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

9 people exposed to RABID HORSE in MARYLAND ~ 3 COWS, 3 FOXES, and 2 SHEEP all believed killed by RABIES in VIRGINIA ~ RABIES reports from AL, CA, CT, MD, NY, NC, TX, & VA ~ TRAVEL WARNINGS: AVIAN FLU (H7N9) situation in CHINA being carefully watched by CDC & WHO.

Photo: PD – Wikimedia Commons. Not related to rabid horse article.

Maryland 04/17/13 Garrett County: A horse stabled in the Oakland area that appeared to be ill on April 7^th has tested positive for rabies. At least nine people are receiving post-exposure treatment for the virus, and in addition all cats, dogs, and other horses on the property have been quarantined for observation. – See http://times-news.com/local/x1915235935/Horse-tests-positive-for-rabies-virus-in-Garrett-County

Virginia 04/17/13 Highland County: Two cows and two foxes tested positive for rabies during March, and another cow, another fox, and two sheep died with clinical symptoms of the virus but were not tested. – See http://www.therecorderonline.com/news/2013-04-18/Early_Files/Reports_show_two_cows_died_from_rabies_here.html

Other Rabies Reports:

Alabama 04/17/13 Shelby County: State officials have issued a Rabies Alert after finding three positive cases of rabies in the raccoon population in the vicinity of Columbiana. The general focus is on a two-mile radius area centering on the Beeswax Creek boat launch. – See http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/04/shelby_county_rabies_warning_e.html

California 04/17/13 San Bernadino County: A dead bat found under a tree at Community Park located near the intersection of Church Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Redlands has tested positive for rabies. Anyone who may have come in contact with the bat should seek immediate medical advice. – See http://redlands.patch.com/articles/warning-issued-after-bat-found-at-redlands-park-tests-positive-for-rabies

Connecticut 04/16/13 New London County: A light gray and white striped pregnant cat that bit or scratched three people on Saturday in the vicinity of Meech and Shore avenues near the Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton has tested positive for rabies. All three of the victims are being treated for exposure to the virus. Anyone who believes they might have been exposed to the cat should seek immediate medical advice. – See http://www.theday.com/article/20130416/NWS01/130419700/1047

Maryland 04/15/13 Frederick County: A feral cat that attacked a resident of Ijamsville in the vicinity of Fingerboard and Price Distillery roads on April 11^th has tested positive for rabies. Anyone bitten, scratched, or exposed in any way to a large, brown tabby cat in that area should seek immediate medical attention. – See http://www.gazette.net/article/20130415/NEWS/130419380/1016/stray-cat-in-ijamsville-tests-positive-for-rabies&template=gazette

New York 04/16/13 Clinton County: A gray fox that bit a resident of Au Sable on April 10^th has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.fox44abc22yourvoice.com/story/21991604/4th-animal-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-clinton-county-ny

North Carolina 04/17/13 Caldwell County: A skunk that attacked two of three unvaccinated dogs owned by a resident on Red Shoals Place in the city of Lenoir’s Morris Creek community has tested positive for rabies. The three dogs were euthanized. – See http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/16/3985684/1st-rabies-case-of-year-in-caldwell.html

Texas 04/15/13 Galveston and Harris counties: A bat found at Friendswood High School in Friendswood on Wednesday has tested positive for rabies. No human exposure was reported. This is the second rabid bat found at the school within the past two weeks. – See http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=9066236

Virginia 04/16/13 Gloucester County: A dead raccoon found by a homeowner in his dog pen off of Robins Neck Road in the Naxera area has tested positive for rabies. The two dogs in the pen were vaccinated. – See http://www.dailypress.com/news/gloucester-county/dp-nws-gloucester-rabies-0416-20130416,0,3750344.story

Travel Warnings:

China 04/15/13 cdc.gov: LEVEL 1 WATCH: On April 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that influenza A (H7N9), a type of flu usually seen in birds, has been identified in a number of people in China. Cases have been confirmed in the following provinces and municipalities: Anhui, Beijing, Henan, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang. This is the first time this virus has been seen in people. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Infection with the new virus has resulted in severe respiratory illness and, in some cases, death. Chinese health authorities are conducting investigations to learn the source of the infections with this virus and to find other cases. CDC is following this situation closely and coordinating with domestic and international partners in a number of areas. More information will be posted as it becomes available. There is no recommendation against travel to China at this time.

Author’s Note: So far, most cases have occurred in eastern China, but a few cases have now been identified in Henan Province and Beijing, both further north. As of April 17^th, officials have confirmed 82 cases including 17 deaths.

RABBIT hunter in NORTH CAROLINA contracts TULAREMIA ~ MICE captured at CALIFORNIA nature preserve test positive for HANTAVIRUS ~ RABIES reports from AR, KS, & VA.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit. Courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

North Carolina 02/19/13 wilsontimes.com: by Jon Jimison – The N.C. Wildlife Commission and state Division of Public Health are encouraging hunters to take precautions after a rabbit hunter in eastern North Carolina tested positive for a rare but serious disease called tularemia, also known as rabbit fever. A second member of the same hunting party also showed signs of the disease. “We’re just asking hunters to take precautions and be aware,” said Carolyn Rickard, spokeswoman for the N.C. Wildlife Commission. Rabbit hunting season in North Carolina runs from Nov. 17 to Feb. 28. Both hunters appear to be recovering, the commission noted. Although rare, rabbit fever is a serious and potentially fatal disease. It’s also one where preventative measures can be taken. Marilyn Haskell, public health veterinarian and epidemiologist with the N.C. Division of Public Health, said the division’s role is to prevent diseases and its employees would like to get a prevention and education message out to the public.

Tularemia vectors.

Tularemia is a disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s typically found in animals, especially rodents and rabbits. Most cases occur in rural areas. There have been 17 cases reported in North Carolina since 1999.“That is combined, confirmed and probable,” said Haskell, who specializes in rabies and zoonotic diseases. “It can make you very, very sick. We want hunters to know you can get very sick and the rabbit can appear very normal.” There are about 200 cases reported annually in the United States. The disease has a 30 percent mortality rate in some forms if left untreated. It’s treated with antibiotics, Haskell said. All cases this year in North Carolina have been confined to the current investigation. Officials said they wouldn’t name the eastern North Carolina county where the disease was reported due to patient confidentiality concerns. – For complete article see http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Feature/Story/18247908—Hunter-contracts–rabbit-fever-

Hantavirus:

California 02/21/13 pe.com: by Richard Brooks – Three mice found in a nature preserve northeast of Moreno Valley have tested positive for hantavirus, Riverside County health officials said. The rodents were among 34 captures during January in Norton Younglove Reserve in the hills between San Timoteo Canyon Road and Highway 60. Hantavirus can be fatal to humans, cautions the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People become infected through contact with infected rodents, the animals’ urine or droppings. Victims develop fever and headache that can lead to respiratory failure. Rodent control in and around homes remains the primary strategy to prevent catching hantavirus. “Over the past decade, approximately 10 percent of the rodents collected in Riverside County have tested positive for hantavirus,” county Department of Environmental Health officials said in a written statement released Thursday, Feb. 21. “To date, there are no documented human cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome originating within Riverside County,” However, they caution people to avoid stirring up debris while cleaning mouse-infested areas, especially in rural areas. Cleanup work should be done while wearing rubber gloves and leaving a 10 percent solution of bleach or household disinfectant on contaminated surfaces for at least 15 minutes. Sponges and mops should be used, rather than brooms and vacuums, officials emphasize. And dead rodents should be double-bagged in plastic before disposal.

