Wildlife Disease News Digest

Swan Dies of Bird Flu in Southern Russia
RIA Novosti - en.rian.ru
10 Sep 2007
Area: Russia

Laboratory tests have confirmed that a dead swan found in the Krasnodar Territory was infected with H5 bird flu virus, but not with the N1 strain, a source in the local administration said Monday. This is the only case of bird flu detected in the territory since 410 chickens died from the virus and 22,000 birds were culled at a local poultry farm in southern Russia. A regional laboratory identified the lethal H5N1 virus in the dead chickens, and took steps to contain the spread. The losses from the outbreak are estimated at 20 million rubles ($702,000).

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Orders Enhancements to Fight West Nile Virus
All American Patriots - allamericanpatriots.com
11 Sep 2007
Area: California USA

Governor Schwarzenegger today issued an executive order calling for additional actions to fight the West Nile Virus. The Governor’s executive order broadens the purposes for which previously allocated funding of $10 million can be used to mitigate the West Nile Virus in at-risk counties. Last month, the Governor issued executive orders allocating funds to fight the virus with mosquito abatement, surveillance, vegetation management and by other means. So far this year, 35 counties have received nearly $4.5 million in funds to fight the West Nile Virus.

Today’s executive order will fund efforts by local jurisdictions to expand public education, enhance outreach to the medical community and include aggressive surveillance by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of areas with elevated risk of West Nile Virus transmission. “Protecting public safety is government’s top job – that’s why I’m committed to ensuring our local agencies have all the tools they need to fight this deadly mosquito-borne disease,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. On August 2, 2007 in Bakersfield, the Governor declared a State of Emergency in the counties of Kern, Colusa and San Joaquin which have experienced a significant number of incidents of West Nile Virus.

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Tennessee Deer Population Reduced by Up to 40 Percent
Associated Content - associatedcontent.com
12 Sep 2007
A Russell
Area: Tennessee USA

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, along with the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia, has confirmed that EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) is the cause of death of a large population of Tennessee's Whitetail deer. At least 30 counties have reported large numbers of dead deer. The reports come from all across the state, with the highest numbers concentrating in the Northern areas of Middle Tennessee. TWRA officials issued a press release stating that EHD has long been an issue in Tennessee, yet some years there are virtually no reports of whitetail deaths due to this disease.

Officials express concern that due to the extreme heat and dry weather experienced in Tennessee over the summer, cases were reported in higher numbers and occurred much earlier in the year than normal. Disease Coordinator, Roger Applegate was quoted as saying "However, the most important thing for hunters, landowners, and the public to know is that this is a regular and natural event that routinely afflicts white-tailed deer and that it is not transmissible to humans or any other animals." He also said there should be little concern about Tennessee's deer population, as whatever toll this disease takes on the whitetail deer population would be reversed with two to three years. EHD is a disease caused by a virus transmitted to the deer through the bite of fly.

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>>>Disease Killing Deer in Virginia: Insect-borne Virus Blamed; One Case Was in Hanover County

Defra Believe Egham Virus Is Same Strain as Previous Outbreaks
Farmers Guardian - farmersguardian.com
13 Sep 2007
A Driver
Photo courtesy of PA Photos
Area: England United Kingdom

DEFRA has confirmed that initial sequencing of the virus that has caused foot-and-mouth on a farm near Egham, in Surrey indicate is the same strain that caused the August outbreak. In a statement, the Department said: “Initial sequencing of the virus show this to be type 01 BFS. It is therefore likely that this is the same strain as found in the August outbreak. “We will not be able to confirm the full virus strain until all sequencing is completed. This is currently in progress. We do not have a timetable for when these final results will be received.”

Defra is still trying to workout how the virus got on to the farm, over a month after the previous outbreaks when the incubation period for the disease was thought to be 8-14 days. The new outbreaks came just five days after Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds announced that the virus had been eradicated from the UK and lifted the remaining restrictions. Animals on two farms have been culled. The infected premises, Milton Park Farm, is understood to keep over 300 beef cattle on different parcels of land, near Egham.

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