Tag Archives: eu

International, U.S.

World War 3: Italian Supreme Court finds 26 evil ‘Mericans guilty of War Crimes!!!

On 01 February 2013, the Italian appeals Court ruled that three CIA employees are guilty of war crimes!  That brings the total to 26 U.S. citizens found guilty in Italian courts since 2009!

Italian prosecutors said all but one works for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.  They were tried in absentia, and found guilty of kidnapping an Egyptian in 2003 on the orders of U.S. President George W. Bush “Jr”.

U.S. officials claimed he was a terrorists, but after several years of being transferred to different prisons in Germany, Italy, then Egypt, and being tortured, he was let go in 2007.  An Egyptian court ruled there wasn’t any evidence to prove he was a terrorist.

The Italian court ruling means that if any of the U.S. citizens found guilty set foot in Europe they can be imprisoned.  Italian prosecutors say they will also consider extradition orders against the United States!

According to some reports, the Obama Administration refused to provide legal help for the CIA agents.

July 2012: BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD, U.S. GENERALS, AND EVEN OBAMA FACING INVESTIGATION AND WAR CRIMES TRIALS BY INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURTS

International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran issues warning against Israel, Syria summons UN commander, Israel & United States massing troops along border with Syria!

“Parties that have always taken tough stances on Syria should now take serious measures and decisive positions on this invasion by Tel Aviv and place regional security high on their list of priorities.”-Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs

31 January 2013, a day after reports said Israel launched two air sorties against Syria, Iranian officials are warning that Israel will launch more attacks and other countries in the region should prepare to strike back.

Russia is also sounding a warning: “If this information is confirmed, then we are dealing with unprovoked strikes against targets located on the territory of a sovereign state, which brazenly infringes on the UN Charter and is unacceptable, no matter the motive used for its justification.”-Russian Foreign Ministry statement

In Lebanon a former city councilman is now charged with acting as a spy for Israel. He is accused of accepting at least $600,000 USD from Mossad, and is considered the highest paid spy to be captured.  Regarding Syria, Lebanese officials are condemning the Israeli attack against a Syrian weapons testing center, saying it’s part of a larger conspiracy: “….openly reveals ….the criminal thinking aimed at destroying Syria and …..pave the way for unfolding the chapters of a major conspiracy against …..our Arab and Muslim peoples.”

Syria has summoned the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander to Damascus. There Syrian officials delivered an official protest over the Israel air strike, saying it’s a violation of a 1974 disengagement accord between Israel and Syria.

U.S. media reports say Israel was targeting anti-aircraft missiles that the Zionists thought were being shipped to Lebanon.  U.S. government officials and analysts talk as if the Zionist regime is justified in launching attacks against other countries, simply because they are afraid of other countries being able to defend themselves.

Syrian officials still say there was no Israeli attack against any of their military convoys (that report came from U.S./Israeli backed insurgents), but they insist Israel bombed a weapons testing center.  So far Israel will only admit to launching “two air sorties”, but will give no further info.

Syrian TV media is showing what looks like Israeli troops massing on the border.  Also, Israeli media reported several days ago that U.S. and Jordanian troops were massing on the Syrian border.

According to IsraelNationalNews, the Hashimite ruled (British empire installed) Jordan is building up troops, along with British and U.S. forces, and is doing so in co-ordination with Israel!  IsraelNationalNews claims one of their sources as a “senior Jordanian security” official.

Iraqi reports stated that U.S. personnel leaving Iraq supposedly to return the U.S. actually went to Jordan: “Some of the U.S. forces that left Ain al-Assad airbase…did not go back to the U.S.A. or its base in Germany, but were transferred to Jordan…”-unnamed source

“At least one U.S. aircraft carrying military personnel landed at Prince Hassan airbase [in Jordan]….”-unnamed employee with Royal Jordanian Airlines

Since October 2012, there have been reports, mainly British, saying that the U.S. had already positioned at least 400 personnel along the Jordainan/Syrian border.  The official U.S. response was that it was for humanitarian reasons.

