All posts tagged: severe

CDC Confirms First US Case of Severe Bird Flu

CDC Confirms First US Case of Severe Bird Flu

Published by skeptic

The United States has now seen dozens of human bird flu cases this year, all of them mild—until now. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Wednesday that a patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with a severe case of avian influenza caused by the H5N1 virus. This marks the first instance of severe illness linked to the virus in the US. The virus has decimated poultry flocks and wild birds across the country and has infected more than 800 dairy herds in 16 states. Infected animals have been spreading the virus to people who come into contact with them. Since April, the US has seen a total of 61 reported human cases of bird flu in eight states. Of those, 37 had exposure to sick or infected dairy cows, while 21 had exposure to poultry farms and culling operations. In those cases, people developed conjunctivitis and mild respiratory symptoms and fully recovered. A severe case is significant because bird flu has previously been associated with severe illness in other countries, including outbreaks that …

Inflammation from severe COVID-19 can damage brainstem, leading to prolonged symptoms, new research suggests

Inflammation from severe COVID-19 can damage brainstem, leading to prolonged symptoms, new research suggests

Published by José

A new study suggests that damage to the brainstem, the part of the brain that controls essential functions like breathing and heart rate, may be responsible for the long-lasting physical and mental health issues seen in patients who experienced severe COVID-19. Using powerful, ultra-high-resolution MRI scanners, researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford observed abnormalities in the brainstems of individuals who had been hospitalized with severe COVID-19 early in the pandemic. These abnormalities are believed to result from inflammation, and they appear to correlate with symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety. The findings, published in the journal Brain, could help explain why some people experience prolonged symptoms after recovering from COVID-19. The researchers conducted this study to better understand the long-term effects of severe COVID-19 on the brain. When the pandemic first began, many patients reported lingering symptoms long after they had recovered from the initial infection, a phenomenon that has come to be known as long COVID. These symptoms often include fatigue, breathlessness, and anxiety, but the underlying cause of these issues …

Severe Solar Storm Creates Stunning Auroras During Meteor Shower

Severe Solar Storm Creates Stunning Auroras During Meteor Shower

Published by José

“Does it get any better?” Bad Turns Good Looks like the Sun is having another one of its outbursts again, because it just blasted us with a severe geomagnetic storm that crackled through our planet’s magnetic field. The Space Weather Prediction Center said it detected the solar event on Monday morning when it was classified as a severe G4 level storm — the second most intense kind. By that same afternoon, the event eventually weakened to a G2-level storm — but not before zapping our skies with absolutely stunning auroras. Now, observers the world over — not to mention off-world — are sharing the magical glimpses they got of these incredible light displays, which just so happened to coincide with the year’s best meteor shower. We’re in the middle of an intense geomagnetic storm! 🌎🧲💥 A series of solar eruptions arriving at Earth are triggering widespread auroras. Here’s what NASA space weather analyst Carina Alden saw last night as she traveled through Michigan and Wisconsin! https://t.co/KG5pvCdyit pic.twitter.com/qrpdkva4Vj — NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) August 12, …

Severe heatwave in Iran forces shops and public institutions to close | Iran

Severe heatwave in Iran forces shops and public institutions to close | Iran

Published by skeptic

A heatwave blanketing Iran has forced authorities to cut operating hours at various facilities on Saturday and order all government and commercial institutions to close on Sunday, as hospitals received more than 200 people for heatstroke treatment. Temperatures ranged from 37C (98.6F) to 42C (107F) in the capital, Tehran, according to weather reports. The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said banks, offices and public institutions across the country would close on Sunday to protect people’s health and conserve energy and that only emergency services and medical agencies would be excluded. Babak Yektaparast, a spokesperson for the country’s emergency department, told the semi-official Mehr news agency that 225 people had sought medical help for heatstroke and some had been admitted to hospital. Sadegh Ziaian, an official at the National Meteorological Organisation, was quoted by Mehr as saying temperatures exceeded 45C (113F) in 10 Iranian provinces on Saturday, with the highest temperature of 49.7C (121F) recorded in Delgan, the south-eastern city in Sistan and Balochistan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said a drop in …

A major sriracha shortage is on the horizon as severe drought conditions threaten pepper production

A major sriracha shortage is on the horizon as severe drought conditions threaten pepper production

Published by skeptic

Huy Fong Foods is halting production of its world-famous Huy Fong Sriracha amid severe weather that is threatening the brand’s supply of spicy hot peppers.  News of yet another sriracha shortage made headlines Wednesday, after the Washington Post published a dismal report on the iconic condiment that’s best known for its deep red hue and sweet yet garlicky taste. Turns out, the extreme drought conditions in Mexico — where Huy Fong’s red winter jalapeño peppers are grown — are causing pepper plants to stop ripening and preventing the crop from achieving their signature red color. According to a letter sent to wholesale buyers, the company said its peppers are still too green, which would alter the color of its brand name sriracha. Huy Fong has decided to cancel all shipments and pause production of its sriracha and related products (including the brand’s Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek) until the next chili harvesting season begins. That means production will be on pause until after Labor Day. “It’s a double-edged sword when the success of this particular …

Northern Lights could be visible in England and Wales as severe solar storm to hit overnight | UK News

Northern Lights could be visible in England and Wales as severe solar storm to hit overnight | UK News

Published by skeptic

The Northern Lights are set to be visible across the UK overnight as a huge solar storm is going to hit Earth. America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reportedly issued its first severe solar storm warning since 2005 yesterday as a huge geomagnetic storm races towards Earth – meaning it could be the most powerful experienced in almost two decades. It’s set to hit overnight, and could supercharge the Northern Lights, making them visible in Scotland, northern England and Wales and even further south if conditions are right. But the Aurora Borealis could also potentially interfere with infrastructure, including the power grid and satellites when it hits. See the latest weather forecast where you are Image: The Northern Lights pictured last month over Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland. Pic: AP X This content is provided by X, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable X cookies or to allow those …

Storms kill at least three in the Southeast, as severe weather set to continue

Storms kill at least three in the Southeast, as severe weather set to continue

Published by skeptic

Severe weather that has claimed the life of at least three people in the last 24 hours and destroyed homes across the South is set to continue, as forecasters warn of thunderstorms, flash flooding and possible tornadoes Thursday and into Friday. More than 200,000 energy customers were without power across southeastern states as of 6 a.m. ET Thursday, including 95,000 in North Carolina. One person was confirmed dead in Columbia, Tennessee, in a suspected tornado on Wednesday, as devastating winds brought down trees and power lines. Elsewhere a 22-year-old named as Bryce Edward Hentnick died when a tree fell onto his car in Claiborne County, north of Knoxville, NBC affiliate WSMV of Nashville reported. The same hazard killed one unidentified person in Gaston County, North Carolina, west of Charlotte, where a fallen tree trapped two people inside their car. A man uses a chainsaw to clear storm damage at a home along Cothran Road in Columbia, Tenn., on Wednesday.George Walker IV / AP A statement from Gaston County said that firefighters were called to the …

One killed in Oklahoma tornado as severe storms batter central and southern states

One killed in Oklahoma tornado as severe storms batter central and southern states

Published by skeptic

At least one person in Oklahoma has died as a result of a tornado that ripped through small towns, as severe storms moved from the South and into central areas, causing devastation and disruption to for millions. Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden told NBC News that the unidentified person died as a result of a tornado in Barnsdall, a city of about 1,000 people some 40 miles north of Tulsa, amid some of the storm’s worst devastation, on Monday night. Virden said it was too early to say how many others may have been injured but said his deputies had carried out multiple rescues. “There’s areas, residences that [have] been completely destroyed. We did several rescues of people trapped in debris,” he said. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said on X that it had established a meeting point in the town for anyone searching for loved ones. Bartlesville, 20 miles to the north-east, was similarly affected. A hotel in the town was severely damaged, as shown in social media posts uploaded by witnesses — firefighters were …

Severe weather leaves millions at risk as storms sweep across the South

Severe weather leaves millions at risk as storms sweep across the South

Published by skeptic

Following a week of heavy flooding which resulted in rescue crews pulling hundreds of people to safety, the Southeastern part of Texas is underwater. And more storms are expected to ravage other parts of the country, as the extreme weather outbreak rolls into its 6th week. This week, millions of residents from Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, Nebraska and Oklahoma are bracing for perilous conditions as they face tornadoes, 80 mph wind gusts, flooding and hail. Parts of Texas, like the Houston area, saw more than 500 rescues and evacuations in a matter of days. But a 5-year-old did not survive after being swept away by floodwaters in Johnson County, Texas, according to a Facebook post from Johnson County Emergency Management director Jamie Moore. Early Sunday morning, the child was with his mother and her husband when the three of them were overwhelmed by floodwaters as they searched for dry ground. The two adults were rescued and transported to a nearby hospital around 5 a.m. Lucas, however, did not survive and his body was recovered in the …

Russia Threatens West With Severe Response if Its Assets Are Touched

Russia Threatens West With Severe Response if Its Assets Are Touched

Published by skeptic

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian officials threatened the West on Sunday with a “severe” response in the event that frozen Russian assets are confiscated, promising “endless” legal challenges and tit-for-tat measures. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia would never cede territories seized from Ukraine in exchange for the return of frozen assets. “Our motherland is not for sale,” Zakharova wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “An Russian assets must remain untouched because otherwise there will be a severe response to Western thievery. Many in the West have already understood this. Alas, not everyone.” In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the United States and its allies prohibited transactions with Russia’s central bank and finance ministry and blocked about $300 billion of sovereign Russian assets in the West, most of which are in European not American financial institutions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a separate comment that there was still a lot of Western money in Russia which could be targeted by Moscow’s counter-measures. Photos You Should See – April 2024 The Latest Photos …