todays RSOE alerts are....not good BH : Tularemia (human, fatal) / North-America / USA [1:0] Posted: 08 Aug 2014 09:58 PM PDT EDIS Number: BH-20140809-44855-USA Date / time: 09/08/2014 04:54:57 [UTC] Event: Biological Hazard Name of Hazard: Tularemia (human, fatal) Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Illinois Description: The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District confirmed Thursday there has been one human case of the rare infectious disease tularemia in Champaign County. Officials declined to say whether the case involved Kenneth Walker, 50, of Savoy, who died on Aug. 1. Mr. Walkers obituary stated he died after a short battle with tularemia and its complications. Cases of tularemia - which most often results from direct contact with infected animals - have numbered in the handfuls statewide in recent years. There were just four cases in 2012 and five in 2011, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The local public health district issued warnings in 2011 and again in June 2013 about keeping cats indoors to reduce the chances of getting tularemia, because cats can prey on sick rabbits and rodents and become infected. There have been cats in the Champaign-Urbana area diagnosed with tularemia in 2011, 2012 and 2013, according to the health district. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde said contact with cats and rabbits isnt the only tularemia threat, and she advised also being careful outdoors to reduce other chances of picking up the infection. Tularemia - also known as rabbit fever - cant be spread from person-to-person, but it can be spread through tick and deer fly bites. Other ways to become infected include handling a dead infected animal; eating or drinking contaminated food and or water; or breathing in the bacteria that causes the illness, Francisella tularensis. People might breathe in the bacteria in contaminated dust and aerosols, Pryde said. Some people have also been known to get it running over a dead infected animal with the lawn mower, she said. Not confirmed information! BH : Unidentified illness (susp. Ebola) / North-America / Canada [0:0] Posted: 08 Aug 2014 09:51 PM PDT EDIS Number: BH-20140809-44853-CAN Date / time: 09/08/2014 04:49:37 [UTC] Event: Biological Hazard Name of Hazard: Unidentified illness (susp. Ebola) Area: North-America Country: Canada State/County: Province of Ontario City: Brampton Description: A Toronto-area hospital is treating a patient with fever and flu-like symptoms who recently visited Nigeria, where a state of emergency has been declared over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. CBC News said on Friday that the patient has been isolated at the Brampton, Ontario hospital, as a precautionary measure. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that West Africas Ebola epidemic constituted an international health emergency and the virus, which has killed nearly 1,000 people, could continue spreading for months. Not confirmed information! BH : Mass Die-off (fishes) / North-America / USA [0:0] Posted: 08 Aug 2014 09:49 PM PDT EDIS Number: BH-20140809-44852-USA Date / time: 09/08/2014 04:47:30 [UTC] Event: Biological Hazard Name of Hazard: Mass Die-off (fishes) Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Kansas City: Great Bend Description: The putrid stench of rotting fish hung heavy over Veterans Memorial Lake Friday morning and buzzards circled overhead. Meanwhile below, an army of Great Bend city employees, armed with nets, rubber gloves and plastic buckets picked their way along the shoreline. This marked the second day in row theyd spent scooping thousands of dead fish or all sizes out of the lake following what officials called a massive fish kill. Ive never seen anything like it, said Park Supervisor Scott Keeler. They spent the day Thursday clearing carcasses, but, more bloated remains floated to the surface over night. It was like we hadnt done anything at all. The lack of wind was helping the odor linger and the dead fish in the middle of the lake to remain out of reach. City crews have been cleaning up the lake as best they can, said Great Bend Acting Director of Public Lands Terry Hoff. They have drafted extra help and have the Barton County Jail trustees on standby if needed over the weekend. Although there were a handful of fish swimming in Vets Friday, the die-off pretty much took care of everything out there, Hoff said. This included everything from minnows and shad to carp and bass. Were pulling fish out of there like crazy, Hoff said. Hoff said the city has contacted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as well as the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to assist in determining the cause of the problem. It will probably be state wildlife personnel who take point on the investigation, but they had not been to the scene as of Friday. No cause has been determined, but Hoff speculated it may have been a lack of oxygen. The oxygen might have been depleted to the point they arent surviving. If either of state agencies identify the problem the information will be released through that agency, he said. This lake has been identified as experiencing a toxic blue-green algae bloom for the past several years. Usage of the lake has been