Rabies:

Arkansas 02/19/13 Madison County: A cow kept in Kingston has tested positive for rabies. Officials believe the cow was bitten by a rabid skunk, probably 4-12 weeks prior to showing any symptoms. Cows typically develop a hoarse bellow. Drooling and abnormal swallowing may make them appear to have something caught in their throats. Some animals may only show depression and weakness, or partial paralysis, of the hindquarters. During the course of several hours to a few days, the animal will go down, develop convulsive seizures and die. – See http://harrisondaily.com/cow-dies-of-rabies-near-kingston/article_27087632-7ae2-11e2-8883-0019bb2963f4.html

Kansas 02/22/13 Greenwood County: A skunk found biting and holding onto a dog’s tail in an area northeast of Eureka has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/article_e337b54e-7d11-11e2-af83-10604b9f7e7c.html

Virginia 02/22/13 Hampton: A raccoon that attacked a family dog on Wednesday at the Sandy Bottom Nature Park has tested positive for rabies. – See http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/raccoon-attacked-dog-hampton-had-rabies

DEER in ILLINOIS is DuPage County’s first case of CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE ~ RABIES reports from MD, MN, NE, RI, SC, & VA.

Whitetail deer. Courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Illinois 01/15/13 suntimes.com: The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to further test for chronic wasting disease after a deer was found to have the illness in the district’s Mallard Lake Forest Preserve next to Hanover Park. “There is no threat to the public’s health or safety,” said the Forest Preserve District’s ecologist Brian Kraskiewicz. “However, we’ll be working with the IDNR to test additional deer to determine if this was an anomaly or if there is an issue among the herd.” Kraskiewicz said that the forest district’s deer management program already helps control the transmission of diseases such as CWD. Last year, the district culled 250 deer as part of that program, with 85 tested according to IDNR standards. The disease recently was found in one deer and, because of that finding, another 20 deer will be culled over the next three weeks from Mallard Lake and Hawk Hollow Forest Preserve, which borders Mallard Lake also next to Hanover Park. . . . Chronic wasting disease is a progressive neurological disease that affects elk, deer and moose, and was first detected in Illinois’ Boone County in 2002. There have been 372 positive results found in 11 northern Illinois counties since. The new case is the first in DuPage County. – For complete article see http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/17599013-418/dupage-deer-found-with-chronic-wasting-disease.html

Rabies:

Maryland 01/14/13 Carroll County: A young, distressed cat that a Sykesville resident attempted to rescue in a community near Main Street has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/sykesville-resident-exposed-to-rabies-after-trying-to-help-stray/article_681d765e-af86-58e5-bbce-469675d8193a.html

Minnesota 01/09/13 Mower County: Health officials confirmed on Jan. 4^th that a horse stabled in the county has tested positive for rabies. The horse’s owner reported the animal had become weak, began head pressing and falling and having difficulty rising. – http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31183/minnesota-horse-tests-positive-for-rabies

Nebraska 01/15/13 Cherry County: A cow submitted by a veterinarian has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.sheridancountyjournalstar.net/ag-news/1139-cow-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-cherry-county

Rhode Island 01/15/13 Washington County: A raccoon that attacked a person and two dogs Monday on Heritage Road in North Kingstown was not captured but is presumed to have rabies. Residents are asked to report wildlife acting strangely. – See http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode-island/2013/01/15/person-treated-for-rabies-after-raccoon-attack/bDYSZtyzMsTbpbPsvKPf5J/story.html

South Carolina 01/09/13 Charleston County: Health officials confirmed today that five adults and one teenager have been exposed to a cat that tested positive for rabies. – See http://www2.counton2.com/news/2013/jan/09/cat-exposes-six-rabies-charleston-county-ar-5330590/

Virginia 01/14/13 Danville: A raccoon found in the vicinity of Westover Drive has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www2.wsls.com/news/2013/jan/14/danville-families-alerted-first-rabies-case-2013-ar-2465553/

FLORIDA confirms second case of DENGUE FEVER ~ RABIES reports from ARKANSAS, & IOWA ~ CDC REPORTS: ZOONOTIC DISEASE summary for week ending October 27, 2012.

Florida 11/03/12 examiner.com: by Jim Ford – A second confirmed case of dengue fever was diagnosed in Florida on Friday and health officials are investigating a possible third case.

Seminole County

The first confirmed case was reported earlier this week in Seminole County, while the latest case is in Osceola County. It appears that dengue is now widespread in the local environment. Dengue is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected with dengue virus when it bites a person who has dengue virus in their blood. The person may have no symptoms and may not even be aware they are infected. After about a week, the mosquito can then transmit the virus while biting a healthy person.

Osceola County

There is no prevention other than trying to avoid mosquito bites. Though some people may experience little to no effects, the most common symptoms of dengue include high fever (over 101 degrees Fahrenheit), severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, muscle, joint and bone pain, rash, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue infection. It can be fatal if unrecognized and not properly treated in a timely manner. DHF is caused by infection with the same viruses that cause dengue fever. With good medical management, mortality due to DHF can be less than 1%. – For complete article see http://www.examiner.com/article/dengue-fever-strikes-again-florida

Rabies:

Arkansas 10/20/12 katv.com:  The number of animals that have tested positive for rabies in the state is up to 141 animals. Last year there were 60 rabid animal cases. According to the Arkansas Department of Health, so far this year there have been 115 skunks, 21 bats, two cows and three dogs that tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.katv.com/story/19871433/rabies-cases-up-in-arkansas

Iowa 11/03/12 Polk & Dallas counties: A black cat with a pink collar reportedly bit two people on Beggars’ Night in the downtown Urbandale area, and police say they want help finding it. The incidents occurred on 69th Street north of Douglas Parkway on Tuesday. The bites were serious, said Urbandale Police Sgt. Gary Lang. The victims have started rabies shots. It creates a big problem to have cats wandering around the neighborhood, Lang said. “Cats need to be confined just like dogs,” he said. “We just need to find the owner and see if it’s had its shots.” People have been asked to call 222-3321 if they see the suspected cat.

CDC Reports:

CDC MMWR Summary for Week ending October 27, 2012:

Published November 2, 2012/ 61(43); ND-593-ND-606

Anaplasmosis . . . 6 . . . New York (6),

Babesiosis . . . 5 . . . New York (5),

Ehrlichiosis . . . 4 . . . Florida, New York, North Carolina, Virginia,

Giardiasis . . . 185 . . . Alabama, Alaska (2), Arizona, Arkansas (2), California (28), Florida (25), Georgia (26), Idaho (4), Iowa (4), Maine, Maryland (2), Missouri (9), New York (33), Ohio (11), Oregon (5), Utah, Virginia (2), Washington (26), Wisconsin (2),

HME/HGE Undetermined . . . 1 . . . Indiana,

Hansen Disease (Leprosy) . . . 1 . . . North Carolina, 

Lyme Disease . . .  95. . .  Florida (3), Maine (2), Maryland (5), New York (74), North Carolina (4), Ohio, Tennessee, Vermont (2), Virginia (3),

Rabies (Animal) . . . 67. . . Alabama (2), Arkansas (35), Illinois, Kansas, Maine (3), New York (4), Oklahoma (12), Oregon (2), Texas (7),

Spotted Fever including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Probable) . . . 25 . . . Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina (16), Oklahoma (3), Tennessee (3), Texas.

