Wildfires - Hawaii
Fire and police officials are asking people in the Puuanahulu area of Hawaii Island to report any suspicious activity after a series of wildfires over the past week.
The latest fire sparked a little after midnight Wednesday, south of the Kona hunter check station in the Puuanahulu Game Management Unit. Fire crews were able to extinguish the small brush fire quickly.
More than 775 acres of mostly brush and grass burned, starting last Thursday in the same area.
Zika virus infection – Maldives
On 7 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Maldives notified WHO of a case of Zika virus infection with onset of symptoms in June 2015, in a patient returning to Finland.
Zika virus infection – Region of the Americas
Between 27 and 30 January 2016, PAHO/WHO was notified of cases of Zika virus infection in Costa Rica, Curaçao, Jamaica and Nicaragua.
Guillain-Barré syndrome – Brazil
On 22 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Brazil notified PAHO/WHO of an increase of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) recorded at the national level.
Data from the hospital-based surveillance system reveal that, between January and November 2015, 1,708 cases of GBS were registered nationwide. While a number of states reported significant increases in reported cases – especially, Alagoas (516.7%), Bahia (196.1%), Rio Grande do Norte (108.7%), Piauí (108.3%), Espirito Santo (78.6%), and Rio de Janeiro (60.9%) – other states reported stable or even diminishing number of GBS cases as compared to 2014. Most of the states in Brazil are experiencing the circulation of Zika, chikungunya, and dengue virus.
Guillain-Barré syndrome – France - Martinique
On 25 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of France notified PAHO/WHO of 2 cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in Martinique.
At present, available information is insufficient to interpret the observed differences in GBS incidence globally and among Brazilian states. The potential cause of the reported increase of GBS incidence in certain Brazilian states remains unknown. Case-control studies are ongoing to determine the cause of the increase. These studies may provide evidence that corroborates or disproves a causal relationship between Zika virus, GBS and other congenital malformations. WHO continues to monitor the epidemiological situation and conduct risk assessment based on the latest available information.
Hawaii Island declares state of emergency over dengue fever outbreak
The mayor of Hawaii Island has declared a state of emergency after more than 250 confirmed cases of dengue fever on the island since late October. The emergency period will be in place for 60 days or until further notice from officials.
Officials are using mosquito control measures along with public education and outreach to break the cycle of infection and transmission.
Dengue fever is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The disease causes flu-like symptoms such as high fever, nausea and joint and muscle pain. In severe cases it can cause bleeding from the nose or gums, persistent vomiting and can be fatal, according to Health Canada.
Symptoms typically appear three to 14 days after a bite, and protecting yourself from mosquito bites is the best way to avoid infection. There is no vaccine or medication to prevent infection.
Dengue fever is not spread from person to person.
Drought in Hawaii
Drought fears rise as lack of January rain sets records. Last month’s weather may have been great for the beach, but the lack of rain made it the driest January on record in several locations in Hawaii. “Drought impacts, mainly to the agriculture sector, started on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island and will likely spread and intensify over the coming weeks."
All of Oahu’s rain gauges recorded below average rainfall. Only .03 inches fell at the Honolulu Airport, about 1 percent of the normal 2.3 inches for January, setting a new record for the month. All of the rain gauges at lower elevations on Oahu — from Downtown Honolulu to Waianae — got less than 10 percent of normal rainfall. The highest rainfall total of 5.6 inches was recorded at Poamoho, but that is still 31 percent of the average for January.
Philippines
Farmers in 17 of Maguindanao’s 36 towns lost their rice and corn crops to the now two-month dry spell, feared to cause widespread hunger without downpours until summer. Field workers are still validating reports on the extent of crop damage in the other 19 Maguindanao towns. Rats have also destroyed vast swaths of rice and corn farms in Maguindanao in January.
Diphtheria deaths mount in Punjab, India
The number of fatalities has risen from 18 to 34 from the serious toxigenic disease in the latest outbreak. The large outbreak of the vaccine preventable disease is due to a lack of diphtheria anti-toxin (DAT) in the country. About 1 out of 10 people who gets diphtheria will die.
Dengue Fever Outbreak: Hawaii - Update
Right on Christmas day, the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) reported the latest numbers behind an ongoing outbreak of the mosquito-borne dengue fever: 181 cases since September, with 7 potential cases currently capable of further spreading the virus. These cases, all situated on the Big Island of Hawaii, are especially worrying due to the fact that the local mosquito population is primarily causing them, though some have occurred among travellers from countries where dengue is already endemic.
Zika virus infection – Panama
On 2 December 2015, the National IHR Focal Point (NFP) of Panama notified PAHO/WHO of the first 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease.