Also, U.S. made anti-aircraft Patriot missile batteries have finally been stationed along the Turkish/Syrian border.  At least two sets of Patriot missile batteries have been installed, and are now being manned by personnel from the Netherlands and Germany.

Just today, Stars and Stripes, reported at least 100 U.S. military vehicles heading to the Turkish/Syrian border.  They are rushing to set up more Patriot missile batteries.  The missile batteries are being operated by the U.S., German and Dutch militaries (NATO members, as is Turkey).  Their central control facility is located in Ramstein, Germany.  And get this, reports say two missile batteries require 400 personnel to operate, isn’t that how many U.S. troops were deployed to the Jordanian/Syrian border back in October (see above)?  Humanitarian reasons, yeah right!

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: Scotland, Canada & Spain uniting against the British Empire? Latin America tells the Red Coats to get out of Falklands! Tells the Yankees to get out of Puerto Rico! The age of Separatism Summits is here!

“There are the underlying emotional arguments for independence, then there are the more rational economic ones. What we are seeing is that they are coming together.”-Alfred Bosch, Spanish politician

On 29 January 2013, First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, and Quebec’s Premier, Pauline Marios, issued a joint statement after holding what some sources have called a separatism summit:  “Both leaders also talked about the political situation in their respective jurisdictions and agreed that their destinies are a matter for the people of Scotland and Quebec to decide.”

The Canadian province of Quebec narrowly lost it’s independence bid in the recent elections.  And election officials in the United Kingdom told the Scots that they had to change the wording on an upcoming 2014 independence referendum.

Interviewed after the separatism summit was over, Premeir Marios said not only is the push for Scottish independence moving forward, but Quebecois will never give up: “I think the most important thing is the determination of the First Minister and his team to arrive at the support of the population on this issue. I think that is very clear, he will put all his team and all his determination to obtain this goal. I think that is as similar as we made in the past and we will do in the future.”

In a warmer climate, the people of Catalonia, Spain, are pushing for independence as well. The people of Catalonia will also be voting for independence in 2014. The Spanish government is calling it unconstitutional.

On 28 January 2013, the latest summit meeting of CELAC ended.  One of the results of that meeting was a unanimous resolution demanding the British Empire get out of the Malvinas (Falkland Islands).  This as Cuba’s President, Raúl Castro Ruz, assumed presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

CELAC is also aiming to end U.S. as well as U.K. colonialism: “With the dissipation of United States siren songs at the 2009 Summit in Trinidad & Tobago, Latin America and the Caribbean excelled in their unity and independence when they reclaimed the Malvinas as Argentine and demanded an end to the blockade and exclusion of Cuba, an event that the Cuban people will always remember with profound gratitude.”-Raúl Castro Ruz (read his full speech here)

And let’s not forget the U.S. controlled Puerto Rico.  The new President of CELAC said: “Our community will not be complete without Puerto Rico, a truly Latin American and Caribbean sister nation submitted to colonial domination.”-Raúl Castro Ruz

Last year even the United Nations Decolonization Committee (UNDC) demanded independence for Puerto Rico: “The Special Committee on Decolonization today called on the United States to expedite a process that would allow Puerto Ricans to fully exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, requesting the General Assembly to consider the question of Puerto Rico comprehensively in all its aspects.”-18 June 2012, UNDC statement

Where was the main stream U.S. media on that one?

International, U.S.

Breaking news, World War 3: Israel launches airstrikes against Syrian targets!

30 January 2013, several hours ago it was reported that Israeli planes hit a Syrian army convoy near the border with Lebanon.  Then, just recently, another report that says Israeli planes hit a Syrian military compound!

Reports say the convoy was targeted because Israel believed it was delivering weapons to Lebanon. The source of the report was U.S. backed Syrian rebels.

