TOP STORIES

Badger vaccine trials to target TB hotspots
Western Daily Press - thisisbristol.co.uk
20 Mar 2009
Area: UK - Map It

Badgers in the West will be vaccinated against bovine TB for the first time next summer as part of the battle against the disease, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said yesterday. But the news that trials will start in bovine TB hotspots triggered claims the disease is out of control, and accusations of Government dithering.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Related Article
>>>DEFRA's TB vaccine is still not the action plan farmers need [Opinion]

One Third of U.S. Bird Species Endangered, Survey Finds
The New York Times - www.nytimes.com
19 Mar 2009
C Dean

Habitat destruction, pollution and other problems have left nearly a third of the nation’s 800 bird species endangered, threatened or in serious decline, according to a study issued on Thursday. Described as the most comprehensive survey of American bird life, the report, "The U.S. State of the Birds," analyzed changes in the bird population over the last 40 years. “This report should be a call to action,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said at a news conference in Washington.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Cited Report
>>>The State of the Birds

Related Articles
>>>Birds on the brink
>>>Bye Bye Birdie? One-Third of American Birds Are in Decline
>>>Report: Nearly all native birds in Hawaii in peril

Signs of drug resistance found in African H5N1 viruses
Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy - www.cidrap.umn.edu
19 Mar 2009
R Roos
Area: Africa - Map It

Scientists who analyzed 67 H5N1 avian influenza viruses from across Africa report that the viruses fall into three distinct sublineages, or families, and that some have mutations that make them resistant to antiviral drugs. The scientists also found that some of the African viruses have genetic markers that are characteristic of human flu viruses rather than avian strains, according to their report, published yesterday in the online journal PLoS One.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Cited Journal Article
>>>Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H5N1 in Africa: A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Analysis and Molecular Characterization of Isolates

Feds: Wolves near Jackson free of brucellosis
High Plains Journal - www.hpj.com (Source: Associated Press)
19 Mar 2009
Area: Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA - Map It

None of 11 wolves captured in Jackson Hole recently tested positive for brucellosis, according to a federal biologist. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Mike Jimenez said six of the wolves live on the National Elk Refuge. Four of the other wolves live next to the refuge. The average brucellosis infection rate among elk on the refuge has been about 28 percent since 1980.

>>>FULL ARTICLE

Related Article
>>>Why We Need Wolves In Our Parks

LAST WEEK'S TOP READ LINKS

• Southeast songbirds dying from salmonella
• One million migratory birds slaughtered in Cyprus
• Diseases of Aquatic Organisms [Journal TOC]
• Human-generated Sounds May Be Killing Fish
• Park Service Release Sparks Firey Reaction
• Giant Stingray Could be World’s Largest
• Lead poisoning plagues trumpeters
• Bat-Killing Disease Spreads to More States
• DNRs in Wis., Minn. debate lead poisoning in birds
• Bird food recalled due to Salmonella contamination: Dead birds found in N.C. initiates testing of bird food

OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS

• Let them eat copper [Lead Poisoning in Wildlife]
• Songbirds dying in alarming numbers [Salmonellosis]
• Officials put out alert for raccoons with distemper [Sacramento, California, USA - Map It ]
• Valley rabies cases on the rise [Arizona, USA - Map It , pictured right]