Prophecy, Drought, Earthquakes, Famine, Pestilence, War, and Strange Weather.

[Shammu]

Epidemic Hazard - North-America

Event summary
GLIDE Number   EH-20060531-6271-USA        
Event type   Epidemic Hazard    Date / time   31/05/2006 - 21:56:55 (Military Time, UTC)
Country   USA    Area   -
County / State   New Mexico    City   Santa Fe
Cause of event   Unknow    Log date   31/05/2006 - 21:56:55 (Military Time, UTC)
Damage level   Not or Not data    Time left   -
Latitude:   N 35° 37.177    Longitude:   W 105° 58.919
Number of deaths:   Not or Not data    Number of injured persons:   1 persons
DESCRIPTION
A Santa Fe County man is the second person to contract the plague in New Mexico this year, the state Department of Health says. The unidentified man was hospitalized Wednesday in critical but stable condition, said Deborah Busemeyer, department spokeswoman. The man was suffering from the septicemic form of the disease in which the plague bacteria multiply in the bloodstream. The department confirmed last Friday that a Bernalillo County woman died the previous week of the septicemic form of the plague. She was the first person to die from plague in New Mexico in a dozen years. Plague generally is transmitted to people by the bites of infected fleas, but also can be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals _ rodents, wildlife and pets. "This is the time of year when we see the most plague activity, so it's especially important to avoid rodents and fleas by getting wood and compost piles away from your home and making sure your pet has an effective flea control product," said C. Mack Sewell, state epidemiologist for the department.

01/06/2006

1. he Santa Fe man is in the hospital, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. There were four human plague cases in New Mexico last year, three from Santa Fe County and one from Bernalillo County. Plague, a bacterial disease of rodents, generally is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected fleas. The mumps patient is a young adult female who contracted the infection while attending college in Kansas, a state heavily affected by the outbreak this year, officials said. She is recovering. At this time, officials say there is no evidence of a mumps outbreak in New Mexico. There has been one other case of mumps this year reported in a child from Bernalillo county. A case also was confirmed in the Durango, Colo., in a person who had visited Iowa, scene of an extensive mumps outbreak earlier this year.

2. The state Department of Health says a Santa Fe County man has contracted the septicemic form of plague. Department spokeswoman Deborah Busemeyer says the unidentified man is hospitalized in critical condition, but he is stable. The septicemic form of the disease occurs when the plague bacteria multiply in the blood. Plague has infected two people in New Mexico so far this year. A Bernalillo County woman died from the septicemic form of the disease earlier this month. She was the first person to die of plague in New Mexico in a dozen years. Plague is generally transmitted to humans by the bites of infected fleas, but it also can be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals - rodents, wildlife and pets

Epidemic Hazard New Mexico

[Soldier4Christ]

Volcano spills lava, heat clouds

akarta - Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano spilled lava and heat clouds for a sixth consecutive day on Thursday, sending trails of molten rock down its western slope for the first time, scientists said.

In the first six hours of Thursday, Merapi sent 80 lava trails spilling down its slopes, some reaching down two kilometres, said Tri Yani of the volcanology office in Yogyakarta, located south of the simmering peak.

"It is the first time that lava was seen flowing to the west," Yani said, adding that the volcano had also released heat clouds.

The 2 914-metre high volcano, which set off alerts in mid-May, had gradually calmed down before reawakening on Saturday following a strong earthquake that shook the region, killing over 6 200 people.

Scientists have warned that the earthquake could increase the threat posed by the smouldering volcano, saying the magma dome forming at the peak may crack or collapse, spewing out millions of cubic metres of volcanic rock and lava.

[Soldier4Christ]

Arizona wildfire burns homes

PHOENIX, Ariz (Reuters) - A fast-moving wildfire burned uncontrollably in a small northern Arizona enclave on Thursday, claiming about 150 acres and several structures, authorities said.

More than 100 firefighters battled into the evening to contain the blaze that broke out at about 2:30 p.m. local time, damaging at least two structures and threatening another 30 buildings near Sedona, Arizona, said Karen Malis-Clark, a fire spokeswoman. There were no injuries.

