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AirAsia flight QZ8501 crashed on Sunday with 162 people on board . Bodies and wreckage are being recovered off the coast of Borneo Island . The plane was 42 minutes into its flight from Indonesia to Singapore . It comes after 1,050 aviation fatalities were already reported in 2014 . Tourism experts predict it could change the way people travel . Brian Haratsis predicted 'we may have 18-24 months in Australia of more domestic travel'

More Australians could choose to holiday domestically after the AirAsia flight QZ8501 disaster caps off the air industry’s deadliest year in a decade, tourism experts say. The Airbus A320-200 was 42 minutes into its flight from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore, on Sunday, when it vanished with 162 people on board. As bodies of passengers are discovered floating in the Java sea, off the coast of Borneo Island, Australian travellers are expected to reconsider travel plans in the short term. ‘I think what will happen is the safe havens in the world, like Australia, will become more popular… so what we are likely to see is a particular move out of Asia and a much bigger focus on destinations that are very safe,’ economics and tourism expert Brian Haratsis told Daily Mail Australia. The doomed AirAsia flight comes after 1,050 aviation fatalities were already reported in 2014, including two Malaysia Airlines incidences. Air Asia are seen queuing for a plane at Soekarno Hatta International Airport on December 28, on the same day as the AirAsia flight QZ8501 disaster . AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, center, talks at the crisis center at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia . In July, 298 passengers and crew were killed when Flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine – in an area controlled by pro-Russia separatists – while it was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam. And 239 passengers and crew are missing and presumed dead after Flight MH370, travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, veered far off course and disappeared over the Indian Ocean in March. No wreckage has been found. Mr Harastsis, chairman of planning company MacroPlan Dimasi, said: ‘It is likely in the short run that the Australia dedication to outbound travel will change. For example, the implications of the Bali bombings in the short run saw it drop off but then it returned again.’ ‘The biggest impact on travel will be on the Australian dollar but the disaster will keep more people home too,’ he explained. Mr Harastsis predicted ‘we may have 18-24 months in Australia of more domestic travel’ and a return to families holidaying in traditional Australian beach resorts. Relatives of missing Air Asia QZ8501 passengers cry at the crisis centre of Juanda International Airport Surabaya on December 28 . The Airbus A320-200 was 42 minutes into its flight from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore, on Sunday, when it vanished with 162 people on board . Australian tourists are expected to reconsider travel plans in the short term . ‘Domestic tourism on the Gold Coast has been declining over five years but now we are likely to see a return to those destinations, they are relatively inexpensive and accessible. ‘There is a perceived increase in complexity in travelling to Asia in total and that combined impact means that people look at alternative destinations. ‘Over the last few months outbound domestic travel has been dropping,’ he said. Mr Harastsis also expects more Australians to look at holidaying in America - another place perceived as ‘safe’. ‘People may also look at holidays to the USA. Direct flights into Dallas have been very successful, so much so Qantas has put on more capacity. And LAX airport has been upgraded very significantly. Our views of the USA have changed dramatically.’ He believes that Australian flyers may return to more expensive airlines such as Qantas for perceived peace of mind. The AirAsia disaster occurred in South East Asia, the same region where MH370 disappeared in March . Co-pilot and Squadron Leader Brett McKenzie of the Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) P-3K2-Orion aircraft, helps to look for objects during the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 during a flight over the Indian Ocean on April 13 . ‘People see it as a price for safety. For a few hundred extra dollars people will weigh it up… it’s also a question of how certain you can be of cancellations and when you can travel. ‘It’s ok for a backpacker to sleep on the floor but if you are family you can’t do that… Qantas, Emirates, Singapore airlines all might do quite well.’ However, spokesperson for Flight Centre, the largest retail travel outlet in Australia, Hadyn Long, said that unlike around the time of the MH17 and MH370 disasters they haven’t seen people cancelling flights or bookings with AirAsia since Sunday. ‘We haven't seen any changes in booking patterns and wouldn't really expect to, based on previous experiences over the years,’ he told Daily Mail Australia. A pro-Russian gunman (L) passes by Dutch investigators placing a sign near parts of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 plane at the crash site near the Grabove village in eastern Ukraine . Workers remove parts of the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines passenger jet MH17 . ‘I think people recognise that air travel is generally very safe and I think they also recognise that Air Asia is a good airline with a good reputation.’ AirAsia currently flies into Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast but recently withdraw flights to Adelaide due to cost cutting. In August, the airline launched flights from as little as $13 in the wake of its rival Malaysia Airlines’ double disaster. AirAsia offered sales fares from Australia to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur from $159, with onward flights from their costing as little as $13. In the same month, Malaysia Airlines slashed its prices for long-haul routes as it struggled to hold onto customers and crew following the two air tragedies that killed hundreds of people. The beleaguered airline offered a sale from London Heathrow Airport to Kuala Lumpur and nine other destinations in Malaysia, with return economy class flights selling for as little as £570 on select dates. It is also offered cut-price deals to customers in Australia and New Zealand.

By . Damien Gayle . Chinese police detained at least 10 people for spreading rumours about the H7N9 bird flu as the death toll from the new strain of the virus rose to nine. Authorities held people in six provinces for posting 'fake information' online about new cases of the virus in their areas, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. The death toll and number of infections in China from the strain of bird flu first found in humans last month has ticked up daily. Pandemic: Workers from the local centre for disease control and prevention take part in a drill in Hefei city, Anhui province. China has arrested ten for spreading rumours about the latest bird flu outbreak . Biohazard: The death toll and number of infections in China from the strain of bird flu first found in humans last month has ticked up daily, sparking fear across the country . Nine people have died from the 33 confirmed cases of the virus, all in eastern China, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. State media quoted authorities as saying a vaccine should be ready within months. One man detained in Anhui was given seven days of administrative detention for fabricating posts about infections on Chinese microblogs, Xinhua said. The Xi'an public security bureau in Shaanxi province is investigating another man's posts, 'to prevent untrue information from causing public panic', Xinhua said. Scientists around the world have praised China for its handling of the deadly outbreak, but many Chinese are sceptical of the government's pronouncements about the H7N9 virus. The country has a history of public health scandals and cover-ups. The government initially tried to conceal an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which emerged in China in 2002 and killed about one in 10 of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide. Chinese Internet users have questioned why the government waited weeks to announce cases of the bird flu strain, but health officials said it took time to identify the virus, which was previously unknown in humans. Disease control: A doctor looks at rules and regulations on checking suspected H7N9 cases at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou. As of yesterday, China had reported 28 H7N9 cases . A worker traps pigeons in a cage at Peoples Square in Shanghai: Scientists around the world praised China for its handling of the deadly outbreak, but many Chinese are sceptical of the government pronouncements . China's Communist Party is very keen to maintain social stability, but it has struggled to clamp down on rumours, which often spread quickly on the Internet. China found new cases of bird flu in five live bird markets in the eastern part of the country, a report posted on the website of the World Animal Health Organisation OIE showed today. China said the H7N9 avian influenza virus was found in three live bird markets in Jiangsu province, one in Anhui province and one in Zhejiang province, the report said. It did not specify in what kind of birds the virus was found. The three previous outbreaks reported last week were all in China's financial hub Shanghai. Nine people have died out of 33 confirmed human cases of the virus, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The latest H7N9 victim was from Anhui province, the official Xinhua news agency said. Among the new cases are several from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, at least one of whom is dangerously ill, it said. Authorities have detained people in the past for rumours, including 93 people accused of circulating information about the expected end-of-the-world apocalypse last December. Still, some commentators have noted that reports of a flu-like condition killing one person near Shanghai had been circulating on Chinese microblogs weeks before the government confirmed it was a case of H7N9. 'From this you can see if the government tried to cover up like in 2003 (SARS cases) but more and more of these posts surfaced, there would be no way to conceal it,' social media watcher and journalist Wu Heng told Reuters. The latest H7N9 victim was from Anhui province, Xinhua reported. Among the new cases are several from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, at least one of whom is dangerously ill, the news agency said. The China Securities Journal reported . today that a vaccine for H7N9 has been authorized by China Food and Drug . Administration and is expected to be introduced to the market in the . first half of this year. The . exact source of infection remains unknown, although samples had tested . positive in some birds in poultry markets that remain the focus of . investigations by China and the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organisation . (FAO). Women wearing face masks walk through a park in Shanghai: China's Communist Party is very keen to maintain social stability, but it has struggled to clamp down on rumours, which often spread quickly online . The World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday that it was looking into two suspected 'family clusters' of people in China who may be infected with the H7N9 virus, potentially the first evidence of human-to-human spread. The new virus is severe in most humans, leading to fears that if it becomes easily transmissible, it could cause a deadly influenza pandemic. However, WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told a news briefing in Geneva that so far there is no firm evidence of human-to-human transmission occurring which could spark a pandemic. Chinese health authorities have said the same.

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Despite Beijing moves to cool the property market, prices continue to rise . In Beijing, home prices were up 16%, Shanghai 17% year-on-year in September . Economist: "The problem is Chinese people have very few investment vehicles" Central leadership expected to discuss reforms at the plenary session starting Saturday .

Beijing (CNN) -- Cui Shufeng is a retired government worker in Beijing. She is one of the lucky homeowners who bought her place long before the housing sector galloped out of reach for the average Chinese salary worker. "It is ridiculously high," she says pointing to apartments in her neighborhood. "These homes near the school here are CNY 70,000 (USD$11,400) per square meter. It's not even worth 7000 yuan (USD$ 1140) per square meter because it's not even good quality." Her concern is on the radar of the central leadership that is expected to discuss economic reforms at the plenary session starting Saturday. For Chinese leaders, the property sector is an emotional and political hot potato. The dream to own a home is a far out of reach for tens of millions of Chinese citizens. In the latest housing data, new home prices for September rose at the fastest pace in almost three years. In Beijing, new home prices were up 16%, Shanghai 17% and Shenzhen 20% from a year ago. "The problem is Chinese people have very few investment vehicles. They've lost trust in the stock market so they turn to real estate," says Xu Si Tao, China Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit. Xu says the central leadership needs to make bold steps in financial reforms to give citizens more options to invest their money. One measure China is considering is to allow banks to set their own interest rates, creating more competition. I was in Beijing two weeks ago and visited a luxury villa compound. It was a large site with tens of dozens of completed but mostly empty villas. A worker in the sales office told me the average home was priced at CNY 23 million (USD$3.8 million) and most were sold. He said half were owner-occupied (though I saw very little sign of residents) and the other half purchased as investments. I was told the supermarket in the center of the compound was open and often used by residents. It was clearly still under construction. When I pointed this out, I was then told the grand opening would be next year. Message: The bubble is alive and growing. These villas are a pretty -- and by most appearances, empty -- place to park money. Cui shakes her head at the dilemma facing the government. She doesn't believe recent curbs will work like a ban on third home loans in Shanghai. "I don't think home prices will drop sharply because our economy is still doing okay," she says. "Our child bought a home in the U.S. recently. The price was about the same as a flat in Beijing, but the area is a lot bigger and the quality is much better."

By . Damien Gayle . Chinese police detained at least 10 people for spreading rumours about the H7N9 bird flu as the death toll from the new strain of the virus rose to nine. Authorities held people in six provinces for posting 'fake information' online about new cases of the virus in their areas, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. The death toll and number of infections in China from the strain of bird flu first found in humans last month has ticked up daily. Pandemic: Workers from the local centre for disease control and prevention take part in a drill in Hefei city, Anhui province. China has arrested ten for spreading rumours about the latest bird flu outbreak . Biohazard: The death toll and number of infections in China from the strain of bird flu first found in humans last month has ticked up daily, sparking fear across the country . Nine people have died from the 33 confirmed cases of the virus, all in eastern China, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. State media quoted authorities as saying a vaccine should be ready within months. One man detained in Anhui was given seven days of administrative detention for fabricating posts about infections on Chinese microblogs, Xinhua said. The Xi'an public security bureau in Shaanxi province is investigating another man's posts, 'to prevent untrue information from causing public panic', Xinhua said. Scientists around the world have praised China for its handling of the deadly outbreak, but many Chinese are sceptical of the government's pronouncements about the H7N9 virus. The country has a history of public health scandals and cover-ups. The government initially tried to conceal an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which emerged in China in 2002 and killed about one in 10 of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide. Chinese Internet users have questioned why the government waited weeks to announce cases of the bird flu strain, but health officials said it took time to identify the virus, which was previously unknown in humans. Disease control: A doctor looks at rules and regulations on checking suspected H7N9 cases at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou. As of yesterday, China had reported 28 H7N9 cases . A worker traps pigeons in a cage at Peoples Square in Shanghai: Scientists around the world praised China for its handling of the deadly outbreak, but many Chinese are sceptical of the government pronouncements . China's Communist Party is very keen to maintain social stability, but it has struggled to clamp down on rumours, which often spread quickly on the Internet. China found new cases of bird flu in five live bird markets in the eastern part of the country, a report posted on the website of the World Animal Health Organisation OIE showed today. China said the H7N9 avian influenza virus was found in three live bird markets in Jiangsu province, one in Anhui province and one in Zhejiang province, the report said. It did not specify in what kind of birds the virus was found. The three previous outbreaks reported last week were all in China's financial hub Shanghai. Nine people have died out of 33 confirmed human cases of the virus, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The latest H7N9 victim was from Anhui province, the official Xinhua news agency said. Among the new cases are several from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, at least one of whom is dangerously ill, it said. Authorities have detained people in the past for rumours, including 93 people accused of circulating information about the expected end-of-the-world apocalypse last December. Still, some commentators have noted that reports of a flu-like condition killing one person near Shanghai had been circulating on Chinese microblogs weeks before the government confirmed it was a case of H7N9. 'From this you can see if the government tried to cover up like in 2003 (SARS cases) but more and more of these posts surfaced, there would be no way to conceal it,' social media watcher and journalist Wu Heng told Reuters. The latest H7N9 victim was from Anhui province, Xinhua reported. Among the new cases are several from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, at least one of whom is dangerously ill, the news agency said. The China Securities Journal reported . today that a vaccine for H7N9 has been authorized by China Food and Drug . Administration and is expected to be introduced to the market in the . first half of this year. The . exact source of infection remains unknown, although samples had tested . positive in some birds in poultry markets that remain the focus of . investigations by China and the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organisation . (FAO). Women wearing face masks walk through a park in Shanghai: China's Communist Party is very keen to maintain social stability, but it has struggled to clamp down on rumours, which often spread quickly online . The World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday that it was looking into two suspected 'family clusters' of people in China who may be infected with the H7N9 virus, potentially the first evidence of human-to-human spread. The new virus is severe in most humans, leading to fears that if it becomes easily transmissible, it could cause a deadly influenza pandemic. However, WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told a news briefing in Geneva that so far there is no firm evidence of human-to-human transmission occurring which could spark a pandemic. Chinese health authorities have said the same.

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Spread of H7N9 Bird Flu Worries Officials in China

As many as 79 people died from H7N9 bird flu in China last month, the Chinese government said, stoking worries that the spread of the virus this season could be the worst on record. January's fatalities were up to four times higher than the same month in past years, and brought the total H7N9 death toll to 100 people since October, data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission showed late on Tuesday. An Iowa-based chicken broiler breeding farm has initially tested positive for the highly pathogenic h5 bird flu. AP Authorities have repeatedly warned the public to stay alert for the virus, and cautioned against panic in the world's second-largest economy. Related: CDC Issues Bird Flu Warning But the latest bird flu data has sparked concerns of a repeat of previous health crises, like the 2002 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). "It's mid-February already and we are just getting the January numbers. With the death rate almost catching up with SARS, shouldn't warnings be issued earlier?" said one user of popular microblog Sina Weibo. Other netizens in the Chinese blogosphere worried about the pace of infections, and called for even more up-to-date reports. The People's Daily, the official paper of the ruling Communist Party, warned people in a social media post to stay away from live poultry markets, saying it was "extremely clear" that poultry and their excrement were the cause of the infections. Related: Watch Out for H7N9 Bird Flu, WHO Says "The situation is still ongoing, and our Chinese counterparts are actively investigating the reported cases," the World Health Organization's China Representative Office said in an emailed statement to Reuters. "As the investigation is ongoing, it is premature to conclusively identify the cause for the increased number of cases. Nevertheless, we know that the majority of human cases got the A(H7N9) virus through contact with infected poultry or contaminated environments, including live poultry markets." “ This season there seems to have been a slower response to the outbreak, which may be leading to greater numbers of human exposures to infected birds.” China, which first reported a human infection from the virus in March 2013, has seen a sharp rise in H7N9 cases since December. The official government total is 306 since October, with 192 reported last month. But others believe the number of infections is higher. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota last week estimated China had at least 347 human infections so far this winter, eclipsing the record of 319 seen three years ago. "An important factor in the past waves of H7N9 cases among humans in China has been rapid closure of live poultry markets," said Ian Mackay, a virologist at the University of Queensland in Australia. "This season there seems to have been a slower response to the outbreak, which may be leading to greater numbers of human exposures to infected birds." Related: H7N9 Bird Flu Spreads Like Ordinary Flu The National Health and Family Planning Commission has yet to respond to a request from Reuters seeking comment on the recent bird flu deaths. Most of the H7N9 human infections reported this season have been in the south and along the coast. In Hong Kong, where two of the four patients infected with H7N9 this winter have died, health officials said they would step up checks at poultry farms. H7N9 had spread widely and early this year, but most cases were contained in the same areas as previous years, including the Yangtze River Delta and Guangdong, Shu Yuelong, head of the Chinese National Influenza Center, told state radio. Beijing on Saturday reported its first human H7N9 case this year. The patient is a 68-year-old man from Langfang city in neighbouring Hebei province. A second human case was reported on Tuesday. "It is highly likely that further sporadic cases will continue to be reported," the WHO said. "Whenever influenza viruses are circulating in poultry, sporadic infections or small clusters of human cases are possible."

