Avian influenza virus confirmed in 4th province of Afghanistan
People's Daily Online
24 April 2006

The killer virus of H5N1 Avian influenza has been detected in the fourth province of Afghanistan, said a press release issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday.

"According to the results of tests, H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza cases have been definitely confirmed in four provinces, namely Kabul, Nangarhar, Logar and Kapisa," said the press release.

Earlier the agency, through tests conducted in FAO's laboratory in Italy, had confirmed the spread of epidemic in three provinces, including the country's capital city Kabul.

Kapisa is the fourth province where the deadly virus of H5N1 has been confirmed while the neighboring provinces of Parwan and Laghman have been classified as "highly suspected."

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Mild Winter Spells Good, Bad News
Bangor Daily News
24 April 2006

For many Mainers, last winter's mild weather and lack of snowfall were a welcome break from the norm. Few are likely complaining that Mother Nature seems to have skipped mud season this year, either.

But for Maine's wild creatures, these seasonal abnormalities can be a blessing for some, a source of stress for others and even a death knell for an unlucky few.

Atlantic salmon, for instance, did not have to worry about bone-chilling temperatures creating ice blocks that extend to the riverbed, limiting water flow and starving them of oxygen. But lower river levels this spring could trap the endangered fish inland, thwarting their biological urge to head toward saltier waters.

Northern Maine's white-tailed deer population likely enjoyed the manageable snow depths, which make it easier to find food, navigate the woods and escape prey. But lack of snow cover in early spring could cause a boom in the population of ticks that prey on moose, leading to increased moose mortality.

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