Archive | September 8, 2015
6,000+ ducks killed due to outbreak of avian flu in Chiayi County, Taiwan
More than 6,000 ducks on a poultry farm in Chiayi County in Southern Taiwan were culled because epidemic prevention authorities detected the H5N8 avian flu virus in dead ducks at the farm.
An official from the Council of Agriculture said Sunday that some 200 ducks in the poultry farm were found dead over the past few days. To prevent the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, the epidemic prevention authorities decided to cull all the ducks at the farm.
While none of the other 13 poultry farms within a one kilometer radius had been found to be contaminated by the bird flu virus, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine is tracing the origin of the outbreak by checking poultry farms that raise hatchlings in the neighboring county of Yunlin.
Up to Aug. 28, 983 poultry farms around the island had sent specimens for examination. Samples from 951 poultry farms tested positive for the bird flu virus and all the birds in these farms were culled, according to the Council of Agriculture.
Courtesy of chinapost.com.tw
100+ goats are dead due to disease in Sirpur, India
At least 100 goats have perished displaying symptoms of cold and fever at Ragapur village in Sirpur (U) mandal in the last four days spreading panic among the Gonds. “We are unable to understand what ails the goats,” wondered Pendur Geeta one of whose goats fell ill two days back. Kanaka Sonabai, the local Asha workers and some other villagers informed the animal husbandry department of the disease which seems to be endemic as of now. The veterinarian did respond but failed in saving the goats the loss being valued at over Rs. 4 lakh in terms of money.
According to villagers the goats seemed to have contracted the disease while grazing in the nearby open lands. “The animals developed the symptoms only in the night after returning from grazing,” Geeta disclosed.
Courtesy of thehindu.com
73 Camels have died due to a ‘mystery illness’ in Biskra, Algeria, Africa
Not less than 73 camels were killed at Biskra, last week, a mysterious illness. Biskra animal health services, who had to see this disaster, are for the time being unable to determine the exact causes of this death.
Courtesy of liberte-algerie.com
300+ Buffaloes, plus Rhinos, Giraffes and other animals dead from outbreak of disease in Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya, Africa
In an update on the anthrax update at Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya from July, Dr Kisa J. Z. Juma Ngeiywa, CVO Director of Veterinary Services with the Ministry of Agriculture in Nairobi reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health that the outbreak is ongoing and the number of animals affected has increased.
Ngeiywa notes the number of dead Cape buffaloes due to anthrax in Lake Nakuru National Park has reached 300. The park has a buffalo population of 4,500.
In addition, a number of other animals have been affected to include rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, elands, impalas, warthogs and Thomson gazelles.
Officials report the source of the outbreak is contact with infected animal(s) at grazing/watering near the lake shore, watering holes and the fence line since mid-July.
Kenya has applied the following measures to help contain the outbreak: Movement control inside the country, disinfection / disinfestation, quarantine, surveillance outside containment and/or protection zone, official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste and surveillance within containment and/or protection zone.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the sporeforming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is most common in wild and domestic herbivores (eg, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes) but can also be seen in humans exposed to tissue from infected animals, contaminated animal products or directly to B anthracis spores under certain conditions.
Depending on the route of infection, host factors, and potentially strain-specific factors, anthrax can have several different clinical presentations. In herbivores, anthrax commonly presents as an acute septicemia with a high fatality rate, often accompanied by hemorrhagic lymphadenitis.
B. anthracis spores can remain ineffective in soil for many years. During this time, they are a potential source of infection for grazing livestock. Grazing animals may become infected when they ingest sufficient quantities of these spores from the soil.In addition to direct transmission, biting flies may mechanically transmit B. anthracis spores from one animal to another.
People can get anthrax by handling contaminated animal or animal products, consuming undercooked meat of infected animals and more recently, intentional release of spores.
