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Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Canadian wildfire smoke triggers US air quality alerts
Officials have issued an air quality alert for around 10 million Americans, telling them to minimize outdoor activities and shut all windows on Tuesday. A National Weather Service (NWS) map shows parts of Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Vermont, Indiana and Maine are under advisories until midnight as wildfire smoke from Canada drifts into the US. The alerts stem from elevated levels of ground-level ozone and fine particulates, prompting precautionary measures. In Upstate New York, Vermont, and Maine, residents are advised to limit strenuous outdoor physical activity to mitigate health risks, according to the New York State Department of Health. The NWS has specifically warned residents in northeast Minnesota, eastern Michigan, northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana to keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke infiltration. Current advisories indicate that ozone levels are not expected to reach 'dangerous' levels (AQI 201 or higher) in any affected region. The highest ozone-related concern is in Michigan's St. Clair to Monroe counties and New York's Niagara to Southern Erie counties, where levels are in the 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' range (AQI 101-150). Other regions are primarily under fine particulate alerts, with no ozone warnings suggesting dangerous conditions, which are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and affect the heart. Last week, six US lawmakers wrote to Canada's ambassador, complaining that wildfire smoke drifting south was making it hard for Americans to enjoy the summer. In response, the premier of Manitoba accused them of 'trivializing' a deadly crisis. The fires continue to spread across thousands of acres. May and June were especially destructive in western Canada, where about 30,000 people were forced to evacuate in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, prompting states of emergency in both provinces. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to exceed 101, signaling potential health risks. Separately, an advisory for fine particulates is active until midnight in Lewis, Livingston, Ontario, and Allegany, including cities such as Lowville, Geneseo, Canandaigua, and Wellsville. Similar alerts for fine particulates, with AQI levels predicted above 100, are in effect from 10 AM to midnight in regions including Northern St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, and St. Lawrence counties. Northern Herkimer, Hamilton, and Warren counties, including Old Forge and Glens Falls, are also under a fine particulate advisory with the same timeframe. 'When pollution levels are New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,' 'People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. 'Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician.' In Michigan, St Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties, including cities like Port Huron, Pontiac, Detroit and Ann Arbor are under advisories. However, a statewide Air Quality Alert for fine particulate matter put in place on Monday remains in effect. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued air quality alerts for northern Minnesota, affecting millions of residents. The alerts cover northeast and northwest/north central Minnesota, with varying levels of concern based on the Air Quality Index (AQI), including counties like Koochiching, St. Louis, Cook, Lake, and Itasca, and cities such as International Falls, Ely, Duluth, Hibbing, and Grand Marais 'Light winds will allow existing wildfire smoke across northern Minnesota to linger into this evening and overnight,' the NWS said. 'Concentrations are expected to be highest along and near the shores of Lake Superior. An additional round of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across southern Canada is expected to transport into northern Minnesota on Tuesday. In Illinois, the Air Pollution Action Day covers McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy, Northern Cook, Central Cook, Southern Cook, Northern Will, Southern Will, and Eastern Will counties. Similarly, northwest Indiana's Air Quality Action Day includes Lake, Porter, Newton, and Jasper counties, encompassing Gary, Hammond, Merrillville, Portage, and Valparaiso. Ozone levels here are also expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Air Quality have issued advisories, respectively, affecting millions in the northeastern US. In Vermont, an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulates with an AQI approaching or exceeding 151 ('Code Orange') is in place until midnight for Caledonia, Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Essex, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington counties. The advisory in Maine, which lifts at 11pm, covers Northwest Aroostook, Northeast Aroostook, Northern Somerset, Northern Piscataquis, Northern Penobscot, Southeast Aroostook, Central Piscataquis, Central Penobscot, Southern Piscataquis, and Northern Washington counties. Pictured: A helicopter drops water on the Dryden Creek Wildfire just north of Squamish, British Columbia, Canada.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
10m Americans in multiple US states told to shut windows TODAY as toxic chemicals spark air quality emergency
