Anthrax Spores Found in Northumberland
Northumberlandtoday.co.uk
26 Oct 2006
Scientists probing the death from anthrax of a man in the Scottish Borders have found spores of the deadly disease on animal skins and drums in Northumberland.
NHS Borders will not confirm where they were discovered in the county but say minute spores were found on three drums and two imported animal skins. They were examined by the Health Protection Agency. Pascal Norris, of Black Lodge, Stobs, Hawick, died in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in July. A spokesperson for NHS Borders said: “All were recovered from a site in Northumberland.
“The implications of these findings for the on-going investigation concerning Black Lodge, Stobs, are being actively considered." Specialist have already said they believe Mr Norris, 50, contracted anthrax from animal skins which he used to make African-style drums. The spokesperson added: “Discussions with leading UK experts, regarding these findings have concluded that the risk of being exposed to anthrax spores through drumming alone or merely handling these drums is extremely low.
“For that reason we are not advising antibiotics for those people who attended any drumming classes or workshops where these drums were used. “Also expert advice is clear that there is no increased risk of anthrax to the general public as a result of these findings. Current owners of drums or hides do not need to take any action.
DNR Wants to Kill More Deer: Agency Admits Disease-Fighting Methods may Prove Unpopular
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Posted by JSOnline.com)
25 Oct 2006
Lee Bergquist
A nearly five-year-long, $26.8 million campaign that has failed to control the spread of chronic wasting disease is forcing the state Department of Natural Resources to revamp its strategy. The agency briefed members of the Natural Resources Board on Wednesday, and in a memo, it reiterated its preference for killing a large number of deer, including the use of "non-traditional and, potentially, controversial methods." This could mean the use of sharpshooters, bounty hunters - even employing helicopters - to kill deer where populations are not falling by traditional hunting.
"Some of these options would be difficult politically," DNR Secretary Scott Hassett said after board members met in Madison. "But one of the reasons we're doing this is to test the waters." Hassett said the seven-member board will be briefed in February on a range of initiatives, but he said doing nothing would be an abdication of the agency's responsibilities.
Chronic wasting disease is centered in a region west of Madison in portions of Dane and Iowa counties. But pockets have been found across southern Wisconsin, including northern Walworth County. The assessment of wildlife health experts who believe these "sparks" of infection must be eliminated before they get bigger continues to concern the DNR; so does the potential devastation of a cultural tradition and economic contributor to the state.
Namibia: Don't Eat Sick Animals
allAfrica.com
25 Oct 2006
Petronella Sibeene
Chief Medical Officer in Caprivi, Dr Mubita Saasa, has strongly appealed to people in the region not to consume meat that comes from any animal that has died from natural causes to avoid contracting anthrax. This follows the case of a 28-year-old man who was admitted to the Katima Mulilo State hospital for suspected anthrax early this month. Although the tested specimen could not confirm if the young man indeed had anthrax, the doctor told New Era that he showed symptoms of this disease in humans.
"The specimen could not confirm it because the man was already on antibiotics," he said. However, the man had a swollen face, which is one of the common symptoms of the disease. Anthrax victims swell mostly in the face, upper limbs and chest, and the skin on the swollen areas usually turns dark.
The chief medical officer also revealed that recently three people reported themselves to the hospital after they ate meat from an elephant carcass. But the three, the doctor added, did not show any signs of anthrax. "I am asking them not to eat meat from any animal that died on its own. They should not even touch them," he warned.
Ohio Expands Tests of Deer for Disease: Samples to Be Taken From 1,500 Animals, Including All Roadkill
Akron Beacon Journal (Posted by Ohio.com)
24 Oct 2006
Bob Downing
Ohio is changing its method of testing white-tailed deer for a deadly neurological disease. The state will test 1,500 Ohio deer this fall for chronic wasting disease and for the first time will include deer killed on roads, said Dave Risley of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife. That's a boost from 2005 when Ohio tested about 700 deer from both hunters' check-in stations and deer-processing facilities.
Chronic wasting disease has not been detected in any Ohio deer. Ohio will test about 1,000 deer killed by hunters later this year. That will include 18 deer in Wayne County, five in Stark and two each from Summit, Portage and Medina counties, he said. Wayne County is getting more deer tested than other local counties because of its greater deer density and the large number of captive deer raised by the Amish in Wayne County, he said.
Ohio's archery season for deer opened on Sept. 30 and runs through Feb. 4. Gun season for deer is Nov. 27 through Dec. 3 and Dec. 16-17. That testing effort will cover the entire state although it will be more intense in eastern Ohio where deer concentrations are higher and the chronic wasting disease threat are greater, Risley said. ``It's a serious problem that's not going away and it's something that we need to stay on top of... and keep an eye on it,'' he said.
Wildlife Officials Plan Rescue for Manatee That Made It 700 Miles Up Mississippi to Memphis
Associated Press (Posted by BostonHerald.com)
25 Oct 2006
A misdirected manatee apparently swam 700 miles up the Mississippi River to a chilly harbor near Memphis’ downtown riverfront, prompting rescue plans by wildlife officials. The docile, endangered marine mammal, about 8 feet long and 1,000 pounds, is far north of its natural range along the southeastern U.S. coast. Biologists have no idea how it got there and worry its health is failing because the species’ digestive systems shut down in cooler water.
“We’re working on a rescue plan and hope to have the animal rescued within the next 48 hours,” Nicole Adiemy, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said Wednesday. “Then we’ll put it on a truck and haul it to Florida.” James Jackson alerted authorities to the manatee on Monday, a day after he and another fisherman spotted it in a shallow waterway near downtown. At first the two disagreed over whether it was a baby hippo or an alligator.
Adiemy said the plan was to catch the animal in a net, perhaps on Thursday, and take it to SeaWorld Adventure Park in Orlando, Fla., with help from park specialists. Manatees normally are moving into Florida rivers this time of year, but not the Mississippi, said Pat Rose, executive director of the Save the Manatee Club in Maitland, Fla. The animals should be in water above 68 degrees, Rose said. Water temperature where the animal has been spotted ranged Tuesday from the low- to mid-60s.
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