Courtesy of outbreaknewstoday.com
Thousands of dead fish wash ashore in Vyborg, Russia
Photo: villagers Soviet
On the shores of the Gulf of Finland in the area of the village Soviet Vyborg region 28 August recorded massive Mohr fish. Village administration denies that it may be associated with the work of pulp and paper mill “Vyborgskaya cellulose”, and the police are talking about pragmatic murder.
Several thousand corals washed to shore on the morning of August 28 rybin found fishermen informed the head of Vladimir Vysotsky 47news rural settlement Sergey Rogov, on whose territory appeared dead fish. “They say that went to sleep and woke up in the morning and saw this” happiness “. And different fish-perch, bream, small bream, pike perch. This is strange, because if MOR from illness, he covers one kind. I have no versions. I how many in the area I live, but I do not remember. Now in place works, my Deputy. Will understand. “
Residents of the village Soviet, bordering the spot discards, suspect that it could poison waste pulp and paper mill JSC Vyborgskaya cellulose “, which is located in the village.
“Discards happened August 27. And yesterday, 28, plant security guards removed the vengeance effects “, said resident Soviet 47news Anna.
“You know, that’s weird. The Administration was in no way informed us that NASKnly is dangerous there and fish that eat, “shared concerns with local resident 47news resident Olga.
Head of administration of the Soviet rural settlement Andrey Nekrasov proved to be aware of the situation. MOR occurred in the Gulf, on the territory of the coastal islands. In my opinion, the plant here. He now produces mainly fuel pellets (biofuel from waste wood-ed.), and there’s no hazardous waste. There are also paper machine, but its functioning nor does it imply the use of hazardous substances, said Nekrasov. -Nevertheless, the combine ordered environmental review. In the know and FEMA, and consumer rights and the police “.
In the Leningrad region reported by EMERCOM 47news that rescue workers visited the site. “Visible signs of contamination were found. dministraciâ should clean up their own fish. And the Russian took orbrazcy fish for analysis, “the press service said. In From, in connection with the weekend comment could not be obtained. Phones JSC Vyborgskaya cellulose “also did not respond.
The head of the regional branch of Greenpeace Dmitry Artamonov, who has got acquainted with incident from 47news, suggested the discharge of wastewater. “Mohr may be linked to two factors — natural disasters, when, for example, the spring fish dies from lack of oxygen and pollution. I’m still inclined to assume that MOR comes from sewage, “shared his thoughts Artamonov. And he added: “the production of Cellulose is very rich in toxic waste”.
Law enforcement agencies expressed an alternative view. “There is a version that it suppressed the fishermen fish and fine then just thrown overboard or not steel fish”.
Courtesy of F47news.ru
Thousands of dead fish wash up in a lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazilian environmentalist and biologist Mario Moscatelli says sewage has killed at least a ton of fish in a lagoon next to the Olympic Park that will host many Rio 2016 events.
Moscatelli said Saturday that thousands of tilapia, sea bass and mullets started washing up Friday on the shore of Rio de Janeiro’s Jacarepagua Lagoon. He said the die-off could be repeated during next year’s games.
“The lagoon is not one of the Olympic water venues but it does embrace the Olympic Park,” Moscatelli said.
He said the fish most likely died because of insufficient oxygen due to pollutants and untreated human waste flowing into the lagoon from nearby condominiums and sprawling shantytowns.
Courtesy of wtsp.com
Thousands of fish, cockles, clams and crabs dying along Hood Canal in Seattle, USA
A lack of oxygen in southern Hood Canal is killing fish, crab and other marine life, according to Seth Book, a biologist with the Skokomish Tribe who has been monitoring the marine waterway.
Through the month of August, Book and other Skokomish staff have observed dead English sole and thousands of dead and dying eel pouts on the beaches. They also have found masses of dead cockles and butter clams, and on Friday, Book said he saw hundreds of crab along the beaches that were trying to get to the surface to breath.
