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2012

2011 In Review

Let's start the New Year with an ironic chuckle, shall we?  Exactly one year ago today headlines around the world read:

“Thousands of Dead Blackbirds Fall from the Sky in Beebe, Arkansas”

Ironically, January 1, 2012 starts off with the exact same headline, but with an added twist:

“Thousands of Dead Blackbirds Fall From the Sky in Beebe Arkansas, While Tens of Thousands of Dead Drum Fish Wash Ashore Along the Arkansas River”

And we’re off…

A Brief Recap of 2011

Events That Took Our Attention Away From What Really Mattered

January

News:

Mohamad Bouazizi dies after setting himself ablaze in protest triggering anti-government protests in Tunisia 

Suicide bomber attacks Moscow airport kills 37, injures 180

Protestors in Tunisia oust Ben Ali from power

Estonia adopts the Euro

7.1 magnitude earthquake his Chile

Parts of Brazil get a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours, causing mudslides and killing over 900

Tunisian president flees, Prime Minister takes over

Animal deaths and diseases of note:

Thousands of blackbirds fell dead over a 1-mile span in Beebe, Arkansas; Fish die off in Colorado, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland, Florida, Arkansas, California; 55 buffalo die in New York due to mysterious illness; Bird die off in South Dakota, California, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky; 200 cows found dead in Wisconsin.

February

News:

6.2 magnitute earthquake his New Zealand

Libyan rebels call for Gadhafi’s resignation

Wildfires in Australia

Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi accused of paying 17 year old for sex and using his influence to cover it up

More than 200 killed in Benghazi massacre in Libya

Mubarak steps down

Police move in on Bahrain protesters

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Dolphins found dead in Louisiana; Bird die off in Ohio not due to the avian flu; Invasion of at least 50,000 blackbirds and crows in Indiana; White Nose Syndrome found in Virginia; Fish die off in Florida, Arkansas.

March

News:

NATO enforces no-fly zone in Libya

Libyan refugees flood into Tunisia

Thousands demonstrate in London over austerity measures

Coalition launches Libya attacks

Massive quake, tsunami hit Japan

US joins air strikes in Libya

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Avian Flu in Missouri; Anthrax in Central Texas; Fish die off in Florida, New York, Nebraska, Illinois, Redondo Beach, California.

April

News:

Tornados ravage the South

Eyjafjallajokull erupts releasing ash clouds that cause disruption to air travel across Europe

2 billion people worldwide watch the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton

Death toll from storms in South nears 300

Water radiation millions of times over limits in Japan

Syrian troops storm Daraa mosque

Obama releases a photocopy of his original birth certificate.

Infectious disease outbreaks of note:

3 cases of Shigellosis in Louisiana; 60 Gulf Coast residents become ill with mysterious illness; meningococcal disease in California; antibiotic resistant MRSA in Montana.

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Large Fish die off in California; White Nose Syndrome in Ohio; Avian Flu in Nebraska; Rat population threatens public health in New York; Sea turtles and dolphin strandings in Mississippi.

May

News:

Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. special operations.

Infectious disease outbreaks of note:

1 case of bubonic plague in New Mexico; 130 ill with Norwalk virus in North Dakota.

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Fish die off in Ohio.

June

News:

Bedbug infestations from New York to Ohio – later determined that the insects had developed an immunity to pesticides used to eliminate them in earlier infestations;
Scientists blame Europe’s E. Coli outbreak on bacteria that may be new;

Parliament votes in favor of austerity in Greece

Ash cloud grounds Australian flights

Presidential compound in Yemen attached

Rep. Weiner admits to inappropriate “sexting” relations with women on the Internet.

Protests intensify in Syria.

Obama unveiled plans to reduce U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.

Infectious disease outbreaks of note:

400 cases of drug resistant Scarlet Fever in Hong Kong; 40 deaths due to unknown fever in India; Unknown lung disease in South Korea; Tornado victims infected with aggressive fungal infection in Missouri.

