Tag Archives: health

U.S.

U.S. West Nile Virus update, 22 August 2012: Alarming jump in infections and deaths! Epidemic-Aid response! Pets victims of virus and spraying. Cases being misdiagnosed.

“That’s a significant number. We should expect more. We are about to hit our peak and we still have another month when the majority of cases are going to occur.”-Kristy Murray, infectious disease specialist Baylor College of Medicine

On 22 August 2012, the CDC announced a huge jump in cases.  At least 40 deaths country wide, and more than 1,100 cases. The CDC must wait for state agencies to make official reports before compiling numbers, which is why it seems the CDC is behind the curve.

In Texas, more human infections, and deaths.  On 21 August 2012, two people in the Houston area died.  On the same day a death in Collin County, near Dallas, was reported.  Another person died in Dallas County. As of 21 August Texas now has nearly 600 confirmed infections.  The state of Texas has officially asked the CDC for help.  The CDC is calling their help “Epi-Aid response”.

The CDC responded to questions about why their reporting of cases was so low until a couple of weeks ago. The CDC says one main reason (besides the normal lag time in states reporting in) is because West Nile has symptoms so similar to other infections that many cases are being misdiagnosed.  The best way to diagnose West Nile infection is with a blood test done within 14 days of getting sick.

However, don’t think it’s a simple test that you can just pop in and take: “It’s not a test that you just want to come in and say, ‘I want to be tested for it,’ because it can be painful and costly.”-Chris Hable, East Texas Medical Center

Hable does have advise for differentiating between flu/cold symptoms and West Nile: “We’re talking about patients with high fever, confusion, stiff neck, not acting like themselves, weakness, numbness….those are the patients we need to see here in the emergency room.”

Illinois, Minnesota and New York reporting their first human deaths from West Nile.

California reporting their second human death, in Fresno County: “My concern is we still have a few more months to go in the West Nile virus season, and we’re already at seven cases.”-Edward Moreno, Fresno County Department of Public Health

The Ohio Department of Health issued a new warning, and county officials agree: “It’s not bad in Lake County, we’re just proactive, it’s bad in all of Ohio, it’s bad in 26 states in the United States, so people should be aware of it, not only because they live here in Lake County, but when they go to travel over the holiday weekend, they need to pay attention.”-Nancy Niehus, Lake County Health Department

Officials in Ohio point out that mosquito counts are low this year, but the type of mosquitoes that are out and about are the type that spread West Nile.

Oklahoma reports four more people infected.

Tennessee reporting at least five human cases.

Main reporting possible first two human cases: “One thing we do want to encourage people to do, is that if they see dead birds, to let us know.”-Anne Lictenwalner, Animal Health Lab at the University of Maine

Indiana and Massachusetts reporting dozens more mosquitoes testing positive for the virus.

Alabama reporting at least five new human cases, but also reporting horses infected.  Equestrian veterinarian, Barbara Benhart, has seen almost two dozen horses infected in one day, and some didn’t survive: “I saw it on a Sunday and it did not survive Monday.”

As of 21 August, there are 77 reported cases of horse infections (according to the United States Geological Survey’s disease maps) in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.

There is no treatment for an infected horse, but there is a vaccine: “I, from day one, have been told you get your horses vaccinated, just like your dogs and cats. You have to, because you care about them, and for everybody else’s safety as well.”– Rachael Tucker, horse owner

A related disease is also showing up in humans as well as horses, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE): “I would say that EEE activity this year has been particularly intense.”-Anne Roach, Massachusetts Department of Health

The Humane Society of the United States is concerned for the safety of your pets, not only from contracting the virus, but from the pesticide spraying taking place in some parts of the country.  They say keep pets indoors if possible, and cover outdoor food and water sources when spraying is taking place. After all, the pesticides can be just as deadly as the virus.

Famous last words: “West Nile Virus is the most overblown health threat since the ‘killer bees.’”-Howard Garrett, organic gardening guru

Fukushima

One Year Later: Nuclear waste estimates from Fukushima Daiichi revised…upward!

21 August 2012, the Environment Ministry of Japan has revised upward the estimated amount of radioactive waste in nine prefectures around Fukushima Daiichi.

As of now, there is 42,575 tons of waste, containing radioactive cesium levels of more than 8,000 becquerels per kilogram, in storage.  Officials originally estimated that only 50,000 tons of debris would be contaminated with that much radiation, but it’s now obvious there is much more.

A newly passed law makes the national government of Japan responsible for disposal of all nuclear waste.  Recently it was decided that four or five prefectures will be designated as permanent nuclear waste disposal sites.  However, there is great concern over the fact that Japan is crisscrossed by seismic faults.  Officials stated that any new waste site must not be built near a fault line.

Not surprisingly at least 75% of the contaminated waste is being collected in Fukushima Prefecture.

