RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service

EDIS Number: FL-20130523-39346-NOR
Date / time: 23/05/2013 13:44:28 [UTC]
Event: Flood
Area: Europe
Country: Norway
State/County: Hordaland
Location: [Valley of Gudbrandsdalen]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Moderate

Description:

Neighbours were crying and hugging one another Thursday morning as they watched raging flood waters slam into their homes in Kvam, in the valley of Gudbrandsdalen. Nearly 300 homeowners were evacuated during the night, as were others farther south in Eidsvoll and in several other communities around southern Norway as rain and snowmelt turned rivers and creeks into uncontrollable torrents. In Eidsvoll, northeast of Oslo, around 40 homeowners were told to leave their homes because of fears a dam further upslope would burst. Others were evacuated in the counties of Hedmark, Oppland, Buskerud and Telemark as officials categorized this year’s spring flooding as the worst since 1995, so far.

It may get even worse, with more rain predicted and more rapid melting of snow and ice at higher elevations. Instead of beginning to melt slowly at the end of winter, this year’s unusually cold spring kept the snow and ice frozen well into May. When temperatures suddenly soared last week, the annual run-off quickly turned into the gushing torrents now threatening so many areas that emergency crews were struggling to keep up with demand. The pumping of flooded cellars quickly became a lower priority on Wednesday as crews worked to prevent more damage by trying to divert the deluge. Roads and major highways were blocked and closed all over southern Norway, with the heavily trafficked E6 highway through Gudbrandsdalen closed in several places. The list of closed roads was so long that radio announcers on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) referred listeners to the state highway department’s website for the full list that was constantly being updated (external link, in Norwegian: “Stengt” means closed).

State railway NSB and railroad Jernbaneverket were also facing enormous challenges, with tracks washed out in numerous places or covered by mud- and rockslides. Main train routes through Gudbrandsdalen and Osterdalen that connect Oslo and Trondheim had to be shut down and NSB couldn’t provide alternative bus transport because adjacent roads were blocked as well. The Kongsvinger line to Oslo re-opened, however, providing some good news for commuters Thursday morning, but passengers were warned of delays throughout the day. Several long-distance truck drivers had to spend the night in or around Hamar because of highway closures that trapped them where they were, not least because their vehicles are too large to drive on the narrower secondary roads that were being used for detours. In addition to the evacuations in Eidsvoll and Kvam, around 20 homeowners were ordered to leave their homes in Nesbyen and 43 in Nord-Aurdal. There were reports they may never be allowed to return and will be forced to rebuild in other areas because of the increased incidence of flooding in recent years. Insurance companies were launching a debate over whether other policy holders should be expected to effectively pay for the losses suffered by those who insisted on rebuilding in areas hit by floods just two years ago. Politicians are expected to tackle the issue when the immediate crisis was over.

EDIS Number: BH-20130523-39345-IND
Date / time: 23/05/2013 11:15:45 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: Asia
Country: India
State/County: State of Madhya Pradesh
Location: [Satna District]
Number of Deads: 3 person(s)
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: 10 person(s)
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

Three of a family died and 10 others of a village in Satna district have been admitted to district hospital due to food poisoning on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. While doctors are yet to ascertain the cause of death, locals suspect it to be the cholera outbreak in the village. The incident took place at Raghunathpur village of the district. Chief medical and health officer of the district, Dr D N Chauhan said, "Three members of a family namely Sundar Kol (25), Bhupendra Kol (50) and Chandrawati Kol (45) died and 10 of nearby families fell ill." "Prima facie it seems to be a case of food poisoning but actual cause could be ascertained only after the laboratory and post mortem reports of the victims are obtained," he added. "We have also instructed the public health engineering department to ensure effective chlorination and other measures to ensure supply of clean drinking water in the village," Dr Chauhan said.

