An Invitation to our Readers

The Wildlife Disease Information Node (WDIN), publishers of the Wildlife Disease News Digest would like to invite you to submit local publications (e.g. bulletins, newsletters and so on) for inclusion in the Digest's 'Wildlife Health Related Publications' section. In addition to valuing your input, we are also striving to provide a broad array of news and information surrounding wildlife disease and health issues.

Due to the fact that not all web content is picked up by search engines or traditional news sources, we see posting these important but underreported publications as an opportunity to improve access to wildlife health community resources as well as a chance to increase readership for publications you are working on.

If you're interested in sharing links to publications and/or new articles with us and your colleagues, please email wdin@usgs.gov. A title and url is all we need!

A description of the kinds of content we select for the Digest can be found in our News Selection Policy.

Thanks,
WDIN Staff



TOP STORIES

Abalone Virus in Tasmania Under Investigation
Tasmanian Government Communications Unit - www.media.tas.gov.au
09 Sep 2008
R Andrewartha
Image courtesy of NSW Department of Primary Industries
Area: Tasmania, Australia - Map It

A processing plant in the State’s south is being carefully monitored and subject to some abalone movement restrictions following the discovery on its premises of abalone showing signs consistent with the disease Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG). Tasmania’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Rod Andrewartha, said that examination of the abalone tissue showed signs consistent with AVG. Further work is being undertaken to confirm the diagnosis. This investigation was triggered by the processor reporting suspect signs in abalone as part of Tasmania’s abalone disease surveillance program. AVG is a potentially serious disease of abalone, with very high mortality rates observed in some areas.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Ducks Mysteriously Dying in Area Ponds
Rancho Cordova Post - www.ranchocordovapost.com
08 Sep 2008
M Ventress
Area: Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, USA - Map It

Visitors to Hagan Community Park may have noticed a strange sight in some of the smaller ponds during the last month. There have been numerous reports from worried parkgoers of dead ducks in the the ponds. The numbers are substantial- with reports of as many as five or six ducks a day. A frequent park visitor, Scott Harmon, helped to sound the alarm to the Cordova Recreation and Park District says there is something in the water that must be killing the ducks. He among other concerned citizens have been removing the deceased ducks.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Bird deaths remain a mystery
ABC News - www.abc.net.au
09 Sep 2008
Area: Southampton, England, UK - Map It

The Department of Environment and Conservation is continuing investigations into the deaths of almost 300 seagulls at Woodman Point, south of Fremantle. Preliminary tests have ruled out several possible causes such as exposure to chemicals or exotic diseases including Avian Influenza.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

First Case of West Nile in a Bird in Oneida County
WJFW 12 News - www.wjfw.com
08 Sep 2008
Area: Oneida County, Wisconsin, USA - Map It

Oneida County has its first case of West Nile in a bird this year. The health department says a dead crow tested positive for the virus. That means people in the county need to be careful to avoid contact with mosquitoes, which is how the virus is spread. Crystal Woller, the Assitant Director at the Oneida County Health Department says, "Making sure their screens are intact, making sure you're not outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are at their highest activity. Making sure you don't have any standing water."

>>>FULL ARTICLE

'Beach rangers' will monitor bird die-offs
Traverse City Record-Eagle - www.record-eagle.com
09 Sep 2008
M McWhirter
Area: Manistee County, Michigan, USA - Map It

Environmental researchers want a flock of volunteers to help with an expected avian botulism outbreak this autumn. "There have been some dead birds reported and confirmed in Manistee County, but none here yet. We're just waiting in the wings," said Peg Comfort, coordinator of the Grand Traverse Bay Botulism Network. The network will monitor beaches along northern Lake Michigan and respond to avian botulism outbreaks.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
Image courtesy of iStockphoto/Bernard Breton

• Pictured: New Rules Needed To Govern World's Fragile Polar Regions
• 125,000 Gorillas Find Haven in Mud Swamp But Still Face Extinction
• Rat fever on the increase in Sri Lanka
• Oil exploration challenged over its impact on whales
• Oceans Getting More Acidic [slideshow]
• VIDEO: Quake Pandas Hanging On

Chronic Wasting Disease

• With more deer testing free of chronic wasting disease, state ponders lifting quarantine
• Wis. Department of Natural Resources Lifting Some Shotgun Only Restrictions

WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Virulent Newcastle Disease Confirmed in Minnesota
National Wildlife Health Center - Wildlife Health Bulletin #08-02