Israeli media reports that Syrian military commanders say no such attack took place.  Instead, Syrian officials say the Israeli airstrike targeted an experimental  weapons center in Jamraya.  Two people were killed, five wounded.

So far officials with Israel have not commented.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. expands military presence in Africa! U.K. sending troops to Mali! Western leaders agree to ‘donate’ your tax money to the war in Mali!

29 January 2013, the Obama administration announced they will send military personnel into Niger.  On the surface they will be operating drones in support of the western/christian invasion of Mali.  Pentagon officials said the actual role U.S. forces will play has yet to be determined.

In the United Kingdom, British Defense Secretary, Philip Hammond, announced plans to send 240-300 Red Coats to Mali.

The British empire is already helping the French by flying in supplies on Boeing C-17 transports.  And at least 70 Red Coats are in the country of Senegal, operating drone aircraft.

Also, leaders from the United States, European Union and Japan (note: these are the main players in the one world government wanna be Trilateral Commission) met and agreed to become “donors”.  In other words, they’ve already met in Ethiopia for a conference to determine how much of your tax money will be spent on the invasion and occupation of Mali.  Reports say our fearless leaders have agreed to give hundreds of millions of taxes, just to the pro-western government of Mali.

Let’s see, our western government leaders have been cutting social programs saying there isn’t any money for them, yet they spend billions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Mali!

International, U.S.

Norovirus Update, 27 January 2013: No official reporting standards! New study says people spreading the disease weeks after getting better! It’s in the fish soup & tea? Blame your veggies!

“There are multiple epidemics…..there’s not a whole lot people can do about it.”-Gary Simon, George Washington School of Medicine

“Norovirus is one of the most infectious things on the planet.”-Chris Belcher, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent

Weeks after I first reported that this year’s norovirus (aka Norwalk virus) is a new deadly strain (Sydney 2012 hybird of the Genotype II.4 strain), the main streamers continue to report it as if it were new(s) to them.

Also, despite some media reports that people don’t usually die from norovirus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says for an average year about 800 people in the United States do in fact die from the vomiting bug.  The CDC also said it’s too soon to tell how the new Sydney 2012 bug will affect the United States.

To make matters more difficult in reporting norovirus cases to the public, health officials are not required to track nor report cases/outbreaks of norovirus!

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control is warning that the norovirus season will continue until March.

In San Diego County, California, health officials say the new strain is hitting locals hard: “About two-thirds of [gastrointestinal cases] what we’re seeing is the new Sydney strain.”-Eric McDonald, county deputy public health officer

However, McDonald also said that so far the number of cases is about average.  San Diego County has reported 27 outbreaks, and 628 confirmed cases, since last summer.

Indiana health officials also sounding a warning. The virus can survive outside a host for up to 72 hours. People who’re sick need to be isolated: “If they can stay in bed, if they can possibly use a separate bathroom, that can help the virus from being transmitted, because it is very contagious.”-Pamela Pontones, epidemiologist for the State of Indiana.

In Japan, nursing homes conintue to get hit with norovirus, and people are dying.  At least three people died between 01 January and 16 January 2013.  In December 2012, at least four people died in hospitals.

It was recently revealed that back in December 76 people became sick after eating at a buffet in the Tokyo Prince Hotel.   Also, 35 people became sick after eat meals from lunch boxes from the Ningyocho Imahan Foods Plant.  Norovirus was traced to the food factory, and it was shut down for three days of intensive cleaning.

New Zealand health officials are reporting a death caused by norovirus.  They say the Sydney 2012 strain is responsible for 17 outbreaks so far, and at least one death in a nursing home.

Ironically, the noro/Norwalk virus has ended a Native American Chief’s hunger strike in Canada. Attawapiskat Chief, Theresa Spence, was protesting the Canadian government’s continued oppression of the First Nation.  But after six weeks of not eating solid foods, she became sick with the vomiting bug.  This is interesting because supposedly all she was eating was fish broth and tea.

