State officials not planning to test wastewater in New Mexico for avian flu

IRRESPONSIBLE & LAZY

Danielle Prokop
Thu, May 16, 2024 

An aeration basin at the Southside Water Reclamation Plant in Albuquerque. A CDC contractor tested for the presence of COVID-19 at this and four other sewer systems in New Mexico. New Mexico health officials say there are no plans at this time to test for avian flu in wastewater.

 (Courtesy Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority)

Experts around the country have called on federal officials to use wastewater testing for the avian influenza strain H5N1, which has broken out in more than 33 dairies across eight states, including New Mexico.

While there are only two documented cases of viral crossover to humans documented in the U.S. since 2022, scientists said that wastewater testing is a crucial tool in watching for emerging threats to public health, including avian flu.

Marc Johnson, a virologist at the University of Missouri, developed a probe to track avian flu in wastewater over a year ago, as he was concerned about avian flu spread in U.S. birds in 2022.

“What wastewater does is gives you an unbiased readout of a community. It will tell you what is circulating, whether it’s showing up in the clinic or not,” he said.

Testing for virus material in wastewater is often cheaper than commercial tests, because states are already collecting the samples, and it just means adding an additional test. He said the federal government or other health agencies could implement a probe and test for H5N1 in sewage. The fact that it has spread so widely in cows before, is cause for concern.

“I just want to know where we’re at. I am astounded that this got this far, and no one noticed,” Johnson said.

The H5N1 probe is currently not being used in his job, which includes wastewater surveillance for SARC-coV-2 and other influenza strains in wastewater in Missouri.

Instead, many communities are using flu probes, which would pick up all variants of Influenza A, including the specific avian flu strain H5N1. But that means even if detected, avian flu would be indistinguishable from other strains.

Without more specific testing, health officials “don’t know whether the signal was actually H5N1 or something else,” Johnson explained.

There’s a need to know how widespread avian influenza is, he said, and the current plan isn’t cutting it.

“Since we’ve already demonstrated our lack of ability to track this lineage using our standard surveillance, it seems prudent to expand the other types of surveillance,” Johnson said.

New Mexico health officials have no plans to implement further wastewater testing for H5N1, said State Public Health Veterinarian Erin Phipps with the Department of Health.

New Mexico has not been asked to be involved in any wastewater-testing plans for avian flu at this point, Phipps said, “although I am aware of many conversations happening amongst many different entities about wastewater.”

There is no standardized probe for avian flu, yet. Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas Health Sciences Center published preliminary findings using their own probe last week. They found H5N1 in wastewater samples from nine Texas cities.

“A variant analysis suggests avian or bovine origin but other potential sources, especially humans, could not be excluded,” the study stated. The data still needs peer-review.

Johnson, who is not involved with the Texas study, said there’s still more to learn from testing for the avian flu in wastewater.

“Most sewersheds in the United States are closed, and you don’t get a lot of wild bird feces in the sewage. But the concern that probes are detecting milk that’s been poured down the drain, or dairy byproducts, is legitimate,” he said. “You won’t know whether it’s circulating in humans or not just from wastewater.”

After several days’ delay, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a dashboard Tuesday, showing national wastewater data for Influenza A, since the past two weeks have shown higher levels of Influenza A in wastewater.

The data can’t tell us specifically how much of that is caused by the bird flu strain H5N1, which is currently indistinguishable from other types of Influenza A.

New Mexico has insufficient data to make any determination on Influenza A levels, according to the dashboard.
Protections for workers

The state has set up additional personal protective equipment for farmworkers in Curry County — where eight herds were confirmed to have been infected by avian flu — as well as in public health offices and the New Mexico State University Extension Office.

Local offices in Curry and Roosevelt counties were also supplied with tests for workers, as well as antiviral treatments for any positive cases.

Anyone who’s been exposed or had contact with an animal that is suspected or confirmed to have avian flu and has symptoms could be tested quickly, Phipps said.

While risk to the general public is still low, she said, people who come in close contact with birds or cows have a higher risk. If experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms and conjunctivitis — that’s a reddening of eyes — they can reach the department, she said, and test for avian flu.

As national wastewater testing expands, Texas researchers identify bird flu in nine cities

Susanne Rust
Thu, May 16, 2024 

As researchers increasingly rely on wastewater testing to monitor the spread of bird flu, some are questioning the reliability of the tests being used. Above, the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in Playa Del Rey. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)


As health officials turn increasingly toward wastewater testing as a means of tracking the spread of H5N1 bird flu among U.S. dairy herds, some researchers are raising questions about the effectiveness of the sewage assays.

Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says current testing is standardized and will detect bird flu, some researchers voiced skepticism.

"Right now we are using these sort of broad tests" to test for influenza A viruses in wastewater, said epidemiologist Denis Nash, referring to a category of viruses that includes normal human flu and the bird flu that is circulating in dairy cattle, wild birds, and domestic poultry.


"It's possible there are some locations around the country where the primers being used in these tests ... might not work for H5N1," said Nash, distinguished professor of epidemiology and executive director of City University of New York’s Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health.

Read more: What you need to know about the bird flu outbreak, concerns about raw milk, and more

The reason for this is that the tests most commonly used — polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests — are designed to detect genetic material from a specific organism, such as a flu virus.

But in order for them to identify the virus, they must be "primed" to know what they are looking for. Depending on what part of the virus researchers are looking for, they may not identify the bird flu subtype.

There are two common human influenza A viruses: H1N1 and H3N2. The "H" stands for hemagglutinin, which is an identifiable protein in the virus. The "N" stands for neuraminidase.

The bird flu, on the other hand, is also an influenza A virus. But it has the subtype H5N1.

That means that while the human and avian flu virus share the N1 signal, they don't share an H.

If a test is designed to look for only the H1 and H3 as indicators of influenza A virus, they're going to miss the bird flu.

Marc Johnson, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Missouri, said he doesn't think that's too likely. He said the generic panels that most labs use will capture H1, H3 and H5.

He said while his lab specifically looks for H1 and H3, "I think we may be the only ones doing that."

It's been just in the last few years that health officials have started using wastewater as a sentinel for community health.

Alexandria Boehm, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and principal investigator and program director for WastewaterSCAN, said wastewater surveillance really got going during the pandemic. It's become a routine way to look for hundreds if not thousands of viruses and other pathogens in municipal wastewater.

"Three years or four years ago, no one was doing it," said Boehm, who collaborates with a network of researchers at labs at Stanford, Emory University and Alphabet Inc.’s life sciences research organization. "It sort of evolved in response to the pandemic and has continued to evolve."

Since late March, when the bird flu was first reported in Texas dairy cattle, researchers and public health officials have been combing through wastewater samples. Most are using the influenza A tests they had already built into their systems — most of which were designed to detect human flu viruses, not bird flu.

Read more: Flu season is over, but there is a viral surge in California wastewater. Is it avian flu?

On Tuesday, the CDC released its own dashboard showing wastewater sites where it has detected influenza A in the last two weeks.

Displaying a network of more than 650 sites across the nation, there were only three sites — in Florida, Illinois and Kansas — where levels of influenza A were considered high enough to warrant further agency investigation. There were more than 400 where data were insufficient to allow a determination.

Jonathan Yoder, deputy director of the CDC's Division of Infectious Disease Readiness and Innovation, said those sites were deemed to have insufficient data because testing hasn't been in place long enough, or there may not have been enough positive influenza A samples to include.

Asked if some of the tests being used could miss bird flu because of the way they were designed, he said: "We don't have any evidence of that. It does seem like we're at at a broad enough level that we don't have any evidence that we would not pick up H5."

He also said the tests were standardized across the network.

"I'm pretty sure that it's the same assay being used at all the sites," he said. "They're all based on ... what the CDC has published as a clinical assay for for influenza A, so it's based on clinical tests."