EDIS Number: SS-20130523-39344-USA
Date / time: 23/05/2013 11:12:57 [UTC]
Event: Snow Storm
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Washington
Location: Bickleton
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Minor

Description:

A freak snow storm shuts down school and leaves residents without power in the community of Bickleton. Bickleton School Superintendent Ric Palmer says within a 10 mile radius of the school, areas received 5 to 6 inches of snow, while others experienced up to 10 to 12 inches. Palmer says despite cancelling school today, classes are expected to resume tomorrow. The heavy, wet snow, also knocked down several trees which knocked out power to the area. Your Local ABC has a crew headed to Bickleton and we'll have more on this developing story tonight at 5 & 6:30.

EDIS Number: VI-20130523-39343-NPL
Date / time: 23/05/2013 06:38:05 [UTC]
Event: Vehicle Accident
Area: Asia
Country: Nepal
State/County: Mahakali Zone
Location: [En-route to Khalanga, Dharchula from Mahendranagar ]
Number of Deads: 7 person(s)
Number of Injured: 25 person(s)
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Heavy

Description:

Seven persons died, and 25 others got injured when a bus en-route to Khalanga, Dharchula from Mahendranagar met with an accident at Gokuleshwor-6, Nangta at Mahakali Highway on Thursday morning. The Mahakali Yatayat bus (Na. 1 Kha 8285) feel some 40 metres off the hilly road in a gorge causing the fatalities, according to police. The deceased are identified as Krishna Bhatta, Baitadi, Gopal Khatri and Pitambar Saud Sarmali-Darchula, Narhari Dhami, Kharkada- Darchula, Likewise, three Indian national also got killed in the accident. They are identified as Mahadev Bhatta, Mathura Datta Bhatta and Motiram Bhatta, all hailing from Baluwakot, Uttranchal, India. All of them died at the spot, according to DSP Kuber Singh Kathayet. The injured are being treated at Gokuleshwor Heath Post. Likewise, the seriously injured are being sent to Dadeldhura, and Dhangadhi for further treatment. The police has suspect the overload to be the cause of the accident. The rescue process is still underway.

EDIS Number: FL-20130523-39342-USA
Date / time: 23/05/2013 05:05:52 [UTC]
Event: Flood
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of North Dakota
Location: Cavalier
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: 1300 person(s)
Damage level: Heavy

Description:

A dam that threatened to give way and flood a North Dakota town was holding back the water on Wednesday, though the 1,300 residents of Cavalier were still being told to stay away from their homes. Steady rainfall between Friday and Tuesday dumped about 9 inches of rain on parts of Pembina County, swelling creeks and rivers and sending water flowing across the countryside from west to east in the east-sloping county. The small town of Crystal flooded Tuesday, forcing a few residents from their homes, and people in Cavalier - about 85 miles north of Grand Forks - were told to evacuate Tuesday night as a precaution should the Renwick Dam about six miles west of town on the Tongue River be overwhelmed. The evacuations included two or three patients at a hospital and 63 people in a nursing home and assisted living center, county Emergency Manager Andrew Kirking said. They were taken either to care facilities in surrounding communities or to the homes of relatives. Local, state and federal officials built an emergency levee with the help of the National Guard on Tuesday to try to prevent floodwaters from eroding the emergency spillway at the earth-and-concrete Renwick Dam. The levee was being reinforced and monitored Wednesday as the area enjoyed sunshine instead of rain clouds for the first time in five days, Kirking said. "The rising water has slowed overnight. It is still rising, but it is not nearly at the rate it was yesterday at this time," he said. "We are very, very cautiously optimistic now that the water has slowed." A slow leak in the dam would mean a slow rise of water over a long period of time downstream, Kirking said. "Should we have a catastrophic failure, the worst-case scenario, we would see a massive amount of water," he said. "We could see a foot of standing water in the six miles from (the dam) to Cavalier." The water also would flood about a dozen people on rural farmsteads, he said.

