Whether 'tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them."
Hamlet
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.
Yesterday -
7/19/10 -
5.0 VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA REGION
5.1 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.6 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.8 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.2 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.3 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.2 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical storm CHANTHU was 288 nmi WNW of Subic Bay, Philippines.
PHILIPPINES - The active low-pressure area that threatened parts of Luzon over the weekend has intensified into a tropical depression as it left Philippine territory Monday. But state weather forecasters are still monitoring the movement of the cyclone code-named "Caloy," lest it make a U-turn and return toward the Philippines. The ALPA became a tropical cyclone but is now crossing the South China Sea. Unless it makes a U-turn, it will not affect any part of the country. "We are not discounting the possibility of it recurving." As of 4 a.m., Caloy was 200 km west of Subic, Zambales, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center. It was moving west northwest at 20 kph and is expected to be 590 km west northwest of Dagupan City this morning. "This weather disturbance is now too far to directly affect any part of the country." There is a possibility of another cyclone forming before the end of this month. "On the average we get two cyclones in July. So far only one has passed through Philippine territory."
STRANGE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR -
Hundreds of dead penguins and other sea animals in Brazil have washed up on Sao Paulo's shores and scientists are investigating the causes. 530 penguins, numerous other sea birds, five dolphins and three giant sea turtles have been found in the coastal towns of Peruibe, Praia Grande and Itanhaem, with more likely on other nearby beaches. Sao Paulo University biologists and a wildlife research centre are looking into the possible reasons for the animal deaths. Authorities have ruled out pollution, saying preliminary investigations point to starvation as the cause. The most likely scenario for the penguin deaths is exhaustion and hunger during their long migration from the waters off Argentina's southern Patagonia region.
HEALTH THREATS -
Pandemic kills 21 more in India - India reported 332 pandemic flu cases and 21 deaths this past week, up a bit from 330 cases and 17 deaths the week before. The southern states of Kerala and Maharashtra reported the most deaths, 8 and 11, respectively. Only 1 of the 332 patients contracted the disease outside India.
Global cases continue at low levels - Global pandemic flu activity remains low, with the most active areas in parts of South Asia, West Africa, and Central America. Flu activity remains low in the temperate Southern Hemisphere during the first half of winter except in South Africa, which has had increased detections of primarily seasonal flu (type B and A/H3N2). Pandemic flu activity in Asia remains low to sporadic, except in parts of India, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Experts criticize Egypt's pandemic response - Egyptian health experts are questioning their government's pandemic response. They point to the nation's culling of all swine early on, which affected many people's livelihoods, as well as its cutting class sizes in half and being unable to vaccinate many people. "Egypt is probably the only country in the world that acted in such an insane way towards the virus."
