Two COLORADO children attacked by COYOTES in separate incidents ~ RABIES reports from NV, NM, NY, NC, & OH ~ TRAVEL WARNING: DENGUE in KENYA.

Coyotes. Courtesy National Park Service.

Colorado 05/13/13 kdvr.com: by David Mitchell – Two coyotes were shot and killed in the city of Boulder after a report of a coyote biting a 5-year-old boy. Boulder and Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials shot a female coyote Tuesday night and a male coyote Thursday night. Both animals were on city open space east of Foothills Parkway and near the Boulder Creek Path. The aggressive incident happened last weekend and was reported Monday according to a statement released Friday. A father told the city he was with two 5-year-old boys who were playing near the creek when two coyotes surrounded them. As one of the boys ran to his father, one of the coyotes chased him and bit his leg. “The bite resulted in a scratch, but fortunately, didn’t puncture the skin,” the statement says. The city just completed a four-week hazing program for coyotes designed to reduce their activity and reports of them approaching or chasing people. One other bite had been reported. – See http://kdvr.com/2013/03/15/2-coyotes-shot-killed-after-attack-on-5-year-old-in-boulder/

Colorado 05/18/13 cbslocal.com: A 2-year-old is recovering from serious head injuries after she was attacked by a coyote. The toddler named Raegan was attacked at Goose Gossage Park in Colorado Springs on Thursday. She had just come down a slide when a coyote attacked her, unprovoked. – See http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/05/18/toddler-attacked-by-coyote-in-colorado-springs/

Rabies:

Nevada 05/17/13 Clark County: Two bats found in the county have tested positive for rabies. One of the bats was found flopping about on the ground by a group of children but it was determined that none of them were exposed to the virus. – See http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/207909461.html

New Mexico 05/18/13 Bernalillo County: A bat found in the vicinity of Betts Street in Albuquerque has tested positive for rabies. It was reported that children were taking pictures of the bat and officials are trying to determine if any of them touched the animal. – See http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/albuquerque/infected-bat-spurs-rabies-scare-in-albuquerque/-/9153728/20199766/-/5leo27z/-/index.html

New York 05/17/13 Onondaga County: A raccoon found in the vicinity of the West Seneca Turnpike in Marcellus has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/raccoon_found_in_marcellus_tes.html

North Carolina 05/17/13 Cleveland County: A raccoon reported to be displaying abnormal behavior in the vicinity of Deer Creek Road in Casar on Wednesday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.shelbystar.com/news/local/raccoon-county-s-fourth-rabies-case-of-year-1.144895

Ohio 05/17/13 Medina County: A bat found in a Parkway home in the northeast part of Brunswick has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.cleveland.com/brunswick/index.ssf/2013/05/post_25.html

Travel Warning:

Kenya 05/17/13 cdc.gov: An outbreak of dengue in Mombasa, Kenya, has been reported by the Kenyan Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS). Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya and is a major shipping port and tourist destination. This is the first identified dengue outbreak in Mombasa since 1982. MOPHS, the Kenya Medical Research Institute,  the Walter Reed Project, and CDC are working together to reduce the mosquito population in the area, educate health care workers and community members about the disease, and monitor the area for more dengue cases. – For recommendations and additional information see http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/dengue-in-kenya

CANADIAN has 300 stitches after BLACK BEAR attack ~ COYOTES snatch DOGS and confront PEOPLE in CALIFORNIA municipal park ~ CALIFORNIA Park Ranger attacked by MOUNTAIN LION in Redwood National Park ~ RACCOONS responsible for frequent MICHIGAN beach closings ~ RABIES reports from AZ, NY, NCx2, OK, & VAx3.

Black Bear photo by Lynn Chamberlain, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Canada:

Ontario 05/12/13 torontosun.com: by Len Gillis – Two Timmins, Ont., women scared off a 400-pound black bear attacking a man after it had killed his dog and left him with wounds that needed 300 stitches. “I could feel his teeth rubbing against my skull. That was the worst feeling ever,” said Azougar, 30, said Sunday from his hospital bed at Lady Minto Hospital in Cochrane, Ont. Azougar was attacked and mauled by the bear early Saturday as he sat on the front step of his remote cabin eating breakfast. He was rescued by the two Timmins “angels”, campers who had been driving by on a bush road and heard his screams. They were able to scare the bear away and drive the bleeding Azougar to hospital. “I feel good. I am in a little bit of pain, but I’m OK,” said Azougar, who had been given a shot of morphine to ease the pain of the more than 300 stitches needed to close dozens of puncture wounds.

