Tag Archives: indonesia

Influenza

Pale Green Horse & H5N1: U.S. media says Bird Flu not that deadly. Tell that to Indonesia, they just had their fourth human death caused by Bird Flu

“He suffered shortness of breath and eventually died on February 21. Laboratory test confirmed he died from H5N1 virus.”-Rita Kuriastuti, Indonesian Health ministry

While more people in southeast Asian countries die from H5N1 the U.S. media is spreading reports that bird flu isn’t as bad as first thought.  The February 21 death of a boy was the fourth for the 2011-12 flu season.  He died about one week after showing symptoms of flu.

Indonesian health officials say 154 people were confirmed to have died of H5N1 since 2005.

The first 2011-12 flu season death, caused by H5N1, was reported in China in December.

A new study, by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, says the UN’s World Health Organization’s death rate of 60% for H5N1, is based on severe cases and doesn’t count mild cases.  But if your a family member who lost someone to H5N1 that doesn’t matter.   The fact is that there seems to be a lot of severe cases of H5N1 in Asia.

I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

International, Technology, U.S.

Pacific Ring of Fire Seismic Events: 2012 already shaping up to be big?

In past postings I reported on what appears to be the average number of magnitude 6.5 or greater earthquakes that hit the Pacific Ring of Fire.

In going through the USGS’s Significant Earthquakes of the World, all the way back to 1999, it seems the Pacific Ring of Fire has about 50 per year.

The Pacific Ring of Fire involves not only the Pacific Plate, but the Nazca Plate, the Antarctic Plate, Cocos Plate, Juan de Fuca Plate, North American Plate, South American Plate, Scotia Plate, Filipino Plate, Eurasian Plate and Australian Plate, whew!

Well, from January 1 to February 12, 2012, there have already been seven “significant” earthquakes involving the plates of the Pacific Ring of Fire.  In fact, so far, the only significant quakes for 2012 have been the seven around the Pacific Ring of Fire!

What about earthquakes in general?  If you look at the USGS’s list of quakes from January 13 to February 4, 2012, the overwhelming majority are around the Pacific Ring of Fire.  I counted at least 453 reported earthquakes around the Pacific Ring.

Most of the quakes are hitting Japan (with the most), California, Alaska, Mexico, Chile, countries on the Filipino Plate (like Indonesian islands getting hit almost as much as Japan), New Zealand and Vanuatu.

Vanuatu is a Southwestern Pacific Island north of New Zealand.  Since the beginning of February it’s getting hit almost daily with quakes ranging from magnitude 4 to 5.

International

Pacific Ring of Fire: 3rd volcano erupts on Indonesian island

For the third time this year, a volcano is erupting in Indonesia.  This time it’s the Mount Lokon volcano, on the same island as two other volcanoes; Sulawesi island.

This time at least 4,600 people were forced to evacuate.  In March, Mount Karangetang erupted, then on July 3 Mount Soputan erupted.  Mount Lokon, Soputan and Karangetang are all on the Sulawesi island chain.

The last time Mount Lokon erupted was in 1991.

International

Pacific Ring of Fire: Second Indonesian volcano erupts

On July 3, Indonesia’s Mount Soputan, on the Sulawesi island chain, erupted.   An ash cloud went 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) high.  An evacuation zone of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) was ordered.

This is the second Indonesian volcano to erupt this year. In March, Mount Karangetang, also on the Sulawesi island chain, spewed lava and gas clouds, forcing thousands to evacuate.