MOUNTAIN LION approaches CALIFORNIA HIKER ~ WEST NILE VIRUS reports from TN, & TX ~ RABIES reports from AL, CO, DC, GA, KS, MI, NJx2, NY, SC, & TX ~ ANNOUNCEMENT: CDC announced new LYME and other TICKBORNE DISEASE resources.

Mountain lion. Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey.

California 05/08/13 marinscope.com: by Soren Hemmila – A Mill Valley woman reported seeing a mountain lion while hiking alone near Tam Valley last weekend. Mill Valley resident Elizabeth Kennard said she was hiking on a trail near Tennessee Valley Road when she spotted a mountain lion about 40 feet away. “I first thought oh my goodness maybe it’s a bob cat, don’t be scared,” Kennard said. “Then I saw it was larger and I saw its long tail and knew it wasn’t a bobcat.” The mountain lion leaped at something in the undergrowth and then turned and stared at Kennard before it started walking toward her. “There was nothing nearby to throw so I started backing slowly away and shouting very loudly,” Kennard said. Finally the mountain lion turned and went into the bushes. – For complete article see http://www.marinscope.com/mill_valley_herald/news/article_69183560-b829-11e2-a8df-0019bb2963f4.html

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Tennessee 05/07/13 Shelby County: The Health Department reported that mosquitoes collected in seven ZIP codes across the county — 38116, 38122 and 38127 in Memphis, 38133 in Bartlett, 38125 in Germantown, 38017 in Collierville and 38141 in unincorporated areas — tested positive for WNV. It’s the earliest detection in the dozen or so years since the virus initially spread to the county. – See http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/may/07/health-officials-report-earliest-ever-detection/

Texas 05/03/13 Denton County: Mosquitoes trapped in Lewisville on April 30^th in the vicinity of the 800 block of College Street and the 1700 block of South Edmond behind the Renaissance Village Retirement Center have tested positive for WNV. Spraying has been scheduled in both areas. – See http://www.coppellgazette.com/articles/2013/05/03/lewisville_leader/news/8622.txt

Rabies:

Alabama 05/07/13 Baldwin County: Health officials have issued a Rabies Alert after a fox that was found in the vicinity of Fairhope tested positive for rabies. – See http://blog.al.com/pr-community-news/2013/05/rabid_fox_in_baldwin_county_pr.html

Colorado 05/03/13 Washington County: A sick feral cat that bit and scratched an adult and a minor has tested positive for rabies. This is the second feral cat to test positive for rabies in the northeastern part of the state this year. – See http://www.yumapioneer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5391&Itemid=39

District of Columbia 05/03/13: A sick raccoon captured in the 3100 block of Macomb Street NW has tested positive for rabies. Cleveland Park residents have been advised to secure trash cans, repair access holes in their homes, and keep pets on a leash. – See http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Rabid-Raccoon-in-Cleveland-Park-205969911.html

Georgia 05/08/13 DeKalb County: The communities of Brookhaven and Chamblee have issued Rabies Alerts after county officials captured two raccoons in the Harts Mill Court area on April 26^th and in the Ragley Hall Road area on April 30^th. Both raccoons tested positive for rabies. – See http://brookhaven.patch.com/articles/brookhaven-chamblee-communities-on-rabies-alert

Kansas 05/03/13 McPherson County: A cow examined by a veterinarian in the City of McPherson late last month has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/article/20130503/NEWS/130509705/1001/NEWS

Michigan 05/07/13 Wayne County: A bat that was found in Palmer Park on April 24^th and was unable to fly has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/22183912/bat-f

New Jersey 05/03/13 Salem County: A raccoon that fought with two vaccinated dogs in Quinton Township last week has tested positive for rabies. The dogs’ owner cleaned the dogs after the scuffle and is being treated for possible contact with the raccoon’s saliva and exposure to the rabies virus. – See http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2013/05/rabid_raccoon_reported_in_quin.html

New Jersey 05/03/13 Cape May County: A raccoon shot by police on Route 47 in Cape May Court House has tested positive for rabies. A skunk that fought with a dog in Swainton on May 1^st and was also shot by police was presumed to be rabid. And another skunk that fought with a dog in a separate incident on May 3^rd in Cape May Court House is being tested for rabies. – See http://shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/2010-04-07-20-18-16/middle-township-news/38093-middle-police-shoot-two-animals-suspected-to-have-rabies.html