Black bear. Photo by Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, Azougar said he still plans to enjoy life in the outdoors. He moved to Cochrane, Ont., from Toronto last month, to set up an Internet entrepreneur business. “I was having breakfast on my front porch,” he said as he described the tiny eight-by-sixteen foot cabin on a remote bush road, about 10 kilometres south of Cochrane. “Out of nowhere, I could hear this thud, this vibration on the ground,” he said. “Then there was this bear coming towards me.”His German Shepherd rushed at the bear and as the two animals fought, Azougar ran into the cabin and slammed the door but the bear followed. “He started rushing the window, breaking the window and chipping off wood beside the window,” Azougar said.“He made it through (the window) and I ran out,” he said, with the bear in pursuit. “After about 30 metres, he took me to the ground.” Azougar said the animal slammed him down with its front paws, and began clawing and biting. “He knocked me down and I covered my head. He took my shoulder apart, then he peeled the skin off my head and started biting my skull,” Azougar recalled.“I could feel his teeth rubbing against my skull. That was the worst feeling ever. I jammed my thumb into his eye and so he went back to my shoulder.” “I was just screaming. I could feel my flesh being pulled by his teeth,” he said, adding that a good portion of his scalp was torn off.“I just thought I was dying. He was trying to drag me into the bush, like where he killed the dog.”

Azougar said he thought he was going to pass out, when suddenly there was a lull in the savage attack and the sound of a blaring car horn. “Out of nowhere these two ladies showed up in a car. After that the bear ran away. I don’t know who they were,” Azougar said. “They just showed up out of nowhere.” “The women that saved, me, no I don’t know them. I would like to know them, to meet them,” Azougar said. “If you meet them, you thank those angels for me. They are my angels. Without them I wouldn’t be alive.” Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Natural Resources responded to the bear attack call immediately Saturday and killed the bear. – See original article, photo, and map at http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/12/women-scare-off-bear-attacking-man-in-northern-ontario-campgrounds

Coyote Attacks:

California 05/10/13 signalscv.com: by Jim Holt – A coyote snatched a dog from a girl’s arms in Valencia Summit Park, where sheriff’s deputies and animal control workers responded Friday on a report of a jogger chased by a coyote, officials confirmed. “Apparently they found a coyote that people are telling us is aggressive,” said Sgt. Rich Nagler of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “We went out there and animal control was called.” The report of a coyote chasing a jogger at Summit Park came in about 8 a.m. Friday. A man walking two large dogs reportedly came to the woman’s aid and chased off the coyote, investigators said. No one was hurt. The incidents follow an attack Tuesday at the same park in which a coyote grabbed and killed a dog being walked on a leash held by a 6-year-old girl, said Evelina Villa, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. – For complete article see http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/95812/

Mountain Lion Attack:

California 05/10/13 times-standard.com: At approximately 7:30 pm on Thursday May 9, 2013, an off-duty Park Ranger was attacked by a mountain lion on Crescent Beach within Redwood National and State Parks. Crescent Beach is located off Enderts Beach Road just south of Crescent City, CA. The ranger was fishing on the beach accompanied by his dog. The park ranger witnessed his dog being chased by an animal that he quickly identified as a mountain lion. He yelled at the lion as the animal approached him. The lion attacked the ranger who responded by striking it with his fishing pole and kicking the animal several times. The lion swiped at the ranger at least once, tearing his jeans, but without causing any bodily injury. The lion eventually ran off. Both the park ranger and his dog were unhurt in the attack.

The park ranger contacted California Fish and Wildlife Officers and National Park Rangers who immediately responded to the scene. Enderts Beach Road and the Nickel Creek Campground were cleared during the search for the mountain lion. Both have been re-opened to the public today. The lion was spotted hiding in driftwood near the location of the original attack around 9:00 pm and was dispatched by Fish & Wildlife Officers around 9:15 pm. The attacking animal was a sub-adult which is classified as a younger, not fully grown animal, but independent and no longer dependent on its mother. The lion carcass has been sent to the California Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab in Sacramento or further analysis. More details on the age, gender, size and condition of the animal will be released after further analysis. – For complete article see http://www.times-standard.com/news/ci_23216890/mountain-lion-attack-at-crescent-beach-redwood-national

Raccoons:

Michigan 05/12/13 seattlepi.com: Officials say they have found the source of bacterial pollution that has caused the frequent closing of a beach on Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, and a possible solution. Feces from raccoons that live in nearby storm drains are the source of high e-coli levels at East Bay Park in Traverse City, officials say. They say a $768,000 grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant will help them build a filtering system they say should reduce the pollution. Sarah U’Ren of the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay says storm drain cameras spotted hundreds of pounds of raccoon feces at the site.

