PLAGUES & PESTILENCES: Escalation In Mosquito-Borne Diseases Continue - Hawaii's Governor David Ige Declares STATE OF EMERGENCY To Fight Zika Virus And Dengue Fever Outbreak!

© Jim Gathany / Reuters

February 13, 2016 - HAWAII - Hawaii has declared a state of emergency in a move to fight and prevent mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever and the Zika virus, which the state’s governor called a threat to public health and welfare.

“We are doing everything we can to be prepared, to be proactive, to prevent vector-borne diseases here in Hawaii,” Gov. David Ige said in a proclamation he signed Friday.

So far, Hawaii has not seen cases of the Zika virus transmission, but it is on standby following a decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to put emergency centers on a Level 1 alert last week.

But there is an ongoing outbreak of dengue fever at Big Island, where there were more than 250 confirmed cases. One of the major concerns now is that mosquitoes that can carry dengue fever also can carry the Zika virus, which potentially puts the island at risk.

There are also flights between American Samoa, one of the Pacific islands affected by a Zika outbreak, and Hawaii.

Tourists and locals watch the sunset from White Sands Beach Park in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, January 31, 2016. © Canice Leung / Reuters

“Hawaii Emergency Management Agency will be working with all the county mayors and the county civil defense coordinators to ensure that statewide we are ahead of the game and proactive in responding to vector-borne diseases,” the governor said.

The emergency proclamation means that Hawaii will have access to the Major Disaster Fund, granting it an option to acquire more funds to control outbreaks and waive certain laws and regulations if necessary.

"One of the things that this emergency declaration from the governor will allow us to do is that we can in fact enforce that we will come and take care of mosquitoes on a property that someone is refusing, because it is a public health emergency,” Virginia Pressler, director of the Department of Health said, AP reported.

In particular the authorities would be able to use insecticides on private property, regardless of an owner’s objection.

According to Pressler, understaffed due to financial problems, the state’s health regulator is now searching to hire more medical workers and scientists with the newly released funds from the governor.

Gov. Ige has said the state will begin to survey the community to verify the particular mosquito species and determine their locations. Then it will work out and implement plans for their “management, eradication and treatment,” he said. - Hawaii.

PLAGUES & PESTILENCES: Escalation In Mosquito-Borne Diseases Continue - Yellow Fever Outbreak Kills 37 People In Angola!

A yellow fever outbreak in Angola has killed 37 people since December, the country's national director of health Adelaide de Carvalho.
Picture: AFP/ Luis Robayo

February 12, 2016 - ANGOLA - A yellow fever outbreak in Angola has killed 37 people since December with eight new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the country's national director of health Adelaide de Carvalho said late on Wednesday.

The outbreak of yellow fever, which is transmitted by mosquito bites, began in the Luanda suburb of Viana but has spread to other areas of the southern African country with 191 people infected so far.

De Carvalho said health officials were monitoring suburbs around the capital of Luanda where infections have been worsened by unsanitary conditions caused by a garbage collection backlog.

“Actions should be developed for the improvement of public sanitary and garbage collection,” de Carvalho said.

Symptoms of yellow fever include sudden fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. - IOL.

PLAGUES AND PESTILENCES: Authorities Warns Of Explosion Of Vermin Plague Following Floods In Australia - High Risks Of Rat And Mosquito-Borne Diseases!

February 02, 2013 - AUSTRALIA - Crippling bushfires followed by an epic flood have punished large swaths of Australia in recent weeks.  Now plagues of disease-infested vermin and insects are threatening a cruel end to a disastrous summer.  Authorities have warned of an explosion in disease, infections and bites because of the perfect storm of high rainfall, fauna dislocation and sewage overflow.  Mosquitoes, rodents, spiders and snakes are the main offenders, while black flies are poised to create a spike in bacterial skin infections and allergic reactions. 

The Clarence River at Grafton at its 8.1m peak this week. © Nikki Short, The Australian.

NSW Health public health physician Professor David Durrheim said the risks increased as flood waters receded: "On the coast the rain event coincided with high tide and that generally increases the water levels into salt marshes and that's where the salt marsh mosquito breeds."  "Inland, as the water subsides, there will be ideal conditions for fresh water mosquitoes. There will be huge numbers of mosquitoes and the risk will be much greater.  "In areas of poor hygiene domestic flies have also been implicated in bacterial infection."  Professor Durrheim said Ross River fever, Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis were the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases: "Rodents have also been implicated in outbreaks of a nasty disease called leptospirosis in NSW and southeast Queensland.  "The bacteria can enter the body through cuts and abrasions. We advise people to not enter the flood water, ensure they are covered up and if they suffer a cut they may need a tetanus boost."  The warnings came as hailstones and gale force winds lashed Sydney last night, with the bad weather expected to continue today.  "There's a big line of thunderstorms moving through Sydney at the moment," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jane Golding said.  "We expect morning showers and strong winds to continue."  The heavy rainfall caused flash flooding and reports of golf ball-sized hailstones and flooding of roads, particularly in the south of Sydney.  SES spokesman Phil Campbell said about 180 calls for help had been made with 105 from Sydney.

How to keep safe 
Mosquitoes: Follow the instructions on repellents; cover the skin; avoid swamplands, marshes and other still water areas; use mosquito coils or plug-in devices at home; and, tip out water receptacles which can act as breeding zones. 

Rodents and snakes: Remove waste, especially food scraps; keep doors or windows closed; and, be cautious when cleaning around dark areas behind or under large objects. 

Black flies: Wear loose fitting and long sleeved clothing; and, avoid sunrise to mid-morning (10am) and late afternoon (4pm) to sunset times outside. 

Spiders: Check pots or garden furniture before bringing them inside; shake clothes before putting them on; and, turn off lights when they're not required. - Daily Telegraph.