The vomiting bug seems to be hitting Native Americans hard, the National Chief of the First Nations, Shawn Atleo, was also ill.  He recently announced he was getting better and preparing to resume the fight against the oppressive Canadian government.

On the island of Nanaimo, in Canada’s British Columbia, hospital staff are reporting an increase in Norwalk virus cases.  It’s also hitting other areas of the province. However, health officials there don’t seem to be concerned, so far no signs of the deadly Sydney 2012 strain.   They’re still telling people to take care by isolating sick family members and cleaning everything with bleach.

Canadians returning from vacation in Cuba, and who are sick, are not being counted by government health officials. Already this year a group of seven Canadians returned from Cuba sick with symptoms of Norwalk, but because the illness was not confirmed with lab tests, the outbreak did not make official counts. Even the airlines and travel agency said officially no body got sick because no body reported it to them.  An Ontario newspaper, The Windsor Star, reported that the same thing happened last year.

Despite what many health officials say about the time period before someone is better, and supposedly no longer contagious, a new report says otherwise: “Just because someone doesn’t have active illness does not mean they can’t pass the virus along to others. Studies show that people still excrete the virus’s genetic material up to six weeks after they became infected, which probably means they can transmit it to others.”-Scientific American

More good news for us carnivores: Another report, by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says that almost half of all deaths caused by food illnesses, are from contaminated veggies!   Not only that, but that overall illnesses from “non-animal” foods are on the increase, while diseases from food of animal origin (FoAO) are declining!  Take that you wanna-be rabbits!

Check my previous postings about norovirus.

International, U.S.

Norovirus Update, 20 January 2013: Hybrid Pandemic! Blame those so called environmentaly friendly reusable shopping bags! Hand sanitizers do not work!

“This virus is just unbelievably contagious.”-Paul Cieslak, Oregon Public Health Division

Health officials in Oregon are reporting a spike in norovirus cases in the past two weeks.  Also, an outbreak that hit a girl’s soccer team has been linked to those so called environmentally friendly reusable shopping bags. It happened in 2010.  Last year researchers were finally able to make the link.  The first victim of the virus actually made an attempt to stay away from the other players, but seven others still got sick.  The common link was a reusable shopping bag containing food that all eight shared.  The bag-o-food was left in the bathroom, for some unintelligent reason.  The researchers speculate that the first girl vomited in the bathroom where the reusable food bag was.  With the norovirus just being in the same area of someone throwing up can get you sick, or contaminate your food.

The Sydney 2012 hybird of the Genotype II.4 strain of norovirus is spreading fast in France, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States.  Ian Goodfellow at the University of Cambridge says Sydney 2012 is “the Ferrari of the virus world” and “one of the most infectious viruses of man.”

Genotype II.4 is known as a type of norovirus that causes epidemics and pandemics. Sydney 2012 is something new, it’s a hybrid between Japanese and  Dutch Genotype II.4 strains.  Aussie and Kiwi Researchers say the two 2007 strains combined to make the Sydney 2012 strain (it was first noticed in Australia in 2012).  There have been several norovirus pandemics: 1996-97, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2009.

Cases of norovirus, influenza and whooping cough are all on the rise, and some are thinking there’s a connection.  Health officials in the U.S. state (Utah) now considered the launch point for Sydney 2012, say there’s no connection: “As far as we know, they’re completely coincidental and separate.”-Andy Pavia, University of Utah

In California yet another school was hit with the stomach bug.  A week ago there were ten outbreaks reported in Contra Costa County, one of them at the Lafayette elementary school. More than 100 students were sick. But this seems common for schools in Contra Costa County, in the first two months of 2012 at least 30 schools were hit.  If you didn’t hear about it last year it’s because schools are not required to make public such outbreaks!