Rabies:

Arizona 05/10/3 Gila County: A Rabies Alert has been issued after a fox and a coyote that were found in the vicinity of Forest and Mule Track roads near Young tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2013/may/10/coyote-foxes-positive-rabies-young/

New York 05/09/13 Chautauqua County: A bat captured by a resident of Ellington, who awoke to find the animal flying around the room, has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130509/CITYANDREGION/130509217/1010

North Carolina 05/10/13 Mecklenburg County: A kitten that was a domestic pet living with a family in the 28205 ZIP code area, which includes Plaza Midwood, has tested positive for rabies. The kitten was not eating and was exhibiting strange behavior. The family is receiving post exposure rabies treatment. – See http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Plaza-Midwood-pet-tests-positive-for-rabies-207010721.html

North Carolina 05/10/13 Scotland County: A fox that attacked a woman earlier this week as she walked to her car in the vicinity of Havelock Drive in the Leisure Living subdivision of Laurinburg has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.laurinburgexchange.com/view/full_story/22538788/article-Woman-bitten-by-rabid-fox?instance=popular

Oklahoma 05/10/13 Oklahoma County: A 10-week-old puppy held in foster care for the Oklahoma Humane Society by an Oklahoma City family tested positive for rabies after suddenly becoming aggressive and biting a family member. – See article and video at http://www.koco.com/news/oklahomanews/okc/family-discovers-10weekold-foster-puppy-has-rabies/-/11777584/20095078/-/ui15jdz/-/index.html

Virginia 05/10/13 Louisa County: A stray dog described as a Husky mix found late Tuesday on Dusty Road in Bumpass has tested positive for rabies. Anyone who may have been in contact with the dog should seek immediate medical advice. – See http://www.wric.com/story/22216358/dog-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-louisa-county

Virginia 05/10/13 Norfolk: A raccoon that attacked a vaccinated dog in the vicinity of Rolleston Avenue recently has tested positive for rabies. – See http://hamptonroads.com/2013/05/raccoon-tests-positive-rabies-norfolk

Virginia 05/09/13 Newport News: A sick raccoon found in the vicinity of Briarfield Road and Mercy Boulevard earlier this month has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/newport_news/raccoon-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-nn

FERAL CATS become major issue in a VIRGINIA city ~ FOLLOW-UP REPORT: Biologist identifies mystery white animal found in MAINE ~ RABIES reports from CA, CO, CT, FLx2, GAx2, ME, NM, NY, TX, & VA.

Feral cat colony. Photo by Scott Granneman. Wikimedia Commons.

Virginia 03/30/13 matinsvillemedia.com: The Martinsville Police Department is asking for citizens’ help in identifying their cats from the feral cats which have become a major issue in the city. Each year the department receives approximately 50 to 75 citizen requests asking them to trap feral cats which are on their property The main concern with feral cats is that they are frequent carriers of feline A.I.D.S. and feline leukemia. Because feral cats compete for food with other wild animals such as skunks and raccoons they are more susceptible to contracting rabies which can be spread to humans. Very often citizens complain that feral cats are getting into their trash, walking on their vehicles or posing a threat to the safety of their pets. Oftentimes feral cats become a nuisance to business owners when they begin staying in vacant buildings and warehouses.

In an effort to address the growing problem, Animal Control Officer E.C. Stone captured over 400 cats during the past two years, 36 of which came from a single vacant warehouse. The Police Department is asking that all citizens who own a cat to properly identify it by placing a collar on it bearing proof of rabies vaccination. According to Virginia State Code, ownership of a cat requires that a collar bearing proof of current rabies vaccination be placed on all domestic cats 4 months of age and older. Officer Stone also noted that according to Martinsville City Code, if a person feeds a feral cat, you are deemed to have constructive ownership of the cat and therefore are responsible for its rabies vaccination. Officer Stone encourages owners of cats to please consider having their pet spayed or neutered.

