Day of Wrath: South Africa Deploys 10,000 Troops As “Flood Disasters” Leave Hundreds Dead

HNewsWire: South African authorities have "activated" 10,000 troops to assist with emergency relief operations in the flood-ravaged KwaZulu-Natal Province, where at least 443 people have died.

HNewsWire: According to a statement from the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the "flood disasters" brought on by six days of torrential rain now "rank as being among the biggest tragedies to hit the region in a long time." On Monday, he revealed that the dead toll had risen to 443, and that 63 people were still missing.

As Zikalala stated on Facebook over the weekend, "We empathize with all those who lost their families and friends in the floods that struck KwaZulu-Natal." Zikalala. Government officials said they'll do everything they can to support those in their communities who have lost loved ones.

According to a second announcement from the South African National Defense Force, 10,000 soldiers would be "activated" for humanitarian relief activities.

Many people have been forced to from their homes, infrastructure has been devastated and houses and businesses have been demolished in the southeastern coastal province for about a week now.

A report in the local publication The Witness noted the extensive damage to the area's "economic and corporate infrastructure," as well as its "housing and educational infrastructure."

The flooding has been captured on video and shared on social media.

The country's major port, Durban, looks to have been affected by flooding.

This breathtaking image shows the extent of the devastation at the port.

South Africa's central bank warned last week that the country's economic recovery was in jeopardy because of rising inflation. Weather-related devastation in a major economic-producing region has yet to be shown in relation to inflation and the general recuperation. It's reasonable to infer that this isn't a positive thing.

As a preventative step against flu, people should avoid direct contact with wild birds and only view them from a safe distance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even if they do not seem unwell, wild birds may carry the avian influenza virus.

Avoid unprotected contact with ill or dead domestic birds (poultry)... "Do not contact surfaces that may be contaminated with wild or domestic bird saliva, mucus, or excrement," the agency says.

HNewsWire: An epidemic of H5 avian flu is thought to have killed over 200 birds in the Baker's Lake Forest preserve in Illinois.

Laboratory examinations at the University of Illinois Urban-Champaign verified the flu epidemic. The federal government performed further tests, with wildlife biologists from the Forest Preserves of Cook County delivering seven cormorants for testing and necropsy to state pathologists on April 7. Staff members are monitoring forest preserve sites for symptoms of flu, but no illnesses have been detected at any of the locations.

According to Chris Anchor, wildlife scientist with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, who spoke to NBC Chicago, the avian flu afflicting Baker's Lake Forest Reserve is the same one that is causing "huge death offs" in the chicken sector throughout North America. He cautioned that the enormous fatalities at Baker's Lake suggest a change in viral behavior.

This signals a substantial shift in the virus's behavior. Until now, we've only observed groups of two, three, or a half-dozen birds fall to it. "In this case, we literally have hundreds of birds that have died as a result of it," he said.

"There are millions of birds migrating from south to north, and in locations like this, they may get sick and spread the virus."

This year, the virus has killed millions of chickens and turkeys bred on commercial farms across many states. Two outbreaks have been recorded in Illinois, in Carol and McLean counties.

The illness is thought to be transmitted via the droppings of wild birds such as geese and ducks. The flu was discovered in Indiana for the first time in February. The virus was discovered in the nation for the first time since 2000.

Baker's Lake preserve is home to one of the Midwest's most important heron rookeries. So yet, only waterfowl and aquatic birds have been affected by avian flu.

Passerines, or perching birds such as sparrows, singers, and finches, have not been infected with the flu. As a consequence, the Forest Preserves does not advocate removing bird-feeders since they may transmit illness.

Sources: HNewsWire HNewsWire HNewsWire HNewsWire