I recently saw a report out of the U.S. midwest where hospital staff told the reporter they’re being ordered to use lots of “purell” (an alcohol based hand sanitizer). However, Contra Costa Public Health officials in California are saying alcohol based hand cleaners have no effect on norovirus!  (click here to see  study)

Also in California, Marin County Public Health officials gave a nursing home a clean bill of health after an outbreak sickened 78 people.  Six people were hospitalized, and two died.  The nursing home will no longer use a self serve buffet style eating facility, staff must now serve each person their meals while wearing gloves and hats.

In Hawaii, a week and a half ago health officials reported a sudden outbreak of norovirus at several hospitals. They were surprised by how fast it spread. So far no common link has been found, and officials hope it’s over.

In Merry Olde England, health officials are telling sick people to stay away from the hospital!  The United Kingdom‘s Health Protection Agency (HPA) is telling people to phone their doctor or clinic first if they think they’re sick.  Telling people to stay away from the hospital might have helped reduce hospital outbreaks, but, the HPA is also reporting that overall cases of vomiting bug are 56% higher when compared to the same time last year.

Also, norovirus is still alive and well in British hospitals. The Solihull Hospital was recently closed to visitors, and two wards were locked down: “Wards 15 and 19 at Solihull Hospital are currently on lock down due to norovirus.  As there are also many cases of norovirus outside the hospital in the community; Solihull Hospital has closed all wards to visitors except for the outpatients department and intensive care as a precautionary measure to protect patients. Any patients attending an outpatient appointment should not attend if they have experienced vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms two days prior to their appointment.”-hospital statement

A cruise ship company has settled a lawsuit from a woman in Scotland. She got sick with norovirus on a cruise four years ago, and is still suffering symptoms!

Health officials in France report that the number of people sick with norovirus has passed the epidemic level.

In Delaware, the Division of Public Health reports the first cases, and that there have been several outbreaks.

Here’s more proof that cleanliness does not protect you from viruses, and hospitals are the worst place to be: “They can survive freezing and heating and cleaning with many chemical disinfectants. In 2010, scientists surveyed a hospital for noroviruses and found 21 different types sitting on a single countertop. It takes fewer than 20 noroviruses slipping into a person’s mouth to start a new infection.”–Carl Zimmer, science writer National Geographic

Norovirus is also known as Norwalk virus, calicivirus, viral gastroenteritis and many other names and strains: “Symptoms of norovirus infection include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping. Noroviruses are a group of related viruses that affect the stomach and intestines and are the most common cause of stomach and intestinal inflammation, also known as gastroenteritis, in the U.S.”-David Young, South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control

Most people are sick with symptoms for 24 to 48 hours.  However, even if you feel better you can still pass it along for almost a week afterwards.  If you’re sick with symptoms for more than 48 hours get medical help.

That said, there is no treatment for norovirus (basically the hospital tries to keep you hydrated), no vaccine, and your body does not develop immunity so you can get sick again and again and again….

Check my previous postings about norovirus.  You’ll notice most outbreaks involve hospitals.  You’ll also read about a recent study that says cleanliness might not have any affect on viruses (it’s actually one of the first studies ever to investigate such claims).

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 29 December 2012 – 02 January 2013. Increased drone strikes proof the U.S. is losing the war? ANA attack Spanish troops! Cops kill wives! Pakistan attacks, again! Thousands of Afghan government troops used as human sacrifices for the United States! More proof it’s about the oil! More U.S. taxes wasted!

02 January 2013

A report says U.S. President Barack Obama authorized 450 drone (UAV) strikes in Afghanistan in 2012, double from the year before.  Afghans take it as proof the United States is losing the war: “Unfortunately, they think they can win this war by killing civilians. Actually, these attacks are revenges from the loss that the U.S. government has faced in Afghanistan.”-Mohammad Daoud Abedi, Afghan Nation Peace Council

In Herat Province, an Iranian man was found dead. Local police have given no details, other than he was a truck driver.  There has been an increase in the number of people being kidnapped in the province.

