EPA Withdraws Trump-Era Permit for Virgin Islands Oil Refinery Center for Biological Diversity
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EPA Withdraws Trump-era Permit for Virgin Islands Oil Refinery – Natural Resources Defense Council
EPA Withdraws Trump-era Permit for Virgin Islands Oil Refinery Natural Resources Defense Council
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (08): China (XJ) domestic, spread
African Swine Fever -- ChinaChina reported an outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] in Xinjiang region, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday [24 Mar 2021].The outbreak occurred on a farm in Yili prefecture with 466 pigs, and 280 pigs died, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement, adding that the remaining pigs had been culled.[Byline: Min Zhang and Shivani Singh]--Communicated by:ProMED[Yili (Ili), an autonomous prefecture for Kazakh people, is one of 5 autonomous Read more [...]
Potentially explosive material found at Near North Side apartment where FBI, bomb squad, SWAT called to hazmat at scene of man’s earlier death, officials say – Chicago Tribune
Potentially explosive material found at Near North Side apartment where FBI, bomb squad, SWAT called to hazmat at scene of man’s earlier death, officials say Chicago TribuneAuthorities Identify Man Found Dead in Chicago Building After Investigation Prompts Hazmat Response NBC ChicagoStreeterville building partially evacuated for ‘hazmat situation’; bomb squad, FBI called to apartment FOX 10 News PhoenixExplosive Substance Found in Streeterville Apartment: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, elephant – Botswana: (Moremi Game Reserve) toxic algae susp
Algae -- BotswanaDozens of elephants have died under mysterious circumstances in Botswana months after hundreds were killed by ingesting toxic microorganisms.Preliminary investigations into the fresh wave of deaths have ruled out anthrax and bacterial infections, the environment ministry said on Wednesday [24 Mar 2021] as the death toll this year rose to 39.The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism also ruled out suspicions of poaching as the tusks of the elephants Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (27): Congo DR, USA
Ebola -- DR CongoWhen the Democratic Republic of Congo's largest-ever outbreak of Ebola first emerged in the north-east of the country in 2018, it appeared that it would remain small and relatively isolated.A government that had successfully contained 9 previous outbreaks since Ebola was first identified in the country in 1976, first looked set to beat back the one which erupted in North Kivu province.Having just successfully declared an end to an outbreak in the north-western Equateur province after Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (04): China (GX) H5N6, fatal
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaHong Kong health officials are monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Guangxi in southern China. The case involved a 50-year-old man living in Hechi in Guangxi. He developed symptoms on [16 Feb 2021] and was admitted for treatment on [17 Feb 2021] due to severe pneumonia. The patient passed away on [2 Mar 2021].From 2014 to date, 30 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported by China mainland health authorities.Avian influenza is caused by Read more [...]
