Archive for editor

Bringing Process Safety Management into the Digital Era – Occupational Health and Safety

Bringing Process Safety Management into the Digital Era  Occupational Health and Safety

Beltway saw crash-filled, rainy Thursday for tractor-trailers – WTOP

Beltway saw crash-filled, rainy Thursday for tractor-trailers  WTOP

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (145) – USA: home remedy, bleach/household cleansers

Poisoning, COVID-19 -- United StatesAt least 4 states have seen an increase in the number of cases of people ingesting household cleaners in an effort to prevent or cure the coronavirus. Illinois, New York, Maryland, and Michigan have all seen increases.Over the weekend, Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike warned people not to take those products as a form of home remedy."Some recent examples include the use of detergent solution for a sinus rinse and gargling with a bleach and mouthwash Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Methanol poisoning – Iran (02): inappropriate rumor-based COVID-19 treatment

COVID-19, Poisoning -- IranMore than 700 people have died in Iran after ingesting toxic methanol, erroneously thinking it can cure the new coronavirus. The national coroner's authority said alcohol poisoning killed 728 Iranians between 20 Feb and 7 Apr 2020. Last year [2019] there were only 66 deaths from alcohol poisoning, according to the report.Alcohol poisoning has seen a 10-fold increase in Iran in the past year, according to a government report released earlier in April [2020], amid the coronavirus Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pediatric inflammatory syndrome (02): France, UK, COVID-19 susp, RFI

COVID-19 -- FranceThe United Kingdom and Italy have in recent days sounded an alarm about a new disease with possible links to novel coronavirus. France has more than a dozen cases of children with inflammation around the heart after Britain sounded an alarm about a new disease with possible links to novel coronavirus. French health minister Olivier Veran said there was not enough evidence to confirm a link with the coronavirus sweeping the globe, but France was taking the cases "very seriously."Britain's Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (02): (AZ,TX) horse, mixed st.

Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesIn its 22 Apr 2020 Situation Report, the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed Arizona's 1st case of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) for 2020. As a result, one premises in Cochise County is under quarantine. Cochise is Arizona's southeastern-most county.The index premises houses 2 horses and 5 calves. Only one of the horses has shown clinical signs (oral lesions) of VSV. The signs reportedly Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Lumpy skin disease – Syria: (LA) cattle, OIE

Lumpy Skin Disease -- SyriaInformation received on [and dated] 30 Apr 2020 from Dr Hussein Al Souliman, director, Animal Health Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform, Damascus, SyriaSummary:Report type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 2 Apr 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 30 Apr 2020Date submitted to OIE: 30 Apr 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 8 Jan 2020Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (144): China, South Korea, countries w/ high local transmission

COVID-19 -- ChinaRegarding health monitoring related to the spread of the new coronavirus [SARS-CoV-2] on the national territory:- 203 591 cumulative cases- 104 657 people are currently positive for the virus;- 71 252 people have recovered;- 19 210 patients are hospitalized with symptoms, 1795 in intensive care, and 83 652 are in home isolation;- 27 682 deaths have been reported; however, this number can only be confirmed after the Istituto Superiore di Sanita has established the actual cause of Read more [...]

3 tractor-trailer crashes on Beltway — including jackknifed truck at ‘Big Curve’ – WTOP

3 tractor-trailer crashes on Beltway — including jackknifed truck at ‘Big Curve’  WTOP

PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (02): Americas (Brazil)

West Nile Virus -- BrazilWest Nile fever virus infection is transmitted by _Culex_ mosquitoes (a common mosquito). It is an arbovirus like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya [viruses].According to the Ministry of Health, there is no available treatment for mild or moderate cases -- the patient stays at rest and drinks liquids. For serious cases, attention in the intensive care unit is necessary.Symptoms--------According to the Ministry of Health, about 20% of individuals with West Nile fever are symptomatic Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (143): USA (NY) zoo, tiger, lion, tests

COVID-19 — United States

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (142): global, care home, WHO

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown2 Feb 2020: 17 187 / ... / 80 024 / ... / 81 589 / ... / 82 830 / 82 836 / 82 858 / 82 858 / Mainland China2 Feb 2020: 15 / ... / 3726 / ... / 9976 / ... / 10 738 / 10 752 / 10 761 / 10 761 / South KoreaCountries with major activity (more than 5000 cases with community spread)--------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Feb 2020: 11 / ... / 76 / ... / 215 081 / ... / 987 160 / 1 010 356 / 1 035 765 / 1 045 717 / USA2 Feb 2020: 1 / ... / Read more [...]