EDIS Number: VIV-20130523-39341-USA
Date / time: 23/05/2013 04:48:40 [UTC]
Event: Vehicle Incident
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Minnesota
Location: Minneapolis [Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Moderate

Description:

A JetBlue flight made an emergency landing at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday night. Patrick Hogan, of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the flight arrived at MSP shortly before 10 p.m. Hogan said the pilot noticed fumes in the cockpit and landed as a precautionary measure. Hogan did not know where the flight originated from. There are no injuries. Passengers were taken off of the plane while technicians looked for the problem. Hogan said it will be JetBlue's decision on how to proceed with the flight.

EDIS Number: BH-20130523-39340-USA
Date / time: 23/05/2013 04:46:57 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Arizona
Location: [Graham County]
Number of Deads: 1 person(s)
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

Authorities say a Graham County man has died of complications from the hantavirus, the first reported case of the disease this year. The Graham County Health Department says the 39-year-old man died earlier this month, but no additional information was immediately available Wednesday. The hantavirus is a rare disease that exhibits symptoms similar to the flu including fever, muscle aches and vomiting. Thirty-four cases of the virus have been recorded in Arizona since 2001. Of those, 38% were fatal. Health experts say there's no specific treatment for the hantavirus and victims should seek medical attention as soon as they notice symptoms. Officials recommend sealing up any openings or crawl spaces around the household that could shelter unwanted rodents and placing traps in areas where rodent droppings have been detected.

EDIS Number: BH-20130523-39339-CAN
Date / time: 23/05/2013 03:35:48 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: Canada
State/County: Province of Montreal
Location: [Great Montreal Region]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: 1300000 person(s)
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Moderate

Description:

Most Montrealers are being told they must boil their water before drinking it, a precaution after sediment was found in the water following renovations to a city reservoir. Officials will be testing the water to make sure there is no dangerous bacteria in the sediment. City officials have issued a boil water advisory covering all areas east of, and including, LaSalle. So far, the West Island, Lachine (except for Ville St-Pierre) and parts of Ahuntsic-Cartierville north of the Metropolitan Expressway are the only areas exempt from the boil water advisory. The head of Montreal's water service, Chantal Morissette, said the advisory is a precautionary measure. She said the decision comes after test results at the Atwater filtration plant showed water was not up to standard. According to authorities, workers had lowered the water in the Atwater reservoir for renovations. When the level was raised again, sediment was discovered in the water.

There have been reports of discoloured, brownish water coming from the taps in several boroughs across the city. At a press conference held shortly before noon on Wednesday, authorities said the advisory will be in effect for 24 hours. Following that, the water will be tested again and the public will be updated on the situation. Officials are asking the public to bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking it. "We're asking citizens to boil their water … for everything that concerns drinking water, for preparing baby bottles, for brushing teeth, for washing vegetables, and for making ice cubes," said Morissette. Tap water that has not been boiled is safe to use for washing clothing, bathing and for washing dishes as long as they are well dried afterward. The director of Montreal’s public health department is reminding residents the boil water advisory is a preventive measure.

Dr. Terry-Nan Tannenbaum said the results of the tests on the water in the Atwater reservoir have not come back, so it’s still unknown whether there are bacteria in the water supply. She advised Montrealers affected by the boil water advisory to simply boil water for one minute before consuming. She said using a water filter like a Brita would not help if the water was contaminated with bacteria. If the water is contaminated, she said, people who drink it could experience gastrointestinal problems including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. “We have to wait for the results to know really how big a risk this is for the population,” said Tannenbaum.

EDIS Number: VI-20130523-39338-USA
Date / time: 23/05/2013 03:33:32 [UTC]
Event: Vehicle Accident
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Indiana
Location: North Webster
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: 45 person(s)
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Moderate

Description:

Northern Indiana authorities say more than 45 middle and high school students were injured and a bus driver was seriously hurt in a chain-reaction crash involving four school buses. Kosciusko Community Hospital spokeswoman Joy Lohse says 43 people injured in the accident were being treated there. She says none are in serious or critical condition. She didn't have any information on how many of them were students or the patients' exact conditions. A nursing supervisor at IU Health Goshen Hospital says four students being treated there are in good condition. The accident happened around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Sheriff's Department Sgt. Chad Hill says authorities don't know yet the cause of the accident. He says one bus apparently was stopped to let a student off when it occurred.