Dream to Reality: NIOSH Early Years
As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of NIOSH, we look back on our history. The long hoped for goal of a federal entity devoted to occupational safety and health was taking shape in the mid to late 1960’s with collaborative work between and among scientists (both inside and outside of government), labor leaders, and legislators. Their hard work bore fruit and hopes became reality in the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. Today we share excerpts from The National Institute for Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tula hantavirus – Germany (HH)
Hantavirus -- GermanyIf one of the 4 novel hantaviruses recently found in Turkey, namely Tula hantavirus (TULV) Palandoken indeed causes hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), as mentioned in the statement of Professor Mehmet Ali Oktem of Dokuz Eylul University's Medical Virology Department, this would be highly interesting, because the pathogenicity of TULV is still a matter of debate.The recent confirmation by RT-PCR of a TULV-induced HFRS case in France [1], confirms the pathogenicity of Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Blast disease, wheat – global epidemiology
Other Plant Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownWheat blast was originally detected in Brazil in 1985. In 2016, the 1st wheat blast beyond South America hit Bangladesh [ProMED post http://promedmail.org/post/20160411.4150953]. Less than 2 years later, Zambia was struck by the 1st wheat blast in Africa [ProMED post http://promedmail.org/post/20201006.7839169]. Until now, there has been no confirmation if the same pathogen strain had spread to all 3 continents or if these [outbreaks] were caused by endemic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (111): protease inhibitor, long COVID, surge, neut Ab, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown"Objective: Most SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected individuals never require hospitalization. However, some develop prolonged symptoms. We sought to characterize the spectrum of neurologic manifestations in non‐hospitalized COVID‐19 'long haulers'."Methods: This is a prospective study of the first 100 consecutive patients (50 SARS‐CoV‐2 laboratory‐positive and 50 laboratory‐negative individuals) presenting to our Neuro‐COVID‐19 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, pig – China: (NM) RFI
Undiagnosed -- ChinaChinese authorities are investigating scores of dead pigs found along a section of the Yellow River, according to a state-backed media report, turning the spotlight back on food and water safety in the country.Dozens of pig carcasses were discovered in the Inner Mongolia section of the country's 2nd-longest river, and some were rotting in the water, according to Banyuetan, a magazine run by state news agency Xinhua. Local authorities are investigating the source of the pigs and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (110): vaccines, neutralizing antibody, P1 variant, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United KingdomLate Monday [22 Mar 2021], the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) notified NIAID, BARDA [Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority], and AstraZeneca that it was concerned by information released by AstraZeneca on initial data from its COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial.The DSMB expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data.We urge the company to work Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Botulism – Denmark (02): company dinner, jarred fish roe
Botulism -- DenmarkA product considered to be an alternative to caviar has been linked to a botulism outbreak in Denmark. The incident occurred after 6 people ate together at a company in early March 2021 in Southern Denmark. A total of 3 were hospitalized because of botulism and 2 other people reported mild symptoms.Agustson A/S, the producer, has recalled red fish roe because of a risk that some pots from the batch could contain toxins produced by _Clostridium botulinum_. The Statens Serum Institut Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Campylobacteriosis, Cryptosporidiosis – Norway: farm, unpasteurized milk
Foodborne Illness -- Norway"In the context of the prevailing trend toward more natural products, there seems to be an increasing preference for raw milk consumption as raw milk is associated with several perceived health benefits that are believed to be destroyed upon heating. However, many human pathogens can be isolated from raw cow milk. The prevalence of foodborne pathogens in raw cow milk varies, but their presence has been demonstrated in many surveys and foodborne infections have been repeatedly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yersiniosis – Sweden: imported iceberg lettuce, restaurant chain
Foodborne Illness -- SwedenAn outbreak of _Yersinia_ in Sweden has ended with iceberg lettuce as the suspected source of infection. From January until the beginning of February 2021, twice as many people fell ill with _Yersinia_ infection as did during the same period in a normal year.From 53 cases of _Y. enterocolitica_, 33 lived in Stockholm, Vastra Gotaland, and Halland. Isolates from 24 of these cases were typed by whole genome sequencing and 16 outbreak patients with clustered isolates of sequence Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (109): animal, Argentina, Italy, cat, dog, OIE
COVID-19 -- ArgentinaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStart on: 26 Dec 2020Confirmed on: 10 Feb 2021Ended on: 30 Jan 2021Reported on: 18 Mar 2021Event status: ongoingReason for notification: emerging diseaseEvent morbidity (%): 1Event mortality: -Zoonotic potential: noDiagnostic details: laboratory testCausal agent: SARS-CoV-2New outbreaks (4)Outbreak location 1: Capital, Santiago del EsteroStarted on: 16 Jan 2021Ended on: 30 Jan 2021Epidemiological unit: otherTotal Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed neurological illness – Canada: (NB) fatal, RFI
Undiagnosed -- CanadaNews last week [week of 15 Mar 2021] that a cluster of cases of an unknown neurological disease has been found in New Brunswick immediately had residents of several communities on edge.First diagnosed in 2015, according to a Public Health memo sent this month [March 2021] to medical professionals, the disease appears to be concentrated in the Acadian Peninsula in northeast New Brunswick and the Moncton region in the southeast. 3 cases have been identified, and 5 people have Read more [...]