Fukushima

One Year Later: Fish contaminated with 380 times safe limit of radiation! More proof the GE designed disaster reactors are still spewing!

21 August 2012, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCo) announced it has caught fish near the failed Fukushima Daiichi reactors that have as much as 38,000 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium!

TEPCo says they’ve caught 20 kinds of fish and shellfish from 5 locations along the Pacific coast, just 1 kilometer (0.62 mile) off Minamisoma City, from mid July to the beginning of August.

A type of trout was contaminated with the most cesium, 38,000 becquerels.  That’s 380 times the safe limit set by the Japanese government!  To top that, the last time TEPCo tested local fish the amount of contamination was 18.8 times the safe limit!

Fishing was allowed to resume about 50 kilometers northeast of Fukushima Daiichi, on a trial bases, but not for rock trout or other fish that are showing up highly contaminated in TEPCo’s surveys.

ONE YEAR LATER: DOGS & CATS STILL ABANDONED IN RADIATION ZONES, GOVERNMENT NOW SEARCHING FOR OWNERS. OTHER PETS FORCED INTO SHELTERS BECAUSE OWNERS CAN’T KEEP THEM.

U.S.

West Nile update, 17 August 2012: 80% of those infected don’t know they have it! Bees dying by the thousands! Union Pacific worker gets nearly $1 million! Drought to blame

“The higher the heat and the higher the humidity then the longer this will go.”-Phil Smith, Bucks County

More cases of West Nile virus being reported in the United States.

17 August, Bucks County, Pennsylvania reports first case for 2012.

17 August, New Haven, Connecticut reports first case for 2012.

17 August, Alabama officials reveal that at least six people have West Nile.

More mosquitoes were found infected with West Nile in Massachusetts.  Spraying to kill the blood suckers will begin in North Leominster on 20 August.

Health officials in Virginia are warning that as many as 80% of those infected don’t know it, and that: “20% have West Nile fever. About 10% of that 20% will have West Nile virus encephalitis and this can be very very life threatening.”-Jorge Arias, Fairfax County Health Department

In Texas, a Union Pacific (UP) railway employee was awarded $980,000 USD, for getting infected with West Nile virus while on the job.  The jury decided UP was 80% responsible because they made employees work in a swampy area with no insect repellant.

Bee keepers in Texas are reporting that spraying to kill mosquitoes is killing thousands of honey bees: “They will share their food and within 24 or 48 hours, 80% of those bees have shared that and they will be gone like the ones that we have witnessed.”-Susan Pollard, The Texas Honeybee Guild

The Texas cities of Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake all reported human cases of West Nile virus.  The city of Southlake is providing free larvicide on a first come first served basis.

Horses are also becoming infected: “The horse will become unsteady on his feet, maybe stumbling, acting weak on the feet, laying down and not able to get up, sometimes depressed at first, and not interested in their food.”-Will Hadden, Gresham Veterinary Hospital

Dogs can get infected as well, but there is no vaccine for dogs.

In Arkansas, officials expect West Nile cases to grow.  They have a new theory as to why, the country wide drought: “One possible explanation could be with water sources drying up, the sources that are where not only mosquitoes are concentrated but also birds are concentrated. It puts the vectors in closer contact with one another.”-Susan Weinstein, state public health veterinarian

Oregon health officials reporting that mosquitoes in Jackson and Malheur counties tested positive for West Nile.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports 18 human cases so far.

Caddo Parish, in Louisiana, reporting second highest number of West Nile cases in the state. Human infections in Louisiana now at 92.

North Dakota reports 14 human cases, five people hospitalized.  Horses and birds also infected (birds are actually the source for West Nile virus).  Officials are puzzled because the state is in a drought: “Normally, you would think in years when it’s wetter, like last year with all the flooding there would be more West Nile cases, because mosquitoes require water to breed.”-Alicia Lepp, North Dakota Department of Health

Michigan has reported their first death from the virus, they blame the drought: “The unusually hot and dry summer has favored the mosquitoes that transmit WNV. These same conditions have led to a reduction in the number of nuisance mosquitoes which are more abundant during wet summers, giving citizens a false sense of security.”-Corinne Miller, Michigan Department of Community Health

Indiana reported its first death due to the virus. A survivor describes what the symptoms are like: “It feels like somebody has lodged an axe in my brain. Just about the time I think I’m out of the woods, then something else comes along, and we have to fight that, too.”-Katharyn DeVille

 

Fukushima

One Year Later: Japan to create Temp Towns to house victims of Fukushima Daiichi

17 August 2012, people forced to flee their homes, because of the General Electric designed nuclear disaster reactors at Fukushima Daiichi, have been living in temporary prefab homes.  Now the Japanese government wants to know if they will accept living in ‘temporary’ towns as well.

