Archive for editor

Burnsville Fire, hazmat crews clear pool chemical leak Friday – SW News Media

Burnsville Fire, hazmat crews clear pool chemical leak Friday  SW News MediaBurnsville Apartment Buildings Evacuated Due To Chemical Leak; 2 Hurt  WCCO | CBS MinnesotaPool chemical leak in Burnsville injures two, forces evacuation of apartment buildings  St. Paul Pioneer PressTwo hospitalized, two buildings evacuated in pool chemical leak in Burnsville  ECM Publishers2 injured after pool chemical leak in Burnsville  Bring Me The NewsView full coverage Read more [...]

DG Digest: A major new NPRM (HM-219C) from PHMSA, plus updates from FMCSA, OSHA and more.

It’s still a few weeks until Labor Day and the unofficial end of the season. However in strong contrast to the recent summer regulatory doldrums, as we head towards summer’s end the Federal Register was busy indeed this week with multiple large published actions by a number of relevant agencies. Grab your coffee and find

PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – India (08): (OR) cattle, human, toxic mushrooms

Anthrax -- IndiaHere is food for thought for the state's powers-that-be. Due to lack of access to cheap protein, poor, backward and tribal districts in the state are turning to wild mushrooms and dead cattle/goat meat, which is leading to a rise in food poisoning and anthrax cases in Odisha.Though the Odisha Government has launched with much fanfare the Odisha Food Security Act with an objective to ensure food security of 34 lakh [3 400 000] more families, a reality check reveals how many villages Read more [...]

PRO/AH> African swine fever – Asia (63): Philippines (RI) domestic, 1st rep, susp

African Swine Fever -- PhilippinesThe [Philippines] Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered the culling of hogs in an unidentified area to contain what could be the entry of the African swine fever (ASF) virus in the country. In a press conference on Monday [19 Aug 2019], agriculture secretary William Dar neither confirmed nor denied reports that the ASF virus has infected hogs raised in Rizal, but noted that the agency received an incident report on Friday [16 Aug 2019] "on an increased mortality Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Kazakhstan (02): (AM) cattle, human

Anthrax -- KazakhstanA total of 4 anthrax cases have been confirmed in the Akmola region, reports the health care department. "Up to [now] 5 [suspected cases of] anthrax have been recorded; lab tests have confirmed 4. The cause of contamination was cow butchering without a veterinary certificate in a private yard," said the interlocutor."Epidemiological situation in the Akmola region and Nur-Sultan is stable," said the department. "The situation is being constantly monitored by the committee," said Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Spotted fever – Germany: Rickettsia aeschlimannii via hyalomma tick

Other Human Disease -- GermanyThe University of Hohenheim and the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology [IMB] have detected spotted fever in a hyalomma tick, the 1st time such a tick is suspected to have caused disease in a human in Germany.This tick feeds on humans and can transmit a form of spotted fever in Germany. What were still unanswered questions about the tropical giant tick hyalomma is now certainty. At the beginning of August [2019], it was suspected that for the 1st time, a human in Germany Read more [...]

Officials: Hazardous materials team checks out ‘suspicious package’ in Fox Point – fox6now.com

Officials: Hazardous materials team checks out ‘suspicious package’ in Fox Point  fox6now.com

FOX POINT — North Shore Fire and Rescue along with the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team have been dispatched to Fox Point for a call …

IDEM Investigating Chemical Spill Near Indiana Dunes National Park – Indiana Environmental Reporter

IDEM Investigating Chemical Spill Near Indiana Dunes National Park  Indiana Environmental Reporter

Parts of Indiana Dunes National Park closed after cyanide, ammonia detected in Little Calumet River.

PRO/PL> Fungal foot rot, rice – India: (PB)

Other Plant Disease -- IndiaThe Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has warned farmers across Punjab against the attack of foot rot disease in basmati [varieties of] rice. According to Dr Narinder Singh, foot rot is an important disease of basmati rice. After transplanting in the field, infected plants are killed after a few days. Pinkish growth of the fungus appears on the lower sheaths.Dr Singh said the crop remains free from this disease if farmers have followed the seed and root dip treatment Read more [...]