The WhatsApp app logo is seen on a smartphone in this illustration Thomson Reuters MUMBAI (Reuters) - India has asked Facebook Inc-owned WhatsApp messenger to take steps to prevent the circulation of false texts and provocative content that have led to a series of lynchings and mob beatings across the country in the past few months. With more than 200 million users in India, WhatsApp's biggest market in the world, false news and videos circulating on the messaging app have become a new headache for social media giant Facebook, already grappling with a privacy scandal. So far this year, false messages about child abductors on WhatsApp have helped to trigger mass beatings of more than a dozen people in India - at least three of whom have died. In addition, five people were beaten to death by a mob on Sunday in a fresh incident of lynching in India's western state of Maharashtra on suspicions that they were child abductors. "Deep disapproval of such developments has been conveyed to the senior management of WhatsApp and they have been advised that necessary remedial measures should be taken," India's IT ministry said in a strongly-worded statement on Tuesday. The ministry said law enforcement authorities were taking steps to apprehend culprits responsible for the killings but the repeated flow of fake news messages on WhatsApp was also a matter of deep concern. It also said that messaging platform "cannot evade accountability and responsibility" when such services are abused by users to spread misinformation. Advertisement "The government has also conveyed in no uncertain terms that WhatsApp must take immediate action to end this menace and ensure that their platform is not used for such malafide activities," it added. Facebook and WhatsApp did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the government's statement. WhatsApp has previously told Reuters that it is educating users to identify fake news as well as considering changes to the service. For example, there is now a public beta test that is labeling any forwarded message. Last week, it also introduced a new setting which allowed only the administrators or owners of groups to send messages. (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

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Angry man, 83, punched driver in face and tried to pull him from seat . Footage shows passengers screaming as driver struggles to keep control . Bus collided with several vehicles in Tianjin in China .

An elderly bus passenger is thought to have caused a nine-vehicle pile up when he attacked the driver for refusing to stop and let him off. Shocking video footage captured on a security camera shows the 83-year-old man punching the driver and attempting to wrench him from his seat on the still-moving bus in Tianjin, China. Terrified passengers can be seen screaming and clinging on to overhead rails as the driver struggles to keep control of the bus, which lurches violently from side to side before colliding with several other vehicles. Scroll down for video . Outburst: Footage captured on a camera over the steering wheel shows the man grabbing the bus driver and trying to wrench him from his seat . Pile-up: Other bus passengers can be seen screaming in terror as the old man (wearing a baseball cap) tackles the driver . The elderly man is thought to have lost his temper on the bus on Wednesday when the driver told him he couldn't let him off in a no-stopping zone, according to a report on ninemsn. The attack was filmed on a camera positioned above the steering wheel. It shows the driver narrowly avoid losing his grip on the wheel altogether as the enraged man tries to drag him out of his seat, while petrified fellow passengers try to pull him away. The driver manages to maintain his grip on the wheel, but the bus swerves wildly, sending screaming passengers tumbling into the aisle. The video then shows the impact as the bus collides with several other vehicles. Incredibly, there were no injuries reported in the wake of the incident. Danger: The shocked driver struggled to maintain his grip on the wheel in Tianjin, China, last week . Fears: The video shows the bus, carrying dozens of passengers, lurching violently as the driver tries to fend off the angry passenger while holding on to the wheel . Bumpy ride: Bus passengers were sent tumbling from their seats into the aisle as the bus swerved along the road . Crash: The clip shows the damage as the bus collides with several vehicles .

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- A deadly typhoon that slammed into China's coastal provinces and Taiwan over the weekend has displaced nearly one million people and left dozens missing, state-run media reported Monday. Residents gather to remove a fallen tree blocking a road in Changle, China, in Fujian province on Saturday. High winds and torrential rain of Typhoon Morakot hit coastal provinces Fujian and Zhejian hardest, and caused the worst flooding in decades in Taiwan -- where flood waters as high as 7 feet were reported, China Daily reported. The deadly typhoon swept across the Philippines and Taiwan's Hualien region before crashing into eastern China, claiming nearly two dozens lives along the way, the newspaper reported. The storm -- measuring about 1,600 kilometers (about 1,000 miles) across -- continued to pummel coastal China Monday, but forecasters said it is unlikely that Morakot would reach Shanghai, the country's largest city, which sits further north along the coast. Government officials expect the typhoon to cause more than 8.5 million yuan ($1.2 billion) in damages, the newspaper said. The storm made landfall in the coastal area of Beibi Town, Xiapu County in Fujian province at about 4:20 p.m. Sunday (0820 GMT), according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency. Morakot's winds were clocked at 118 kilometers per hour (73 mph) in its eye, according to the province's meteorological bureau as cited by Xinhua. Video from Taiwan showed a six-story hotel crashing into the floodwaters coursing below. The well-known hot springs resort had evacuated before the collapse. At least seven people were killed, 32 wounded and 46 unaccounted for, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. In China, five houses were destroyed as the front of the typhoon brought flooding rains to Wenzhou City in neighboring Zhejiang province just after 8 a.m. Sunday, Xinhua said. Three adults and a 4-year-old boy were buried in debris about 8 a.m. Rescue workers were unable to save the child, and he died, the city's flood-control headquarters told the news agency. A "red alert" -- the highest degree in danger levels -- was issued in Zhejiang, where more than 35,000 vessels were called back from sea, China Daily reported, citing provincial flood control officials. More than 300 homes collapsed, and more than 16,000 hectares (39,500 acres) were flooded, Xinhua said. The city's airport was closed and 56 roads were rendered impassable. As the eye of the storm reached Beibi, the sky turned completely dark, and people caught in rainstorms staggered as they used flashlights to see, Xinhua reported. Trees were being uprooted and torn apart by damaging winds. Farmers were attempting to recapture large amounts of fish, flushed from mudflat fish farms by high winds, Xinhua said. Nearly a million people were evacuated from Fujian and Zhejiang provinces as Morakot approached. Late Friday, the storm lashed Taiwan, killing two people, wounding 15 and knocking off power to about 650,000 households, according to Hong Kong's Metro Radio. Meanwhile, another typhoon hit west Japan on Monday, with 12 people confirmed dead. Two others are missing, police said. Among the victims of Typhoon Etau was a 68-year-old woman who died when a landslide caused a hill to collapse on her home in Okayama prefecture, police said. In neighboring Hyogo prefecture, an 86-year-old woman was found dead in her flooded house and a 54-year-old man in his submerged car. Officials expect the number of victims to rise as torrential rains continue. CNN's Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report .

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Extraordinary images captured by Brazilian photographer Renato Navarro . Biker was carrying birds on route from Mekong River to Ho Chi Minh City . Such sights are commonplace in Vietnam where commuters regularly load up their bikes with all of their possessions .

These photos show the extraordinary lengths a commuter in Vietnam will go to to avoid making more than one journey. The astonishing images were captured by photographer Renato Navarro while he travelled along a busy road from the Mekong river to Ho Chi Minh City in the south of the country. With up to 40 geese bursting out of baskets precariously balanced on his bike, the motorist looks impeccably calm and balanced considering his restless load. Sights like these are commonplace in Vietnam where the vast majority of people ride mopeds and motorbikes . Mr Navarro, 37, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, said when he saw the rider he could not resist taking a picture. He said: 'The traffic was horrible. We were going around 6mph or less. 'I was stuck in the traffic for more than three hours but when I saw the funny geese I thought it was worth the waste of time in that packed road. 'The noise in Vietnam is huge from motorbikes and cars, so if they made noise I believe not even they would hear it. 'I wouldn't dare to drive a motorbike in Vietnam - it is crazy!' Mr Navarro, who takes pictures around the world, got the shots whilst spending a week in Vietnam on a long photography trip with friends. Renato, 37, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, said when he saw the rider he could not resist taking a picture . The biker waits calmly in traffic surrounded by unperturbed motorists as the gaggle of geese appear to struggle in their baskets .

(CNN) -- Flash floods and landslides triggered by a weekend tropical storm have killed at least 100 people in Vietnam, the country's news agency said Monday. Vietnamese villagers look at the rubble where 19 houses stood before a flash-flood ripped away the hamlet of Tung Chin in Lao Cai province. Forecasters fear additional casualties as more rain was expected Monday. The floods in the the country's northern mountain provinces damaged tens of thousands of homes, swept away thousands of cattle and submerged crops, the Vietnam News Agency said. More than two dozen people remained missing. Officials mobilized thousands of rescue workers to look for survivors and to carry relief to the areas hardest hit by the storm. Tropical Storm Kammuri struck the northern provinces on Friday. The southeast Asian country is prone to heavy rainfall during the May through September monsoon season. The resulting landslides and floods have killed hundreds in past years.

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New Zealanders warned of more terrorism in Indonesia

New Zealanders in Indonesia arebeing contacted by embassy staff after new reports that terroristscould be planning attacks on specific targets, including hotels, The Dominion Post reported Thursday.

US helicopters start dropping food and medical supplies into parts of quake-ravaged western Aceh.

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UK plans for bird flu outbreak

The UK is drawing up plans to deal with a possible outbreak of blu flu.

Police investigate a BNP leaflet posted to homes in Swansea opposing plans for a new mosque.

eng_Latn

Six deaths at all Beijing venues: official

Six workers died during the construction of the venues for this year's Olympic Games, including two in building the showpiece Bird's Nest stadium, a Beijing official said on Monday.

The IOC has pulled the plug on BBC plans for a televised debate between the five cities bidding for the 2012 Olympics, sources confirmed to AFP.

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'Winnie' kills over 200 in Quezon

The towns of Real, Infanta and General Nakar have been hard hit by typhoon Winnie in Quezon province, Vice-Governor David Suarez told ANC Wednesday.

By RON WORD JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - It seemed like Angel Nieves Diaz would never die. Two executioners injected him with three chemicals that were supposed to do the job in a few minutes. But 10 minutes later, he was still alive, his eyes darting back at the 25 witnesses.

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What happens to a virus SARS-CoV-2 on an object? Many articles say that "the coronavirus" — they probably speak of the SARS-CoV-2 — can "remain alive" for so many hours on some surfaces, so many days on some other surfaces. For example, "the virus lives 5 days on glass". I think that this is a bad choice of word. All these articles speak about the virus SARS-CoV-2 as if it were a living being. But I think it is not a living being. The virus SARS-CoV-2 does not "live" on a glass surface. It just is there. When a virus SARS-CoV-2 is on an object, what happens to it? If it is not there anymore after 5 days, why? What does time do to a virus?

Why does the SARS-CoV2 virus not remain infectious forever? Or does it? Given that the majority of biologists do not currently consider viruses to be alive, a virus can never die. It can, however, get destroyed by long exposures to soapy water, alcohol, and apparently certain frequencies of UV light. Why is an individual SARS-CoV2 virion not infectious forever? Or is it?

Why aren't my guide and other dead NPCs respawning in Terraria? I am currently in hard mode and during a blood moon, several of my NPCs including my guide and my healer died. it's been several in game "days" now and they have yet to respawn. Is there a way to check why they aren't respawning? Is there a list of reasons for the NPCs to not respawn? Edit in reponse to lunbok's answer: 1. They don't have appropriate housing - There is an in-game housing query function (changes your cursor into a ?) that lets you click on your house to see if it is still a suitable house and I clicked in every room in my house and they are all listed as "This housing is suitable" or "This housing is already occupied". 2. Their spawn conditions aren't met anymore. - This doesn't explain why my guide isn't respawning since they don't need a condition to respawn (other than having a suitable housing which the point above already prove isn't the problem). 3. There's a goblin invasion going on. - Do the invasions last that long? It has been about two reals days and a lot more in-game "days" now. As far as I can tell there shouldn't be an invasion going on. 4. It could be because you built your house in a part of the world that is now corrupted

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Chinese-made body harnesses recalled by U.S. firm

Some 60,000 Chinese-made full-body harnesses used by hunters were recalled because they could allow users to fall from tree stands and risk serious injury, a U.S. consumer agency said on Tuesday.

Brazilian health officials stopped the use of Chiron's vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, after a high number of children experienced serious reactions.

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Does it scare the crap out of you? How is the government keeping under control with travelers and visitors to the us? Just wondering if i'm the only one freaked out or not.

I am in the health care field and I would like to tell you that this is ridiculous. The media is going around scaring people again. The bird flu has less then a 3 percent chance of ever mutating into a human virus. It may come here and be something like the west nile virus, killing a few elderly and young. This reminds me of SARS again, a virus being overblown when in actuality it is almost harmless. Wake up people and learn things for yourself instead of listening to whatever the tv says.

I would dig a big hole in your yard and carry a large wooden box and while looking around constantly bury it. Every once in a while in the middle of the night take a spotlight and make signals like towards a satellite. Then to really get to the watchful eyes in the van, turn your tv towards the outside window and keep putting adult movies.\n\nOn a serious note I worked in a company near a TSA office. Often times there would be TSA agents in the elevator which is completely mirrored inside. There was one figity guy I use to play with all the time. I would move my hand quickly to run through my hair and he would jump. One day I had my back to him the whole time but staring at him with the mirror. He would try not to notice me. I miss that guy, he was fun.

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Targeted Attacks against Industrial Control Systems: Is the Power Industry Prepared?

All Your iFRAMEs Point to Us

Zika virus impairs growth in human neurospheres and brain organoids

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places where bubonic plague was

In the Middle Ages in Europe, massive plague epidemics killed millions of people. Plague has not been eliminated. It can still be found in Africa, Asia, and South America. Today, plague is rare in the United States. But it has been known to occur in parts of California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. The three most common forms of plague are: Bubonic plague, an infection of the lymph nodes.

Confidence votes 94.7K. The Bubonic Plague originated in China. It was spread by the fleas carried by rats going aboard ships and they were transported to Italy, Greece and France, when the rats left the ships entering cities and gave us the Bubonic Plague.he Bubonic Plague spread from China and East Asia to Europe through the Silk Road and arrived in the Ukraine. It also spread from fleas upon rats aboard merchant ships, and i … s believed to have spread from Sicily.

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where did the plague begin

The Black Death, a medieval pandemic that was likely the bubonic plague, is generally associated with Europe. This is not surprising, since it killed an estimate 1/3 of the European population in the 14th century. However, the plague started in Asia-and it devastated many areas of that continent, as well. Unfortunately, the course of the pandemic in Asia is not as thoroughly documented as it is for Europe. However, the Black Death does appear in records from across Asia in the 1330s and 1340s.

Plague of Justinian (541-542):This bubonic plague outbreak spread throughout the Byzantine Empire, centered on the Mediterranean region. It halted the reconquest of lands once part of the Roman Empire. Estimates vary widely for the plague's death toll. Cholera: Cholera pandemics started in India in the 1800s.

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when was the plague eradicated

It's nearly 50 years since the US landed men on the moon, but Americans are still dying from a disease that ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages. Why hasn't the US eradicated the plague? The Black Death caused about 50 million deaths across Africa, Asia and Europe in the 14th Century. It wiped out up to half of Europe's population. Its last terrifying outbreak in London was the Great Plague of 1665, which killed about a fifth of the city's inhabitants. Then there was a 19th Century pandemic in China and India, which killed more than 12 million.

Seven years later, in 542, a devastating outbreak of Bubonic Plague, known as the Plague of Justinian and second only to that of the 14th century, laid siege to the world, killing tens of millions. As ruler of the Empire, Justinian, and members of his court, were physically unaffected by famine.

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where and when did black death start

It used to be thought that the Black Death originated in China, but new research shows that it began in the spring of 1346 in the steppe region, where a plague reservoir stretches from the north-western shores of the Caspian Sea into southern Russia.

Beginning in 1347 and continuing for a full five years, a devastating plague swept Europe, leaving in its wake more than twenty million people dead. This epidemic now known as the Black Death was an outbreak of bubonic plague which had begun somewhere in the heart of Asia and spread westward along trade routes. The consequences to Europe were profound.

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what was the black death

Beginning in 1347 and continuing for a full five years, a devastating plague swept Europe, leaving in its wake more than twenty million people dead. This epidemic now known as the Black Death was an outbreak of bubonic plague which had begun somewhere in the heart of Asia and spread westward along trade routes. The consequences to Europe were profound.

Quick Answer. The Black Plague, also known as the Black Death, was the largest pandemic in the history of Europe and had a disastrous effect on the demography of the continent. The plague also had large-scale economic and social effects.

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how did people die of black plague

The epidemic reached its zenith in the years 1348 to 1350, though the disease never vanished entirely. It is widely believed that the cause of the Black Death was bubonic plague, an infectious and fatal illness spread by rodents and the fleas infesting them.

The bubonic plague became known as the Black Death when it swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing 75million people. Although it is now rare, there are still between 10 to 15 cases in the U.S. each year, half of which are in New Mexico.

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which area of the world was hardest hit by the bubonic plague?

Which area of the world was hardest hit by the bubonic plague? In Europe during 1348-50 and also called black death. The Black Death is estimated to have killed 30% to 60% of Europe's population, reducing the world's population from an es … timated 450 million to between 350 and 375 million in 1400 Did the black death hit India?

The Great Plague of Marseille was one of the most significant European outbreaks of bubonic plague in the early 18th century. Arriving in Marseille, France in 1720, the disease killed 100,000 people in the city and the surrounding provinces. However, Marseille recovered quickly from the plague outbreak.

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in which geographic region did the black death originate

The likelihood is, then, the Black Death began well before 1347 with some sort of disturbance in rodent communities, most likely ones in Central Asia since all historical data point to that as its geographic origin.

The likelihood is, then, the Black Death began well before 1347 with some sort of disturbance in rodent communities, most likely ones in Central Asia since all historical data point to that as its geographic origin.