But there are discrepancies between the CDC's findings and others'.

Earlier this week, a team of scientists from Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the Texas Epidemic Health Institute and the El Paso Water Utility, published a report showing high levels of bird flu from wastewater in nine Texas cities. Their data show that H5N1 is the dominant form of influenza A swirling in these Texas towns' wastewater.

But unlike other research teams, including the CDC, they used an "agnostic" approach known as hybrid-capture sequencing.

"So it's not just targeting one virus or one of several viruses," as one does with PCR testing, said Eric Boerwinkle, dean of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and a member of the Texas team. "We're actually in a very complex mixture, which is wastewater, pulling down viruses and sequencing them."

"What's critical here is it's very specific to H5N1," he said, noting they'd been doing this kind of testing for approximately two years, and hadn't ever seen H5N1 before the middle of March.

Blake Hanson, an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health and a member of the Texas wastewater team, agreed, saying that PCR-based methods are "exquisite" and "highly accurate."

"But we have the ability to look at the representation of the entire genome, not just a marker component of it. And so that has allowed us to look at H5N1, differentiate it from some of our seasonal fluids like H1N1 and H3N2," he said. "It's what gave us high confidence that it is entirely H5N1, whereas the other papers are using a part of the H5 gene as a marker for H5."

Boerwinkle and Hanson underscored that while they could identify H5N1 in the wastewater, they cannot tell where it came from.

"Texas is really a confluence of a couple of different flyways for migratory birds, and Texas is also an agricultural state, despite having quite large cities," Boerwinkle said. "It's probably correct that if you had to put your dime and gamble what was happening, it's probably coming from not just one source but from multiple sources. We have no reason to think that one source is more likely any one of those things."

But they are pretty confident it's not coming from people.

"Because we are looking at the entirety of the genome, when we look at the single human H5N1 case, the genomic sequence ... has a hallmark amino acid change ... compared to all of the cattle from that same time point," Hanson said. "We do not see that hallmark amino acid present in any of our sequencing data. And we've looked very carefully for that, which gives us some confidence that we're not seeing human-human transmission."

The Texas' team approach was really exciting, said Devabhaktuni Srikrishna, the CEO and founder of PatientKnowHow.com, noting it exhibited "proof of principle" for employing this kind of metagenomic testing protocol for wastewater and air.

He said government agencies, private companies and academics have been searching for a reliable way to test for thousands of microscopic organisms — such as pathogens — quickly, reliably and at low cost.

"They showed it can be done," he said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

CDC makes public influenza A wastewater data to assist bird flu probe

Reuters
Tue, May 14, 2024 at 9:38 AM MDT·2 min read

FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows test tubes labelled "Bird Flu" and U.S. flag


(Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday released data on influenza A found in wastewater in a public dashboard that could assist in tracking the outbreak of H5N1 bird flu that has infected cattle herds.

Last week, an agency official told Reuters about U.S plans to make public data collected by its surveillance system.

While the threat from the virus to people has been classified as low at this time, scientists are closely watching for changes in the virus that could make it spread more easily among humans.

Testing wastewater from sewers proved to be a powerful tool for detecting mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the week ended May 4, the agency's surveillance system did not show any indicators of unusual influenza activity in people, including the H5N1 virus. The virus has been detected among dairy cattle in nine U.S. states since late March.

The testing did detect unusually high levels of influenza A in Saline County, Kansas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed four herds tested positive in Kansas, the last on April 17. Neither Kansas nor USDA have posted the counties where the herds were located.

CDC said that it is actively looking at multiple flu indicators to monitor for influenza A, of which H5N1 is a subtype, including looking for signs of spread of the virus to, or among, people, in areas where it has been identified.

For monitoring influenza A virus in wastewater, CDC compares the most recent weeks of influenza A virus levels recorded at a wastewater site to levels reported between Oct. 1, 2023 and March 2, 2024 for that same wastewater site. Those at or above the 80th percentile are categorized as high.

However, the testing cannot identify the source of the virus or whether it came from an infected bird, human or milk.

"By tracking the percentage of specimens tested that are positive for influenza A viruses, we can monitor for unusual increases in influenza activity that may be an early sign of spread of novel influenza A viruses, including H5N1," the CDC said in its report.

The public database will allow individuals to check for increases in influenza A cases in their area, or spot any unusual flu activity.

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Julie Steenhuysen and Tom Polansek in Chicago; Editing by Bill Berkrot)


CDC launches new dashboard to track bird flu outbreak in your area

James Liddell
Wed, May 15, 2024

Dashboard maps US bird flu cases (CDC)


A new dashboard to monitor the spread of bird flu has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as rates rise among dairy cows across the US.

The health agency draws on data from wastewater sampling sites that have tested positive for influenza A.

The newly-curated dashboard, released on Tuesday, presents the data in map form and compares positive tests in a region to the same time last year.

As of 4 May, the dashboard shows that higher-than-average levels of the virus have been detected at 189 wastewater sites across the country.

Upticks, however, do not necessarily mean that bird flu has passed between animals and humans as type A cases of flu are prevalent and make up approximately 70 per cent of cases in people. According to the CDC, no unusual upticks in flu-like illnesses have been recorded in recent weeks.

The dashboard can’t yet distinguish whether high levels of the virus in wastewater indicate infections in humans, cows, birds or other animals.

The CDC is monitoring influenza A infections (CDC)

It follows an outbreak of bird flu strain H5N1, a subtype of influenza A that is circulating in cattle across the US. According to the dashboard, the risk of avian flu to the public remains low.

The US Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that it would pay farms $28,000 each to allow officials on-site to test cattle for bird flu to persuade more farmers to come forward.

One location in Saline County, Kansas, showed upticks of the avian flu for this time of the year. Four herds in Kansas tested positive in April, the CDC said.

It’s unclear whether the Kansas wastewater samples were limited to human waste or whether they included runoff water from farms.

“We’d really like to understand what might be driving that influenza A increase during what we consider the lower transmission season for influenza A,” Jonathan Yoder, deputy director of the CDC’s division of infectious disease readiness and innovation, told NBC.

According to the dashboard’s latest update on Tuesday, 42 herds in nine states had been affected. States include Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas.

The CDC is currently monitoring 260 people who have been exposed to dairy cows infected with H5N1. Thirty-three have been tested; one has been diagnosed with bird flu connected with the cattle outbreak.

On 1 April, a Texas dairy worker tested positive for H5N1 and later developed a severe case of conjunctivitis and has since recovered. He marks the second ever case recorded in the US, with spread from person to person never recorded.

As it stands, the risk to the general public is low, scientists say. While cases are rare, of the 873 humans that have been infected with H5N1 globally over the past 20 years, 458 have died, according to the World Health Organisation.

Symptoms in humans can range from non-existent to very mild, all the way through to death in the instance of severe disease, according to the CDC.


Seriously, don't drink the raw milk: Social media doubles down despite bird flu outbreak

Mary Walrath-Holdridge, 

USA TODAY
Tue, May 14, 2024 

No, seriously, don't drink that raw milk, despite what social media may continue to tell you.

Communities online have continued to push the rising trend of seeking out raw milk for consumption in the weeks following an update on the spread of bird flu in the U.S. earlier this month.

In a press conference on May 1, the CDC, FDA and USDA revealed that recent testing on commercial dairy products detected remnants of the H5N1 bird flu virus in one in five samples. However, none contained the live virus that could sicken people and officials said testing reaffirmed that pasteurization kills the bird flu virus, making milk safe to consume.

Even so, anti-pasteurization dairy advocates have continued their crusade online, with some saying they have begun to intentionally seek out milk contaminated with H5N1 to drink to "build up" what they believe will be a "tolerance" or "immunity" to the virus.

