Europe money crisis leads to poor health - Harsh spending cuts by debt-crippled European governments are also being partly blamed for outbreaks of diseases not normally seen in Europe and a spike in suicides, new research shows.
Since the crisis struck in 2008, state-run welfare and health services across Europe have seen their budgets cut, medical treatments rationed and unpopular measures such as hospital user fees introduced. Those countries that have slashed public spending the hardest - Greece, Spain and Portugal - have fared the worst medically. "Austerity measures haven't solved the economic problems and they have also created big health problems."
Worsening health was driven not just by unemployment, but by the lack of a welfare system to fall back on. "People need to have hope that the government will help them through this difficult time." Greece in particular is struggling. Suicides rose by 40% in 2011 compared to the previous year. Last year, the country also reported an exponential rise in the number of HIV cases among drug users, due in part to addicts sharing contaminated syringes after needle exchange programs were dropped. In recent years, Greece has also battled outbreaks of malaria, West Nile virus and dengue fever. "These are NOT DISEASES WE WOULD NORMALLY EXPECT TO SEE IN EUROPE." In 2011, Doctors Without Borders helped Greece tackle a malaria outbreak that broke out after authorities scrapped spraying programs to kill mosquitoes.
But not all countries mired in debt were found to be unhealthy. Iceland, which rejected a International Monetary Fund bailout deal, didn't record any bump in suicides and the population may even be healthier since it nearly went bankrupt. This could have been a result of global junk food chains leaving the country due to rising food costs. Elsewhere, the researchers noted a drop in road accidents as more drivers opted for public transport. In turn, that has led to a shortage of organ donations and transplants, particularly in Spain and Ireland.
is not what he gets for it,
but what he becomes by it.**
John Ruskin
LARGEST QUAKES -
Live Seismograms - Worldwide (update every 30 minutes)
This morning -
5.6 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
6.0 TAIWAN
5.1 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
Yesterday -
3/26/13 -
5.5 SUMBA REGION, INDONESIA
5.7 SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS
5.0 OAXACA, MEXICO
5.3 OFFSHORE OAXACA, MEXICO
5.4 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
3/25/13 -
5.0 SOUTH OF SUMBAWA, INDONESIA
5.0 KEPULAUAN SANGIHE, INDONESIA
6.2 GUATEMALA
5.0 ALASKA PENINSULA
5.1 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.2 SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
5.3 FIJI REGION
5.0 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
Quake shakes island in Spain's Canaries - An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale shook El Hierro island in Spain's Canaries on Monday, the strongest of hundreds of tremblors recorded in recent days. About 800 earthquakes have been recorded in El Hierro since March 18. In October 2011 an underwater volcano erupted off the coast of El Hierro, two days after an earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale rocked the island. [The quake cluster continues.]
Earthquake Swarm Continues North of Reno, Nevada - The quakes are mostly too small to feel, with the largest recorded at magnitudes of 2.1. The swarm includes more than 150 of the small earthquakes and has lasted a week.
Earthquakes shook Mexico City on Tuesday - causing buildings to sway in the capital and sending thousands fleeing into the streets as an earthquake alarm sounded. There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries. Earthquakes shook a broad swath of southern Mexico on Tuesday.
Guatemala hit by powerful earthquake - A powerful 6.2 earthquake struck Guatemala close to the capital city, but residents said they barely felt the tremor and authorities had no immediate reports of damages or deaths. Last November, more than 50 people were killed in a 7.5 magnitude quake in Guatemala in San Marcos state, a mountainous region near the Mexican border.
Christchurch, New Zealand, earthquake responders say San Diego may not really be prepared for a major earthquake. Recovery and cleanup experts still on scene in Christchurch, New Zealand two years after a big quake say chances are they are not. Experts have predicted that a major quake in San Diego, California, is over-due.
Big Oklahoma quake in 2011 likely man-made - An unusual and widely felt 5.6-magnitude quake in Oklahoma in 2011 was probably caused when oil drilling waste was pushed deep underground, a team of university and federal scientists has concluded.
VOLCANOES -
Volcano Webcams
Arequipa volcano in pre-eruption, Peruvian scientists warn - Peru's Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute reported that Sabancaya's activity has led the agency to issue a yellow alert. “We have already talked with local authorities so that they can warn the nearby population, about the volcano’s status, and how to prepare before an eventual eruption."