Follow-Up Report:

(See – Is WHITE ANIMAL found dead in MAINE a WOLF, COYOTE, or DOG? – posted 03/23/13)

Maine 03/26/13 seacoastonline.com: by Laura Dolce – A wildlife expert said he finally has an answer on the mystery white animal found dead in (Kennebunk) last week: It’s a rare white eastern coyote. After giving the animal a thorough examination early Monday afternoon — but not doing a necropsy yet — Maine wildlife biologist Scott Lindsay said measurements of the animal’s bones, the condition of its teeth and its bottle-brush tail all are “very consistent” with a coyote. . . . One mystery that remains, though, is exactly how this female coyote died. Lindsay said he is awaiting word from state officials on whether they wish to send it to a taxidermist to create a display with the animal for demonstration purposes. That will determine how he will necropsy the coyote, he said, which he will likely do later this week. – For complete article see http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20130326-NEWS-303260381?cid=sitesearch

Rabies:

California 03/30/13 San Joaquin County: The family of Lucas Brandt, 17, a student at Count Stagg High School in Stockton, would like to find the owner of a dog that bit their son two weeks ago on the Calaveras River Bike Trail. Neither the dog, a black pit bull, nor its owner has been found, and Lucas is being treated for exposure to rabies as a precautionary measure. If you witnessed the incident, or know someone in the Stockton area who has a black pit bull, please contact authorities  – See http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130330/A_NEWS/303300322

Colorado 03/30/13 Larimer County: A fox that attacked a pet dog in Berthoud on Saturday has tested positive for rabies. The incident raises particular concerns because the area is near horse properties. – See http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/Larimer-County-warns-of-rabies-in-area-4397017.php

Connecticut 03/29/13 Tolland County: A skunk that was shot while fighting with a vaccinated dog last Monday in the vicinity of Four Bridges and George Wood roads in Somers has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.journalinquirer.com/towns/rabid-skunk-found-in-somers/article_37e04ae8-987e-11e2-9442-001a4bcf887a.html

Florida 03/29/13 Palm Beach County: Two raccoons that attacked two dogs in separate incidents last week have both tested positive for rabies. Last Monday a dachshund was attacked in Lantana, and on Thursday a Chihuahua was attacked in Lake Clarke Shores. – See http://www.examiner.com/article/rabies-alert-palm-beach-county-after-two-raccoons-test-positive-for-disease

Florida 03/29/13 Marion County: A raccoon found about three miles southwest of Reddick has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.ocala.com/article/20130329/ARTICLES/130329611

Georgia 03/29/13 Camden County: A pet cat belonging to a family living in the Southern Pines mobile home park in Kingsland has tested positive for rabies. Two people are being treated for exposure and the cat and two other pets in the home have been euthanized. – See http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/georgia/article/306327/5/Health-officials-discover-rabid-cat

Georgia 03/29/13 Habersham County: A skunk that fought with a dog at 1147 Chopped Oak Road on Thursday has tested positive for rabies. The dog is not current with its rabies vaccination and may have to be euthanized. – See http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=259961

Maine 03/29/13 York County: A dead raccoon found in Kennebunk on Friday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://bangordailynews.com/2013/03/29/news/portland/kennebunk-police-confirm-case-of-rabies/

New Mexico 03/29/13 Socorro County: A fox that bit an unvaccinated dog about a mile south of Magdalena on March 23^rd has tested positive for rabies. The dog had to be euthanized. It was reported the dog’s owner has been previously ticketed for allowing unvaccinated dogs to roam at large. – See http://www.dchieftain.com/2013/03/29/rabies-found-in-fox-by-magdalena

New York 03/29/13 Lewis County: Public Health Agency officials are asking for help in trying to find the owner of a dog that bit a person. The bite occurred about 4:30 p.m. Monday at routes 410 and 126 in the hamlet of Naumburg, town of Croghan. The dog is a fawn-colored boxer. Unless verification of its rabies vaccination is received, the person who was bitten will have to undergo a series of rabies post-exposure shots. Anyone with information is asked to call Lewis County Public Health at 376-5453.