This continued insistence on consuming raw dairy, which was already a growing trend and concern prior to the avian flu outbreak, led the CDC to issue additional warnings last week, saying "high levels of A(H5N1) virus have been found in unpasteurized (“raw”) milk" and advising that the CDC and FDA "recommend against the consumption of raw milk or raw milk products."

Bird flu outbreak: Don't drink that raw milk, no matter what social media tells you
Raw milk fans, influencers ignore FDA, CDC warnings

Raw milk has also made headlines separate from bird flu in recent months, with local health agencies putting out warnings about specific products. In Pennsylvania, officials advised those who purchased raw milk from April through early May to discard it due to Campylobacter contamination, while Washington saw an E. Colio outbreak linked to raw milk earlier this year.

Even so, those who believe the science-backed practice pasteurization, which has been used for over 100 years, is unnecessary or even harmful have continued to question such warnings, with advocacy groups like "A Campaign for Real Milk" and the "Raw Milk Institute" putting out responses claiming that illness and deaths linked to the consumption of raw milk, as well as research into the presence of H5N1 in milk, is all a "lie" or inaccurate.

The spread of these claims has led experts to express concern for consumers who may be exposed to or convinced by these messages, as the consumption of raw milk can be especially dangerous for the elderly, children, pregnant people and those with compromised immune systems.

Here's what to know about pasteurization and what it does to the products we consume:

Close up of raw milk being poured into container at dairy farm.

Chicken owners: Here's how to protect your flock from bird flu outbreaks
What is pasteurization and why is it important?

Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to a high enough temperature for a long enough time to kill harmful germs, according to the CDC.

The process of pasteurization became routine in the commercial milk supply in the U.S. in the 1920s and was widespread by the 1950s. As a result, illnesses commonly spread via milk became less prevalent.

While misinformation about the process has led some to believe that pasteurized milk is less nutritious or better for people with lactose intolerance, pasteurization does not significantly compromise the nutritional value or content of milk. In some states, selling raw milk directly to a consumer is illegal.

Raw milk pouring from the pot to milk strainer filter and flowing in to the milk boiling pan or pot.
What can happen if you consume raw dairy?

Raw milk can carry a host of harmful bacteria, including:

◾ Salmonella

◾ E. coli

◾ Listeria monocytogenes

◾ Campylobacter

◾ Coxiella burnetii

◾ Cryptosporidium

◾ Yersinia enterocolitica

◾ Staphylococcus aureus

◾ Other foodborne illness-causing bacteria

Part of the process of making dairy products in modern dairy factory is pasteurization, or the heating of milk to kill bacteria.

The presence of these can cause a variety of health issues and ailments, including:

◾ Listeriosis

◾ Typhoid fever

◾ Tuberculosis

◾ Diphtheria

◾ Q fever

◾Brucellosis

◾ Food poisoning

◾ Miscarriage

◾ Guillain-Barre syndrome

◾ Hemolytic uremic syndrome

◾ Reactive arthritis

◾ Chronic inflammatory conditions

◾ Death
Why are some social media users still pushing unpasteurized milk and dairy?

Fringe ideas of health, wellness and nutrition have become easily widespread and somewhat popular with social media.

On TikTok, many homesteading, "tradwife," "all-natural" and other self-proclaimed wellness influencers push the idea of raw milk, presenting the idea that less intervention of any kind in their food is better.

Some also claim that they have been drinking it for years without illness, that they believe drinking it has cured their lactose intolerance and other health conditions, or that the raw milk contains vital nutrients and ingredients that are done away with by pasteurization.

These claims have all long since been debunked, according to agencies including the FDA, USDA and CDC.

Some big (and controversial) names including Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have even publicly touted their consumption of raw milk, pushing the misinformation mentioned above. While some cite an overall distrust of government regulations involving food, some appear to believe they are helping others improve their health or are prone to sharing anecdotal evidence.

Comments under these videos include many justifications for drinking raw milk, from "if government says it's bad for you, there's hidden health benefits they don't want you to know," to "would it help with gut health that's been wrecked by antibiotics?" to sharing phone numbers and information on where to buy it under the table.

Others also have products they're looking to sell, whether that's the milk itself or some form of nutrition/wellness/diet plan or supplement.

Some established names, such as famous author and online creator John Green, have also taken to social media platforms like TikTok to tackle these claims head-on, with many making direct responses to popular videos promoting the consumption of raw milk.

While others, like self-identified dieticians, doctors and scientists have brought their expertise to social apps in an attempt to quell the trend, though it is a common issue for users to discern who is truly qualified and who is not in such posts.

Even without concerns about bird flu, the consumption of raw milk is a well-documented risk that can and does lead to serious health consequences. The recent outbreak of H5N1 is simply another reason to ensure you are drinking properly treated milk and remaining vigilant when making decisions about food safety, experts say.

No matter how magical and all-healing users on social media claim raw milk to be, it is important to remember that science says differently.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Raw milk might not be good for you, even if social media doubles down

How fast is bird flu spreading in US cows? ‘We have no idea’

Nathaniel Weixel
Wed, May 15, 2024 


Avian flu is spreading rapidly among cattle, but public health and infectious disease experts are concerned the United States is too limited in its testing, leaving an incomplete picture of the virus’s spread.

The threat to the general public is currently low, health officials say, and the country’s milk supply is safe. Just one person has been infected.

“It’s critical that we are well-positioned to test, treat, prevent this virus from spreading. I think that’s clear in everything we’re saying,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told reporters recently.

But the outbreak is widespread; officials have found the virus in 42 herds across nine states. Dairy farm workers are at risk every time they are exposed to potentially infected cattle, and viral mutations could cause an outbreak, experts warn.

Cases are potentially being missed, either in people, cattle or both. In past avian flu outbreaks in other parts of the world, the virus typically kills about half the people it infects.

But even if this strain doesn’t pose a significant risk to the public, many experts see the response as the biggest test of pandemic preparedness since COVID-19.

“There are opportunities that have been missed that we could have absolutely applied from the COVID experience. I think there’s still time. We’re not in trouble yet,” said Erin Sorrell, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Bird flu was first detected in dairy cows in March, though data from viral samples showed it had been circulating in cattle for at least four months prior. That’s concerning to some experts, who said there could have been widespread human exposure and asymptomatic spread among dairy workers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring at least 260 people for symptoms and has tested at least 30 for novel influenza A, the broad category of flu that includes H5N1. Only one positive case has been identified, a farmworker in Texas who has since recovered.

Farmers have been reluctant to allow federal health officials onto their land to test potentially infected cattle amid uncertainty about how their businesses would be impacted.

Farmworkers have also been reluctant to participate in screening, and experts said it’s likely due to a mix of fears over job loss, immigration status, language barriers and general distrust in public health systems.

“They are socioeconomically vulnerable. … In some circumstances, it kind of requires the buy-in of the employer to engage in surveillance of these workers. And that hasn’t happened in a substantial way to date,” said Jessica Leibler, an environmental epidemiologist at Boston University’s school of public health.

Exposure does not necessarily mean infection, but the more workers who are exposed to potentially infected cattle, the greater the risk. Each new infection in mammals provides the opportunity for the virus to mutate.

“Without testing, without surveillance, we have no idea [of the spread],” Sorrell said. “We are not able to essentially move forward with an improved approach to protecting agricultural workers from occupational exposures if we don’t understand how they were exposed, and the potential risk of additional people being exposed and infected.”

A federal order from the end of April requires mandatory testing of dairy cattle herds, but only if they are crossing state lines. CDC workers can’t conduct investigations without an invite from state or private landowners, and the agency doesn’t have the ability to require states to test within their own borders. Becerra said the CDC is engaged in ongoing discussions with multiple states about setting up field investigation.

