Home PSEPC Daily Brief DOB06-011

Daily Brief

The PSEPC Daily Brief is a compilation of summaries of publicly available and PSEPC information concerning critical infrastructure protection and emergency management.

DOB06-011 - 17 January 2006

News

Avian Influenza: Update
On January 16, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that laboratory tests conducted at Turkey’s national influenza centre in Ankara have confirmed two additional cases of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The first newly confirmed case, a five-year-old boy, remains hospitalized in stable condition. His 14-year-old sister died on January 15 of a respiratory disease with clinical features similar to the H5N1 infection. Test results have confirmed her infection. Both children developed illness following direct exposure to diseased poultry.

These newly confirmed cases bring the total in Turkey to 20, of which four were fatal. A number of patients’ samples have been sent to a WHO laboratory in the United Kingdom (UK) for verification. WHO stated that the number of cases and deaths in Turkey will be adjusted in its cumulative table of laboratory-confirmed cases upon receipt of results from the UK laboratory. New outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in birds continue to be reported across Turkey. (Source: World Health Organization, 16 January 2006)
Source article

Ice build-up causes power failures in the Northwest Territories
Heavy frost caused the point of a hydro tower to collapse on the line from Snare Lake, 30 kilometres outside of Yellowknife. The structural damage resulted in widespread power outages in the North Slave region of the Northwest Territories last weekend. A spokesperson for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation said that heavy frost was to blame for the tower's structural failure and it will take several days to repair the damage. Hydro officials also stated that more towers and lines could be affected if a mix of warm and cold weather continues.
(Source: CBC News, 16 January 2006)
Source article

PSEPC Geomatics provides a map (294 kb) of the affected areas.

In brief

New Brunswick roads flooded after heavy rains: Update
Further to PSEPC Daily Brief DOB06-010, on January 16, the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) released an additional River Watch 2006 bulletin reporting conditions on the areas affected by heavy rain and ice. The provincial EMO stated that water courses continue to be at elevated levels but are expected to stabilize in most areas.
(Source: New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, 16 January 2006)
Source article

Cyber risk assessment

Over the course of the past 24 hours, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) has not detected any significant new threats or vulnerabilities. No significant incidents with the potential to affect critical infrastructure have been reported. Accordingly, based on the information available to CCIRC, the cyber risk facing Canadian critical infrastructure is assessed as low. Personnel responsible for information, systems and network security should continue to apply appropriate security precautions and monitor their systems.

Recent cyber alerts and advisories issued by CCIRC can be viewed under “Recent analytical releases” at www.psepc.gc.ca/ccirc.

See also...

• The Weather Office
• FAC - Travel Updates

Note to readers

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) collects information related to cyber and physical threats to, and incidents involving, Canadian critical infrastructure. This allows us to monitor and analyze threats and to issue alerts, advisories and other information products.

Any suspected criminal activity should be reported to local law enforcement organizations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) National Operations Centre (NOC) provides a 24/7 service to receive such reports or to redirect callers to local law enforcement organizations. The NOC can be reached at (613) 993-4460. National security concerns should be reported to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) at (613) 993-9620.

Links to sites not under the control of the Government of Canada (GoC) are provided solely for the convenience of users. The GoC is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or the reliability of the content. The GoC does not offer any guarantee in that regard and is not responsible for the information found through these links, nor does it endorse the sites and their content.

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