Texas 03/29/13 Collin County: A skunk that came in contact with a Plano resident’s vaccinated pets last week has tested positive for rabies. The pets have been quarantined. – See http://planoblog.dallasnews.com/2013/03/plano-officials-urge-caution-after-skunk-tests-positive-for-rabies.html/

Virginia 03/29/13 City of Waynesboro: A young fox that fought with two vaccinated dogs at a home off Meadowview Cove last Wednesday has tested positive for rabies. The dogs have been quarantined. – See http://www.newsleader.com/article/20130329/NEWS01/303290007/Rabies-case-reported-Waynesboro

Celebrity GRAY WOLF OR-7 returns to OREGON ~ COYOTES killed in COLORADO after report of attack on 5-year-old BOY ~ MOUNTAIN LION killed in COLORADO after snatching and eating leashed PET ~ HORSE at Santa Anita Park in CALIFORNIA found with EQUINE HERPES VIRUS-1 ~ FOLLOW-UP REPORT: Fatal HUMAN RABIES case in MARYLAND due to kidney transplant ~ Other RABIES reports from CT, MO, TX, VA, & WV ~ ANNOUNCEMENT: International Symposia on ENTOMOLOGY

Gray wolf. Photo by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Oregon 03/13/13 dfw.state.or.us: Update – Wolf OR7 crossed the state border into southwest Klamath County, Ore. sometime yesterday evening. He first crossed into California on Dec. 28, 2011. ODFW does not post daily location information on OR7 or any GPS-collared wolf. Wolves throughout Oregon are protected by the state Endangered Species Act. West of Hwys 395-78-95, wolves are also protected by the federal ESA. OR7 may cross back into California and use areas in both states. ODFW will continue to monitor his location and coordinate with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Fish and Game. – More information here: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/wolf/ and http://californiagraywolf.wordpress.com/

Coyote Attacks:

Colorado 03/15/13 kdvr.com: by David Mitchell – Two coyotes were shot and killed in the city of Boulder after a report of a coyote biting a 5-year-old boy. Boulder and Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials shot a female coyote Tuesday night and a male coyote Thursday night. Both animals were on city open space east of Foothills Parkway and near the Boulder Creek Path. The aggressive incident happened last weekend and was reported Monday according to a statement released Friday. A father told the city he was with two 5-year-old boys who were playing near the creek when two coyotes surrounded them. As one of the boys ran to his father, one of the coyotes chased him and bit his leg. “The bite resulted in a scratch, but fortunately, didn’t puncture the skin,” the statement says.

The city just completed a four-week hazing program for coyotes designed to reduce their activity and reports of them approaching or chasing people. One other bite had been reported. “When a coyote attacks and bites a human, the situation has to be addressed,” said Larry Rogstad, area wildlife manager for Boulder Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “From the patterns of behavior over the last month and a half and the recent bite, we felt these coyotes presented a risk to humans and, therefore, it was necessary to remove them. Thanks to a detailed report from the father, we are confident that we identified the same coyotes and that they were animals already known to resource officers from both organizations.” Both the city and wildlife officials will keep an eye on coyote activity in Boulder. Aggressive incidents towards humans should be reported to Boulder at 303-441-3333 or CPW at 303-291-7227.

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Colorado 03/15/13 gazette.com: by Ryan Maye Handy – A ravenous and bold mountain lion was captured and euthanized Wednesday, hours after it snatched and ate a leashed miniature Daschund that was on a walk with its owner. The big cat had been lurking in southwestern Colorado Springs neighborhoods since January before Colorado Parks and Wildlife rangers set a trap Wednesday night and caught it. Hours earlier, around 7 a.m., a man was walking his dog in a park in the area when the mountain lion snatched the dog, yanking its leash out of the man’s hands, and fled with it. Earlier this month, rangers had tried to chase the mountain lion out of the neighborhood and back into the wilderness, said Michael Seraphin, a spokesman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. – For complete article see http://www.gazette.com/articles/lion-152323-dog-mountain.html

Equine Herpes Virus-1:

California 03/15/13 harnesslink.com: Ontario Racing Commission officials have confirmed that a horse at Santa Anita Park has been diagnosed with Equine Herpes Virus-1. All horses from California being shipped into Woodbine Racetrack shall require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection dated within 24 hours prior to shipping. – For further details see http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=104282

Follow-Up Report:

(See MARYLAND resident dies of RABIES posted 03/14/13)

Maryland 03/14/13 washingtonpost.com: by David Brown – A Maryland man who two weeks ago became the state’s first fatal case of rabies in nearly 40 years contracted the infection from a kidney transplant, according to two people familiar with the case. Three people in other states received organs from the same donor, but their conditions were not immediately known. The recipient died at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington after being in the hospital for about a month, according to the people with knowledge of the case, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He had received a kidney from a Florida man in an operation at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in 2011. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared rabies virus obtained from the recipient and determined that it was genetically identical to the virus recovered from the organ’s donor, said the two people involved in the case. CDC officials were expected to announce some details of the case Friday. – For complete report see http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/maryland-rabies-case-came-from-kidney-transplant-sources-say/2013/03/14/4f47361e-8cf9-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html