"We like to think that the worst is over, but we don't know just yet," Marlis-Clark said.

Arizona has been in a severe drought, causing tinder-like conditions.

Firefighters said the fire had moved away from any homes into a wilderness area inside the Coconino National Forest as of late Thursday. There was no estimate for when the fire would be contained.

Officials said an investigation into the cause would continue.

[Shammu]

Here is the wildfire map, for Arizona. I live just outside of the red zone, which is high. Pink is moderate, and green is lower.

[Shammu]

Woman Hit By Lightning While Praying

POSTED: 2:52 pm EDT May 30, 2006

DAPHNE, Ala. -- Worried about the safety of her family during a stormy Memorial Day trip to the beach, Clara Jean Brown stood in her kitchen and prayed for their safe return as a strong thunderstorm rumbled through Baldwin County, Alabama.

But while she prayed, lightning suddenly exploded, blowing through the linoleum and leaving a blackened area on the concrete. Brown wound up on the floor, dazed and disoriented by the blast but otherwise uninjured.

She said 'Amen' and the room was engulfed in a huge ball of fire. The 65-year-old Brown said she is blessed to be alive.

Firefighters said its likely she was hit by a bolt of lightning that apparently struck outside and traveled into the house yesterday afternoon. She was found lying on the floor by her 14-year-old granddaughter.

Fire officials think the lightning likely struck across the street from the couple's home and traveled into the house through a water line. The lightning continued into the couple's backyard and ripped open a small trench.

A family member said he will no longer assume it is safe to be indoors during a lightning strike.

Dime-sized hail and wind gusts of up to 45 miles-per-hour moved across coastal Baldwin County. As much as three inches of rain fell in some areas in three hours.

Woman Hit By Lightning While Praying

[Shammu]

Vets Warned of Possible Virus Exposure
Jun 02 7:00 PM US/Eastern
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By DINESH RAMDE
Associated Press Writer

MILWAUKEE

More than 22,000 veterans who underwent prostate biopsies at veterans' hospitals across the country are being warned that improperly sterilized equipment may have exposed them to deadly viruses.

Officials said Friday it was unlikely someone could get infected by the equipment, and no patient is known to have been sickened.

Still, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs decided to offer free blood tests as a precaution after officials in Maine questioned whether the cleaning procedure was thorough enough, said VA spokesman Jim Benson.

The prostate biopsy equipment includes a probe that, if improperly cleaned, could retain traces of body fluids containing the viruses that cause hepatitis or AIDS.

Since April, the VA has alerted patients of potential inadequacies with the biopsy cleaning procedure at 21 medical centers in 18 states, plus Puerto Rico.

So far, about 7,000 vets contacted the VA after receiving the letter and about 2,000 have been tested, Benson said.

"It's too soon to have any information on their test results because each of the potential diseases we might be worried about require not only initial tests but confirmatory tests as well," Benson said. "Right now our first priority is getting information out to every veteran."

Dennis Maki, an infectious disease expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the prostate examination technique involves inserting a stainless steel scope about the diameter of a pencil into the rectum. Then doctors use a hollow needle to draw a sample from the prostate gland.

The standard sterilizing procedure called for the equipment to be flushed with a disinfecting solution, but officials grew concerned that blood and fecal residue might remain unless the tube were physically scrubbed as well.

It's possible but unlikely that someone could get infected that way, said Michael Erdmann, chief of staff of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.

"We're concerned for the safety of our patients, but really, the odds are really quite low," he said.

The problem wasn't manpower so much as cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer that didn't specify the need for a brush, Erdmann said.

The equipment was made by B-K Medical Systems in Denmark. Company officials from neither B-K nor its Massachusetts-based parent company, Analogic, immediately returned phone calls by The Associated Press on Friday.

Michael O'Rourke, a spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said he was satisfied with the VA's response. "I don't know what more they can do," he said.