COVID-19 Affecting New Inventory Of Hazardous Materials Requirements In December – Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

COVID-19 Affecting New Inventory Of Hazardous Materials Requirements In December  Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Humboldt MET: 1,170 pot plants destroyed, 6 environmental violations found in Dinsmore – KRCRTV.COM

Humboldt MET: 1,170 pot plants destroyed, 6 environmental violations found in Dinsmore  KRCRTV.COM

PRO/PL> Xylella fastidiosa – new host species

Xylella Fastidiosa -- Worldwide/UnknownThirty-seven new plant species have been identified as hosts of the _Xylella fastidiosa_ pathogen. Most were naturally (not artificially) infected and were found both in EU countries (France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) and non-EU countries (USA and Iran). The new hosts include common ornamental, wild, and commercial plants such as fleabane (_Erigeron_ sp.), _Helichrysum stoechas_, pistachio (_Pistacia vera_), and persimmon (_Diospyros kaki_). The newly identified Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (13): China, domestic, spread

African Swine Fever -- ChinaAs China has largely brought the coronavirus pandemic under control within its borders, another highly contagious disease -- one affecting livestock -- is reappearing and raising questions about the accuracy of the country's reporting.For about 4 months from mid-November 2019, pig farms in China reported no new cases of African swine fever (ASF), the deadly hemorrhagic disease that last year [2019] resulted in the loss of around 120 million hogs in the country. Chinese Read more [...]

Acadia Sheriff: Fire out, no injuries after lightning hits oil tank – KATC Lafayette News

Acadia Sheriff: Fire out, no injuries after lightning hits oil tank  KATC Lafayette News

Hey you! Quarantine isn't a free pass to dump garbage wherever you want – Pacific Northwest Inlander

Hey you! Quarantine isn’t a free pass to dump garbage wherever you want  Pacific Northwest Inlander

Cause of Olin chemical release under investigation | Free Share – Brazosport Facts

Cause of Olin chemical release under investigation | Free Share  Brazosport Facts

Henderson County Fire Department Responds to Hazardous Material Accident. – lexingtonprogress.com

Henderson County Fire Department Responds to Hazardous Material Accident.  lexingtonprogress.com

PRO/EDR> Dengue/DHF update (05): Americas

Dengue -- Costa RicaCases by Country / Week updated / Serotype / Total / Confirmed / Severe / DeathsNorth AmericaUSA / 16 [w/e 18 Apr 2020] / D? / 133 / 133 / 0 / 0Central America and MexicoBelize / 7 [w/e 15 Feb 2020] / D1,3 / 473 / 156 / 0 / 0Costa Rica / 12 [w/e 21 Mar 2020] / D1,2 / 1574 / 101 / 0 / 0El Salvador / 15 [w/e 11 Apr 2020] / D2 / 2440 / 20 / 4 / 0Guatemala / 11 [w/e 14 Mar 2020] / D1,2,3 / 2808 / 1130 / 1 / 1Honduras / 13 [w/e 28 Mar 2020] / D1,2 / 11 460 / 21 / 982 / 982 / Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (140): China, South Korea, countries w/ high local transmission

COVID-19 -- ChinaRegarding health monitoring related to the spread of the new coronavirus [SARS-CoV-2] on the national territory:- 201 505 cumulative cases- 105 205 people are currently positive for the virus;- 68 941 people have recovered;- 19 723 patients are hospitalized with symptoms, 1863 in intensive care, and 83 619 are in home isolation;- 27 359 deaths have been reported; however, this number can only be confirmed after the Istituto Superiore di Sanita has established the actual cause of Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (139): global, cruise ship overview, WHO

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown2 Feb 2020: 17 187 / ... / 80 024 / ... / 81 589 / ... / 82 830 / 82 836 / 82 858 / Mainland China2 Feb 2020: 15 / ... / 3726 / ... / 9976 / ... / 10 738 / 10 752 / 10 761 / South KoreaCountries with major activity (more than 5000 cases with community spread)--------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Feb 2020: 11 / ... / 76 / ... / 215 081 / ... / 987 160 / 1 010 356 / 1 035 765 / USA2 Feb 2020: 1 / ... / 84 / ... / 104 119 / ... / 226 Read more [...]

Clean Harbors Announces First-Quarter 2020 Financial Results – Business Wire

Clean Harbors Announces First-Quarter 2020 Financial Results  Business Wire

Workers Memorial Day, 2020: NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., Reflects on the State of Worker Safety and Health

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act that established the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as the sole federal agency focused on worker safety and health research. The Act also charged the Secretary of Labor with setting and enforcing workplace safety and health standards, giving birth to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In 1970, when the Act became law, the need for worker protection was urgent, with Read more [...]

PRO/PL> Orange rust, sugar cane – Mauritius: new strain susp.

