Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Updates

A long time has passed since the last post, longer than ought to happen on a blog, but here goes...

Translators without Borders has funding to extend a project to produce Ebola information in local languages, to more west African languages.  Thanks to the excellent HIFA2015 list for this information.

Avian influenza in the Netherlands - De Volkskrant reported yesterday cases in Niedersachsen, Germany, which borders the Netherlands.  It is H5N8.   The Dutch government is maintaining its English language page, which seems not to have any new cases in the country, but which has added information about adjusted government measures.

Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Avian influenza (Vogelgriep)

Just discovered this official Dutch government site, in (of course) Dutch, which has a complete record of the affected sites in the Netherlands,  (go to Overzicht or Inhoud, then Locaties vogelgriep), as well as news and links to official publications.  As well as sites where the virus has been found, it also lists places that have been investigated but nothing found, so not every place listed has had the virus.

I can find nothing new about avian influenza in the UK.  The UK government site about the discovery of the virus in Yorkshire was updated today (3rd December) but that seems to be relating to rules about transport of eggs.


Tuesday, December 02, 2014

Could I get Ebola?

I had already seen this Top 10 things you really need to know about Ebola from the CDC in the United States.  I was in two minds whether to blog about it, as some of the points it makes apply to the USA.  But, of course, the basic medical science applies everywhere.   And also, of course, you the reader might well be in the USA!

I mention it now because last night the BBC broadcast a television programme called "Could I get Ebola?", looking at how likely it is to spread to and  in the UK.  That programme has a similar approach to the CDC poster.  There are links from this iPlayer site to further resources from the BBC and elsewhere.  The programme presenter, Dr Chris van Tulleken, works at one of the hospitals that will receive Ebola cases and has been trained in the management of Ebola.

The basic conclusion of both is that, if you are in the UK or USA, the chances of catching Ebola are very very small and it is very very unlikely that you will catch it.  

The BBC have a regular News about Ebola slot - in addition to World Service radio programme, this also includes downloadable podcasts.