Recent Biological Hazards and Viral Outbreaks Around the World
Blue-Green Algae in Russia According to the water samples collected by the City of Helsinki Environment Centre, poisonous blue-green algae is present on most public beaches in Helsinki. The amounts of blue-green algae have mostly remained small, while in some places the occurences of algae have been abundant. Occasionally, plenty of blue-green algae has been detected in Lauttasaari Kasinoranta, Mustikkamaa, Tuorinniemi, Kallahdenniemi, and Kallahden kainalo beaches. At the same time, very few algae observations have been made at the beaches along the Vantaa River.
Fish Rotting in Morocco Since mid-June, thousands of dead fish have been rotting along the banks of the Moulouya River, in north-east Morocco. While tests are being carried out to establish the cause of death, environmental activists are blaming a local sugar refinery that they accuse of “environmental crimes.” After residents notified local environmental groups of the situation, these groups formed a collective called the “North Moroccan Green Platform” to shed light on the problem. The collective points out that the river’s estuary is classified as a protected site of biological and ecological interest, and that its fauna risks extinction. In Oriental, a north-eastern region of Morocco, dead fish litter the river’s shores for dozens of kilometres, as several videos show. The environmentalists put the blame on the sugar refinery Sucrafor.
Outbreak of meningococcal disease in New Zealand One university student is dead and a second is in hospital after an outbreak of meningococcal disease in the north Queensland city of Townsville. An 18-year-old medical student was found dead in his bedroom at James Cook University on Wednesday. The Dean of Medicine and Dentistry, Professor Richard Murray, says the student was from Western Australia and was planning a career in humanitarian medicine. He says a memorial service was held yesterday. “This is a fine, very talented and widely admired and liked young man,” he said. Another medical student from the college has also tested positive for the infection. Meningococcal invades the area around the brainstem and spinal cord and can also cause blood poisoning.
Legionnaire’s Outbreak in Spain The Valencia health department has confirmed that a 95 year old woman who was ill from Legionnaire’s Disease has died in a hospital in Alcoy. Department sources quoted by EFE said she had tested positive for the Legionella bacterium, but said she had other health conditions and it could not be certain that legionellosis was the cause of her death. A second case of Legionnaire’s Disease in the town is under treatment at the Virgen de Los Lirios Hospital and is in a stable condition. The health department has described them as two isolated cases. It comes after 10 cases were detected in Alcàsser, in the south of Valencia province, last Friday. Another two were reported in nearby Silla on Monday.
Measles Outbreak in Auckland An outbreak of measles has been confirmed in the Waikato, a month after a large measles outbreak in Auckland. The outbreak appears to be centred on Te Awamutu and surrounding communities, and while a number of young people have become ill the source of infection is at this stage unknown. The outbreak appears to have started around a week ago, and Medical Officer of Health Dr Dell Hood says more cases are likely. The incubation period for measles is usually 10-12 days. Measles symptoms include a runny nose, fever, cough, sore eyes and generally feeling unwell. Anyone who thinks their child may have measles should consult their family doctor or Healthline. An outbreak in June in Auckland saw the number of cases rise to 39.
Rubella Outbreak in Fiji Report to the nearest medical centre if symptoms of fever and body rash appear, warns the Ministry of Health. There is a rubella outbreak with 3 reported cases in the greater Suva area, as confirmed by Health Ministry spokesman Peni Namotu. Dr Francis Bingwor of the National Adviser Family Health said the Ministry intervened to raise awareness after it received reports of 2 females and a male aged between 19 and 24 years who developed symptoms of rubella at the Fiji School of Nursing. There are suspected cases for other areas like Samabula, she added Dr Bingwor is calling on parents to take precautions and get babies vaccinated against the disease to prevent them from contracting rubella from adults suspected of being affected. “Rubella is a vaccination preventable disease which can be prevented if children, both boys and girls, get vaccinated against it,” she said.
Food Poisoning Outbreak in Turkey Almost 100 Russian tourists have received medical assistance after suspected food poisoning in the Turkish resort city of Alanya, officials said on Wednesday. Russia’s tourist watchdog said 98 tourists had been poisoned and that eight remained in hospital. The tourists were all staying at the Club Gunes Garden hotel. Turkish health officials have taken samples of the hotel’s food and drinks. Five Russian tourists died in Turkey’s Bodrum in late May after drinking bootleg whiskey on a sailing trip organized by a local company.
Jelly Fish Plague in British Virgin Islands The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Conservation and Fisheries Department are asking snorkelers, dive operators and other sea goers to exercise caution while at sea as the Box Jelly Fish was sighted in local waters. Box Jelly Fish also known as Sea Wasps are a blue or transparent coloured marine stinger which makes them difficult to detect in water. The bell-shaped jellyfish delivers a painful, venomous sting from its long tentacles which can drift up to several feet behind its body.Confirmed sightings were reported yesterday along the southern chain of islands which include North Sound Virgin Gorda, Cooper and Norman Islands. The sightings were also confirmed in deep water snorkelling areas, not near the shore. No reports from Tortola, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke were received by the Conservation and Fisheries Department. Marine Biologist with the Conservation and Fisheries Department Ms. Shannon Gore wants persons to be aware and prepared, in the event of contact with the Sea Wasp. “The stings are very painful. If stung, persons should rinse the area with vinegar to neutralize the firing cells and remove any remaining tentacles.
Mumps Outbreak in Toronto Health authorities in Toronto say they have now confirmed nine cases of mumps associated with a recent outbreak — as well as three suspected cases. In a normal year the city only gets, on average, about 15 cases. According to Toronto Public Health, all of the cases are linked to Ki Restaurant at 181 Bay Street in the city’s financial district. On Saturday TPH said it was investigating four cases of mumps and that all of those affected were restaurant employees. On Tuesday the number of confirmed cases jumped to nine: eight cases are employees at the restaurant and the ninth is someone who came into contact with one of those employees. Three other cases are under investigation: one employee and two restaurant patrons. – RSOE EDIS
Luke 17:26-30 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed.”
“Christ was revealing that just as they took no note worthy view of the warnings back in those days of judgment, neither will they do so in these last days of this age. The end will come as a thief in the night to them because they will not heed the healthful urgency of what is about to happen. I know from my own personal experience with Noah that he was laughed and scoffed at like he was a simple minded idiot for even suggesting that the earth could be flooded. You will also be treated in a like fashion by the majority. But fear of dying at Armageddon will not be enough to save a person. They must be sincere in why they seek Father. Otherwise, Christ will still bar them from the kindness of Salvation. He is permitted to judge their true heart conditions.” – Commander Jaddai, Cherubic Order of Holy Angels
