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The Guardian: A brutal heatwave is passing over Southern Australia, leading officials to declare a code red. Temperatures are expected to stay above 35 degrees Celsius for the week. The code red allows the government to release extra funds to protect at risk individuals. Click here to learn more.

Officials have declared a Hepatitis A outbreak in Aiken County of South Carolina. On January 31st, a worker at Aiken Brewing Company tested positive for Hepatitis A, and then on February 12th, a worker at a second restaurant, City Billiards, also tested positive. Since December 1st of last year…

Industry Week: Just having insurance isn’t enough to cover losses after a disaster. This article recommends seven key actions manufacturers should take to minimize destruction during a disaster event. The list includes transparency with one’s insurer, understanding business risk, planning in…

IFL Science: There currently are at least 11 cases of Salmonella under investigation in multiple states. Pet hedgehogs can carry this bacterium that make humans sick. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that hedgehog owners stop cuddling their pets, because there’s reason…

BBC News: A new five-year plan is being unveiled in the United Kingdom to attempt to combat drug-resistant superbugs. The plan will attempt to cut antibiotic use in humans by 15% over the next five years. A new payment plan for pharmaceutical companies will also be enforced; payment will be made…

Insurance Journal: Last year there were 394 natural disasters, totaling around $225 billion in damages. About $90 billion of that was covered by insurance. The insurance protection gap can be defined as the proportion of damages not covered by insurances, private or governmental programs. Read more…

Following the catastrophic wildfires in California, many are looking to adopt preventative strategies. Nevada City, California is looking to rent goats to eat through a 450-acre greenbelt of vegetation.  Once the goats eat away much of the greenery, humans can clear out the larger foliage that…

CNN: At least nineteen individuals have confirmed cases of measles in Washington State.  Eighteen of the nineteen cases are children. Most of the infected children reported being unvaccinated against measles. There’s concern that the Washington outbreak could spread across the state line to…

Independent: At least 26 people have died as a result of the devastating flooding, landslides, and shelter collapses caused by monsoon rains in southern India. More than 15,500 people are taking shelter in government shelters. Read more about it here.

Reuters: According to a recent WHO report, measles cases are on the rise in Europe and Latin America. Worldwide there has been a 30% increase in the number of cases since last year. Both Europe and Latin America show high rates of vaccine-refusal, which is certainly contributing to the problem. Read…

CNN: San Francisco, Stockton, and Sacramento, all located in northern California, were the most polluted cities in the world as of the morning of November 16th. Due to the wildfires, the air in these areas has high levels of particulate matter, which is a common result following a wildfire. Public…

The Guardian: Officials worry that residents will be more likely to ignore evacuation orders as wildfires become more routine. For example, Butte County, California has been evacuated at least five times in two years. As evacuations become more frequent, people may be desensitized and become less…

The Krakatoa volcano, which erupted in 1883 and killed 36,000 people, is now erupting again to a lesser extent. Supposedly it has been producing its own lightening, using a specific form of chemistry that was not well understood until recently. Read more about the volcano here.

Weather: A California mud geyser in Imperial County moved 60 feet in one day, threatening nearby railroad tracks and a highway. This mud pot has existed since 1953, but recently has progressed faster than expected. Read more about it here.