Anthrax Reported in Texas
TheHorse.com
25 July 2006
It's the same song, yet another verse for naturally-occurring anthrax cases in livestock and wildlife in Val Verde and Crockett Counties in Southwest Texas. A little rain, a lot of hot weather and the invisible, spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis has resurfaced, putting unvaccinated livestock and grazing wildlife at risk in the area.
"Anthrax has been confirmed in a pen of deer in Val Verde County, and in a Charolais bull in Kinney County. We know that that anthrax often goes under-reported, as we hear of anecdotal reports of livestock or deer losses without laboratory confirmation.
Many ranchers forego the veterinary inspection and laboratory tests, and, instead, just begin vaccinating," reported Bob Hillman, DVM, Texas' state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission. "Anthrax cases are not unusual, but a laboratory confirmation should alert ranchers and livestock owners that it is time to vaccinate their animals in Val Verde, Kinney and surrounding counties."
Doctors On Outlook For Lyme Disease
TheBostonChannel.com
25 July 2006
As the summer gets into full swing, area doctors are treating more and more people for Lyme disease.
NewsCenter 5's Rhondella Richardson reported that problems with ticks are no longer isolated to the eastern part of the state. In Bridgewater, Mass., there have been four reported cases of Lyme disease this season.
"I happened to find (the tick) on my body. I pulled it off," said Kristen Harris. "The dog goes out, and two of the cats go out, so either one of them. It was probably from the cat because they like to jump on your cat at the end of the day."
U.S. Duck Hunter Exposed to Type of Bird Flu, Study Finds
Reuters AlertNet
24 July 2006
Maggie Fox
A U.S. duck hunter and two state wildlife employees had evidence of an uncommon type of bird flu virus in their blood, researchers reported on Monday in one of the first studies to show that hunters might be at risk.
The virus was H11N9, not known to be dangerous to humans and not related to the feared H5N1 virus circulating in wild and domestic birds and among some people, the researchers said.
But their study, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, shows that people who work with wildlife should take care.
"To our knowledge, this study is the first to show direct transmission of influenza A viruses from wild birds to humans," Dr. James Gill of the University of Iowa and colleagues wrote in their report.
Torrance County Woman in Critical Condition with Plague
Associated Press (Posted by Free New Mexican)
21 July 2006
A Torrance County woman was in critical condition Friday with the state's fifth human plague case of the year.
The bubonic plague case was confirmed by the state Health Department, which said it was the first case from the central New Mexico county this year.
New Mexico has had one plague death this year. A woman from Bernalillo County died of the septicemic form of the plague in May.
The other three victims, a Bernalillo County teenager, a Santa Fe County man and a San Miguel County child, all recovered.
Plague, a bacterial disease, is carried by infected fleas. It is generally transmitted by the bites of fleas, but also can be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals.
The Department of Health was investigating the Torrance County woman's home to determine if the area poses a continued risk for plague.
"Plague infection continues to be prevalent in rodents, especially in north-central counties in New Mexico," state Epidemiologist C. Mack Sewell said.
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