Zia Virus Causing Birth Defects
The devastating outbreak of a tropical disease known as the Zika virus has been plaguing regions of Latin America, leaving a trail of horrendous birth defects in its wake.
Zika, which was previously believed to be mild, now has the attention of the World Health Organization after rapidly spreading through Brazil and eight other surrounding countries. Microcephaly, an untreatable condition which inhibits the development of an unborn nfant’s brain and head, has been one of the major impacts to the infected.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, some of the affected children will only experience mild disability, but most will be at high risk of developmental disabilities such as Down’s syndrome. The impacts on the children who experience microcephaly are similar in nature to the impacts a child might experience if the mother heavily used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy.
In Brazil alone, over 1,200 babies that were born with microcephaly were linked to Zika. In Brazil’s worst hit state of Pernambuco, 646 instances of the defect were recorded, up from a mere 12 last year.
Dengue Fever in Hawaii - Update
Hawaii Department of Health officials say there are 136 confirmed cases of dengue fever on Hawaii's Big Island. The people impacted Friday included 119 Hawaii Island residents and 17 visitors. It's the largest outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease since 2001.
In the 2001 outbreak, there were 122 confirmed dengue fever cases. The outbreak, which lasted for 10 months, began in a rural region of the island and then spread to areas with thick vegetation and heavy precipitation.
Hawaii reports more dengue
The Hawaii Department of Health continues to work with other state and county agencies on the issue of the Dengue Fever outbreak. As of Friday, the Department of Health had reported 107 confirmed cases originating on Hawaii Island. This is an increase of 6 cases from the previous update. These cases include 93 residents and 14 visitors.
Because dengue fever is only transmitted by mosquitoes, the Department of Health is spraying and treating areas with high mosquito presence and confirmed cases. The Department of Health plans to conduct spraying in various areas of South Kona, Hilo, Puna, and Kau.
Although spraying and treatment of areas is ongoing, the most effective method to reduce the spread and eliminate Dengue is to fight the bite. Minimize or prevent the possibility of being bitten by an infected mosquito by wearing clothing that minimizes exposed skin, use mosquito repellant and avoid activities in areas of high mosquito concentration during the early morning and late afternoon periods when mosquito activity is greatest.
Zika virus infection – Guatemala
PAHO/WHO has received notification of a laboratory-confirmed autochthonous case of Zika virus infection in Guatemala. The case, who is a resident of the Zacapa department, developed symptoms on 11 November. An investigation is being carried out to detect further cases.
Zika virus infection – El Salvador
On 24 November, the National IHR Focal Point of El Salvador notified PAHO/WHO of 3 laboratory-confirmed autochthonous cases of Zika virus infection. The preliminary confirmation was provided by the national reference laboratory and has since been confirmed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Fort Collins. Salvadoran health authorities are implementing the corresponding prevention and control activities.
Microcephaly – Brazil
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Brazil has provided PAHO/WHO with an update regarding the unusual increase in the number of cases of microcephaly among newborns in the northeast of Brazil.
As of 21 November, a total of 739 cases of microcephaly were being investigated in nine states in the northeast of Brazil. The distribution of the cases was as follows: Pernambuco (487 cases), Paraíba (96 cases), Sergipe (54 cases), Rio Grande do Norte (47 cases), Piauí (27 cases), Alagoas (10 cases), Ceará (9 cases), Bahia (8 cases) and Goiás (1 case). One fatal case was reported in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits Assam, India.
5.2 Earthquake hits Egypt.
5.1 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 Earthquake hits Hawaii Island, Hawaii.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity:
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Over the past days, Stromboli has returned to normal levels of activity with frequent, mostly small to medium-sized explosions and low to medium tremor. Small lava overflows and frequent rockfalls still occur.
Pavlov (Alaska Peninsula, USA): The eruption continues with no significant changes. Small lava fountaining, explosions, and the explosive interaction of the lava flow with snow and ice generate a plume of steam, ash, and gas, occasionally reaching up to 22,000 ft. above sea level, and extending primarily southeast from the volcano over the North Pacific Ocean visible in satellite images. Minor ash fall is likely occurring on the north, east and southeast flanks of the volcano and possibly on parts of Pavlof Bay and adjacent waters southeast of the volcano.
Concern about risky activity at Kilauea
U.S. Geological Survey officials are concerned over what they say is risky behaviour by visitors to Kilauea Volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The problem is that people continue to get too close to Kilauea's current ocean entry, approaching both by land and sea.
