Kashmir Quake stories
Pakistanis in U.S. Helping Quake Victims
Whilst collections were taken throughout the United States for victims of the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, they are fewer and father between for the victims of the Oct. 8 Kashmir earthquake. Pakistanis in the United States have launched Web sites such as http://www.saquake.org and http://www.pakistanearthquake.us to help make people more aware, and are collecting in the streets.
The United Nations and the World Food Program are desperately short of money to help the survivors.
Quake donors to focus on rebuilding Pakistan
Kashmir earthquake donors are to meet on November 19 in Islamabad to discuss rebuilding. As well as the urgent problem of shelter, they will discuss longer term recovery needs including employment and infrastructure. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan will attend.
Diarrhea Outbreak Hits Quake Survivors
Several hundred survivors of the earthquake of Oct. 8 have severe diarrhoea, probably a result of unsanitary conditions in a spontaneously-set up tent camp in Muzaffarabad. They are being treated.
A second crossing between India and Pakistan has been opened, but locals are still not being allowed to cross; only aid.
Rival groups clashed in Muzaffarabad, injuring 2, and one of the groups has left the city.
Bird flu stories
Experts unveil bird flu plan as new death reported, Â
New bird flu death feared as World Bank seeks $1 bln,
Vietnam to Produce Generic Bird-Flu Drug, Â
Roche: Enough Tamiflu for 55M This Year,
Flu-Wary Singapore Deploys Chicken Guards, Â
KFC Plans TV Ads to Respond to Bird Flu
On the third day of the World Health Organization (WHO) conference on bird flu in Geneva, experts outlined a $1 billion plan to halt the spread of the disease. The Asian Development Bank added an extra $300 million to its $170 million pledge.
A 16-year-old girl has died of bird flu in Indonesia, subject to confirmation. She had contact with birds, but none have been identified as having the disease.
The fear is that the disease could mutate into a form which remains deadly to humans and also can pass easily from human to human. If that happens, then a human flu pandemic is very likely. The more it spreads among birds, particularly in regions like Asia where people live in close contact with birds and there is little money for dealing with outbreaks, the more likely it is that such mutation will occur. Migratory birds from affected areas are about to arrive in Africa, which will face similar problems.
Roche has agreed in principle to supply the raw ingredient of Tamiflu to Vietnam so the country can make its own generic version of the drug. Roche will also supply Vietnam with enough to treat 2.5 million people. The drug maker says that it will produce enough doses for 55 million people this year, and plans to be able to make 150 million treatments in 2006 and 300 million in 2007.
Singapore has placed nineteen "sentinel chickens" at open-air exhibits in the Jurong BirdPark, which has more than 9,000 birds of 600 species in its collection. The idea is that they will catch any bird flu brought in by wild birds first, alerting authorities. All the park's birds (except the chickens) have been vaccinated against bird flu.
Kentucky Fried Chicken is preparing television commercials to tell customers that it will be safe to eat its chicken in the event of a bird flu outbreak. The commercials would only be shown where there were outbreaks. The U.S. National Chicken Council spokesman said, "Even if we did have an outbreak, which is unlikely, it's going to be very limited, and the number of birds involved will be very small."
Hurricane stories
Panel: Plan for Gulf Wetlands Lacking
A National Academy of Sciences panel says that the Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Louisiana do not have an overall plan for restoring coastal wetlands. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed about 100 square miles of the marshes that protect the coastline and harbour wildlife. Previously, Louisiana had lost about 1,900 square miles since the 1930s due to a variety of natural causes and human actions including oil and natural gas drilling, dams, levees and other artificial barriers in the Mississippi River. The Army Corps has been focussing on plans achievable in a few years because of direction by the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Katrina Floodwall Collapse Investigated
Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti is investigating whether to take criminal or civil action concerning the collapse of canal floodwalls during Hurricane Katrina.
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