“It’s a dead zone anywhere east of Sister’s Point to Belfair, Mason County. There’s very low oxygen at depth,” Book said.
In another area, off Hoodsport, upwelling had pushed the deep water to the surface, and a University of Washington buoy on Friday detected almost no oxygen in surface waters.
Over the years, Hood Canal has repeatedly had low-oxygen summers that resulted in die-offs, and this year is shaping up to be one of the worst. The long, narrow body of water has limited circulation that leads to the low oxygen levels known as hypoxia.
And over the past year, the warm marine water that has lingered in the Pacific Northwest —- known as “The Blob” — prevented a normal flushing of Hood Canal with oxygen rich water.
Skokomish shellfish staff first observed die-offs back in early July.
“One day there would be a fish kill, and the next day would be fine,” Book said.
The forecast of stormy weather in the next few days could intensify the die-offs, with southerly winds causing upwellings that push more of the low-oxygen water to the surface.
Courtesy of seattletimes.com
Terrifying images show massive explosion rip through yet another chemical facility in China – the fourth toxic blast the country had in less than a month
Firefighters battle a fire at a chemical plant after explosion on September 7 in Lishui, China. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire
China saw the fourth chemical explosion in less than a month yesterday.
This time the explosion was in Lishui, a city known for its picturesque landscape in the Zhejiang province of eastern China.
So far, no injuries or casualties have been reported and the fire is said to be under control, according to People’s Daily Online
Chinese media has reported that an electric welder was misused, which led to the ignition of methanol in the factory and caused the fire
It is thought that the fire started on the ground floor of the three storey factory building where the chemical plant’s refinery was housed
Initial reports indicate that the explosion occurred sometime in the afternoon of September 7.
Fire trucks from several local fire departments were dispatched to Nanming Chemical Co Ltd in the city’s economic development zone at 3.33pm.
The fire was controlled by 6.30pm.
Photographs of the fire site showed roaring flames towering over the neighbouring trees.
As fire trucks sprayed foam over the fire, heavy smoked bellowed out.
Desolate, burnt out buildings and cars were left after the fire died down but no one was injured.
It is thought that the fire started on the ground floor of the three storey factory building where the refinery was housed.
Chinanews.com has reported that an electric welder was apparently misused, which led to the ignition of methanol in the factory.
Fire trucks from several local fire departments were dispatched to Nanming Chemical Co Ltd in the city’s economic development zone
The buildings and grounds of the chemical plant was left desolate following the explosion and fire, which was dampened with foam spray
Lishui is known for its picturesque landscape. However, this explosion makes it the fourth chemical explosion in less than a month
According to the company’s website, Nanming Chemical Co Ltd specialises in ‘development and production of hi-tech fine chemical products’.
The sizable company was founded in 1994 and has an estimated revenue of 150 million Yuan (£15 million).
The Lishui incident makes it the fourth chemical explosion that has been reported in China in less than a month.
An enormous explosion that sent shock waves through the city of Tianjin, eastern China, on August 12 was the first of these.
The accident caused the deaths of more than 150 people.
This was followed in quick succession by two separate explosions in Shangdong, a province just south of Tianjin.
The four explosions called into question the safety measures employed at the chemical plants and local media speculates that there will be increased stringency announced in coming months.
Tianjin mayor Huang Xingguo has already announced that the city would step up controls on hazardous chemicals companies and others are expected to follow suit.
It is currently not known whether anyone will be charged over causing the explosions in Lishui.
Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk
MAGNITUDE 5.0 SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS
http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=458306
714 km NE of Whakatane, New Zealand / pop: 18,602 / local time: 23:37:24.6 2015-09-08
Subject To Change
Depth: 10 km
Distances:
1124 km NE of Wellington, New Zealand / pop: 381,900 / local time: 23:37:24.6 2015-09-08714 km NE of Whakatane, New Zealand / pop: 18,602 / local time: 23:37:24.6 2015-09-08
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