Stacey Schultz-Cherry, an expert in animal influenza at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said those limitations are a hindrance but officials should be able to find workarounds, such as wastewater testing.

“There are ways to do surveillance and testing on samples that can’t or maybe don’t have to be traced back to a particular area or particular farm, because people are going to be very sensitive about it,” she said.

Federal officials have been working with state veterinary and agricultural officials to do outreach to dairy farmers and producers and emphasize the need to cooperate with federal health investigations.

“It is important for the public health officials at the state level, or the state veterinarians, or state ag officials, for us, to essentially communicate that it’s in the long-term best interest of the industry and all of us to make sure that we have as much information as possible,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters in a recent briefing.

“Producers obviously look at this circumstance and they see this as an animal health issue … so they may not fully appreciate and understand the approach that public health officials need to take in the circumstance,” Vilsack said.

The agency is also for the first time offering financial incentives for farms impacted by avian flu, including reimbursement for lost milk supply from infected cows.

William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University school of medicine, said dairy industry producers and workers don’t have the same relationship with public health as the poultry and egg industry does.

“This is new for them; they’re more edgy and concerned,” Schaffner said. “All these diplomatic overtures and discussions are going on and are being led at the local level, because that’s where personnel are more comfortable. COVID developed a political veneer, and that impeded public health. That legacy still exists, and that may influence some of the caution in the dairy industry.”

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 

What you need to know about the bird flu outbreak, concerns about raw milk, and more

Susanne Rust
Wed, May 15, 2024 

A California Department of Food and Agriculture technician performs a culture swab on a rooster to test for avian influenza. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)


There is a bird flu outbreak going on. Here is what you need to know about it:
What is bird flu?

Bird flu is what's known as a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. The "highly pathogenic" part refers to birds, which the virus is pretty adept at killing. In virology speak, the virus is of the Influenza A type, and is called H5N1. The "H" stands for the protein Hemagglutinin (HA), of which there are 16 subtypes (H1-H16). The "N" is short for Neuraminidase (NA), of which there are 9 subtypes (N1-N9). There are many possible combinations of HA and NA proteins. The two known type A human influenza viruses are H1N1 and H3N2. (Two additional subtypes, H17N10 and H18N11, have been identified in bats).

When did this bird flu first appear?

The current strain of H5N1 circulating the globe originated in 1996, in farmed geese living in China's Guangdong province. It quickly spread to other poultry and migrating birds. By the early 2000s, it had spread across southern Asia. By 2005, it was observed in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. In 2014, it showed up in North America, but appeared to peter out here while it still raged in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In 2021, it showed up in wild birds migrating off Canada's Atlantic coast. Since then, it has spread across North and South America.

Read more: Bird flu spreads to Southern California, infecting chickens, wild birds and other animals

What kinds of animals does bird flu effect?

Birds are the primary carriers and victims of the virus. Across the globe, hundreds of millions of wild and domestic birds have died. Since 2021, hundreds of U.S. poultry farms have had to "depopulate" millions of birds after becoming infected, presumably from sick, migrating wild birds. The virus is highly contagious among birds and has a nearly 100% fatality rate. Mammals, too have been infected and died. In most cases, these are scavenging or predatory animals that ate sick birds — and the virus has died in these animals and not become contagious between them. So far, 48 species of mammals have become infected. However, there have been a few cases in which it appears the virus may have spread between mammals, including on European fur farms, on a few South American beaches where elephant seals came to roost, and now among dairy cattle in the United States.

Read more: California wildlife is vulnerable to an avian flu ‘apocalypse.’ What is driving the spread?

Can humans get bird flu?

Since 2003, when the virus first started spreading through southern Asia, there have been 868 cases of human infection with H5N1 reported, of which 457 were fatal — a 53% case fatality rate. There have been only two cases in the U.S. In 2022, a poultry worker was infected in Colorado and suffered only mild symptoms, including fatigue. In 2024, a dairy worker was infected in Texas and complained only of conjunctivitis, or pink eye.
Why is everyone paying attention to dairy cows?

On March 25, 2024, officials announced that dairy cows in Texas had been infected with bird flu. Since then, the virus has been found in 36 herds across nine states. There are no known cases in California. It is believed that there was a single introduction of the virus from wild bird exposure (either by passive exposure, or maybe from eating contaminated feed), that probably occurred in December in Texas. The virus has since been detected in milk. A study conducted by federal researchers found that 1 in 5 milk samples collected from retail stores had the virus. It is believed that the virus may be passing between cows and that there may be cows that show no symptoms. For the most part, it seems dairy cows only suffer mild illness when infected, and milk production slows. They clear the virus after a few weeks.

Read more: 'Nobody saw this coming'; California dairies scramble to guard herds against bird flu

Is it safe to drink milk?

Yes — if it is pasteurized milk. Federal officials say the virus they have detected in pasteurized milk samples is inactive and will not cause disease. In the case of raw milk, they urge people to avoid it. That's because they have found high viral loads in raw milk samples. In addition, studies of barn cats that have consumed raw milk have reported severe consequences. In one cluster of 24 barn cats, half of them died after consuming raw milk, with others suffering blindness, neurological distress and copious nasal discharge. The virus has not been found in sour cream or cottage cheese.

Read more: Despite H5N1 bird flu outbreaks in dairy cattle, raw milk enthusiasts are uncowed

What's the situation with wastewater?

As health officials and researchers scramble to understand how widespread avian flu is in cattle and the environment, they are analyzing municipal wastewater. One team from Emory University and Stanford University looked at 190 wastewater treatment sites in 41 states. They found a surge of Influenza A virus in the last several weeks at 59 sites. This does not necessarily mean there is bird flu at these sites. However, in places where the team has gone to investigate — including three in Texas where they knew there was H5N1 in dairy cattle — they have found bird flu. Influenza A is generally seasonal in humans — peaking from late fall to early spring. The surge the researchers noticed — including at several sites in California — started after the flu season had died down. Researchers in Texas have also detected H5N1 in the wastewater of nine of 10 cities they tested, all located in Texas. The CDC is also monitoring for Influenza A at roughly 600 sites across the nation.

Read more: Flu season is over, but there is a viral surge in California wastewater. Is it avian flu?

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Northern Ireland Assembly supports calls for an independent environment agency

Shauna Corr
Mon, 13 May 2024 

Campaigners calling for an independent environment agency ahead of Stormont debate -Credit:Justin Kernoghan


Stormont's environment minister has been urged to bring forward legislation to establish an independent environmental protection agency for Northern Ireland.

Campaigners gathered outside Stormont ahead of Monday's Assembly debate on a motion put forward by opposition party the SDLP.

In 2020’s New Decade New Approach deal, it was promised “the Executive will establish an Independent Environmental Protection Agency” to oversee issues like the climate crisis, plastic pollution and our transition to a zero-carbon society.

Read more: Belfast cllr wants minister to reinstate higher fines for farm pollution

But instead of forming a specific body here, former DAERA minister Edwin Poots instead opted to bring Northern Ireland under the UK Office for Environmental Protection.

While the OEP is investigating NI issues like ammonia advice to councils it has not been able to probe DAERA’s environmental assessment regime because of funding cuts.

Campaigners, environmental NGOs and some politicians have long been calling for an independent EPA to fully hold government to account on all environmental issues, including the crisis now facing Lough Neagh.

The SDLP’s motion urged the Assembly to “declare an ecological and biodiversity crisis” and acknowledge and address ongoing issues like agricultural run-off, wastewater infrastructure, invasive species and address Lough Neagh management.

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone ‘moved the motion’. He said: “It’s with some disappointment that I bring forward this motion today.... because we should have had an independent environmental protection agency in place already.”

