Fish Virus in Northeast Spreading to Other Fish Species
newswise
19 July 2006

Newswise — Cornell researchers have found that a deadly fish virus detected in the northeastern United States for the first time in June in two species has probably spread to at least two more. But they have yet to determine whether the virus is responsible for the death of hundreds of fish in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in recent weeks.

Over the past month, Cornell's Aquatic Animal Health Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine has been sent some 300 fish for evaluation. The frozen samples are from the fish that have been dying since late May and early June in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Last week, an estimated 1,000 dead fish washed up on the shores of Lake Ontario in just one morning.

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) was detected and confirmed for the first time in the Northeast in round gobies and muskellunge in June. Cornell researchers are awaiting finals results of tests on 54 fish of 10 species that indicated VHSV in smallmouth bass and burbot. To date, Cornell researchers also have tested for the virus in lake sturgeon, brown bullhead, rock bass, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and black crappie.

VHSV causes fatal anemia and hemorrhaging in many fish species but poses no threat to humans or other animals.

"The situation right now is that we still have fish dying in Lake Ontario," said Geoffrey Groocock, a postdoctoral associate at Cornell's Aquatic Animal Health Program. "We have detected the virus in other fish species in the region, which may be contributing to the continuing fish mortalities. We are continuing to test samples as we receive them from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Thousand Island Biological Field Station to try and get a clearer picture."

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Test Confirms 42nd Indonesia Bird Flu Human Death
Reuters
19 July 2006

JAKARTA (Reuters) - An international test has confirmed a 44-year-old Indonesian man who died this month had bird flu, a senior health ministry official said on Thursday.

That takes the total confirmed bird flu deaths in Indonesia to 42, to tie with Vietnam as the country with most human victims from the H5N1 avian flu strain.

Vietnam's 42nd bird flu death occurred in 2005. Indonesia has had more deaths this year than any other country.

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Rabid Bats Found in Orange County
Associated Press (Posted by News 14 Carolina)
19 July 2006

CARRBORO, N.C. -- An Orange County man is undergoing medical treatment after an apparent bite from a rabid bat.

The man, whose name has not been released, reported being awakened from a Sunday afternoon nap by the fluttering of a bat's wings. He said he found two small marks on his neck, captured the bat and called 911.

The N.C. State Rabies Laboratory found that the animal had rabies.

The man and two other family members are receiving post-exposure rabies treatment, county animal control officials said. "People get rabies from bats, by and large," said Dr. Carl Williams, a public health veterinarian with the state Occupational and Environment Epidemiology division.

And bat bites are difficult to detect, he said. From January through July 15, Williams said, 239 animals in the state had tested positive for rabies, compared to 283 in the same period in 2005. That included 142 raccoons, 29 foxes, 28 skunks, 15 bats and 12 cats.

"We should all be sure to consider any possible contact with a bat as a potential rabies exposure, and make immediate contact with our animal control program," Orange County Animal Control Director Bob Marotto said in a statement.

He advised that the bats that have had contact with a household member or a pet shouldn't be released, since the animal's saliva may have to be tested for the rabies virus. The bat was the second in Orange County this year to test positive for rabies and was the 13th animal overall found with the disease.

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