AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Tuesday Briefing: WHO Declares Zika Emergency, Oregon Protests Continue, Feds to Review San Francisco Police

Emergency and disaster management briefing for February 2, 2016: The World Health Organization (WHO) declares a global public health emergency due to the outbreak of Zika virus, pro-militia protests reemerge near the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, and the Justice Department announces a formal investigation into police practices in San Francisco.

  1. After an emergency meeting yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/02/01/zika-virus-who-declares-global-public-health-emergency-given-rapid-spread-in-americas/” title=”declared a global public health emergency“], designating the Zika virus and its suspected complications in newborns as a public health emergency of international concern. Public health officials are particularly concerned about suspected cases of [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/02/01/zika-virus-who-declares-global-public-health-emergency-given-rapid-spread-in-americas/” title=”brain damage in babies“] due to the virus.
  2. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/zika-the-new-aids/”]

  3. In Brazil, the country’s top health official said that the [link url=”http://in.reuters.com/article/health-zika-brazil-exclusive-idINKCN0VA33F” title=”Zika virus outbreak is proving to be worse than believed“]. Brazil Health Minister Marcelo Castro’s concerns revolve around the fact that most cases show no symptoms, and there is [link url=”http://www.inquisitr.com/2755507/disease-experts-warn-zika-vaccine-may-be-years-away-as-researchers-work-on-detecting-the-virus/” title=”no vaccine or cure for the virus“] at this point. Colombian officials reported [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/health-zika-colombia-idUSKCN0V903P” title=”20,297 confirmed cases, including 2,116 pregnant women“], and there are now [link url=”http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/” title=”nearly 30 countries and territories“] with active Zika virus transmission.
  4. The outbreak of Zika virus in the Americas has led some to question whether the emergency is [link url=”http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/dotearth/2016/02/01/as-w-h-o-weighs-zika-as-emergency-a-look-at-the-worlds-failed-mosquito-policies/?_r=0&referer=https://www.google.com/” title=”more of a mosquito emergency“] than anything else, and is putting the spotlight on how many nations lack the ability to [link url=”http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/dotearth/2016/02/01/as-w-h-o-weighs-zika-as-emergency-a-look-at-the-worlds-failed-mosquito-policies/?_r=0&referer=https://www.google.com/” title=”sustain effective mosquito controls“]. Debates are also active about possible contributions [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/28/health/el-nino-and-zika/” title=”El Niño“] and/or [link url=”http://www.climatecentral.org/news/zika-virus-climate-change-19970″ title=”climate change“] have made to the rapid spread of the virus.
  5. [relink url=”http://edmdigest.com/adaptation/climate-change-in-metaphor/”]

  6. Just as reports had activity associated with the Oregon wildlife refuge standoff [link url=”http://www.wkyc.com/news/nation-now/fbi-arrests-3-more-oregon-protesters-as-standoff-winds-down/24136935″ title=”winding down“], a new [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/02/01/in-oregon-angry-protest-over-killing-of-wildlife-refuge-occupier/” title=”wave of protests hit the area yesterday“]. Anti-government groups protested the [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/oregon-standoff-has-left-residents-of-rugged-isolated-town-deeply-divided/2016/01/28/19a93408-c5fe-11e5-9693-933a4d31bcc8_story.html” title=”police killing of LaVoy Finicum“] that occurred last week, while some local residents [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/02/us/both-sides-in-wildlife-refuge-protest-face-off-in-oregon.html” title=”held protests of their own“] shouting at the armed outsiders to leave the region and go home.
  7. With the Oregon standoff now a month old, and tensions growing between militants and local residents, there is still [link url=”http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/01/oregon_standoff_uncertainty_builds.html” title=”much uncertainty“] as to what the ultimate conclusion of the wildlife refuge occupation will be. A small group of militants remain at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge as they try to negotiate immunity with federal authorities but [link url=”http://www.opb.org/news/series/burns-oregon-standoff-bundy-militia-news-updates/fbi-blocking-lines-of-communication-militants-say/” title=”communication is becoming sparse“] as the occupation drags on.
  8. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/an-unfolding-role-for-emergency-management/”]

  9. The U.S. Department of Justice announced an official [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/us/san-francisco-police-justice-department/index.html” title=”review of the San Francisco police“] yesterday, and will investigate the city’s police department training and practices. The announcement comes about two months after the fatal police shooting of a young African-American man that [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/us/san-francisco-police-justice-department/index.html” title=”prompted widespread community unrest“]. The announced [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sfpd-federal-review-20160201-story.html” title=”two-year review“] will be conducted by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
  10. The city of Chicago has seen a dramatic rise in crime in 2016, [link url=”http://www.newsweek.com/chicago-murder-shooting-gang-crime-421662″ title=”with 292 shooting victims and 51 murders in the first month“] of the year. The 51 homicides is [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/01/chicago-records-51-homicides-january-highest-toll-since-2000/79632136/” title=”the highest toll for the month since at least 2000“] and comes at a time when the Chicago Police Department is under much scrutiny after [link url=”https://amuedge.com/ripple-effects-of-the-release-of-the-laquan-mcdonald-shooting-video/” title=”multiple fatal police shootings“] came into public attention. While some are [link url=”http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/02/01/calls-police-accountability-grow” title=”calling for increased accountability for officers“], the Chicago police are [link url=”https://www.rt.com/usa/330950-violence-murder-chicago-police-aclu/” title=”blaming new policing policies“] for the recent surge in violent crime.
  11. The city of Pacifica, CA is still [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-officials-seek-help-for-threatened-clifftop-homes/” title=”on edge, literally“], as the town remains in a state of emergency due to crumbling cliffs and eroding shorelines. El Niño-fueled storms have battered the town in recent weeks, and some residences are dangerously close to falling into the sea. Strong El Niño storms [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/local/weather/la-me-pacifica-el-nino-20160201-story.html” title=”are nothing new to Pacifica“], as the town has battled [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/local/weather/la-me-pacifica-el-nino-20160201-story.html” title=”storm-related issues for years“].
  12. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/pacifica-california-the-mt-st-helens-effect/”]

  13. Seattle police [link url=”http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0VB0AQ” title=”arrested three teenagers yesterday“] in association with [link url=”http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/police-responding-reports-shooting-airport-way-sou/nqC3W/” title=”fatal shootings that occurred at a Seattle homeless camp“] last week. The shootings were reportedly drug-related and are putting the spotlight on the [link url=”http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/homeless-crisis-becoming-one-for-murray-too/” title=”growing homeless crisis“] in Seattle and other West Coast cities. Last November, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray [link url=”http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mayor-county-exec-declare-state-of-emergency-over-homelessness/” title=”declared a state of emergency“] over homelessness.

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