10 million People a Year are Affected by Zoonotic Viruses Spread by Non-Human Hosts
Innovations Report
8 Nov 2006
Annette Whibley

Doctors and veterinarians need to work together to tackle the increasing global threat of zoonotic viral diseases spread by non-human vertebrate hosts – including dogs, cattle, chickens and mosquitoes - according to a review in the November issue of Journal of Internal Medicine.

An estimated 50 million people acquired zoonotic diseases between 2000 and 2005 and up to 78,000 have died, reports Dr Jonathan Heeney, Chair of the Department of Virology at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands. And the diseases responsible for the majority of zoonotic illnesses, and a third of the deaths in the study period, appear to be increasing.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Related Link
>>>Journal Abstract



2006 Record Year for West Nile Virus
Nevada Appeal
8 Nov 2006
Susie Vasquez

A record 123 human cases of West Nile virus were confirmed in Nevada in 2006, just one of those in October in Pershing County. The figure doesn't jibe with what was seen last year, when almost 25 percent of the cases were diagnosed in October, according to figures from the Nevada State Health Division.

Dr. Anette Rink, director of Nevada's animal disease and food safety lab in Reno, said the only predictable thing about West Nile is its unpredictability. "Not a single year was predicted correctly on the East Coast," she said. "We were expecting last year to be a record year with respect to West Nile virus in Nevada.

>>>FULL ARTICLE



Sixth West Nile Virus Bird Detected in King County [Press Release]
King County
7 Nov 2006

Even as the mosquito season draws to a close, Public Health – Seattle & King County continues to find birds infected with West Nile virus. A dead crow found near downtown Kent on October 26th and tested at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory last week was determined to be positive for West Nile virus. This is the sixth positive bird finding in King County since early October, and is an indication that the virus is likely spread throughout the region.

West Nile virus is spread to people by mosquitoes that have bitten infected birds. West Nile can cause serious illness, especially in older age adults. While heavy rains and colder temperatures have significantly reduced the number of mosquitoes, the public is still urged to minimize the chances that they will be bitten by a mosquito.

>>>FULL PRESS RELEASE



Officials Try to Keep Disease from Laying Waste to Oregon Wildlife
Register-Guard
7 Nov 2006
Mike Stahlberg

Recently, several citations were sent to several hunters who violated Oregon's rules designed to keep our wildlife free from Chronic Wasting Disease. That led Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials last week to issue a reminder that it is illegal to bring deer, elk or moose parts containing central nervous system tissue into Oregon from any state or province with a documented case of CWD.

The regulation has been in effect since 2002, but the citations indicate some hunters may be unaware of the rule. Lieutenant Dave Cleary of the Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division said his agency "will aggressively investigate all incidents of illegal importation of parts or wildlife from CWD states."

>>>FULL ARTICLE



Why Canada's Proposed Ban Won't Protect People or Wildlife: The Problem with PBDEs [Editorial]
Counter Punch
7 Nov 2006
Chris Genovali

The Canadian government is poised to ban two out of the three PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) formulations sold and used in Canada, as there is mounting evidence that PBDEs, like PCBs, are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. PBDEs are flame retardant chemicals that are widely used in upholstery, textiles, plastics and electronics.

These two products (penta and octa formulations) have not been sold or manufactured since December 2004, when the sole manufacturer ceased making them in the United States. Sales of a third product (decaBDE formulation) are increasing exponentially and, inexplicably, will not be banned unless Environment Canada revisits its draft decision.

>>>FULL EDITORIAL (Scroll down)