Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces saw a stabilization in the number of new cases this past week, with 19 confirmed cases reported in the past week (23–29 October), essentially equivalent to the 20 confirmed cases the week before.

Published on October 31, 2019
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Observing California's Wildfires from the Space Station

From the vantage point of space aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan captured this image of a California wildfire. via NASA https://ift.tt/2C0WleU

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The United Arab Emirates

On 7 October 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) notified WHO of one laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.

The patient is a 44-year-old male non-national farmer from Al Ain city, Abu Dhabi region, UAE. He developed fever, runny nose, headache, vomiting, productive cough and shortness of breath on 25 September 2019, and was admitted to hospital on 29 September. A nasopharyngeal aspirate was collected and tested positive for MERS-CoV by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on 3 October at the Shiekh Khalifa Medical Center laboratory. The patient has underlying comorbidities including diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. He has a history of close contact with dromedary camels and sheep at nearby farms during the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. He has no history of recent travel and has not been involved in the slaughtering of animals. As of 14 October, the patient is in stable condition and is currently in an intensive care unit (ICU).

Published on October 31, 2019
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The Face of the Antares Rocket

A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket is seen as it rolls out to Pad-0A, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. via NASA https://ift.tt/2JAFeop

Jupiter's Cloud Tops: From High to Low

This view from NASA's Juno spacecraft captures colorful, intricate patterns in a jet stream region of Jupiter's northern hemisphere known as "Jet N3." via NASA https://ift.tt/2BYmNWd

A Trail of Night Lights from the International Space Station

This image of star trails was compiled from time-lapse photography taken by NASA astronaut Christina Koch while onboard the International Space Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/2MU6zE0

A Mega-Cluster of Galaxies in the Making

Astronomers using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes have put together a detailed map of a rare collision between four galaxy clusters. via NASA https://ift.tt/2WfBlKL

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The number of confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) remains relatively low this week, with 21 new confirmed cases reported in North Kivu and Ituri provinces during the epidemiological week of 14 – 20 October.

Published on October 24, 2019
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Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Polio outbreak– The Philippines

On 27 September 2019 , a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) has been confirmed in environmental samples in Philippines. The virus has been isolated from ten environmental samples, all genetically related, which were collected from one sewage collection site and its tributary pumping stations in Manila, between 1 July and 23 September 2019. This sewage collection site in the city of Manila has a catchment area of over 600,000 people.

Vaccine-derived polioviruses are rarely occurring forms of the poliovirus that have genetically changed from the attenuated (weakened) virus contained in oral polio vaccine. They only occur when the vaccine virus is allowed to pass from person to person for a long time, which can only happen in places with limited immunization coverage and inadequate sanitation and hygiene. Over time, as it is passed between more unimmunized people, it can regain the ability to cause disease. When the population is fully immunized with both oral polio vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine, this kind of transmission cannot take place. The gut immunity in people immunized with oral polio vaccine stops the virus from being passed on. Full immunization therefore protects against both vaccine-derived and wild polio viruses.

Published on October 24, 2019
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Hubble Finds Medusa in the Sky

The Medusa merger, was not always one entity, but two. An early galaxy consumed a smaller gas-rich system, throwing out streams of stars and dust into space. These streams resemble the writhing snakes that Medusa, a monster in ancient Greek mythology, famously had on her head in place of hair, lending the object its intriguing name. via NASA https://ift.tt/2M6YhXC

NASA Attaches First of 4 RS-25 Engines to Artemis I Rocket Stage

Engineers and technicians at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans have structurally mated the first of four RS-25 engines to the core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket that will help power the first Artemis mission to the Moon. via NASA https://ift.tt/31CuETR

NASA and the 70th International Astronautical Congress

Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of the 70th International Astronautical Congress. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Pa9Pwo

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Measles – Lebanon

Health authorities in Lebanon are responding to an outbreak of measles. From 1 November 2018 through 12 October 2019, a total of 1,171 cases have been reported, of which 675 (57.6%) were laboratory confirmed, 8 (0.7%) epidemiologically linked cases, and 488 (41.7%) were clinically diagnosed. No associated deaths have been reported as of now.