CANADA: WOMAN from northern QUEBEC survives POLAR BEAR attack ~ FLORIDA man’s DOG killed by BLACK BEAR in backyard ~ COLORADAN dies of HANTAVIRUS ~ CALIFORNIA law officer shoots MOUNTAIN LION that broke through family’s back door ~ COLORADO confirms wild RABBIT tested positive for TULAREMIA ~ EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS reports from GA, MAx3, NY, NC, & VA ~ WEST NILE VIRUS reports from AZ, FL, ILx2, MI, MS, NJx2, NY, OH, TX, & WI ~ RABIES reports from NJ, NYx2, NC, PA, & TX ~ CDC REPORTS: ZOONOTIC DISEASE summary for week ending July 14, 2012 ~ TRAVEL WARNINGS: CDC notice of CHOLERA outbreak in CUBA.

Polar bear. Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey

Canada:

Quebec 07/27/12 cbc.ca: An Inuk woman underwent surgery in Montreal Friday afternoon, four days after she was mauled by a polar bear near Kangiqsualujjuaq, a small Inuit community in Nunavik, in northern Quebec. Alicie Baron, 57, stepped out of her hunting cabin late Monday night, checking around for a bear as she normally would. She didn’t see anything. “I think this bear was hiding behind our cabin,” she said. Baron said she turned around after hearing a sound and found herself face to face with the bear. “I yelled twice. I tried to make a very loud yell, since my husband was inside. He only heard my last yell,” she said. Baron’s husband grabbed a hunting rifle and tried to shoot the bear. His first bullet jammed, so he got a second gun, firing two shots before the bear let go of Baron. Baron was left with a gaping head wound and a mangled hand. “I was afraid if I just stayed there doing nothing, he would….open my skull,” said Baron from her Montreal hospital bed on Friday. “I had to use my hand for protection.” “I just tried my best to be strong, to try not to have the bear chew off my head,” she said. The couple had to wait in the hunting camp overnight for help to arrive. Baron was first flown to Kuujjuaq for treatment, then on to Montreal. She underwent surgery on Tuesday to treat her head wounds. A second operation on Friday was to repair three fractures and lacerations to her right hand. A stoic Baron said she is hoping to make a full recovery.

United States:

Florida 07/27/12 clickorlando.com: Traps will be set for the bear that attacked and killed a DeLand man’s dog in his backyard, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials. The attack happened Saturday night around 11 p.m. on Oak Street near International Speedway and Kepler Road. Greg Mapp believes the bear was about 350 pounds. He said his dog, Molly, and the bear went “toe to toe” as Molly defended her home. Mapp said the bear ran into the woods behind his house, but his dog was hurt so badly she had to be put down. His neighbor, Patricia Peacock, said she believes she spotted the same bear in her front yard on Wednesday. Joy Hill, a spokesperson with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said a trap will placed in the area in the next day or two, but she added that the situation is not an emergency and the bear is not considered dangerous. Hill said the bear was likely going after the dog’s food that the owner left in the back yard. She said residents should take food inside. “This was a defensive response by the bear,” Hill said. “It was not a predatory attack. This type of thing will continue to happen as long as people provide food opportunities for bears (that) live in the woods around them.” If officials capture the bear, Hill said they will relocate it to the Ocala National Forest. Hill said the trap is being moved from Paisley in Lake County where a bear bit another dog earlier in the week. Local 6 spoke with the owner of the the other dog, Brian Pollock, who said he kept his trashcans empty and doesn’t have food on his porch. But a bear bit the neck of his dog, Spike, who is recovering.

Deer mouse. Common carrier of Hantavirus. Courtesy U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Colorado 07/25/12 therepublic.com: The Tri-County Health Department says an Adams County woman has died of hantavirus in the first Colorado death from the respiratory disease this year. The department said Wednesday that the 36-year-old woman, who had no serious underlying health conditions, was admitted to a hospital July 8 with flu-like symptoms and died two days later. Health officials say she most likely was exposed to hantavirus while cleaning a rodent-infested area of her home. People can catch the virus from inhaling airborne particles of infected rodents’ excrement. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache and severe muscle pain, especially in the lower back and legs, followed by a dry cough or difficulty breathing. State health officials say a Delta County man and Garfield County woman were infected with hantavirus earlier this year. Both survived.

California 07/27/12 mercurynews.com: by Patty Guerra – Tami Mendonca was working in the front yard of her home Sunday when she heard a crash in the back yard. She ran around to check and saw the back door hanging open. “It had just been kicked in,” she said. Using the cell phone she always keeps in her pocket, she called 911 to report the intruder. “Then she grabs the machete,” interjected her husband, Ray, as the couple recounted the story Thursday. The machete-wielding Mendonca flagged down a neighbor, and they watched the house while waiting for help to arrive. A Stanislaus County sheriff’s deputy got there quickly and went into the house with his K-9. “He came out and said the house was clear,” Tami Mendonca said. “Nothing had been taken.” While they were chatting, the Mendoncas’ dogs ran out to one of the eucalyptus trees in the yard and started barking. “We’re all excited and we thought we’ve got him up the tree,” she said. “Then we looked up, and we all just froze.” The suspect was a 100-pound mountain lion. The deputy told Mendonca to put her dogs in the kennel while he called the state Department of Fish and Game. “Fish and Game told them if the animal comes out of the tree, they should probably consider dispatching it,” sheriff’s deputy Royjindar Singh said Thursday. “The lion decided to come out of the tree, so (the deputy) shot it and killed it.” Authorities said the deputy had no alternative, as the mountain lion was a threat to public safety. “There are too many factors going on,” said Capt. Robert Simpson of the Department of Fish and Game. “Mountain lions have no fear; they have no predator.” – For complete article see http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21173139/mountain-lion-killed-after-breaking-into-home

Colorado 07/27/12 kdvr.com: Public Health officials announced Friday that a rabbit tested positive for an illness that “is similar to plague” in Pueblo. The rabbit was found in Pueblo West in the 1000 Block of West Saginaw Drive, and tested positive for Tularemia. Though the bacterial illness occurs naturally in the U.S., it’s a condition that can be fatal to humans. – For complete article see http://kdvr.com/2012/07/27/rabbit-with-plague-like-illness-found-in-pueblo/

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE):

Georgia 07/26/12 Chatham County: Health officials said Thursday that preliminary tests have confirmed the presence of WNV and EEE in mosquitoes collected in the county. – See http://www2.wsav.com/news/2012/jul/26/west-nile-virus-and-eastern-equine-encephalitis-de-ar-4214153/

Massachusetts 07/27/12 Pittsfield, Berkshire County: A mosquito sample collected in the Williams Street area has tested positive for EEE. – See http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_21173247/mosquito-sample-pittsfield-tests-positive-eee

