TOP STORIES 
Crow deaths in Bengal raise spectre of bird flu
A visible rise in the number of crow deaths in many parts of the State, including Kolkata, for months and, near lack of communication from State administration about the reasons involved, has set the grapevine abuzz about a probable outbreak of another round of bird flu in West Bengal.
Avian influenza or bird flu was last reported in Nadia district of West Bengal in September 2011. Outbreak of the disease was recently reported in the North Eastern States of Tripura and Meghalaya. In the Eastern region Odisha, reported outbreak in two districts and conducted second phase of culling operations in Mayurbhanj this month.
Incidentally, Odisha as well as Jharkhand, both bordering West Bengal, reported a large number of crow deaths in recent months, leading to widespread panic about outbreak of the disease.
... “We are yet to receive the laboratory report on the cause of death (of crows),” Dr Dipankar Maji, nodal officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (Bengal), told Business Line. He is in charge of keeping the Centre updated on any health-related issues.
14 Feb 2012
Photo courtesy of Hindu Business Line
Location: Kolkata, Bengal, India - Map It
Wildlife biologists believe they now may know the cause of bighorn sheep die-off above Dubois
Wildlife biologists believe they may have finally identified bacterial pathogens that may be responsible for killing bighorn sheep in the Dubois area, reducing the herd by 50 percent over the past several decades. The pathogens may contribute to the spread of a pneumonia-like disease that has been fatal to infected sheep.
... Anderson said his report is the preliminary finding from a recent disease testing project of the Northern Wind River Range Bighorn Sheep herd.
... Of the results, the Mannheimia aemolytica, leukotoxic positive sheep was the most concerning to Anderson, as that is believed to be the combination responsible for the pneumonic die-off. The Mannheimia glucosidal, leukotoxic infected sheep was also of concern, as that bacterial pathogen has unknown implications for the health of the herd.
15 Feb 2012
J Bonasera
Location: Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Basic Raptor Rehabilitation Workshop
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
The Raptor Center, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of MN, is hosting the Basic Raptor Rehabilitation Workshop, May 1-4, 2012. This four-day intensive workshop will provide rehabilitators and veterinarians with practical knowledge of the steps involved in raptor rehabilitation.A six session on-line preparatory course accompanies the workshop and must be completed prior to attending. For additional information and registration instructions, please visit the Raptor Center website here.
Preconference Activity: A one-day Avian Orthopedic Workshop is being offered on April 30, 2012 for licensed veterinarians only. For more information, contact Dr. Michelle at wille203@umn.edu.
OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH RELATED NEWS
- Bird death confirms West Nile virus in Sacramento County [House finch] [Sacramento Cty., California, USA - Map It ]
- Birds dying from contaminated feeders: Homeowners urged to use bleach and water for cleanup [Salmonella outbreak][British Columbia, Canada - Map It ]
- Outbreak of distemper and prehistoric Native American site slow construction of $11 billion Solar Energy plant in Blythe
- Help scientists track disease with Wildlife Health Event Reporter
- Government launches another probe into Gladstone's sick fish [Queensland, Australia]
- Hunter-killed Elk Test Negative for CWD and Other Diseases [Pennsylvania, USA]
- Experts investigating dolphin deaths in NJ waters [New Jersey, USA]
- Lawmakers Reintroduce Public Access Bill [a proposal to make scientific papers funded with taxpayer money available for free on the Internet]
White-nose Syndrome News
- Scientists checking north Alabama bats for deadly disease [USA]
- White-nose Syndrome Map - 2012 February 10
Huh?! That's Interesting