EDIS Number: BH-20130523-39337-PER
Date / time: 23/05/2013 03:29:59 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: South-America
Country: Peru
State/County: Provincia de Chiclayo
Location: [Near to Eten]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

Dead sea lions have been discovered on beaches in northern Peru amid suspicions they were poisoned by fishermen, activists and authorities said. The remains, together with those of dolphins and sea turtles, turned up over the past two weeks near the port of Eten some 750 kilometers north of the capital Lima, Carlos Yaipen of the non-government organization ORCA said. "Initial reports indicate that between 30 and 50 sea lions were found, with signs they were killed with rat poison," Yaipen said. A spokesman for the Peru Sea Institute confirmed the find but placed the number of dead sea lions below 20. An investigation has been launched to determine what caused the deaths, he said. According to Yaipen, the area's fishermen consider the sea lions - a protected species - as competition, often feeding them fish filled with poison that at times are also consumed by turtles and dolphins. Yaipen also appealed to authorities to step up their oversight of the fishing industry and the use of poisonous substances, saying these can also affect human health.

EDIS Number: BH-20130523-39336-USA
Date / time: 23/05/2013 03:21:08 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Georgia
Location: Covington [Rocky Plains Elementary School]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

Two students were bitten by a fox at an elementary school playground in Georgia and now the youngsters must undergo rabies treatment. The two second-grade students bitten by a fox were playing on a playground at Rocky Plains Elementary School in Covington, Ga., when a fox showed up. The fox bit two 6-year-old boys, animal control authorities said. No doubt both the students and the teacher who had to fight off the fox had a huge shock - usually the closest thing to an animal on the playground is the monkey bars. But it was no laughing matter for the students. About 50 youngsters were on the playground at the time of the frightening fox attack. A teacher managed to kick the fox to get it away from the students. The students bitten by the fox were first treated by the school nurse and then taken to Newton County Medical Center for additional treatment. And now the boys must undergo precautionary treatment for rabies. Most healthy foxes avoid people. Though not pleasant, rabies treatment is no longer a series of painful shots in the stomach, as some may still believe. Now, it’s a series of injections, usually four, that are administered in the arm, much like a vaccination.

EDIS Number: EH-20130523-39335-COL
Date / time: 23/05/2013 02:41:03 [UTC]
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Area: South-America
Country: Colombia
State/County: Municipality of Garzon
Location: Garzon
Number of Deads: 2 person(s)
Number of Injured: 23 person(s)
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

An epidemic of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in the municipality of Garzon in the center of the Department of Huila has resulted in 2 deaths and another 23 people infected with the dangerous illness. Carlos Daniel Mazabel, departmental secretary for health, warned that pregnant women, people older than 60 years, and cancer patients are the most vulnerable groups. The 2 fatal victims to date are a 61-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man, a community leader from the municipality of Garzon, who, according to the medical diagnosis, died after a complicated fever and respiratory distress syndrome.

EDIS Number: BH-20130522-39334-CHN
Date / time: 22/05/2013 14:45:47 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: Asia
Country: China
State/County: Province of Qinghai
Location: Datong
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: 20 person(s)
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

Dozens of students from multiple primary and middle schools in Northwest China's Qinghai province have been affected by food poisoning, local authorities said Wednesday. As of 3 pm, more than 20 students from three schools in Hui-Tu autonomous county of Datong had been sent to a local hospital for treatment, sources with the county government said. Their conditions have not yet been disclosed. The students showed symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting and diarrhea after eating lunch at their schools, according to the sources. An investigation into the cause of the accident is under way.