Massachusetts 07/26/12 Westborough, Worcester County: Public health officials announced today that EEE has been detected in mosquitoes collected in the area. – See https://www.google.com/search?q=westborough+ma&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Massachusetts 07/27/12 Canton, Norfolk County: Health officials announced earlier this week that EEE has been found in mammal-biting mosquitoes and the town’s risk level has been raised to “high”.  – See http://www.thecantoncitizen.com/2012/07/24/eee-mosquitoes-announce/

New York 07/26/12 Morristown, St. Lawrence County: A horse found shaking and sweating in a field earlier this week tested positive for EEE. The horse has since died. – See http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/horse_dies_from_eee_in_st_lawr.html

North Carolina 07/25/12 New Hanover County: A third sentinel chicken has tested positive for EEE in the past three weeks. There is no vaccine and no cure for humans if exposed to this disease. Vaccines are available for horses. Recently, horses with the disease were euthanized in Robeson and Bladen counties. – See http://northnewhanover.wect.com/news/environment/57648-third-case-mosquito-bourne-illness-found-new-hanover-co

Virginia 07/26/12 Chesapeake: Mosquito populations are way up this year, and more than ever they are testing positive for EEE, a virus that can be fatal to people, according to city officials. And the spread of the virus among mosquitoes likely will get worse over the next two months until the mosquito season peaks. Mosquitoes are especially pesky in Chesapeake and Suffolk because of the Great Dismal Swamp, which straddles city lines and is home to millions of mosquitoes, including the bird-biting mosquito that carries EEE, an official said. – See http://hamptonroads.com/2012/07/officials-talk-about-mosquito-results-chesapeake

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Arizona 07/27/12 Pinal County: Mosquitoes trapped during routine surveillance have tested positive for WNV. – See http://explorernews.com/news/article_550bca4c-d813-11e1-9da2-001a4bcf887a.html

Florida 07/25/12 Duval County: Health officials confirmed a 62-year-old woman is the first human case of WNV diagnosed in the county this year. The woman was hospitalized but has since been released. – See http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/article/265870/10/Duval-County-sees-first-case-of-West-Nile-since-2011

Illinois 07/26/12 Winnebago County: The county health department announced today that two crows, found in the 61104 and 61088 zip code areas, have tested positive for WNV. – See http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/West-Nile-Virus–163874226.html?ref=226

Illinois 07/25/12 dailyregister.com: Tests conducted by the Egyptian Health Department has confirmed WNV positive batches of mosquitoes in Saline, Gallatin and White Counties, including the towns of Shawneetown, Harrisburg and Carmi. – See http://www.dailyregister.com/news/x147945677/Mosquitoes-test-positive-for-West-Nile-in-Saline-White

Michigan 07/27/12 Oakland County: A 44-year-old man was hospitalized earlier this month with the first confirmed human case of WNV in the state this year. He is now recovering at home. – See http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/west_nile_michigan.html

Mississippi 07/27/12 wjtv.com: by Karen Wilson – Today the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports the first WNV death for 2012, along with eight new human cases. The death was in Smith County, and the new reported cases are in Leflore, Rankin (3), Smith, Stone (2), and Sunflower County. Today’s report brings the state total for 2012 to 19 cases and one death. – See http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2012/jul/27/west-nile-death-ar-4222178/

New Jersey 07/27/12 state.nj.us: News Release – The first human case of WNV has been confirmed in a 19-year-old Monmouth County woman who was hospitalized but has recovered. In 2011, seven people tested positive for WNV.  In 2010, 30 cases were reported, including two deaths, one in Camden and one in Hudson. – See https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/138c8f993b248cc8

New Jersey 07/25/12 Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County: A mosquito tested positive for WNV this week. Earlier, a mosquito collected in the vicinity of Duerer and 10^th streets, and another at Birch Grove Park in Northfield, have tested positive for the virus. – See http://galloway.patch.com/articles/west-nile-virus-identified-in-egg-harbor-city#c

New York 07/26/12 Staten Island: A man, who is over 50, was hospitalized with the first human case of WNV in New York City this year. He has since recovered. – See http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/west-nile-virus-mosquitoes-found-13-towns-southern-connecticut-staten-nausau-westchester-article-1.1122250

Ohio 07/27/12 Clermont County: An 85-year-old man has the first human case of WNV in the state this year. The man has been hospitalized. There is no report on his condition. – See http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/ohio/ohio-man-confirmed-with-west-nile-virus#.UBNTK_Ut7WA

Texas 07/26/12 Allen, Collin County: Health officials have confirmed three human cases of WNV in the city but did not say in which zip codes the infected people reside. – See http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/West-Nile-Virus-Infects-3-in-Allen-Collin-County-163904386.html

Wisconsin 07/25/12 Dane County: A bird has tested positive for WNV; the first to do so in the state this year. – See http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Bird-Tests-Positive-for-West-Nile-Virus-in-Dane-Co-163724956.html

Rabies:

New Jersey 07/24/12 Manalapan, Monmouth County: A bat found outside a local residence on July 15 has tested positive for rabies. Brown bats are commonly found in the area. – See http://manalapan.patch.com/articles/rabid-bat-found-in-manalapan

New York 07/26/12 Jay, Essex County: A raccoon found in the town has tested positive for rabies. – See http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x1289993952/No-Headline-Provided

New York 07/26/12 Clinton County: One person is being treated for exposure to rabies after picking up a bat with bare hands. The bat tested positive for the virus. – See http://www.wcax.com/story/19117297/ny-bat-tests-positive-for-rabies

North Carolina 07/25/12 Manson, Warren County: A raccoon killed by a tethered but unvaccinated dog in the Shells Lane area has tested positive for rabies. The dog had to be euthanized.– See http://www.vancnews.com/the_warren_record/news/article_4ce69744-d5f6-11e1-ab9a-0019bb2963f4.html

Pennsylvania 07/26/12 Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County: A skunk found wandering in a residential yard has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120726/NEWS90/120729832/-1/NEWS

Rabid cow.

Texas 07/27/12 Grayson County: A show cow tested positive for rabies a couple weeks ago. Family members became concerned once it began choking severely and exhibiting symptoms of pneumonia. After a vet observed and assessed that the rabies virus was indeed present, the cow was euthanized three days later. – See http://www.kxii.com/morningshow/headlines/Grayson-Co-confirmed-case-of-rabies-in-cow-163835126.html

CDC Reports:

CDC MMWR Summary for Week ending July 14, 2012:

Published July 20, 2012/ 61(28); ND-382-ND-395

Anaplasmosis . . . 17 . . . New York (16), Virginia,

Babesiosis . . . 9 . . . California, New York (8),

Ehrlichiosis . . . 9 . . . Arkansas, Tennessee (2), Virginia (6),

Giardiasis . . . 112 . . . Alaska (2), Arkansas (2), California (23), Florida (20), Iowa (4), Maine (3), Maryland (3), Missouri (5), Nebraska (5), Nevada, New York (25), Ohio (4), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (2), Vermont (2), Virginia (4), Washington (5),

Lyme Disease . . .  266. . .  California, Connecticut (6), Delaware (9), Florida (3), Maryland (33), New York (109), Oregon, Pennsylvania (79), Vermont (7), Virginia (18),

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

Rabies (Animal) . . . 43. . . Connecticut (3), Illinois (2), New York (17), Ohio, Texas (5), Vermont, Virginia (13), West Virginia,

Spotted Fever including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Probable) . . . 20 . . . Alabama (2), Arkansas (3), Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Tennessee (5), Virginia (6),

Tularemia . . . 3 . . . Alaska, Montana, Washington.

