More on the Pandemic with the Potential for Food Riots and More for Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Yes, we know some of the media attention to the Pandemic is overblown, and we voted as such on CNN.com's website today. But, our senior editor did happen to lose an aunt during the 1918 flu pandemic - whom he was too young to know, and consequently never met. But the impact of the swine flu is very real, and pandemics present a very real issue of mass fatalities - sometimes in the millions. Supposedly, the 1918 pandemic took 25 million lives, maybe more, maybe less. We're hoping this flu mutates quickly into a non-lethal version (see the link below), and peters out with minimum loss of life. But, pointedly, Dr. Fukuda - is his amazingly boring public statement on the level 4 Pandemic - did not mention that possibility. Or was that simply left out?

Of course, as pointed out by Jack Cafferty on CNN yesterday (sigh, we admit to actually watching Mr. Cafferty from time to time, out of shear boredom...) that 36,000 deaths/fatalities occur each year due to the flu out of an infection rate of some 200,000/annum. The point being, we guess, that the situation is serious, not dreadful. But then, we keep reviewing in our mind, Dr. Fukuda's utterly dreadful video presentation of yesterday regarding the level 4 alert. And we wonder, does the WHO know something we don't?

But, something else that really troubles us is the potential for food riots in the near term. Is the world actually facing a $ 100 million (+ or -) shortfall in world food supplies? Will the pandemic balance out this problem? Or, what exactly should we be hoping for? Remember the news/media stories on food shortages before the global economy went bust? That story just didn't go away - it is still a very serious, real issue.

Swine Flu: Public Health Emergency Declared

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427155739.htm

Public Health Emergency (United States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_health_emergency_(United_States)

Canadian health officials warn against travel to Mexico

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/04/28/health-canada-mexico865.html

Best swine flu strategy: Stay away, everyone

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30442914/

U.S. flu victims may not just be travelers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

Health chief to be confirmed amid crisis

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30450143/

Kathleen Sebelius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Sebelius

More Countries Confirm Swine Flu

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8022437.stm

As Swine Flu Scare Unfolds, Virologist Underscores Need For Research On Animal Pathogens

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427170304.htm

NZ reports first swine flu cases

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8021915.stm

UK prepared for swine flu - Brown

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8021916.stm

Europe braced for spread of flu

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8022958.stm

Israel finds first swine flu case

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8022340.stm

Swine flu spreads to Asia, Middle East

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30398682/

Some Mexican ill say doctors turned them away

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30434921/

N.B. not prepared for swine flu pandemic: Moncton microbiologist

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2009/04/28/nb-pandemic-microbiologist-548.html

Mathematical Model Used To Explain Viral Extinction

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090424073905.htm

Salmon Virus With Potential For Change

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090421091737.htm

Infectious salmon anaemia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_salmon_anaemia

DNA Of Uncultured Organisms Sequenced Using Novel Single-cell Approach

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090422103739.htm

Engineered maize's vitamin boost

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8020925.stm

Zea mays

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zea_mays

Science cash 'to beat food riots'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8020589.stm

Food security

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_security

UK funds sea acidification study

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8021459.stm

Ocean acidification

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_acidification


How Ear Translates Vibrations Into Sounds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423132955.htm

Human ear

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_ear


Biological Basis For The Eight-hour Workday?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423132952.htm

Eight-hour workday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-hour_day

Oldest known Sumatran tiger dies at zoo

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30386447/

Panthera tigris sumatrae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthera_tigris_sumatrae

Identifying Hyenas By Their Giggle

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090426094329.htm

Crocuta crocuta

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocuta_crocuta

Large Sponges May Be Reattached To Coral Reefs

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090427144825.htm

Anthozoa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthozoa

Porifera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porifera

Live-in Domestics: Mites As Maids In Tropical Rainforest Sweat Bee Nests

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090420121348.htm

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_mite

Chihuahua blown one mile by wind gust

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30448774/

Chihuahua

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chihuahua_(dog)

Cell phone found in belly of 30-lb cod

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/04/28/klekamp.cod.cell.news12nj

Gadus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadus

Zero Emissions Motorcycle Gears Up For The Big Race

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090424073909.htm

Zero emissions vehicle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-emissions_vehicle

Rocket Chemical in Baby Formula and Cattle Rustling? and More for Friday, April 3, 2009

CDC: Rocket fuel chemical found in powdered baby formula

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1052958

Rocket fuel chemical found in baby formula

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30028134/

Perchlorate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchlorate

Arctic sea ice could be gone in 30 years, study finds

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1052977

US to be 'pragmatic on climate'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7980441.stm

Endangered whales on the rebound?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/03/right.whale.rebound/index.html

Eubalaena glacialis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_Right_Whale

Study: False killer whales declining off Hawaii

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090403/ap_on_sc/false_killer_whales;_ylt=AscEHKeENONOmEBzBguApTas0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlbWp1YWlxBHBvcwMxMDYEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl9zY2llbmNlBHNsawNzdHVkeWZhbHNla2k-