Measles cases have been reported in all eight Lebanese governorates, with Aakar, Baalbek-El-Hermel, Bekaa North, and Mount Lebanon governorates most affected. Ninety percent of suspected measles cases were Lebanese nationals, while 10% were Syrians living in informal settlements and in residential areas. The cumulative incidence of measles among Lebanese was higher than that of Syrians (22.4 versus 11.1 per 100,000 population respectively).

Published on October 22, 2019
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NASA Astronaut Christina Koch Conducts Repairs on the Space Station

NASA astronaut Christina Koch conducts her fourth spacewalk at the International Space Station with fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir via NASA https://ift.tt/31uE9V3

The Tycho Supernova: Death of a Star

In 1572, Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe was among those who noticed a new bright object in the constellation Cassiopeia. via NASA https://ift.tt/31prkLF

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

From 1 through 30 September 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 4 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) infection and one associated death. The cases were reported from Al-Qassim (2 cases), Riyadh (1 case), and Al-Ahsaa (1 case) regions.

The link below provides details of the 4 reported cases:

Published on October 18, 2019
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Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The number of confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been relatively low in recent weeks, with 15 new confirmed cases reported in North Kivu and Ituri provinces during the epidemiological week of 7 October through 13 October (Figure 1).

Published on October 17, 2019
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Astronaut Christina Koch Works in the Vacuum of Space

NASA astronaut Christina Koch works while tethered near the Port 6 truss segment of the International Space Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/32lR4tR

Artemis Generation Spacesuit Event

Amy Ross, a spacesuit engineer at Johnson Space Center, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, watch as Kristine Davis and Dustin Gohmert wear prototype spacesuits. via NASA https://ift.tt/33AwnKU

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Cholera – Republic of the Sudan

On 8 September, Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) notified WHO about a cholera outbreak in four localities in the Blue Nile State (BNS), south-eastern Sudan, bordering Ethiopia and South Sudan. The first case was detected on 28 of August 2019.

From 28 August through 12 October 2019, a total of 278 suspected cholera cases, including 8 deaths (case fatality ratio: 2.88 %), have been reported from four localities in Blue Nile State including Al Roseries (113), Ad Damazin (55), Wad Almahi (3) and Baw (5), and five localities in Sinnar State including Abu Hugar (80), Singa (4), Alsoky (14), Aldaly wa Almzmom (3) and Sennar (1) . One hundred seventy two cases were female (62%), and 238 (93.1%) were over 5 years of age.

Published on October 15, 2019
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Serena Auñón-Chancellor Talks to Girls About Life on the Station

NASA astronaut Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor speaks about her experience on Expeditions 56 and 57 onboard the International Space Station (ISS) at Excel Academy Public Charter School, Monday, June 10, 2019. via NASA https://ift.tt/2B72oy6

Serena Aunon-Chancellor Talks to Girls About Life on the Station

NASA astronaut Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor speaks about her experience on Expeditions 56 and 57 onboard the International Space Station (ISS) at Excel Academy Public Charter School, Monday, June 10, 2019. via NASA https://ift.tt/328RfZt

NASA’s X-59 QueSST Airplane Takes Shape at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

NASA’s X-59 QueSST, an experimental piloted aircraft designed to fly faster than sound without producing the annoying – if not alarming – sonic booms of previous supersonic aircraft is taking shape.. via NASA https://ift.tt/2VBLOj9

NASA’s X-59 QueSST Airplane Takes Shape at Lockheed Martin Skunkworks

NASA’s X-59 QueSST, an experimental piloted aircraft designed to fly faster than sound without producing the annoying – if not alarming – sonic booms of previous supersonic aircraft is taking shape.. via NASA https://ift.tt/2M5iazO

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The number of reported cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) consistently declined in recent weeks, with 14 new confirmed cases reported in North Kivu and Ituri provinces during the epidemiological week of 30 September through 6 October (Figure 1).

