Typhoon death toll rises to 291 in Philippines

MANILA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of fatalities from Typhoon Fengshen has reached 291 in the Philippines, said the Department of Health Tuesday night.

Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said 216 people have been confirmed dead in the central region of Western Visayas alone, with Iloilo as the hardest hit province.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/24/content_8432093.htm

Hundreds Feared Dead in Philippines Typhoon

MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of passengers were feared trapped and may have died after their ferry capsized in the Philippines during Typhoon Fengshen, said two survivors who struggled ashore Sunday.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,369883,00.html

Flood warnings, tornado watches issued for Chicagoland area

With thunderstorms expected, flood warnings and tornado watches remain in effect Thursday night for dozens of counties through Illinois and Indiana, according to the National Weather Service.

A tornado watch is in effect until 2 a.m. Friday for 30 counties in Illinois including Cook, Will, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, and Grundy counties, according to weather service meteorologist Chris Gitro. The watch does not affect areas in northwest Indiana.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1003590,storms061208.article

In Eastern Iowa, the City That ‘Would Never Flood’ Goes 12 Feet Under

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — They said this city would never flood. They talked about 1993, and 1966 and 1851, years when the Cedar River swelled and hissed but mostly stayed within its banks. They thought they were safe. They were wrong.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/us/13flood.html?ref=us

Colombian island of San Andres braces for tropical storm

The Colombian National Army on the island of San Andres has been put on alert in anticipation of a tropical storm. Announcing precautionary measures Thursday, National Army commander Adm. Guillermo Barrera said the storm is currently headed to wrard Nicaragua but San Andres island, in the Caribbean Sea, lies in its course.

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90852/6429619.html

New-style bird flu vaccine shows promise

WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - A new-style bird flu vaccine made using monkey cells instead of chicken eggs appears to be safe and effective, corporate researchers reported on Wednesday.

The vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza, made by Baxter International (BAX.N: Quote, Profile, Research), is the first bird flu vaccine to be made using cells in a lab dish instead of chicken eggs. This is important because the right type of chicken eggs are difficult to obtain -- and because H5N1 kills chickens rapidly.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUKN11302781._CH_.242020080612

Tropical Storm Arthur brings devastation and deluge

Belizeans were taken by surprise as the 2008 Hurricane Season's first storm in the Atlantic Basin; Tropical Storm Arthur formed Saturday. Churning up incessant rains and flash floods, the storm wreaked havoc across the nation. Up to press time, five persons had succumbed to the storm's wrath and two more had been reported missing in what is being cited as the worst natural disaster in Belize's modern history.

http://www.sanpedrosun.net/08-231.html

Tornadoes close I-29

Parts of Interstate 29 are closed through most of Holt County because of tornadoes.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports calls of multiple tornadoes in the area.

Three semi-trailers were blown over because of the storm. One semi-trailer was blown over just south of mile marker 91 just south of Craig, Mo., on a bridge. It is blocking one lane of traffic in the southbound lanes. Two other semi-trailers were blown over in the median near mile marker 96 north of Craig. The clean-up is blocking one southbound lane and one northbound lane.

So far there have been no reports of damages except that of the semi-trailers. Injury information isn’t available at this time.

Squaw Creek and Craig seemed to be without power at about 8:45 p.m.

http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2008/jun/05/tornadoes-close-i-29/

Indonesia to keep bird flu deaths quiet

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A 15-year-old girl died of bird flu last month, becoming Indonesia's 109th victim, but the government decided to keep the news quiet. It is part of a new policy aimed at improving the image of the nation hardest hit by the disease.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/indonesia/2008/06/06/159772/Indonesia-to.htm

Tyson slaughters thousands of chickens exposed to bird flu virus

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Tyson Foods is killing and burying the carcasses of 15,000 hens in northwest Arkansas after the chickens tested positive for exposure to an avian flu virus.

State officials say a routine blood test showed that the birds have been exposed to a subtype of the virus that is not harmful to humans. However, the CDC said a 2004 outbreak of the same subtype at a poultry plant in British Columbia, Canada, did sicken two workers there.

Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson says the company is also "stepping up its surveillance of avian influenza in the area" as a precaution.

http://www.wztv.com/template/inews_wire/wires.national/34d9a216-www.fox17.com.shtml