He said the SDLP has supported an independent environmental protections agency for around 20 years and hit out at DUP opposition to the group and a UUP amendment to the motion, adding: “What’s strange is that the Ulster Unionist Party used to support an independent environmental protection agency.”

Tom Elliot moved an amendment for the UUP calling for a review of agencies already in place. He said he welcomes the motion and that the party has not changed its position.

He added: “All I’m asking is that we have a proper organised and structured review to see what agencies we don’t need.

“It’s going to take a lot more than an independent EPA to stop... blue green algae... or indeed getting the sale of Lough Neagh from a private owner.”

The chamber heard how NI’s water quality has been declining since 2015 while species numbers are declining and natue is under increasing pressure.

Linda Dillon spoke in support of the motion for Sinn Fein, saying: “Declines in biodiversity are intrinsically linked to climate change.”

She added: “Establishing an independent environmental protection agency... is the right thing to do.

“The OEP is simply not fit for purpose as an environmental watchdog here.”

The DUP’s Michelle McIlveen supported the UUP’s amendment calling for a review of bodies already in place, she added: “Before we add another body on top of what we have, we need to have a proper review of our environmental governance.

“Only then can we make a determination on where the gaps are and how those can best be filled.”

Alliance Party’s John Blair said they are “content to support the motion” and that every policy and pratice impacting Lough Neagh should be reviewed - including sand dredging which was approved by an SDLP minister.

He added: “Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK and Ireland without an independent environmental protection agency.”

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said: “The reason we need an Independent Environmental Protection Agency is simple.

“People do not trust Stormont to hold those poisoning Lough Neagh and elsewhere to account.”

Friends of the Earth led the calls outside Stormont for an independent EPA.

Its director, James Orr, said: “We have been waiting over 20 years for legislation to be brought before the Assembly and we can’t wait any longer. Our land, water and soils are at breaking point.

“Communities who love where they live are losing faith in politics.

“We are at a crossroads. There can be no more excuses.

“The Minister must introduce legislation to the Assembly without delay.”
Minister responds

Patsy McGlone introducing his motion

Stormont’s Environment Minister, Andrew Muir, says he has been a long time advocate of an independent environment agency in NI but that “good environmental governance is more than a single issue... and taking a whole system approach”.

He says his officials have completed a report on the issue which he is currently considering.

In relation to the issues facing Lough Neagh, he said he requested the reallocation of resources within his department to ensure prioritisation of efforts to tackle its environmental problems.

He added: “I received £1.6 million of capital (funding in the budget) but I didn’t receive any resource, so the budget allocation to my department was disappointing, but I’m not going to just stop there.”

“What I’m doing is engaging officials to see how we can reallocate resources within the department so we can put the necessary resources into this area.

“We need to invest in turning the situation round in Lough Neagh.”

The minister said ownership models are being explored for the lough and that he prefers a community ownership model. He told the Assembly he has commissioned scientific research to assess the effect of removing sand from Lough Neagh.

The amendment fell and the motion passed.

Federal government announces new initiatives to monitor, prevent bird flu

By Ernie Mundell, HealthDay News

The illness is typically not fatal in bovines, but monitoring and prevention on the nation's farms is costly, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the aid will make it cheaper and easier for farmers to deal with H5N1 when it is discovered infecting a herd.

 Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News


H5N1 avian flu is now infecting U.S. dairy cows and the federal government on Friday announced myriad initiatives aimed at preventing the virus' mutation and spread in humans.

The illness is typically not fatal in bovines, but monitoring and prevention on the nation's farms is costly, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the aid will make it cheaper and easier for farmers to deal with H5N1 when it is discovered infecting a herd.

"Today, USDA is announcing assistance for producers with H5N1 affected premises to improve on-site biosecurity in order to reduce the spread," the agency said in a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services. "In addition, USDA is taking steps to make available financial tools for lost milk production in herds affected by H5N1."

USDA also wants to safeguard the health of dairy workers, who could become human reservoirs for the H5N1 virus.

Right now, its very tough to transmit bird flu person-to-person, and only one human, a Texas dairy worker, is known to have contracted a (mild) case of the disease during the latest outbreak.

But the threat of H5N1 mutating inside people so that it can be easily transmitted weighs heavily on the minds of infectious disease experts. That's because -- in the rare cases around the world where it has occurred -- the illness has killed half of those infected.

So, USDA said it plans to now give $2,000 "per affected premises per month" to supply personal protective equipment to farm staff to help keep H5N1 infection in people at bay.

Money will also be earmarked to help train farm workers in biosecurity, and to cover the costs of protecting people such as milk haulers, veterinarians, feed truckers and AI technicians who often move between various farms.

Another $2,000 will be earmarked to help farms pay for "heat treatment to dispose of milk in a bio secure fashion," USDA said. "Heat treatment performed in accordance with standards set by FDA is the only currently available method considered to effectively inactivate the virus in milk."

Finally, $10,000 per farm will be budgeted to pay for veterinary bills incurred because of the need for H5N1 monitoring and testing, and for the care of infected cows.

"Taken together, these tools represent a value of up to $28,000 per premises to support increased biosecurity activities over the next 120 days," USDA and HHS said in a joint statement.

Compensating farmers

If milk is deemed to be at risk for infection and must be dumped, USDA will help "compensate producers for loss of milk production," the agency said.

"While dairy cows that have been infected with H5N1 generally recover well, and there is little mortality associated with the disease, it does dramatically limit milk production, causing economic losses for producers with affected premises," the USDA said.

The agency also plans to put in place safeguards that would limit the movement of dairy herds state-to-state, to help prevent the spread of H5N1.

"USDA will make $98 million in existing funds available ... to fund these initiatives," the agency said. "If needed, USDA has the authority, with Congressional notification, to make additional funds available."

Viral monitoring

The Department of Health and Homeland Security has also earmarked more than $101 million to better understand and help fight H5N1.

"Public and animal health experts and agencies have been preparing for avian influenza outbreak for 20 years," the agency said. "Our primary responsibility at HHS is to protect public health and the safety of the food supply, which is why we continue to approach the outbreak with urgency."

H5N1 outbreaks in animals will be closely monitored, and there will also be "CDC monitoring of the virus to detect any changes that may increase risk to people," HHS said.

"CDC has also asked health departments to distribute existing PPE stocks to farm workers, prioritizing those who work with infected cows," the agency added.

Additional CDC funding totaling $93 million is targeted "to bolster testing and laboratory capacity, surveillance, genomic sequencing, support jurisdictions and partner efforts to reach high risk populations and initiate a new wastewater surveillance pilot," according to the news release.

This will include the production of "one thousand additional influenza diagnostic test kits (equaling nearly around one million additional tests) for virologic surveillance."

Another $14 million is earmarked to further the genomic sequencing of viral strains by the CDC. It's especially important to "analyze circulating H5N1 viruses to determine whether current Candidate Vaccine Viruses (CVVs) would be effective and develop new ones if necessary," the news release said.

Finally, $3 million in extra funding is being targeted to more widespread and better testing of wastewater -- a valuable tool in monitoring the development and potential spread of new strains of H5N1.

More information

Find out more about avian flu at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Police present but not enforcing injunction at Alberta oil blockade

The Canadian Press
Wed, May 8, 2024 



PEACE RIVER, Alta. — Police are present at a blockade of an oil lease road in northern Alberta but say they aren't enforcing an injunction for members of a local First Nation to clear the site.

"We are aware of the situation, and we have dispatched resources to speak with both parties," said RCMP Cpl. Mathew Howell.

"We have not gone into an enforcement capacity. We're trying to get both parties to the table."

On Monday, a judge issued an injunction for members of the Woodland Cree First Nation, north of Peace River, to clear a road used by Calgary-based Obsidian Energy. The blockade was first set up in February and Obsidian says it needs the road to conduct maintenance on a pipeline site.