Animal deaths and disease of note:

31 wild boars dead in France; Heat wave responsible for the deaths of 105,000 turkeys and 1,500 cattle in Minnesota; Mass die off of chickens in Marshall Islands; Outbreaks of a bacterial infection that kills bee larvae seen in England; As many as 1,500 cattle die in South Dakota due to heat wave, cattle deaths reported in Iowa; Fish die off in Florida; Bird flu in Minnesota, Maryland.

July

News:

Windpipe transplant in Sweden first use of organ grown from patient’s own stem cells

South Sudan declares independence from Sudan

Army/protesters clash in Syria, killing 71

Bullet train derails in Southern China

Norway struck by 2 deadly attacks

Space shuttle makes final landing

UN to declare famine in Somalia

Democrats and Republicans battled over the federal debt ceiling.

Anders Behring Breivik set off a car bomb in Oslo killing 8, then shoots another 69 at a summer camp.

Murdoch denies any knowledge of phone hacking

Infectious disease outbreaks of note:

Child died of H5N1; 6 die due to an outbreak of antibiotic resistant C. difficile.

August

News:

Copiapó Mining Accident

IMF head, Dominique Strauss-Kahn freed after credibility of hotel maid questioned

Storm tears across New York

7 Isrelis dead in string of attacks

Riots spread across England

Taliban kills 30 elite US forces

Wall Street suffers worse sell off in 2 years

Standard & Poors rating agency downgrades the U.S.’s credit rating.

Hurricane Irene killed at least 50 people, knocks out power to millions, causes $15 billion in damage.

Rebel forces in Libya reach Tripoli and Qaddafi flees.

The Obama Administration announced a new initiative to meet military fuel demands by joining The Department of Agriculture (to secure feed-stocks) and The Department of Energy (to provide technology), for the sole purpose of developing biofuel for the exclusive use of the Department of the Navy. 

Infectious disease outbreaks of note:

Over 1,100 people contract a skin disease in Sri Lanka; Cholera in Cameroon, Pakistan; 25 cases of scrub typhus in India; U.S. soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq diagnosed with non-infectious, non-curable and non-treatable lung disease, constrictive bronchiolitis reported; Meningococcal outbreak in Australia; 10 peopled hired to save animals have died due to mysterious disease.

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Avian botulism in Utah; Fish die off in Germany, Batumi, Ohio; Over 21,000 hens; infected with bird flu in Bangladesh, India; Unknown disease causes death of cows, oxen, pigs, goats and buffaloes in Nepal; Shellfish poisoning in Washington State; Blue-green algae in Vermont; Equine flu in Mongolia; Deadly bee disease discovered in several broods in Sweden; Equine flu in Mongolia.

September

News:

Iran frees 2 Americans detained by border patrol guards in 2009

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah decrees that women will be able to vote and run in local elections in 2015

Floods kill more than 200 in Pakistan

Protesters break into Israeli embassy in Egypt

Occupy Wall Street begins, sets up camp in Zuccotti Park

Video of police trapping protesters in net and pepper spraying them goes viral

Protesters organize Occupy rallies in Boston and San Francisco

Activists take over a small park in Manhattan in protest and Occupy Wall Street is born, quickly spreading to Occupies across the country.

Infectious disease outbreaks of note:

Over 38,000 cases of malaria, falciparum, typhoid in India; 58 die in Somalia of cholera; Hemorrhagic fever in Pakistan, Single case of plague in Oregon, Suspected outbreak of ScrubTyphus in India; Meningitis in Virginia, Australia, New Zealand; Legionnaires’ disease in Pennsylvania; Over 2,000 cases of Dengue in Pakistan; 9 dead, 36 admitted with suspected encephalitis in India; 120 people with suspected anthrax in China; 9 cases of wild poliovirus in China; Over 1,100 cases of a skin disease in Sri Lanka; 4 cases of wild poliovirus type 1 in China.

