Category Archives: International

International

H7N9 update: More cases in China! Beijing joins poultry ban! Millions being spent on prevention!

07 April 2013 (14:10 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Jumada l-Ula 1434/18 Farvardin 1391/27 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“Of course I’m afraid. But I’m a professional and therefore I need to understand H7N9 more than others.”-Yu Chin-mei, nurse at Taipei City hospital

By Sunday afternoon, Shanghai time, the number of confirmed human cases rose to 21.  Six people have died since the end of March.  The latest three cases were confirmed less than 24 hours from Saturday.

The three new cases are men, ranging in age from 55 to 67.  One in Shanghai, two in Anhui Province.  At least one is known to work with poultry.  All started showing symptoms at the end of March.

In Shanghai at least 194 people are under medical observation.

Beijing has joined Nanjing, Hangzhou and Shanghai in banning live poultry markets.

Guangdong Province officials announced they will spend $4.7 million USD to prevent the spread of H7N9 in their province.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention distributed testing supplies to 409 sites across the country, in addition to hospitals and research agencies.

Across the water in Taiwan, the Taipei hospital’s Heping Branch has been designated an H7N9 center.  The same hospital was used during the 2003 SARS epidemic.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3, East Asian Front: China warns North Korea!

07 April 2013 (01:33 UTC-07 Tango)/26 Jumada l-Ula 1434/18 Farvardin 1391/27 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

China is warning Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take care of Chinese embassy personnel.  This after North Korea suggested that various countries should get their embassy personnel out of the DPRK, in case of war.

The DPRK mentioned the date of 10 April in their suggestion.

International, U.S.

Norovirus update 07 April 2013: Schools hit hard! Man’s best friend being blamed! Stomach bug being confused with meningitis, with deadly results! Resistant lice?

Alaska U.S.A., reporting norovirus outbreak in several high schools.  One school reported 140 students out sick in one day.

Stark County, Ohio U.S.A., reporting outbreaks: “We are seeing a large increase of individuals going in for vomiting. We know that we had a confirmed outbreak of norovirus in our county. Those residents were on the eastern end of our county. I don’t know off the top of my head how many we had.”-Christina Henning, Canton Health Department

Mitchell College, in Connecticut U.S.A., hit with outbreak: “Just started throwing up constantly for about four hours.”-John Kaczkowski

“It was only like 24 hours when I got it. It went by pretty fast. Some people had it longer like two or three days.”-Zenoba Howard

Schools in Wake County, North Carolina U.S.A., reporting outbreaks.

Schools in Maine U.S.A., say 28% of all absences are caused by norovirus.

The Southwest Public Health District, in Georgia U.S.A., reporting outbreaks in nursing homes, childcare centers, schools and restaurants.

Montana U.S.A., Richland County Health Department warning residents of norovirus, after three people came down with it in the sparsely populated county.

Regency Park Assisted Living Center, in Oregon U.S.A., hit with outbreak: “We immediately went into action because it spreads so quickly. We did everything that we had to do.”-Pat Holahan, director

Health officials in Muskegon County, Michigan U.S.A., say they’re still dealing with outbreaks.  At least five group care homes have reported outbreaks: “It’s still moving rapidly throughout the community. It just rolls through and it’s easily transmissible.”-Ken Kraus, Public Health

Several other counties, in Michigan U.S.A., are reporting spikes in cases. And schools are reporting two types of outbreaks; lice and norovirus. Several public and private schools being hit hard.  Of note: School officials and parents are reporting that off the shelf lice treatments are not having any effect on this year’s lice.

In California U.S.A., Marin County health officials declared the outbreak at Deer Park Retirement Residence, finished.  Also, Nevada County health officials reporting an outbreak in a local nursing home.

In Illinois U.S.A., nine people from Scandinavian countries arrived at the O’Hare airport sick with possible norovirus.

A new study blows away what doctors used to think, that norovirus was specific to humans.  A study at the University of Helsinki, in Finland, says your dog might be the cause: “Our results suggest that HuNoVs can survive in the canine gastrointestinal tract. Whether these viruses can replicate in dogs remains unresolved, but an association of pet dogs playing a role in transmission of NoVs that infect humans is obvious.”

A British newspaper reported an increase in stomach illness in March.  The article implied there was a connection to the coldest March in the past 50 years.

In Reading, United Kingdom, the Royal Berkshire hospital imposed visitor restrictions because of an outbreak.  This is the third time this year.

In Bristol, United Kingdom, an investigation is underway after a five years old girl died.  She died of meningitis, but had been diagnosed and treated for viral gastroenteritis.