EDIS Number: BH-20130522-39333-IND
Date / time: 22/05/2013 10:52:27 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: Asia
Country: India
State/County: State of Karnataka
Location: Bagalkunte
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: 30 person(s)
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

Thirty engineering students were rushed to a hospital near Bagalkunte due to alleged food poisoning on Tuesday evening. The police said the final year students of Krishna Institute of Technology in Chikkabanavara were celebrating their farewell party in the college. The Soladevanahalli police said the students started throwing up after consuming the food ordered from a hotel. While a few students were discharged, more than 12 students are still undergoing treatment at the hospital. However they have been declared out of danger, the police said.

EDIS Number: ED-20130522-39332-AUS
Date / time: 22/05/2013 10:49:48 [UTC]
Event: Environment Pollution
Area: Australia
Country: Australia
State/County: State of Queensland
Location: [Jackson Oil Field]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Heavy

Description:

Santos has come under fire from environmentalist groups after it confirmed the leakage of 240,000 litres of oil over five days near the Queensland-South Australian border. Santos said a leak in their Jackson oil fields had been plugged on Monday by a specialist team flown in from the U.S.A. The well, in the company's Zeus field, is believed to have started leaking either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning last week. While it was described as a "limited leak" the company said it was generating about 300 barrels a day. A barrel is equivalent to 158 litres. A Santos spokesman said that now the well had been contained it would be able to access the site and assess the environmental damage.

EDIS Number: VI-20130522-39331-USA
Date / time: 22/05/2013 07:07:29 [UTC]
Event: Vehicle Accident
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Ohio
Location: Cygnet [I-75]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: 30 person(s)
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: Moderate

Description:

Officials at the scene of a bus accident, on Tuesday night, said that there were 25 to 30 people injured in the crash that shut down a portion of I-75 near Cygnet. Investigators say that just before 11 pm, a white mini-van was driving erratically along I-75 South near mile-marker 173 when it crossed the center median into the Northbound lanes. A commercial bus traveling Northbound, in the same area, then lost control while trying to avoid the white minivan. In the chaos, the bus rear-ended another vehicle with 5 passengers inside, including 2 infants. All 5 of the people in that vehicle, including the children, were taken to area hospitals. Of the others injured in the crash some were taken to Wood County Hospital and Blanchard Valley Hospital. One person was transported by Life Flight to St. Vincent's in Toledo. Authorities did not have any information on how seriously the victims may have been injured. Officials did say that the white minivan fled the scene of the accident going Northbound on I-75.

EDIS Number: BH-20130522-39330-COL
Date / time: 22/05/2013 06:43:48 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: South-America
Country: Colombia
State/County: Departmento de Valle del Cauca
Location: Cali
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: 1 person(s)
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

A 61-year-old woman who was admitted to a hospital in Cali could be the 1st case of 'mad cow disease' (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)) in Colombia, according to specialized tests performed by the Instituto de Referencia Andino (laboratory in Colombia). The patient's sister said, "The results of tests done on my sister say she has 'mad cow disease'. The persons who reviewed the tests initially say it is the 1st case in Colombia, and if she is infected it would have been through meat and milk consumed in the country." However, sources from the Ministry of Health consulted by Colprensa ruled out the presence of this disease in the country and warned that this "should not be a matter for concern." Nonetheless, they said the issue is being "reviewed" and "an official statement" on the subject will be issued this afternoon (20 May 2013). So far, the clinic in the capital of Valle del Cauca, where the patient remains hospitalized, has not commented on her condition.

How 'mad cow disease', whose scientific name is (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)), is contracted has not been fully ascertained, but recent studies suggest that it is through consumption of meat contaminated with the (the prion causing the disease), or through blood transfusions. The patient's sister said the woman has never traveled to Europe (where cases have been reported) and if, in fact she became infected, it had to be through something she ate in Colombia. "She can not speak because she is in a comatose state, but she has not traveled to Europe where supposedly the disease only occurs, but about a year ago she went to Guayaquil (Ecuador)," she said. The woman said initially her sister presented numbness of the muscles of the legs accompanied by intense pain, followed by dimness of vision and loss of balance, in addition to other symptoms such as vomiting, disorientation, and dizziness, for which she was taken to the emergency service. "In Colombia we were told she was completely healthy. In Bogota and Medellin all tests were negative. We decided to send the case to the USA for further exploration and the results we received said she has 'mad cow disease'." In recent years cases have been reported in Britain, Portugal, Ireland, and France, and sporadic cases have been reported in other European countries, in which patients have died from damage to their nervous systems.

EDIS Number: BH-20130522-39329-IND
Date / time: 22/05/2013 04:39:23 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: Asia
Country: India
State/County: State of Manipur
Location: Phumlou [Imphal West district]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

Besides report about three persons succumbing to suspected cases of rabies after the victims were reportedly bitten by dogs, locals of Phumlou village under Imphal West district are gripped with fear. According to a reliable source, atleast five persons of the village were attacked by two particular dogs which went ferociously wild within the last two weeks, leading to the demise of three of the victims. While a woman identified as Thangjam Shantibala (38) of Phumlou Maning Leikai failed to recuperate at RIMS Hospital today, about a week earlier two other individuals namely Namaram Manitomba (50) and Ch Amika (44) from the same locality passed away after both were bitten by the dogs. At three victims had been undergoing treatment at RIMS Psychiatry Ward while the two other individuals are being treated at their respective homes, said the source. It is also said that many dogs in Phumlou areas are behaving in a strange manner with the source suspecting such peculiar behaviours to be case of rabies infection spreading swiftly in the village. mention may be made that in March 2006, rabies cases were rampant in many pockets of the valley districts, particularly in Thoubal district, from where a number of casualties had been reported. Officials of department concerned were unable to confirm whether the latest case in Phumlou is connected to outbreak of rabies disease.

EDIS Number: EH-20130522-39327-USA
Date / time: 22/05/2013 03:30:16 [UTC]
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of Alabama
Location: Dothan [Southeast Alabama Medical Center]
Number of Deads: 2 person(s)
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: 5 person(s)
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

Two people have died and five others have been hospitalized in a mysterious cluster of respiratory illnesses in southeast Alabama, state health officials said. The victims, all adults, had symptoms including fever, cough and shortness of breath, but the cause of the illnesses is unknown, said Dr. Mary McIntyre, the acting state epidemiologist for the Alabama Department of Public Health. The hospital is using respiratory precautions, which include requiring staff to wear special N95 masks that reduce the chance of infection. State health officials have collected and analyzed samples of specimens from all patients. So far, one sample has tested positive for H1N1 influenza A, but it's not clear that that is behind the unusual illnesses. There's no evidence of other kinds of flu, including the H7N9 strain that has caused illness and death in China, McIntyre said. Laboratory samples have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but testing results are not yet available, officials said. There's no evidence that any of the victims had a connection or traveled outside the country, which would have put them at risk for unusual pathogens, including a deadly new coronavirus recently christened MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. "At this point it's too early to tell," McIntyre told NBC News. "That's why we called it a respiratory illness of unknown origin." State and federal health officials will continue to investigate the illnesses.

EDIS Number: BH-20130522-39328-USA
Date / time: 22/05/2013 03:35:06 [UTC]
Event: Biological Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of North Carolina
Location: Fayetteville [Holiday Inn Fayetteville-Bordeaux]
Number of Deads: N/A
Number of Injured: N/A
Number of Infected: N/A
Number of Missing: N/A
Number of Affected: N/A
Number of Evacuated: N/A
Damage level: N/A

Description:

A salmonellosis outbreak stemming from a Fayetteville hotel has now reached 70 possible cases, 12 of which are out of state. The Cumberland County Department of Public Health says 70 people have reported signs or symptoms consistent with salmonellosis. 5 people have been hospitalized. All seem to have eaten at the All American Sports Bar and Grill and The Cafe Bordeaux within the Holiday Inn Fayetteville-Bordeaux on Owen Drive. The hotel's General Manager Scooter Deal said the 1st 14 reported cases were all staff members at the hotel, including himself. Deal said the health department investigators have asked questions of the restaurant kitchen staff and reviewed how they handled food. They are also checking what foods were shipped to the hotel.