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Dogs dying of Seasonal Canine Illness in the UK; Piranhas in Brazil; Humbolt Squid in Mexico and Southern California; New type of Small snails that destroy all plant life found in Australia; Several bighorn sheep die of pneumonia outbreak in Montana; Outbreak of deadly form of equine herpes in horses in Tennessee, California; Hoof and Mouth disease in Paraguay; Anthrax in Italy, Iran; Avian paramyxovirus outbreak in Australia; Blue-green algae in Washington State, Oregon, Canada; Swarms of jellyfish in multiple Gulf States, Florida; Red tide in Texas, Philippines, California; Giant African Snails that carry non-lethal meningitis found in Texas; Fish die off in Israel, China; Unidentified disease causes illness in 18 seagulls in Guernsey; 30,000 birds culled in India due to bird flu; Concentrated plankton poisons cause fish die off in California; Bovine anthrax in Slovenia; Bubonic plague in prairie dogs in Colorado.

October

News:

Ajka Alumina Plant Accident

Amanda Knox murder convictions overturned

Over 100 killed in truck bombing of Somali transitional government

Nobel peace prize goes to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman who has pushed form change in Yemen

2 Iranians charged in New York with alleged plot to kill Saudi Ambassador

Severe flooding in Thailand kills more than 650

Israeli soildier release in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian and Arab prisoners

7.2 earthquake hits Turkey killing 644

UN marks population surpassin 7 billion

Steve Jobs died

Quaddafi was found hiding in a storm drawn, is shot and displayed in a supermarket meat locker.

Infectious disease outbreaks of note:

Hantavirus in India; Anthrax in Russia; 60 people infected with dengue fever in the Marshall Islands; 500 children ill due to an outbreak of a mystery illness; 6 die due to unknown disease in Napal; Legionnaire’s disease in Florida, UK, Maryland, Canada; 32 cases of H1N1 in Nicaragua; 2 cases of H5N1 in Indonesia; 8 die due to flood related diseases in Pakistan; Norovirus in Minnesota, Utah; 3,000 infected with unknown disease in Ethiopia; Pneumonic plague epidemic declared in Madagascar; Viral meningitis in West Virginia, New Zealand, Ohio; TB in Long Island; Wild poliovirus type 1 circulating in Pakistan found in China; 85,000 cases of cholera in Africa; Anthrax in Romania; First case of tularemia diagnosed in a human since 2003 in Delaware; Hemorrhagic fever in Namibia; Malaria in Sudan; whopping cough in Washington State.

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Oyster die off in Florida; Blue Green algae in the UK; Fish kill in Israel, Illinois, H5N1 in Indonesia, Philippines; Red tide in Canada, Florida, California, Texas, Washington state; Ebola-like virus – Lloviu virus – found in bats in Spain; Infectious salmon anemia reported in Canada; Bird and fish kill in Georgian Bay, Canada, Nevada; Swarms of jellyfish in Puget Sound, Washington, Norway, Thailand; Harbor seals wash ashore in New England states; Dead fish, disoriented birds and water discoloration in concentration of Katrina debris; Blue-green algae in New York; Dozens of ringed seals die due to unknown disease in Alaska; Bluetongue in Algeria; 5 horses die due to unknown virus; Hundreds of hives die off in a single day in Florida; Outbreak of rabbit fever, virulent in domestic rabbits and humans.

November

News:

Wikileaks began publishing secret U.S. diplomatic cables

NATO admits Pakistan troop deaths

Egypt military appoints new PM

Unrest continues in Egypt

Mass arrests at New York Occupy

Doctor found guilty over Michael Jackson’s death

Occupy Oakland shuts down city’s ports

Eleven mayors participate in conference call to discuss the Occupy branches in their respective cities

Zuccotti Park dismantled by police

Occupy Wall Street regroups for a day of protests

Video of police pepper spraying students at UC Davis goes viral

Police clear Occupy encampments in Los Angeles and Philadelphia

Greece’s government reaches the brink of default.

