain lashed Uttarakhand for the third straight day on Tuesday as three persons died in rain-related incidents at various parts of the state. The downpour triggered landslides, blocking vehicular traffic to Badrinath and Yamunotri shrines in Garhwal region and also on Tanakpur-Pithoragarh Highway in the Kumaon region. It also led to an alarming rise in the water levels of major rivers. In Himachal Pradesh, normal life was affected as cloudbursts resulted in cattle being washed away in the tribal Bharmaour region in Chamba district. Meanwhile, rain drenched the national capital after a gap of five days with the city receiving 42.6 mm of rain from Monday night. The Met Department said the capital has received 212.6 mm of rains in the past 15 days since the south-west monsoon hit the capital on July 5. The rain also brought the mercury down to a comfortable 30 degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal. Widespread rain also lashed Punjab and Haryana, where many parts are still battling the recent fury of floods. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Cold Wave - South-America - Paraguay Alert Details: Date: 07/20/2010 03:20:47 UTC Event: Cold Wave Area: South-America Country: Paraguay State/County: UnKnown City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 10 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Police in Paraguay reported eight deaths from hypothermia and two from carbon dioxide poisoning from the use of heating devices. The government opened shelters for the poor, who are picked up at night by military trucks. Paraguayan authorities also estimated that 1,000 cattle died because of the cold. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Cold Wave - South-America - Uruguay Alert Details: Date: 07/19/2010 02:44:30 UTC Event: Cold Wave Area: South-America Country: Uruguay State/County: Departamento de Durazno City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 3 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: The cold wave affecting Uruguay and the Southern Cone has claimed a second victim, the press reported Sunday. A 40-year-old man who was sleeping in the woods outside Durazno, a city in central Uruguay, died on Saturday, a day when the temperature dipped below freezing in some parts of the country. A man died on Thursday from exposure in the eastern province of Rocha. The frigid temperatures have boosted electricity and gas consumption, as well as demand for heaters, the El Pais newspaper reported. The cold wave stretches from southern Argentina and Chile to Bolivia, Paraguay, southern Peru and Brazil’s Amazon region, and it is associated with a rare high-pressure system that stalled over Argentina’s Buenos Aires province and Uruguay. A severe weather alert has been issued, but temperatures are expected to rise on Sunday, the Uruguayan weather service said. The higher temperatures, however, are going to be accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds, the weather service said. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - South-America - Peru Alert Details: Date: 07/18/2010 16:13:37 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: South-America Country: Peru State/County: Province of Trujillo City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: An outbreak of pneumonic plague, a virulent disease with a high mortality rate, was detected in Trujillo. Doctors are striving to save the lives of 3 patients, including a resident doctor and a medical student whose health conditions are serious. According to the regional manager of Health, Victor Peralta Chavez, this is the 1st time this disease has been recorded in the country. A woman aged 29, from Mariposa Leyva sector, district Chocope (Ascope), 40 minutes north of Trijillo, contracted the disease. The 1st symptoms occurred 5 days prior to her family taking her to Trujillo, where she was admitted at the Regional Teaching Hospital. With a picture of severe pneumonia (high fever, abdominal pain, shortness of breath and other symptoms), the patient was treated for both pneumonia and for potential influenza A (H1N1) (with antibiotics and antivirals), but there was no improvement. The results of a quick test to detect possible pneumonic plague were negative. A 32-year-old resident doctor, who treated and intubated the patient during her critical condition, developed the same symptoms as the infected woman. He was immediately hospitalized and treated, but his health is critical. In this regard, Peralta Chavez said that the patient's progress is not good. "This has caused multiple organ failure, i.e. many of his vital organs do not work or have stopped working properly. The patient is in hospital intensive care at Victor Lazarte Echegaray," he said. Also, last Tuesday [13 Jul 2010], a 4th-year student of Human Medicine at the Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (UNT), who also had contact with the infected woman, was hospitalized at the Regional Teaching Hospital. This patient took a rapid test and tested positive for pneumonic plague. His condition is also very delicate, Chavez said. With these results, Peralta Chavez summoned the press and warned of a zossible outbreak of pneumonic plague at the hospital or in the Trujillo Regional Teaching Hospital, although he clarified that this is an imported case from Chocope, an area where plague spreads silently and is very dangerous. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Cold Wave - South-America - Argentina Alert Details: Date: 07/17/2010 18:04:59 UTC Event: Cold Wave Area: South-America Country: Argentina State/County: MultiProvinces City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 28 persons Number of Injured: 16 persons Description: The City's Social Development Minister Mar�a Eugenia Vidal confirmed the death of an infant last night due to the extremely cold temperatures being registered in the city due to a cold wave. Meanwhile, the Red Solidaria charity organization confirmed that eight people have died so far around the country. "On the 11th of June we launched a program to protect people from the cold, in which we pick them up from the streets in the evenings and take them to several temporary rest areas so they can spend the night there," Mrs. Vidal said. The City Government has made more than 1300 beds available for those people and due to the recent cold wave several emergency centres have been created in joint work with the civil defense organization, the Minister explained. It is believed 1400 people in the City are bcurrently living in the streets. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 07/15/2010 15:52:56 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of North Dakota City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: North Dakota’s top animal health official is urging livestock producers in areas with a history of anthrax to take action to protect their animals from the disease. “A single case of anthrax has just been confirmed in northwestern Dickey County, where the disease has been reported in the past,” said Dr. Susan Keller, state veterinarian. “With weather conditions almost ideal for anthrax, producers need to make sure their animals are up to date on vaccinations.” The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at North Dakota State University, Fargo, confirmed the diagnosis of anthrax in a beef bull Tuesday. It is the second case of anthrax recorded in the state this year. Last May, an animal died from anthrax in Sioux County, the first confirmed case in that area in many years. An effective anthrax vaccine is readily available, but it takes about a week to establish immunity and must be followed with annual boosters. Keller asked producers to monitor their herds for unexpected deaths and report them to their veterinarians. Anthrax has been most frequently reported in northeast, southeast and south central North Dakota, but it has been suspected in almost every part of the state. The state usually records a few anthrax cases every year, but in 2005, the disease killed an estimated 1,000 head of cattle, bison, horses, sheep, llamas and farmed deer and elk. “Thanks to an extensive educational effort by veterinarians and extension agents to encourage producers to vaccinate their animals, we had a dramatic reduction in livestock deaths the following year,” said Keller. “We need to keep up that effort to prevent another major outbreak.” The bacteria Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax. Spores of the bacteria lie dormant in the ground for decades and become active under ideal conditions, such as heavy rainfall, flooding and drought. When animals graze or consume forage or water contaminated with the spores, they can possibly develop anthrax. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - Asia - India Alert Details: Date: 07/15/2010 03:19:18 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: Asia Country: India State/County: State of Manipur City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 8 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Out of eight people claimed by unknownn disease, state health services has confirmed three of them infected by Japanese Encephalitis, a highly reliable official source said today. Meanwhile, a reliable report said that two minor children hailing from a village in Nungba area of the Tamenglong district died today by unknownn disease. Suffering of at least nine villagers of a village in Kasam Khullen of Ukhrul district also reported. The three victims of the disease that the state health services had confirmed prevalent in the state after out of 27 blood sample tested 24 found positive of infection were Salam Naocha (13) of Loktak Project, L Sanathoi (9) of Irengbam and Lalrilu (10) of Langthabal Chingkhong. They were killed by the dreaded mosquito borne arboviral disease was confirmed as per the results provided by the Regional Medical Research Centre, Dibrugarh to the state health services. A notification regarding the matter was issued today. The source also said that testing of 13 blood samples out of 19 sent to the Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), New Delhi have been completed. Out of 13 samples, positive results of suffering from Japanese Encephalitis to 10 have been confirmed, said director of state health service, Y Yaima today. Medicine for treatment of the dreaded disease spreading across the four valley districts of the state is not yet available. The only method of treatment is administering medicines according to the symptoms developed to the particular patient. The best way to fight against the disease is prevention. Considering this, fogging and spreading of anti-mosquito chemical have intensified but so far no plan for mass slaughter of pig is not with the department, the director said. An official, in the meantime, said that so far 67 people suffering from the disease suspected to be Japanese Encephalitis are treating at different hospital in Imphal. Imphal east and Thoubal districts are most affected areas by the disease, he added. The official who is also a doctor commented that the best way to prevent the disease vaccination. The department will henceforth introduce mass vaccination programme starting from November and December of this year. Among the states of the country asked for taking up mass vaccination programme by the Central government, Manipur also included. As the vaccination programme is normally not carry out when the disease causing virus is active, the mass vaccination programme is to be held in November and December, he clarified. He also said that the mosquitoes bearing this disease preferably targeted people wearing black and with smell cloths. The mosquitoes bite people and animal from evening to around 7 to 8 pm most commonly. The best way to protect from disease carrying insect