A year ago the ignorant Japanese government told nuclear evacuees that they’d be returning home in a few weeks or months.  It’s finally become clear to the exalted leaders that radiation contamination could last years. Some areas will exceed 20 millisieverts per year for at least a decade!

The Japanese government admits they are now considering the wishes of the evacuees for the first time!  At least 15,000 people can never go back to their homes, and the government says it is willing to build new villages for the victims.

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Nuclear Disaster Reactors: Damage to Belgian reactor impossible to repair?

16 August 2012, after an emergency meeting was held, officials decided it was likely that the Doel nuclear plant in Belgium will be shut down permanently.

But this means dozens of other nuclear reactors throughout western Europe could be shut down as well.  The whole thing started in 2004 when France inspected two reactors and found perpendicular micro-cracks in the containment vessels.

The perpendicular cracks were not from age, but had been there from day one. It was a design flaw!

Belgium decided to check their reactors, since they were the same design, and found even more micro-cracks. The boss of Belgium’s Federal Agency of Nuclear Control told the emergency meeting that they found “something else”; thousands of parallel cracks as well as the perpendicular cracks.

The defects are so numerous that Belgium officials say it is unlikely they can be repaired.  Belgium will shut down two reactors, and continue investigations. A final report will be presented in October.

Idaho, U.S.

West Nile Virus: Texas declares emergency, 16 dead, 381 infected. New cases across the United States, CDC first reported that cases were lower than last year!

“Texas is on track to have the worst year ever for West Nile virus.”-Christine Mann, Texas Department of State Health Services

“We’re in a fight we can’t win on the ground.”-Zach Thompson, Dallas County Health Department

15 August 2012, the mayor of Dallas, Texas, has just declared a health emergency.  A health emergency has also been declared for Dallas County. Reports say between 14 and 16 people in Texas (10 in Dallas County alone) have now died from West Nile, a type of Japanese encephalitis virus.

As of 13 August 2012, there were 381 reported cases in Texas. In all of 2011 only 27 cases were reported in Texas.  In the city of Houston, officials say that 90% of tested mosquitoes show they are infected with the virus.  The emergency declarations allows local officials to conduct massive aerial spraying operations to kill mosquitoes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at least 24 people, in the United States, have died.  42 states are reporting cases, but 80% are concentrated in Texas, Oklahoma (55 infections and one death) and Louisiana and Mississippi (both with 39 infections and one death).

Massachusetts has just reported their first case: “Today’s announcement is a compelling reminder that people should take simple, common sense steps to protect themselves against mosquito bites and the illnesses they can cause.”-Al DeMaria, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Illinois has reported a new case. DuPage County Health Department says a woman in her 50s is infected. She lives in the Chicago suburb area. So far there are seven confirmed infections in that state.  Officials say the cases are showing up earlier than normal, most people got infected in July.

Minnesota is also reporting cases that are showing up sooner than normal.

California is reporting one death and 18 infections.

On 14 August, North Carolina reported their first West Nile death.

New York has ordered a second round of truck spraying to kill mosquitoes in Nassau County.

Indiana and Ohio are reporting higher than normal amount of cases.

Officials, from many states, are blaming a warm winter and wet spring for the mosquito outbreak.  But here in Idaho we did not have a wet spring, in fact we’re so dry that our wildfire season started months early!  Yet, Idaho now has three case of humans infected with West Nile. Eight Idaho counties are reporting that mosquitoes are testing positive for West Nile.

The CDC is not sure why there’s a sudden increase in West Nile cases: “It is not clear why we are seeing more activity than in recent years.”-Marc Fischer, CDC

But maybe the CDC is out of touch? According to the Guardian Express, as recently as last week the CDC’s own website had posted much lower case numbers than what were being reported by state health officials: “Either they are short on staff and have fallen behind or something more disturbing is at work.”

Now the CDC has declared West Nile an epidemic!

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 12 Aug – 14 Aug. Coordinated bombings. Cops shoot U.S. led occupyers! Claims of new Pakistani attacks! U.S. to attack Pakistan!!!

14 August 2012

In Kunduz Province, late Tuesday night a motorcycle bomb went off, killing at least ten people and wounding 30 others.

In Nimroz Province, at least 30 people are dead, 60 wounded, after coordinated suicide bombings.  Suicide bombers launched their attack on the city of Zaranj.  Afghan police killed three bombers before they exploded themselves, but three other bombers were successful. The local police chief is among those killed. Local officials say the attackers are not from Nimroz Province.

In Kunar Province, local government officials claim the Pakistani military launched another attack on Afghan border posts.  A local security official said the Pakistani attack started at 04:00 hours, with artillery fire.  Afghans returned fire, and the battle lasted four hours.  At least one person killed, five wounded.