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Alleged chicken abuse in B.C. spurs body camera requirement for farm workers

VANCOUVER—A chicken-catching company at the centre of an animal cruelty investigation in British Columbia says it will require staff to wear body cameras after an animal advocacy group released video of alleged abuse. Dwayne Dueck, president of Elite Services in Chilliwack, says it will be mandatory for one supervisor and two staff members in each barn to wear cameras on their vests, and the video will be reviewed at the end of each day. The announcement comes after the SPCA in British Columbia launched an investigation following the release of undercover video by Mercy for Animals that shows workers allegedly hitting, kicking and throwing chickens. Read more: Workers fired over alleged abuse caught on video at B.C. chicken farms A statement from Elite Services says six staff members have now been fired, including two who were let go prior to the video being released, three who were fired immediately after, and one more who was terminated after the company did a “detailed forensic review” of the video.

China bird flu fears hit poultry prices, meat producer shares BEIJING, Feb 15 Chinese chicken prices sank to their lowest level in more than a decade on Wednesday as fears grow about the spread of bird flu, hurting meat producers' share prices and deepening concerns about demand in the world's second-largest poultry consumer.

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Evacuation lifted for 200K Californians living below dam

0:16 Police officer fired after punching man in handcuffs Pause 0:39 A solemn souvenir of imprisonment in their own country 1:12 Historic parallels between Japanese American and Muslim communities 0:42 Misao 'Missy' Hikiji recalls being held prisoner by her own country 2:52 What you need to know about the massive Oroville Dam emergency in California 2:35 Saburo Masada visits site of his internment for first time since 1942 2:03 Commission holds a brain-storming session to discuss heroin epidemic 1:37 Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis speaks in Sarasota 0:35 Couples say 'I do' on Valentine's Day

Baku. 14 October. REPORT.AZ/ A state of emergency declared in California over outbreak of hepatitis A. Report informs referring to Anadolu, California governor Jerry Brown has stated. Spread of the epidemic is reported to be prevented in Los-Angeles, San-Diego and Santa Cruz. California Department of Public Health will ensure preparation of vaccines and distribution of them to affected regions. Following the death of 16 people from hepatitis A in San Diego last month certain part of the city was cleaned with special solution.

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Smog is visible as murky grey colour shown in Suomi NPP satellite image . Brightest areas are fog which has a tinge of yellow due to the air pollution . It engulfed the city of Harbin causing visibility to be reduced to 10 metres .

Choking smog engulfed one of northeastern China's largest cities last week, causing Chinese authorities to shut down the city. The incredible amounts of smog in Harbin - a city of more than 10 million people – meant that visibility was reduced to less than 10 metres. The smog forced schools to suspend classes, caused snarling traffic and closed the airport, in what was the country's first major air pollution crisis of the winter. Scroll down for video . The heavy smog is caused by industrial pollution, coal and agricultural burning, and has been trapped by the mountains to the west and wind patterns. The thick haze of smog is clearly visible as the murky grey colour in this VIIRS image from the Suomi NPP satellite . Now, the latest satellite images from Nasa’s Suomi-NPP satellite show the startling extend of China’s smog problem. Measurements taken on October 20, 2013, scored the air quality index (AQI) in the city at 500, the highest possible reading. Levels above 300 are considered hazardous to human health. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite acquired a natural-colour image of northeastern China on October 21, 2013. The brightest areas in this image are fog, which has a tinge of grey or yellow due to the air pollution. Other cloud-free areas have a pall of grey and brown smog that blots out the city and surrounding towns . This image show the dramatic increase in air quality worsened during the October 15-19, 2013 period. Two-day averages are used to provide an increased amount of data, reducing missing data from gaps between instrument scanning swaths or due to clouds . The brightest areas are fog, which has a tinge of grey or yellow due to the air pollution. Other cloud-free areas have a pall of gray and brown smog that blots out the city and surrounding towns. Some neighborhoods experienced concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as high as 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter. For comparison, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s air quality standards say PM2.5 should remain below 35 micrograms per cubic meter. A woman wearing a mask checks her mobile phone during a smoggy day on the square in front of Harbin's landmark church, in Heilongjiang . True-colour MODIS image of central China, acquired October 3, 2013. Each red dot indicates a fire detected by the fire-sensitive infrared radiation band of MODIS. The Yellow Sea is visible at top right. Smoke from the fires is visible as a greyish haze as it accumulates on the central coastal plain . Beijing, Tianjin, and Harbin are located on China's coastal plains, to the east of mountain ranges and land at higher elevations . It is extremely rare for particulate levels to reach that high in the absence of a dust storm or forest fire. A few days after pollution levels started to rise, Harbin hospitals reported a 30 per cent increase in admissions related to respiratory problems, and several Harbin pharmacies were sold out of pollution facemasks, according to media reports. Cold weather and the lack of wind helped fuel the pollution outbreak, but human factors also played an important role. Wheat and corn farmers in the region light fires in the fall to burn off debris following the harvest. A true-colour MODIS-Aqua image of central China, acquired on October 3, 2013, shows the numerous fires adding smoke and soot to the atmosphere over China. Air quality in Chinese cities is of increasing concern to China's stability-obsessed leadership because it plays into popular resentment over political privilege and rising inequality in the world's second-largest economy. Domestic media have run stories describing the expensive air purifiers government officials enjoy in their homes and offices, alongside reports of special organic farms so cadres need not risk suffering from recurring food safety scandals. The government has announced plans over the years to tackle the pollution problem but has made little apparent progress. The Chinese government has announced plans over the years to tackle the pollution problem but has made little apparent progress .

(CNN) -- Typhoon Megi marched toward southern China on Wednesday after leaving 11 people dead in the Philippines, prompting Chinese authorities to close train services in the region, state media said. Trains from Sanya to other provinces were canceled until Thursday, while trains heading from other provinces to Sanya will stop at Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, the Xinhua news agency reported. Megi may be the strongest typhoon to hit China this year, Xinhua said. It is expected to make landfall in Hainan or Guangdong province on Saturday, Xinhua said. The death toll in the Philippines from Megi has climbed to 11 as the powerful storm moved away from the country. According to civil defense officials, the fatalities were for various reasons, including falling trees, drowning and lightning. Parts of the Philippines could still be vulnerable to mudslides and landslides. The typhoon could approach Hong Kong and mainland China in the next few days. Megi is expected to lash Hainan and Vietnam. Southern provinces such as Hainan, Guangdong and Fujian are gearing up for heavy rains and strong winds, state media said.

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Tornado Kills at Least Eight in Illinois

Rescue teams using heavy equipment and shovels search through the rubble of a restaurant leveled by a tornado in the small town of Utica, Illinois. The building collapsed onto customers who had sought refuge in the basement. Susan Stephens of member station WNIJ reports.

Opponents of South Dakota's new law banning nearly all abortions say they've collected more than enough signatures to force the issue to the November ballot. The ban, signed by Republican Gov. Michael Rounds in March, would bar all abortions in the state except those needed to save the life of the pregnant woman. Since that's at odds with current Supreme Court requirements, the law is intended as a direct challenge to the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade. But under South Dakota law, any group that collects enough valid signatures can delay the law's scheduled implementation and put it directly to the voters in the fall. An organization called the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families says it has done just that, and has filed with 38,000 signatures. That's well over twice the minimum number required. The secretary of state still has to certify the signatures. The process is expected to take two or three weeks. -- Julie Rovner New Bird Flu Cases Remain Isolated in Indonesia May 29, 2006 -- The World Health Organization says there have been six more cases of bird flu in Indonesia. None are related to the cluster of bird-flu deaths in one family that were reported last week. The six new cases of bird flu in Indonesia are widely dispersed. Three of the people have died. Two of the cases were in a brother and sister who were hospitalized last week with symptoms that developed shortly after they came in contact with chickens that had sickened and died. A 39-year-old man became sick and died after cleaning pigeon feces out of the gutter of his home. Another case involves a young man in East Java Province who was exposed to dead chickens in the home. He's recovering. And in two other cases, a 43-year-old man in South Jakarta and a 15-year-old girl in West Sumatra were hospitalized. The sources of the infections are being investigated. In none of the 6 cases is there an indication so far of human-to-human transmission. -- Brenda Wilson

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Poultry Counter-Terrorism

NPR's Josh Levs reports from Gainesville, Georgia, where local residents were surprised at the federal raid on a chicken processing plant, another of the Islamic-owned businesses targeted in the counterrorism probe.

Health officials attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, held an exercise to simulate an outbreak of avian flu. The goal was to gauge how governments and media outlets would respond to a real-world scenario. Alex Chadwick speaks with Ira Flatow, host of <EM>Talk of the Nation Science Friday</EM>, about the lessons learned from the exercise.

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Magpie Swoops Down On Newlyweds In Australia

Australian photographer Karen Parr posted wedding photos. She was taking shots of a happy couple on a bridge when they were repeatedly dive-bombed by a magpie.

Good morning, here are our early stories: -- Hungary Closes Budapest Train Station To Migrants Traveling To Western Europe. -- 10 Highlights From The 7,000 Pages Of Released Clinton Emails. And here are more early headlines: U.N. Satellite Images Show Destruction Of Ancient Syrian Temple. (New York Times) Thailand Arrests Alleged Bangkok Bomber. (VOA) 2nd Person Dies From Ukrainian Parliament Protest. (BBC) Hurricane Center Tracks 3 Named Storms And A Tropical Depression. (NHC) Legionnaires' Disease Kills 4, Sickens 25 At Illinois Vets Home. (Chicago Tribune) Fourteen Officers, Inmates Hurt In Baltimore Jail Fight. (Baltimore Sun) Final 4 Designs Picked For New Zealand's New Flag. (NZTV) Phoenix Monsoon Traps Motorists In Flash Flooding, Cuts Power. (AzCentral) Scientists Find Fossil Of Giant Sea Scorpion, About 460 Million Years Old. (Newsweek)

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Grim Milestone: U.S. Reaches 250,000 Deaths From COVID-19

Coronavirus case numbers are exploding across the country. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 reached 250,000 on Wednesday, with a caseload of over 11.3 million.

Vietnam had been a success story in beating the coronavirus: zero deaths and only 430 confirmed cases. But a new cluster has changed things. The prime minister warns every province is under threat.

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Sudanese Vice President Dies in Helicopter Crash

Sudanese vice president John Garang died over the weekend with 13 others when his helicopter crashed en route from Uganda. The former rebel leader was sworn in as the country's first vice president weeks ago. News of Garang's death sparked riots in Khartoum, Sudan's capital.

Opponents of South Dakota's new law banning nearly all abortions say they've collected more than enough signatures to force the issue to the November ballot. The ban, signed by Republican Gov. Michael Rounds in March, would bar all abortions in the state except those needed to save the life of the pregnant woman. Since that's at odds with current Supreme Court requirements, the law is intended as a direct challenge to the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade. But under South Dakota law, any group that collects enough valid signatures can delay the law's scheduled implementation and put it directly to the voters in the fall. An organization called the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families says it has done just that, and has filed with 38,000 signatures. That's well over twice the minimum number required. The secretary of state still has to certify the signatures. The process is expected to take two or three weeks. -- Julie Rovner New Bird Flu Cases Remain Isolated in Indonesia May 29, 2006 -- The World Health Organization says there have been six more cases of bird flu in Indonesia. None are related to the cluster of bird-flu deaths in one family that were reported last week. The six new cases of bird flu in Indonesia are widely dispersed. Three of the people have died. Two of the cases were in a brother and sister who were hospitalized last week with symptoms that developed shortly after they came in contact with chickens that had sickened and died. A 39-year-old man became sick and died after cleaning pigeon feces out of the gutter of his home. Another case involves a young man in East Java Province who was exposed to dead chickens in the home. He's recovering. And in two other cases, a 43-year-old man in South Jakarta and a 15-year-old girl in West Sumatra were hospitalized. The sources of the infections are being investigated. In none of the 6 cases is there an indication so far of human-to-human transmission. -- Brenda Wilson

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Incidents in Turkey Prompt Worries over Bird Flu

Turkey confirms 15 human cases of bird flu this month, with at least two fatalities. Experts provide an update on bird flu as some health officials raise concerns of a possible pandemic. Guest: Richard Knox NPR science correspondent FRANK STASIO, host: Today, an anchor of the World Health Organization urged people not to panic about an outbreak of bird flu in Turkey. Fifteen people in Turkey have been infected with H5N1 virus. At least two have died. So far, it appears that all of those who've come down with the bird flu got the virus from close contact with poultry. No signs, confirmed cases yet of human-to-human transmission. We asked NPR science correspondent Richard Knox to give us the latest news on the situation in Turkey and to answer your questions about bird flu and the potential for a flu pandemic. We're still taking your calls: (800) 989-8255, (800) 989-TALK or an e-mail at totn@npr.org. Richard Knox joins us now from Boston. Hi, Richard. RICHARD KNOX reporting: Hi, Frank. STASIO: What's new about this Turkish outbreak? KNOX: Well, there were no additional human cases announced today. Hundreds of people in Turkey are being checked so far if they've had exposure to chickens or if they have flu-ish symptoms. So far, the tests have been negative. There are probably dozens being monitored in hospitals. The current total of cases in Turkey so far is 15. There have probably been three deaths, two official, one still being investigated, but all of those are in one family in eastern Turkey. You know, the surviving dozen cases--two are in serious condition, but Turkish authorities say they'll probably survive. And I think one thing that's noteworthy is that the human cases have been seen now in seven Turkish provinces involving at least 10 families. So it's pretty widespread. The great majority of cases have been children. STASIO: Widespread and it seems to have broken out pretty quickly. Am I right about that? KNOX: Yes, I think that's the thing that really got everybody's attention was Turkey. I mean, this disease has been percolating through Southeast Asia and China for four years now and most of the cases have been sporadic. You know, a case here, a case there. The very first time this was known to affect humans was in Hong Kong about eight years ago, and then there was this sudden outbreak involving about 18 people and six people died. And back then the Hong Kong authorities killed all the chickens and it seemed to get rid of it there for a while. In Turkey, there's the sudden--you know, just in the past 10 days there's been a discovery of these 15 cases and that really is unusual. STASIO: Is there evidence that the bird flu virus is changing? KNOX: I think that's going to be one of the big questions. There is a lot of speculation among the experts who are following this from the World Health Organization and others around the world that the virus might be becoming more contagious. That is to say, more easily transmitted between birds and humans. But I don't think genomic analysis, analysis of the genes, is going to tell us that. I think we're going to have to puzzle that out from the pattern of cases. That's one possibility. There's no evidence that--well, one of the striking things is that this--you know, we haven't seen as many fatalities in Turkey as we've been seeing elsewhere in Asia, where about 53 percent of all identified cases have died. So far, three out of 15 in Turkey. That may mean that the virus is becoming less virulent, less lethal. It also just may mean that the cases are being identified in Turkey faster, gotten to treatment, and treated with antiviral drugs perhaps. STASIO: Let's go to the phones. Natalie is on the line from Reno. Hi, Natalie. NATALIE (Caller): Hi. How are you? STASIO: Good. You have a question for us? NATALIE: I do. I have seven chickens in my back yard. We have a chicken coop and they're safe, but I'm wondering how safe we are? KNOX: Well, I think you can be pretty confident right now that there's no risk to you from this strain of bird flu, which is called H5N1. There's been no evidence in either wild birds or in domestic poultry in the United States or in all of North America or this hemisphere, for that matter, of any infections. They're monitoring and will be monitoring during the coming spring northward migration birds, you know, wild birds to see whether it's spreading through migratory pathways. But so far, I think there's just no reason to be worried that North American chickens are infected. STASIO: All right. Thank you for your call, Natali

<br />Guest:<br /><br /> <STRONG>David Kessler</STRONG><br /> * Dean of the Medical School at Yale University<br /> * Former Commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration<br /><br /> Other Guests: <STRONG>TBA</STRONG><br /><br /> The Centers for Disease Control have confirmed that a New York hospital worker has inhalation anthrax. New York health officials say she is "fighting for her life." There are now nine confirmed case of respiratory anthrax in America. On the next Talk of the Nation, Neal Conan talks with medical experts about what you should be doing to keep safe. That's on Talk of the Nation from NPR News.

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Volcano Death Toll Rises In New Zealand

Survivors of a powerful volcanic eruption in New Zealand this week ran into the sea to escape the scalding steam and ash, and emerged covered in burns. The harrowing accounts came as some relatives continue to wait for news of their missing loved ones. At least six people are dead. Host Tonya Mosley speaks with CNN international correspondent Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN). &nbsp; This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Mexico's president says the country must adapt to the "new normal" and will reopen businesses this week, despite the fact that coronavirus cases are surging, taxing hospitals and funeral homes.

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Iowa's Burmese Community Devastated By COVID-19

Iowa's tight-knit Burmese community is inundated by the coronavirus. Many work at meatpacking plants and estimates are as high as 70% being infected, with entire families struggling to cope.

John Walburn of the International Organization for Migration talks to Farai Chideya about the recent resettlement of thousands of Burundian refugees to the United States.

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The Latest On The Coronavirus Outbreak: At Least 1 Patient Dies In The U.S.

The last few days have seen dramatic developments related to the spread of COVID-19. NPR's health policy reporter Selena Simmons-Duffin breaks down the recent updates.

The pandemic has killed more than 440,000 Americans. Here's a look back at the stories of three of them — a World War II veteran, a Navajo leader and the owner of an Illinois barbecue joint.

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Casualties Of Brazil's Latest COVID-19 Surge Fill Hospitals And Morgues

Brazil is experiencing the worst moment so far of the pandemic. Deaths are out of control and hospitals are at risk of collapse. The transmission rates of the virus and its variants are accelerating.

The spread of Zika is taxing Colombia's already over-burdened health care system.

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Ira Flatow on Science: Faking a Bird Flu Outbreak

Health officials attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, held an exercise to simulate an outbreak of avian flu. The goal was to gauge how governments and media outlets would respond to a real-world scenario. Alex Chadwick speaks with Ira Flatow, host of <EM>Talk of the Nation Science Friday</EM>, about the lessons learned from the exercise.