"This work is time-sensitive as it must be completed prior to break up and the imposition of road bans," say court documents filed by Obsidian.

Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom said the dispute began last year. He said the First Nation was taken by surprise when Obsidian announced plans for about 200 new wells without consulting the band ahead of time.

"They do have to talk to us," he said, speaking from the blockade site where protesters were finishing up a lunch of moose ribs.

"In meaningful consultation, you start out in a respectful way — not coming at us saying, 'We're going to do this whether you like it or not.'"

He said the band isn't opposed to development and has agreements with other energy companies in the area.

But he said the band has concerns about their traditional territory becoming a "checkerboard" of development. The band is also concerned about earthquake activity caused by Obsidian's work.

"We still haven't had clarity there," the chief said. "Is this something that's going to infiltrate our groundwater?"

The Alberta Energy Regulator issued an environmental protection order against Obsidian in March 2023 for causing a series of earthquakes, including the largest recorded tremor in the province's history.

Obsidian says it has a right to the road and that the site is not on the band's reserve.

Spokeswoman Susan Soprovich referred to a company statement issued in February suggesting the band is trying to strong-arm the company into granting it a monopoly on work at Obsidian's sites.

That statement quotes CEO Stephen Loukas saying, "We cannot accept their unrealistic terms that amount to a monopolistic relationship as our sole provider of certain services and as a collector of commissions for incremental services already provided to us by other companies.

"In addition to limiting our ability to operate independently in the area, their proposal is not beneficial to our stakeholders, including our shareholders, local communities and other Indigenous groups.”

Loukas said Obsidian has good relationships with other First Nations. He added the company disagrees with the regulator's conclusions on what caused the earthquakes.

Laboucan-Avirom said the accusations from Loukas are overstated and the band isn't looking for a monopoly.

"Why do they have to exaggerate? We appreciate good healthy competition."

He said Obsidian is threatening to withhold work from band members as a lever to pry concessions from its leadership.

"We're not going to be intimidated on our own land."

Laboucan-Avirom said the band remains willing to talk.

"I don't want another take it or leave it," said the chief.

"We need to know what's ahead of us. Because we know what's behind us."

— By Bob Weber in Edmonton

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2024.

First Nation protest camp in northern Alberta served with court injunction

CBC
Wed, May 8, 2024 

Members of the Woodland Cree First Nation have erected a camp blocking access to drilling leases in northern Alberta. (Submitted by Paul Lavoie - image credit)


Protesters occupying a camp established by a First Nation in northern Alberta to defy drilling operations on its traditional lands have been ordered to vacate.

The camp — a tipi and tents flanked by rows of trucks lining the road 75 kilometres east of Peace River, Alta. — is Woodland Cree First Nation's latest effort to oppose Obsidian Energy's expansion plans.

The camp is the latest development in an increasingly tense conflict between Woodland Cree and Obsidian after the operator was blamed for a string of earthquakes in the region.

The First Nation says it is owed meaningful consultation and final authority over what industrial development occurs on its traditional lands. Company officials say it has consulted with the WCFN and the Indigenous community has no such veto rights.

The camp was established Sunday near the Harmon Valley South field in Peace River, immediately south of Woodland Cree First Nation — cutting off an access road to Obsidian lease sites.

Protesters are now under orders to leave. Obsidian company officials were granted an injunction Monday in the Court of King's Bench against the Woodland Cree First Nation and people occupying the camp.

'We're intending to stay'

Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom was formally served notice by a court bailiff who arrived at the camp the following morning. The court injunction prohibits protesters from intimidating workers and from blocking access to the drill sites. RCMP may be called in to enforce the order if the court determines that police assistance is needed.

As of Wednesday morning, around 80 people remained at the camp.

Laboucan-Avirom said the community will continue to assert their rights. The camp will remain until negotiations with Obsidian resume, he said.

"We're intending to stay," Laboucan-Avirom told CBC News in an interview Tuesday evening. "This is our traditional land."

Laboucan-Avirom said his members are concerned about the cumulative impacts on their traditional lands and the risk of additional industry-caused earthquakes if Obsidian's drilling operations intensify.

"If they want to work in our territory, they're going to have to do that work with respect for the people and the land," he said.

The First Nation community has repeatedly called on the Calgary-based company to halt its expansion plans. WCFN initially raised concerns about the company's activities on their territory four months ago.

In February, the First Nation erected its first protest camp, urging Obsidian company officials to address a series of earthquakes in the region in 2022 and 2023. The Alberta Energy Regulator found that Obsidian had caused the seismic events by disposing of industrial wastewater underground.

The protests had resolved but after talks between the company and First Nation broke down, and plans for an expansion ramped up, the new camp was established by band members.

An aerial view of the camp established by Woodland Cree First Nation to call for a halt to Obsidian Energy's expansion plans in the Peace region of northern Alberta.

An aerial view of the camp established by Woodland Cree First Nation to call for a halt to Obsidian Energy's expansion plans in the Peace region of northern Alberta. (Submitted by Paul Lavoie)

Obsidian produces around 6,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 20 per cent of its total production, from assets in the Peace River region, some of which are within Woodland Cree territory.

Obsidian recently told shareholders that it plans to increase production by 12 per cent this year and focus most of its drilling program on the Peace River region.

Laboucan-Avirom said the First Nation wants to work with industry but Obsidian has not complied with its legal obligations. The First Nation is seeking legal advice on next steps if Obsidian doesn't engage in negotiations, he said.

"I'd rather work with industry and the provincial governments, but if they're forcing me into a corner, I will have to [pursue] a legal challenge."

'Unrealistic terms'

An environmental protection order issued by the AER in March, 2023 blamed the company's operations for inducing a string of seismic events in the region and ordered the company to improve its monitoring and mitigation plans.

Obsidian is appealing the environmental protection order and a review is pending. In a statement to CBC, company officials say operations continue to comply with all regulatory obligations.

"We have unfortunately reached a negotiating impasse with WCFN's senior leadership," Stephen Loukas, Obsidian's president and chief executive officer said in a statement.

"Obsidian Energy has informed WCFN's senior leadership that we cannot accept their unrealistic terms that amount to a monopolistic relationship."

Loukas said the company is open to meeting with WCFN leadership. But regardless of the outcome,the company can pursue existing regulatory approvals to proceed with expansion in the region, he said.

"WCFN does not have a veto right, only a requirement for consultation regarding development on traditional lands ... We have employed the WCFN for services and consulted with them on a number of matters over the years, including agreeing to meet with them to discuss any environmental, health and safety concerns."

RCMP have described the camp as peaceful. In an interview, RCMP Cpl. Mathew Howell said police are hoping the protest will resolve before they're called to enforce the order.

Laboucan-Avirom is hopeful too that arrests can be avoided.

"I'd rather get this resolved sooner than later," he said. "But we will be out here as long as we have to."

Half of Gaza Water Sites Damaged or Destroyed

Photo by Planet Labs
Asharq Al Awsat
01:21-10 May 2024 

AD ـ 02 Thul-Qi’dah 1445 AH

Hundreds of Gaza's water and sanitation facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Israel began military action against Hamas, satellite analysis by BBC Verify has found.

Damage to a major supplies depot has also severely disrupted repairs.

The lack of clean water and flows of untreated sewage pose a serious threat to health, say aid agencies.

The destruction comes despite Israel's duty to protect critical infrastructure under the rules of war, unless there is evidence sites are being used for military reasons, say human rights lawyers.

Clean water has always been a limited resource in Gaza and the territory has largely relied on a system of boreholes and desalination plants for its supply.

BBC said in its report found that more than half of these vital facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Israel launched its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas attacked on 7 October.