Travel Warnings:

Cuba 07/27/12 cdc.gov: Outbreak Notice – The Cuban Ministry of Health has confirmed the first cholera outbreak in Cuba in more than a century. One hundred thirty-seven confirmed cases and 3 deaths have been reported in Granma province in the cities of Manzanillo, Bayamo, Yara, and Campechuela Niquero. Currently, cases are limited to Granma Province, mostly in Manzanillo. According to the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, control measures have been implemented including ensuring that water is safe for drinking, implementation of environmental sanitation measures and public awareness campaigns. The Pan American Health Organization is also closely monitoring this situation. Most travelers are not at high risk of getting cholera. However, travelers to an area with a known outbreak should take steps to avoid getting sick. The vaccine to prevent cholera is not available in the United States. – For complete notice see http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/outbreak-notice/cholera-cuba.htm

ARIZONA man bitten by BLACK BEAR while sleeping in cabin ~ COLORADO confirms SQUIRREL positive for BUBONIC PLAGUE ~ LA & TX report HUMAN cases of WEST NILE VIRUS while CA, & PA (2) report MOSQUITO infections ~ 59 ALABAMANS potentially exposed to RABIES thru contact with two infected baby ANIMALS ~ Other RABIES reports from CA, CO (2), NE, NC (2), & PA.

Black bear. Photo by Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Arizona 06/22/12 paysonroundup.com: Tonto Village, Gila County – An Arizona man was injured last night when a bear bit his lower leg while he was sleeping on a cot in a cabin under construction in Tonto Village, east of Payson. The bear entered the unfinished cabin and climbed on top of the man, biting him through his pajamas. The man moved and yelled. The bear ran off, but lingered in the nearby area for approximately 45 minutes. One other man was present at the cabin when the incident occurred. Based on the bite mark measurements, Arizona Game and Fish Department officers believe the bear was a large adult male. Game and Fish officers will continue to investigate the incident and will set culvert traps in the vicinity to attempt to capture the bear. The department is also working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services to track the bear. “Due to the predatory nature and bold behavior of this bear, extensive effort will be extended to attempt to locate the animal for the public’s safety, which is our top priority,” said Rod Lucas, regional supervisor for Game and Fish. “With the state’s drought and scarce food resources, more and more wildlife are moving into areas that are on the fringe of wildlands looking for food. Bears are particularly attracted to areas where humans are because of the often easy access to garbage, food and gardens.” If the offending bear is captured, it will be lethally removed because of the aggressive, predatory behavior it demonstrated and the need for disease testing. Tonto Village is approximately one mile from the campground where a bear entered a tent and clawed a woman on May 31, 2012. The woman’s injuries were non-life-threatening. Despite tracking and trapping efforts by Game and Fish and Wildlife Services, that bear was never trapped.

Colorado 06/21/12 ourcoloradonews.com: Idledale, Jefferson County – Public health officials have confirmed that a squirrel has tested positive for bubonic plague, a highly infectious bacterial disease carried by various types of wild rodents and transmitted primarily by flea bites. – For complete article and precautions see http://www.ourcoloradonews.com/golden/news/plague-found-in-jeffco/article_75324578-bbec-11e1-9890-001a4bcf887a.html

Louisiana 06/22/12 St. Bernard Parish: The first human victim of West Nile Virus in the parish this year was unaware of having contracted the disease and learned of it while donating blood. – See http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/06/st_bernard_resident_becomes_fi.html

Texas 06/22/12 Northern Tier: Officials in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, and Collin counties confirm human cases of West Nile Virus have been already been reported this year. They also say batches of disease-carrying mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus across North Texas. – See http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-west-nile-virus-cases-come-early-across-north-texas-20120622,0,3974509.story

California 06/22/12 The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District: Numerous mosquito samples and dead birds have tested positive for West Nile Virus. – See https://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&shva=1#inbox/1381615293cc9787

Pennsylvania 06/22/12 Wynnewood, Montgomery County: Mosquitoes trapped at the Remington Basin on Remington and Warick roads have tested positive for West Nile Virus. – See http://ardmore.patch.com/articles/west-nile-virus-found-in-wynnewood-mosquitoes

Pennsylvania 06/22/12 Lancaster, Lancaster County: A mosquito caught in a trap near wetlands at the Red Rose Commons shopping center has tested positive for West Nile Virus. – See http://www.ydr.com/ci_20915181/west-nile-mosquito-found-lancaster-county

Alabama 06/22/12 Baldwin and Walker counties: by Jeff Dute – Members of a rural Walker County family took home two baby raccoons found in a Baldwin County attic, unaware that one of them had rabies, according to information from state veterinarian Dee Jones. Those exposed to the disease — 14 people in Walker County and as many as nine in Baldwin —may be required to undergo regimens of rabies shots, he said. – See http://blog.al.com/live/2012/06/rabid_raccon_from_baldwin_coun.html

Alabama 06/21/12 Auburn and Smiths Station, Lee County: Officials with the Lee County Humane Society and County Health Department were busy Thursday working to identify anyone who may have come in contact with an animal that tested positive for rabies earlier this week. At least two people have been exposed to the affected animal, a black-and-white, shorthair mix kitten that was picked up June 11 by Auburn Animal Control workers on District Court, said Leigh Ann Sumner, Animal Health Center manager. Sumner said the first person was exposed prior to animal control picking up the kitten. The second, a Humane Society volunteer, was bitten on June 14 while the stray was being cared for at the Auburn shelter. At least 36 people have potentially been exposed to the kitten. In an unrelated case, a second animal, an 8- to 10-week-old fox located in Smiths Station, also tested positive for rabies the same day results on the kitten were confirmed. – See http://www2.oanow.com/news/2012/jun/21/lee-county-humane-society-confirms-rabies-case-ar-4017946/

California 06/22/12 Irwindale, Los Angeles County: County health officials today urged people to contact them if they had contact with a bat found at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area in Irwindale earlier this month. The bat was discovered on Saturday, June 9, clinging to the side of a rock column inside the snack area near the boat and bicycle rental concession, according to the health department. A crowd of people, including children, were gathered around the bat for about a half hour before park officials intervened. The bat was captured, and it tested positive for rabies. “It is very important that any individuals who touched or had contact with this bat contact our department,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county’s director of public health. “We can help determine if you will need to receive urgent rabies preventive treatment.” Anyone who may have come in contact with the bat was urged to call the county’s Acute Communicable Disease Control office at (213) 240-7941.