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Imam Mohammad Altahir of the Islamic Center in Wyoming and Lane Moore of the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association about pandemic's effects on religious practices.

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Top Stories: Hungary Blocks Migrants At Rail Station; More Clinton Emails

Good morning, here are our early stories: -- Hungary Closes Budapest Train Station To Migrants Traveling To Western Europe. -- 10 Highlights From The 7,000 Pages Of Released Clinton Emails. And here are more early headlines: U.N. Satellite Images Show Destruction Of Ancient Syrian Temple. (New York Times) Thailand Arrests Alleged Bangkok Bomber. (VOA) 2nd Person Dies From Ukrainian Parliament Protest. (BBC) Hurricane Center Tracks 3 Named Storms And A Tropical Depression. (NHC) Legionnaires' Disease Kills 4, Sickens 25 At Illinois Vets Home. (Chicago Tribune) Fourteen Officers, Inmates Hurt In Baltimore Jail Fight. (Baltimore Sun) Final 4 Designs Picked For New Zealand's New Flag. (NZTV) Phoenix Monsoon Traps Motorists In Flash Flooding, Cuts Power. (AzCentral) Scientists Find Fossil Of Giant Sea Scorpion, About 460 Million Years Old. (Newsweek)

President Trump's renewed calls to get the economy moving still fly in the face of what his health advisers are urging. Meanwhile, the pandemic reboots the vote-by-mail fight, and Wisconsin votes.

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How The Pandemic Has Affected Religious Practices In Different Communities

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Imam Mohammad Altahir of the Islamic Center in Wyoming and Lane Moore of the Northwest Louisiana Baptist Association about pandemic's effects on religious practices.

Health officials attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, held an exercise to simulate an outbreak of avian flu. The goal was to gauge how governments and media outlets would respond to a real-world scenario. Alex Chadwick speaks with Ira Flatow, host of <EM>Talk of the Nation Science Friday</EM>, about the lessons learned from the exercise.

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Chikungunya outbreak in the Caribbean was first reported last December . Over 700,000 suspected cases have been reported in the region . Health agencies say over 100 people have died from the virus . Worst-hit nations include Dominican Republic and Martinique .

British tourists in the Caribbean are being struck down by a debilitating and potentially deadly virus carried by mosquitoes. An unprecedented outbreak of the Chikungunya virus is affecting islands including Barbados, St Lucia and the Grenadines, where many UK holidaymakers flock during the festive season. Thousands have been hit by the illness, which leaves victims bedridden for days. Some have reported feeling the effects for months or years after contracting the bug, and more vulnerable victims have died. An unprecedented outbreak of the Chikungunya virus is affecting islands including Barbados, St Lucia and the Grenadines, where many UK holidaymakers flock during the festive season . Trials of an anti-viral drug in the US have had positive results, but there is currently no vaccine commercially available. Yesterday, there were fears that British tourists may not realise the dangers until it is too late, amid reports that tour operators are playing down the problem. Chikungunya, which is contracted through mosquito bites, causes a sudden onset of fever and agonising joint pain, particularly affecting the hands, wrists, ankles and feet. British tourists and expats are among hundreds of thousands of cases reported since the beginning of the outbreak last year. Dr Saranthdany Xavier, a doctor on Bequia island in St Vincent and the Grenadines who contracted the disease, said: ‘The outbreak began here in April and since then there have been about 2,000 cases in the country as a whole. ‘From August, it has been calming down but we are still treating a few cases. 'Lots of my friends have come down with it. The mosquitoes … bite everyone the same.’ Shavern Ollivierre, of the community group Action Bequia, said: ‘I had it back in May and it was really quite painful for three days. 'It’s a very grave problem … in the entire region. 'I’ve got a lot of family in Barbados and it is rampant there.’ According to the Caribbean Public Health Agency, there have been 165 confirmed cases in St Vincent and the Grenadines – and locals say the suspected number is much higher. In Barbados, there were 58 confirmed diagnoses and 1,258 suspected sufferers. The Dominican Republic had six deaths, with 498,916 suspected cases, while Martinique has had 1,515 diagnoses, 74 deaths and 68,140 suspected sufferers. The disease has spread into Nicaragua, Honduras and other countries in central and South America. Between 65,000 and 117,000 people are estimated to be infected in Venezuela. As of last month, a total of 739,410 suspected cases and 118 deaths have been reported in the Caribbean and the Americas. But health officials warned the true numbers could be higher as some countries have been slow in testing and reporting. Popular tourist destinations such as the Dominican Republic are among the worst-hit nations . A tourist makes a purchase at a fruit and vegetable market in Grenada, where some Brits have fallen ill . It is feared the virus could spread from Bequia to the nearby private island of Mustique, which is a favourite among celebrities and royalty. The Duchess of Cambridge holidayed there with Prince George in February. Yesterday there was anecdotal evidence that some businesses want to play down the dangers. One British expat in Bequia, who said her husband had been in ‘sheer agony’ from the virus, described it as a ‘dirty little secret’. She added: ‘Visitors and tourism are a vital part of the economy … There are concerns that news is getting out and the tourists aren’t coming.’ Chikungunya was first reported in the region by the World Health Organisation last December. It said the outbreak was ‘unprecedented’. There have since been cases in Montpellier, France – prompting fears it could spread to the UK. The majority of UK cases are associated with travel to South and South East Asia, say experts . Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by infected female mosquitoes with symptoms including high fever, headaches, rashes and severe joint pain. After being bitten the onset of illness occurs usually between four and eight days but can range from two to 12. There is no vaccine or cure and treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms. Most patients recover fully but in some cases joint pain may persist for several months or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, in addition to gastrointestinal complaints. Serious complications are not common, but in older people, the disease can contribute to the cause of death. The disease was first described during an outbreak in Tanzania in 1952 and has spread to nearly 40 countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe. Europe’s first transmission was reported during a localised outbreak that affected nearly 200 people in north-eastern Italy in 2007. Last month, France confirmed four cases of ‘locally-acquired’ infection in Montpellier. Since 2005, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives and Myanmar have reported over 1.9 million cases. Experts say chikungunya shares some clinical signs with dengue and can be misdiagnosed in areas where dengue is common. The name ‘chikungunya’ derives from a word in the Kimakonde language, meaning ‘to become contorted’ and describes the stooped appearance of sufferers with joint pain. Source: World Health Organisation .

(CNN) -- Flash floods and landslides triggered by a weekend tropical storm have killed at least 100 people in Vietnam, the country's news agency said Monday. Vietnamese villagers look at the rubble where 19 houses stood before a flash-flood ripped away the hamlet of Tung Chin in Lao Cai province. Forecasters fear additional casualties as more rain was expected Monday. The floods in the the country's northern mountain provinces damaged tens of thousands of homes, swept away thousands of cattle and submerged crops, the Vietnam News Agency said. More than two dozen people remained missing. Officials mobilized thousands of rescue workers to look for survivors and to carry relief to the areas hardest hit by the storm. Tropical Storm Kammuri struck the northern provinces on Friday. The southeast Asian country is prone to heavy rainfall during the May through September monsoon season. The resulting landslides and floods have killed hundreds in past years.

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Candidates Appeal to Seniors, Covid-19 Vaccine Latest, France Imposes Curfews

President Trump and Vice President Joe Biden appeal to seniors for their votes. Pfizer says it won't have data showing its COVID-19 vaccine is safe until late November, weeks after Election Day. France imposes new restrictions in hopes of curbing the pandemic and avoiding another national shutdown.

Facebook Not So Private After All Tens of millions of Facebook users are having their private data - and sometimes their friends' data - collected by dozens of advertising and Internet tracking companies. The Wall Street Journal has an investigative piece up today on the issue, they say the tracking affects even those who have set their privacy settings at the highest level. At fault are some of Facebook's most popular apps, like Farmville, Texas Hold 'Em Poker, and Frontierville. From the Journal: The information being transmitted is one of Facebook's basic building blocks: the unique "Facebook ID" number assigned to every user on the site. Since a Facebook user ID is a public part of any Facebook profile, anyone can use an ID number to look up a person's name, using a standard Web browser, even if that person has set all of his or her Facebook information to be private. For other users, the Facebook ID reveals information they have set to share with "everyone," including age, residence, occupation and photos. The apps reviewed by the Journal were sending Facebook ID numbers to at least 25 advertising and data firms, several of which build profiles of Internet users by tracking their online activities. It's important to note that this isn't Facebook doing it, it's the app makers, but the company has been faulted for privacy concerns for years, and this latest flap can't help. A Facebook spokesman told the Journal it is introducing new technology to "dramatically limit" the data that apps can get. France Crippled By Strikes The strikes continue in France. Another major day of protests is scheduled for tomorrow; more than a million people took to the streets over the weekend. Most of the country's refineries have been shut down, leading to panicked buying of gasoline. More than 1,000 gas stations have run dry. French Prime Minister Francois Fillion said on television that the government would resort to force, if necessary to keep the country from being paralyzed. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley is reporting that some analysts are starting to compare these strikes to 1968, when striking workers and students nearly brought down the government. At issue is a retirement reform package that would raise the retirement age being pushed by the government. The French senate is set to vote on the measure Wednesday. Super Typhoon 'Megi' Hits Philippines Thousands of people have fled their homes. Crops have been destroyed. Power and communications have been lost in some areas. At the moment, only one death is being reported, but officials say they will have to evaluate the situation once the weather clears. "Megi" had winds over 150 miles an hour when it came ashore in the northern Philippines. The country has declared a state of calamity.

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If You Traveled For Thanksgiving, This Is What You Need To Do To Stay Safe

NPR's Sarah McCammon asks Dr. Tsion Firew of Columbia University what travelers should do now to help prevent more COVID-19 spread.

<font color=red>(Update)</font> Host Madeleine Brand talks with NPR's Julie McCarthy about the latest developments in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in Turkey. More than 8000 people were killed and tens of thousands injured. Millions of people took to the streets in fear of another earthquake.

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California Neighborhoods Shaken After Mass Shooting Plays Out

Thunderous gunfire tragically altered life in San Bernardino, Calif. on Wednesday. San Bernardino exists without much notice in the shadow of Los Angeles, some 50 miles to the west.

A measles outbreak linked to Disneyland in California has now infected over 70 people, many unvaccinated. NPR's Arun Rath talks with science writer Seth Mnookin, author of <em>The Panic Virus</em>.

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Sam Corpora, 72: Merle Haggard's 'Silver Wings'

More than 600,000 people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19 since the pandemic hit this country and the world just over a year ago. NPR is remembering some of those who lost their lives by listening to the music they loved and hearing their stories. We're calling our tribute Songs Of Remembrance. My dad and I went to more than 50 Merle concerts together, and we used this song ["Silver Wings"] as the daddy-daughter dance at my wedding. The title is tattooed on my foot. My dad was a crop duster, and this song is about an airplane taking away the person he loved. This song is everything to me. It will always be me and my daddy's song. My friend even gave me a necklace with a silver wing on it after he died, so I can always have him close to my heart. —Cara Corpora, daughter

Opponents of South Dakota's new law banning nearly all abortions say they've collected more than enough signatures to force the issue to the November ballot. The ban, signed by Republican Gov. Michael Rounds in March, would bar all abortions in the state except those needed to save the life of the pregnant woman. Since that's at odds with current Supreme Court requirements, the law is intended as a direct challenge to the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade. But under South Dakota law, any group that collects enough valid signatures can delay the law's scheduled implementation and put it directly to the voters in the fall. An organization called the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families says it has done just that, and has filed with 38,000 signatures. That's well over twice the minimum number required. The secretary of state still has to certify the signatures. The process is expected to take two or three weeks. -- Julie Rovner New Bird Flu Cases Remain Isolated in Indonesia May 29, 2006 -- The World Health Organization says there have been six more cases of bird flu in Indonesia. None are related to the cluster of bird-flu deaths in one family that were reported last week. The six new cases of bird flu in Indonesia are widely dispersed. Three of the people have died. Two of the cases were in a brother and sister who were hospitalized last week with symptoms that developed shortly after they came in contact with chickens that had sickened and died. A 39-year-old man became sick and died after cleaning pigeon feces out of the gutter of his home. Another case involves a young man in East Java Province who was exposed to dead chickens in the home. He's recovering. And in two other cases, a 43-year-old man in South Jakarta and a 15-year-old girl in West Sumatra were hospitalized. The sources of the infections are being investigated. In none of the 6 cases is there an indication so far of human-to-human transmission. -- Brenda Wilson

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Hong Kong Reports Its 1st Coronavirus Death

Updated at 7:58 p.m. ET Hong Kong confirmed its first death from the novel coronavirus on Tuesday as health workers in the territory were on their second day of a walkout aimed at forcing closure of the border with mainland China — the epicenter of the epidemic. A 39-year-old man who had visited Wuhan, China, where the virus first appeared, died at Hong Kong's Princess Margaret Hospital on Tuesday morning, the hospital confirmed. The man, who had been to Wuhan on Jan. 21 and returned to Hong Kong aboard a high-speed train on Jan. 31, had unspecified underlying health issues, according to the Centre for Health Protection. His death is only the second attributed to the new virus outside mainland China, where 490 people have died and more than 24,000 others have been infected, according to the latest government figures. On Sunday, a 44-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan died in the Philippines. Hong Kong, which was hard hit by the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, has stopped nearly all ground transportation links with the mainland, halted cross-border trains and halved the number of mainland originating flights. But the city's medical staff want the entire border sealed. Some 2,000 doctors and nurses went on strike Monday, and as many as 9,000 more could join the walkout on Tuesday. Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said, "A large number of staff members are absent from duty," forcing it to curtail some services in the hospital, including some emergency services. Hong Kong has been wracked by months of often-violent protests calling for greater freedom from China that have caused the financial hub's economy to slump. The virus outbreak threatens to do further damage. However, the territory's response has also fueled further outrage among protesters, many of whom see Chief Executive Carrie Lam as taking orders from Beijing. She has stopped short of ordering the complete closing of the border, citing the "unique" situation of the "very close relationship" between people in the territory and mainland China. The coronavirus death in Hong Kong comes shortly after China's leadership called the outbreak "a major test" of the country, according to Xinhua. In a meeting late Monday of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly warned that anyone who tried to dodge their responsibilities during the crisis would be punished. "We have launched a people's war of prevention of the epidemic," Xi said, according to CCTV. Members of the committee also called for a crackdown on illegal wildlife markets. The virus is thought to have originated in such a market. In Wuhan, patients were being transferred to a hastily built 1,000-bed hospital that will act also as a de facto isolation facility. Another 1,500-bed facility was also under construction and expected to be ready within days. Meanwhile, other countries have stepped up precautions to try to prevent or limit the number of coronavirus infections making it across their borders. In Malaysia, a plane carrying 133 people from Wuhan landed in Kuala Lumpur where the passengers were screened and quarantined for 14 days, the longest period the virus is thought to incubate. In Taiwan, three passengers aboard a flight that arrived from Wuhan on Monday were being treated for fever and sore throat, but it was not immediately known whether the symptoms were the result of the coronavirus. The remaining passengers on the flight, some 240 of them, were placed in a two-week quarantine.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology is a sprawling campus of mostly red brick buildings with manicured lawns and camera-lined driveways nestled into the hills of Hubei Province, China. Housed in one of the buildings is the country&#8217;s first Biosafety Level 4 lab, which opened in January of 2018. It is from this lab that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may have originated, according to a theory once considered far-fetched. Here & Now&#8216;s Peter O&#8217;Dowd speaks with Betsy McKay of the Wall Street Journal about how this theory has evolved. This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

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First Human Case From New Bird Flu: How Many More Strains Are Out There?

On Christmas Day last year, a 68-year-old woman in southern China came down with the flu. A week later she was hospitalized. The woman eventually recovered, but she spent three weeks in the hospital. The culprit? H7N4, a new type of bird flu. "This is the first case of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N4) in the world," the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection said Wednesday in a statement. The woman caught the virus from a live chicken, the agency said. And there's no signs she spread it to anyone else. So there's no need to panic. Clearly, the virus rarely jumps from birds into people. But the new case does add to a growing list of bird flu strains to keep an eye on. There's the dangerous H7N9, which killed nearly 300 people in China in 2017. And the deadly H5N1, which regularly crops up around southern Asia and the Middle East every now and then. And here, in the U.S., we've been battling H3N2, which is notorious for sending people to the hospital. Oh, let's not forget that pain in the neck H1N1, or the swine flu, which swept through the U.S. in 2009. What in the heck do all these H's and N's mean? H is short for hemagglutinin. And N is short for neuraminidase. More about those in just a moment. But first, we've got to cover the ABCs. Human flu viruses come in three basic types: A, B and C. The second two — influenza B and influenza C — we don't hear too much about because they don't cause pandemics. The big trouble-makers are the influenza A strains. And boy, are they deviants. Among other things, influenza A viruses are fashionistas. They cover themselves in an array of accessories. But instead of wearing Dolce and Gabbana, influenza prefers "H & N," aka hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Hemagglutinin and neuraminidase are little protein spikes on the flu's surface. Hemagglutinin helps the virus enter cells, while neuraminidase helps it leave cells. Just like handbags and shoes, the spikes come in a variety of styles. There are 18 versions of hemagluttinin and 11 for neuremanidase. Each bird flu picks out one style from the N rack and another from the H rack. The new bird flu in China, H7N9, covers itself in H7 and N9, while H1N1 is a bit more low-key and goes only for style No. 1 from each. All told, there are 198 potential subtypes of influenza A: from H1N1 to H18N11. Many of these viruses exist in wild birds around the world, so they are bird flus. But every now and then, one evolves the ability to infect other animals. H1N1 is one of the more promiscuous. It can infect birds, people, pigs and horses. H2N2, on the other hand, only makes its way into people and birds. But all influenza A strains are social climbers. They're always itching to try out new living quarters. So they mutate. And they also do something even more insidious: They swap accessories. Geneticists call it reassortment. And, historically, it signals trouble. Say a bird gets infected with two viruses: H1N1 and H2N2. When the two viruses reproduce inside the bird's cells, H1N1 can grab accessories from H2N2. This creates a new strain that looks like H2N2 but can now infect people (because it started off as just H1N1). That's what happened in 1957 during the Asian flu pandemic, says computational biologist Richard Goldstein, from the National Institute for Medical Research in London. Since H2N2 had never infected people before, our immune systems had never seen these accessories and thus, we had little defense against it. The new strain ended up killing roughly 70,000 Americans. But the virus didn't stop there. "It then picked up H3 from birds in 1968 to cause the Hong Kong flu pandemic," Goldstein tells Shots. That killed another 30,000 Americans. What about more recent epidemics? "The 2009 flu was a real mess," he says. "The virus had some segments from H3N2 circulating in humans from the 1968 pandemic. It had genes coming in from birds, an H1 coming from pigs and an N1 coming in from a completely different virus," he says. "They all then mixed together in pigs." Scientists are still trying to figure out H7N9. So far, it looks like the virus got its H from ducks, its N from migratory birds and a splash of other genetic material from chickens, immunologists reported in 2013 in The Lancet. But how this fashion bug found its way into people is still a mystery. This article incorporates material about flu that was published by Shots in 2013.

