Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Tuesday 27 February 2018
University experts to lead Puerto Rico storm death review

By DANICA COTO tacks, suicide and respira-
Associated Press tory failure, but one report
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico by researchers including
(AP) — Puerto Rico's gov- the director of applied de-
ernor announced Thursday mography at Pennsylvania
that a team of experts at State University estimates
George Washington Uni- that there were nearly 500
versity will lead an inde- excess deaths in Puerto
pendent, in-depth review Rico in September.
to determine the number Victims' relatives note the
of deaths caused by Hurri- storm left the entire island
cane Maria amid accusa- of 3.3 million people with-
tions that the U.S. territory out power, including those
has undercounted the toll. in hospitals and nursing
The team, led by the dean homes who relied on res-
and an epidemiologist of pirators and other electric
the university's school of equipment.
public health, expects to The first phase of the review
have a preliminary report will cost the government
in three months and a final $305,000, officials said,
report in one year. adding that the second
"We will call it as we see it," phase could cost up to
said Dean Lynn Goldman. $1.1 million and be paid for
"That I promise you." In this Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017 file photo, the foundation of a heavily damaged house stands through grants given that
The administration of Gov. amid broken trees in the mountains after the passing of Hurricane Maria in the San Lorenzo neigh- the U.S. territory is mired in
borhood of Morovis, Puerto Rico.
Ricardo Rossello had main- Associated Press an 11-year recession and
tained that 64 people died struggling to restructure a
as a result of the Category hospital visits and interviews view of the death toll in late includes some of those portion of its $73 billion pub-
4 hurricane that hit on Sept. with family members and December. The current toll who died from heart at- lic debt load.q
20 with winds of up to 154 doctors. The team also will
mph (248 kph). review mortality records
death toll is much higher, calculate possible excess 87 endangered vultures poisoned
But critics have said the from the past 10 years to

noting that a spike in the deaths and analyze the
number of deaths after the process that Puerto Rico by poachers in Mozambique
storm was not normal. Puer- used to count victims. She
to Rico recorded an official said the type of research
average of 82 deaths a day her team will be doing JOHANNESBURG (AP) —
in the two weeks before could lead to an improved Conservationists say at
Maria hit. The number in- U.S. model for estimating least 87 critically endan-
creased to 117 a day after deaths after a disaster. gered vultures have died
the storm pummeled the "Worldwide, these meth- after consuming poison
island in mid-September ods are not sufficiently de- planted in the carcass of
and then fell below usual in veloped," she said, adding a poached elephant in
October. that she will be working Mozambique. The South
Rossello said his administra- alongside Puerto Rican of- Africa-based Endangered
tion wants to rely on the ficials. "Despite the best Wildlife Trust says at least
most up-to-date science to efforts of many people to 80 white-backed vultures
get more clarity about the care for people in the af- and seven hooded vultures
number of victims. termath of this disaster... were killed and more dead
"I want to know the truth," it hasn't always been pos- birds might be found in
he said. "It's important for sible for the records to be the Mbashene communal
those who have lost loved kept in a way that they nor- area where the poisoning
ones." mally are." occurred. It says another
Goldman said the team Puerto Rico government of- 17 poisoned vultures im-
will review all deaths from ficials have rejected media proved after treatment.
September until the end of reports that suggest hun- In this photo provided by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and tak- The conservation group
February, relying on death dreds of people died as a en on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, the corpses of poisoned vultures says some of the dead vul-
certificates in addition to direct result of the storm, are piled up in the Mbashene communal area in Mozambique. tures were mutilated, sug-
possible funeral home and and Rossello called for a re- Associated Press gesting that they may have
been killed for parts used in
traditional medicine. The
tusks of the poached el-
ephant were seized and
one suspect was detained.
Poachers also poison vul-
tures because they circle
above the carcasses of
animals such as rhinos and
elephants, potentially re-
vealing their location to
park rangers.q