Sabancaya is currently emitting large plumes of smoke, and is seeing between 300 and 500 seismic movements. The signs of continuous gas release indicates that magma is rising to the surface, but the agency was not yet able to estimate how much magma could be on the way. “That’s why Ingemmet has installed volcanological equipment and telemetry in strategic points at Sabancaya, we expect results within 15 days."
Iceland - Increased seismic activity around Hekla volcano raises concern. The Police in Hvolsvöllur and the Civil Defense department have expressed concern over increased seismic activity around Hekla volcano in the past few days. Seven tremors have been measured in the last two weeks, a frequency which has never been matched since Hekla’s previous eruption. Scientists worry that Hekla is overdue for an eruption; in recent decades it has erupted roughly every 10 years, most recently in 2000.
The seven earthquakes were measured some 5 km from the top of the volcano and at a depth of 11 to 12 km. However, no magma movement has been measured. The volcano is being closely monitored at the moment by geologists who decided to alert authorities as Hekla eruptions usually happen with very little warning, and the mountain itself is a popular hike among locals and tourists. The “uncertainty phase” warning issued is the lowest out of three and was raised in order to initiate an appropriate and rapid emergency response in the case of an eruption.
Iceland Prepares for Hekla Volcano Eruption (Video) - The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjoell volcano in April 2010 stranded more than eight million travellers as volcanic ash spread across Europe. UNUSUAL SEISMIC ACTIVITY around the Hekla volcano has given Icelandic police concern.
Telica volcano in Nicaragua Showing Many Micro Earthquakes - The Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies announced the Telica volcano is under close observation, due to increased micro earthquakes.
Costa Rica Volcano Producing Acid Rain? - It seems one of the tourist attractions and wonders in Costa Rica might be causing problems for both the people living around the volcano and destroying crops in the area due to the low level of the lake inside the Poas Volcano.
Mile-high plume of ash as volcano erupts in Indonesia - Mount Lokon spewed volcanic ash more than a mile into the air as it erupted in Tomohon, North Sulawesi province, Indonesia on March 25. Residents were advised to keep a safe distance after the early morning eruption. Authorities have put the situation at third highest alert level but have so far not advised residents to evacuate.
TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical storms.
LANDSLIDES -
The cause of a massive land collapse in Brazil is being investigated. Since March 14, surveys are being carried out by the technical-skills expert prosecutors in places where geological disasters were generated by the collapse of land. A prosecutor is investigating the cause of environmental disasters in the cities of Santo Domingo and Campos Belos, Goias in the Northeast.
With the collapse, the flood of mud, stones and earth opened up a crater approximately 7 km, running almost 200 meters to the east of the Mosquito River. On site, there was a landslide that hit the east of the São Vicente, which passes Terra Ronca State Park; the most extensive areas of environmental devastation occurred in Goiás, with approximately 60,000 hectares endangering fish species in the Sao Vicente cave complex. (photos)
HEALTH THREATS -
Salsa and guacamole frequent vehicles of foodborne disease outbreaks in the United States, 1973-2008. Fresh salsa and guacamole often contain diced raw produce, are often made in large batches, and are often poorly refrigerated, which may make them prone to contamination that can cause foodborne illness. The safety of salsa and guacamole is increasingly important as these foods gain popularity. Among reported outbreaks, most were caused by norovirus (24%), nontyphoidal Salmonella (19%), and Shigella (7%). Eighty-four percent of outbreaks were caused by foods prepared in restaurants or delis; of these, 19% reported ill foodworkers, and 29% reported improper storage as possible contributing factors. The number of reported foodborne disease outbreaks attributable to salsa or guacamole increased in the United States from 1984 to 2008, especially in later years, and especially in restaurants. Fresh salsa and guacamole require careful preparation and storage.
Fungal infections from contaminated steroids reach 730 cases, 51 deaths. The ongoing outbreak of fungal infections associated with contaminated injectable steroids has increased by 8 cases and 1 death since the last report Mar 11. The illnesses to date include 236 cases of meningitis only, 144 of meningitis with paraspinal or spinal infection, 7 of stroke without lumbar puncture, 308 of paraspinal or spinal infection only, 33 of peripheral joint infection only, and 2 of paraspinal or spinal infection with peripheral joint infection. The outbreak has affected 20 states, with the largest number of cases in Michigan (259) and Tennessee (150). Implicated in the outbreak, which began last fall, are three recalled lots of methylprednisolone acetate produced by New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass.
RECALLS & ALERTS