Good morning and happy Friday - here are some early headlines we're looking at: Mega Millions Mania: What If You Win? Then What Do You Do? Austria: Euro Bailout Fund Will Be $1.1 Trillion. (AP) On The Run, Bin Laden Had 4 Children And 5 Houses, A Wife Says. (New York Times) Reports: Rep. Ryan To Endorse Romney. Policy On High-Risk Biological Research Tightened. France Arrests 19 Suspected Islamist Militants In Raids. (BBC) Japan Issues Order To Intercept Rocket Debris; North Korea to launch a rocket next month. (NHK) Trayvon Martin Case: Spike Lee Apologizes For Retweeting Wrong Zimmerman Address. (CNN) Man Packs Gun In Carry-On, Arrested; Philadelphia police detain him at airport a day after another passenger tried to board a plane carrying powerful fireworks. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

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SARS Update: Beijing

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with <EM>New York Times</EM> reporter Joseph Kahn about the building of a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat SARS patients north of Beijing. Construction began five days ago, and the hospital is expected to be up and running this week.

Sarah Chayes reports from Paris on how restaurants there are adjusting their menus in the wake of foot and mouth and Mad Cow disease outbreaks.

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Typhoon Haiyan: Families Struggle To Connect Amid Devastation

Wrecked infrastructure is making it hard for Filipino Americans to find out the status of family members affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Host Michel Martin speaks with Jessica Petilla, a Filipino doctor in New York who has immediate family in the hard hit province of Leyte.

Financial journalist Hannah Seligson and Aminatou Sow from the podcast 'Call Your Girlfriend' join Sam to discuss why more and more millennials are financially intertwined with their parents — and why it's so hard to talk about. Listeners call in. Sends thoughts to samsanders@npr.org.

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Typhoon Death Toll Rises In Philippines, Though Devastation Less Than Feared

At least 21 people are dead and more than a million others have been forced into shelters after Typhoon Hagupit hit the central Philippines this weekend, but the storm has spared the region the devastation of last year's Typhoon Haiyan. Hagupit, which is called Ruby in the Philippines, has now weakened into a tropical storm. It made landfall shortly before nightfall in San Juan, a resort town in Batangas province, about 60 miles south of the national capital, Manila. It had maximum sustained winds of 53 mph and gusts of 60 mph. The Philippines Daily Inquirer reported: "Although it has weakened to 85 kph, Ruby still dumped rains in Batangas and nearby provinces while heading toward west northwest. Although considerably weaker from its peak power, the storm remains potentially dangerous and could still whip storm surges that could overwhelm coastal villages, weather forecasters said." Hagupit has left at least 21 people dead so far, according to the Philippine Red Cross. Sixteen of those killed drowned in Eastern Samar Province, where Hagupit first made landfall on Saturday. The Daily Inquirer noted that the government has reported five other casualties. "It's really scary if you've watched what happened during Haiyan," Amy de Guzman, a 34-year-old mother of three who sought refuge in the gymnasium in San Juan, told The Associated Press. "I hope the storm blows away from here as far as possible." Many of those who had taken refuge in shelters began to return today to their homes after Hagupit had passed. The storm is expected to blow away Tuesday into the South China Sea. Haiyan, which was known as Yolanda in the Philippines, struck the region in November 2013, killing more than 5,000 people.

Mexico's president says the country must adapt to the "new normal" and will reopen businesses this week, despite the fact that coronavirus cases are surging, taxing hospitals and funeral homes.

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Secretary Of Agriculture: Bird Flu Poses 'No Health Issue' To Humans

Bird flu is raging through poultry farms across the United States. It's the largest outbreak in U.S. history, affecting 20 states and tens of millions of birds. The disease is particularly ravaging farms in the Midwest. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the H5 bird flu, the variety causing the outbreak, has not been detected in humans and currently poses a low threat to the public. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who spent last week meeting with farmers, producer groups and government officials in Iowa and Wisconsin, tells NPR's Linda Wertheimer that the outbreak poses no health risk for consumers — but is devastating for producers, and may impact food prices. Interview Highlights On the unprecedented size of this outbreak There are roughly 220 or so facilities that have been impacted and affected by this, most of them commercial operations. Roughly 47 million birds — turkeys, chickens, laying hens — have been impacted ... about 10 percent of the laying hens in the country, roughly 7-8 percent of the turkey population. On whether consumers should worry about eating chicken or eggs There's no health issue involved here — there's no capacity and no risk of transmission from birds to humans. The chickens that are impacted are essentially killed; the eggs that were laid by the chickens are being destroyed. So this is really about animal health; it's about the producers who are going to be devastated as a result of the loss of their livelihood for an extended period of time. On how the outbreak will impact food supplies and prices The reality is that there may be surplus of certain parts of chicken, because our export markets have been impacted and affected by this. Roughly 20 percent of chicken exports are now basically banned, based on decisions made by countries either to ban all poultry exports from the U.S. or exports from specific states that have been impacted by all this. But on the egg side, you're liable to see over time increased costs for a dozen eggs, and increased costs for goods that basically use liquid eggs in the development or processing of foods. On whether smaller barns, or other changes to chicken-farm practices, would prevent such outbreaks I'm not certain about that, because this has impacted and affected backyard operations as well — because of the nature of the virus, and how it's initially presented into an area through geese and ducks that are wild. There's not much you can do about that. So I don't think that it's necessarily getting away from the way in which chickens or eggs are produced so much as it is making sure that whatever system you use, that you're very conscious about the biosecurity aspects of it. What that means is taking a look at facilities and making sure that there's no way in which an isolated bird might be able to enter a facility ... to make sure that employees that are working in these facilities understand the importance of showering, making sure that the water that's used to water the birds doesn't come from a contaminated pond, for example. All of these steps and more have to be taken very seriously. And we're also looking at a vaccine — but it isn't necessarily 100 percent effective.

Dick Cheney is coming out with not-so-flattering memories of Condoleezza Rice. Jay-Z and Beyonce are expecting a baby. The U.S. Surgeon General is voicing concern about women who skip exercise to maintain their hairdos. Mayor Bloomberg's language skills are getting attention on the Twitter feed "El Bloombito." Host Michel Martin and the Beauty Shop women discusses these headlines.

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Group Files Petition to Overturn S.D. Abortion Law

Opponents of South Dakota's new law banning nearly all abortions say they've collected more than enough signatures to force the issue to the November ballot. The ban, signed by Republican Gov. Michael Rounds in March, would bar all abortions in the state except those needed to save the life of the pregnant woman. Since that's at odds with current Supreme Court requirements, the law is intended as a direct challenge to the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade. But under South Dakota law, any group that collects enough valid signatures can delay the law's scheduled implementation and put it directly to the voters in the fall. An organization called the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families says it has done just that, and has filed with 38,000 signatures. That's well over twice the minimum number required. The secretary of state still has to certify the signatures. The process is expected to take two or three weeks. -- Julie Rovner New Bird Flu Cases Remain Isolated in Indonesia May 29, 2006 -- The World Health Organization says there have been six more cases of bird flu in Indonesia. None are related to the cluster of bird-flu deaths in one family that were reported last week. The six new cases of bird flu in Indonesia are widely dispersed. Three of the people have died. Two of the cases were in a brother and sister who were hospitalized last week with symptoms that developed shortly after they came in contact with chickens that had sickened and died. A 39-year-old man became sick and died after cleaning pigeon feces out of the gutter of his home. Another case involves a young man in East Java Province who was exposed to dead chickens in the home. He's recovering. And in two other cases, a 43-year-old man in South Jakarta and a 15-year-old girl in West Sumatra were hospitalized. The sources of the infections are being investigated. In none of the 6 cases is there an indication so far of human-to-human transmission. -- Brenda Wilson

Russell Lewis reports on San Diego residents who are taking a stand against high utility bills. Everyone--from members of local government to leaders of local churches--seems to be getting involved in the fight to reduce payments to San Diego Gas and Electric.

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Remembering Japanese Martial Arts Star Sonny Chiba, Who Died Of COVID At 82

Sonny Chiba was a prolific actor known for his Japanese martial arts movies, which featured his brutal movements and fearsome facial expressions. Chiba died at age 82 due to complications from COVID.

Opponents of South Dakota's new law banning nearly all abortions say they've collected more than enough signatures to force the issue to the November ballot. The ban, signed by Republican Gov. Michael Rounds in March, would bar all abortions in the state except those needed to save the life of the pregnant woman. Since that's at odds with current Supreme Court requirements, the law is intended as a direct challenge to the landmark ruling Roe v. Wade. But under South Dakota law, any group that collects enough valid signatures can delay the law's scheduled implementation and put it directly to the voters in the fall. An organization called the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families says it has done just that, and has filed with 38,000 signatures. That's well over twice the minimum number required. The secretary of state still has to certify the signatures. The process is expected to take two or three weeks. -- Julie Rovner New Bird Flu Cases Remain Isolated in Indonesia May 29, 2006 -- The World Health Organization says there have been six more cases of bird flu in Indonesia. None are related to the cluster of bird-flu deaths in one family that were reported last week. The six new cases of bird flu in Indonesia are widely dispersed. Three of the people have died. Two of the cases were in a brother and sister who were hospitalized last week with symptoms that developed shortly after they came in contact with chickens that had sickened and died. A 39-year-old man became sick and died after cleaning pigeon feces out of the gutter of his home. Another case involves a young man in East Java Province who was exposed to dead chickens in the home. He's recovering. And in two other cases, a 43-year-old man in South Jakarta and a 15-year-old girl in West Sumatra were hospitalized. The sources of the infections are being investigated. In none of the 6 cases is there an indication so far of human-to-human transmission. -- Brenda Wilson

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Former government chief scientist Lord May accused Chinese team of 'blind ambition' Researchers created strains in a bid to develop vaccines . Comes as experts warn new flu strain that has killed 27 in China could spread to Europe .

By . Mark Prigg . PUBLISHED: . 07:10 EST, 3 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:17 EST, 3 May 2013 . One of Britain's leading scientists has hit out at Chinese researchers who created new strains of a killer flu virus in a bid to develop vaccines. They claim the 'hybrid' flu, which mixes bird flu virus with human flu, could escape the lab and lead to a global health crisis pandemic killing millions of people. It comes amid rising fears of a flu epidemic as China struggles to contain an outbreak of the virus. The Bird Flu Virus up close: researchers fear an experimental strain of the killer virus could escape from the Chinese lab that created it . Fears over hybrid flu escaping led to scientists imposing a voluntary moratorium on their H5N1 research, banning transmission studies using ferrets. However, researchers decided to lift the ban earlier this year, arguing that they have now consulted widely with health organisations and the public over safety concerns. However, some scientists still oppose the work, saying any work is too dangerous and experimental strains could escape the lab. Professor Hualan Chen, director of China’s National Avian Influenza . Reference Laboratory at Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, deliberately mixed the H5N1 bird-flu . virus, which is highly lethal but not easily transmitted between people, . with a 2009 strain of H1N1 flu virus, which is very infectious to . humans. The researchers claim the work could help develop a vaccine. 'The work of Zhang and colleagues provides a framework for further studies examining how the structure of the avian flu virus influences how readily it could transition to being a pathogen with human pandemic potential,' Science Express, the journal which published the research, said. The study, which was carried out in a laboratory with the second highest . security level to prevent accidental escape, resulted in 127 different . viral hybrids between H5N1 and H1N1, five of which were able to pass by . airborne transmission between laboratory guinea pigs. However, it is feared the mutated viruses could escape, sparking a global pandemic. 'They claim they are doing this to help develop vaccines and such like,' Lord May of Oxford, a former government chief scientist and past president of the Royal Society, told The Independent. 'In fact the real reason is that they are driven by blind ambition with . no common sense whatsoever, and the record of containment in labs like this is not reassuring. 'They are . taking it upon themselves to create human-to-human transmission of very . dangerous viruses. It’s appallingly irresponsible,' he said. It comes as experts warn human cases of a deadly new strain of bird flu that has killed 27 people in China are likely to crop up in Europe and around the world. Quarantine activities at a bay in Hwaseong City, South Korea. Lord May, a former Government science advisor, warned the 'hybrid' flu, which mixes bird flu virus with human flu, could escape the lab and kill millions . In his first media interview since returning from an international scientific mission to China last week, Professor Angus Nicoll, the head of the influenza and respiratory viruses programme at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), said the H7N9 flu outbreak in humans was one that should be taken extremely seriously and watched closely. 'We are at the start of a very long haul with H7N9,' Nicoll told Reuters in a telephone interview. He said there were many scientific questions to be answered about the new flu strain, which was first detected in patients in China in March having been previously unknown in humans. The flu has so far infected at least 127 people in China and killed 27 of them, according to latest data from Chinese health authorities and the World Health Organization. Scientific studies of the virus have established it is being transmitted from birds - probably mostly chickens - to people, making it a so-called zoonotic disease that humans catch from animals rather than from other humans. Nicoll, who visited Beijing and Shanghai last week with a team of international scientific experts, confirmed what the WHO has repeatedly said - that there is no evidence yet of the virus efficiently passing from person to person - a factor that would make H7N9 a serious pandemic flu threat if it were to evolve. A worker sprays disinfectant in a live poultry market in Banchiao, New Taipei City, ahead of a sweeping ban on live poultry slaughter in markets that will take effect across Taiwan in two weeks . Nicoll said the 'most pressing public health question' for now was to identify the source of the circulating virus - the so-called 'reservoir' - that is leading to chickens contracting it and sporadically passing it on to humans. This is likely to take time, with any results unlikely for several months. He said the ECDC, which monitors disease in the European Union, and health authorities around the world should expect that 'imported cases' of H7N9 flu may well begin to crop up elsewhere. Flu experts speaking at a briefing in London on Wednesday said those mutations, together with evidence that H7N9 is still mutating rapidly and probably spreading almost invisibly among birds because it does not make them obviously sick, meant this new flu was a 'serious threat' to world health. 'You can never predict anything about flu, but it is concerning to see those mutations there, Nicoll said. 'That's why it's important Europe should take this very seriously.' Nicoll added that he thought the Chinese were doing an 'impressive job' handling, reporting, investigating and seeking to contain the outbreak.

Heavy rain that has killed dozens of people in China continued last night as huge storms were seen over parts of the south. The rainstorm has damaged thousands of homes and flooded city streets with up to five feet of water. Yesterday, a massive lightning strike was seen over Zhuhai, in Guangdong province. Lightning flashes over Zhuhai, Guangdong, as the region continued to be battered by heavy rainfall . Two people in the region have died since Saturday, bringing the death toll from rainstorms to 36 this year, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhuanet. A further six people died in Jiangxi, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said. The ongoing storms have damaged acres of cropland and caused landslides. Yesterday, cars parked outside an apartment block were buried under tonnes of rubble and rocks as the rain washed down the hillside. Roads in the city of Zhuhai were also flooded under up to five feet of water. Shoppers and residents were forced to wade through the water, many clutching small children. A landslide buries several cars near a city apartment block. Dozens of people have been killed by the floods . A man carries his wife as they wade through a flooded street where water is up to two feet deep . It came after a five-year-old girl remained missing . after she was washed away by flooding in the city last week. Three workers in Xiangtan City, Hunan . Province, were killed earlier this month after the sewage pipe they . were working was flooded. Three hundred houses were washed away in central China and more than 1,600 people have been stranded or rehomed. . The provincial government said more than 32,000 people from eight districts have been affected by the storms. Relief workers are helping the recovery. A man carrying a boy struggles through the flooded roads after the area was hit by large storms .

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Torrential rainstorms battered southwest China's Chongqing municipality causing thousands of houses to collapse . Nearly 40,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes and a devastating landslide killed 11 coal miners on Monday . Roads turned to rivers as cars were washed away and pedestrians waded in knee-deep rainwater with family on backs . Incredible images of lightning storm striking buildings were captured yesterday by photographer in Kunshan, Jiangsu .