Peter Gaytan, the director of veterans affairs for the American Legion, said his group is reaching out to veterans to make sure the VA has addressed their concerns.

"What the American Legion wants to make sure is that this mistake isn't the responsibility of overworked VA staff, and if it is, they need to hire more people," he said.

Vets Warned of Possible Virus Exposure

[Shammu]

Namibia: Mystery Disease Kills Three

June 2, 2006
Posted to the web June 2, 2006

Christof Maletsky

PANIC is sweeping through suburbs north of Katutura after three people died and 19 others were hospitalised with a disease that still has to be identified.

A press release from the Ministry of Health and Social Services last night indicated that the disease was not confined to the Khomas Region, and that cases of "undiagnosed paralysis" among adults had been reported in the Otjozondjupa and Hardap regions.

A media briefing is scheduled for this morning to reveal information related to the outbreak.

Well-placed hospital sources confirmed yesterday that two other people were fighting for their lives in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Windhoek Central Hospital after contracting the mystery disease.

Health personnel revealed that parts of the Katutura and Windhoek Central Hospital have been declared restricted areas as Government intensifies efforts to identify the disease and to deal with it.

When The Namibian visited the Okahandja Park informal settlement yesterday to speak to a family who lost a baby, residents confirmed that another child had died a few hours earlier in Babilon.

An emergency meeting took place late yesterday afternoon after health personnel conducted a quick survey in Okuryangava and Okahandja Park.

They were reporting their findings to the Deputy Minister of Health, Petrina Haingura, and other senior staff members of the Ministry.

Health sources said 18 adults and a child were hospitalised at the Katutura and Windhoek Central hospitals and samples have been sent to South Africa for analysis.

There were fears that they were all attacked by Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) - a disorder of the peripheral nervous system.

It causes the nerves to inflame, slowing communication to and from the brain.

Eventually, the brain is not able to effectively communicate with the peripheral nerves, causing paralysis.

Victims become severely out of breath and unable to perform previously effortless tasks, such as swallowing.

Cramps and body aches often follow.

After approximately two weeks, the patient may deteriorate to a condition of severe paralysis.

However, health personnel said the disease appeared not to be Guillain-Barré, although the symptoms were similar.

"We can't say exactly what it is but we also do not want to sound alarm.

People must stay calm for now," said one senior health official.

A FATHER'S STORY

Mateus Amupadhi, who lost his 10-month-old baby on Monday, said it all happened very quickly.

"She started crying on Sunday night and we took her to hospital where she got tablets.

She was fine the next morning when I went to work and took medicine.

Next thing she started vomiting and we took her back.

She died while we were waiting for treatment," he said.

Amupadhi said the baby was not sick before that.

He is leaving for the North today to bury the baby.

Hilaria Ngolonga, a community activist in Okahandja Park, said she knew of a man who died on board a bus to the North.

"It is very strange.

He stopped speaking and his eyes started getting bigger before he died.

He was in the bus waiting for its departure to the North," she said.

Another volunteer at the Okahandja Park Bridging Children School said they had 19 children absent yesterday.

They were told that some had polio symptoms but will only know today what exactly was wrong.

Namibia: Mystery Disease Kills Three

[Shammu]

Is It Raining Aliens?
Nearly 50 tons of mysterious red particles showered India in 2001. Now the race is on to figure out what the heck they are

By Jebediah Reed | June 2006

 As bizarre as it may seem, the sample jars brimming with cloudy, reddish rainwater in Godfrey Louis’s laboratory in southern India may hold, well, aliens. In April, Louis, a solid-state physicist at Mahatma Gandhi University, published a paper in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Astrophysics and Space Science in which he hypothesizes that the samples—water taken from the mysterious blood-colored showers that fell sporadically across Louis’s home state of Kerala in the summer of 2001—contain microbes from outer space.