Pseudorca crassidens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_Killer_Whale

Judge sides with environmentalists in wolf case

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090403/ap_on_sc/endangered_wolf;_ylt=AmJEt6.z.hFbwaFmM8AsXE2s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFlbnVrbG84BHBvcwMxMDcEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl9zY2llbmNlBHNsawNqdWRnZXNpZGVzd2k-

Canis lupus baileyi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Gray_Wolf

Modern cattle rustlers update Wild West ways

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29979871/

Cattle Rustling

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_Rustling

Plants and animals crowd the equator

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30013410/

Call of duty: Nova Scotia MPs guide beaver to Ottawa River

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/04/03/ns-eyking-beaver.html

Castor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castor_(genus)

Ottawa River

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_River

Counting species on the riverbank

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7980423.stm

No Sponge In Human Family Tree

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090402124316.htm

Porifera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponge_(animal)

Bees brains morph to avoid mid-life crisis, study finds

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090403/sc_livescience/beesbrainsmorphtoavoidmidlifecrisis;_ylt=AvEAp2w6oPByEckTlDdlaCWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNmOGV1anU5BGFzc2V0A2xpdmVzY2llbmNlLzIwMDkwNDAzL2JlZXNicmFpbnNtb3JwaHRvYXZvaWRtaWRsaWZlY3Jpc2lzBGNwb3MDMTAEcG9zAzE5B

Turning Back The Clock To Save The Bramley Apple

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090324081617.htm

Malus domestica 'Bramley's Seedling'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bramley_(apple)

N.J. warns 3,000 to get tested for hepatitis B

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30014025/

NY county ban on baby bottle chemical is official

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090402/ap_on_re_us/baby_bottle_ban;_ylt=Av4Ho4dlPLGXc4FbEXVoJIqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFkYzZobDg5BHBvcwMxNDIEc2VjA2FjY29yZGlvbl9oZWFsdGgEc2xrA255Y291bnR5YmFubw--

FDA eyes N.Y. firm in pistachio recall probe

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30014823/

Scientists prove human heart can regenerate cells

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre53166p-us-heart-cells/

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre53166p-us-heart-cells/

Healing Heart Attack Victims, One Cell At A Time

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090402163721.htm

Light-activated 'Lock' Can Control Blood Clotting, Drug Delivery

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090330200607.htm

Omega-3 Kills Cancer Cells

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090401200441.htm

Quails Get Super Fit By Simply Eating Omega-3 Diet

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090327072756.htm

Omega-3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3

Phasianidae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phasianidae

High Prevalence Of Infection With Three Recently Discovered Human Polyomaviruses

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090326215052.htm

Polyomavirus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyomavirus



Poultry And Diabetics At Risk From Gas Gangrene Bug

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090329205449.htm

Clostridium perfringens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clostridium_perfringens

Sleep May Help Clear Brain For New Learning

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090402143503.htm

House approves FDA control over tobacco

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30012946/

New Drug To Curb Smoking Shows Positive Results

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090331091428.htm

Varenicline

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varenicline

Smoking Cessation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_cessation

Light-activated Antibacterial Coating Is New Weapon In Fight Against Hospital-acquired Infections

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090330200617.htm

First Accurate Test For Arsenic In Soil Developed

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090401183822.htm

Arsenic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic

White Wine Can Make Tooth Stains Darker

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090401164037.htm

For Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Archaeopteryx image licensed under Creative Commons by ideonexus

Study Of Disease Risk Suggests Ways To Avoid Slaughter Of Yellowstone Bison

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090112201017.htm

Possible mammoth tusk found on Calif. island

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28651028/

Santa Cruz Island

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_Island

Might Migrating Birds Have Infected The Svalbard Arctic Fox With Parasites?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081222113524.htm

Vulpes lagopus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Fox

High-tech Imaging Of Inner Ear Sheds Light On Hearing, Behavior Of Oldest Fossil Bird

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090113201350.htm

Archaeopteryx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx

Contamination fears over two-headed Australian fish

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090114/sc_afp/environmentaustraliafish;_ylt=AhOP9ScVUc0wNGwFZIOisncPLBIF

Black abalone latest endangered species in Pacific

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090114/ap_on_re_us/black_abalone;_ylt=AjNjz3_Q1ACIvFIaW0LiOrwPLBIF

Haliotis cracherodii

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_abalone

Voracious Sponges In Caves Save Reefs

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090113100111.htm

Challenge to plant methane link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7827106.stm

World 'needs radical cuts' on CO2

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7826994.stm

Nearly A Century Later, New Findings Support Warburg Theory Of Cancer

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090112093334.htm

Of Mice And Peanuts: A New Mouse Model For Peanut Allergy

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090112201218.htm

Peanut allergy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_allergy