Archive | May 9, 2016
2,000 pigs die from disease in Aizawl, India
Over 2,000 pigs have died in the Mizoram-Myanmar border Champhai town and surrounding villages
due to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Champhai Area Vawkvulh Association (CAVA) or Champhai area Pig Rearers’ Association president K. Zamlova has said.
Zamlova told PTI over phone from Champhai that the PRRS outbreak, which started more than a month back, continued unabated as more pigs were dying everyday while fresh infections causing illness continued in the affected area covering 19 village councils in Champhai town and nearby villages.
There was no official figure yet on the PRRS toll and Champhai District Veterinary Officer Dr Lalchungnunga Pudaite said they depend on the local Young Mizo Association (YMA) branches, which had been collecting data on the deaths and infections.
Dr. Pudaite claimed the district veterinary officials acted fast, but there were some constraints and waste of time in determination of the disease as samples of the dead pigs were sent to laboratories and the results routed through the Directorate of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary.
Shortage of antibiotics to combat the outbreak was the main hurdle, he said, adding PRRS vaccination was yet to be invented.
YMA’s Champhai sub-headquarter volunteers dug trenches with excavators near the town to use them as temporary burial grounds for the dead pigs to prevent spread of the disease.
At least 3,000 pigs died in Mizoram in 2013 due to the outbreak of PRRS in the State which affected six of the eight districts during March to April that year, forcing the State government to prohibit import of pigs and piglets from Myanmar.
The opposition Mizo National Front accused the government of importing piglets from Myanmar in 2014, knowing that the disease was perpetually prevalent in that country and favouritism was involved in the purchase of piglets from Myanmar.
Zamlova said F. Lalrithanga of Venglai locality in Champhai lost 55 pigs due to the PRRS followed by Malsawma of Zotlang near Champhai who lost 43 pigs.
Courtesy of thehindu.com
17,000 chickens killed due to avian flu in North East Italy
An outbreak of highly pathogenic H7N7 avian influenza (AI) in north-eastern Italy has seen more than 17,000 laying hens culled.
Italian authorities say it is distinct from a low-pathogen variant of the same strain discovered in “ornamental” poultry close to the outbreak earlier this month.
A Defra assessment authored by Prof Ian Brown and Helen Roberts says that, if a wild bird strain of H7N7, the outbreak would be “concerning and novel”.
But it adds that the most likely cause was a low-path strain circulating within the flock that mutated to become high pathogen AI.
“It is possible there is an as yet undetected H7N7 HPAI virus circulating in poultry or captive birds elsewhere which has not caused clinical signs,” the assessment warns.
“In which case this reinforces the difficulties experienced with using passive surveillance only for some of these viruses and the need to enhance such systems through early reporting where signs are not suggestive of AI.”
Defra suggested this would be unclear until a full epidemiological investigation had concluded.
The farm, which is described as “free range or organic”, is located in the Ferrara region of north-eastern Italy.
Mortality at the unit spiked, with some 600 birds dying before the disease was identified according to the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health).
As part of control measures, a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone were established. The remaining flock, which totalled 17,000 laying hens, was humanely culled.
In addition to this outbreak, the country recently discovered both H5N2 low path and a low-path variant of H7N7, both in similar regions to the high-path outbreak.
Defra said the risk to UK poultry producers was low “but heightened”, and that no live poultry or eggs had recently been imported from Italy.
Courtesy of fwi.co.uk
Thousands of fish have died due to pollution in the San Juan River in Mexico
Eight days to report the death of fish in the Rio San Juan in congregation Arcabuz, the federal prosecutor’s office PROFEPA environment protection, has done nothing to solve the problem of pollution in the southern part of the municipality of Miguel German.
. In an interview with the Director of ecology of this municipality Biol Virgilio Garcia Jimenez he said from day one that fishermen reported the problem; The municipality gotten down to collect water samples to analyze and determine what kind of contaminants exist to take action.
There are hundreds of fishermen who this activity sustain their family, hence the importance of President Ramiro Cortez to solve this problem, which is derived by recent rains were felt in the city of Monterrey and dragged through the Rio Pesquería contaminated water.