Officials have issued an air quality alert for around 10 million Americans, telling them to minimize outdoor activities and shut all windows on Tuesday. A National Weather Service (NWS) map shows parts of Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Vermont, Indiana and Maine are under advisories until midnight as wildfire smoke from Canada drifts into the US. The alerts stem from elevated levels of ground-level ozone and fine particulates, prompting precautionary measures. In Upstate New York, Vermont, and Maine, residents are advised to limit strenuous outdoor physical activity to mitigate health risks, according to the New York State Department of Health. The NWS has specifically warned residents in northeast Minnesota, eastern Michigan, northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana to keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke infiltration. Current advisories indicate that ozone levels are not expected to reach 'dangerous' levels (AQI 201 or higher) in any affected region. The highest ozone-related concern is in Michigan's St. Clair to Monroe counties and New York's Niagara to Southern Erie counties, where levels are in the 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' range (AQI 101-150). Other regions are primarily under fine particulate alerts, with no ozone warnings suggesting dangerous conditions, which are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and affect the heart. Last week, six US lawmakers wrote to Canada's ambassador, complaining that wildfire smoke drifting south was making it hard for Americans to enjoy the summer. In response, the premier of Manitoba accused them of 'trivializing' a deadly crisis. The fires continue to spread across thousands of acres. May and June were especially destructive in western Canada, where about 30,000 people were forced to evacuate in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, prompting states of emergency in both provinces. In eastern Canada, a wildfire that ignited Monday on Newfoundland's Bonavista Peninsula doubled in size overnight, destroying several cabins near Chance Harbour, according to CBC News. The smoke is now crossing the US border, blanketing millions of Americans. Air quality alerts are in place until 11pm ET several New York counties, including Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Northern Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson, Northern Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and South Erie. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to exceed 101, signaling potential health risks. Separately, an advisory for fine particulates is active until midnight in Lewis, Livingston, Ontario, and Allegany, including cities such as Lowville, Geneseo, Canandaigua, and Wellsville. Similar alerts for fine particulates, with AQI levels predicted above 100, are in effect from 10 AM to midnight in regions including Northern St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, and St. Lawrence counties. Northern Herkimer, Hamilton, and Warren counties, including Old Forge and Glens Falls, are also under a fine particulate advisory with the same timeframe. 'When pollution levels are New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,' 'People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. 'Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician.' In Michigan, St Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe counties, including cities like Port Huron, Pontiac, Detroit and Ann Arbor are under advisories. However, a statewide Air Quality Alert for fine particulate matter put in place on Monday remains in effect. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued air quality alerts for northern Minnesota, affecting millions of residents. The alerts cover northeast and northwest/north central Minnesota, with varying levels of concern based on the Air Quality Index (AQI), including counties like Koochiching, St. Louis, Cook, Lake, and Itasca, and cities such as International Falls, Ely, Duluth, Hibbing, and Grand Marais 'Light winds will allow existing wildfire smoke across northern Minnesota to linger into this evening and overnight,' the NWS said. 'Concentrations are expected to be highest along and near the shores of Lake Superior. An additional round of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across southern Canada is expected to transport into northern Minnesota on Tuesday. In Illinois, the Air Pollution Action Day covers McHenry, Lake, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Grundy, Northern Cook, Central Cook, Southern Cook, Northern Will, Southern Will, and Eastern Will counties. Similarly, northwest Indiana's Air Quality Action Day includes Lake, Porter, Newton, and Jasper counties, encompassing Gary, Hammond, Merrillville, Portage, and Valparaiso. Ozone levels here are also expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Air Quality have issued advisories, respectively, affecting millions in the northeastern US. In Vermont, an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulates with an AQI approaching or exceeding 151 ('Code Orange') is in place until midnight for Caledonia, Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Essex, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington counties. The advisory in Maine, which lifts at 11pm, covers Northwest Aroostook, Northeast Aroostook, Northern Somerset, Northern Piscataquis, Northern Penobscot, Southeast Aroostook, Central Piscataquis, Central Penobscot, Southern Piscataquis, and Northern Washington counties.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A Fatal Tick Bite Caused a Man's Brain to ‘Blow Up'