Specifically, Louis has isolated strange, thick-walled, red-tinted cell-like structures about 10 microns in size. Stranger still, dozens of his experiments suggest that the particles may lack DNA yet still reproduce plentifully, even in water superheated to nearly 600˚F. (The known upper limit for life in water is about 250˚F.) So how to explain them? Louis speculates that the particles could be extraterrestrial bacteria adapted to the harsh conditions of space and that the microbes hitched a ride on a comet or meteorite that later broke apart in the upper atmosphere and mixed with rain clouds above India. If his theory proves correct, the cells would be the first confirmed evidence of alien life and, as such, could yield tantalizing new clues to the origins of life on Earth.

Last winter, Louis sent some of his samples to astronomer Chandra Wickramasinghe and his colleagues at Cardiff University in Wales, who are now attempting to replicate his experiments; Wickramasinghe expects to publish his initial findings later this year.

Meanwhile, more down-to-earth theories abound. One Indian government investigation conducted in 2001 lays blame for what some have called the “blood rains” on algae. Other theories have implicated fungal spores, red dust swept up from the Arabian peninsula, even a fine mist of blood cells produced by a meteor striking a high-flying flock of bats.

Louis and his colleagues dismiss all these theories, pointing to the fact that both algae and fungus possess DNA and that blood cells have thin walls and die quickly when exposed to water and air. More important, they argue, blood cells don’t replicate. “We’ve already got some stunning pictures—transmission electron micrographs—of these cells sliced in the middle,” Wickramasinghe says. “We see them budding, with little daughter cells inside the big cells.”

Louis’s theory holds special appeal for Wickramasinghe. A quarter of a century ago, he co-authored the modern theory of panspermia, which posits that bacteria-riddled space rocks seeded life on Earth. “If it’s true that life was introduced by comets four billion years ago,” the astronomer says, “one would expect that microorganisms are still injected into our environment from time to time. This could be one of those events.”

The next significant step, explains University of Sheffield microbiologist Milton Wainwright, who is part of another British team now studying Louis’s samples, is to confirm whether the cells truly lack DNA. So far, one preliminary DNA test has come back positive.“Life as we know it must contain DNA, or it’s not life,” he says. “But even if this organism proves to be an anomaly, the absence of DNA wouldn’t necessarily mean it’s extraterrestrial.”

Louis and Wickramasinghe are planning further experiments to test the cells for specific carbon isotopes. If the results fall outside the norms for life on Earth, it would be powerful new evidence for Louis’s idea, of which even Louis himself remains skeptical. “I would be most happy to accept a simpler explanation,” he says, “but I cannot find any."

Is It Raining Aliens?

[Shammu]

Event type   Epidemic Hazard    Date / time   03/06/2006 - 07:32:34 (Military Time, UTC)
Country   USA    Area   -
County / State   Colorado    City   Trinidad
Cause of event   Unknow    Log date   03/06/2006 - 07:32:34 (Military Time, UTC)
Damage level   Not or Not data    Time left   -
Latitude:   N 37° 10.295    Longitude:   W 104° 30.200
Number of deaths:   Not or Not data    Number of injured persons:   Not or Not data
DESCRIPTION
Medical authorities have confirmed a case of bubonic plague detected in a family pet 10 miles west of Trinidad. The cat developed a large abscess on its jaw in May. After examining the animal, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins confirmed the cat had contracted the plague, and it was euthanized. Dr. William Aaroe of Fisher's Peak Veterinary Clinic said increased moisture in the area likely sparked a rise in rodent population. The medieval disease lives on in rodents such as rats, squirrels and rabbits, and the bacteria spreads through fleas. A rapid die-off of rodents is an indication the plague is spreading and should be reported to local health authorities. Aaroe said in humans, early signs of the plague include the sudden onset of high fever, muscle pain, malaise, nausea, vomiting and enlarged, painful lymph glands. Trinidad is located along Interstate 25, about 130 miles south of Colorado Springs.

