World Of Tourism

In Eastern Washington, mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been revealed recently, prompting state health officials to recommend that residents take safety measures against the pests. Infected mosquitoes with West Nile virus have been first seen near the Benton-Yakima County, serves as a reminder for people living in and visiting eastern Washington.

Benton-Franklin Health Officer, Dr. Larry Jecha said, “Many local residents know the threat of West Nile virus is here, but we’re concerned that visitors from the west side may not be as aware. Eastern Washington in general, and the south central region in particular, have been the most active for the virus in recent years, and we expect big crowds for the Independence Day weekend. It’s vital that people take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.“

Three groups of mosquitoes from Grant and Yakima counties tested positive for the virus in the past two weeks that signs the start of the West Nile season in the state. When an infected mosquito bites people, they are also contracted to such virus. Birds and horses are also highly susceptible. Generally, the virus surfaces with the onset of warmer weather in the late spring and early summer.

Environmental monitoring for West Nile virus is underway across the state including testing of mosquito samples and dead birds. State health officials emphasize it’s important that people protect themselves on the heels of state’s busiest year for West Nile virus cases.

Gregg Grunenfelder, of the state Department of Health said, “Wear sleeves and long pants, and cover exposed skin with an effective repellent to avoid mosquito bites. This latest detection, coming just days after mosquitoes collected in Grant County tested positive, leaves no doubt that the West Nile virus season is here.”

This week, a second West Nile virus positive mosquito sample from Grant County has also been reported. Whereas there have been no human infections noticed in Washington yet this year. In 2009, there were 38 human infections reported, including one death; all of the human exposures were in eastern Washington or out of state. Also, West Nile virus was also noticed in 22 dead birds, 346 mosquito samples, 72 horses, and one dog last year.

About the dead birds, people can report (www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/Zoo/WNV) using the state health department’s dead bird reporting system or by contacting their local health agency (www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm).

West Nile virus infection can be very serious and even fatal for some people. Some people may have chance to develop meningitis or encephalitis; some neurological effects may be permanent. The majority of people, bitten by a mosquito that previously infected with West Nile virus, would not become ill yet some may have mild symptoms including headache and fever that go away without treatment.

People, who have weak immune systems and who have age more than 50, are at higher risk for serious illness.

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Senate Democrats introduced legislation Tuesday night that once again seeks to extend federal jobless benefits and a homebuyers' tax credit, a week after a similar measure was defeated by lawmakers as part of a wider tax and benefit package.

Details of the bill were released by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) ...

The Obama administration has asked BP to disclose more information to the public about the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, including measurements of the size of the spill and clean air.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday that the White House writes to BP to ask the post that information on its website, and to be more transparent in their responses.

The move came after BP has acknowledged that more oil than expected is gushing into the Gulf and a live video was posted on the web showing a huge cloud of oil spewing next to a tube carrying some of it to a tanker on the surface.

The video was posted on the website of the U.S. select committee on energy independence and global warming by Representative Ed Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and other lawmakers pushed BP to make it available to the public.

"What you see is real-time images of a real world disaster unfolds 5,000 meters below the surface of the Gulf," said Markey. "These videos serve as a scalding, blistering indictment of BP inattention to the content and scope of the largest environmental disaster in the history of the United States."

In his speech, called Obama the oil spill an "environmental catastrophe" and said the country's best brains are using the best technology to try to stop the leak. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson is scheduled to visit the Gulf today to oversee her agency response and speech residents, according to EPA.

Obama said that the accident was caused by a breakdown of responsibility on the part of the London-based BP, the Geneva-based Transocean Ltd., the company that BP hired the rig, and Houston-based Halliburton Co.

"We will continue to hold these companies accountable" to stop the leak, repair the damage and reimburse the financial losses, he said.

Obama also said that the federal government should be held responsible.

"If the law on our books are inadequate to prevent such emissions or if we do not enforce these laws, I would like to know," he said. "I want to know what worked and what does not work in our response to the disaster and how monitoring of oil and gas industry collapsed. "

Obama has already announced plans to split the revenue and regulatory functions of the Minerals Management Service in order to avoid conflicts of interest, ordered inspections of all deep wells in the Gulf, and issued a moratorium on new drilling.

But we must do more to protect health and safety of our employees to ensure the quality of our air, water, and to preserve the natural beauty and generosity of America, "Obama said.

BP said it would cooperate with the investigation.

"We share the goal of the president and the public to know what happened to cause this accident and what regulatory and industry changes are necessary to prevent something similar from happening again," Tony Hayward, BP's chief executive, said in an email sent statement.

Republican Response

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said in a statement that "in addition to those companies that were drilling, it is important to know what administration approved."

"We know that this administration approved the site. We know that this administration approved the contingency plan games," said McConnell. I hope, during the testimony, we will be able to find out what was wrong not only with the companies themselves, but with the supervision of the companies. "

The Republican weekly address, called the Louisiana Senator, David Vitter for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to immediately start work - "from BP, by the way, the correct bill" - dredging material from the rivers and deltas building barrier islands to protect coast from oil.

Vitter also said that he cooperates with the other Gulf Coast lawmakers to back legislation that raises the liability cap for companies responsible for spills to the higher of "the last four quarters of the responsible party's profit," or twice the current $ 75000000 limit.

The rules will also stimulate research on how to cap wells and develop the booms to prevent the spread of oil in heavy seas.

"It would offshore drilling safer, smarter and more reliable," said the witty.

With help from Jim Polson in New York and William McQuillen in Washington.