is preventive measure like using mosquito nets for preventing the mosquitoes. In the context of Manipur, so far the disease is confined in four valley districts. So far there were no reports of spreading in the hill districts, he added. Meanwhile lives of two minor children hailing from Charoi Chagotlong village of Nungba Sub Division in Tamenglong district have been claimed by unknownn disease in the last two days. Villagers suspected the two children, Champou (13) son of Gaibamguang and Pelu (6) daughter of Sianjanlung both from Toukomjang village were suffered from Japanese Encephalitis, stated the Nungba Citizens' Council (NCC) in a press release signed by Secretary General. While informing this, the release also drew the attention of concern department and the government for early attention to the fear of people in the area due to the unknownn disease. In Kasom Khullen of Ukhrul district also several villagers suffered from the unknownn disease. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - Asia - Nepal Alert Details: Date: 07/13/2010 05:21:21 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: Asia Country: Nepal State/County: Khatiwada VDC-3 City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 2 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Two children - Shankar Saud (7) and Pune Air (7) - died of an unidentified disease at Khatiwada VDC-3, Doti district, on Sunday. Madan Bahadur Saud, Shankar’s father, said his seven-year-old son breathed his last at a local medical centre after health officials there could not offer treatment as they could not diagnose the disease. Three days ago, a person had also died from the disease in same the village. These mystery deaths have terrorised the people of this village. Chudamani Bhandari, Senior Health Officer, Doti, said a medical team has been sent to the affected village with drugs. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - Asia - Mongolia Alert Details: Date: 07/09/2010 03:07:00 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: Asia Country: Mongolia State/County: State of Selenge City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Mongolian authorities on Thursday confirmed that three herders have been infected with anthrax and that containment measures are already under way. All three cases happened in the Selenge province in northern Mongolia, where authorities have taken measures to quarantine and disinfect areas surrounding the herders' residences, the national emergency management authority said. Seven other local residents were suspected of being infected with the usually fatal bacterial disease, which affects both animals and human beings, and have been sent to hospitals, the government said. It added that so far six cattle, two horses, one sheep and one goat have died due to anthrax infection, and some 5,300 livestock in the region have been vaccinated. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - Africa - Uganda Alert Details: Date: 07/07/2010 14:18:04 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: Africa Country: Uganda State/County: UnKnown City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: The ministry for animal husbandry has dispatched a team to Luweero district to investigate reports of an outbreak of Anthrax in the area. The investigation comes after reports that some pigs in Kasaala parish in Butuntumula sub-county died after passing blood because of suspected anthrax. State minister for animal husbandry Bright Rwamirama told reporters this morning that he visited the area yesterday but they could not confirm the disease outbreak in the area. Rwamirama said that the disease has only been confirmed in queen Elizabeth Game Park and a curfew has already been imposed as treatment takes place. He added that they want to first carry out investigations and if confirmed, they will put a curfew in the area. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic Alert - North-America - Canada Alert Details: Date: 07/06/2010 03:29:05 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: North-America Country: Canada State/County: Province of Saskatchewan City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: A 19-year-old who died while in custody of Saskatoon police Saturday had an undiagnosed illness, his mother said Monday. Brandon Travis Daniels, 19, of Mistawasis First Nation, was visiting cousins and shopping for an uncle's wedding when he went missing Friday afternoon, said his mother Sherry Bird. Brandon was on medication for an illness that had not yet been identified, but symptoms had not previously included vomiting, Bird said. Police had been called by someone who saw Daniels sitting on a bench and vomiting around 6:30 p.m. Friday. He was found dead in a cell about 12 hours later, his mother said. Daniels had gone downtown with his cousin and was waiting while the cousin attended a job interview. When the cousin came out, Daniels was gone. When Daniels still had not returned that night, they called his mother and she told them to call the police. Family notified the police around 1:30 a.m. and an officer visited the cousin to take a description of Daniels around 2:30 a.m., Bird said. Police apparently did not make the connection between the missing person and the young man in cells at that time. An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday. At the reserve, located about 70 kilometres east of Prince Albert, family and friends have been sitting up through the nights remembering the fun loving son, brother of eight siblings and uncle of 12 nieces and nephews. "He was a very happy person. He always had a real big smile for everyone. He was awesome," Bird said. A funeral will be Friday at the reserve. Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - North-America - Canada Alert Details: Date: 07/01/2010 19:36:26 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: North-America Country: Canada State/County: Province of Northwest Territories City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Government wildlife teams in the Northwest Territories are working to control an anthrax outbreak about 80 kilometres southeast of Fort Resolution, south of Yellowknife. Seven bison carcasses in the Slave River Lowlands have tested positive for the disease. They were spotted within an eight-kilometre area during a June 23 surveillance flight. There are about 600 bison in the area, according to officials. "We'll have regular surveillance flights to look for any additional cases. The trick is to find carcasses as quickly as possible," Brett Elkin, a disease specialist with the N.W.T. Environment and Natural Resources Department said. "They're immediately disinfected with a chemical disinfectant called formaldehyde ... it keeps other animals from scavenging, and it cleans off the surface and kills all the spores. And then a second crew will come in later and burn each carcass, basically incinerate it so there's nothing left." Elkin said disposal crews wear protective suits and are careful not to touch the carcasses. No humans have contracted anthrax in the Northwest Territories, and the area in question has been closed to the public. The area is only accessible by boat and ATV at this time of year, the department said. Fourteen other anthrax outbreaks in the Slave River Lowlands and Wood Buffalo National Park were reported between 1962 and 2007. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Epidemic - Middle-America - Honduras Alert Details: Date: 06/23/2010 03:09:02 UTC Event: ** Epidemic Alert ** Area: Middle-America Country: Honduras State/County: UnKnown City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 9 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: The Honduran government declared on Tuesday an emergency state due to the increase of dengue cases, a disease which has killed nine people this year in the country. Acting President Victor Hugo Barnica, after a ministers council meeting, announced that an Inter-institutional Commission of the Emergency for the Dengue Prevention and Control was established to deal with the situation. President Porfirio Lobo is absent for supporting its national soccer team in South Africa. The Health Ministry has registered more than 10,000 cases of classic dengue and 400 of hemorrhagic. Most of the dengue cases have been reported in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, where the efforts to stop the disease have not been enough,according to an official statement. The combat against dengue in Honduras has been difficult because workers of the health sector have occupied several buildings demanding a salary rise. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Disease Outbreak - Africa - Uganda Alert Details: Date: 06/15/2010 03:08:24 UTC Event: Disease Outbreak Area: Africa Country: Uganda State/County: Districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Bushenyi and Rukungiri City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: AT least 27 hippos have died of suspected anthrax in Queen Elizabeth National Park, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) boss revealed yesterday. "They died on Friday and we buried 27 carcasses on Saturday and Sunday. But we are still waiting for experts to confirm whether the animals died of anthrax," Moses Mapesa said. He, however, clarified that the deaths were not a threat to tourism because it occurred five kilometres east of the Katunguru bridge towards Lake George, which is far away from the Kazinga Channel, a tourist attraction. Tom Okello, the Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area manager, said UWA had set up a surveillance team to monitor the waters. This comes six years after the park lost about 300 hippos, several vultures, hyenas and other grass-eating animals in the park to anthrax. Several people died then in Bushenyi district and one in Kinyamaseke, Kasese district after eating meat of the infected hippos. "But the situation is under control. After the 2004 anthrax attack, we are now more prepared to handle it," said. He described to the incident as "part and parcel of nature, a normal phenomenon." Mapesa explained that whenever an animal grazes at a spot harbouring the anthrax spores, the spores come with the grass. "The bacteria is always dormant in the soil until there is something to trigger it," he said. Mapesa warned the public against eating wildlife meat and livestock keepers to avoid grazing in the park. Mapesa also urged poachers to avoid the park. "Anyone who sees a carcass should immediately report to UWA authorities or other nearest authorities," he said. Anthrax is caused by a bacterial organism, bacillus anthracis, and is treated with a vaccine, blanthrax. The district veterinary officer, Dr. Gad Kalule, said blanthrax can be used to immunise animals against anthrax. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Cold Wave - South-America - Peru Alert Details: Date: 05/13/2010 03:26:41 UTC Event: Cold Wave Area: South-America Country: Peru State/County: Departmento de Puno City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: 409 persons Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Due to the cold wave currently hitting Puno region highlands, 288 cases of pneumonia have been officially reported by local public health services, and mostly among children. According to Dr. Freddy P�sara, Regional Chief of Immunizations, the worst part is that 18 people have died due to this illness, and to the lack of vaccines and medicines. “We have vaccines against pneumococcus and seasonal influenza, and are vaccinating health workers against AH1N1 influenza,” said P�sara, stressing that they have not vaccines against other germs that may induce pneumonia too. According to official figures, the number of cases is growing compared to last year: in 2009, 351 cases were reported, from which 29 people died. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Event: Enviroment Pollution - North-America - USA Alert Details: Date: 04/23/2010 06:16:36 UTC Event: Enviroment Pollution Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Louisiana City: UnKnown Number of Deaths: None or unknown Number of Injured: None or unknown Description: Up to 7,400 barrels of crude oil a day could be spewing into the depths of the Gulf of Mexico after Tuesday night's explosion aboard the semi-submersible Transocean Deepwater Horizon rig caused it to capsize and sink Thursday morning. After listing for most of Wednesday, the $600 million platform 41 miles off the coast of Louisiana sank in 5,000 feet of water at about 10 a.m. Thursday. Seventeen people were injured, and 11 are still missing from the explosion. The rest of the crew of 126 filed into lifeboats or jumped nearly 100 feet from the platform before being pulled from the water by Coast Guard rescue crews. As the intense fire burned the spewing oil off on Wednesday, early indications were that the rig fire didn't present significant danger to the coastal ecosystem. But with the rig now sunk and the fire out, concerns are now growing that the situation could mirror a deep-water spill caused by a fire on the West Atlas rig off Australia last year, which environmentalists likened to a "disaster movie." "This is already a serious accident, and if this crude is allowed to flow uncontrolled out of the well for days or weeks, the environmental impact could be really substantial," says Robert Bryce, an energy expert at the Manhattan Institute and author of "Power Hungry: The myths of 'green' energy and the real fuels of the future." "They now have to figure out how to stop the blowout from the well. There are a tremendous number of unknownns now." Coast Guard officials estimated that up to 13,000 gallons of crude an hour was coming out of the exploratory hole 41 miles offshore of Plaquemines Parish, La. An early suggestion that damage would be minimal because the fire was consuming most of the fuel "does have the potential to change," BP official David Rainey told the New York Times. A BP spokesman told reporters that contractors using remote-controlled submarines (ROVs) are on the scene attempting to plug the well pipe via something they called a "hot-stabbing" operation. Early efforts to plug the well were unsuccessful, BP reported. The Coast Guard is also reporting that it is assembling environmental cleanup crews. "We are looking at dispersant options, and we have planes and vessels on standby, should it be necessary," Coast Guard spokeswoman Sue Kerver told the oil and gas industry newspaper Upstream. The viscosity of the leaking crude could determine whether it floats to the top or becomes an underwater slick. A two-mile surface slick has been spotted flowing from the site, but it is not yet clear whether that originated from on-board diesel fuel or well oil. On Thursday, lawyers filed a federal negligence suit on behalf of the 11 missing crew members against BP and Transocean. Transocean, an exploratory company based in Geneva, is leasing the rig to BP for $500,000 a day. Both companies are on the forefront of deep water exploration. The explosion, fire, and leak have put new focus on the Obama administration's decision to open up more deep water zones in the Gulf for oil exploration. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) of Louisiana called for a swift and thorough investigation. "It is critical that [federal] agencies examine what went wrong and the environmental impact this incident has created," Sen. Landrieu said in a statement. "These findings should be reported to Congress as soon as possible." Added Rep. Jim Costa (D) of California: “This incident is a grim reminder of the risks involved in developing public energy resources off America’s shores." Even without the possible environmental damage, the Deepwater Horizon accident is likely to be the worst US offshore oil rig disaster since 21 crew members were killed in a blowout on a Gulf drilling barge in 1964. Click here to view a map of the event location Origin: RSOE EDIS Satellite Imagery of Current and Recent Events
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MRE Meals Ready To Eat
Meals
Ready to Eat are packed in small pouches or often boxs. They can be purchased
with or without heaters. The heaters are placed into the box or pouch after
being activated by following simple instructions on the heater. These heat meals
before eating. There are several types of MRE meals, from full meals, deserts
and other dishes. They can usually be purchased individually or in bulk cases.
Click below to search information.
2 hour kits provide the basics for survival after a disaster.
These often include a backpack or duffle bag to hold the supplies which makes
evacuation easier. Some kits are packed in buckets and may include a toilet seat
that can be fitted on top of the bucket to be used as a portable toilet if
needed. Note: these kits often provide survival food rations in the form of food
bars. If you want more conventional meals (something that is very nice and eases
stress) you may also want to purchase MRE meals or other food supplies at your local
store. Click below to search information.
Emergency Food bars generally come in 2400 or 3600 calorie packages. The bars are usually me to be broken into sections making 400 calorie meals.
Should say USCG approved or Meets U.S. Coast Guard standards, meaning, they provide the USCG required amounts of moisture, salt, carbohydrate, protein, and fat.
A shelf life should be given (usually 5 years). The expiration date is also very important, the expiration date can be up to 5 years for many ration bars.
Make sure the expiration date leaves most if not all of the shelf life available for storage. Click the link below for a selection of sources and information.