The Art and Science of 'Earth Repair' – State of the Planet
The Art and Science of ‘Earth Repair’ State of the Planet
DG Digest: UN ADR Wraps Up 15th Meeting of the Working Party on the transport of Dangerous Goods
Spring arrived Saturday. With it comes not only flowers but the hope of a looming end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many workplaces are assisting interested, eligible employees with finding vaccination availability. Eligibility criteria varies across the country on a state-by-state basis; if your workplace has an assistance program, be sure you’re ready to answer questions...
The post DG Digest: UN ADR Wraps Up 15th Meeting of the Working Party on the transport of Dangerous Goods Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed leaf curl & wilt, capsicum – India: (OR)
Undiagnosed -- IndiaRecently, farmers have undertaken capsicum cultivation in the area. However, leaf curling and wilting disease has suddenly affected the capsicum, [a] farmer said.Farm scientists held the farmers responsible for the disease. They said [they] could prevent the disease by treatment of the soil, seeds and saplings before cultivation. [An] agriculture scientist of Krushi Vigyan Kendra [agricultural extension centre] visited farmers. He said [they] could use neem cake powder or _Trichoderma Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Europe (06): Poland (LB) domestic pig, commercial farm
African Swine Fever -- PolandPoland, for the 1st time this year [2021], confirmed an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in domestic pigs.The Veterinary Authority confirmed the outbreak on a farm in the Swiebodzin district of the Lubusz Voivodeship, just about 60 km [37.3 mi] from the German-Polish border. The direct distance to Frankfurt an der Oder is about 80 km [49.7 mi]. A breeding sow herd with almost 16 000 animals is affected. This is the 2nd largest outbreak since ASF was 1st detected Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (07): Malaysia (SA) wild porcine, spread
African Swine Fever -- MalaysiaThe African swine fever (ASF) virus has now spread widely among the vulnerable Bornean bearded pigs with at least 128 confirmed deaths.Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in a statement here today [Wed 17 Mar 2021] said the government fears for the survival of the species, especially because the population of the Bornean bearded pigs is already declining."I am concerned the ASF will further decrease their population at a much faster rate," Read more [...]
Eastbound I-696 ramp to Couzens closing March 29 for completion of hazmat cleanup – The Macomb Daily
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (47): Europe, wild bird, HPAI H5, H5N5, OIE
Avian Influenza -- Czech RepublicSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 4 Mar 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 11 Mar 2021Reason for notification: RecurrenceDate of previous occurrence: 3 Apr 2017Reported on: 18 Mar 2021Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: H5Nature of diagnosis: laboratory This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.New outbreaks (1)Summary of outbreaks:Total Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Murray Valley/Kunjin viruses – Australia: (NT) susp
Japanese Encephalitis -- AustraliaNT (Northern Territory) Health has issued a warning about mosquito borne diseases in the Top End following a fatal case of a mosquito-borne encephalitis presentation on the Tiwi Islands.While the specific mosquito-borne virus responsible remains unknown at this time, it is considered to most likely be Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus or Kunjin virus.MVE is a rare disease, but can be fatal. The symptoms can include severe headache, high fever, drowsiness, tremor, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (108): vaccines, nanopart., Europe, S Africa, AstraZeneca, WHO
COVID-19 -- United KingdomAs the international effort to vaccinate the population against COVID-19 gathers pace, the demand for vaccine doses that can be used in all countries and climates is enormous. Researchers from Cleveland Clinic [Ohio, USA] and Chungbuk National University [Cheongju, South Korea] have described a new vaccine candidate that triggers an immune response using antigens attached to nanoparticles, potentially bypassing the need for cold storage during delivery. They report their Read more [...]
