Wildlife Disease News Digest

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How TB Jumps From Humans to Wildlife -- Vet Seeks Clues
National Geographic News - news.nationalgeographic.com
20 Feb 2009
H Fields
Photo Credit: Matt Eich
Area: Chobe National Park, Botswana - Map It

It's well known that diseases can—and do—move from animals to people. Avian influenza, which comes from birds, was first confirmed in humans in 1997. But the opposite had never been proven for wild animals, although animals in captivity were sometimes known to get human illnesses. ...Since that first discovery in 2000, Alexander, who now teaches at Virginia Tech, has been tracking tuberculosis in Chobe National Park's mongooses with support from the National Geographic Society's Committee for Research and Exploration.

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This may be gruesome, but it’s the grim reality of the damage caused by grey squirrels: Wildlife chiefs defend cull
Evening Express - eveningexpress.co.uk
21 Feb 2009
G Roberts
Photo Credit: Evening Express
Area: United Kingdom - Map It

Eyes swollen and her body ravaged by disease. This animal has squirrel pox. And it is one of the reasons animal welfare bosses said they need to halt the spread of grey squirrels. Although wildlife chiefs have no intention of wiping out grey squirrels in the North-east they said action needs to be taken to stop their growing numbers. The greys are carriers of the pox which can be passed on to the reds. The greys are immune to the disease.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

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>>>Strategy to save region's Squirrels launched [UK]

Scientists Close To Universal Vaccine For Flu [Radio Program]
National Public Radio - npr.org
22 Feb 2009
J Silberner
Photo Credit: CDC

American scientists have taken several key steps toward developing a near-universal flu vaccine. If further research works out, the vaccine could fight many types of conventional flu, as well as avian influenza, and even the virus that caused the 1918 flu epidemic that killed 50 million people.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

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Anthrax bacteria not seen – Wildlife body
The New Vision - newvision.co.ug
22 Feb 2009
G Tenywa
Area: Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda - Map It

The team that was dispatched to Queen Elizabeth National Park to investigate the the existence of anthrax has not detected any trace of the bacteria that causes the disease. “The preliminary results indicate that there is no anthrax in the five samples collected in the last three days, but further examinations will be undertaken in Entebbe,” said Obongo Okello, the conservation manager for the park.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Rabies, feline - USA (NM)
ProMED Mail - promedmail.org
20 Feb 2009
Area: Grant County, New Mexico, USA - Map It

A 2nd bobcat in the region has tested positive for rabies, the New Mexico Department of Health reported on Thursday [19 Feb 2009] afternoon. The bobcat was discovered dead just east of Lake Roberts on 11 Feb 2009 and was confirmed rabies-positive on Thursday [19 Feb 2009].

>>>FULL ARTICLE

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