Regional Public Health in Wellington, New Zealand, are trying to determine if an outbreak of gastroenteritis at the Karori Normal School was caused by norovirus.

Business/Economics, International

World War 3, East Asian Front: More capitalist companies shut down in the KIR! Capitalist employees claim they’ve not been forced to leave!

07 April 2013 (20:56 UTC-07 Tango 06 April 2013)/26 Jumada l-Ula 1434/18 Farvardin 1391/27 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The DPRK’s blockade of the Kaesŏng Industrial Region (KIR) is having an effect on the ROK capitalist companies operating there.

At this point four South Korean companies have had to cease operations. Three of them were involved with textiles, the fourth made machinery.

On Saturday a South Korean employee, who finally left the KIR, said he doesn’t recall hearing the North Koreans ordering him to leave:  “The security has tightened in the North, but I haven’t received any order to leave the complex. Our company is still in operation because we have some materials left. But in the next three to four days, we will probably reach a critical point.”-Kim Jin-ho

On Friday the estimated 53000 North Koreans working at the KIR refused to show up for work.  ROK officials say there is a little more than 500 South Koreans still working in the complex.

International

H7N9 update: Suspected cases in Taiwan! More cities ban poultry!

07 April 2013 (20:33 UTC-07 Tango 06 April 2013)/26 Jumada l-Ula 1434/18 Farvardin 1391/27 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Nanjing joins Hangzhou and Shanghai in banning live poultry markets.

In Hong Kong, health officials say a seven years old girl brought in to hospital Friday afternoon, tested negative for H7N9.

In Taiwan, health officials have tested six people who returned from mainland China.  They say two tested positive for H1N1, two have bacterial infections and the tests for two others are still out.  Health officials added that 20 people arriving at the airport, from China, had fevers. But, because they had not been to the provinces reporting H7N9 they were allowed to go home.

Some Taiwanese hospitals will hold H7N9 drills next week.  Agriculture officials have increased inspections of livestock for signs the new virus.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front: U.S. occupation of Afghanistan; 05 – 06 April 2013. Mujahideen Spring Offensive escalating! U.S. Congress frees U.S. citizen arrested for corruption! Former Soviet soldier refuses to return to birth place!

06 April 2013/25 Jumada l-Ula 1434/17 Farvardin 1391/26 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

U.S. led NATO troops and contractors killed. ISAF said: “Three International Security Assistance Force service members and two coalition civilians died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today.”

In Zabul Province, a suicide bomber targeted a U.S. led provincial reconstruction team (PRT), and the local provincial governor.  The governor was not hurt, but his doctor, and at least three U.S. personnel and two foreign contractors were killed.  Five afghans wounded.  Later in the day U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, said a U.S. State Department female employee was among those killed: “I wish everyone in our country could see first-hand the devotion, loyalty and amazingly hard and hazardous work our diplomats do on the front lines in the world’s most dangerous places.”

In Helmand Province, Musa Kala District, 80 local cops/militia men joined the Mujahideen. The men went AWOL from their posts and approached the local Mujahideen for membership.  Their names were publicized.

05 April 2013/24 Jumada l-Ula 1434/16 Farvardin 1391/25 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

In Balkh Province, Akhcha District, locals say U.S. forces kidnapped nine tribal elders in a daring helicopter raid. They said the elders were driving to a meeting in Shubr Ghan District when several helicopters landed around their vehicle.

In Logar Province, Baraki Barak District, Mujahideen ambushed a U.S./NATO led foot patrol.   Mujahideen retreated when attack helicopters showed up.

In Kunar Province, Noorgal District, Mujahideen ambushed a U.S.-NATO/Afghan patrol. Another U.S.-NATO/Afghan unit arrived to join the fight. One U.S.-NATO troop killed. One Afghan National Army (ANA) troop killed. One Mujahid wounded.

In Kandahar, Panjwai District, Mujahideen say they led a U.S./NATO unit into a booby trapped compound near a cemetary. They say after the explosions three medivac helicopters were seen rescuing the occupying troops.

In Uruzgan Province, Char Chino District, three ANA officers joined the Mujahideen.

In Nangarhar Province, Khogiyani District, five policemen were killed or wounded while they were trying to diffuse a landmine.