New York 05/08/13 Oneida County: A fox that attacked a man twice in the vicinity of Pheasant Lane in New Hartford on Monday was shot by police and has tested positive for rabies. The man is receiving post exposure treatment. – See http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/fox_from_new_hartford_attack_h.html

South Carolina 05/08/13 Saluda County: A raccoon that bit a man in the county recently has tested positive for rabies. Health officials declined to release further information. – See http://www.indexjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=40&ArticleID=18489

Texas 05/03/13 Montague County: A skunk that entered a local residence in Bowie last weekend has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2013/may/03/briefly-5-3/

Announcement:

National 05/08/13 cdc.gov: News Release – The CDC has announced the release of a comic strip for school-aged children that teaches them how to prevent tick bites, even when Mom and Dad aren’t around:  See http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/toolkit/DontletTicksbitemeComicFS_508.pdf

And Tickborne Diseases of the United States: A Reference Guide for Health Care Providers. – See http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/TickborneDiseases.pdf

FLORIDA WOMAN attacked by RABID FOX ~ Other RABIES reports from GA, PA, VA, & CANADA’s NEW BRUNSWICK Province ~ CDC announcement of new PLAGUE FACT SHEET.

Gray fox. Photo by New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Florida 11/29/12 Martin County: A fox that bit a resident in Port Mayaca’s J&S Park Estates on Monday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/nov/29/rabid-fox-bites-woman-in-port-mayaca/

Georgia 11/30/12 Chatham County: A raccoon that was trapped after fighting with two dogs in the vicinity of LaRoche Avenue on the Isle of Hope has tested positive for rabies. ­ See http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2012-11-30/raccoon-tests-positive-rabies#.ULmKbIYt7WB

Pennsylvania 11/29/12 Allegheny County: A gray cat that bit a Swissvale woman in the vicinity of the 7300 block of Denniston Avenue has tested positive for rabies. The cat, which is likely a stray, was hit by a car on Monday and went onto a porch where the resident tried to help it and was bitten. Anyone else who may have been bitten or scratched by this cat should seek medical advice. – See http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/3046696-74/cat-health-rabies-county-rabid-bitten-animal-contact-department-swissvale#axzz2Dfxm1Bug

Virginia 11/29/12 Hopewell: A skunk found on the 500 block of North Ninth Avenue near City Point National Cemetery on Monday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://progress-index.com/news/rabid-skunk-found-in-hopewell-1.1409840

Canada:

New Brunswick 11/30/12 Restigouche County: An unvaccinated house cat in Balmoral that bit its owner has tested positive for rabies. The New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association said this incident reinforces that rabies still exists in the province. – See http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/n-b-house-cat-tests-positive-for-rabies-1.1060786

~ ~ ANNOUNCEMENT ~ ~

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Division of Vector-Borne Diseases / Bacterial Diseases Branch

Fort Collins, Colorado

Is pleased to announce the release of CDC’s

Plague Fact Sheet

(in English and Spanish)

at

http://www.cdc.gov/plague/

Two MISSOURI farmers lead scientists to new, possibly TICK-borne, disease called HEARTLAND VIRUS ~ WEST NILE VIRUS deaths in U.S. now at 66 ~ COLORADO MAN likely contracted BUBONIC PLAGUE at San Juan National Forest campground ~ DOG euthanized in MICHIGAN after contracting EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS ~ MOUNTAIN LION reports from CO, NE, & WY ~ COYOTE report from MASSACHUSETTS ~ LA CROSSE ENCEPHALITIS report from NORTH CAROLINA ~ EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS & WEST NILE VIRUS reports from IN, MAx2, NH, NM, SD, & WA ~ RABIES reports from GA, IA, LA, NY, NC, & VAx2.

This photograph depicts a dorsal view of a female “lone star tick”, Amblyomma americanum. Note the characteristic “lone star” marking located centrally on its dorsal surface, at the distal tip of its scutum. Courtesy CDC.

