Home PSEPC Daily Brief DOB06-040

Daily Brief

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

DOB06-040 - 27 February 2006

News

Snowboarder missing in B.C. avalanche
On February 27, the CBC reported that search and rescue teams were looking for a missing snowboarder following an avalanche near Invermere in southeastern B.C. on February 26. There are also unconfirmed reports of missing snowmobilers.

The avalanche occurred in an area called Paradise Mountain, and was described as a level 2.5 avalanche, which is powerful enough to break trees.
(Source: CBCNews, 27 February 2006)
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The Canadian Avalanche Association provides more information on the current avalanche threat throughout B.C. 

Wind chill warnings issued for northern New Brunswick
On February 27, Environment Canada issued wind chill warnings for parts of northern New Brunswick. Extreme winds are forecast for the morning of February 27, which are due to subside later in the day.
(Source: Environment Canada, 27 February 2006)
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Environment Canada issues public weather warnings across the country.

CATSA plans to test bomb-sniffing dogs
On February 27, the Globe and Mail reported that the Canadian Air Transport Security Agency (CATSA) is negotiating with the RCMP to test the use of bomb-sniffing dogs at a major Canadian international airport.
(Source: globeandmail.com, 27 February 2006)
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Earthquakes recorded in Quebec and Ontario
On February 25 the CBC reported that an earthquake was felt in eastern Ontario and western Quebec in the evening of February 24. A 4.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded on February 24, with the epicentre located near Thurso, Quebec.

On February 26, Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) reported that a second earthquake with a 3.2 magnitude was recorded in eastern Ontario on February 25. The epicentre was located near Vankleek Hill.
(Source: CBCnews, Natural Resources Canada, February 25 and 26, 2006)
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Even though the earthquakes occurred approximately 43 kilometres apart, NRCAN indicated that the February 25 earthquake near Vankleek Hill was not related to the February 24 earthquake near Thurso.

PSEPC Geomatics provides a map (1,740 kb) of the affected area.

In brief

Two human cases of H5N1 reported in China
On February 26, the Chinese Ministry of Health reported that two persons were victims of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The Ministry indicated that a nine-year-old girl from the Zhejiang province and a 26-year-old farmer from the Anhui province were confirmed to be infected with the virus. These cases bring the total to 14 confirmed cases of human infection in the country. From the previous 12 cases, eight died and four were discharged from the hospital.
(Source: China View, 26 February 2006)
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The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that there have been 14 cases of human infection by avian influenza virus in China since 2003.

The Public Health Agency of Canada provides information on avian influenza.

New H5N1 fatality in Indonesia
On February 25, the Indonesian Ministry of Health confirmed that a woman, who died on February 20, became the country's 20th fatality from the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The victim was a 27-year-old woman from East Jakarta.
(Source: Bloomberg.com, 25 February, 2006)
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According to WHO, Indonesia has the second highest number of cases of avian influenza in humans in the world since 2003, with 27 cases of human infection, including 20 deaths. Vietnam has reported the most cases with 97cases, including 42 deaths.

Niger confirms H5N1 avian influenza virus in domestic ducks
On February 27, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed that domestic ducks from Niger were infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The ducks were from a region around Magaria, a town in southern Niger a few kilometres from the border with Nigeria, the first African country to confirm the virus.
(Source: Reuters AlertNet, 27 February 2006)
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Cyber risk assessment

Over the course of the past 72 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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