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Record-breaking heat wave grips western United States

A record early heat wave striking the western United States on Friday is a one-in-500-year event and almost certainly the result of human-caused climate change, experts say. The heat has been toppling records this week and is set to continue into the weekend across western cities while expanding eastward. Four locations in the desert area near the California-Arizona border registered 44.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, a US national record for March. The readings were recorded near Yuma and Martinez Lake in Arizona, and around Winterhaven and Ogilby in California. Read: Intense heatwave grips US, triggering record-breaking temperatures Already, 65 cities have recorded new March highs, ranging from Arizona and California to Idaho, Weather.com reported. Death Valley reached 40°C on Thursday, while typically cool and foggy San Francisco tied its historic March record at 29°C. In Colorado, skiers were seen hitting the slopes shirtless. The National Weather Service issued extreme heat warni...
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Rare tissue-damaging bacterial disease spreads in Japan

A rare tissue-damaging bacterial disease is spreading in Japan following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. According to Japan Times, Cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) reached 977 by June 2 this year, surpassing the previous record of 941 cases reported for all of last year, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, which has tracked the disease since 1999. Group A Streptococcus (GAS), typically causing "strep throat" in children, can sometimes lead to severe symptoms like limb pain, swelling, fever, low blood pressure, necrosis, breathing problems, organ failure, and death. People over 50 are more vulnerable to the disease. "At the current rate, Japan could see 2,500 cases this year with a mortality rate of 30%," said Ken Kikuchi, a professor of infectious diseases at Tokyo Women’s Medical University. "Most deaths occur within 48 hours. Swelling can start in the morning and spread rapidly, leading to death within two days." Other countries have also seen recent outbreaks. In late 2022, at least five European nations reported increases in invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) disease cases, including STSS, to the World Health Organization. The WHO noted the rise followed the end of COVID-19 restrictions. Kikuchi urged the public to maintain hand hygiene and treat open wounds promptly. He highlighted that patients might carry GAS in their intestines, potentially contaminating their hands through feces.

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At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

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