National 08/30/12 discovery.com: Two men in Missouri who became severely ill after sustaining tick bites were found to be infected with a new type of virus, according to a study from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both men were admitted to hospitals after experiencing high fevers, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite. They were originally thought to be suffering from a bacterial infection, but doubts arose when they didn’t improve after being treated with antibiotics. Further tests revealed their blood contained a new virus, which the researchers dubbed the Heartland virus. It belongs to a group called phleboviruses, which are carried by flies, mosquitoes or ticks, and can cause disease in humans. While the genetic material of Heartland virus appears similar to that of other phleboviruses, the particular proteins it produces are different enough to call it a new species, said study researcher Laura McMullan, a senior scientist at the CDC. Because the Heartland virus causes such general symptoms, it could be “a more common cause of human illness than is currently recognized,” the researchers wrote in the Aug. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. More studies are needed to identify the natural hosts of the virus, learn how many people are infected with it and find risk factors for infection, McMullan said. Because both men experienced tick bites shortly before they became ill — one man, a farmer, reported receiving an average of 20 tick bites a day — the researchers said it’s likely that the Heartland virus is spread by ticks, although more research is needed to confirm this. The new virus’s closest relative is another tick-borne phlebovirus, called SFTS virus, which was identified last year in China, and causes death in 12 percent of cases.

The Missouri men, who were both infected in 2009, recovered after 10 to 12 days in the hospital, although one of the men has reported recurrent headaches and fatigue in the two years since his hospitalization. The researchers suspect a species of tick commonly found in Missouri, called Amblyomma americanum, is one of the hosts of the Heartland virus. For now, taking precautions to prevent tick bites is the best way to avoid the virus, McMullan said. To prevent tick bites, the CDC recommends using repellents that contain 20 percent or more DEET, as well as avoiding wooded areas or areas with high grass.

Culex sp. mosquito. Known carrier of West Nile Virus.

National 08/29/12 reuters.com: by Sharon Begley – A total of 1,590 (human) cases of West Nile Virus, including 66 deaths, were reported through late August this year in the United States, the highest human toll by that point in the calendar since the mosquito-borne disease was first detected in the country in 1999, health officials said on Wednesday. The toll is increasing quickly. “We think the numbers will continue to rise,” said Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases. Through last week, 1,118 cases and 41 deaths had been reported. The updated figures represent a 40 percent increase in the number of cases and a 61 percent spike in the number of deaths, but are short of the all-time record for a full year: 9,862 cases and 264 deaths in 2003. – See http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/29/us-usa-health-westnile-idUSBRE87S0WC20120829

Colorado 08/29/12 durangoherald.com: by Dale Rodebaugh – In the first confirmed (human) case of bubonic plague in the state since 2006, an Archuleta County resident has tested positive for the disease. The last human case in Archuleta County was in 1998. Although the investigation is ongoing, it is believed that the person contracted the plague during a family outing in the Cimarrona Campground northwest of Pagosa Springs, a news release from the San Juan Basin Health Department said. The department declined to give the gender or age of the victim.

Warning signs are being posted in the campground and environs in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the U.S. Forest Service. The plague often spreads through rodent populations. – For complete article see http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20120829/NEWS01/708299897/Plague-case-reported-in-Archuleta-County

Michigan 08/29/12 Paw Paw, Van Buren County: Health officials confirmed on Wednesday that an 8-week-old puppy has contracted Eastern Equine Encephalitis. It may be the first known incident of a dog contracting the mosquito-borne virus in the state. The puppy was euthanized. – See http://www.freep.com/article/20120829/NEWS06/120829065/Authorities-Paw-Paw-puppy-gets-equine-encephalitis

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Colorado 08/29/12 Boulder, Boulder County: Two mountain lions were spotted in city neighborhoods Monday night. The first, seen in a backyard near Folsom and Walnut streets, responded to hazing and ran away. The second, seen near Maapleton Avenue and 26^th Street, killed a house cat and allowed rangers to get within a distance of 10 feet. It’s lack of fear of humans prompted the rangers to shoot it. The two lions are thought to be siblings about 2-years-old. – See http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31393945/detail.html

Nebraska 08/29/12 Scotts Bluff County: A 110 pound mountain lion found dead in the Wildcat Hills is believed to have been struck by a truck or other large vehicle on State Highway 71. This is the second lion reported in the area recently. – See http://www.omaha.com/article/20120829/NEWS/120829671/1707

Wyoming 08/30/12 Pavillion, Fremont County: Wildlife officials have confirmed that a mountain lion jumped from a homeowners pine tree and fled when the man came from the house to turn off a lawn sprinkler. Because the lion fled, officials don’t believe there is any reason for concern. – See http://county10.com/2012/08/30/mountain-lion-reappears-in-pavillion-wednesday-night-g-bears-now-active-in-lower-elevations/