01 January 2013

In Herat Province, Karkh district, two Afghan National Army (ANA) officers attacked a Spanish/NATO military convoy. No one was hurt, and the ANA officers are missing.

In Kunduz Province, reports that two people were killed by U.S. led drone strike.

In Uruzgan Province, a local cop shot and killed his wife and teenaged son.  He is on the loose.  Local police officials say it was all over some kind of family argument.

Government officials in Sarkano district, Kunar Province, claim Pakistan fired 12 artillery rockets into their territory. One woman was killed, three children wounded.

According to icasualties.org, 309 U.S. personnel, 44 U.K. forces and 45 soldiers from other NATO/ISAF member countries were killed in 2012.  This is piddly when compared to how many puppet Afghan National Army troops died fighting for the United States: “We lost around one thousand and fifty of our hero soldiers in 2012….”-Zahir Azimi, Afghanistan Ministry of Defense

According to reports, more and more Afghan government officials are seeking asylum in the United States and United Kingdom/British Empire.  This year hundreds of Afghan  presidential palace employees, diplomats, reporters and journalists, athletes and students who’ve left Afghanistan have never returned.  Australia has been dealing with boat loads of refugees from Afghanistan.  The UN High Commission for Refugees said, this year, that Afghans make up the most people seeking asylum.  So much for the United States stabilizing Afghanistan in their War on Terror.

31 December 2012

2012 was a record year for Green on Blue attacks (Afghan government personnel attacking U.S. led NATO/ISAF personnel or contractors).  At least 46 U.S. led occupiers were killed in such attacks.  That’s 11 more than 2011.

In Samangan Province, a man serving time for killing three of his inlaws, killed his wife while she was visiting him in prison.  Prison officials believe the man was being motivated to commit the murders by his own mother. His mother had been telling him that his wife was having an affair.

In Daikundi Province, local government officials reporting a 50% increase in suicides among women.  The main reason is domestic violence.

Pakistan has released four more top Mujahideen leaders from prison. This comes at the request of the Afghan government. It’s part of demands by Mujahideen in order to continue with peace talks.

U.S. corporation, FMC Technologies, was just awarded the contract to build a oil/fuel refinery in the Amu Darya River basin, in the province of Jowzjan.  It is one of six oil fields in Afghanistan, discovered in 1930 by Swedish explorers.  The refinery is expected to put out 60,000 barrels of fuel everyday starting in Gregorian year 2015.  China is already a major player in Afghanistan’s budding oil industry.

30 December 2012

Near the Jalalabad airbase, in Nangarhar Province, a hidden bomb exploded.  The bomb was inside a fueler truck, in a convoy heading to the airbase. At least nine feulers were destroyed as they sat parked.  Jalalabad airbase is the second largest U.S. airbase in Afghanistan.

29 December 2012

ISAF said: “An International Security Assistance Force service member died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan.”

A Georgian/ISAF soldier who disappeared last week, was found dead.  No further info was issued.

The U.S. government has canceled the planed purchase of Italian made C-27 Spartan transport planes, for the Afghan air force.  Afghan government officials are happy: “Today we are very happy to hear the cancellation of the aircrafts purchase through the Italian corporation. The aircrafts are not usable by the Afghan Air Force anymore and we thank those who have taken this decision.”-Zahir Azimi, Afghanistan Ministry of Defense

U.S. taxpayers take note: Your government had already spent $600 million USD of your taxes on the C-27 for Afghanistan program!  Apparently the Afghan air force wants to continue to rely on their reliable Russian rotary wings and U.S. Cessna fixed wings.

Eight people, including four children, died due to being stuck in cold weather, after Pakistan closed the Torkham border gate.  Border police say thousands of people are stuck. Pakistan recently closed the border crossing in retaliation for Afghan border police harassing Pakistani citizens.

Iranian and Afghan education officials announced they will build a jointly run science/technology university in the near future.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Money Changers in the Temple: Catholic Church goes Cash Only, caught breaking money laundering laws!