restricted by the KDHE which placed it under a warning status. When under a warning, the body of water has high levels algae. The most severe of KDHEs classifications, a warning indicates that water conditions are unsafe and direct water contact (wading, skiing and swimming) is prohibited. The city installed emulsion diffusers, submerged devices that are attached to an air compressor and gently release oxygen bubbles into the water, to help alleviate the problem. It has also hired a consultant to identify, address and remediate any problems, Hoff said. That consultant is in the process of developing a plan of action. Neither the city nor the consultant have been able to determine if the blue-green algae bloom has contributed to this fish kill, but it is the highly suspected, Hoff said. Nothing new has been introduced into the lake and the city hasnt done anything differently. Officials dont believe the fish kill was caused by an intentional, criminal human act. For now, we are asking the users of the park to stay away from the lake shore so workers can complete the cleanup, Hoff said. Not confirmed information! BH : Anthrax (cow) / Caribean Area / Haiti [0:0] Posted: 08 Aug 2014 11:19 AM PDT EDIS Number: BH-20140808-44848-HTI Date / time: 08/08/2014 18:17:40 [UTC] Event: Biological Hazard Name of Hazard: Anthrax (cow) Area: Caribean Area Country: Haiti State/County: Province of Ouest City: Petit-Goave Description: For about two weeks, cases of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) were reported in various localities including Corail of the eighth communal section of Petit-Goave. According to a preliminary assessment, drawn up by the peasants: 6 oxen died from this disease and 9 people are currently infected... Worse, the meat of infected animals have been sold in the market, a situation that constitutes a major risk for consumer health. Urgent action must be taken by the communal agriculture office and the UCS-Goâvienne to curb and eradicate the disease. Anthrax is an infectious disease that affects both the animal and human, very resistant to destruction, Bacillus anthracis is resistant to drought, heat, ultraviolet rays, gamma rays and many disinfectant substances. Infection usually results from exposure to spores from infected live or dead animals or contaminated animal products. Transmission from human to human have not been proven, patients pose no danger and it is not necessary to isolate them. Not confirmed information! BH : Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) / North-America / USA [0:0] Posted: 08 Aug 2014 11:16 AM PDT EDIS Number: BH-20140808-44847-USA Date / time: 08/08/2014 18:15:33 [UTC] Event: Biological Hazard Name of Hazard: Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) Area: North-America Country: USA State/County: State of Oregon Description: The Salem public works department is taking extra steps to filter out a toxin produced by an algae bloom in the North Santiam River, the citys primary source of water. Barely measurable amounts of the toxin, cylindrospermopsin, were found Aug. 1 in samples. The Statesman Journal reports no toxin has been found in Salems finished drinking water. The extra water treatment processes will continue until no trace of the toxin is found in river water. The toxin could cause nausea. Its a different toxin from the one that recently contaminated water in Toledo, Ohio. Not confirmed information! BH : Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) / North-America / Canada [0:0] Posted: 08 Aug 2014 07:14 AM PDT EDIS Number: BH-20140808-44846-CAN Date / time: 08/08/2014 14:11:20 [UTC] Event: Biological Hazard Name of Hazard: Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) Area: North-America Country: Canada State/County: Province of Ontario City: Greater Sudbury Description: Water samples taken Aug. 5, 2014, from Little Lake Panache in the eastern end of the Holmstedt Road area of Walden tested positive for blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), said the Sudbury and District Health Unit. The samples contained a species of cyanobacteria that can produce toxins. Blue-green algal blooms could also appear in other parts of the lake. Because blooms are not anchored, they can move from one location to another through wind and water action. New blooms can also form. All residents on the lake should look for blooms in their area. Blue-green algal blooms have an unsightly pea soup appearance and foul smell, and can produce toxins. Residents should avoid using or drinking water from areas where blooms are visible. The highest concentrations of toxins are usually found in blooms and scum on the shoreline. These dense accumulations pose the greatest potential risks to people and pets. The algae toxins can irritate a person’s skin and, if ingested, cause diarrhea and vomiting. If a person ingests high levels of toxin, they could suffer liver and nervous system damage. On lakes and rivers where blue-green algal blooms are confirmed, people who use the surface water for their private drinking water supply may wish to consider an alternate, protected source of water. Not confirmed information!
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 19:25:19 +0000
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