Coyote Attacks:

Massachusetts 08/28/12 Newton, Middlesex County: A small, off-leash dog was attacked and carried off by a coyote on August 10^th in the vicinity of William Street in West Newton. Neighbors reported that at least two area cats were also attacked by coyotes recently. A coyote sighting was more recently reported on Vista Avenue. – See http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/news/x821894346/Coyote-attacks-reoccur-in-West-Newton#axzz24yRn4tKI

La Crosse Encephalitis (LAC):

North Carolina 08/30/12 Macon County: Health officials have confirmed that two children have been diagnosed with LAC. One child is from the Highlands and the other is from Franklin. Both children were hospitalized but have been released and are recovering. – See http://www.maconnews.com/features/health-a-wellness/3510-la-crosse-encephalitis-in-macon-county

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) & West Nile Virus (WNV):

Indiana 08/29/12 Jeffersonville, Clark County: Health officials confirmed that mosquitoes found in a routine sampling tested positive for WNV. – See http://www.wdrb.com/story/19409290/west-nile-virus-discovered-in-mosquitoes-in-southern-indiana

Massachusetts 08/28/12 Fall River, Bristol County: Health officials confirm that mosquitoes collected from the Oak Grove Cemetery have tested positive for EEE. – See http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/se_mass/eee-found-in-mosquitoes-in-fall-river

Massachusetts 08/30/12 Newton, Middlesex County: Health officials confirm that a woman in her 50s is the first reported human case of WNV in the city so far this year. – See http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2012/08/newton_has_its_first_human_cas.html

New Hampshire 08/3012 Sandown, Rockingham County: State health officials have announced that a batch of mosquitoes trapped in Sandown has tested positive for EEE.  – See https://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&shva=1#inbox/139780871d4dc70b

New Mexico 08/29/12 Doña Ana County: A second county resident has been diagnosed with WNV, bringing the total in the state to eight human cases this year. – See http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_21429006/west-nile-strikes-2nd-do-241-ana-county

South Dakota 08/28/12 doh.sd.gov: Update – Health officials confirm 98 human cases of WNV, and one related death, have been reported in the state so far this year. In addition, 8 horses, 1 bird, and 62 positive mosquito pools have been identified. – See https://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&shva=1#inbox/139735a4e93e7650

Washington 08/30/12 Grandview, Yakima County: The state Agriculture Department has confirmed that a horse with WNV has been euthanized. – See http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/30/4771496/grandview-horse-with-west-nile.html

Rabies:

Georgia 08/29/12 Murrayville, Hall County: A rabies alert has been issued after a skunk that came in contact with two dogs in the Tony Peck Road area tested positive for rabies. This is the 17^th confirmed rabies case in the county this year. – See http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/19406657/rabies-alerts-in-hall-dekalb-counties

Iowa 08/29/12 Keokuk, Lee County: A case of rabies in a pet cat has prompted area veterinary clinics to host vaccination clinics. – See http://www.wgem.com/story/19407070/hancock-county

Louisiana 08/28/12 South Mansfield, DeSoto Parish: A skunk picked up in the vicinity of Saunders Street has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.ksla.com/story/19399038/skunk-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-desoto-parish

New York 08/29/12 St. Lawrence County: Two raccoons, one found in Potsdam and the other in Gouverneur, have tested positive for rabies. – See http://northcountrynow.com/news/raccoons-potsdam-and-gouverneur-test-positive-rabies-health-officials-warn-public-again-065156

North Carolina 08/29/12 Guilford and Davidson counties: A raccoon found on Church Street in Greensboro, and a fox found in Reeds, have both tested positive for rabies. Three dogs, a cat, and a person were all potentially exposed to the virus. – See http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article/242881/57/Triad-Counties-Report-More-Rabies-Cases

Virginia 08/28/12 Ware Neck, Gloucester County: A skunk killed by two dogs last week has tested positive for rabies. This is the fourth confirmed case of the virus in the county this year. – See http://www.dailypress.com/news/gloucester-county/dp-nws-gloucester-rabid-skunk-0829-20120828,0,950529.story

Virginia 08/29/12 Virginia Beach: A fox that bit a man several times while he was working in his yard Tuesday, and two hours later attacked another man working in his yard, has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Fox-tested-for-rabies-after-attacking-2-men-in-Va-3824547.php

WASHINGTON warns of Paralytic SHELLFISH Poison biotoxin found in central and south Puget Sound waters ~ LYME DISEASE Stories presented by CDC ~ WEST NILE VIRUS reports from NE, SC, & TX ~ RABIES reports from FL, NY, NC, TX, & VA.