Areas of ocean entry are dangerous places. Lava entering the sea builds a platform of new land known as a lava delta, which appears stable but is not. Lava deltas can collapse without warning. Kayakers visiting the volcano on the Big Island recently paddled just feet from lava streaming into the ocean. They then went ashore and walked across new land built by the ocean entry and scooped molten lava with their paddle.
Typhoon Bopha
-325 dead with at least 379 still missing in Philippines typhoon Bopha.
-A total of 273 people died in and around the towns of New Bataan and Monkayo. 106 people were killed in other parts of the southern island of Mindanao and the central islands.
-About 178,000 people are living in the evacuation centers.
Snow storm in Stockholm, Sweden
-Several flights from the Scandinavian country's main airport in Stockholm grounded because of the blizzard.
-Some 8 inches of snow fell on Stockholm overnight Wednesday.
Severe weather in Kauai, Hawaii
-Several Hawaiian fights in Lihue Airport cancelled due to bad weather.
-Almost three inches of rain has been recorded in Lihue within the last 24 hours.
New Zealand
Three people have been killed and at least seven injured after severe weather - including an apparent tornado - hit Auckland. 150 homes were damaged after the tornado ripped through an Auckland suburb.
For the first time in 2012, Kīlauea lava flows have entered the Pacific Ocean, adding slivers of new land to Hawai'i Island.
An outbreak of dengue fever on the Portuguese island of Madeira has worsened as infections of the mosquito-borne disease accelerated. Reported cases of the potentially lethal disease rose to 1,672 as of Nov. 18. The disease is spreading due to many holiday makers returning home. Cases have so far been diagnosed in Britain, mainland Portugal, Germany, Sweden and France. The epidemic is the first sustained outbreak of dengue fever in Europe since the 1920's.
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A coral disease outbreak along Kauai’s North Shore in Hawaii has been described as an epidemic by local scientists due to the large numbers of coral infected (59%). The disease appears to be caused by the large amounts of suspended solids in the water coming from nearby human habitation.
A diseased piece of rice coral is pictured below. This photo shows a cyanobacterial/fungal disease attacking a piece of coral — the black ring is the disease, and the white area is the coral’s dead skeleton.
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Cholera kills 3 in southern Nigeria. Three people died in the southwestern state of Osun after being infected. Another 42 people were hospitalized in different centers across the region.
A fire destroyed or damaged 76 houses in St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Many of the homes in the resort town are thatch-roofed. The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage but the SA Police Service forensic unit will be investigating.
Two out-of-control bushfires threaten the town of Zeehan on Tasmania's west coast.
Two wildfires scorched West Oahu, Hawaii on Saturday afternoon.
7.7 Earthquake hits the Queen Charlotte Islands region off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.
The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center and Environment Canada both issued a tsunami warning for the area from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to Cape Decision, Alaska. Emergency officials advised all coastal residents in those areas to move to higher ground.
Hawaii was hit by a tsunami on Saturday night prompting the authorities to order at least 100,000 people on the island state to move to higher ground. The first tsunami wave was three feet high and less forceful than expected. Some forecasts had predicted a wave of up to six feet high. The Hawaii tsunami warning was later lifted after 100,000 had fled to higher ground.
5.8 Aftershock hits the Queen Charlotte Islands Region. 5.5 Aftershock hits the Queen Charlotte Islands Region . 5.1, 2 x 5.0, 4.9, 3 x 4.8 and 3 x 4.7 Aftershocks hits the Queen Charlotte Islands Region.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Kashmir Valley, India.
5.3, 5.2 and 5.0 Earthquakes hit the Philippines Island region.
5.3 Earthquake hits Pagan in the North Mariana Islands.
5.3 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.2 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
Kazakhstan, the biggest wheat producer in central Asia, lowered its grain export forecast for this season and sees prices rising after drought cut the harvest by about 55 percent.
Extreme drought conditions have expanded on the Big Island, Hawaii. Scientists say the situation could persist due to a decrease in moisture-bringing trade winds in Hawaii - a trend that has been observed for four decades. The drought continues to affect farmers and ranchers on the Big Island and elsewhere in the state. Like much of the US mainland, the US Department of Agriculture has classified the entire state as being under a federal drought disaster declaration.
University of Hawaii scientists say a disease outbreak amongst the island's coral at Hanalei Bay on Kauai's north shore is killing the coral at an alarming rate. Attempts are being made to stop the spread of the disease by covering the coral with marine putty, to cut the disease off from healthy coral. The underlying causes include overfishing, pollution and sewage spills. Coral is the foundation for the ocean ecosystem, and without it the ecosystem will fail.