By . Gemma Mullin for MailOnline . The awesome power of China's Three Gorges Dam was on full display when it opened for the first time this year after downpours caused the highest flood peak so far of the year. Torrential rainstorms battered southwest China’s Chongqing municipality, causing thousands of houses to collapse and forcing nearly 40,000 people to evacuate their homes yesterday. A devastating landslide has killed 11 coal miners and left 27 others are missing on Monday, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Scroll down for video . A photographer takes pictures of floodwater as it is released from the Three Gorges Dam, a huge hydropower project on the Yangtze river, in Yichang, central China's Hubei province, after heavy downpours in the upper reaches of the dam caused the highest flood peak of the year . Eleven people died and 27 others are missing after torrential rains battered southwest China's Chongqing, a municipality in the upper reaches of the Three Gorges Dam, causing thousands of houses to collapse, state media said . Floodwater gushes out of the Three Gorges Dam as the gates were opened to discharge floods for first time this year, at the vast Yangtze River, in Hubei, China . Heavy rains are pushing water levels at the Three Gorges Dam past the flood level limit. Sluice gates of the world's biggest hydropower project were opened earlier today . It is being reported that the miners were in a four-story dormitory building when the landslide hit. Fifteen of them managed to escape but the rest were buried in a mine shaft where they had been taking shelter, according to state television. It is thought rescue workers were able to save one miner who was sent to a local hospital where he remained in stable condition. Rain began to lash the southwest region on Sunday and firefighters and police have been assisting to evacuate thousands of people from nine flooded towns in the Yunyang county. Roads were turned to rivers as motorists struggled to stop their cars from being washed away and fleets of vehicles were left abandoned in the town square. Some pedestrians waded knee-deep in rainwater with family members on their backs as they struggled to get through the flood water. Chongqing city shopkeeper Ye Wu, 54, interviewed on local TV, said: ‘It looked more like Venice than Chongqing. All the buildings looked like they were built on a lake. Rescue workers are pictured at the scene of the landslide in which 11 miners were killed in, Yunyang county, Chongqing, China . It has been reported that the miners were in a four-story dormitory building when the landslide hit. Fifteen of them managed to escape but the rest were buried in a mine shaft where they had been taking shelter, according to state television . ‘All it needed was a few blokes with poles on boats and there would be no difference.’ Ye Hsu, police spokesman in the emergency task force co-ordinating the flood control work, said: ‘The rainfall was extremely heavy and no matter how prepared you are, extreme weather like this is hard to deal with. ‘People were urged to find high ground and stay there until the authorities found them.’ Landslides formed two barrier lakes on the Yangtze River in Fengjie County, where water levels rose three feet every hour, according to local flood control officers. These images show lightning striking buildings in China as heavy rain sparked landslides and caused massive flooding as nature put on an incredible electric light show . A photographer was able to capture these images of the electrical storm in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province of China, before the area was lashed with torrential downpours . The area has been battered by thunderstorms and rain over the last two days and thousands of people have had to be evacuated from their homes for safety . More than 1,000 residents have been evacuated from the surrounding area. The news agency said a total of 2,251 houses had collapsed in the rainstorms, while 25,000 more homes have been damaged. It also estimated that the economic loss in Yunyang alone was in the region of £6,000,000 or $11million. Officials from the State Flood Control bureau in the capital Beijing say that since the start of the year, 377 people in China have died in floods and 94 are missing. Southwest China’s Chongqing municipality was badly affected as roads were turned to rivers and motorists struggled to stop their cars from being washed away . Pedestrians waded knee-deep in rainwater with family members on their backs as they struggled to get through the flood water while locals used umbrellas to keep dry . Fleets of vehicles were left abandoned in the town square after heavy rain caused flood water to sweep in (left) while some drivers tried to push through the waters .

By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 13:37 EST, 30 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:48 EST, 30 December 2013 . Seven adults and a child were killed when lightning struck a Seventh Day Adventist church in Malawi. The bolt struck the building, in the capital city of Lilongwe, at 4.30pm on Saturday while the church was full of worshippers at prayer. An official from the Malawian ministry of health said that the eight victims were already dead by the time they arrived at Kamuzu Central hospital in the city. Struck: The churchgoers were killed by a boly of lightning in the midst of Malawi's rainy season (file photograph) A further 40 people were said to have been treated at the hospital, one of whom is now in intensive care. Charles Mwansambo, chief of health services at the Malawian ministry of health, said: 'The worshippers were having an extended session of Saturday prayers when lightning struck their church at around 4.30pm. 'It's a disaster... it was a natural phenomenon.' A witness interviewed by the Nyasa Times newspaper newspaper described a 'stampede' which followed the powerful burst of electricity. Strike: The lightning hit in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe (pictured). The city has several Seventh Day Adventist churches . The witness said: ''People were inside the church attending the service when the lightning struck,. I first head a loud burst which frightened almost everybody and a few minutes later I just saw a stampede here.' December is the first month of the rainy season in Malawi, in which storms and high humidity are common. According to local media reports, three other people have been killed by lightning strikes in the past month.

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Authorities hold people in six provinces for posting 'fake information' Bird flu was first found in humans in the country last month . So far nine people have died from 31 confirmed cases of the H7N9 virus .

By . Damien Gayle . Chinese police detained at least 10 people for spreading rumours about the H7N9 bird flu as the death toll from the new strain of the virus rose to nine. Authorities held people in six provinces for posting 'fake information' online about new cases of the virus in their areas, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. The death toll and number of infections in China from the strain of bird flu first found in humans last month has ticked up daily. Pandemic: Workers from the local centre for disease control and prevention take part in a drill in Hefei city, Anhui province. China has arrested ten for spreading rumours about the latest bird flu outbreak . Biohazard: The death toll and number of infections in China from the strain of bird flu first found in humans last month has ticked up daily, sparking fear across the country . Nine people have died from the 33 confirmed cases of the virus, all in eastern China, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. State media quoted authorities as saying a vaccine should be ready within months. One man detained in Anhui was given seven days of administrative detention for fabricating posts about infections on Chinese microblogs, Xinhua said. The Xi'an public security bureau in Shaanxi province is investigating another man's posts, 'to prevent untrue information from causing public panic', Xinhua said. Scientists around the world have praised China for its handling of the deadly outbreak, but many Chinese are sceptical of the government's pronouncements about the H7N9 virus. The country has a history of public health scandals and cover-ups. The government initially tried to conceal an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which emerged in China in 2002 and killed about one in 10 of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide. Chinese Internet users have questioned why the government waited weeks to announce cases of the bird flu strain, but health officials said it took time to identify the virus, which was previously unknown in humans. Disease control: A doctor looks at rules and regulations on checking suspected H7N9 cases at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou. As of yesterday, China had reported 28 H7N9 cases . A worker traps pigeons in a cage at Peoples Square in Shanghai: Scientists around the world praised China for its handling of the deadly outbreak, but many Chinese are sceptical of the government pronouncements . China's Communist Party is very keen to maintain social stability, but it has struggled to clamp down on rumours, which often spread quickly on the Internet. China found new cases of bird flu in five live bird markets in the eastern part of the country, a report posted on the website of the World Animal Health Organisation OIE showed today. China said the H7N9 avian influenza virus was found in three live bird markets in Jiangsu province, one in Anhui province and one in Zhejiang province, the report said. It did not specify in what kind of birds the virus was found. The three previous outbreaks reported last week were all in China's financial hub Shanghai. Nine people have died out of 33 confirmed human cases of the virus, according to data from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. The latest H7N9 victim was from Anhui province, the official Xinhua news agency said. Among the new cases are several from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, at least one of whom is dangerously ill, it said. Authorities have detained people in the past for rumours, including 93 people accused of circulating information about the expected end-of-the-world apocalypse last December. Still, some commentators have noted that reports of a flu-like condition killing one person near Shanghai had been circulating on Chinese microblogs weeks before the government confirmed it was a case of H7N9. 'From this you can see if the government tried to cover up like in 2003 (SARS cases) but more and more of these posts surfaced, there would be no way to conceal it,' social media watcher and journalist Wu Heng told Reuters. The latest H7N9 victim was from Anhui province, Xinhua reported. Among the new cases are several from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, at least one of whom is dangerously ill, the news agency said. The China Securities Journal reported . today that a vaccine for H7N9 has been authorized by China Food and Drug . Administration and is expected to be introduced to the market in the . first half of this year. The . exact source of infection remains unknown, although samples had tested . positive in some birds in poultry markets that remain the focus of . investigations by China and the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organisation . (FAO). Women wearing face masks walk through a park in Shanghai: China's Communist Party is very keen to maintain social stability, but it has struggled to clamp down on rumours, which often spread quickly online . The World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday that it was looking into two suspected 'family clusters' of people in China who may be infected with the H7N9 virus, potentially the first evidence of human-to-human spread. The new virus is severe in most humans, leading to fears that if it becomes easily transmissible, it could cause a deadly influenza pandemic. However, WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told a news briefing in Geneva that so far there is no firm evidence of human-to-human transmission occurring which could spark a pandemic. Chinese health authorities have said the same.

By . Travelmail Reporter . Twenty people have been injured on board a South African Airways plane after it struck severe turbulence en route to Hong Kong. Medics were waiting at the Hong Kong airport at around 12.30pm local time to assist passengers on SA286, which had departed Johannesburg on Tuesday, the airline said in a statement. Television footage showed rescue workers wheeling one injured passenger on a stretcher. Scroll down for video . On standby: Medics were waiting at Hong Kong Airport as the South African Airways plane landed, following reports of injuries due to turbulence . The South China Morning Post is reporting that many passengers hit the cabin ceiling, causing head and neck injuries. Three crew members and 17 passengers were injured, airline spokesman Tlali Tlali said. The Hong Kong fire department said two people were critically injured. The victims were taken to three hospitals. The airline said 165 passengers were on the Airbus 340-300 when the turbulence hit the aircraft as it flew over Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital. A Hong Kong fire department spokesman . said 14 ambulances, four fire engines, a mobile casualty treatment . centre and a mobile command unit were sent to the scene.

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Deadly forms of H7N9 will be made in high security labs around the world . New bird virus has already infected at least 133 people in China and Taiwan . Forty-three people have died according to World Health Organisation . Scientists said it is vital to prepare for a lethal human pandemic .

By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 00:10 EST, 8 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:41 EST, 8 August 2013 . Scientists are to create mutant forms of the H7N9 bird flu virus that has emerged in China so they can work out the risk of a lethal human pandemic. Highly transmissible and deadly forms of H7N9 will be made in several high security laboratories around the world - but it is vital to prepare for the threat, the scientists say. The new bird flu virus, which was unknown in humans until February, has already infected at least 133 people in China and Taiwan, killing 43 of them, according to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) data. Members of staff at a chicken slaughter house in the suburb of Shanghai, China . Announcing plans to start the controversial experiments, leading virologists Ron Fouchier and Yoshihiro Kawaoka said H7N9's pandemic risk would rise 'exponentially' if it gained the ability to spread easily among people. The only way to find out how likely that is, and how many genetic changes would need to take place before it could happen, is to engineer those mutations in laboratory conditions and test the virus's potential using animal models, they said. 'It's clear this H7N9 virus has some hallmarks of pandemic viruses, and it's also clear it is still missing at least one or two of the hallmarks we've seen in the pandemic viruses of the last century,' Fouchier told Reuters. The new bird flu virus has already infected at least 133 people in China . 'So the most logical step forward is to put in those (missing) mutations first.' Writing in the journals Nature and Science on behalf of 22 scientists who will carry out various aspects of the H7N9 work, Fouchier said because the risk of a pandemic caused by a bird flu virus exists in nature, it was critical for risk-mitigation plans to study the likely mutations that could make that happen. This kind of science is known as 'gain of function' (GOF) research. It aims to identify combinations of genetic mutations that allow an animal virus to jump to humans and spread easily. By finding the mutations needed, researchers and health authorities can better assess how likely it is that a new virus could become dangerous and if so, how soon they should begin developing drugs, vaccines and other scientific defenses. Yet such work is highly controversial. It has fuelled an international row in the past two years after it was carried out on another threatening bird flu virus called H5N1. Infectious particles of the avian H7N9 virus emerging from a cell. Scientists who sparked an outcry by creating easier-to-spread versions of the bird flu want to try such experiments again . When Fouchier and Kawaoka announced in late 2011 they had found how to make H5N1 into a form that could spread between mammals, the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) was so alarmed that it took the unprecedented step of trying to censor publication of the studies. The NSABB said it feared details of the work could fall into the wrong hands and be used for bioterrorism. A year-long delay on such research followed while the World Health Organisation, U.S. security advisers and international flu researchers sought ways to ensure the highest safety controls. The laboratory Fouchier will be working in is known as a BSL3 Enhanced lab (Bio-Safety Level 3), the highest level of biosecurity that can be achieved in academic research. 'Nature is the biggest threat to us, not what we do in the lab. What we do in the lab is under very intense biosecurity measures,' he said. The experiments aim to identify combinations of genetic mutations that allow an animal virus to jump to humans and spread . 'There are layers upon layers of layers of biosafety measures such that if one layer might break there are additional layers to prevent this virus ever coming out.' Fouchier said research has been 'under fire' recently. 'One of the accusations against the flu community was that we were not transparent enough about what experiments were being done, and why and how they were being done,' he said. 'We're trying to pre-empt such accusations this time.' The H7N9 bird flu outbreak currently appears under control with only three new human cases in May, after 87 in April and 30 in March. Experts say this is largely thanks to the closure of many live poultry markets and because of warmer weather.Yet as winter approaches in China, many experts believe H7N9 could re-emerge, meaning the threat of a pandemic looms if it mutates to become easily transmissible between people. Wendy Barclay, an Imperial College London flu expert, said it would be ludicrous to shy away from such studies. 'This type of work is like fitting glasses for someone who can't see well,' she said. 'Without the glasses the vision is blurred and uncertain, with them you can focus on the world and deal with it a lot more easily.'

(CNN) -- Several children were among the victims when a mudslide sent a mass of tree and rock debris crashing into homes in Peru's jungle Wednesday, killing at least 11 people. Ten more people are unaccounted for, according to the country's state news agency. Heavy rains set off the natural disaster in the San Martin tropical forest in Peru's northeast, which destroyed "at least 10 houses and a pedestrian bridge," Andina news agency reported. Six of the 11 bodies recovered so far appear to be children. Residents are working with civil defense officials and the military to find victims in the rubble, but the flooding of a local river is hindering their efforts. Peru's government is sending humanitarian aid, including tents and sheets, the state news agency reported. India: Landslides kill 15, trap others . China: Bodies found after landslide buries school . CNN's Nelson Quinones contributed to this report .

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How many people could be potentially without housing?

The earthquake left at least 5 million people without housing, although the number could be as high as 11 million. Millions of livestock and a significant amount of agriculture were also destroyed, including 12.5 million animals, mainly birds. In the Sichuan province a million pigs died out of 60 million total. Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide reported official estimates of insurers' losses at US$1 billion from the earthquake; estimated total damages exceed US$20 billion. It values Chengdu, at the time having an urban population of 4.5 million people, at around US$115 billion, with only a small portion covered by insurance.

Each year HHC's facilities provide about 225,000 admissions, one million emergency room visits and five million clinic visits to New Yorkers. HHC facilities treat nearly one-fifth of all general hospital discharges and more than one third of emergency room and hospital-based clinic visits in New York City.

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Historians refer to the dispersion of these people after their Babylonian exile as "the Diaspora"

Jewish diaspora - Wikipedia The Jewish diaspora (Hebrew: Tfutza, ) or Exile refers to the dispersion of Israelites, .... In 63 B.C. Pompey invaded Jerusalem, the Jewish people lost their political .... Many Jews entered the Diaspora as slaves after the destruction of the ... Exile after the destruction of the Second Temple, albeit their dispersion was...

Survivor: Jeff Probst reveals where the evacuated contestants went ... Sep 22, 2016 ... Each week, Jeff Probst will answer a few questions about the latest ... Survivor: Jeff Probst reveals where the evacuated contestants went during that cyclone ... a storm that was gathering steam and heading toward our island. ... you saw where the Gen X tribe camp was literally destroyed by one huge tree.

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I know a girlfriend that departed the USA Januanry 5, 2020 from NYC to Shenzhen. Trying to get her back to me in Long Island. Are Chinese citizens permitted to re-enter the USA? She is a girlfriend and doing my best to help find an answer for her. I know she can go to USA consulate in China Shenzhen if there is one there. I can also look that up. Anyway, quick and easy answer will be greatly appreciated.

This community wiki explains the current restrictions by the United States of America on the entry of individuals who may pose a risk of transmission of the SARS-Cov2, the virus which causes the Covid-19 disease.

I want to make it so I always have 50 entities in an area. So when 1 dies/despawns/leaves the area I want it to detect that and summon in a new entity, and yes I do want them to die/despawn/leave the area so preventing those things is not an option.

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Where can I find current authoritative information about COVID-19 related travel bans to the US? : Under President Donald Trump, the federal government has banned non-citizens from coronavirus-hit regions entry, but US citizens are allowed back into the country after a two-week quarantine. Does the US government publish a list of from where non-citizens are banned entry? If yes, where can I find such a list? I found a , but this appears aimed at advising US citizens where not to travel. The entry ban is not (currently) mentioned on the . I don't find it at or pages either. linked from hasn't been updated since 2020-03-02 (nine days ago) and may not be accurate (at least it clearly contradicts the BBC News report). The IATA list does not answer my question because it's not official information from the US government, and actually not even sourced to them. It also appears to only relate to , and thus be limited to flights.

What are the current travel restrictions on individuals entering the United States from regions affected by Covid-19? This community wiki explains the current restrictions by the United States of America on the entry of individuals who may pose a risk of transmission of the SARS-Cov2, the virus which causes the Covid-19 disease.

I am a dual Australian/British citizen with an expired emergency Aussie passport and a valid UK passport. What are my chances for an Aussie visit? I was going to have to miss my brother's wedding on Jan 4th but he bought me a flight today. But my Aussie passport is expired and was only an emergency passport to begin with. I'm born and bred Aussie, just been away for ten years. I'm hoping to arrive on UK passport, show the expired Aussie one and the wedding invite and my return ticket for two weeks later and hope they understand. What are my chances? Also planning on going to the Aussie embassy on Monday to see what they say but want to know my chances of just entering on a UK passport.

