Plague-Infected Cats Cause Worry in Wyoming
Associated Press posted by USATODAY.com
12 July 2006
Dan Lewerenz
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A local cat was diagnosed with plague Friday — the fourth in southern Wyoming this year — and public health officials warned that people should take precautions to protect their pets and themselves.
Gus Lopez, director of the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department, said the latest case occurred west of the city, in the same general area where two other cats contracted the disease. A fourth cat, in neighboring Albany County, also was diagnosed with plague.
"Getting four of them in southern Wyoming in a short period of time is unusual," said Ken Gage of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colo. "It's not cause for panic, or anything, but it is cause for some concern."
In many parts of the West, plague is endemic in the fleas infesting rodent populations. The disease can jump to other animals, including humans, if they come into contact with infected fleas. Researchers speculate that the infected cats probably caught or ate infected rodents.
Parasitic Disease Kills Tiger, Leopard at India Zoo
Reuters
11 July 2006
RANCHI, India, July 11 (Reuters) - A royal Bengal tiger and a leopard have died at a zoo in eastern India after being infected by a malaria-like disease, sparking fears that other endangered big cats could be at risk, officials said on Tuesday.
Authorities at Ranchi's Birsa Zoological Park, in Jharkhand state, said both the cats had stopped eating days before. The tiger died on Monday and the leopard on Tuesday.
"The blood tests of the dead cats have tested positive for babesiosis," said A.K. Singh, a state forests official. Babesiosis is an infectious disease caused by a parasitic single-celled microorganism. The disease is transmitted by the bites of ticks that have picked up the parasite from infected animals such as rodents and horses.
In 2000, it claimed the lives of 10 royal Bengal tigers in a zoo in the neighbouring state of Orissa. Zoo officials said blood samples from seven other tigers and two leopards had been collected.
Over the past year, Indian officals, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, have expressed alarm at reports of a dramatic fall in the wild tiger population because of rampant poaching and human encroachment on leading sanctuaries. According to official estimates, there are now barely 3,600 tigers in India, and some wildlife experts say the true figure could be less than 2,000.
Saskatoon Centre to Run Survey for Avian Flu in Wild Birds
CBC news
11 July 2006
Canadian scientists are preparing to conduct a national survey for avian flu in migratory birds.
The Canadian Co-operative Wildlife Health Centre, with headquarters at the University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, is co-ordinating the survey. It begins July 15 in most parts of Canada.
In the survey, dead and living birds from Asia, Africa and Europe that have been found in Canada will be tested for the bird flu virus. Ted Leighton, director of the centre, said the plan is to test birds for avian flu as part of ongoing efforts to keep the flu away from domestic poultry stocks. The survey is also designed to promote early detection of bird flu across the country.
This is the second year in a row that the centre is organizing the survey. In 2005, the survey focused on wild ducks. This year, it has been expanded to include all wild birds.
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