Congressional super committee failed to agree on a debt-reduction plan

Infectious disease outbreaks of note:

Legionellosis in Maine, Maryland; Outbreak of unidentified virus on a cruise liner in Brazil; 3 children test positive for H3N2 in Iowa; Several diagnosed with meningitis in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, India; Chicken pox in Indiana; 40 die of dysentery and cholera in Kenya; Typhoid in Zimbabwe, Philippines; Drug resistant MDRA tuberculosis in North Korea; Unknown virus that looks like dengue and chikunguanya in India; Anthrax in Uganda; Atypical pneumonia bacteria outbreak in Indiana; 13 die due to an unknown fever in India; H5N1 in 1 year old in Egypt; 18 dead due to mysterious strain of pulmonary disease in South Korea; 13 die due to unknown fever in India.

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Probable outbreak of African Plague among pigs in Armenia; 500 foul culled due to N5H1 in Nepal, 1,300 fowl and 9,800 eggs destroyed in Vietnam, 11,000 culled and 43,000 eggs destroyed in Bangladesh; Red tide responsible for the death of thousands of fish in Florida, Philippines; Anthrax in Groatia; 6 burros die of equine encephalitis in Argentina; Bluetongue disease in cattle in Germany and Netherlands; 91 whale deaths in mass stranding in Australia and New Zealand; H5N1 vaccination resistant strain exists widely in China; Thousands of piranhas appear on Daveron beach in Brazil; H5N2 outbreak in commercial farms in South Africa; Homes have become infested with killer spiders, biting ants and cockroaches shipped in from overseas in the UK; Outbreaks of toxic algae in Lake Erie, Ohio; HPAI avian flu outbreak in Vietnam; Fire ants found on Guam may wipe out all insects, small animals, reptiles and bird chicks in their path; Fish kill in India; Red tide in Hong Kong, Canada; Blue-green algae in California; 3,000 fish die in Thames after raw sewage dump; More than 30 cases of leptospirosis reported in dogs in Michigan.

December

News:

Physicists announce they are closing in on a subatomic particle, the Higgs boson, that would confirm long-held understanding about how the universes’ fundamental building blocks behave

North Korea dictator Kim Jong-il died

Occupy movement holds national “Occupy Homes” day

Police remove Occupy protesters encamped in San Francisco

Police evict Occupy protesters in Boston, arresting 46

Infectious disease outbreaks of note: 

Norovirus outbreak in Sacramento; 140 cases of Hemorrhagic fever in China, 2 more cases in Ghana; Nodding Syndrome outbreak in Uganda; 50 cases of Typhoid in Fiji; Mystery fever in India; Anthrax in hippos in Zambia; 40 test positive for scarlet fever in China; 3 cases of Yellow Fever in Senegal; 5 die of scrub typhus in India.

Animal deaths and disease of note:

Hundreds of fish die due to red tide in Florida; Non-indigenous species of gigantic Asian tiger prawn appear in Texas coastal waters; Over 3,000 fowls culled, and 1,300 eggs destroyed after H5N1 detected in Bangladesh, over 1,500 culled in China; 5 tonnes of fish die in India; Swarms of jellyfish on beaches in New Zealand; Blue-green algae in Australia; 30 cattle die of unknown disease in Nepal; Thousands of migrating Eared Grebes were killed after mistaking asphalt for water in Utah; More than 1,000 birds have died from unknown disease in Nepal; Hippos die of anthrax in Nepal; Outbreak of pneumonia in big horn sheep in Montana’ Anthrax in cattle in India; 2 species of mosquito that carry Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Ross River Virus found in New Zealand; Bed bug infestation in Florida; Fish die-off in Germany due to poison from unknown source.

What did I miss??????