This ecocide as described to him by the huge fish kills, already known to the CONAGUA, however not even have a result of the samples.
Courtesy of elchilito.com.mx
Increase Of Activity At Telica volcano In Nicaragua
Glow from Telica this morning
During the past days(in particular since 6 May), activity of the volcano seems to have increased. The nightly glow from the crater has become stronger and intermittent weak ash emissions also occurred in the past days.
These occasional ash plumes, brownish in color, appeared to have risen calmly from the crater (without much impulse). Hence, they were probably not driven by near-surface explosions, but rather deep-seated activity inside the conduit; their brownish color furthermore suggests that the ash came mainly from older fragmented rock instead of fresh magma, although this is difficult to judge from webcam imagery alone.
INETER has not yet commented on the activity. In its last bulletin from 5 May, activity was described as “usual”.
However, since 6 May, an increase in tremor amplitude and frequent small explosion signals (?) have become visible on INETER’s online seismic data as well. It will be interesting to see if the activity will show significant changes in the near future or not.
Courtesy of volcanodiscovery.com
Severe hailstorm, rain with lightning claim two lives in Beed, India
Various places in Latur, Beed, Parbhani and Hingoli districts received rain coupled with hailstorm on Friday aggravating the unusual weather conditions observed in many parts of the region for the last few days. “The weather conditions are expected to remain adverse and prone to unseasonal rain coupled with hailstorm for the next few days,” he said.As per the Met department, rain or thunder showers would occur towards the afternoon or evening in the city. Nanded and many other parts of Marathwada also received unseasonal rainfall on Saturday.According to reports, unexpected showers accompanied with lightning have claimed two lives in Osmanabad and Beed districts.Ashok Daund, a resident of Ghatnandur in Ambejogai taluka of Beed district, died after being struck by lightning. Many parts of Marathwada are expected to witness similar weather conditions. This includes the entire Marathwada region, West Vidarbha, districts of Ahmednagar, Solpaur and Sangli to an extent.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, has called for focus on medium and long term solutions for drought-proofing.
Courtesy of nyoooz.com
Severe Hailstorm Hits Bulgaria’s Lovech
Photo credit: btvnovinite.bg
A snowplough was used to clear ice from the streets of Lovech on May 9 following a 20-minute hailstorm, bTV reported.
Torrential rain flooded streets in the city in north-central Bulgaria, making motor traffic impossible. Precipitation was as high as 6.6 liters per square meter, according to the local weather monitoring station.
Some public buildings and shops were also flooded and extensive damage to cars in the streets was reported.
Courtesy of novinite.com
Volcano Nyiragongo showing signs of imminent eruption Rwanda experts warn
Rwanda Red Cross has warned of a possible Nyiragongo volcano eruption in the near future.
Nyiragongo is one of the eight volcanic mountains in the Virunga Massif. The volcano is located near the town of Goma in eastern DR Congo, close to the Rwandan border.
Red Cross researchers on volcanoes report that since February 28, 2016 Nyiragongo volcano increased signs of imminent eruption.
Talking to The New Times last week, Dr Dyrckx Dushime, the head of Red Cross in Rubavu District, said the active volcano has recently released magma from one hole to another of two kilometers that form smoke on the top of it.
“The volcano releases magma from one pit to another of two kilometers but once it gets full the magma will have to come out, but for now it is still early, meaning people should not panic,” Dushime said.
He explained that the volcano now releases polluted gas in the air between 5000 and 50,000 tonnes, per day which include a lot of sand.
He said planes are cautioned against flying over the volcano because it can enter into their engine and cause damage.
Dushime also warned residents in neighbouring areas against using unclean water, especially from rain and to wash vegetables before cooking.
Frederic Ntawukuriryayo, the communication officer at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, said the ministry is aware of the situation at Nyiragongo volcano and is currently working with stakeholders like OVG and Red Cross to monitor its evolution.
“The information we have so far is that the warning signposts are still in yellow which means that there is no immediate threat and the population can calmly continue to go about their daily activities,” he said.
