Health warning

China: Bird Flu Claims Two Victims in a Month

Date: January 25th, 2012 |

Following multiple deaths in Vietnam and Cambodia, China has reported its second bird flu death in a month. While the flu was highly pathogenic, it was not confirmed to be the infamous H5N1 strain. The most recent victim was a 39-year-old male who reportedly had no contact with poultry. The World Health Organization says that [read more]

Japan: Radioactive Cesium found in Powdered Baby Mild

Date: December 10th, 2011 |

No Comments

Though it has been nine months since the initial disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, new concerns have arisen about radioactive fallout. Most recently, radioactive cesium was found in cans of powdered baby milk, adding to fears that some of Japan’s food sources have been tainted and contaminated with radioactive material from Fukushima. Though [read more]

Japan: More Evacuation Advisories Lifted; 12-mile No-Go Zone Remains

Date: October 8th, 2011 |

No Comments

Japan lifted some of the evacuation advisories surrounding the devastated Fukushima nuclear plant Sept. 30. A 12-mile no-go zone still surrounds the plant, which is home to the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The evacuation advisories have been lifted for five municipalities within 12-19 miles from Fukushima because the plant is said [read more]

India: Avian Bird Flu Virus Detected in eastern India

Date: September 21st, 2011 |

No Comments

After the H5 strand of the avian bird flu virus was detected in eastern India, authorities ordered the immediate culling of poultry to thwart the spread of the virus. According to the Indian agricultural ministry, the virus was detected in two villages in the state of West Bengal. Federal authorities have called for a ban [read more]

Vietnam: United Nations Warns of Avian Flu Virus Resurgence

Date: August 31st, 2011 |

No Comments

On Aug. 29, the United Nations warned of the resurgence of the Avian Flu Virus, saying that a mutant strain may be spreading through Asia. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the variant strain, which can apparently bypass vaccines and poses unpredictable risks to humans, has appeared in Vietnam and China. The circulation [read more]

Japan: Fukushima Finally Stable

Date: December 17th, 2011 |

No Comments

Nearly ten months after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan and caused the worst nuclear disaster in the world since Chernobyl, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced that the Fukushima plant has been stabilized. The government acknowledged that it will take decades to completely dismantle the plant, but this is good news for a [read more]

China: Air Pollution a major Problem in Beijing

Date: November 7th, 2011 |

No Comments

After three days of heavy smog in Beijing, the U.S. Embassy rated the air pollution Oct. 31 as “hazardous,” the worst on its six-point scale, which indicates the entire population is likely to be affected. The embassy rated Beijing’s air quality “hazardous” several times in October, and even rated it “beyond index” Oct. 9, meaning [read more]

Europe: Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Spreading

Date: September 21st, 2011 |

No Comments

A highly drug resistant form of tuberculosis is spreading quickly across Europe, where reports of the disease tripled in 2009 from 2008. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the six countries with the highest rates of this deadly form of the disease are in Europe. London’s Brent borough, the home to Wembley stadium, leads [read more]

Ecuador: Tainted Liquor Recall

Date: August 31st, 2011 |

No Comments

Sampling locally distilled liquor or wine with new friends can be a pleasant cultural experience, but sometimes care is called for. Officials are trying to buy back half a million bottles of alcohol that have killed 48 people and sickened hundreds more. The outbreak of alcohol poisoning is believed to stem from the tainting of [read more]

Thailand: Tourists’ Deaths Still Remain Mystery

Date: August 23rd, 2011 |

No Comments

According to the Thai government, a five-month investigation aided by the World Health Organization into the deaths of a U.S. woman and four other tourists who all stayed in hotels in northern Thailand suggested a link to toxic chemical exposure, but failed to determine exactly what killed them. They were staying in three different hotels [read more]

Travel the World

More WTW

Monthly Archives