Environment

Hong Kong Swelters

Hong Kong on Saturday recorded its hottest day since authorities began taking temperature readings 130 years ago, due to the influence of a nearby typhoon.

The daily maximum temperature hit 36.3 degrees Celsius, the Hong Kong Observatory said, with higher temperatures recorded in some parts of the city earlier in the day.

A layer of haze hung over the metropolis of seven million, as people wielding electric fans and umbrellas tried in vain to beat the boiling heat.

Europe in Heat Wave

Just one month after setting its all-time national heat record, Germany tied that mark on Friday at the same location, as yet another multiway heat wave swept across much of Europe. The German meteorological agency (Deutscher Wetterdienst) confirms that the town of Kitzingen reached 40.3°C (104.5°F) on Friday, the same national record it reached on July 5. More than 100 towns and cities in Germany either tied or broke their all-time record highs on Friday. Berlin's Kaniswall station hit 38.9°C (102.0°F)--the hottest temperature ever observed in the Berlin area, beating the old record of 38.6°C (101.5°F).

Record heat extended far across other parts of Europe on Friday. Friday’s high of 38.3C (100.9°F] at Genoa, Italy, topped the all-time airport record by a full 4°F. Records at the airport extend back to 1962; the previous reporting site for Genoa was located further inland, with a warmer microclimate. Even at that location, the previous Genoa record was 37.8°C (100.0°F) in July 1952.

Disease

Bird Flu Outbreak in Germany

There has been a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu in Niedersachsen in the west of Germany. The outbreak was of the H7N7 subtype of the disease, the same type as the recent outbreak in the UK.

The outbreak affected a farm holding 10,104 laying hens. 50 birds became infected with the disease and died. The remaining 10,054 birds were destroyed as a precautionary measure.

Disease

Squirrel Virus in Germany

Three people in Germany who worked as squirrel breeders and who all died from brain inflammation may have contracted a new strain of virus from their squirrels, according to a new report of the cases.

The new virus strain belongs to a group of viruses called bornaviruses, which typically infect animals such as horses, sheep and birds. Researchers have debated whether this group of viruses can cause disease in people.

The new findings suggest such viruses do cause disease, and moreover, raise the question of whether this virus "represents an emerging threat" to people in the area, according to a recent statement from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Blanca is located about 220 mi...355 km SSW of Cabo San Lucas Mexico and about 360 mi...575 km SSE of Cabo San Lazaro Mexico with maximum sustained winds...110 mph...175 km/h. Present movement...NNW or 335 degrees at 12 mph...19 km/h.

wind: tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the southern portion of the warning area by late this morning or early this afternoon, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Tropical storm conditions will then spread northward elsewhere

within the warning area tonight and Monday. Hurricane conditions are possible in the Hurricane Watch area later today and tonight. Rainfall: Blanca is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 10 inches over much of Baja California Sur and the southern half of the state of Baja California, with possible isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches over Baja California sur. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Surf: swells generated by Blanca are affecting the coast of

southwestern Mexico, the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula, and the southern Gulf of California. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Tropical cyclone 01a One), located approximately 564 nm south of Karachi, Pakistan, is tracking northward at 05 knots.

NewsBytes:

Germany - At least two lightning strikes injured 33 people at the Rock am Ring festival in the town of Mendig, Germany. Eight people from production teams were injured when the first strike hit the backstage area at around 1 am. Organisers halted the concert and offered visitors shelter in large, lightning-proof tents.

Storms and Floods

Flooding in Nicosia, Cyprus

A thunderstorm caused basement flooding, trapped motorists in their cars in capital city of Cyprus Nicosia. Hailstorm and street flooding was also reported in Strovolos, Dasoupolis and Lakatamia.

Lightning in Dabel, Germany

A lightning strike in Germany has injured at least 39 people with eight in serious condition. About 500 people were at the fairground in Dabel, east of Schwerin celebrating a Father’s Day party when the lightning struck. Most of the people suffered burns and shocks.

Other News:

Hailstorms have damaged over 200 houses with tin- roofed and asbestos walls in Mizoram, India. A landslide caused by heavy rainfall has also blocked roads in Kolasib town.

A tornado touched down in Bakersfield, California, USA for the first time since 1999.

Storms caused heavy rain, hail and street flooding in Temple area of Texas, USA.

Recent flash floods in Somalia have killed seven children and displaced 50,000 others, the UN says. Flash foods have also made thousands homeless in the Middle Shebelle area of southern Somalia.

Flash floods kill nine people, displace 25 000 others in western Uganda.

Disease

Nipah Virus in Bangladesh

24 cases of Nipah virus infection have been reported in Bangladesh since the beginning of 2013, of which 21 cases have died.

Nipah virus is an emerging zoonotic infection which causes encephalitis and respiratory illness in people.

Bird Flu Found in German Turkeys

Germany has reported new cases of a low pathogenic bird flu virus at two turkey farms in the northwestern part of the country, the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) said on Monday.

German authorities reported to the OIE that 10 infected turkeys were found last week in Badbergen, Lower Saxony, leading to the culling of 7,920 animals.

Transportation

Helicopters Collide - Germany

Two helicopters have clipped each other in a mid-air collision near Berlin's Olympic Stadium, leaving one of the pilots dead and at least four people injured.

According to reports the helicopters hit each other during a police exercise.

Footage from the scene showed one black helicopter on its side in the snow. Reports say police were conducting football violence training when the accident happened in snowy weather.

Disease

Novel Coronavirus Infection – Update

The United Kingdom has informed the WHO of another confirmed case of infection with the novel coronavirus (NCoV). This is the third case confirmed in the country this month and is in the same family cluster as the two recently confirmed cases.

see: previous post

Bird Flu on Poultry Farm - Germany

German authorities said a case of H5N1 bird flu had been discovered during initial tests on a poultry farm in the eastern state of Brandenburg.

The case was discovered in a duck farm, which was carrying out its own tests, the Brandenburg state agriculture ministry said on Friday.

However, the bird flu virus could not be confirmed in final testing.

Disease

More than 6,500 German children and teenagers have fallen ill with diarrhoea and vomiting that health authorities say has likely been caused by a food-borne virus in meals delivered to schools and daycare centres. Youngsters from five of Germany's 16 states had been affected by the acute gastroenteritis.

Storms

Tropical Storm Emilia forms 480 miles SSW of Acapulco, Mexico, moving away from land.

Storms in Germany kill 3 people, injure 20.