[Shammu]

Event type   Torrens Flood    Date / time   2006.05.30
Country   China    Area   -
County / State   Fujian Province    City   -
Cause of event   Unknow    Log date   03/06/2006 - 06:51:32 (Military Time, UTC)
Damage level   Large    Time left   -
Latitude:   N 25° 43.365    Longitude:   E 118° 8.403
Number of deaths:   22 persons    Number of injured persons:   Not or Not data
DESCRIPTION
The Ministry of Civil Affairs on Friday sent a rescue team to flood-hit areas of south China's Fujian Province, where rainstorms have left 22 people dead since Tuesday. Non-stop rainstorms have hit central and northern Fujian since May 30, destroying about 19,000 homes. More than 50,000 people have been evacuated, according to the Ministry.

[Soldier4Christ]

Strong Aftershock Shakes Indonesia


BANTUL, Indonesia — The Mount Merapi volcano spewed lava and hot clouds Saturday and a strong aftershock hit the region, sending fear rippling through the southern Indonesian area devastated by an earthquake only a week ago.

The mountain's lava dome has swelled in the past week to 330 feet, raising fears that it could collapse, said Subandriyo, a government scientist who uses one name. That could release a highly dangerous pyroclastic flow _ a fast-moving burst of high-temperature gases and rock fragments that burns anything in its path.

More than a thousand aftershocks have hit the region since the 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck before dawn May 27, killing at least 6,234 people and injuring 30,000 more. Officials estimate that 135,000 homes were destroyed.

Scientists say the quake may have contributed to a weakening of the lava dome.

Most aftershocks have been weak, but one overnight Saturday jolted survivors awake.

"I picked up my nephew and ran out of the house. It was very strong," said Yudi, who like many Indonesians uses one name. There were no reports of damage from the quake, measured at magnitude 3.4.

Worried villagers in recent days have performed rituals aimed at warding off an eruption. On Thursday, the mountain's royally appointed spiritual guardian, "Mbah" Maridjan, led a silent procession of 100 people three times around a village near the volcano.

Most of the estimated 647,000 people left homeless are living in makeshift shelters _ often just plastic tarps to ward off tropical downpours and the hot sun _ with no toilets or running water.

Thirty more U.S. military medical personnel arrived Saturday, and were followed by a 135-member medical team from Cuba with two field hospitals. Medical teams already have arrived from Singapore, Japan, Iraq, Malaysia, Qatar and Pakistan.

The United Nations issued an urgent appeal Friday for $103 million to pay for the recovery effort over the next six months _ with about half of that for rebuilding homes. Aid workers have yet to reach some remote areas, and delivery of food, medicine and tents has been sporadic in others.

More than 50 people were staying Saturday in two large empty chicken coops in Pentong in Bantul district. Flies buzzed everywhere, and children played barefoot on bamboo slats encrusted with chicken droppings.

The British medical aid agency Merlin said it was concerned that the villagers could catch bird flu or salmonella, and it appealed for more tents for survivors.

Bird flu cases have rocketed in Indonesia in the past month, with some occurring in districts surrounding the quake zone. At least 38 Indonesians have died.

Parji, the 60-year-old owner of one of the coops, told The Associated Press that he was not afraid of bird flu.

"There is a slight smell from the dung, but I look after the health of my birds. I am certain there is no bird flu here," he said.

Two earthquake survivors committed suicide Friday, one by hanging and the other by jumping down a well, Bantul police chief Lt. Col. Dedy Munazat said. Both men had lost their homes in the quake.

Government officials said 380 people who had complained of dizziness and severe stomach pains after eating donated food Thursday were apparently suffering from post-trauma stress. The villagers were treated at four hospitals and laboratory tests found the food was safe, the national disaster agency said.

The massive relief effort comes as Indonesia is still trying to rebuild from the 2004 tsunami, which killed 131,000 people in western Aceh province alone.

[Soldier4Christ]

Earthquake jolts Iran, one killed

Teheran, June 3 (AP): A young girl was killed and two people were wounded in an 5.2-magnitude earthquake that jolted southern Iran on Saturday, authorities said.

``A four-year old girl died under the rubble after an old wall was destroyed by the quake in the island of Qeshm,'' said Masoud Dalman, the head of emergency services in the Hormozgan province where the quake's epicenter was located. He said two more people were injured on the island.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the quake occurred at 10:45 a.m. local time (0715 GMT) and was felt in the port town of Khamir, 1500 kilometers (932 miles) south east of the capital, Tehran. It was followed by a 4.1 aftershock at 11:07.

