Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus

30th April 2013,Hyderabad, India – The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of an additional 17 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.

The patients include:

• a 38-year-old man from Zhejiang province who became ill on 18 April 2013;
• an 80-year-old man from Fujian province who became ill on 17 April 2013;
• an 80-year-old man from Jiangxi province who became ill on 21 April 2013;
• a 31-year-old woman from Jiangxi province who became ill on 23 April 2013;
• a 4-year-old boy from Shandong province who became ill on 27 April 2013;
• a 54-year-old man from Hunan province who became ill on 15 April 2013;
• a 64- year-old woman from Hunan province who became ill on 14 April 2013;
• a 38-year-old man from Zhejiang province who became illness on 17 April 2013;
• a 49-year-old man from Jiangsu province who became ill on 17 April 2013;
• a 36-year-old man from Jiangsu province who became ill on 19 April 2013;
• a 60-year-old man from Jiangsu province who became ill on 8 March 2013;
• a 65-year-old man from Fujian province who became ill on 18 April 2013;
• a 69-year-old man from Jiangxi province who became ill on 17 April 2013;
• a 76- year- old woman from Jiangxi province who became ill on 19 April 2013;
• a 60-year- old woman from Zhejiang province who became ill on 17 April 2013;
• a 50-year-old woman from Zhejiang province who became ill on 18 April 2013;
• a 56-year-old man from Henan province who became ill 17 April 2013.

Additionally, two patients earlier reported from Jiangsu province died.

To date, a total of 126 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus including 24 deaths have been reported to WHO. Contacts of the confirmed cases are being closely monitored.

The authorities in the affected locations continue to implement prevention and control measures.

Investigations into the possible sources of infection and reservoirs of the virus are ongoing. Until the source of infection has been identified and controlled, it is expected that there will be further cases of human infection with the virus.

So far, there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

Easy-to-Install C-Wrap Device Delivers Long-Lasting Repair Solution

C-Wrap side entry repair sleeve

HARRISBURG, Paris – April 30, 2013 - TE Connectivity (TE) announces its new C-Wrap side entry repair sleeve, for use in aerospace, defense and marine applications, has been issued a National Stocking Number (NSN) from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). NSN's are used by U.S. military services, Department of Defense (DoD), disposition services, federal agencies (such as GSA, FAA, DHS, etc.), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and many various governments around the world. When added to a product label, the NSN indicates a review and approval for use within the military's logistics supply chain.

TE's C-Wrap device delivers a durable, environment-resistant repair to primary wire damaged with nicks, chafes and radial cracks, while providing superior long-term performance. The repair sleeve was designed specifically to meet the requests of the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) community.

The C-Wrap device consists of two pieces—the outer tubing and adhesive—and is small in diameter and short in length, providing easy installation. With its wrap-around design, the repair sleeve eliminates the need to de-pin the connector for repair, helping to save time, cost and manpower. Its environment-resistant qualities help prevent galvanic corrosion and allow use in a temperature range of -65 to +150 degrees Celsius.

Made of a meltable adhesive and radiation cross-linked modified fluoroelastomer insulation sleeve, the C-Wrap device meets the performance requirements of TE Connectivity D-6201 specification. Designed for long-term performance, the repair kit offers a long-lasting repair to chafed or cracked wire insulation. Color coding on the C-Wrap device provides proper sizing for each application, as well as ease of use.

For more information on TE's C-wrap side entry repair sleeve, visit www.TE.com/products/RepairProducts Connectivity

Plastics Recycling and Waste Management - Technical seminar

INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY SHRI INDRAJIT PAL, I.A.S., SECRETARY, DEPT. OF CHEMICALS & PETROCHEMICALS, MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS, GOVT. OF INDIA AND PRESIDENT - CIPET GOVERNING COUNCIL

April 28, 2013, Hyderabad, India – Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) with the support of Dept. of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry Of Chemicals & Fertilizers , Govt. of India has organized a Technical Seminor on “Plastics Recycling & Waste Management ” is being held in Taj Vivanta Hotel, Begumpet, Hyderabad on 25.03.2013. CIPET has set-up a Plastics Waste Management Centre at Guwahati and undertakes E-Waste recycling project  at Laboratory for Advanced Research in Polymeric Materials (LARPM) Bhubaneshwar with active participation of plastics recycling industries. 

The seminar inaguarated by Shri Indrajit Pal, IAS, Secretary (C&PC), Dept.of chemicals & Petrochmicals , Govt. of India. 

RELEASING OF SEMINAR PROCEEDINGS BY SHRI INDRAJIT PAL, I.A.S., SECRETARY, DEPT. OF CHEMICALS & PETROCHEMICALS,MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS, GOVT. OF INDIA AND PRESIDENT - CIPET GOVERNING COUNCIL

A uninque advantage of plastics is its ability to be reprocessed and Recycled quite easily. The Methods and technologies used for recycling depend on the availability and the types of plastics to be recycled, level of investment and techno-economic feasibility. These include mechanical recycling, mixed-waste recycling and chemical recycling also known as feedstock recycling . The World over 4R approach viz. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover is adopted for effective management of plastics waste. The quantum of plastics waste is increasing due to increase in Population urbanization development activities and changes in life style leading to widespread littering on the landscape. Thus, disposal of waste plastic is a menace and has become a serious problem due to lack of awareness among the people regarding plastics waste management.

In India, nearly 30%-40% of the plastic wastes are being recycled, which are of the highest in the world. Compartively, only 7% of the plastics wastes in Europe are being recycled . In Japan, China and South Africa, the Recycling % are only 12%, 10% and 16%  respectively.

The recycled plastics should not be used for producing containers /Packaging materials which are used for food packaging. If plastics can be collected and disposed off or recycled as per laid down guidelines/rules then the issue of plastic waste can be suitably addressed. The management of plastic waste lies in devising models for its integrated waste collection, segregation & recycling . As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India around 15,342 tons of plastics waste is generated per day . As per CPCB studywhich was conducted in 60 major cities of the country, plastics waste constitutes to about 10-15% of Municiapl Solid Waste. The are about 3500 organized recycling units and around 10,000 unorganized recycling units in India.

The proper waste management technique and recycling of plastics can have several other adavantages like conservation of non-renewable fossil fuels, Reduced consumption of energy, Reduced amounts of solid waste going to landfill , Reduced emissions of carbon –dioxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur-dioxide. It may be noted that plastics are 100% recyclable and as such they do not harm the environment is used and disposed off sensibly.

Recycling of plastics Waste in a proper and scientific manner improves disposed system of non-biodegradable waste, saves money in disposal costs, conserves natural resources  creates jobs and provides a reliable cost effective mechanism to the industry. 

PANEL DISCUSSION

 A study conducted by EPTRI during 2011 on “Inventorization of e-waste for Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakapatnam” informed that 3739.82 ,209.70, 318.90 MT of e-waste have been generated. About, 65% e-waste in Hyderabad comes from computers & its peripherals from the bulk users, whereas Vijayawada and Visakapatnam polluted by television followed by computer and observed that major comes from households.

The annual per Capita Consumption of Plastics in India is 5.8 k.g. compared to 29 k.g. in China and 109 k.g. in USA. The post –consumer plastics waste is 5% of Municipal Solid Waste(MSW) generated in India as follows :-

• Thermoplastics (Recyclables) consititute 80% PET, LDPE, HDPE, PP, PS
• Therzmoset (Non-Recyclables) consititute 20% Multilayer & Laminated Plastics, Bakelite, Ploycarbonate, Melamine, Nylon.
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