“A lot of tourists don’t have cash on them, so they have to get euros and don’t know where to get them.”-Fluger William Hunter, tourist from United States

The Catholic country of Vatican City is now cash only.  (Vatican City is the world’s smallest country)

All credit/debit card payments have been suspended, and ATMs have been shut down.

The Bank of Italy is taking the tough action against the Temple of the Western Christians, saying Vatican officials are disobeying European Union anti-money laundering laws.  Because of that no European Union member bank can conduct operations in Vatican City.

The Catholic Church does not have its own electronic banking system, and has been relying on outside banks for the service.

 

International, U.S.

Norovirus update, 31 December 2012: 1 million sick in U.K.! More deaths in Japan! More cruise ships hit hard! Hospitals refusing service! U.S. prisons getting hit! Mis-diagnosed as flu! New version found in California!

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is trying to find out what made at least 400 people sick, on two xmas time cruise ships.

Officials with the CDC suspect norovirus.  The latest cruise ship outbreaks took place on ships belonging to Cunard and Princess Cruises.

In Japan, people are still dying from norovirus.  In a third outbreak just in the Gregorian month of December, four more people have died.  This latest outbreak is taking place in a hospital in Yokohama.  At least 68 patients are sick, as well as  27 hospital staff.

In United Kingdom, more than one million people are confirmed sick with norovirus like symptoms (3,538 have so far been confirmed as norovirus by lab tests, which takes time), and hospitals are being shut down.  The vomiting bug (as it’s called in Britain) has shut down East Surrey Hospital, for the third time in the past two months!  U.K. is experiencing an 83% increase in norovirus cases, compared to the same time last year.  Just in the past two weeks 70 British hospitals have reported outbreaks! To make matters worse, an average of 5,000 health workers have been calling in sick everyday!  Health officials say it’s a little early for the vomiting bug: “The number of laboratory confirmed cases has risen once again as it appears that we have seen the rise in cases that usually begins in January start a little earlier than we normally expect.”-John Harris, Health Protection Agency

Back in the U.S.A., in Illinois officials are reporting norovirus outbreaks in prisons.  At least 140 inmates were sick in the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet.  Prison officials say the first cases showed up on xmas day.

In Iowa, media in Sioux City are reporting that many cases of norovirus are being misdiagnosed as influenza. In fact, here in the U.S. norovirus is often incorrectly called “stomach flu”.  Another factor is that Iowa doctors and hospitals are not required to report cases of norovirus to state health officials!

A nurse in Maine explains the main differences between norovirus and influenza: “Basically the biggest difference between norovirus and the actual flu is that the norovirus causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. The actual flu that we all are vaccinated against every year is mostly respiratory in nature, with cough, aches, fever and chills. As far as numbers of cases, I cannot say exactly how much of either but will say that this is one of the busiest seasons I have seen in a while for both norovirus and the flu.”-Chris Reeder, York Hospital

In California, officials in San Luis Obispo County are reporting what they think is a new strain of norovirus. They are reporting three outbreaks in the past month. It’s thought to have come from Australia.   California has been dealing with norovirus outbreaks all year!  In October a middle school in Oak Park, Ventura County, saw at least 320 students out sick.  A pizza restaurant, in Contra Costa County, was shut down because of the vomiting bug back in June.  In July the Alisal Guest Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, was investigated after customers got sick at the end of June.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since September there have been one confirmed and five suspected outbreaks in several nursing homes.

In Michigan, Lansing area health officials are reporting 75 cases at a local retirement home.

There is no treatment for norovirus, no vaccine, and your body does not develop immunity so you can get sick again and again and again….

Check my previous postings about norovirus.  You’ll notice most outbreaks involve hospitals.  You’ll also read about a recent study that says cleanliness might not have any affect on viruses (it’s actually the first study ever to investigate such claims).