``The earthquake left no casualties and damage in Khamir. However, rescue teams have been deployed to remote rural areas to inspect probable damage,'' Hooshang Azan, governor of Khamir, told the Associated Press on the telephone.

The epicenter of Saturday's quake was in Bandar Pol, a sparsely populated area near Khamir, on the bank of a minor strait between Iran's mainland and the island of Qeshm.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had reached a 5.4 magnitude, with a 4.5-magnitude aftershock.

Qeshm Island, in the Strait of Hormuz, was previously hit by a magnitude-5.9 quake in November last year that killed 10 people and injured 70.

Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. It experiences at least one slight earthquake everyday on average.

In March, three strong earthquakes and several aftershocks jolted western Iran overnight, killing at least 66 people.

In February last year, a 6.4-magnitude quake rocked the town of Zarand in southern Iran, killing 612 people and injuring more than 1,400.

Some 26,000 people were killed by a 6.6-magnitude quake that flattened the historic southeastern city of Bam in the same region in 2003.

[Soldier4Christ]

Iowa State Health Officials Announce Mumps Epidemic Contained


Due to a decrease in the number of reported mumps cases, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) announces the containment of the mumps epidemic. Containment of an epidemic means cases may still be occurring, however, there is a significant decrease in the number of cases and no new populations are being affected.

The IDPH emphasizes that Iowans still needing the recommended two doses of the mumps vaccine need to contact their local care provider. Two doses of the mumps vaccine is the cornerstone of mumps prevention.

The DPH commends local public health departments, the University Hygienic Laboratory, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for their diligent and aggressive work in assisting in the containment of this epidemic.

Fighting this disease provided IDPH and its partners a valuable opportunity for the implementation and testing of the public health emergency plans. The chance to utilize these plans with the mumps epidemic has enhanced IDPH emergency response for future outbreaks such as pandemic flu.

Mumps is a viral infection of the salivary glands spread through coughing, sneezing and sharing saliva. Symptoms including swelling of the glands close to the jaw, fever, headache and muscle ache. For most, mumps is a mild to moderate disease; however, there is a risk of severe complications including hearing loss, meningitis, sterility in men and spontaneous miscarriage.

Since the first report of mumps to IDPH, the state health department with assistance from the local health departments and the public health laboratory, monitored the disease, communicated with health care providers and the public about the epidemic and actions they can take to reduce the risk of mumps.

[Soldier4Christ]

Mysterious bug epidemic miffs beach-goers


A swarm of insects that mysteriously invaded the capital this weekend, leaving thousands of beach-goers in a frenzy, disappeared just as inexplicably as they arrived.

In an official statement issued by sub-general Director of Health, Jos Robalo, the insect has been identified by biologists as a cross between a mosquito and a fly. He denied that the plague was inbound from Africa, justifying this by explaining that the Algarve did not experience the invasion, which would have been expected should the bugs have come from Northern Africa.
The first swarm of bugs hit Cascais last Friday, gradually enveloping the whole of the Estoril and Lisbon coastline, to Troia and Costa da Caparica.

[Soldier4Christ]

Deadly swarm may have been located in Sand Springs

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. A swarm of bees that killed a Great dane last month may be the same one that has attacked three people in Sand Springs in the past several days.
Assistant Police Chief Mike Carter said yesterday the swarm was in a storage building outside a home.

Resident Alice Jones says two people were stung at her home May 27th and another woman was stung Thursday a few blocks away. Jones says an animal control officer and a professional beekeeper are scheduled to return today to dispose of the bees, which could be as many as several thousand.

Carter says it's possible the swarm killed the dog.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry collected a few of the dead bees for D-N-A testing to determine whether they were Africanized bees, but preliminary results showed they were European honeybees.

The agency sent the bees to a lab in Arizona to find out whether any Africanized bees were part of the group.