“A contingency plan on dealing with the effects of possible volcanic eruption has been put in place and tested. It entails coordination mechanisms that can help to effectively respond, in case of an eruption,” he said.
The Nyiragongo volcano last erupted in 2002, causing a lot of damage both in DR Congo and Rwanda. It displaced 400,000 Congolese who relocated to Rwanda.
Red Cross has planned five evacuation routes on Rwandan side and three in DR Congo, Dushime says.
OVB Goma Volcano Observatory says on its website that there is an appearance of a secondary lava lake on the east side of the crater of Nyiragongo.
The manifestations of this new secondary active lava lake are in the extension of the fracture that connects the Nyiragongo to its Baruta adventive cone toward the direction of Kibumba zone in DR Congo, it says.
OVB warns that Nyiragongo volcano is in a phase of intense activity and requires a particular attention.
This activity is concentrated within the central crater towards the East (towards the Kibumba area) where a new secondary lava lake has been observed.
Courtesy of gaselectricity.in/rwanda
‘Swarm’ of quakes shake Mount St Helens showing volcano is ‘recharging’
A “swarm” of 130 earthquakes have trembled beneath Mount St Helens in the past eight weeks, seismologists have revealed. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the series of small quakes showed “the volcano is still very much alive”. Although there are no signs of an imminent eruption, the volcano – 95 miles south of Seattle – is recharging, the seismologists have said. An eruption in 1980 blasted more than 1,300ft off the top of the mountain and left 50 people dead.
Earthquake rates have been steadily increasing since March, reaching nearly 40 located earthquakes per week.
US Geological Survey
Most of the tremors are less than 0.5 in magnitude and the largest was 1.3 – rumbling about 1.2 to four miles beneath the surface. Although the quakes are relatively small, it is the frequency that is concerning scientists. The USGS said the volcano’s collection of magma is “re-pressurising”, but said the process can continue for years without an eruption. Similar patterns of “earthquake swarms” were detected in 2013, 2014 and in the 1990s, said the USGS.
Courtesy of uk.yahoo.com
Train Derails Injuring 4 people In Utah, USA
Authorities in Utah say four people were hurt Sunday when a Salt Lake City-area passenger train derailed.
A spokesman for South Salt Lake police said at least two people aboard the light rail train were in serious condition after the derailment.
Spokesman Gary Keller said in a news release all four were taken to local hospitals. A total of 14 people were riding when the train derailed.
Utah Transit Authority PIO Remi Barron told the Salt Lake Tribune it happened in a curve in the tracks about 2:30 p.m. It was unclear how long it would take to clear the tracks. Buses were being used in the area in the meantime.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Courtesy of usnews.com
Train Crash Kills At least 4, Some Injured In Jebba, Nigeria
Four passengers were feared dead in a north-bound train coming from Lagos when it derailed few meters to Jebba station in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State. Eyewitnesses told National Mirror that the train which was on top speed lost three of its rear coaches that fell off with passengers and goods it was carrying.
The train, it further said, even with the derailment, was not able to stop at the station as it was only able to stop by the foot of the Niger bridge leaving the tracks badly damaged with the goods it was carrying littering the area. National Mirror further gathered that the crash occurred shortly after crossing the Jebba Paper Mill level-crossing and was about to enter the station when the coaches fell off. An NRC official who said he was not authorised to speak to the press on the matter disclosed that the crash was caused by a failed brake.
According to the source, the driver of the train lost control following brake failure, derailing from the rail track into a nearby settlement culminating into the loss of two lives. The source hinted that the driver of the train managed the situation by bringing the train to an abrupt halt without the aid of a functioning brake devise. Assistant Director, Publicity, Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Mr. Rauf Akinloye, who spoke through a subordinate confirmed the death of four passengers, adding that three others also sustained injuries. The dead, he said, had been deposited in the mortuary while the injured were treated and discharged. Also, the NRC spokesman said the damaged tracks had been repaired with a view to put it to use, while the damaged coaches would be taken to Kano for repairs.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday commiserated with the families of the deceased passengers.
Courtesy of nationalmirroronline.net
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