Latest news with #VHF
Iraqi News
a day ago
- Health
- Iraqi News
Around 95 cases of VHFs were recorded in Iraq
The Ministry of Health announced new official statistics on hemorrhagic fever - VHF cases and deaths on Tuesday in Iraq. "The latest statistics issued by the Ministry's Public Health Department showed that 95 cases of VHFs have been recorded since the beginning of the year, including 13 deaths. The last week saw no deaths, but only infections," said the Ministry's official spokesperson, Saif Al-Badr, to the Iraqi News Agency - INA. He explained that "all cases were recorded among livestock breeders, butchers, and those working in the field of raising, transporting, and slaughtering animals." The Ministry recommended purchasing meat only from authorized slaughterhouses, storing meat at very low temperatures, and cooking it at very high temperatures, with special tools for cutting it, calling for "referring to the nearest healthcare facility when the initial symptoms of the disease appear, which include high fever, fatigue, and physical pain." "If the diagnosis of the disease is delayed until bleeding from body orifices or under the skin, the likelihood of complications and death increases. Early detection has previously contributed to saving dozens of cases," highlighted Al-Badr. He emphasized that "all Ministry of Health institutions in Baghdad, the governorates, and the Kurdistan Region are equipped to diagnose VHFs through specialized laboratories. There are also isolation wards designated for those infected or suspected of being infected until the diagnosis is confirmed." The Ministry of Health circulated awareness messages through the media, including posters and short, animated awareness videos. Al-Badr asserted that "the epidemiological situation is under control, and the disease is being monitored daily by the Minister of Health, the Public Health Department, and technical teams."
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Unexplained ship collision off UK coast triggers race for clues
By Jonathan Saul LONDON (Reuters) - A collision involving a tanker carrying jet fuel for the U.S. military and a container ship off Britain's coast is an unusual incident that raises questions over what went wrong despite safety measures in place, three shipping and insurance sources said on Tuesday. The U.S.-flagged chemical tanker Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-flagged Solong container vessel were still burning on Tuesday, a day after an unexplained collision during the morning that left the tanker with a gaping hole in its side. Neither vessel is expected to sink. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. So far, little is known about what took place. One of the sources -- all of whom are maritime specialists including insurers with knowledge of collisions at sea -- described the episode as unique, and said it was strange that the Solong had not slowed down. But authorities would be able to begin addressing questions about the incident when they got hold of the vessels' voyage data recorders, the source said. Both vessels would have been fitted with several technological aids including two radar systems, automated radar plotting aids, the public AIS ship tracking systems as well as VHF radios for contact with coastal authorities, another of the sources said. The Stena Immaculate tanker was built in 2017 and underwent a safety certification survey in 2023 with its next renewal due in 2027, shipping data showed. The Solong, built in 2005, has its next safety certification survey up for renewal in October, data showed. Shipping sources said such disasters were rare off Britain's coast: one the biggest involved the Sea Empress, which went down on the rocks off Milford Haven on Britain's west coast in 1996 that saw over 70,000 tonnes of oil spilled. Stena Immaculate's manager and owner both said the container ship hit the tanker when it was at anchor, while the owner of the Solong has described the incident as a collision. RIGOROUS SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE The shipping sources said AIS tracking data and navigational details indicated that the Solong was sailing at 16 knots, close to its maximum of about 18 knots, and that the vessel had sailed many times through the waters where the crash took place. While the location of the incident off Britain's Humber area close to the North Sea is known for its rougher weather depending on the season, rigorous safety measures are in place around UK waters, including steps to ensure navigation at times of restricted visibility. A third source, who like the others declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue, said such incidents were not unusual globally but this one was "spectacular" because fire broke out on both ships. In April 2021, a tanker carrying around one million barrels of bitumen mix was involved in a collision near the Chinese port city of Qingdao during heavy fog, spilling oil into the Yellow Sea. The shipping sources said the first steps following Monday's incident would be to deal with any personal injuries or loss of life, and managing the consequences of any pollution. The crews of both vessels were safe after being rescued, although the British government's working assumption is that one sailor from the Solong was dead, British maritime minister Mike Kane told lawmakers in parliament. Stena Bulk, which owns the tanker, said on Tuesday that the expertise of search and rescue teams had been "invaluable throughout this challenging situation". British police arrested a man on Tuesday on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the collision and authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the cause of the collision. The sources said that while the incident still had to be investigated, there were procedures in place which would at least provide a framework. Britain was a sophisticated coastal state, good at managing casualties and with top tier insurers involved in this incident, the third source said. Data from the non-profit advisory body ITOPF on oil spills shows that the number of spills globally in 2024 reached six large spills and four smaller ones, versus 18 in 2009 and over 100 for much of the 1970s.