Scallop eyes. PD. Wikimedia Commons.

Washington 07/31/12 wa.gov: News Release – Shellfish collected from a large area of central and south Puget Sound contain enough Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) biotoxin to make people sick. So, the Washington State Department of Health has closed recreational shellfish harvest in Jefferson, Island, Snohomish, Kitsap, King and Pierce Counties. Commercially harvested shellfish have been thoroughly tested and should be safe to eat. Warning signs are posted at beaches used by recreational shellfish harvesters to warn people not to collect shellfish from the closed areas. The closures include clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, geoduck, and other species of molluscan shellfish. Crab is not included in the closure, but “crab butter” should not be eaten. The PSP toxin is produced by algae that are often more common during the warmest months of the year.

People can get very sick from eating shellfish contaminated with the toxin. Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing. Symptoms of PSP can appear within minutes or hours and usually begin with tingling lips and tongue, moving to the hands and feet. This is followed by difficulty breathing, and potentially death. Anyone who has eaten shellfish and begins having these symptoms should get medical help immediately. A person can’t tell if PSP is present by looking at the water or shellfish. For this reason, the term “red tide,” which is often used for PSP, is misleading and inaccurate. PSP can only be detected by laboratory testing. Before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Washington, people should check for updated closure information on our Shellfish Safety Website or call our Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632. The Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov) is your source for a healthy dose of information.

National 07/31/12 cdc.gov: News Release –  Lyme Disease Stories presents true experiences of people who have had Lyme disease.  In the first story (a video), you’ll meet John, a dad who caught Lyme disease on a camping trip with his son.   This video describes how the early symptoms felt and how he was treated by his physician, Dr. Heaton.  Dr. Heaton talks about some common concerns that patients have with Lyme disease and where it occurs.  John follows up with some tips for avoiding tick bites and Lyme disease.

You’ll also read about Linda, who had Lyme disease on two separate occasions. Read her story to find out how she felt and why it’s important to remain vigilant against ticks. – For John’s video and Linda’s Story go to http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/diagnosistreatment/Stories/index.html

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Nebraska 07/31/12 Jefferson County: Public health officials have confirmed that a mosquito trapped in the county has tested positive for WNV. – See http://beatricedailysun.com/news/local/west-nile-virus-found-in-jefferson-county/article_a9ba8467-4f0b-5e89-abba-50ec6a9fa0df.html

South Carolina 07/31/12 the tandd.com: by Dionne Gleaton – A local man is one of three newly confirmed human cases of WNV in the state. “The new cases are a middle-aged man from Orangeburg County, a middle-aged man from Lexington County and a middle-aged man from Richland County,” said Dr. Linda Bell, interim state epidemiologist. “Combined with the case identified in a Charleston County woman last week, we now have identified a total of four human cases. – See http://thetandd.com/news/local/local-man-contracts-west-nile-virus/article_8d52c1d0-dac0-11e1-972b-0019bb2963f4.html

Texas 07/31/12 Travis County: Health officials confirmed today that a resident has died of WNV, the more serious neuroinvasive form. The death is the first from WNV in the county since 2003. Three other human cases are being investigated by county officials. – See http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/health/entries/2012/07/31/travis_county_has_first_west_n.html

Rabies:

Florida 07/30/12 wtvy.com: The Washington County Health Department is investigating a case or cases of rabies in domestic cats. A resident of Washington County moved to south Florida. A neighbor who lives in Graceville (Jackson County) was feeding the resident’s four cats and noticed that they appeared sick. One cat was taken to a veterinarian and tested positive for rabies. Two of the three remaining cats were euthanized. The fourth cat had been transported to Holmes County and has disappeared. Two residents of Jackson County and one resident in Alabama are receiving rabies vaccine as a precautionary measure. Neighbors reported seeing other cats feeding with the original four cats and report many stray cats in the area. Dogs and other animals could also have been exposed. The area in question is in northern Washington County, just south of the Jackson County line near Highway 77.

