. Solar Energy News .




.
EPIDEMICS
WHO warns of disease risk in flood-hit Thailand
by Staff Writers
Bangkok (AFP) Oct 22, 2011


Thailand's hundreds of thousands of flood victims are at risk of water-borne diseases and infections, the World Health Organisation said Saturday, though no major outbreaks have been reported yet.

The spread of communicable diseases such as diarrhoea, respiratory illness and conjunctivitis among displaced flood victims in shelters was a key concern, the country's WHO representative Maureen Birmingham told AFP.

Flood-affected people also faced an increased risk of skin fungal infections and leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water, she said.

"Those risks are there," said Birmingham, who is also the acting United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand. "But thus far there have been no reported major outbreaks."

The biggest danger facing the flood victims was drowning, she said, adding that residents should take care when fishing and they should be aware of the risks of electrocution and snake bites.

Three months of unusually heavy monsoon rains have inundated large swathes of the country, killing more than 350 people and forcing tens of thousands of families to seek refuge in evacuation centres.

Bangkok, a city of 12 million people, has so far escaped the brunt of the nation's worst flooding in decades, but run-off water from the north has started seeping into parts of the city and locals braced for worse to come.

"Bangkok faces the same needs as for other flooded areas but in a far higher quantity," said Birmingham, noting that the densely populated capital was highly dependant on supply chains that might be interrupted.

"A lot of (UN) agencies are aware that there may be a big need for survival commodities."

Birmingham advised residents to "have a good stockpile of meds and a supply of hygiene materials", adding that this was especially important for people with chronic conditions.

Related Links
Epidemics on Earth - Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola




.
.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries




.

. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



EPIDEMICS
Disease risk climbs after deadly Central America rains
San Salvador (AFP) Oct 19, 2011
Health authorities warned Wednesday of virus outbreaks and food shortages throughout Central America as tolls rose from heavy rains that brought raging floods and landslides to the region. The number of fatalities has climbed to 97 from the non-stop downpours that have continued into a 10th day, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Officials reported 36 deaths in Guatemala, and 32 ... read more


EPIDEMICS
FuturaGene and Guangxi Academy of Sciences to Develop Sustainable Biofuel Processes

MixAlco Voted Most Transformative Technology of 2011

Codexis and Raizen to Develop First Generation Ethanol

Greenleaf Biofuels Announces Closing of Full Project Funding

EPIDEMICS
Robot biologist solves complex problem from scratch

Robot biologist solves complex problem from scratch

Japanese scientist unveils 'thinking' robot

Robot Brain Implanted in a Rodent

EPIDEMICS
Vestas receives 99MW order for Texas wind-energy project

GE invests in Indian wind power

Euro Bank: Wind policy 'direction' needed

Natural Power US to act as Owner's Engineer on 2.1GW Wyoming wind farm

EPIDEMICS
Nissan eyes 1.5 million electric cars by 2016

Saab owner breaks off Chinese funding deal: company

Toyota to sell China-made hybrid vehicles by 2015

What makes tires grip the road on a rainy day?

EPIDEMICS
EU to boost funding for energy projects

Ukraine: Gas deal means Europe security

BP gets nod to renew drilling in Gulf of Mexico

S. Korea to release Chinese fishermen

EPIDEMICS
Giant flakes make graphene oxide gel

Amorphous diamond, a new super-hard form of carbon created under ultrahigh pressure

Molecular Depth Profiling Modeled Using Buckyballs and Low-Energy Argon

New form of superhard carbon observed

EPIDEMICS
California approves carbon cap-and-trade

China warns of winter power shortage

Links in the chain: Global carbon emissions and consumption

Serbia signs power plant deal with China

EPIDEMICS
Bolivia natives, president in talks stand-off

Bolivia cancels controversial Amazon highway

"Albedo effect" in forests can cause added warming, bonus cooling

Bolivian natives, president in talks stand-off


.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2011 - Space Media Network. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement