Dengue Fever Outbreak Prompts State of Emergency in Brazil City

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[January 21, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

State of emergency declared in Brazil’s Campo Grande as dengue fever infection becomes epidemic

Thousands of people have contracted dengue fever, a mosquito-born viral infection, in Brazilian cities of Campo Grande, in the southern state of Mato Grosso do Sul, and Vitoria, in Espiritu Santo state.

• Thousands of suspected cases have been also been reported in Paraguay, especially across the border from Mato Grosso do Sul state, where the disease has killed about a dozen people.

• Brazil health authorities say recent extreme rains events have increased the reproduction of the Aedes mosquito which transmits the potentially lethal disease.

Global Impact: The incidence of dengue fever infection continues growing globally, especially since 2009, putting at least half of the world’s population at risk.

Aedes aegypti, aka the yellow fever mosquito, is a vector for transmitting several tropical disease viruses including dengue fever, Chikungunya (CHIKV) and yellow fever.

This 2006 photograph depicts a female Aedes aegypti mosquito as she acquires  a blood meal from her human host, the biomedical photographer, James Gathany, at the Centers for Disease Control.  Dengue fever is caused by four virus strains spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. (Photo Credit: James Gathany/University of Notre Dame).

Related Links

• Chikungunya Makes West Nile Look Like Nappy Rash September 19, 2009
• Disease Emergence and Resurgence of Infectious Diseases‎ July 3, 2011
• State of emergency in Marshall Islands as dengue outbreak spirals October 29, 2011

• Dengue fever toll climbs to 162 October 4, 2011
• Mutant Mosquito Swarms to Be Unleashed in Florida December 8, 2012

M7.2 Quake Strikes Vanuatu

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Vanuatu about 215 km NNW of Luganville, Espiritu Santo

The mainshock was followed by at least 4 aftershock, the largest of which measured 6.4Mw.

10-degree Map Centered at 15°S,165°E

EQ Location Map. Source: USGS. Enhanced by Fire-Earth

EQ Details:

• Magnitude: 7.2
• Date-Time
  • Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 17:14:48 UTC
  • Friday, May 28, 2010 at 04:14:48 AM at epicenter
• Location: 13.710°S, 166.507°E
• Depth: 36.1 km (22.4 miles)
• Region: VANUATU
• Distances :
  • 215 km (135 miles) NNW of Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
  • 340 km (210 miles) SSE of Lata, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Isl.
  • 485 km (300 miles) NNW of PORT-VILA, Efate, Vanuatu
  • 2070 km (1290 miles) NE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
• Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 8.6 km (5.3 miles); depth +/- 21.2 km (13.2 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: us2010wubj

Related Links:

• Strong Earthquake Strikes Southern Sumatra

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Tropical Cyclones Now Come in Pairs

Tropical Cyclones 19P and 20P

Two Active Tropical Cyclones Roam the South Pacific, a Third System May Form Soon (probability in 48 hours ≥ 50 percent—Fire Earth Forecast)

MTSAT-1R image showing the locations of TC 20P and TC 19P in the South Pacific ocean.  Click Image to update.

Tropical Cyclone 20P Currently Over Espiritu Santo,  Vanuatu

Forecast Details on March 12 at 06:00UTC
Position: 14.3S 165.6E
Max Sustaind Winds: 75km/hr (~ 40 kts)
Wind Gusts: 90km/hr (~ 50 kts)
Movement: 270 degrees
Forward Speed: 9km/hr (~ 5 kts)
Location: Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
Sources: JTWC, Digital Typhoon, CIMSS and others.

Visible/IR images of TC 20P Close to Vanuatu. Source CIMSS. Click Images to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone 20P Currently NW of Western Samoa

Visible/IR images of TC 19P NW of Western Samoa. Source CIMSS. Click Images to enlarge.

Details on March 12 at 03:00UTC

Position:  10.7S 177.4W
Max Sustained Winds:  ~ 70km/hr
Wind Gusts: 90km/hr (~ 50 kts)
Movement: 260 degrees
Forward Speed:  ~ 12km/hr (07 kts)
Location: 890km  (485 NM) WNW of Pago-Pago
Sources: JTWC, Digital Typhoon, CIMSS and others.

Related Links:

• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Strong Quake Strikes Vanuatu – March 4

Strong Earthquake Measuring Up to 6.6Mw Strikes 210 km N of Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

The quake struck at a depth of about 180km on Thursday, March 04, 2010 at 14:02:30 local time.

The mainshock was preceded by a Magnitude 5.0 foreshock.

Location
The epicenter was located at 13.616°S, 167.135°E, USGS said.

Tsunami Status
The hypocenter of this event was located too deep below the ocean floor to cause  a significant tsunami.

10-degree Map Centered at 15°S,165°E

EQ Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Image Edited and Enhanced by FEWW.

The quake occurred near 3 volcanoes: Gaua (80km), Suretamatai (40km) and Motlav (60km).

Gaua has been active sporadically since September 2009.

According to Global Volcanism Program website

On 29 January, the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory reported significant changes in Gaua’s activity over the previous two weeks. They noted that since 16 January more gas was emitted and multiple explosions produced denser and darker ash plumes. During 22-29 January, the water level in the river to the E that Lake Letas feeds rose 10 cm. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 3 km and drifted S and W. On 24 January nearby villagers reported seeing ejected material from Strombolian activity. The Wellington VAAC reported that on 27 January an ash cloud was seen on satellite imagery. Strong explosions were seen and heard from East Gaua on 29 January. According to the VAAC, the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory reported that gas-and-ash plumes rose to altitudes of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S and W that same day.

Fire-Earth Moderators believe Gaua could resume activity in the coming days.

Related Links:

• Chile Earthquake Links Page
• FEWW Earthquake Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links

Large Earthquakes Strike South Pacific

Large Earthquakes Measuring Up to 8.2 Mw Strike Vanuatu, Santa Cruz Islands

FEWW had forecast up to 3 additional large quakes in the PRF

Large earthquake measuring up to 8.2 Mw struck Vanuatu region, south of Lata, Santa Cruz Islands, on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 22:03 UTC  immediately followed by another shock measuring up to 8.1 Mw, and at least seven aftershocks, with the largest two measuring up to 7.6 Mw and 6.3 Mw respectively.

• FEWW Moderators believe many more massive aftershocks could occur in the region.
  

• Megaquakes should also be expected in this and other regions.
  

10-degree Map Centered at 15°S,165°E

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW

Earthquake Details

• Magnitude:  8.2 as estimated by FEWW  [downgraded by USGS/EHP to M7.8]
• Date-Time:
  • Wednesday, October 07, 2009 at 22:03:15 UTC
  • Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 09:03:15 AM at epicenter
• Location: 13.052°S, 166.187°E
• Depth:  35 km (21.7 miles)
• Region: VANUATU
• Distances:
  • 260 km (160 miles) S of Lata, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Isl.
  • 295 km (180 miles) NNW of Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
  • 785 km (490 miles) ESE of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
  • 2100 km (1310 miles) NE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 7.6 km (4.7 miles); depth fixed by location program
• Parameters NST=169, Nph=169, Dmin=>999 km, Rmss=1.32 sec, Gp= 50°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=6
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: us2009mlcf

Tsunami Warning

NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said “a tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.”

NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI had issued a tsunami watch which was later canceled with the following evaluation:

BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA THERE IS NO DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THREAT TO THE STATE OF HAWAII. THEREFORE THE TSUNAMI WATCH FOR HAWAII IS CANCELED.

HOWEVER, SOME COASTAL AREAS IN HAWAII COULD EXPERIENCE SMALL NON-DESTRUCTIVE SEA LEVEL CHANGES AND STRONG OR UNUSUAL CURRENTS LASTING UP TO SEVERAL HOURS. THE ESTIMATED TIME SUCH EFFECTS MIGHT BEGIN IS 0650 PM HST WED 07 OCT 2009

THIS WILL BE THE FINAL MESSAGE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED.

FEWW Forecast the seismic events

• Up to 3 More Large EQs Could Strike the Pacific Ring of Fire in 2009

• Deadly Earthquake Strikes Java, Indonesia
• Latest Earthquakes Magnitude 5.5 +