Zawya
11-02-2025
- Health
- Zawya
World Health Organization (WHO) Donates Essential Medical Equipment to Combat Marburg Outbreak in Tanzania
In the face of the ongoing Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in Kagera, Tanzania, frontline health workers and local communities have received vital support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners through the provision of over 3 tons of essential medical supplies, including Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) kits, ultrasound machines, blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, and equipment worth 30,000USD to help care for ill patients. The kits, containing essential medical supplies, are part of an effort to bolster the response efforts of frontline healthcare workers. Each kit includes vital items to protect health workers and effectively treat those affected by the disease. For Dr Noel Saitoti, the team lead for frontline health workers at the treatment centre, the donation is seen as a crucial step in managing the crisis. "This equipment will significantly improve our ability to care for the critically ill," Dr. Saitoti said. "The support from WHO and partners has been invaluable in ensuring that we have the tools and resources necessary to save lives and protect our healthcare teams." In addition to the donated supplies, WHO and partners have been providing ongoing technical, logistical, and operational assistance. This includes case management expertise, setting up treatment and isolation centres, intensive surveillance, coordination, and Risk Communication and community engagement. WHO has also provided trainings for healthcare and Community health workers, to ensure the outbreak is contained and the health system remains resilient. Dr Charles Sagoe Moses, WHO's Representative to Tanzania, commended the collective efforts in tackling the outbreak. He stated, 'Since the declaration of this outbreak by President Samia Suluhu Hassan and WHO's Director General Dr. Tedros, we have seen exceptional collaboration and coordination across all sectors to fight this deadly virus,"said Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses. We believe that with these resources, alongside your leadership and the tireless efforts of healthcare workers, we can strengthen our response capacity and ultimately save more lives." Similarly, Dr. Godwin Mollel, the Deputy Minister of Health, who received the medical items, expressed gratitude to WHO and partners for the ongoing support to curb the spread of the virus and end it in an opportune time. He encouraged, "Collaboration, coordination, and community engagement are essential to curtailing the spread of MVD and ensuring long-term health security". The collaboration between the Government of Tanzania, WHO, and other partners continues to be pivotal in the response to the Marburg outbreak. As the situation evolves, the commitment to effective case management, collaborative surveillance, coordination, and community engagement remains key to curbing the spread of MVD and ensuring the long-term health security of Tanzania's citizens. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization - United Republic of Tanzania.
Sky News
30-01-2025
- General
- Sky News
What were the pilots doing? Experts weigh in on crash and what investigation will look for
The crash between a passenger jet and a military helicopter over Washington DC happened in "one of the most fiercely controlled" airspaces in the world, an expert has said. Two aviation experts spoke to Sky News about what may have happened, what condition the pilots would have been flying in and what the investigation will focus on. What may have happened? The airspace where the crash happened was "one of the most fiercely controlled aircraft control zones in the world", military analyst Sean Bell told Sky News, meaning pilots "have to follow strict instructions wherever they go". As the passenger jet, which had 60 passengers and four crew on board, was approaching the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, it was asked to land on the shorter runway 33, while the Black Hawk was making its way down the Potomac River. This would have brought it in on a circling approach towards the runway - something the military pilots may not have been accounting for, according to Captain Mike Coffield, a retired airline captain and aviation expert. "It's not usual that [the helicopter pilot] would even be thinking that somebody is doing a circling approach to runway 33," he told Sky News. There were also questions about the height the military helicopter was flying at, Mr Bell noted. The investigation will likely ask "why the helicopter was at 400ft rather than 200ft, where it was meant to be", he said. But, cautioning against speculation, he added: "There might have been some emergency in the helicopter that they were dealing with. If you have an emergency, the first thing they tell you as a military pilot is to fly the aircraft [up]. "It would be wrong at this stage to say it's anybody's fault. What we can say is the investigation is likely to focus on why it looks like the civilian aircraft was exactly on the right flight path, but somehow the procedural deconfliction failed." 0:49 Why didn't the military helicopter see the plane? Another factor in the crash may have been the equipment used by the Black Hawk pilots, who have been confirmed to have been wearing night vision goggles by US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. Such goggles work by amplifying the light available at night, but Mr Bell points out that while they work well in the countryside, in the middle of a busy city like Washington "the whole airfield is absolutely alight with lights". "You would not pick out an airliner if you were in another aircraft, because it will be against lots of other lights," he said. In such a scenario "you cannot trust your eyes", he added, which is why in a control zone planes and helicopters are supposed to fly along agreed flight lanes at specified heights. Another issue may have been that the plane and helicopter could have been talking on different frequencies, Mr Coffield said. "The helicopter is talking on UHF frequencies, which the military uses, and the airlines are talking on VHF. The tower talks to both at the same time," he explained. "So the pilots in the aeroplane would not have heard any response from the helicopter, and the helicopter would not have heard any response from the aeroplane." What about the collision warning system? While the airliner would have been fitted with a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), the military helicopter likely would not have carried one, Mr Coffield said, because such aircraft usually "fly in formation, so that thing would be going off all the time". Both aircraft were operating above Washington DC, an extremely busy airspace, which may have added to the confusion of the situation. "Imagine how busy this airfield is, it would be beeping all the time," Mr Bell said of the collision warning system operated by the airline. As such it would have been especially important for both pilots to follow the rules of the airfield they were operating in. "As a military pilot, generally, you operate away from that environment, so it's less familiar," Mr Bell said. "But they will have known exactly what the rules and regulations were for that flight." What will the investigation focus on? The investigation into the crash will initially focus on finding and then analysing data from the black box flight recorders for both aircraft, as well as the radio communications between the air traffic control tower and the two aircraft. Mr Coffield said investigators would also be able to take sonar pictures of the riverbed where the wreckage lies in order to "determine the actual velocity and angles" of the crash, which would even allow them to "tell where the pilots were looking". Mr Bell added: "They will also look at: what the pilots did, what they had for breakfast, were they properly trained, did they use the simulators regularly, were they well-rested? "All of that will eventually work out exactly what happened, and they will be fiercely determined to make sure they avoid this ever happening again."
