Franklin Chang-Diaz Performs a Spacewalk on the STS-111 Mission

In this mage from June 2002, astronaut Franklin R. Chang-Diaz works with a grapple fixture during a spacewalk to perform work on the International Space Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/34NT53K

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Listeriosis– Spain

On 16 August 2019, Regional Health Authorities in Andalusia, Spain, reported an outbreak of listeriosis, caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), associated with the consumption of a chilled roasted pork meat product manufactured in Spain by Magrudis Company Limited and sold under the brand name “La Mechá”. This outbreak was reported by Spanish Authorities to the World Health Organization, via the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), on 20 August 2019. On 23 August, a Food Safety Alert was issued by the Spanish Authorities, advising consumers to avoid any product sold under that brand and that a small amount of the implicated chilled roasted pork was also sold non-branded by another company.

From 7 July through 13 September , a total of 222 confirmed cases linked to this outbreak have been reported in five regions of Spain: Andalusia (214), Aragon (4), Extremadura (2), Castilla y Leon (1), and Madrid (1). Fifty-seven per cent of cases are women including 38 pregnant women and 24% of cases are 65 years old or above (24 men and 25 women). Three deaths have been reported among elderly persons who were ill with listeriosis at the time of death. Reportedly, six women had miscarriages linked to this outbreak. On 23 August 2019, France, through the European Commission Early Warning and Response System (EWRS), notified a travel related case in a foreign citizen with travel history to Andalusia who had consumed the implicated product. Only three cases of listeriosis have been recorded with a date of consumption after 17 August, but all the three bought the product before the food alert was launched.

Published on September 16, 2019
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Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ebola virus disease (EVD) transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to ease this past week, with 40 new confirmed cases reported in North Kivu and Ituri provinces; this is the lowest weekly incidence since March 2019. While these signs are promising, it remains too soon to tell if this trend will persist. Emerging hotspots continue to pose challenges in terms of accessibility, insecurity, and violence. Surveillance indicators highlight that public health risks of further spread remain very high.

During the past 21 days (from 21 August through 10 September 2019), a total of 157 confirmed cases were reported form 15 health zones (Table 1, Figure 2), with the majority coming from the health zones of Kalunguta (19%, n=30), Beni (18%, n=28), Mambasa (16%, n=25), and Mandima (13%, n=20). Alimbongo, Oicha, and Pinga health zones recently passed 21 days without a new confirmed case of EVD.

Published on September 12, 2019
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Mae Jemison Trains for Her Space Shuttle Flight

Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space, participated in crew egress training for Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-47 mission during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. via NASA https://ift.tt/34FXpBR

Remembering September 11th and Looking to the Future

This 2019 photo of Manhattan, taken by astronaut Nick Hague from aboard the International Space Station, shows a city totally recovered from the attack on September 11, 2001. via NASA https://ift.tt/2LL0O9R

Testing and Training on the Boeing Starliner

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke works through a check list inside a mockup of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner during a simulation at NASA's Johnson Space Center on Aug. 21, 2019. via NASA https://ift.tt/2A3vb63

Learning to Track Water Using NASA Satellite Data

It's Back to School Week and NASA has activities to keep students motivated. via NASA https://ift.tt/303wVqt