The Centers for Disease Control have issued an outbreak notice that cases of polio have been reported in China for the first time in more than ten years. The CDC is recommending that travelers to all parts of China be up-to-date on the polio vaccine. Use the link above to learn more about how to protect yourself.
The worst drought in fifty years is threatening to severely disrupt life in Hubei, Jiangxi and three other southern Chinese provinces, which traditionally have abundant water resources. Emergency rationing of drinking water is in place for over four million people. At the same time, reduced river flow has hampered hydroelectric power production resulting in rolling blackouts and brownouts. High demand for power during the summer months will likely exacerbate this situation. The drought is also pushing up prices of food, raising the specter of social unrest.
China’s leading environmentalist, Ma Jun, has suggested that China’s poor water management policies are at the root of the problem as much as a lack of rainfall. The massive Three Gorges Dam is draining downstream lakes, and China is planning to divert huge amounts of water to the arid north via an even larger engineering project over the next four decades.
Source: Associated Press
Dominican physicians report that cholera has been reported in 28 of the country’s 32 provinces, and the number of new cases has risen about 50% over the last two weeks, according to the Dominican Health ministry. Since the outbreak began in November, there have been over a thousand cases and fourteen deaths, and there are fears that the situation may worsen with the onset of the hurricane season. The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, where the cholera epidemic has sickened over 250,000 and killed nearly 5,000. Cholera is a water-borne illness, which is spread through contaminated drinking water and food. Travelers should take strict precautions to avoid exposure and should seek treatment immediately with the onset of diarrhea.
Widespread flooding in Queensland is now affecting an area about the size of California, Nevada and Oregon combined. For you geography aficionados, that is about the same as France and Germany or just over half of Queensland – Australia is a big place.
The prevailing atmospheric conditions known as La Nina produced the third-wettest year on record for Australia in 2010, but more importantly, these conditions are expected to persist until April. A timeline search on Google shows that it has been over 100 years since floods in Queensland were as newsworthy.
Altegrity International has highlighted the threat to the Great Barrier Reef as tons of waste and pesticides pour into the sea. Local officials also fear the flood waters will damage sea grass beds that serve as feeding grounds for dugongs (Australian manatees) and affect popular tourist activities and locations such as the resorts on Whitsunday Islands.
Reuters reporter, Daniel Munoz, writes that the flooding’s impact on coal and wheat production will have worldwide consequences. With 75% of Queensland’s coal mines shut down, coal prices are rising which will drive up steel prices everywhere. In addition, half of the wheat crop (Australia is the world’s fourth-largest exporter of wheat) could be downgraded to animal feed or other low-grade milling grains, raising the specter of wider human hunger.
While the economic impacts are worldwide, those feeling the most pain are in Queensland. Let’s hope the next three months turn unexpectedly dry.
London is bracing for its third subway strike in as many months over planned cuts to London’s transit network, according to reports on November 2nd. The 24-hour strike by Transport for London, which runs the subway system, will restrict train service and close some stations. The previous strike cut services by 40%.
Another strike by transport workers is scheduled for November 29th.
Copyright © 2010, Altegrity Risk International, Inc.
Today the governments of Singapore and Malaysia closed more than 200 schools and issued health warnings as haze from forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra traveled over the Straits of Malacca, raising air pollution to its highest level in four years, reports indicated.
Copyright © 2010, Altegrity Risk International, Inc.
Dozens of armed gang members have set up roadblocks to rob drivers en masse in recent days in Rio de Janeiro. Victims have been yanked from their cars in the middle of the streets in ten such robberies in the past week. Gunmen then stole the vehicles, taking other victims hostage. Newspaper reports note that there have been 33 mass robberies in Rio de Janiero this year, with some 145 people robbed and 37 vehicles stolen Authorities believe the violence is retaliation by gangs upset over Governor Sergio Cabral’s aggressive anti-gang campaigns.
Copyright © 2010, Altegrity Risk International, Inc.
There’s buzz this week about the recent terrorism warnings for Europe issued by government authorities: can travelers put them to use? If not, what’s the point? A quick sampling of the blogosphere seems to indicate that while security experts support the step, travelers are not altering any plans. My take is that we are witnessing a behavior common among those in authority who have important but inconclusive information: warn of adverse events without recommending a specific course of action. Why? So you aren’t in retrospect accused of being asleep at the wheel. In other words, general admonitions to be extra watchful and careful serve to clear consciences rather than save lives.
99% of us would agree with the Northwestern student in France who said, “I was planning a trip to Paris in December, but I’m not thinking about changing my plans because of the alert. I don’t take it as seriously, which is bad, but it is the truth.” We are all aware of terrorism to the point of being numb. To be fair, security professionals typically append the advice “don’t let fear rule your life” to the warnings they issue. I submit that our readers long ago took this advice or they wouldn’t have become world travelers. We are well aware of the general threat that terrorism poses. Even if we are traveling to cauldrons such as Karachi or Kabul, if there is no concrete advice to help us avoid a terrorist attack, we gladly carry on with our plans.
Here at HTB, we try to relay news and trends that travelers can put to use. In this spirit, we will begin posting Travel Bulletins that very succinctly capture risks to be avoided or managed as they arise around the world. Sometimes we may offer advice that is of immediate use. At other times we may be tracking ongoing or impending risks. Look for these Bulletins interspersed with our usual posts and let us know how helpful you find them.
Photo by nickstone333.
A 24-hour strike on October 7th conducted by civil servants will disrupt flights and paralyze state services, shutting down schools, ministries, and local authority offices, and leaving hospitals to run on emergency staff. A four-hour work stoppage by air-traffic controllers joining the action will ground flights between 3:00pm-7:00pm. Cancellations and delays have been announced by Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air, and other airlines are expected to be affected. The public sector union is organizing a protest march in Athens from central Klafthmonos Square to Parliament. The Communist Party-backed labor union is organizing another rally at 11:00pm in central Omonia Square.
Copyright © 2010, Altegrity Risk International, Inc.