Other Plant Disease -- MauritiusOrange rust caused by _Puccinia kuehnii_ was observed in Mauritius in March 2018 [ProMED-mail post http://promedmail.org/post/20180613.5853746] on cultivar M 2705/06 under selection. Typical symptoms of cinnamon to yellowish brown lesions, with pustules protruding on the underside of leaves and occurring at times in patches were observed. The causal agent of orange rust was confirmed by light microscopy, PCR using specific primers and sequencing of PCR fragments. It Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (41): Hungary (BK, CS) poultry, HPAI H5N8, spread

Avian Influenza H5N8 -- HungaryCases of the H5N8 strain of the bird flu have been confirmed in 226 farms in Hungary's southern Bacs-Kiskun and Csongrad counties, leading to the culling of 3.5 million animals, the chief veterinary officer said on Monday [27 Apr 2020].In areas where farms stood too close to each other, 870 000 poultry had to be culled to thin the stock and stop the virus from spreading, Lajos Bognar said. The farmers' damage totals at several billion forints [one billion Hungarian Read more [...]

Hannaford store in West Lebanon evacuated in gas leak – Valley News

Hannaford store in West Lebanon evacuated in gas leak  Valley News

UPDATE: 'Pinhole leak' caused alert at ARLANXEO plant – BlackburnNews.com

UPDATE: ‘Pinhole leak’ caused alert at ARLANXEO plant  BlackburnNews.com

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (138): India, wild tiger, fatal

COVID-19 -- India[edited]All forest department officials of Pench Tiger Reserve, who were quarantined after the death of T-21 tiger, have completed their quarantine period and all are fit now. The tiger died on [4 Apr 2020] in Pench Tiger Reserve. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had issued alert after tiger was found COVID-19 positive in US. Pench Tiger Reserve is spread in Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh.The T-21 tiger died due to lungs infection and high fever. Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (137): China, South Korea, countries w/ high local transmission

COVID-19 -- ChinaRegarding health monitoring related to the spread of the new coronavirus [SARS-CoV-2] on the national territory:- 199 414 cumulative cases- 105 813 people are currently positive for the virus;- 66 624 people have recovered;- 20 353 patients are hospitalized with symptoms, 1956 in intensive care, and 83 504 are in home isolation;- 26 977 deaths have been reported; however, this number can only be confirmed after the Istituto Superiore di Sanita has established the actual cause of Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Measles update (13): corr

Measles -- BoliviaI would like to thank the ProMED-mail readers who brought to my attention the misleading statements mistakenly included in my comments ([4] Bolivia: atypical case), taken from the organization The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC); specifically, "Published medical research indicates that vaccine failure due to waning immunity can occur, despite multiple doses of measles vaccine. Measles vaccine-acquired immunity is reported to wane in at least 5% of cases within 10 to 15 Read more [...]

Work-related Fatigue Reaches Beyond the Workplace

Fatigue has been defined as “the body’s response to sleep loss or to prolonged physical or mental exertion.”1 As such, with increasing periods of insufficient sleep or physical/mental exertion, the more fatigued we become. This fatigue can only be reduced with sufficient rest. However, for workers employed in nonstandard schedules, such as with shift work, early mornings and extended hours, opportunities for sufficient rest and recovery are limited2-4. Shortened or disrupted sleep Read more [...]

UPDATE: Semi that shut down Hwy. 58 was carrying 31,000 pounds of lithium batteries, CHP says – KGET 17

UPDATE: Semi that shut down Hwy. 58 was carrying 31,000 pounds of lithium batteries, CHP says  KGET 17

UPDATE: Leak reported at Sarnia ARLANXEO plant – BlackburnNews.com

UPDATE: Leak reported at Sarnia ARLANXEO plant  BlackburnNews.com

UPDATE: Westbound Hwy. 58 opens, two eastbound lanes Hwy. 58 opens – KGET 17

UPDATE: Westbound Hwy. 58 opens, two eastbound lanes Hwy. 58 opens  KGET 17

UPDATED: Leak reported at Sarnia ARLANXEO plant – BlackburnNews.com

UPDATED: Leak reported at Sarnia ARLANXEO plant  BlackburnNews.com

Lanes open on EB Highway 58 between Weedpatch Highway and Fairfax following shut down – KERO 23ABC News

Lanes open on EB Highway 58 between Weedpatch Highway and Fairfax following shut down  KERO 23ABC News

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (135): Netherlands (NB) farmed mink

COVID-19 -- Netherlands[edited]A coronavirus infection among mink being raised on 2 fur farms in the Netherlands has forced the closure of several roads with people warned not to come within 400 meters [approx. 0.25 mi] of the farms. The 2 locations are in Gemert-Bakel and Laarbeek, about 10 km [approx. 6.2 mi] apart in the province of Noord-Brabant.The virus was believed to be spread from humans at the farms to the mink, and not the other way around."As a precautionary measure, RIVM [public health Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pediatric inflammatory syndrome – UK: COVID-19 suspected, alert, RFI

COVID-19 -- United KingdomPlease note this is a statement intended for medical professionals who look after critically ill children.If you are a parent, please be assured that serious illness as a result of COVID-19 still appears to be a very rare event in children. If your child is unwell or has the symptoms of sepsis, then please seek medical attention in the usual way as set out in guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:Over the weekend, PICS members received an email Read more [...]