Published on October 10, 2019
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NASA’s X-59 QueSST Airplane Takes Shape at Lockheed Skunkworks

NASA’s X-59 QueSST, an experimental piloted aircraft designed to fly faster than sound without producing the annoying – if not alarming – sonic booms of previous supersonic aircraft is taking shape.. via NASA https://ift.tt/2p6lcuu

Revealing the Milky Way’s Center

Spitzer Space Telescope's infrared cameras penetrate much of the dust, revealing the stars of the crowded galactic center region of our Milky Way. via NASA https://ift.tt/2LY3u5o

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Cholera – Republic of the Sudan

On 8 September, Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) notified WHO about a cholera outbreak in four localities in the Blue Nile State (BNS), south-eastern Sudan, bordering Ethiopia and South Sudan. The first case was detected on 28 of August 2019.

From 28 August through 8 October 2019, a total of 247 suspected cholera cases, including 8 deaths (case fatality ratio: 3.5 %), have been reported from four localities in Blue Nile State including Al Roseries (99), Ad Damazin (52), Wad Almahi (3) and Baw (2), and five localities in Sennar State including Abu Hugar (71), Singa (4), Alsoky (13), Aldaly wa Almzmom (2) and Sennar (1) . One hundred fifty cases were female (61%), and 238 (94.4%) were over 5 years of age.

Published on October 09, 2019
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Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Yellow fever – Nigeria

On 29 August 2019, a suspected yellow fever case was reported from Kano state with a travel history to Yankari game reserve, Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA), Bauchi state, Nigeria.

From 29 August through 22 September 2019, Nigeria reported an outbreak of yellow fever with an epi-centre in the Yankari game reserve of Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi state. According to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), 231 suspected cases have been reported in four states including Bauchi (110), Borno (109), Gombe (10), and Kano (2), of which there have been 13 presumptive positive by IgM testing and 24 cases positive by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at national laboratories. Of 24 cases confirmed by RT-PCR (20 cases in Bauchi, three in Gombe and one in Kano state), six deaths were reported, all from Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi state, resulting in a case fatality ratio of 25% among the confirmed cases. The vaccination history for the 231 suspected yellow fever cases is not known, and the results of follow-up testing from regional reference laboratory Institute Pasteur Dakar (IPD) are not yet available.

Published on October 08, 2019
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Replacing the Space Station’s Solar Array Batteries

After completing the first of 10 spacewalks to upgrade the station, astronaut Christina Koch, wrote: The great @Space_Station battery swap series of spacewalks is underway! via NASA https://ift.tt/35f34iE

Stephen Hawking and Our Changing Ideas of the Universe

Cosmologist Stephen Hawking changed our view of the universe with his remarkable theories and outreach even thought he suffered from ALS, which slowly paralyzed him over the years. via NASA https://ift.tt/2VaZ4v1

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues this week with 20 new confirmed cases reported in North Kivu and Ituri provinces from 25 September-1 October 2019, versus 29 in the previous week.

Published on October 03, 2019
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Astronaut Nick Hague Returns to Earth After 203 Days Aboard the Space Station

NASA astronaut Nick Hague is seen outside the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft after he landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. via NASA https://ift.tt/2oJcOkp

Space Launch System Mock Up Arrives at Kennedy for Testing

NASA's Pegasus Barge arrives at the Launch Complex 39 turn basin wharf at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to make its first delivery to Kennedy in support of the agency's Artemis missions. via NASA https://ift.tt/2pn7kfB

Astronaut Nick Hague Soaks Up Views of Earth

Today is my last Monday living on this orbiting laboratory and I’m soaking up my final views, said astronat Nivk Hague. via NASA https://ift.tt/2nxqG0L