New York 07/31/12 Elmsford, Westchester County: A rabies alert has been issued to residents who may have had contact with a rabid stray cat in Elmsford, on Winthrop Avenue between White Plains Avenue and Payne Street, on or before Friday, July 27. The health department used robo-calls to notify residents who live within a quarter-mile of the area where the cat was found. The cat was an adult charcoal gray short-haired cat with yellowish-green eyes and a dirty coat. It had tried to attack a woman and a man in the neighborhood before it attacked a police officer, who had responded to a call and then shot the cat. Testing confirmed the cat was rabid. The officer has already begun post-exposure rabies treatment. There was no other known contact with people or pets. – See http://tarrytown.patch.com/articles/health-dept-rabid-cat-found-in-elmsford-b2852c8d#photo-9847645

North Carolina 07/31/12 Mooresville, Iredell County: Twelve people are being treated for potential exposure to rabies after a puppy that was a center of attention at a family fish fry dies of the virus. – See http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/officials-12-people-child-being-treated-rabies-aft/nP7P5/

Texas 07/30/12 Cedar Park, Travis & Williamson counties: A bat found July 27^th at the Twin Lakes YMCA, 204 East Little Elm Trail, has tested positive for rabies. A camp counselor found the bat buried in the sand at the lake beach, and officials ask anyone who came into contact with it to seek immediate medical advice. – See http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/williamson/entries/2012/07/30/rabid_bat_found_in_cedar_park.html

Virginia 07/30/12 Henrico County: A raccoon that attacked two dogs in the 7500 block of Ansley Road on July 26^th has tested positive for rabies. Both dogs have been quarantined. – See http://wtvr.com/2012/07/30/henrico-rabies-case-leaves-2-dogs-quarantined/

WASHINGTON woman’s death was associated with HANTAVIRUS ~ WASHINGTON health officials reveal source of HANTAVIRUS that killed Grant County woman ~ INDIANA couple rescues PET from two COYOTES ~ MALARIA drug resistance spreading in SOUTHEAST ASIA ~ RABIES reports from CO, NE, NC, TX, & VA ~ CDC presents interactive LYME DISEASE map 2001-10 ~ CDC Reports: ZOONOTIC DISEASE summary for week ending March 31, 2012.

Deer mouse can carry Sin Nombre Virus, which causes Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Photo Courtesy Centers for Disease Control.

Washington 04/06/12 granthealth.org: News Release – On April 4, 2012 The Grant County Health District (GCHD) received confirmation from the Washington State Department of Health Public Health Laboratory (DOH) that the death of a Grant County woman in her 30s was associated with Hantavirus exposure. The woman was hospitalized and died on March 28th. The Health District investigation determined the woman was most likely exposed here in Grant County. The last fatal case of Hantavirus in Grant County occurred in 2005. Since Hantavirus’s recognition in 1993, there have been 44 cases reported in Washington State and 15 (34%) of these patients died. This is comparable to the national average of about 33%. Each year Washington has one to five confirmed Hantavirus cases. Most of these cases occur in Eastern Washington.

Grant County.

Washington 04/09/12 wenatcheeworld.com: by Mike Irwin – A Grant County woman who died March 28 from hantavirus exposure was most likely infected from mouse droppings in sheds and outbuildings she’d entered about three to four weeks ago, county Health District officials confirmed this morning. The woman, in her 30s, died after being hospitalized with indications of hantavirus, which most frequently include flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, fatigue and nausea. Officals have not released the name of the woman, who was a resident of George. “We don’t want people alarmed, but we do want them aware,” said Theresa Fuller, spokeswoman for the Grant County Health District. “This isn’t an outbreak — it’s something we live with all the time and can take steps to prevent.” Hantavirus cases tend to increase in the spring, said Fuller, when residents begin to clean barns, sheds and outbuildings and risk exposure to airborne droppings of deer mice, the primary carrier in Eastern Washington. The greatest risk occurs when people enter enclosed areas with rodent infestation and poor air circulation, said Fuller. Symptoms can appear in one to six weeks and are fatal in one of every three cases. – For complete article see http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/apr/09/death-from-hantavirus-caused-by-mouse-droppings/

Indiana 04/06/12 Michigan City, LaPorte County: A couple walking in the Moon Valley trails last week saw their dog attacked by two coyotes. The dog was badly bitten and required medical treatment. Fortunately, the dog had been vaccinated for rabies. – See http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2012/04/06/news/local/doc4f7e3dc6c1b46402020818.txt

Female anolpheles mosquito transmits malaria.