Afghan police arrested a U.S. citizen on corruption charges.  U.S. Congressmen intervened and got the guy freed.  The corrupt U.S. Congressmen now want legal action against cops who arrested him: “Those who unlawfully detained him need to be held accountable, especially given that this occurred at the hands of those who are supposed to be our ally.”-Scott Rigell, U.S. Representative from Virginia

Study after study (including those being done by the U.S. government) shows the majority of corruption is being done by the hands of U.S. military and contractors. More than 100 U.S. citizens have been quietly prosecuted by the United States.

Recently a former Soviet soldier, missing in action for 33 years was found.  Now the Warriors-Internationalists Affairs Committee says they’ve tried to help him return to his native Uzbekistan, but he refuses (even though he cried when he heard his brother’s voice on a recorded greeting).  He says he was rescued by Afghans after his Soviet unit was ambushed and he was wounded.  A local village took care of him and he decided to stay. He says he’s been treated better by Afghans: “I have spent most of my life here, there’s nothing to talk about.”

Deputy U.S. ambassador in Afghanistan, Hugo Lawrence, told the local media that an “important decision” regarding the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan will be made, but added “United States of America will remain committed towards the security pact between Kabul and Washington and we emphasize that the pact will prove better for the national interest of the two nations.”

International

H7N9 update: China approves anti-viral drug! Two more people infected! The sooner you’re diagnosed, the better your chances of recovery!

06 April 2013 (10:46 UTC-07 Tango)/25 Jumada l-Ula 1434/17 Farvardin 1391/26 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Health officials in Shanghai say two more people are infected with H7N9.  So far 18 people infected in the past couple of weeks, six have died.

The two new cases are men, one aged 66 the other 74.  They began showing symptoms at the end of March and are now hospitalized with pneumonia.

There are also reports that people who get diagnosed soon enough will recover within 48 hours.

Chinese media sayting that even though the health warnings have been made, most people in Shanghai didn’t think anything of it until they saw the poultry culling: “Suddenly I discover that I’m living in an epidemic zone!”-Liu Leting

The Chinese Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of peramivir diluted in sodium chloride for use on people sick with the new bird flu.  They claim it shows signs of working in preliminary testing.

International, U.S.

World War 3, Leviathan Front: Russia sending warships to “defend their interests”!

06 April 2013 (01:53 UTC-07 Tango)/25 Jumada l-Ula 1434/17 Farvardin 1391/26 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

A Russian fleet has just passed India, on its way to the Mediterranean Sea. This after the ECB and IMF took over Cyprus with a bailout that is raiding bank accounts and keeping Russia from taking part in the Block 12 Aphrodite gas fields in the Levant Basin.

Russia also maintains the port of Tartus in Syria.

On 11 March 2013, Russian media revealed that orders were given to create a permanent naval force in the Mediterranean, for the purpose of defending Russian interests: “The defense minister has ordered us to form a task force that will operate in the Mediterranean Sea on a permanent basis.”-Admiral Viktor Chirkov

The new Mediterranean Fleet is being built up with ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet.

the war in Syria, and in Lebanon, is about Leviathan’s petroleum!

Business/Economics, International

World War 3, East Asian Front: North Korea ordered factories into Total War mode on 17 March!

06 April 2013 (00:36 UTC-07 Tango)/25 Jumada l-Ula 1434/17 Farvardin 1391/26 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The Yonhap News Agency reporting that the DPRK’s Korean Central TV Broadcasting just aired a report on a meeting of industrial workers, which took place on 17 March.

Kim Jong-un is heard telling the factory workers “Once the war breaks out, we have to destroy the enemies’ key military locations and government institutions with a quick and sudden strike. We must absolutely guarantee the quality of our artillery and shells to ensure a rapid pre-emptive attack on our enemies.”

International, U.S.

World War 3, Asian Front: Guam prepares for nuclear attack! Guam Guard deploying to Afghanistan!

06 April 2013 (19:45 UTC-07 Tango 05 April 2013)/25 Jumada l-Ula 1434/17 Farvardin 1391/26 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“I’ve never heard anyone make a direct threat to Guam. My response was: ‘Wow, they can find Guam on the map? Most Americans can’t.'”-C.J. Urquico, 19 year resident on Guam

At the end of March the governor of the U.S. territory of Guam said there would be no attack from North Korea, now reports that the people of Guam are being prepared for a nuke attack.

“As a governor and a father and a husband and a grandfather, I do have some concerns because of the proximity of Guam to North Korea. We are about a three hour flight away.”-Eddie Baza Calvo, governor of Guam

Calvo recently got back from a trip to Camp Shelby, Mississippi U.S.A., where Guam’s National Guard soldiers have been training for deployment to Afghanistan.