Colorado 06/21/12 Milliken, Weld County: A skunk discovered walking in circles during daylight hours on June 14^th has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.noco5.com/story/18849403/rabid-skunk-found-in-milliken

Colorado 06/21/12 Las Animas, Otero County: Public health officials have confirmed that a cow has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.chieftain.com/news/region/rabid-cow-found-in-las-animas-area/article_ada63e8c-bb5b-11e1-ad1c-001a4bcf887a.html

Nebraska 06/21/12 Wauneta, Dundy County: On May 30^th a dog, presented to Dr. Steve Pollmann of the Southwestern Veterinary Services, tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.waunetanebraska.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4127:dundy-county-dog-tests-positive-for-rabies&catid=29:agbusiness&Itemid=53

North Carolina 06/21/12 Hillsborough, Orange County: A dead raccoon found by two Chapel Hill residents near Miller and Baldwin roads in Hillsborough has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.chapelboro.com/6th-Confirmed-Rabies-Case-In-Orange-County/13515207

North Carolina 06/21/12 Hubert, Onslow County: A fox that attacked and bit a resident on Monday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.jdnews.com/articles/fox-105306-case-rabid.html

Pennsylvania 06/21/12 Cranberry, Allegheny County: Two residents of Crossing Ridge Trail are being treated for exposure to rabies after two bats that entered their home through a fireplace tested positive for the virus.- See http://triblive.com/news/2073154-74/bats-department-entered-rabies-bill-cranberry-exposure-residents-treated-vidonic

ILLINOIS animal experts say MAN probably attacked by COYOTE ~ ARIZONA officials confirm MOUNTAIN LION that attacked DOG had RABIES ~ WISCONSIN confirms DEER with CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE found last year came from the north ~ RABIES reports from CA, GA, NE, NY, & NC ~ CANADA: BC boaters happen upon swimming MOUNTAIN LION.

Coyote. Photo by City of Albuquerque, NM.

Illinois 05/08/12 chicagotribune.com: by Carlos Sadovi – An Aurora man walking back into his home after a late night smoke was startled when a large animal believed to be a coyote lunged at him, biting and scratching his arm, police said. The 47-year-old man told police he was on the side of his house in the 1200 block of Cottonwood Drive when he encountered the “large animal” shortly before midnight on April 20, according to Aurora police spokesman Dan Ferrelli. The man, whom police would not identify, said the animal bit him in the arm and scratched him and then ran off, Ferrelli said.  As paramedics were treating him, the man told police the animal was not alone. “He said there was what looked like a second animal nearby before they both ran off,” said Ferrelli. Police searched the area but could not find them, Ferrelli said.

The next day, animal control officers canvassed the neighborhood and alerted residents of the encounter. He said officials called in wildlife experts who, with animal control officers, determined that “a coyote was probably responsible for this.” The officers also reinterviewed the man and got more details about the animal. “It’s extremely rare, we had to go with what the gentleman was saying,” Ferrelli said. “[The attack] happened very, very quickly so he wasn’t sure at first.” Officials distributed pamphlets to about 400 homes in a one-mile radius of the home giving tips on how to deal with the coyotes. The man underwent treatment for rabies as a precaution because coyotes acting out of character and attacking a person would send up red flags of the animal being infected with rabies, according to animal control officials. – For complete article see http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-aurora-police-issue-coyote-warning-after-man-bitten-20120508,0,2164000.story

Arizona 05/07/12 dcourier.com: A mountain lion that attacked a dog in a remote area southeast of Cordes Junction tested positive for rabies Monday, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The lion attacked a 90-pound lab-pit bull mix at a campsite on the Tonto National Forest near Bloody Basin Road and the Agua Fria River, just north of Horseshoe Reservoir, according to the Game and Fish Department.  Reports of rabid lions are rare in Arizona. The last one confirmed was in 2008 in Yavapai County, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Campers shot and killed the young male lion before it could inflict life-threatening injuries on the dog, said Lynda Lambert of Game and Fish. The dog is current on its rabies vaccine, too.

Wisconsin 05/07/12 jsonline.com: by Lee Bergquist – The riddle of chronic wasting disease continues. A genetic examination of a northern Wisconsin deer that tested positive for the disease revealed that it came from the north – not from southern Wisconsin, where the deadly wildlife malady is now found. The finding is stumping state wildlife officials about how the 3 ½-year-old doe contracted the disease. And it raises more questions about the extent of chronic wasting disease across the state. The state Department of Natural Resources said Monday that a lymph node from the female deer came from tissue with the same genetic makeup as other northern Wisconsin deer, including the Shell Lake area of Washburn County, where the deer was found near death in the fall of 2011. The deer was shot by a sheriff’s deputy, and after months in which authorities lost track of the deer, it was finally determined this spring to have been infected. The DNR announced the finding on April 2. The discovery pushed the latest positive in the wild 186 miles to the northwest of the previous outlier in Sauk County.  The genetic finding, the DNR says, means the deer did not inexplicably find its way from known disease areas in the southern part of the state.

Washburn County

Tami Ryan, wildlife health section chief with the DNR, said it also confirmed that the agency didn’t mix up results at some point, somehow producing a positive test with a deer from southern Wisconsin. Also, because genetic testing showed it came from the wild deer population, “there is probably little reason to think that she originated from a game farm,” Ryan said in an email to fellow DNR staff. The genetics comparison was made possible by tissue that had been collected by a postdoctoral geneticist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Stacie Robinson has taken data sets of deer from the north and two areas in southern Wisconsin. “We don’t know how the disease found its way to Shell Lake,” said Tom Hauge, director of wildlife management for the DNR. – For complete article see http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/deer-with-chronic-wasting-disease-came-from-up-north-dnr-says-4i5adar-150464095.html

California 05/07/12 Chico, Butte County: On Saturday just before 3 pm, a 19-year-old man riding his bike out of the Bidwell Park bike path along E. 8th Street was bitten by a dog. A man and woman walking their three dogs passed him on the path when one of the dogs jumped and bit the young man on the left upper thigh. After the incident, the two parties did not exchange information. Since Butte County is a rabies area, the victim is searching for the owner of the dog to verify its vaccination history. If the dog cannot be located, the victim will have to start rabies post exposure prophylaxis. The dog that bit the man is described as medium sized with short, white  hair and tan spots. One of the other dogs is described as a white terrier type similar to a Westie. The third dog is smaller and was being walked by the male owner is in his 20’s and was wearing a white tank top, shorts, sunglasses, and a baseball hat on backwards. The female is in her 20’s with dark brown shoulder length hair. Anyone with information about the owner or the dogs is asked to call Chico Animal Control 897-4960 or 897-4900.

Georgia 05/07/12 Loganville, Gwinnett County: Officials have issued a rabies alert after a domestic cat picked up in the vicinity of Lake Carlton Road tested positive for the virus. As the Magill Elementary and Snell Middle schools are in that area, teachers and parents should determine if children were exposed to the cat. – See http://norcross.patch.com/articles/rabies-alert-issued-in-gwinnett-536f67ee

Nebraska 05/07/12 Lincoln, Lancaster County: Health officials have confirmed three cases of rabies in bats within the city this year. No human exposure has been reported. – See http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Rabies_Found_in_Lincoln_Bats_150502995.html?ref=995

New York 05/07/12 Mahopac, Putnam County: Health officials have confirmed that a feral cat found in the vicinity of Ernest Lane and Barrett Hill Road has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2012/May/07/Rabies_Mahopac-07May12.htm

North Carolina 05/07/12 Silk Hope, Chatham County: Agriculture Department officials have confirmed two cows that died last week on a local farm have tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wwgp1050.com/2012/05/07/rabies-found-in-livestock-in-chatham-county/

Canada:

British Columbia 05/08/12 skyvalleychronicle.com: This is a sight you don’t see everyday: a full sized cougar swimming along in the Straight of Georgia in British Columbia. A group of people was traveling back to Sechelt, B.C. last Thursday afternoon in a boat when all of a sudden they noticed a large cougar in the water right beside the boat. The location was near where Sechelt Inlet and Salmon Inlet meet. At first everyone was excited and wanted to get close to the cat and take pictures. But when the cougar looked as though he was making plans to jump in the boat, that’s when the folks on board got spooked. The big cat actually got one paw up on the transom of the boat before the driver gave it some gas to get away. You can see the video of the encounter with the cat here

CALIFORNIA woman reports MOUNTAIN LION CUB sighting in her backyard ~ Three ARIZONANS attacked by COYOTES within 24 hours ~ NEW MEXICO’s Carlsbad region reporting 32 cases of RABIES since January ~ WEST VIRGINIA FISH survey finds BASS VIRUS in four lakes ~ RABIES reports from ARKANSAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, MARYLAND, & VIRGINIA ~ ANNOUNCEMENT: Abstracts sought for 11th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Mountain Lion Cub. Photo by University of California-Davis.