Global 04/09/12 the-scientist.com: by Bob Grant – Researchers have found a key to malaria drug resistance in the genome of Plasmodium falciparum, the disease’s causal parasite. In a related study, scientists have determined that resistance to artemisinin, the go-to drug for treating malaria infections around the world, is spreading to Thailand and Myanmar from Cambodia, where resistance was first detected in 2005. On the genomic front, geneticist Ian Cheeseman at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio and colleagues found two spots on P. falciparum‘s chromosome 13 that were strongly associated with drug resistance. Cheeseman and his team suggest, in a Science paper published last week that the region accounts for at least one-third of the heritable variation in the artemisinin resistance seen in Southeast Asia. Though the discovery may aid in strengthening the impact of the drug, several other genes and non-coding regions of the parasite’s DNA could be involved in conferring artemisinin resistance as well. “At this point, we’re still in the dark about the mechanism of resistance,” Cheesman told Nature. – For complete article see http://the-scientist.com/2012/04/09/malaria-drug-resistance-spreading/

Colorado 04/04/12 Pueblo, Pueblo County: Three skunks have tested positive for rabies. They were captured at Garland Road on the Mesa, Paloma Place and Roselawn Road in the Salt Creek neighborhood, and the 2400 block of Winnipeg Street west of Lake Minnequa. Health officials are unaware of any human exposure. See http://www.krdo.com/news/30835306/detail.html

Nebraska 04/04/12 Omaha, Douglas County: Two young sisters are receiving post-exposure prophylaxis rabies treatments after one was bitten by a bat in her sleep while the other one slept in the same room. See http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Girl_Bitten_By_Bat_146200755.html

North Carolina 04/04/12 Norlina, Warren County: A dead raccoon found by a property owner on Bessie Hicks Road last week has tested positive for rabies. It is believed the animal was killed by at least one of the owner’s four dogs, all of which had been vaccinated against the virus. See http://www.vancnews.com/the_warren_record/news/article_66fe3230-7dcd-11e1-af87-001a4bcf887a.html

Texas 04/04/12 College Station, Brazos County: Police say a boy was playing in the 700 block of Wellesley Court earlier this week when he was bitten by a dog described as short-haired and brown with a patch of white over its left eye. It is believed to be a pit bull. The boy’s brothers told police two black men put the dog in a red car and left the left the area. If the dog is not found, the boy will have to undergo post-exposure prophylaxis rabies treatment. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (979) 764-3600. See http://wtaw.com/2012/04/04/police-search-for-dog-involved-in-attack-on-child/

Virginia 04/08/12 Hampton: Hampton animal control officers are looking for dog that might have rabies. They said a pit bull attacked a woman at the intersection of Queen Street and LaSalle Avenue. Officers said they just wanted to make sure the dog was not rabid and they would not harm the animal. If you see the dog, do not approach him and contact Hampton animal control. – See http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/officers-looking-for-dangerous-dog

National 04/09/12 cdc.gov: News Release –  An interactive Lyme disease map is now available at (http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/maps/interactiveMaps.html) for the years 2001-2010.  By looking at each map individually, you can observe subtle yearly changes in disease distribution.  By looking at maps that are several years apart, you can see the larger changes in disease distribution over time. We hope you find the addition of these maps to be instructive.

CDC Reports:

CDC MMWR Summary for Week ending March 31, 2012:

Published April 6, 2012/ 61(13); ND-170-ND-183

Anaplasmosis . . . 5 . . . Maine (2), Rhode Island (2), Texas,

Babesiosis . . . 1 . . . New York,

Ehrlichiosis . . . 1 . . . New York,

Giardiasis . . . 85 . . . Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida (20), Georgia (2), Idaho (2), Iowa (5), Maryland (4), Michigan, Nebraska (2), New York (22), Ohio (8), Oregon (3), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (3), South Carolina (3), Wisconsin,

Lyme Disease . . .  113. . .  Delaware (3), Florida (2), Maryland (2), Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey (43), New York (25), Pennsylvania (33), Virginia (2), Wisconsin,

Q Fever (Acute) . . . 1 . . . Montana,

Rabies (Animal) . . . 46. . . Alabama (2), Arkansas (3), Maine (3), Michigan (2), Missouri (2), New Mexico, New York (4), Puerto Rico, Texas (11), Virginia (18),

Spotted Fever (Probable) . . . 8 . . . Florida (2), Maine, Missouri, Tennessee (2), Virginia (2).