In 2024, a Massachusetts man was bit by a tick. Days later, he collapsed and was hospitalized. Weeks later, he was dead. Now his family is hoping that their tragedy could help to save other people's lives. As CBS News reports, the family of Kevin Boyce is kicking off the summer season by sharing their heartbreak. In April 2024, Boyce got a tick bite without even realizing it. Within a few days, he began experiencing a number of debilitating symptoms that mimicked the flu, including an extreme headache and vomiting. Not long after that, the 62-year-old collapsed in his home and was rushed to Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with Powassan to the New York State Department of Health, many people who are infected with Powassan virus never develop any symptoms. Those who do develop symptoms usually begin experiencing them within one to four weeks of the bite, with fever, headache, vomiting, confusion, and seizures among the initial symptoms. For more severe cases, the onset of symptoms seems to occur more quickly and can include tremors, paralysis, coma, or death. Powassan can also cause encephalitis and meningitis. Powassan virus is rare, but approximately 10 percent of all cases are fatal. And the number of infections appears to be on the rise. In 2024, the scientific journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection published data that indicated a 'four-fold rise' in the number of cases between 2014 to 2023, compared to 2004 to 2013. In Boyce's case, the disease progressed quickly. Boyce's sister, Erin, explained that Kevin was in the ICU, but ultimately the damage his brain sustained was too much. Just a few weeks after being admitted to the hospital, he passed away.'His brain had blown up so much, from the encephalitis, and he had really bad brain damage,' Erin said of her brother, who left a wife, two sons, and a granddaughter behind. One year later, Boyce's family wants to turn their tragedy into a learning lesson—and a warning for others. 'We just want the public to know what to look for and be wary of ticks,' Erin said, 'especially if you have one on your body.' A Fatal Tick Bite Caused a Man's Brain to 'Blow Up' first appeared on Men's Journal on May 30, 2025
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
NYS Department of Health launches interactive heat risk dashboard
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — As weather agencies around the world predict a rise in annual temperatures, New York State is addressing a predicted increase across the state after a CDC report detailed the serious risks of heat exposure. According to the CDC, extreme heat is one of the leading causes of death both nationally and statewide. The New York State Department of Health has launched an interactive Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard to help health officials determine the potential risk of heat exposure to residents in their area. The dashboard uses a five-color scale to demonstrate different levels of estimated risk and patterns throughout New York, providing a weeklong 'HeatRisk forecast'. Get ready for several years of killer heat, top forecasters warn 'This is a new tool that will help us understand the risk hot weather presents to us. We have moved beyond, 'it's not the heat, it's the humidity,' it's much more complicated than that, and this dashboard offers better insight into your risk,' State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. The Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard was created using data collected by the National Weather Service, New York State Mesonet, and New York State Department of Health, which report and monitor heat-related emergency room visits and calls for heat-related illnesses. The New York State Department of Health also provides a directory of cooling centers available for residents on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Calgary Herald
15-05-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Canadian who visited 16 U.S. locations had measles, Seattle health officials say
The local public health office in Seattle is warning residents there of a confirmed case of measles in a Canadian resident who spent time in the region two weeks ago. Article content Article content The notice from Public Health — Seattle and King County says the person spent time in King and Snohomish counties between April 30 and May 3 while infectious, and adds that their vaccine status is unknown. (The Seattle metropolitan area overlaps with three counties — King, Snohomish and Pierce.) Article content Article content 'In addition to traveling through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the person visited multiple public locations in Renton, Bellevue, Seattle, Everett and Woodinville while contagious with measles, but before being diagnosed with measles,' the notice says. Article content Article content The notice then lists 16 locations alongside dates and times, including a winery, two fitness centres and a local hotel as 'locations of potential exposure.' Article content 'These times include the estimated period when the individual was at the location and two hours after,' the notice says. 'Measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone infectious with measles leaves the area. Anyone who was at the … locations during the times listed could have been exposed to measles.' Article content The health authority says the case is not connected to any previous local measles cases. Public Health — Seattle and King County says it has responded to two other measles cases this year among people who traveled through King County but were not Washington state residents, adding there have been five cases of measles in Washington state residents this year. Article content Article content Measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998, and in the United States two years later. However, falling vaccination rates have caused outbreaks to occur in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., with cross-border transmission as well. Article content Article content Last month, the New York State Department of Health went so far as to issue a travel advisory for those who may be crossing the border, especially anyone travelling to Ontario. Article content
