Disaster preparedness: Philippine government showing signs of being proactive

Known for being reactive, the Philippine government is showing some signs that it is campaigning before calamities strike.

A flood management plan is being updated and an anti-dengue campaign is being raised months before the rainy season begins.

Plutonium in Fukushima soil detected, What the people say about the triple disasters

The triple calamities that hit Japan on 11 March have so far brought 11,232 deaths and 16,361 people missing as of 10:00, 30 March.

Radioactive particles from the trouble Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant had been reported as far as the United States.

Radiation: Correcting the misinformation, Natural ways reduce your dose

The health effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident and the use of potassium iodide continue to spread fear in the public because of how the information is used. At the best, it appears that reassuring the public is inadequate and what we hear from the media confuses and aggravates the situation in what is supposed to be a well-informed choice of the people.

Earlier, I have posted the proper use of potassium iodide to reduce the load of radioactive particles among those who were contaminated by it—the nuclear workers, and not you who is thousands of kilometers away. Visit this link for details.

Japan: Foreign medics help victims, Road accidents increase, Looting reported

First the good news. Then the bad news.

The Japanese government allowed on Sunday the first foreign medical team to treat victims of the triple disasters—earthquake, tsunami and radiation—in the northeast seaside of the mainland Honshu that killed over 10,000 and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

Japan's law forbids holders of overseas medical licenses to practice medicine within the country but the health ministry lifted the prohibition three days after the disaster occurred on 11 March, The Japan Times said.

Study says 65% of victims in Japan's twin disasters were old people

More than half of the mortalities of the mega earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on 11 March were old people according to calculations based on police records.

According to Yomiuri Shimbun's computations, 65.1 percent of the 2,853 fatalities who were identified as of Wednesday were 60 years old or older.

Japan: More foods banned, Tap water unsafe for kids

UPDATE: Health officials in Japan said on Wednesday that the radioactive iodine (RI) content of tap water in Tokyo was found to be increased twice the upper limit considered safe for babies. The RI level measured 210 becquerels per liter (Bq/L) of iodine-131. The recommended limit for infants is 100 Bq/L of iodine-131.

The public is urged to avoid giving tap water to infants who are sensitive to RI, which may cause thyroid malignancy, in a report by Boston.com.

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said, "We advise against using the tap water for drinking and for making infant formula for babies under 1 year old."

However, the RI levels of the tap water does not pose immediate threats to adults. The recommended limit for adults is 300 Bq/L of iodine-131.

More information here.

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The health ministry of Japan advised the public on Wednesday to refrain from eating 11 vegetables produced in Fukushima Prefecture that were found to have higher than normal levels of radioactive materials following a series of explosions on the damaged nuclear plant.

In addition to the earlier indefinite ban on vegetables—spinach and kakina—health ministry officials forbid the consumption of broccoli, cabbages, turnips and other green leafy veggies such as aburana, chijirena, komatsuna, kosaitai, santona andshinobufuyuna for the mean time, in a report by Japan Today. Sorry, I am not familiar with the English translation.

Japan issues food ban for the first time post-nuke blast

An indefinite ban on spinach, kakina--a local green vegetable--and milk produced in Fukushima and nearby prefectures was announced on Monday by Prime Minister Naoto Kan when samples were found to be "hot." This is the first time the government issued a food ban since the Fukushima I nuclear plant exploded a few days ago.

The Japan Times said the ban may cause further public outcry already anxious from the damages brought by the recent powerful temblor and tsunamis, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told the people to stay calm.

How do the people in Japan cope after the quake?

More than a week after the most powerful earthquake in Japan's history struck, thousands had already died, displaced and remained missing during the coldest time of the year.

The UK's Save the Children charity estimated that as many as 100,000 children may have been displaced by the quake and tsunami.

The gigantic waves that destroyed the nuclear plant in Fukushima—as claimed by some sources—made the situation worse. The spread of radiation made many people in Japan and abroad worry about its health effects.

Nuclear scare: Over 1,000 Japanese disembark daily in Manila

Following a series of explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant last week, authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals have reported the increase in the arrivals of more than 1,000 Japanese citizens everyday.

In a report by the Philippine Star, the said increase in disembarkations came from various flights from Japan after their government raised the alert level to 5. Click here to see INES Alert Level Systems.

Radiation Syndrome: Who should take potassium iodide?

The nuclear scare following the Fukushima accident last week made people all over the world alarmed over the possible health risks it may bring to themselves especially the young ones and pregnant women.

It is understandable to be concerned about the situation but it is important to be equipped with the accurate information to make sound judgment and know the proper action to take if the need arises.