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should we worry about the Avian flew?

It's definitely a threat, but there are some misconceptions. You can't get it by eating birds, in the same way you can't get another kind of influenza in humans by eating humans. It's not equatable to mad cow disease, as I've heard has been claimed. You can, however, get it if you breathe contaminated air. If you've got birds, then either eat them or rid yourself of them. If you're on the east coast of either of the American continents, or in the middle, then you should be relatively safer, at least for a longer period of time. There have been cases in southeast Asia, where it was first found, and it has migrated as far as Greece and Romania and there was a small scare in Warsaw a few weeks ago but that's all that's been in the news. So yes, worry, but it's not likely to turn into another Black Plague. Knock on wood.

I think the word is "waning", Sir.\n\nPolitical Correctness is getting to be a pain, though.\n\nHave a nice day.

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The chief vet for Wales has urged poultry and bird owners to remain vigilant following the outbreak of avian flu in Carmarthenshire.

The H5N8 strain of the infection was confirmed in chickens and ducks in the Pontyberem area on Tuesday, after the birds were culled. It is the same strain of the virus found in an infected wild duck in Llanelli and turkeys in Lincolnshire. An avian flu prevention zone has now been extended to all of Wales. The Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths made the announcement on Wednesday based on "expert advice." The prevention zone was originally introduced on 6 December 2016 and will be in place until 28 February 2017. It aims to protect poultry flocks and other domestic birds from the disease with enhanced biosecurity measures, such as a requirement for all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors or separate from wild birds. Ms Griffiths said: "My message to bird owners, including to back yard flock keepers, is to adhere to the requirements set out in the prevention zone, remain vigilant for signs of disease and practice good biosecurity at all times." The outbreak has also forced the National Welsh Poultry Weekend event in Pembrokeshire to be cancelled. Speaking on Wednesday, chief veterinary officer Prof Christianne Glossop said: "It's disappointing that the infection, which we first of all found in wild birds in Wales, has seemed to have spilt over into a domestic flock, but it's not surprising. "What we need people to do is to be really vigilant - and we are very grateful to the owners of these birds, that they noticed signs of disease and they called a vet." Prof Glossop said the Pontyberem birds had "quite severe" symptoms. "We know that we are dealing with highly pathogenic flu in the birds in Lincolnshire - so yes - it is quite a virulent stain of the virus," she told BBC Radio's Good Morning Wales programme. The chief vet said bird owners should get veterinary advice if they see symptoms such as their birds: Members of the public have been encouraged to report dead wild waterfowl or gulls, or five or more dead wild birds of other species in the same location. Public Health Wales has said the risk to public health was "very low" with the Food Standards Agency having also said avian flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. Thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. Dr Hazel Wright, senior policy officer at the Farmers' Union of Wales, said: "This is a worry for our poultry farmers and anyone who keeps chickens, ducks and other poultry in a small or private capacity. "I urge those who keep birds to follow the official guidelines provided by the chief veterinary officer and practise the highest level of biosecurity."

Warnings are in place for the River Vyrnwy at Melverley and Maesbrook, and a lesser flood alert has been issued for the River Severn in Shrewsbury. So far, fields and low-lying roads have been affected. Levels are expected to peak overnight. Dave Throup from the agency said "more significant" floods could happen during the next week if forecast rain arrives.

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BHP Billiton and Vale are to pay a further 1bn reais (£171m; $260m) for the mining disaster that killed 11 people in Brazil earlier this month.

The mining giants had already been ordered to pay 250m reais after a dam burst at a mine run by Samarco, a firm they jointly own. Twelve people remain missing following the incident in southern Brazil that set off a deadly mudslide. The fine will provide aid to the victims and fund environmental repairs. The head of Brazil's environmental agency, Ibama, has described it as the worst mining accident in the country's history. Prosecutors in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais said the preliminary payment would cover the clean-up costs and compensation. "We know that the amount of damages could be much greater, but the agreement establishes a firm legal guarantee," prosecutor Carlos Eduardo Ferreira Pinto said in the statement. Brazilian miner Vale's chief financial officer Luciano Siani earlier refused to speculate on the level the clean-up costs and penalties could ultimately reach. State prosecutors are also considering whether to pursue criminal charges. On Tuesday, BHP Billiton chief executive Andrew Mackenzie expressed his "sadness and concern" for the community affected by the dam burst. He added: "Our priority remains the welfare of the workforce and the local community and I am encouraged by the support I saw Samarco providing. "Samarco continues to provide food, water and emergency supplies to local communities. "They also continue to work with the authorities' efforts to supply clean water to the communities further downstream along the Doce River." More than 600 people who lost their homes in the accident have been placed in hotel or B&B accommodation, he added. Meanwhile, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said the country was "committed to blame those who are responsible". The cause of the dam breach has not yet been determined, but one of the structures was being extended as part of an expansion project at the time. Mr Siani said he did not yet know when the mine would reopen. The incident is expected to affect Vale's production next year, and the firm has said it will give a new forecast for 2016 production in December. Mining is Brazil's third-largest industry.

The number of cases dropped 95% between January and April, compared to the same period a year ago, officials said. The virus has been linked to the birth of babies with abnormally small heads. The threat was at its peak as Brazil prepared to host the 2016 Olympics. The World Health Organisation lifted its own international emergency in November last year. The Zika virus has been linked to severe birth defects in almost 30 countries. Brazil had declared a national emergency in November 2015. The threat led to a campaign to eradicate the mosquitoes which carry the virus. There were 7,911 cases of Zika from January to April this year, compared to 170,535 cases reported in the same time last year, the health ministry said in a statement (in Portuguese). No deaths related to the virus have been reported this year, it added, saying that eight people died last year.

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If so, who will be involved?

I pray not. I think the MAD still reigns.\n\nOther than those crazies dying for their virgins, the rest of the world wants to live.

I don't see anything scheduled yet, but the best place to look over the next few weeks would be the local paper:\nhttp://www.tcpalm.com/\n\nHope this helps!

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how will the bird flu reach the USA?

There is an opportunity of the virus spreading by fowl migrating from Siberia's Tyumen region to Alaska and mixing there with birds flying to Canada and to other parts of the United States.\nBird flu mutation is possible in the countries where the number of different viruses is high. This group includes the United States.\nThe virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu could reach the Americas in six to 12 months or even sooner as infected wild birds migrate toward the Arctic and Alaska, the U.N. bird flu chief said.

if the idiot in charge keeps it upo....great big glass parking lot--- or maybe welcoem to lake iran....watch out for the 3 eyed 4 headed fish.....

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war on terror project--many questions!?

Wow quit listening to your teachers and go the the local VFW and see what they say. Yes it is legal that we are there. I can not even finish this answer. Again go to your local VFW.

You should definitely have power point pictures/transparencies or actual pictures of tons upon tons of the poultry that is being destroyed because of the possibility of infection, this image will really grab attention. You should discuss how many people have actually been affected and relate this to the number of people who die every day from things like cancer and heart disease to put this pandemonium in some perspective. You may want to discuss the possibility that even if we successfully treat affected people the virus could mutate and form a resistant type.

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Can someone help me on my report - The battle of midway?

www.google.com and www.altavista.com will give you all the information you need. Go look it up...

You should definitely have power point pictures/transparencies or actual pictures of tons upon tons of the poultry that is being destroyed because of the possibility of infection, this image will really grab attention. You should discuss how many people have actually been affected and relate this to the number of people who die every day from things like cancer and heart disease to put this pandemonium in some perspective. You may want to discuss the possibility that even if we successfully treat affected people the virus could mutate and form a resistant type.

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hey, is it true about the swine flu thingy at our campus? oh, damn..

is michael jackson dying?! is that just a rumor?

@mparaz: Naku! Huwag sana A(H1N1) iyan! ) Peace out!

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what year did skylab crash in australia

As NASA, and the world's media, tracked Skylab's progress in early July 1979, it seemed it could end up anywhere. In the early hours of the 12th of July, 1979, Skylab crashed on WA's south east coast, scattering debris across the Nullarbor and the eastern goldfields and causing a worldwide sensation. NASA officials arrived in Esperance to check out the wreckage.

When Skylab crashed, the space monkeys escaped and raped... show more I heard that AIDS came from monkeys - I know that the space monkeys on board Skylab were involved in space raping experiments(monkey on monkey) while in orbit and the astronauts injected them with certain proteins and chemicals to create a super virus.

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how many each year died mosquito blood type

As Bill Gates recently pointed out, that killer is the mosquito. No other species, including our own, is responsible for the loss of as many human lives each year as mosquitoes are, Gates continues. Humans murder around 475,000 other people each year. Snakes kill around 50,000, while dogs (mainly from rabies transmission) claim another 25,000 lives.

There are an estimated 36,000 deaths due to seasonal influenza each year in the US. The current swine flu outbreak has caused a total of 7 deaths in Mexico and 1 death in the US (according to WHO).

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The Brazilian authorities have announced plans to prevent the spread of the Zika virus during the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games later this year.

An outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease - which is being linked to severe birth defects - has caused growing concern in Brazil and abroad. Inspections of Olympic facilities will begin four months before the Games to get rid of mosquito breeding grounds. Daily sweeps will also take place during the Games. But fumigation would only be an option on a case-by-case basis because of concerns for the health of the athletes and visitors. The Brazilian health ministry says it is also banking on the fact that the Games are taking place in the cooler, drier month of August when mosquitoes are far less evident and there are considerably fewer cases of mosquito-borne viruses. A British Olympic Association spokesperson said that it would be monitoring the situation over the coming months and its medical team had been liaising with specialists at the London School of Tropical Medicine. The aim is to ensure that team members are "given the most up-to-date travel medicine advice, which includes information on bite prevention strategies," the spokesperson said. "This information has already been shared with all sports and it will be continually updated prior to departure for the Olympic Games." The announcement by the Rio authorities comes amidst growing attention around the world over the large number of cases of Zika in the Americas. Brazil has the largest-known outbreak of the virus which has been linked to a spike in birth defects in new-born babies whose mothers were bitten by the mosquito during pregnancy. The US, Canada and EU health agencies have issued warnings saying pregnant women should avoid travelling to Brazil and other countries in the Americas which have registered cases of Zika.

Rome's Mayor Virginia Raggi, from the populist Five Star party, had said the city had to prioritise matters such as rubbish collection and corruption. It means only Paris, Los Angeles and Budapest are left in the running after Boston and Hamburg also abandoned bids. The International Olympic Committee is due to make a decision next September. Committee chief Giovanni Malago said the decision meant Italy had been "made to look like fools" and would miss out on investment. Rome's protest mayor Raggi finds it tough at the top When in Rome shake up the politics However, the Five Star party had repeatedly said it opposed bidding for the Games before winning control of Rome in June. The Italian government had supported the bid and the broader Rome municipality, which includes many other small town councils, had indicated it would support the bid to overcome Five Star's opposition. But Mr Malago said he would not go ahead without the main city council's backing. Rome also applied to host the 2020 Olympics but pulled out of that race in 2012 because then prime minister Mario Monti feared Italy could not afford it.

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Russia has failed in its final attempt to reverse the ban on its athletes from next month's Rio Paralympics.

Russia was banned from competing by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) following allegations of state-sponsored doping. After a failed appeal at the Court of Arbitation for Sport (Cas), an appeal to the Swiss Supreme Court had been Russia's last hope of being in Brazil. However, it will now miss the Games, which begin on 7 September. More than 100 Russian athletes wrote to the IPC asking it to overturn the ban. However, the Swiss Supreme Court said the Russian Paralympic Committee had not shown it had "fulfilled its obligations to anti-doping rules".

Several hours of torrential rain brought trains to a standstill and rendered roads impassable in the Black Sea resort. Sochi international airport had to be closed and a Formula 1 circuit in the nearby Adler district was flooded. A state of emergency was declared but there were no reports of casualties. "There's no water, no gas, no electricity. They say it could be back tonight or maybe tomorrow," Alla Atakyan, a resident of Adler, told Reuters news agency. Footage showed residents with water up to their knees, one attempting to clear her property with a broom. In one village, a snake could be seen swimming through the floodwater. Anatoly Pakhomov, the mayor of Sochi, told Russia's Interfax news agency that a state of emergency had been declared. Sochi saw more than three weeks' worth of rain in an hour, environmental officials told Interfax, flooding the Hosta, Kudepsta, and Herota rivers. Local authorities have reportedly warned that tornados may form off the coast and move inland. The flash flooding follows a similar but worse episode last week, further south in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. Severe flooding in the Georgian capital Tbilisi killed at least 19 people and caused extensive damage. Dozens of animals escaped from Tbilisi zoo, including a tiger which killed a man before being shot dead. A zoo near Sochi was spared flooding on Thursday. Jeanne Zazina, Deputy Director of the Sochi zoo, said: "We are closer to the central area, not in the Adler. We are fine, no one swam away."

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A Note on the Uniqueness of the Lasso Solution

Regularized Ordinal Regression and the ordinalNet R Package

Jumped, Pushed or Forgotten? Approaches to Dissolution

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1. The prolactin (PRL) response to placebo, sulpiride (2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg im) and arginine HCl infusion (0.33 G/kg) was examined in young (18–25 yrs) and old (65–75 yrs) normal men. 2. Analysis of variance for the sulpiride data showed no significant dose x age group inter-action or dose x age group x period interaction. There was, however, a significant age group x period interaction (p 3. The pattern of findings suggests a delayed absorption of sulpiride in the elderly rather than a change in pituitary dopamine (DA) receptor sensitivity to account for the lower PRL concentrations at 15 min. 4. Differences in magnitude of the PRL response between the four doses of sulpiride were small and results suggest that the 2.5 mg dose is close to that required to saturate DA receptors on the lactotrophe and that the 10 and 20 mg doses are sufficient to completely block pituitary DA receptors. 5. There was no significant age effect on arginine-induced PRL secretion (N = 11 in each group) 6. These results suggest that (a) the PRL secretory reserve is unchanged in normal aging (b) the mechanism subserving arginine-induced PRL secretion is unaffected by age (c) studies using a lower dose range of sulpiride combined with measurements of serum sulpiride levels are required to evaluate any age effect on lactotrophe DA receptor sensitivity.

Diabetes insipidus (DI), be it from central or nephrogenic origin, must be differentiated from secondary forms of hypotonic polyuria such as primary polydipsia. Differentiation is crucial since wrong treatment can have deleterious consequences. Since decades, the gold standard for differentiation has been the water deprivation test, which has limitations leading to an overall unsatisfying diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, it is cumbersome for patients with a long test duration. Clinical signs and symptoms and MRI characteristics overlap between patients with DI and primary polydipsia. The direct test including Vasopressin (AVP) measurement upon osmotic stimulation was meant to overcome these limitations, but failed to enter clinical practice mainly due to technical constraints of the AVP assay. Copeptin is secreted in equimolar amount to AVP but can easily be measured with a sandwich immunoassay. A high correlation between copeptin and AVP has been shown. Accordingly, copeptin mirrors the amount of AVP in the circulation and has led to a "revival" of the direct test in the differential diagnosis of DI. We have shown that a baseline copeptin, without prior thirsting, unequivocally identifies patients with nephrogenic DI. In contrast, for the differentiation between central DI and primary polydipsia, a stimulated copeptin level of 4.9 pmol/L upon hypertonic saline infusion differentiates these two entities with a high diagnostic accuracy, and is superior to the water deprivation test. Close sodium monitoring during the test is a prerequisite. Further new test methods are currently evaluated and might provide an even simpler way of differential diagnosis in the future.

We present the novel parallel linear least squares solvers ARPLS-MPIR and ARPLS-IR.We provide a careful analysis of their communication cost.We analyze their parallel runtime behavior experimentally.Mixed precision iterative refinement reduces computation and communication cost for well-conditioned problems.ARPLS-IR is also applicable to ill-conditioned problems and especially for narrow problems outperforms DPLASMA and ScaLapack. We present the novel parallel linear least squares solvers ARPLS-IR and ARPLS-MPIR for dense overdetermined linear systems. All internode communication of our ARPLS solvers arises in the context of all-reduce operations across the parallel system and therefore they benefit directly from efficient implementations of such operations. Our approach is based on the semi-normal equations, which are in general not backward stable. However, the method is stabilised by using iterative refinement. We show that performing iterative refinement in mixed precision also increases the parallel performance of the algorithm. We consider different variants of the ARPLS algorithm depending on the conditioning of the problem and in this context also evaluate the method of normal equations with iterative refinement. For ill-conditioned systems, we demonstrate that the semi-normal equations with standard iterative refinement achieve the best accuracy compared to other parallel solvers.We discuss the conceptual advantages of ARPLS-IR and ARPLS-MPIR over alternative parallel approaches based on QR factorisation or the normal equations. Moreover, we analytically compare the communication cost to an approach based on communication-avoiding QR factorisation. Numerical experiments on a high performance cluster illustrate speed-ups up to 3820 on 2048 cores for ill-conditioned tall and skinny matrices over state-of-the-art solvers from DPLASMA or ScaLAPACK.