13 August 2012

In Nimroz Province, police killed two men they say were trying to launch a suicide attack on the city of Zaranj.

In Nangarhar Province, an Afghan policeman fired on U.S. led occupying troops.  NATO/ISAF officials say no one was hurt, the policeman fled the scene.  Local police officials say two occupying troops were wounded, along with one Afghan government troop.

Also in Nangarhar Province, a bomb went off near a Mosque in Jalalabad city, wounding five people.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will launch ground attacks on Mujahideen in Pakistan.  This is according to the Speaker of the House in Afghanistan’s parliament: “All complaints in regards to cross border incursion by Pakistan should be submitted to the coordinative center. ISAF will visit the area and conduct operation against the militants inside the Afghanistan soil and if complaints were received regarding cross border incursion by militants then ISAF will conduct operations with the Pakistani troops inside the Pakistan soil.”-Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi

According to Ibrahimi, USMC General John Allen told the Afghan parliament leaders that a new plan has been developed.  U.S. led occupying forces, along with Afghan government forces and Pakistani government forces, will work together to surround an area of Pakistan that is known as a safe haven for Mujahideen.  The Pakistani government has apparently agreed to allow U.S. ground troops into Pakistan to do battle with the Mujahideen.

In Ghazni Province, Mujahideen hanged a man after he kidnapped a child and then demanded ransom for its safe return.

In Takhar Province, a town mayor, and four other local government officials, were assassinated with a bomb.

In Kunar Province, local government officials claim the Pakistani military fired 45 rockets into their province.

ISAF stated: “Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in Chahar Darah district, Kunduz province, today.”

The Defense Ministry of Afghanistan reported three Afghan soldiers killed, five wounded, in battles in Logar, Paktiya, Maidan Wardak and Helmand provinces.

12 August 2012

A political analyst in Afghanistan says it is the way the U.S. led occupiers are treating the Afghan government forces that’s causing the “green on blue” attacks: “…Afghan officers, even high ranking officers are being treated with a great deal of contempt by low ranking American officers, or low ranking NATO officers, in fact I have first hand observations on several occasions that Afghan colonels have been treated like dirt, if you will, by an American captain!”-Mohammed Daoud Miraki

In Herat Province, a village elder was assassinated when gunmen shot him in his house. His wife was wounded.

In Laghman Province, the provincial governor and his three bodyguards were killed when they drove over a mine.

 

 

Fukushima

One Year Later: Dogs & cats still abandoned in radiation zones, government now searching for owners. Other pets forced into shelters because owners can’t keep them.

14 August 2012, the Japanese government is now trying to find owners of hundreds of abandoned pets in the 11 March 2011 disaster areas.  Last year the Environment Ministry was able to pick up 750 dogs and cats and place in shelters, 300 are still unclaimed.

Government officials believe there are still hundreds of abandoned pets still living in the radiation zones.

The prefectural government of Fukushima is asking people who are known to have lost their pets if they want them back, or not.  Fukushima officials say they have contacted at least 1,000 people so far.  Officials say they will try to find homes for pets that are no longer wanted, and they will continue to try and capture those pets still loose.

Some owners fear their pets are radioactive, others say they can not afford to take in their pets as they are living in temporary housing, and many owners are still unemployed.

NHK (nippon housou kyoukai/Japan Broadcasting Corporation) recently ran a sad documentary about pets who are being kept in private shelters, until the owners can take them back. The owners are paying for the shelters.  However, in one sad example, the owners of one old dog were finally able to take their dog back only to learn that their dog died just days before they arrived at the shelter.

Visit American Humane Association  Visit globalanimal.org

ONE YEAR LATER: FRESH WATER FISH MORE RADIOACTIVE THAN SALT WATER FISH! MORE PROOF THAT YOU NEED LOTS OF SALT IN YOUR DIET!

GOVERNMENT INCOMPETENCE: MORE RADIOACTIVE BEEF SOLD TO PEOPLE, JAPANESE CATTLE FARMERS ARE NOW BEING TOLD NOT TO USE LOCAL FEED, FARMERS SAY ADVISE IS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE

Fukushima

One Year Later: Fire & new radiation leak at Fukushima Daiichi!

14 August 2012, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCo) said a new radioactive water leak has been found, coming from Reactor 4.

This morning a worker found a 350 square meter (1,148 square feet) room on the first floor of the reactor building flooded, about one centimeter (0.39 inch) deep.

The water is contaminated with 77,000 becquerels per milliliter of cesium.

TEPCo officials think the water might be coming from a pipe that is transferring contaminated water from Reactor 3 to a storage tank.  The pipe runs next to Reactor 4 building.

Also this morning, workers discovered a fire in a water pump.  The pump is used in a building that is used for filtering contaminated water.  They used fire extinguishers to put out the fire.