California 03/13/12 Montara, San Mateo County: Emergency officials confirm that a woman reported seeing a mountain lion cub in her backyard in the 1400 block of Ivy Street yesterday. Residents are reminded that a mother mountain lion can be extremely dangerous if she perceives an imminent threat to her offspring. See http://halfmoonbay.patch.com/articles/mountain-lion-cub-seen-in-montara-backyard

California 03/15/12 Carmel Valley, Monterey County: A woman walking her dog on Southbank Road came face-to-face with a mountain lion that took her dog in its mouth pulling the leash from her wrist and was gone. For complete article see http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/17168818/mountain-lion-attack-in-carmel-valley

Ohio 03/14/12 Salem, Columbiana County: Leetonia Village residents are being warned about an unconfirmed mountain lion sighting on March 13 near a home on Lisbon Street. A sighting was also reported in Perry Township in December. See http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/552163/Possible-mountain-lion-sighting—-.html

Arizona 03/14/12 azgfd.net: News Release – A series of unprovoked coyote bites have been reported at the Trilogy at Vistancia community in Peoria over the past few days. Three bites with no serious injuries have occurred to residents of this community in less than 24 hours. The first occurred the evening of March 12 when a woman was bitten on the ankle while resting on her back porch. The Peoria Police Department was the first law enforcement agency to respond, and they pursued three animals they encountered near the scene. One coyote was killed by officers. The victim’s bite injuries were minor, and she received medical treatment and was released that same evening. Two additional bites, both to residents who were on their porches, occurred at approximately 3 p.m. yesterday. The first was to a woman who was bitten on the chest while reclining in a chair, and the other was to the calf of a man.

Bites to humans by wild animals are unusual. In the past 15 years, there have been 18 documented bites to humans by coyotes in Maricopa County. The majority of these bites can be traced back to illegal feeding of coyotes by residents in the communities where the bites occurred. However, a few were the result of territorial behavior by adult coyotes protecting young of the year. In the Vistancia incidents, none of the actions of the bite victims could be construed as provoking an attack, nor was there any food or other attractants directly associated with the bite incidents. “We believe territorial or breeding behavior is what precipitated these animals’ aggressive behavior in these incidents,” said Darren Julian, urban wildlife specialist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Bites from any type of wildlife are uncommon, especially this many bites to humans in such a short span of time. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, in cooperation with the Peoria Police Department and USDA Wildlife Services, is trying to remove the coyotes responsible for the bites. To date, two animals have been destroyed and submitted for rabies testing. Efforts to remove the offending coyotes will continue until the animals are captured or until the operations are no longer feasible. “We test every animal associated with a human attack for diseases,” said Julian. “It’s a precautionary measure and our way of ensuring the continued health of both people and local wildlife.”

When encountering wildlife, it is important to stay a safe distance and to not encourage interactions with them. People are reminded that feeding wild animals is not a good practice, and in fact is against the law in Maricopa and Pima counties (other than feeding birds and squirrels). Wildlife experts also caution people to avoid any animals accompanied by young or that are behaving in an unusual manner, such as approaching humans. Valley residents should report aggressive or unusual wildlife behavior to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Region 6 office in Mesa at (480) 981-9400 during business hours, or at (623) 236-7201 24 hours a day. For residents in other areas of the state, office contact information for other regional offices is located at www.azgfd.gov/offices. The Maricopa County Department of Public Health, one of the agencies with which Arizona Game and Fish works on issues such as these, reminds Valley residents that anyone bitten by a coyote or wild animal should call the Maricopa County Department of Public Health at (602) 747-7500.

New Mexico 03/14/12 southwestfarmpress.com: by Logan Hawkes – Calling it “one of the most concentrated outbreaks of rabies in decades”, New Mexico State Health Department officials have sanctioned door-to-door site visits to farms and ranches in rural areas of Eddy County in deep Southern New Mexico and are recommending selective livestock vaccinations after 32 animals have tested positive for rabies since January, and at least a dozen people are undergoing treatment for possible exposure to the deadly virus. So far this year the outbreak is concentrated in and around the Carlsbad area and has been limited to rabid skunks and foxes. But last year at least one horse contracted the disease and concerns were being raised over livestock and domestic animals as the drought forced infected wildlife into more populated areas in search of food and water. “Starting in December last year, we began fielding calls about skunks that were behaving badly. These animals are generally nocturnal and rarely interact with humans, but reports indicated these skunks were acting aggressively and there were reports of skunks that had bitten pets,” said Dr. Megin Nichols, assistant state public health veterinarian in Santa Fe. “Since that time we have tested both skunks and fox with positive results and have launched a comprehensive campaign to control what potentially could become a larger problem.” Nichols confirms that officials believe the drought has contributed to the current outbreak and warns that warmer weather in the coming spring and summer could serve to boost the spread of the virus. – For complete article see http://southwestfarmpress.com/livestock/rabies-outbreak-new-mexico-threatens-livestock

West Virginia 03/09/12 wvdnr.gov: News Release – Recent fish health surveys conducted by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources revealed the presence of largemouth bass virus (LMBV) in four West Virginia lakes, according to Bret Preston, assistant chief of the Wildlife Resources Section. Surveys performed during the summer and early fall of 2011 were focused on monitoring overall fish health in water bodies where WVDNR staff collects brood stock for hatchery production. Several species of fish were collected from 10 water bodies and samples were sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Lamar Fish Health Laboratory for analysis.

Stonewall Jackson Lake, WV

Virology and bacteriology results were negative for targeted pathogens except for LMBV at East Lynn (Wayne County), North Bend (Ritchie County), Stonewall Jackson (Lewis County), and Sutton (Braxton County) lakes. “Largemouth bass virus is a common pathogen found primarily in southern United States largemouth bass populations, but has been expanding throughout North America,” said Chris O’Bara, WVDNR fisheries research biologist.  “LMBV has not been linked to any human health concerns but, as always, fish should be properly prepared prior to eating.”

Arkansas 03/15/12 North Little Rock, Pulaski County: A bat found on March 10 near the Old Mill on Lakeshore Drive has tested positive for rabies. At least one person was exposed to the virus and was given rabies post-exposure prophylactic (PEP) treatment. See http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/201750/2/Bat-found-in-NLR-tested-positive-rabies

Florida 03/14/12 Auburndale, Polk County: A bat discovered because a family’s pet retriever was barking in the yard has tested positive for rabies. The dog has been quarantined. See http://www.wesh.com/news/30677455/detail.html

Cow with rabies.