It also said that four of the six wastewater treatment plants - crucial to preventing the build-up of sewage and the spread of disease - have been damaged or destroyed. The two others have shut down because lack of fuel or other supplies, according to one aid agency.

The plants were among more than 600 water and sanitation facilities that we analysed, using a list of locations provided by Gaza's Coastal

In one satellite image, of Khan Younis in the south of Gaza, two damaged large water storage tanks can be seen.

The destruction of water and sanitation facilities has led to "disastrous health consequences for the population", said Dr Natalie Roberts, executive director of Medecins Sans Frontieres UK.

"The rates of diarrhoeal disease have gone catastrophically high," she said.

In very severe cases, such disease can kill young children and the vulnerable. Rates of hepatitis A - found in contaminated water and particularly dangerous for pregnant women - are also high, according to the charity.

"This is killing people," Dr Roberts said.

There is a particular spike in disease in Rafah in the south where many Gazans have fled to, Dr Roberts said, and a risk of cholera.

There has been widespread damage to buildings across Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October.
According to the UN, about 69,000 housing units have been destroyed and a further 290,000 damaged.

Japan-Russia tensions flare over Ukraine war amid decades-long land disputes

May 08, 2024 
By Chermaine Lee

In this undated photo, a turret from an old tank set in the ground as a part of war fortifications in front of a lighthouse near Yuzhno-Kurilsk on Kunashiri Island, one of the Kuril Chain, known as the Northern Territories in Japan.

SAPPORO, JAPAN —

Friction between Japan and Russia will likely escalate amidst the burgeoning Ukraine war, with the decades-long land conflicts showing no sign of thawing.

The Kremlin recently banned non-Russian vessels from waters near the Kuril Islands – known in Japan as the Northern Territories – currently occupied by Russia but claimed by Japan.

Tokyo saw the move as part of a series of Moscow threats after the recent security alliance between the United States and Japan.

There will be further retaliation from Moscow against Japan, according to James DJ Brown, professor of political science at Japan’s Temple University.

“The Putin regime feels an obligation to retaliate against what it regards as unfriendly actions by Japan,” Brown told VOA News. “Every time Tokyo does something more to assist Ukraine or to strengthen military ties with the United States, Moscow takes some measures to punish Japan.”

He said that as Japan is likely to introduce further sanctions to support Kyiv, Moscow’s retaliation is “all but guaranteed.”

The retaliatory measures aren’t just targeting Tokyo. A Russian man residing in the Kuril Islands was warned in March by a Russian court over his remarks to Japanese media that the territory had belonged to Japan in the past.

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would visit the Kuril Islands, putting a damper on hopes for negotiations over sovereignty that both countries have attempted for decades.

Kuril Islands

Land disputes run deep

Russia and Japan’s competing claims over the four islands off the northeast coast of Hokkaido – Japan's second-largest island – date back to at least the 19th century. Near the end of WWII, the then Soviet Union started fully occupying the Kuril Islands.

Japan claimed that the Soviet Union incorporated them “without any legal grounds” and refused to sign a peace treaty. Tokyo said about 17,000 Japanese residents were deported from the islands. The Russian public, Brown said, view the Kuril Islands as reward for the sacrifices of the Soviet people during the war.

The two countries have held talks off and on for decades to reach an agreement but to no avail.

The conflict eased in 2016, when the two countries agreed on joint economic activities including tourism projects on the islands, as well as visa-free visits for Japanese citizens.

Two years later, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed a split of the four islands, returning two islands to Japan, but Putin rejected it. Akihiro Iwashita, professor of the Slavic-Eurasian Research Center at Japan’s Hokkaido University, called this Putin’s “failed diplomacy” toward Japan that eventually led to Tokyo taking a more hardline approach against Moscow.

“If Putin had shown goodwill to Japan, negotiating with Shinzo Abe for the peace treaty, Japan would not have taken a critical position over the Ukraine war,” Iwashita told VOA News. “Remember Japan’s hesitation to sanction Russia after its 2014 aggression against Ukraine? Japan now does not need to restrain its policy towards Russia.”

Tensions over the Ukraine war

Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow put all peace treaty talks with Japan on hold and suspended the previously agreed economic activities and visa-free visits to the islands for Japanese citizens. This followed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s siding with Ukraine in the war, with Kishida calling the suspension “extremely unjust.”

Japan has been providing assistance to Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, including supplying Patriot air defense systems last year. Kishida was the first Japanese leader to visit an active war zone, to show solidarity with Ukraine and the U.S.

Moscow warned of “grave consequences” for its ties with Tokyo. That did not stop Japan from pledging $4.5 billion in aid to war-torn Ukraine last December, including $1 billion for humanitarian purposes.

Japan’s aid to Ukraine has affected residents of Hokkaido. A survey conducted by Hokkaido authorities and the Hokkaido Shimbun last year showed that over half of the respondents near the Russia-Japan border in the north felt a negative effect of the Ukraine war on local life, including reduction in fishing activities and trade, and human contacts.

In October last year, Russia banned all seafood imports from Japan, citing Tokyo’s release of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

“Moscow used the pretense of the threat of radiation from treatment water from the Fukushima plant. In reality, it was an attempt by Moscow to punish Japan for its support for Ukraine,” Brown said.

In the survey, many also said they cannot foresee a solution for the northern territories, but a majority said they support Tokyo’s policy against Russia.

Both experts said Russia does not currently pose a military threat to Japan. Brown said, “the Russian military is present on the disputed islands, but their role is to defend the Sea of Okhotsk, which is important as a bastion for Russian nuclear submarines. It does not have the capabilities on the islands to launch an amphibious assault on Hokkaido.”

Peace treaty negotiations are expected to continue to be frozen for the foreseeable future, despite Kishida’s calls for their resumption in February this year.

“Kishida is displaying diplomatic goodwill towards Russia, but with no expectations of it being reciprocated…There is little room to fill the interest gap between the two,” said Iwashita.

He added that Russia’s pressure on Japan “will not lead to any results.”

Deadly dam failures: Cause, effect and prevention

Zulfikar Abbany

ublished September 20, 2023 last updated May 3, 2024

No dam is flood-proof, as flooding after days of heavy rains in southern Brazil has shown. But dam failure needn't be deadly. Here's what you need to know.

Dam failure is not just for war zones: After heavy rain in Norway, a dam at Braskereidfoss broke in August 2023. Communities down stream had been warned and evacuated.

Image: Cornelius Poppe/NTB Scanpix/AP/picture alliance


Dams are built to hold back water and put it to use for irrigation or creating electricity. But around the world, thousands of dams are in need of repair. Many have been too weak to protect local communities amid sustained heavy rains.

More than 300,000 people in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul region, for example, were left without electricity when a dam at a hydroelectric power plant burst May 2, 2024.

In late April 2024, a dam collapsed north of the Kenyan capital Nairobi after heavy rains and flooding. Water levels had been described as a "historic high".
Dams do collapse: The warning signs are there

It's becoming a regular occurrence. When the Abu Mansour and Derna dams collapsed during Storm Daniel's attack on Libya, the cries came fast: We've been warning about this for years, said the experts. If there's a flood, they said, it will be catastrophic for the residents living below. And so it was: Thousands were thought to be dead in the immediate aftermath.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed concerns about two further Libyan dams — the Jaza Dam, between Derna and Benghazi, and the Qattara Dam near Benghazi — citing "contradictory reports" over the dams' stability.

Contrary reports about the stability of dams is not unique to Libya. There were allegations of contrary reports in Brazil after a mining dam at Minas Gerais failed. It collapsed in January 2019, causing a toxic mudslide that killed 270 people — one year after a Brazilian subsidiary of a German risk assessment firm, TÜV SÜD, had certified the dam to be safe.

What is a dam and why do we build them?