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is a clinical complex with unsatisfying treatment efficacy and poor prognosis which is difficult to be diagnosed at early stage. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical features of SLE with

Combined treatment with caspofungin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) as salvage therapy in non-HIV positive patients with severe pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) yields poor outcomes. It remains unknown whether the use of this combination strategy as a first-line therapy would improve patient outcomes. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of caspofungin combined with TMP/SMZ as a first-line therapy in non-HIV positive patients with severe PCP. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between March 2016 and February 2017. Patient clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between two groups receiving first-line and second-line therapy respectively. In addition, similar cases from previous studies were assessed. A total of 14 patients were included in the present study (mean age, 58.79±14.41 years); including 9 patients receiving caspofungin and TMP/SMZ as a first-line therapy and 5 that received it as a second-line therapy. The overall positive response rate was 71.43% (10/14), with 88.89 (8/9) and 40.00% (2/5) in the first-line and second-line therapy groups, respectively (P=0.095). The positive response rates of patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation differed significantly between the first-line (5/6, 83.33%) and the second-line (0/3, 0%) therapy groups (P=0.048). All-cause hospital mortality was 42.86% (6/14), with mortality rates of 33.33 (3/9) and 60.00% (3/5) in the first-line and second-line therapy groups, respectively (P=0.580). Combined with previously reported cases (n=27), the positive response rate was significantly greater in the first-line therapy group (11/12, 91.67%) than in the second-line therapy group (8/15, 53.33%, P=0.043). No significant differences were in all-cause mortality rates between the two groups (25.00 vs. 46.67%, P=0.424) were identified, despite the fact that all-course mortality in the first-line therapy group was ~50% that of the second-line therapy group. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that combined caspofungin and TMP/SMZ as first-line therapy may be a promising and effective strategy to treat non-HIV positive patients with severe PCP, particularly for those requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

A principal component pursuit (PCP)-based interface is proposed between raw synchrophasor data and the algorithms used for wide-area monitoring application to provide resilience against malicious data corruption. The PCP method-based preprocessor recovers a low rank matrix from the data matrix despite gross sparse errors originating from cyber-attacks by solving a convex program. The low-rank matrix consists of the basis vectors obtained from the system response and the sparse matrix represents corruption in each position of the data matrix. An augmented Lagrangian multiplier-based algorithm is applied to solve the PCP problem. The low rank matrix obtained after solving PCP represents the reconstructed data and can be used for estimation of poorly damped modes. A recursive oscillation monitoring algorithm is tested to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach under both ambient and transient conditions.

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1-Bit compressed sensing of positive semi-definite matrices via rank-1 measurement matrices

In this paper, we investigate the problem of recovering positive semi-definite (PSD) matrix from 1-bit sensing. The measurement matrix is rank-1 and constructed by the outer product of a pair of vectors, whose entries are independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) Gaussian variables. The recovery problem is solved in closed form through a convex programming. Our analysis reveals that the solution is biased in general. However, in case of error-free measurement, we find that for rank-r PSD matrix with bounded condition number, the bias decreases with an order of O(1/r). Therefore, an approximate recovery is still possible. Numerical experiments are conducted to verify our analysis.

Summary form only given, as follows. A study is presented of precision constraints imposed by a hybrid chip architecture with analog neurons and digital backpropagation calculations. Conversions between the analog and digital domains and weight storage restrictions impose precision limits on both analog and digital calculations. It is shown through simulations that a learning system of this nature can be implemented in spite of limited resolution in the analog circuits and using fixed-point arithmetic to implement the backpropagation algorithm. >

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Biorthonormal transfer-matrix renormalization-group method for non-Hermitian matrices.

Biorthonormal transfer-matrix renormalization-group method for general Markov random fields

Biorthonormal transfer-matrix renormalization-group method for general Markov random fields

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Convergent nonnegative matrices and iterative methods for consistent linear systems

Equivalence of conditions for convergence of iterative methods for singular equations

Path collective variables without paths

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Nonlinear analysis of the Costas loop and phase-locked loop with squarer

Best's conjecture on pull-in range of two-phase Costas loop

On the Fundamental Limits of Recovering Tree Sparse Vectors From Noisy Linear Measurements

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Tight recovery thresholds and robustness analysis for nuclear norm minimization

The Convex Geometry of Linear Inverse Problems

Remodeling of chromatin loops does not account for specification of replication origins during Xenopus development

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Decentralized decomposition algorithms for Peer-to-Peer linear optimization

Coordinating decentralized linear programs by exchange of primal information

Unsupervised joint decomposition of a spectroscopic signal sequence

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Robust portfolio selection under norm uncertainty

Robust Portfolio Selection Problems

Robust Portfolio Selection Problems

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An Implementation of Matrix Eigenvalue Decomposition with Improved Jacobi Algorithm

Improved SVD systolic array and implementation on FPGA

On the impossibility of informationally efficient markets

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On adaptive discretization schemes for the solution of ill-posed problems with semiiterative methods

Cell Detection by Functional Inverse Diffusion and Non-negative Group Sparsity$-$Part I: Modeling and Inverse Problems

Cardiac sympathetic denervation is not related to nigrostriatal degeneration in Parkinson’s disease

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A Note on Efficient Computation of the Gradient in Semidefinite Programming

On computing certain elements of the inverse of a sparse matrix

On the Fundamental Limits of Recovering Tree Sparse Vectors From Noisy Linear Measurements

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RAL-TR-2005-001 Reducing the total bandwidth of a sparse unsymmetric matrix 1 , 2 by

Double Ordering and Fill-In for the LU Factorization

Fully nonparametric estimation of scalar diffusion models

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Automatic parameter setting for Arnoldi-Tikhonov methods

REGULARIZATION TOOLS: A Matlab package for analysis and solution of discrete ill-posed problems

Why I have abandoned robot-assisted transaxillary thyroid surgery

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A multidimensional version of the Carlson inequality

CARLSON TYPE INEQUALITIES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS — AN INTRODUCTION

The Mortality Problem for Matrices of Low Dimensions

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Optimal allocation of resource for surrogate modelling

Optimum Designs in Regression Problems

Reference frames in allocentric representations are invariant across static and active encoding

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Stability Exploitation and Subspace Array Processing.

Subspace stability in high resolution direction finding and signal enumeration

Inability of the Submaximal Treadmill Stress Test to Predict the Location of Coronary Disease

kor_Hang

An interior point type QP-free algorithm with superlinear convergence for inequality constrained optimization

A new penalty-free-type method for nonlinear inequality constrained optimization

On the Fundamental Limits of Recovering Tree Sparse Vectors From Noisy Linear Measurements

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Submitted to the Annals of Statistics SLOPE MEETS LASSO : IMPROVED ORACLE BOUNDS AND OPTIMALITY By

Upper bounds on product and multiplier empirical processes

A straightforward route to enantiopure 2-substituted-3,4-dehydro-β-proline via ring closing metathesis

yue_Hant

Matrix completion (MC) is a promising technique which is able to recover an intact matrix with low-rank property from sub-sampled/incomplete data. Its application varies from computer vision, signal processing to wireless network, and thereby receives much attention in the past several years. There are plenty of works addressing the behaviors and applications of MC methodologies. This work provides a comprehensive review for MC approaches from the perspective of signal processing. In particular, the MC problem is first grouped into six optimization problems to help readers understand MC algorithms. Next, four representative types of optimization algorithms solving the MC problem are reviewed. Ultimately, three different application fields of MC are described and evaluated.

In this paper, we propose a new stochastic alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm, which incrementally approximates the full gradient in the linearized ADMM formulation. Besides having a low per-iteration complexity as existing stochastic ADMM algorithms, the proposed algorithm improves the convergence rate on convex problems from $O(\frac 1 {\sqrt{T}})$ to $O(\frac 1 T)$, where $T$ is the number of iterations. This matches the convergence rate of the batch ADMM algorithm, but without the need to visit all the samples in each iteration. Experiments on the graph-guided fused lasso demonstrate that the new algorithm is significantly faster than state-of-the-art stochastic and batch ADMM algorithms.

We establish a simple no-arbitrage criterion that reduces the absence of arbitrage opportunities under proportional transaction costs to the condition that the asset price process may move arbitrarily little over arbitrarily large time intervals. We show that this criterion is satisfied when the return process is either a strong Markov process with regular points, or a continuous process with full support on the space of continuous functions. In particular, we prove that proportional transaction costs of any positive size eliminate arbitrage opportunities from geometric fractional Brownian motion for H E (0, 1) and with an arbitrary continuous deterministic drift.

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Organic acidurias are a wide group of inherited metabolic diseases, sometimes with acute neonatal symptoms and life risk in the newborn. The clinical features are often not specific, but the pattern of urinary organic acids is diagnostic. Correct identification of metabolites and timely response are fundamental in this kind of work. Capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is now the reference method for separation, identification and quantification of organic acids. The analysis of urinary extracts (extraction is described in the text) is routinely carried out on an HP 5988A GC/MS system. Mass spectra are compared with a dedicated library and full spectra retrieved from positive samples. A new and interesting perspective is opened by infrared spectroscopy coupled with capillary GC. The method allows remarkable informations, complementary to mass spectra, on molecular structure. The sensitivity of equipment used for infrared (HP 5965 IRD) permits the use of the same capillary columns and analytical conditions for both GC/MS and GC/Fourier transform infrared. Our preliminary results show that the infrared detector can be used in organic acid analysis and can be useful, too, in identification of unknown metabolites, when mass spectral data are not sufficient.

We describe a patient with methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria due to a defect in cobalamin metabolism of the Cbl-C type mutant (McKusick 277400). Our case was diagnosed within the first 2 months of life by amino acid analysis (ion-exchange chromatography) and by biochemical studies in cultured fibroblasts ([14C]propionate incorporation, methionine and serine formation). We discuss the clinical course and the biochemical evolution after 2 years of hydroxycobalamin treatment that led to an improvement in general clinical condition and neurological performance.

Location awareness, providing the ability to identify the location of sensor, machine, vehicle, and wearable device, is a rapidly growing trend of hyper-connected society and one of the key ingredients for the Internet of Things (IoT) era. In order to make a proper reaction to the collected information from things , location information of things should be available at the data center. One challenge for the IoT networks is to identify the location map of whole nodes from partially observed distance information. The aim of this paper is to present an algorithm to recover the Euclidean distance matrix (and eventually the location map) from partially observed distance information. By casting the low-rank matrix completion problem into the unconstrained minimization problem in a Riemannian manifold in which a notion of differentiability can be defined, we solve the low-rank matrix completion problem using a modified conjugate gradient algorithm. From the convergence analysis, we show that localization in Riemannian manifold using conjugate gradient (LRM-CG) converges linearly to the original Euclidean distance matrix under the extended Wolfe’s conditions. From the numerical experiments, we demonstrate that the proposed method, called LRM-CG, is effective in recovering the Euclidean distance matrix.

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Given a matrix A(U) = 11 ~~,~(w)ll, i,j = 1,2,..., n, with Q(W) integrable functions, we call the mean value of matrix A(w), the matrix M(A(w)) = 11 Mu,,~(w)~~, i j = 1, 2 ,..., n, where k$Jw) = J,aw that is

This work is concerned with the stability properties of linear stochastic differential equations with random (drift and diffusion) coefficient matrices and the stability of a corresponding random t...

A technique is presented for feature extraction of a waveform y based on its Tauberian approximation, that is, on the approximation of y by a linear combination of appropriately delayed versions of a single basis function x, i.e., y(t) = ¿M i = 1 aix(t - ¿i), where the coefficients ai and the delays ¿i are adjustable parameters. Considerations in the choice or design of the basis function x are given. The parameters ai and ¿i, i=1, . . . , M, are retrieved by application of a suitably adapted version of Prony's method to the Fourier transform of the above approximation of y. A subset of the parameters ai and ¿i, i = 1, . . . , M, is used to construct the feature vector, the value of which can be used in a classification algorithm. Application of this technique to the classification of wide bandwidth radar return signatures is presented. Computer simulations proved successful and are also discussed.

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The benefit and precision of blood diagnosis by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is limited by sampling procedures and RNA extraction methods. We have compared five different RNA extraction protocols from bovine blood regarding RNA and miRNA yield, quality, and most reproducible data in the qRT-PCR with the lowest point of quantification. Convincing results in terms of highest quantity, quality, and best performance for mRNA qPCR were obtained by leukocyte extraction following blood lysis as well as extraction of PAXgene stabilized blood. The best microRNA qPCR results were obtained for samples extracted by the leukocyte extraction method.

Nucleic acids are the ultimate biomarker and real-time PCR (qPCR) is firmly established as the method of choice for nucleic acid detection. Together, they allow the accurate, sensitive and specific identification of pathogens, and the use of qPCR has become routine in diagnostic laboratories. The reliability of qPCR-based assays relies on a combination of optimal sample selection, assay design and validation as well as appropriate data analysis and the "Minimal Information for the Publication of real-time PCR" (MIQE) guidelines aim to improve both the reliability of assay design as well as the transparency of reporting, essential conditions if qPCR is to remain the benchmark technology for molecular diagnosis.

Block and global Krylov subspace methods have been proposed as methods adapted to the situation where one iteratively solves systems with the same matrix and several right hand sides. These methods are advantageous, since they allow to cast the major part of the arithmetic in terms of matrix-block vector products, and since, in the block case, they take their iterates from a potentially richer subspace. In this paper we consider the most established Krylov subspace methods which rely on short recurrences, i.e.?BiCG, QMR and BiCGStab. We propose modifications of their block variants which increase numerical stability, thus at least partly curing a problem previously observed by several authors. Moreover, we develop modifications of the "global" variants which almost halve the number of matrix-vector multiplications. We present a discussion as well as numerical evidence which both indicate that the additional work present in the block methods can be substantial, and that the new "economic" versions of the "global" BiCG and QMR method can be considered as good alternatives to the BiCGStab variants.

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We present an approach for parallel space decomposition which facilitates minimization of sufficiently smooth non-linear functionals with or without constraints on the variables. The framework for the spatial decomposition unites existing approaches from parallel optimization, parallel variable distribution, and finite elements, Schwarz methods. Additive and multiplicative algorithms based on the spatial decomposition are described. Convergence theorems are also presented, from which convergence for the case of convex functionals, and hence linear least squares problems, follows immediately.

Convergence of a space decomposition method is proved for a class of convex programming problems. A space decomposition refers to a method that decomposes a space into a sum of subspaces, which could be a domain decomposition or a multilevel method when applied to partial differential equations. Two algorithms are proposed. Both can be used for linear as well as nonlinear elliptic problems, and they reduce to the standard additive and multiplicative Schwarz methods for linear elliptic problems.

Berzelius failed to make use of Faraday's electrochemical laws in his laborious determination of equivalent weights.

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Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) has been widely used in hyperspectral unmixing (HU) in recent years since it can simultaneously estimate endmember and abundance matrices. However, most existing NMF unmixing methods only impose geometric or statistical unilateral prior on endmember or abundance matrix, meanwhile ignore the synergistic effect of both priors. To overcome this problem, in this paper, we propose a novel geometric and statistical hybrid method, called the weighted Ly 2 sparse total variation regularized and volume prior constrained NMF (wL 1/2 TVVC- NMF).The proposed approach integrates the endmember volume, abundance sparsity and piecewise smoothness into the unified NMF unmixing framework, and imposes the two kinds of prior information to the matrix factors simultaneously. It not only captures the sparsity and smoothness of abundance map, but also enhances the endmember identification accuracy, and improves the stability of results and noise robustness. The optimization model is simply solved by the variable splitting and augmented Lagrangian algorithm. Several experiments were conducted to demonstrate the performance of proposed method.

It is now well understood that (1) it is possible to reconstruct sparse signals exactly from what appear to be highly incomplete sets of linear measurements and (2) that this can be done by constrained L1 minimization. In this paper, we study a novel method for sparse signal recovery that in many situations outperforms L1 minimization in the sense that substantially fewer measurements are needed for exact recovery. The algorithm consists of solving a sequence of weighted L1-minimization problems where the weights used for the next iteration are computed from the value of the current solution. We present a series of experiments demonstrating the remarkable performance and broad applicability of this algorithm in the areas of sparse signal recovery, statistical estimation, error correction and image processing. Interestingly, superior gains are also achieved when our method is applied to recover signals with assumed near-sparsity in overcomplete representations--not by reweighting the L1 norm of the coefficient sequence as is common, but by reweighting the L1 norm of the transformed object. An immediate consequence is the possibility of highly efficient data acquisition protocols by improving on a technique known as compressed sensing.

Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is a recently developed technique for finding parts-based, linear representations of non-negative data. Although it has successfully been applied in several applications, it does not always result in parts-based representations. In this paper, we show how explicitly incorporating the notion of `sparseness' improves the found decompositions. Additionally, we provide complete MATLAB code both for standard NMF and for our extension. Our hope is that this will further the application of these methods to solving novel data-analysis problems.

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Model selection is a critical aspect of subset autoregressive moving-average (ARMA) modelling. This is commonly done by subset selection methods, which may be computationally intensive and even impractical when the true ARMA orders of the underlying model are high. On the other hand, automatic variable selection methods based on regularization do not directly apply to this problem because the innovation process is latent. To solve this problem, we propose to identify the optimal subset ARMA model by fitting an adaptive Lasso regression of the time series on its lags and the lags of the residuals from a long autoregression fitted to the time series data, where the residuals serve as proxies for the innovations. We show that, under some mild regularity conditions, the proposed method enjoys the oracle properties so that the method identifies the correct subset model with probability approaching 1 with increasing sample size, and that the estimators of the nonzero coefficients are asymptotically normal with the limiting distribution the same as the case when the true zero coefficients are known a priori. We illustrate the new method with simulations and a real application.

The purpose of model selection algorithms such as All Subsets, Forward ::: Selection and Backward Elimination is to choose a linear model on the basis of the same set of data to which the model will be applied. Typically we have available a large collection of possible covariates from which we hope to select a parsimonious set for the efficient prediction of a response variable. Least Angle Regression (LARS), a new model selection algorithm, is a useful and less greedy version of traditional forward selection methods. ::: Three main properties are derived: (1) A simple modification of the LARS algorithm implements the Lasso, an attractive version of ordinary least squares that constrains the sum of the absolute regression coefficients; the LARS modification calculates all possible Lasso estimates for a given problem, using an order of magnitude less computer time than previous methods. ::: (2) A different LARS modification efficiently implements Forward Stagewise linear regression, another promising new model selection method;

It is proved, by using topological properties, that when a group automorphism of a locally compact totally disconnected group is ergodic under the Haar measure, the group is compact. The result is an answer for Halmos's question that has remained open for the totally disconnected case.

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