September 2011 Current Events: Disasters & Science News
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Here are the key events in Science and Disasters news for the month of September 2011.
Texas Experiences Record Breaking Wildfires (Sept. 9): Wildfires consume tens of thousands of acres in drought-stricken areas of Texas. Two people have been killed by the fast-moving fires. In Bastrop County, east of Austin and the location of the biggest fire, 500 homes have been destroyed, 25,000 acres have burned and 5,000 people have been evacuated. The wildfires are fueled by high winds and a devastating drought—the state's worst. (Sept. 11): The number of homes that have been destroyed by the wildfires in Texas rises to 1,554 and 17 people are missing. The biggest fire is about 30 miles east of Austin and is currently 50% contained.
Listeria Outbreak Causes Several Deaths (Sept. 27): Cantaloupe from Jensen Farms, a Colorado company, is the source of the deadliest outbreak of food-borne illness in the U.S. in more than a decade. The melons are contaminated with listeria, a dangerous but common bacteria. Listeria can cause severe illness, especially in young children, the elderly, and people with impaired immune systems. It is also dangerous for pregnant women and may cause miscarriages. So far, 18 people in 20 states have died.
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