A dam is a way to gather and store water. That can be natural water or wastewater from a nearby mine — if it's water from a mine, people talk of dams containing "mine tailings". Mine tailings can be a mix of materials, metals, chemicals and liquid waste leftover when ore is mined.

Dams can also be used to store up water for irrigation and as a supply of water for livestock, pollution control, energy generation and, if the water is safe, for recreation.

How are dams made and how do they resist water pressure?

There are two main types of constructed, human-made dams: embankment and concrete dams.

Embankment dams are the most common and can be made with waste from mining or milling operations. But they are also made of natural soil and rock that is compacted to create a containment area, or reservoir, for the water.

Its ability to contain the water — or resist pressure from the water — depends on the mass weight, strength and type of materials used to build the dam.


Concrete dams are divided into three subtypes: gravity, buttress and arch dams.

Gravity dams are the most common concrete dams. They are made of vertical concrete blocks and sealed with flexible joints. The pressure of the water hits the dam wall and is forced downwards.

Buttress dams are similar to gravity dams in their shape, but they require less concrete. The forces of the water are diverted down to the foundation of the dam along sloping buttresses.

Arch dams look like a semi-circle or ellipse from above. The wall, which tends to be constructed with vertical slabs of concrete, can be relatively thin. The pressure of the water is carried sideways into abutments.

Dams can also be made with steel and timber.

How do you stop dams from overflowing?

That's the thing — sometimes dams do break and overflow, causing massive flooding, destruction and death. It can wipe out access to roads, food and vital services.

But it is possible to control "overtopped" dams, with outlet works and spillways.

Outlet works can allow a constant stream of water into a river below the dam, for instance, or into a hydroelectric power system, or release it for farm irrigation.

Spillways, meanwhile, are often open chutes or shafts where the water flows out when its level gets high enough to enter an opening.

Dams are human-made structures used to collect and control water, such as at Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a massive hydropower plant.

Image: Minasse Wondimu Hailu/AA/picture alliance

Why do dams fail?

One of the most common causes for dam failure — that's when the dam breaks in an uncontrolled way — is their age.

In 2021, the United Nations University published a report indicating that "tens of thousands of existing large dams have reached or exceeded an 'alert' age threshold of 50 years, and many others will soon approach 100 years."

The Brumadinho dam at Minas Gerais was built in 1976, which means it was approaching the end of its lifespan. And Libya's Abu Mansour and Derna dams were also built in the 1970s — so, while Storm Daniel triggered their failure, they may have been ready to fail, anyway.

But dams also fail due to poor design and irregular maintenance.

Overtopping can occur if a spillway design is inadequate and can't cope when there's heavy rainfall. The spillway may get blocked over time, too.

The older a dam gets, the more its foundation can experience a natural process called settling. Slopes surrounding the dam can become unstable, and if the original construction materials start to erode, it can cause seepage.

There are other natural causes of dam failure, including earthquakes, floods, extreme weather and landslides.

And then there are the effects of war — bombings and intentional sabotage.
How do you prevent dam failure?

Here's the long answer: ensure regular maintenance and apply engineering advice and recommendations, but also design a good emergency strategy for the event of a dam failure in your area and make sure everyone knows about it.

Because, and this is the short answer as the US Federal Emergency Management Agency puts it, "no dam is flood-proof."

Edited by: Carla Bleiker

This article was originally published September 20, 2023. It was last updated on May 3, 2024, to reflect developments in Brazil and Kenya, where dams collapsed after sustained heavy rains and flooding.

Zulfikar Abbany Senior editor fascinated by space, AI and the mind, and how science touches people

 

Canada expanding surveillance, testing milk for H5N1 avian flu amid U.S. dairy cattle outbreak

Changes announced Friday night follow scientists' concerns about unprecedented spread of virus in cows

Lauren Pelley · CBC News · Posted: May 03, 2024 

Workers from the Animal Protection Ministry cull chicks to contain an outbreak of bird flu at a farm in the village of Modeste, Ivory Coast, in 2015. Canadian officials said Friday the country would expand its surveillance for a dangerous form of avian flu H5N1 avian flu amid an outbreak of the disease in U.S. dairy cattle. (Luc Gnago/Reuters)

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Federal officials say Canada is expanding its surveillance for a dangerous form of avian flu amid a growing outbreak of H5N1 in U.S. dairy cattle, with monitoring efforts now set to include testing of milk being sold on store shelves.

The Friday night update comes just days after leading Canadian researchers questioned the country's response to the unprecedented spread of the virus among cows south of the border — including the discovery of viral fragments in processed milk.

"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada are monitoring this situation closely and would like to reassure Canadians that commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume," said the CFIA in its statement.

Milk from dairy cows in Canada goes through pasteurization before being sold, a heating process that neutralizes harmful pathogens like bacteria and viruses. 

As noted by the CFIA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced its latest research shows  pasteurization is indeed effective in inactivating H5N1, even when fragments of the virus remain.

• Scientists warn Canada 'way behind the virus' as bird flu explodes among U.S. dairy cattle

• CBC EXPLAINS
  Is milk safe to drink? Can you catch bird flu from beef? What to know about H5N1 cattle outbreaks

The CFIA had previously said that the agency was not testing any milk, but announced on Friday that Canada will now be "conducting enhanced testing of milk at the retail level" to look for any viral fragments that could signal cases appearing in dairy cattle here.

This form of avian flu is a reportable disease in Canada, the statement continued, which means anyone suspecting a case in animals, including poultry or livestock, must report it to the CFIA. Confirmed and probable human cases are also reportable to PHAC.

While Canada hasn't had any human cases to date, tens of millions of birds have been infected by the virus, including poultry on various Canadian farms.

In its statement, the CFIA said Canada is also expanding its surveillance to manage the "possible emergence" of avian flu in cows by requiring negative test results for lactating dairy cattle being imported from the United States to Canada and "facilitating the voluntary testing of cows" that aren't presenting with any symptoms.

Speaking to CBC News in recent days, multiple Canadian scientists have also called for random testing of farm workers, wastewater surveillance and other proactive measures to try to catch potential H5N1 infections as quickly as possible.

WATCH | Bird flu surveillance in dairy cows lacking in Canada, scientists warn:

As the U.S. deals with an unprecedented outbreak of bird flu in dairy cattle, scientists say Canada must do more to monitor the spread of H5N1.

Several did commend the CFIA for taking more action through its latest update.

"All the data from the [U.S.] so far suggests that this outbreak has been spreading quietly in cattle for months and has spilled back into birds and other species, including humans. It's critical that we make every effort to determine if we are facing a similar situation in Canada," said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist with the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.

"Active surveillance and safeguarding our food safety is critical to containing this emerging threat and I'm relieved that both CFIA and PHAC agree that is a priority."

• SECOND OPINION
  Why dangerous bird flu is spreading faster and farther than first thought in U.S. cattle

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist with the University Health Network in Toronto, also called Friday's announcement "a step in the right direction."

"Given the significance of H5N1, I would have thought there would be a more rapid, proactive, and broad approach to case detection," he said.

A dead gannet in Point Lance, N.L., during an outbreak of avian influenza. While Canada hasn't had any human cases of H5N1 to date, tens of millions of birds have been infected by the virus, including poultry on various Canadian farms. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)

So far, avian influenza has been reported in 36 dairy cattle herds across nine U.S. states, plus one human case in Texas linked to the outbreaks, though scientists say there are likely more animal and human infections that haven't yet been identified.

"If the CFIA becomes aware of any potential food safety or animal health risks, immediate actions will be taken to help protect Canada's food supply and livestock," the agency's statement noted.  

"These measures complement the existing comprehensive and integrated approach to human surveillance of influenza in Canada, and will inform and support the range of ongoing preparation actions undertaken by PHAC with its partners to protect human health."