According to a new government inventory issued on Wednesday, Peru has lost 56% of its tropical glaciers over the previous six decades owing to climate change.

According to the National Institute of Research of Mountain Glaciers and Ecosystems, Peru has 68% of the world’s tropical glaciers, and rising temperatures have caused melting and the formation of new mountain lagoons, which risk overflowing and floods.

According to the analysis, which analyzes satellite imagery until 2020, 2,084 glaciers cover 1,050 square kilometers (405 square miles) in Peru, compared to 2,399 square kilometers of ice and snow in 1962.

“In four years, from 2016 to 2020, we lost almost 6% of these high mountain glaciers,” Beatriz Fuentealba, the institute’s head, said from the Ancash region, where several glaciers had vanished.

Peru Has Lost More Than Half Its Water Reserves As Glaciers Rapidly Melt

The inventory shows that 164 lagoons have formed or are in the process of forming in the last four years, increasing the total number of glacier lagoons to 8,466, spanning approximately 1,081 square kilometers.

“The new lagoons could be future water reserves, but because they are at high altitudes, they pose a risk of overflowing and flooding,” said Jesus Gomez, director of glacier research at the Ministry of Environment.

According to the paper, nearly all Peru’s tropical glaciers are over 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) above sea level, while the new lagoons are between 4,000 and 5,000 meters.

According to the report, about 20 million Peruvians benefit directly or indirectly from the glacier water.

“This means we have lost more than half of our water reserves,” Environment Minister Albina Ruiz said, warning that glacial retreat is affecting the natural mountain ecology.

Peru Has Lost More Than Half Its Water Reserves As Glaciers Rapidly Melt

“While we cannot stop glaciers from melting over time, we can slow their loss,” she added, advocating for reduced pollution, more green space, and “most importantly, recognizing that the mountain provides us with life.”

Glaciers melt due to rising temperatures, leading to the flow of water from the glaciers into the ocean. This process contributes to sea level rise, impacting coastal communities and ecosystems around the world.

The melting of glaciers is a significant consequence of climate change and has far-reaching effects on the environment and human civilization.

SOURCE – (CNN)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested more information from China regarding “clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia” that are reportedly increasing among children in the country’s north.

According to non-state media reports, pediatric hospitals in several parts of China are overcrowded with unwell children.

Chinese officials blamed the lifting of Covid restrictions for an increase in flu-like symptoms this winter.

The WHO is advising Chinese citizens to take preventative steps.

The UN health agency said in a statement that it requested further information on allegations of “clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China” in the media and from ProMed, a worldwide outbreak tracking system.

Pneumonia is a broad medical word for an infection and inflammation of the lungs. Various viruses, bacteria, or fungi can cause it.

Following the release of the WHO statement, the state-run Xinhua news agency published an item on Thursday in which officials from China’s National Health Commission (NHC) stated that they were paying particular attention to diagnosing and treating children with respiratory infections.

While talks of China and a wave of infection can make people nervous, recalling the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s an excellent procedure for the WHO to seek clarification. But the only way of understanding why this outbreak of illnesses has occurred is if Beijing responds.

It is also uncommon for the WHO to request further information from countries regarding a cluster of illnesses. They do it nearly every day.

Daily, a WHO professional staff sifts through hundreds of media reports and internal surveillance data on circulating diseases from countries. Experts then assess whether more information is required if it becomes a public health emergency of international concern.

However, it is unusual to request additional information public. Previously, this was done through private channels between the WHO and national health officials.

China: WHO Seeks Data On ‘Pneumonia Clusters’ In Children

The UN agency is undoubtedly concerned that people may be more wary of viruses reported in China after COVID-19. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the WHO is likewise attempting to be more transparent.

The UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stated it was carefully monitoring the situation.

According to the WHO, Northern China has recorded an “increase in influenza-like illness” since October, compared to the same period in the previous three years.

The Chinese NHC reported last week that various respiratory infections were rising nationwide, including influenza, COVID-19, mycoplasma pneumonia (a frequent bacterial infection affecting younger children), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Officials attributed the increase to the removal of COVID-19 limitations.

Other nations, like the United Kingdom and the United States, had similar increases in flu-like symptoms when pandemic restrictions were relaxed.

“China is likely experiencing a major wave of childhood respiratory infections now because this is the first winter after their lengthy lockdown,” said Prof Francois Balloux of the University College London Genetics Institute.

China: WHO Seeks Data On ‘Pneumonia Clusters’ In Children

Prof Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia (UEA) stated that there is now insufficient data to establish a definitive diagnosis of what is causing the diseases.

“Overall, this does not sound like an epidemic caused by a novel [new] virus,” he continued. If that’s the case, I’d expect many more adult infections. The rare illnesses documented in adults point to pre-existing immunity from previous exposure.”

The WHO says it is unclear whether the reported pneumonia outbreak and the overall increase in respiratory diseases reported by Beijing are linked and has issued a formal request for more information.

It has encouraged Chinese citizens to take basic precautions such as getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and washing their hands.

SOURCE – (AP)

Veterinary laboratories in multiple states are looking into an odd respiratory ailment in dogs and urging consumers to take simple precautions to keep their pets healthy while vets strive to figure out what’s wrong.

Oregon, Colorado, and New Hampshire have all experienced the infection, which has caused long-term respiratory problems and pneumonia and is resistant to medications. Coughing, sneezing, nasal or ocular discharge, and lethargy are all respiratory infection symptoms in dogs. Some cases of pneumonia advance quickly, causing dogs to become quite ill within 24 to 36 hours.

Dogs Are Coming Down With An Unusual Respiratory Illness In Several US States

Since mid-August, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has reported more than 200 disease cases. It has urged pet owners to contact their veterinarian if their dog becomes ill and directed state vets to report cases as quickly as possible.

The agency is collaborating with state researchers and the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory to determine the source of the infections.

According to Kurt Williams, director of Oregon State University’s Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, dogs have died. However, without a precise definition of the sickness or a test for it, he said it’s difficult to estimate how many people died from a severe form of the virus.

Williams’ message to dog owners was simple: “Don’t panic.” He also advised dog owners to keep their pets’ immunizations up to date, including those that protect against certain respiratory infections.

As they try to identify the culprit, labs around the country have been sharing their findings.

Dogs Are Coming Down With An Unusual Respiratory Illness In Several US States

David Needle, senior veterinary pathologist at the University of New Hampshire’s New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, has been researching the unusual ailment for nearly a year.

His group and colleagues at the university’s Hubbard Center for Genome Research have examined samples from canines in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and more will be arriving from Oregon, Colorado, and probably other states shortly.

He stated that his team has not witnessed a significant increase in the number of dogs dying from the sickness, but he nonetheless advised pet owners to “reduce contact with other dogs.”

SOURCE – (AP)