Georgia 03/14/12 Royston, Franklin County: A cow on a Vandiver Road farm has tested positive for rabies. Two veterinarians and a vet tech have received rabies PEP treatment. See http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/mar/14/veterinarians-issue-warning-after-rabies-confirmed/

Maryland 03/14/12 Sykesville, Carroll County: by Valerie Bonk – The Carroll County Health Department is asking area residents for their help in finding a dog that bit someone in Freedom Park in Sykesville on March 10. The dog was described as being an Italian Greyhound with a black coat. According to the Health Department, it is likely that the victim of the attack will be treated with a series of post-exposure rabies shots if the dog has not been found and verified to be in good health by the morning of March 20. If you have any information that may help locate this dog or its owner, contact the Carroll County Health Department at (410) 876-1884 or the Carroll County Humane Society at (410) 848-4810.

Virginia 03/14/12 Chatham, Pittsylvania County: Health officials have issued a fourth rabies alert in less than one month after a raccoon killed by a vaccinated pet in the Whittle Street area last weekend tested positive for the virus. See http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/mar/14/5/breaking-news-rabies-alert-issued-for-part-of-cha-ar-1765023/

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Call for Abstracts Announced for 11th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Abstract submissions for the 11th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will be accepted March 15 – May 15, 2012. This year’s conference theme is “Greater Yellowstone in Transition: Linking Science and Decision Making.” It will be held October 8 – 10, 2012, in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming. The conference will bring together scientists, managers and other decision makers to examine resource challenges throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) from a variety of perspectives. The goals are to exchange science-based information relevant to management and to identify resource challenges that demand new research.

The program committee consists of representatives throughout the GYE from Yellowstone National Park, Montana State University, The University of Montana, Montana Institute on Ecosystems, Wildlife Conservation Society, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, USGS Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at The University of Wyoming, Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee, Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative and the National Park Service-Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.

The conference series, initiated in 1991, encourages awareness and application of wide-ranging, high-caliber scientific work on the region’s natural and cultural resources. It provides a forum for knowledge sharing among hundreds of researchers, park managers and the general public. The proceedings from the 10th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, “Questioning Greater Yellowstone’s Future: Climate, Land Use, and Invasive Species,” are now available at http://www.greateryellowstonescience.org/gyesciconf/proceedings_full. Hard copies are available upon request. Conference registration will begin June 1, 2012. For additional information, to submit an abstract, or to subscribe to the conference mailing list, visit http://gyesciconf.greateryellowstonescience.org/. Conference staff may be reached at yell_conference@nps.gov or by phone at 307-344-7123.

Public opinion on Gray Wolves remains sharply divided in Montana and Idaho; Horse diagnosed with first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Marion County, Florida; and Rabies reports from Arkansas, Ohio, and South Carolina.

Gray wolf. Photo by Retron. Wikimedia Commons.

Montana 06/26/11 victoriaadvocate.com: by Matthew Brown – Public opinion on gray wolves remains sharply split as Montana and Idaho wildlife officials prepare to resume hunts for the predators after Congress removed their endangered species protections. Montana State Fish, Wildlife and Parks commissioners are due to meet July 14 to adopt a quota of 220 wolves to be killed during fall rifle and archery hunts. Idaho’s hunt is scheduled for adoption in late July. Final details still are being worked out. More than 450 people submitted comments on the Montana proposal in recent weeks. They ranged from calls to sharply increase the quota and allow trapping and poisoning of wolves, to pleas for a less-aggressive approach so the wolf population could further expand. There were an estimated 566 wolves in Montana at the end of 2010. Once this year’s pups are factored in, wildlife officials say the fall hunt will reduce the number by 25 percent to approximately 425 wolves.

Dozens of individuals and livestock and hunting groups said the proposed quota was too low. They warned that the predators’ population would quickly rebound, leading to more attacks on cattle and sheep and further reductions in elk herds that are pursued by wolves and hunters alike. “This vicious cycle will continue to allow too many wolves to prey on our remaining, already low (deer and elk) populations,” said Patrick Byrne of Anaconda. But others said a large wolf population is needed to restore balance to the natural landscape by cutting down on overgrazing by elk and culling sick and weak animals from big game herds. Norman Bishop of Bozeman suggested the Northern Rockies region could support up to ten times more wolves than the current population of 1,651 in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon and Washington. “Let the wolves perform their keystone role in ecosystem recovery,” Bishop wrote. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Ron Aasheim said the state had tried to strike a balance between conserving wolves and controlling their numbers to address attacks on livestock and big game. He added that would mean reductions in wolf populations in some areas. (For complete article go to http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/jun/26/bc-mt-wolf-hunt1st-ld-writethru/?business&texas )

Florida 06/27/11 wftv.com: “Marion County has experienced its first positive case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis,” said Dr. Nathan Grossman, director of the Marion County Health Department. “While the community does not need to be alarmed, citizens should take extra precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones.” This case of EEE was diagnosed in a horse residing in the Summerfield area.

Arkansas 06/26/11 4029tv.com: by Tony Russell – People who live near Maple Street in Pocola said there is a stray pit bull on the loose. Pocola police said they responded to the area around 9 a.m. Sunday. Rick Monroe who lives near Highway 112 said he corralled a pit bull into their back yard. Monroe said he couldn’t get near the dog. “He is very aggressive, you couldn’t get close to him, he’d growl. One time I did get food up close to him and put it down, and started saying something to him and he just turned and snapped at me,” Monroe said. City Councilwoman Jewell Clark said she was going down the street warning neighbors of the vicious dog. “We certainly want to get him before get gets someone in our neighborhood. We’ve got children everywhere.  We’ve notified everybody in here that we were able to get a hold of that this was going on and to watch it. It could possibly have rabies or anything,” Clark said. The pit bull still is on the loose. Call Pocola Police at 918-436-2476 if you see the dog.

Ohio 06/26/11 woio.com: An 11-year-old Sheffield Lake boy was bit by a dog, and now his parents want to find the dog’s owner, so their son does not have to go through painful rabies treatment. Chris Clark was bit on the hand on June 20th at Ferndale Park. Chris asked the dog’s owner if he could pet the dog and the owner said “yes”, but the dog bit his left hand. The owner disciplined the dog and apologized to Chris. He was treated at a local hospital and is on anti-biotic’s, but, Lorain County Health Officials want him to start the rabies shots immediately. If the dog’s owner comes forward with paperwork showing the dog is properly vaccinated, the boy won’t need the rabies shots.

South Carolina 06/27/11 scdhec.gov: Press Release – A Richburg man who was exposed to rabies by a raccoon is under the care of a physician after the animal tested positive for rabies, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today. “The man was bitten by the raccoon as he tried to separate it from his dog as the two animals were fighting,” said Sue Ferguson of DHEC’s Bureau of Environmental Health. This is the first confirmed rabid animal in Chester County in 2011. Last year, there were two rabid animals confirmed in the county. In 2010, there were 106 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in South Carolina. So far this year, there have been 47 confirmed cases in animals in the state. For more information about rabies, see DHEC’s webpage at: http://www.scdhec.gov/rabies or contact DHEC’s Chester County Environmental Health Office (803) 385-6152. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s webpage about rabies can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/rabies.