Wildlife Disease News Digest

TOP STORIES

Clinton River deer killer may be virus
Free Press - www.freep.com
5 Sep 2008
M SATYANARAYANA
Area: Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA - Map It

State wildlife officials say they believe the Clinton River deer killer is a bug-borne virus that causes internal bleeding. It's called bluetongue, or epizootic hemorrhagic disease, and this is the first time it has appeared in southeast Michigan, said Tim Payne of the Department of Natural Resources. It does not spread to humans or domestic pets, he said. More than two dozen deer have been found dead in the Rochester Hills area in recent weeks. The virus is spread through gnat and midge bites. It destroys blood vessels and causes dehydration, which is why deer have died near water, he said.

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More Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease News
>>>'Bar-coding' Midges Could Help Prevent Spread Of Bluetongue In The UK
>>>DNREC says deer disease can't be passed to humans

Anthrax kills wildlife near Turner's ranch
Billings Gazette - www.billingsgazette.com
3 Sep 2008
Area: Montana - Map It

Naturally occurring anthrax has killed two deer and is likely responsible for the deaths of 14 elk in drainages near Ted Turner's ranch, where more than 250 domestic bison died of the disease last month, state wildlife officials said. The animals probably became ill after coming into contact with anthrax spores in the soil that had been dormant for years, said Neil Anderson, wildlife lab supervisor for the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. State veterinary officials suspect anthrax killed the elk, but the carcasses were spotted from the air and the cause of the deaths hasn't been confirmed.

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UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF, WILD BIRDS - MONGOLIA - ProMed Mail Archive Number 20080904.2767
ProMed-Mail - www.promedmail.com
4 Sep 2008
Area: Uvurkhangai [Ovorhangay] aimag, Mongolia - Map It

On Wednesday, 3 Sep 2008, the Mongolian news agency Daily News [in Russian] reported about unidentified bird mortality. It states that a total of 2000 sandgrouse were found dead in Uvurkhangai [Ovorhangay] aimag's Bayangol and Tugrug soums and in Dundgobi [Dundgovi] aimag's Saihan Ovoo soum [Central Mongolia, map at . "Aimag" is the Mongolian term for a 1st level administrative subdivision or province. - Mod.AS]. Professionals have been investigating the cause of mortality but are still unable to identify it. It also reports that National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officers were on site to destroy the dead birds and to disinfect the area.

>>>FULL PROMED MAIL POSTING

Wildlife Rabies Vaccine Program Passes Through Western Pa.
Lancaster Farming - www.lancasterfarming.com
5 Sep 2008

Continuing efforts are aiming to stop the westward movement of wildlife-carried rabies cases. USDA Wildlife Services partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Department of Health, county health departments for Erie and Allegheny counties and the Center for Disease Control spread sachets, small plastic bags containing an oral vaccine for rabies. The packets are covered with fish meal to attract raccoons and other wildlife. When a raccoon’s teeth penetrates the packet, the pink liquid vaccine enters its mouth.

>>>FULL ARTICLE
Other Rabies News
>>>Search in Raccoon rabies vaccine to be distributed in W.Va.
>>>Two bats test positive for rabies in Winona

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