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Australia: Hendra virus still mystery for scientists

Belinda Tasker
The Sydney Morning Herald
Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:48 UTC
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© Unknown
The deadly Hendra virus was first detected in Australia nearly two decades ago but it still baffles scientists.

So far, they know that fruit bats carry the virus which can infect horses, dogs and humans.

But they do not know exactly what causes it, how it spreads or why it is so deadly.

There is also no known treatment.

Hendra virus first rang alarm bells in Australia with the sudden deaths in Brisbane of 14 horses, prominent race horse trainer Vic Rail and one of his stablehands in September 1994.

Initially called equine morbillivirus, scientists later renamed it Hendra virus (HeV) - after the Brisbane suburb where the first outbreak was detected - when they discovered it was a completely new genus of the paramyxoviridae family, which includes measles, mumps and canine distemper.
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Cloud Lightning

US: Tropical Storm Don Moving Across the Gulf of Mexico Toward Southeastern Texas


Washington Post
Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:21 UTC
Miami - Tropical Storm Don is over the central Gulf of Mexico but the system is not expected to become a hurricane as it moves toward southeastern Texas.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Don's maximum sustained winds Thursday were 45 mph (75 kph) with gradual strengthening forecast in the next 36 hours.

The storm is expected to make landfall on the Texas coast late Friday or Saturday.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast from Port Mansfield to San Luis Pass.

The storm is centered about 425 miles (684 kilometers) east-southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, and is moving northwest at 16 mph (26 kph).
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Cloud Lightning

Philippines: Tropical storm 'Juaning' triggers floods, landslides, accidents

Alexis Romero
The Philippine Star
Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00 UTC
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© Manny MarceloA passenger bus lies on the service road after it crashed and fell from the Skyway in Sucat, Parañaque yesterday. The driver and two passengers were killed.
At least 10 people died and four others were reported missing as tropical storm "Juaning" (international codename Nock-Ten) intensified further and moved closer to the country yesterday, officials said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said storm warning signal no. 2 was hoisted over

Camarines provinces; Albay; Catanduanes; Pangasinan; Nueva Ecija; Zambales; Pampanga; Tarlac; Bulacan; Bataan; Rizal; Cavite; Laguna; Batangas; Quezon; Polillo Island and Metro Manila as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

Signal no. 1, meanwhile, was up in Ilocos Norte; Ilocos Sur; Apayao; Cagayan; Abra; Kalinga; Isabela; Mountain Province; Ifugao; La Union; Benguet; Nueva Vizcaya; Quirino; Aurora; Mindoro provinces; Lubang Island; Marinduque; Romblon; Burias Island; Masbate; Ticao Island and Sorsogon.

Citing field reports, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos said all the fatalities were residents of the Bicol region.

Raffy Alejandro, civil defense director for Bicol, said seven of the fatalities were from Albay province. He said two persons were reported killed in Catanduanes while one died in Camarines Sur.
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Radar

US: 3.6 magnitude earthquake hits southern Idaho


The Herald Journal
Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:13 UTC
A 3.6 magnitude earthquake struck southern Idaho on Monday evening.

The United States Geological Survey reported that at 9:38 p.m. a shallow quake hit about 11 miles northeast of Franklin.

The quake measured about 0.2 miles beneath the surface. Its epicenter was about 4 miles north of the Utah/Idaho border in the mountains. Residents in the Bear Lake area and northern portion of Cache Valley reported feeling the tremor.
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Info

US, California: 3.3-magnitude earthquake shakes Sonoma County

Randi Rossman
Petaluma 360
Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:55 UTC
A 3.3-magnitude earthquake bounced southern Sonoma County Monday morning, followed by three smaller quakes in the same area, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.

The quake was felt at least north to Santa Rosa. Some folks in the south county said the first quake was a sharp, quick jolt. There was no report of any damage.

At Kenilworth Junior High School in Petaluma, Jackie Watt was working in the kitchen at the time.

"It almost sounded like a plane landed on the roof," said Watt.

Her rolling work chair shifted a few inches and her computer screen jiggled back and forth.

"It got louder and louder," Watt said. "Everything rattled in the kitchen."
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Radar

US: Powerful 5.8 Magnitude Shallow Earthquake Hits Gulf Of California

Mark Dunphy
Irish Weather
Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:56 UTC
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© Google Earth
The Gulf of California, a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland, was struck by a powerful shallow earthquake Tuesday morning.

The 5.8 magnitude quake struck at 11.44a.m. local time. The epicentre was situated 86 km (53 miles) southwest of Los Mochis, Sinaloa; 138 km (85 miles) north-northeast of La Paz, Baja California Sur; and 142 km (88 miles) west-southwest of Guamuchil, Sinaloa (Mexico).

The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the seaquake depth at a shallow 10.2 kilometres (6.3 miles).
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Sun

Philadelphia, US: Heat claims at least 18 in region, probably more

Anthony R. Wood
Inquirer
Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:43 UTC
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© Associated Press
The death toll from one of the region's most-intense hot spells in the 138-year period of record has reached at least 18.

And that's probably a substantial undercount, in the view of one heat-mortality expert.

The Health Department added eight additional heat-related deaths to the list today, bringing the Philadelphia total to 15.

Three others were reported in neighboring counties as a result of the fifth, longest and most-oppressive heat wave of the season.
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Snowman

Record snowfalls in New Zealand

Isaac Davison & Paul Harper
New Zealand Herald
Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:09 UTC
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© Simon BakerSnow covers the earthquake damaged DTZ House in central Christchurch.
The big clean up is well underway across the country following yesterday's record snowfalls in what may well end up being the coldest day of 2011.

Most state highways have now reopened and city councils in Dunedin and Christchurch have set about clearing most of the local roads of snow and ice.

Snowfalls made way to harsh frosts this morning, particularly in the South Island, although some snow is expected on Arthurs Pass, Milford Rd and the Desert Road later today.

Westerlies are forecast to strengthen over the South Island today, with heavy rain forecast of the west of the country, however temperatures are forecast to pick up following a frigid past few days.

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said yesterday may well have been the coldest day of the year.

The national high was just 12 degrees recorded in Northland yesterday.
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Arrow Down

US: Sinkhole shuts down portion of US 41 in Brown County, Wisconsin

Alex Morrell
Green Bay Press-Gazette
Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:35 UTC
Suamico - A quarter-mile of a southbound lane of U.S. 41 in northern Brown County was closed for 9½ hours Tuesday after a 5-foot by 3-foot sinkhole in the road developed in the morning.

The sinkhole opened about a half-mile south of Brown Road when soil infiltrated a concrete culvert pipe and the pavement above the pipe sank, according to the state Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

"It doesn't happen very often, but it obviously happens," said Kim Rudat, a DOT spokesperson.

The sinkhole opened at 8:30 a.m. and shut down the affected southbound lane until about 6 p.m.
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Arrow Down

Canada: Part of town street collapses creating large sinkhole in Carman, Manitoba

Gene Still
The Valley Leader
Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:27 UTC
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© Sonja MorrisonA nearby resident checks out the large sinkhole that opened up on 2nd Ave SE near the corner of 1st St SE in Carman.
No injuries reported as street closed

This was more than just a regular pothole.

Town of Carman work crews were called out to 2nd Ave SE near the corner of First Street SE after receiving a call about a large sinkhole approximately six feet by five feet and about five feet deep, on the street.

Sonja Morrison, who lives near the site with her family, said they heard a "thump" and then a second louder one when they went outside their home to take a look at around 5:15 p.m. on Monday (July 25).
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