PRO/PL> Undiagnosed disease, rice – Sri Lanka: (RN)

Undiagnosed -- Sri LankaSeventy acres of paddy crops in Balangoda [Ratnapura district] have been infected with an unidentified disease. The farmers state that due to the disease, all the paddy heads turn white, rendering it inconsumable. They noted that the disease had destroyed their crops and they are left helpless. They requested the officials to look into the matter and provide a solution.The Balangoda Agrarian Center has already informed the Bathalagoda Rice Research and Development Institute Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – USA (08): (MA)

Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesThe Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed a 2nd human case of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] in the state on Friday [16 Aug 2019]. Officials also raised the risk level for EEE to "critical" in 10 more towns in central and eastern Massachusetts.The department said the new EEE case is in a man between the ages of 19-30 in Grafton. As a result, Grafton, Hopkinton, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southboro, Upton, and Westboro are all at "critical Read more [...]

UPDATE: Substation near Eastman plant said to be cause of outages; no explosion at plant – Longview News-Journal

UPDATE: Substation near Eastman plant said to be cause of outages; no explosion at plant  Longview News-Journal

An incident at an AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co. substation near the Eastman Chemical Co. plant in Longview is said to be the cause of widespread and …

PRO/AH/EDR> Potomac horse fever – USA (MA) horse

Rickettsia -- United StatesThe Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has confirmed 2 cases of Potomac horse fever (PHF), one in Essex County and one in Norfolk County.The Norfolk County horse, whose age, gender, breed, and vaccination status were not reported, presented on 16 Jul 2019 with clinical signs including being "off feed" and uncomfortable -- signs generally associated with mild colic -- followed by fever and diarrhea. Veterinarians diagnosed the horse with PHF the following Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Measles update (56)

Measles -- Worldwide/UnknownMeasles is a highly contagious viral disease for which no treatment exists. The only way to fight it is vaccination and treatment of the symptoms in the hope that the patient will be strong enough to naturally fight off the infection.The measles epidemic declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 10 Jun 2019 is the deadliest the country has experienced since 2011-2012. Between January and early August 2019, over 145 000 people have been infected, and 2758 have Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Hepatitis E – USA: (NY) susp. Mexican basil, RFI

Hepatitis E — United States

PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (29): (NJ) golf club, food handler related

Hepatitis A -- United StatesAn outbreak of hepatitis A with 23 confirmed cases has been traced to a food handler who worked in the kitchen of a private Morris County country club, state officials said on Thu 15 Aug 2019. One infected individual remained "seriously ill" on Thu 15 Aug 2019, according to New Jersey Department of Health spokeswoman Donna Leusner.Patrons of the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club are anxiously awaiting a Mon 19 Aug 2019 deadline for the incubation period to pass for the infectious Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Namibia: (CA) cattle, not typed, OIE

Foot and Mouth -- NamibiaInformation received on [and dated] 15 Aug 2019 from Dr Adrianatus Florentius Maseke, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Windhoek, NamibiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 8 Aug 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 12 Aug 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 13 Feb 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Foot Read more [...]

37 injured in fire at ExxonMobil olefins plant, shelter-in-place order lifted – The Baytown Sun

37 injured in fire at ExxonMobil olefins plant, shelter-in-place order lifted  The Baytown SunExxon fights fire at Baytown, Texas, petrochemical plant; 37 injured  CNBC66 people sent for medical attention after ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Texas  NBCNews.comThe Site of One of the Largest US Oil Refineries Is on Fire  VICEFire under control at Exxon petrochemical plant; some workers suffer minor burns  Yahoo FinanceView full coverage on Google Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease – USA (11): (CA) chickens, feed store

Newcastle Disease -- United StatesCalifornia Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) state veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones disclosed on 15 Aug 2019 that ongoing surveillance and testing in the virulent Newcastle disease (VND) outbreak in Southern California resulted in the detection of a new case on 14 Aug 2019 at a retail feed store in western San Bernardino County.Jones said this is the 1st detection of VND since 4 Jun 2019. She noted staff members from CDFA and the US Department of Agriculture Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (13): (CO, TX) more cases

Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesGrand County has its 1st case of the vesicular stomatitis virus, a viral disease affecting numerous horses along the Front Range and in other states.The Grand County CSU [Colorado State University] extension office warned of a suspected case of the virus in a horse last week [week of Mon 29 Jul 2019] when it sent an email blast to its members asking them to take precautions against the spread of the virus. The email detailed how the horse, which had recently attended Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – USA (06): horse

Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesVeterinarians have euthanized a 3-year-old Arabian-cross gelding in Sumter County, South Carolina, after he tested positive for Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE). Clemson Livestock Poultry Health stated that this is South Carolina's 3rd case in 2019. Clemson officials announced the state's 1st confirmed case, in Chesterfield County, on 23 Jul 2019.Only one horse in South Carolina, also in Chesterfield County, was confirmed positive for EEE in 2018.EEE Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (33): USA (NV)

Hantavirus -- United StatesA south Reno resident contracted [a] hantavirus [infection], a sometimes deadly disease typically spread by deer mice, the Washoe District Health Department reported Thursday [15 Aug 2019]. It's the 1st Washoe County case since 2 were reported in 2017.The condition of the person was not reported.The disease is spread by inhaling or touching particles with the virus. "This typically occurs when working or recreating in areas where mouse droppings, urine, or saliva may have Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia – North America (13): USA (OK, AZ, WI) horse

Equine Infectious Anemia -- United StatesA 2-year-old grade gelding in Oklahoma was euthanized on [15 Jul 2019], after testing positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA), according to [an] Equine Disease Communication Center report released on [26 Jul 2019].[Byline: Michelle N. Anderson]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts******[2] ArizonaDate: Thu 8 Aug 2019Source: The Horse [edited]A recently gathered wild burro at the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Florence, Arizona, facility Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Cyclosporiasis – USA (05): imported basil, Mexico

Foodborne Illness -- United StatesAn outbreak of illness [cyclosporiasis] linked to basil imported from Mexico has sickened 120 people in New Jersey and more than 500 in other states since May (2019).A microscopic parasite, known as _Cyclospora_, appears to have contaminated basil exported by Siga Logistics de RL de CV, in Morelos, Mexico. The company has voluntarily recalled its basil, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration, which is increasing its screening of the imported herb.You Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis, visceral – Kenya (02): (MB)

Leishmaniasis -- KenyaKenya is reporting a large outbreak of the parasitic disease, visceral leishmaniasis (Kala Azar). Since January through the 1st week of August (2019), a total of 1986 cases of leishmaniasis have been reported from Marsabit, Wajir and Garissa counties. Marsabit County has been hit the hardest, reporting 1716 suspected cases with 19 deaths. Overall in Kenya, 27 deaths have been recorded.Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease found in parts of the tropics, subtropics, and southern Read more [...]

Shreveport fire battles early morning industrial building fire – KTBS

Shreveport fire battles early morning industrial building fire  KTBS

SHREVEPORT, La. – On Saturday, Shreveport Firefighters were called to the 700 block of North Market at Shaw Alloy Piping for a possible industrial building fire …

Steel plant dumps cyanide into Little Calumet River, killing fish and shutting down part of Indiana Dunes – Chicago Sun-Times

Steel plant dumps cyanide into Little Calumet River, killing fish and shutting down part of Indiana Dunes  Chicago Sun-Times

An unknown substance was spilled in the east branch of the Little Calumet River, causing fish to die.

Chemical spill closes 2 Indiana beaches – Crain's Chicago Business

Chemical spill closes 2 Indiana beaches  Crain’s Chicago Business

Waterfront in Portage and Ogden Dunes closed after a fish kill near the ArcelorMittal steel plant.

PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – USA (06): (NJ)

Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesNew Jersey's Health Department has confirmed its 1st case of Eastern equine encephalitis in a human this summer [2019]. The department says an elderly Somerset County man was hospitalized, but has since been discharged for continued rehabilitation care.Most people infected by the mosquito-borne illness have no apparent signs. But health officials say severe cases involving an inflammation of the brain begin with the sudden onset of headaches, high fevers, Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Strangles – UK: (England) horse, alert

Strangles -- United KingdomRichmond Equestrian Centre in North Yorkshire has cancelled all upcoming events, including its British Eventing fixture, after a case of strangles on its livery yard. Richmond Horse Trials (2) was due to take place on [30 Aug to 1 Sep 2019].Co-owner Abigail Turner told H&H they were devastated to announce the cancellation of the BE event, but emphasised "horse welfare comes first"."The vet came out to a livery's horse on Tuesday [13 Aug 2019] which had a slightly snotty Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (62): Laos (PH, HO, XI) domestic, spread, OIE

African Swine Fever -- LaosInformation received on [and dated] 16 Aug 2019 from Dr. Vilayphone Vorraphim, Director General, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, LaosSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 8 Jul 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 13 Jul 2019Report date: 16 Aug 2019Date submitted to OIE: 16 Aug 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: Clinical Read more [...]

Portage Mayor Says City Was Not Told of Cyanide Leak for Days – NBC Chicago

Portage Mayor Says City Was Not Told of Cyanide Leak for Days  NBC Chicago

City officials in Portage, Indiana said they weren’t informed of a chemical leak in the Little Calumet River for multiple days after concerns were first reported.

16 PEOPLE BEING TREATED AT PMC AS RESULT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT AT LOCAL TRUCK STOP – Idaho State Journal

16 PEOPLE BEING TREATED AT PMC AS RESULT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT AT LOCAL TRUCK STOP  Idaho State Journal

Sixteen people are being treated at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello after being exposed to a hazardous substance at a local truck stop late Friday …

MULTIPLE PEOPLE TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL AS RESULT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT AT LOCAL TRUCK STOP – Idaho State Journal

MULTIPLE PEOPLE TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL AS RESULT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT AT LOCAL TRUCK STOP  Idaho State Journal

Multiple people have been transported to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello for treatment after a hazardous materials incident was reported at a local truck …

PRO/AH/EDR> Tuberculosis, XDR: pretomanid, 6-mo 3-drug oral regimen, FDA approved

Tuberculosis -- Worldwide/UnknownThe trial [a South African patient] joined was small -- it enrolled only 109 patients -- but experts are calling the preliminary results groundbreaking. The drug regimen tested on [her] has shown a 90% success rate against a deadly plague, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.On Wednesday [14 Aug 2019], the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) effectively endorsed the approach, approving the newest of the 3 drugs used in the regimen. Usually, the World Health Organization Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza – Mali: (SG) donkey, morbidity & mortality, lab confirmed

Equine Influenza -- MaliEquine influenza has been identified as the respiratory disease that claimed the lives of nearly 60 000 donkeys in West Africa earlier this year [2019].Despite the huge number of animals being affected, there was initially no formal diagnosis for the disease [sic; see commentary]. Many countries declared the outbreak to be the common respiratory infection strangles. But veterinarians from the international animal charity Spana noticed that the outbreak that swept through Mali Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (68): global WPV and cVDPV, Benin 1st report

Polio -- PakistanNew wild poliovirus cases isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 5Environment: 8Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2019: 65Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 33New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 7Environment: 1Others: 5Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2019: 51Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 104HeadlinesSummary of new viruses this week:Afghanistan -- 3 wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1)-positive Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (80): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, summaries, therapeutics, response

Ebola — DR Congo

What hazardous materials are carried on Route 7? – WTOV Steubenville

What hazardous materials are carried on Route 7?  WTOV Steubenville

More and more trucks travel through the Ohio Valley, but what are they carrying? The Belmont County EMA conducted a commodity study along Route 7 over …

PRO/PL> Undiagnosed disease, fig – Iraq: (DA)

Undiagnosed -- IraqLocal officials and farmers in Akre, Duhok province, warn that an unknown disease will ravage this year's [2019] fig harvest, destroying almost half of the area's crops. On average, 3600 tons of figs are produced in Akre every year, but this figure is set to drop by 45%, Akre agriculture department [said].A farmer [said], "There is no product. All the [figs] have fallen. I have sprayed the trees with pesticides twice, but it seems to be ineffective." Some of his figs have already Read more [...]