COYOTE-WOLF hybrids spread south along U.S. eastern seaboard ~ Delaware confirms first case of TULAREMIA (RABBIT FEVER) since 2003 ~ Illinois officials issue COYOTE warning ~ CDC News: Two news cases of SWINE FLU (H3N2) confirmed in Maine and Indiana.

Coyote-Wolf Hybrid aka Red Wolf. PD. Wikimedia Commons.

National 11/07/11 nationalgeographic.com: by Christine Dell’Amore – Scientists already knew that some coyotes, which have been gradually expanding their range eastward, mated with wolves in the Great Lakes (map) region. The pairings created viable hybrid offspring—identified by their DNA and skulls—that have been found in mid-Atlantic states such as New York and Pennsylvania. Now, new DNA analysis of coyote poop shows for the first time that some coyotes in the state of Virginia are also part wolf.

Scientists think these animals are coyote-wolf hybrids that traveled south from New England along the Appalachian Mountains. The study also identified another coyote migration route moving through the southern states. “You have a situation where you have these two waves of coyotes coming into the mid-Atlantic, a terminus for coyote colonization,” said study leader Christine Bozarth, a research fellow at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. Northern Virginia in particular seems to be a convergence point for coyote migrations, Bozarth said—and the animals’ numbers are increasing there, especially in suburban areas where food is more plentiful. – For complete article go to http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111107-hybrids-coyotes-wolf-virginia-dna-animals-science/

Delaware 11/07/11 Kent County: Last month, the Delaware Public Health Laboratory confirmed the first case of tularemia in the state since 2003. The afflicted Kent County man was hospitalized and undergoing treatment for the disease caused by an infectious bacterium. See http://www.prlog.org/11717729-first-case-of-tularemia-in-eight-years-hits-delaware.html

Illinois 11/03/11 Aurora, Kane County: Animal Control officials issue warning to pet owners after a coyote kills a small dog. See http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20111102/news/711029674/

CDC News:

National 11/04/11 cdc.gov: CDC has confirmed two additional cases of human infection with a swine–origin influenza A (H3N2) virus that carries the M gene from the 2009 H1N1 virus. The cases were reported by Maine and Indiana (bringing the total number of cases confirmed to 7 so far this year). There is no evidence at this time of an epidemiological link between these two patients or any person to person transmission associated with either of these cases. Both patients reported exposure to pigs prior to their illness. Human infections with swine influenza viruses are rare, but do occur. In most cases, these infections are associated with exposure to infected pigs. The swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) virus with the M gene acquired from the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused the 2009-2010 pandemic was first detected in a child in Indiana in July 2011. Subsequently, three additional cases (cases 2 through 4) of human infection with swine–origin influenza A (H3N2) viruses carrying the same genetic change were detected in Pennsylvania. A fifth case was identified in Maine in October. All of these prior cases had direct exposure to pigs, except for one patient who had a caretaker with swine exposure.

The acquisition of the M gene likely occurred as a result of swine being co–infected with the swine influenza A (H3N2) virus and the human 2009 H1N1 virus. While we know the M gene plays a role in influenza virus infection, assembly and replication, the significance of this change in these swine–origin influenza A (H3N2) viruses is unknown at this time. CDC continues to investigate the implications of this genetic change. Both of the most recent patients confirmed with swine–origin influenza A (H3N2) infection had been in close contact with live pigs during the week prior to their illness onset. Both patients have recovered from their illness.
Seasonal flu vaccine would not be expected to protect against these swine flu viruses because they are very different from seasonal human influenza A (H3N2) viruses. While there is no vaccine to protect humans against these swine–origin influenza viruses, there are two FDA–cleared drugs that can be used to treat illness with these viruses. The antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir – which are used to treat infection with human seasonal influenza viruses – also have shown activity against swine–origin influenza viruses. – For complete News Release go to http://www.cdc.gov/media/haveyouheard/stories/H3N2_virus2.html

(See also Natural Unseen Hazards posts dated September 3, September 6, and October 22, 2011.)