Other Rabies Reports:

Connecticut 03/14/13 Fairfield County: Health officials have confirmed that a raccoon picked up this week in the Hill Farm Road area of the City of Fairfield has tested positive for rabies. – See http://longisland.news12.com/news/rabies-infected-raccoon-captured-fairfield-health-dept-cautions-residents-1.4813007?firstfree=yes

Missouri 03/14/13 Cape Girardeau County: According to public health officials, a skunk captured in the northwest part of the county has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.semissourian.com/story/1949973.html

Texas 03/16/13 Tarrant County: A skunk reported to be displaying unusual behavior in the vicinity of Wedglea Drive in north Bedford has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_82005.shtml

Virginia 03/14/13 Arlington County: A raccoon seen fighting with two dogs in the water at Glen Carlyn Park last weekend has tested positive for rabies. Anyone who may have had contact with a raccoon in the park in the past week should seek immediate medical attention. – See http://clarendon.patch.com/articles/county-possible-rabies-exposure-around-glen-carlyn-park

West Virginia 03/14/13 Mercer County: A raccoon that fought with a dog last week in the Princeton Avenue area of Bluefield has tested positive for rabies. The dog and a person who tried to intervene were both exposed to the virus. – See http://bdtonline.com/editorials/x2101728847/Human-exposure

~ ANNOUNCEMENT ~

Photo by Bugboy52.40. Wikimedia Commons.

The International Symposia on Entomology (ISE-2013), hosted by OMICS Group Conference, will be held in Orlando, Florida, September 4-6, 2013. The main theme of the conference is “Exploring the description of new species, geographical distribution, genome organization and diseases related to insects”. Exhibitor sponsors are welcome. For further details see http://www.omicsgroup.com/conferences/entomology-2013/cfa.php or e-mail johnross@omicsgroup.net

MISSOURI confirms 39th MOUNTAIN LION sighting since 1994 ~ CANADA: University of CALGARY professor dies after brief bout with INFLUENZA A H1N1 ~ RABIES reports from AL, FL, MD, SC, TXx2, & VA.

Mountain lion. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Missouri 02/15/13 semissourian.com: by Keith Lewis – The Missouri Department of Conservation confirmed the sighting of another mountain lion earlier this month, bringing the number of confirmed sightings in the state to 39 since 1994. The latest verification comes from a photo taken Feb. 2 in the Peck Ranch Conservation Area, a wildlife refuge operated by the department in portions of Carter and Shannon counties. “The presence of that mountain lion was documented by a trail-cam photo,” said Candice Davis, spokeswoman for the department’s Southeast Regional Office in Cape Girardeau. “That’s the best evidence we can get.” An elk calf carcass bearing signs of a mountain lion attack also was found. Conservation officials started bringing elk into Peck Ranch as part of an elk restoration effort that began in 2011.

Missouri Department of Conservation trailcam photo taken Feb 2 at Peck Ranch Conservation Area.

According to information on the department’s website, three counties in Southeast Missouri have the state’s highest number of confirmed mountain lion sightings. Shannon County leads with six, Reynolds County has five and Carter County has four. The confirmations there and in 20 other counties across the state have been exclusively of the sub-adult male of the species, which may provide a clue as to why the mountain lions are finding their way to Missouri. “It’s their nature to take off,” said Jeff Beringer, a resource scientist at the conservation department and the chairman of the agency’s Mountain Lion Response Team. “The sub-adult male is known to go a long way from home in search of food or a mate, particularly if there is competition in their native habitat that forces them to do so.” -                                                                                                              For complete article see http://www.semissourian.com/story/1941421.html

H1N1:

CANADA:

Alberta 0/17/12 ctvnews.ca: Dr. Margo Husby, a senior instructor at the University of Calgary in the Department of Communication and Culture, has passed away. Family members confirmed to CTV Calgary, Husby’s death on February 13, 2013, followed a brief battle with the H1N1 virus . . . According to Alberta Health Services influenza surveillance report, in the sixth week of 2013, there were 10 cases of hospitalized influenza in Alberta involving Influenza A (H1N1). – See http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/university-of-calgary-professor-succumbs-to-h1n1-virus-1.1160300

Rabies:

Alabama 02/15/13 Baldwin County: A raccoon captured in the Magnolia Springs/Foley area after exhibiting strange behaviors including diurnal activity and aggression has tested positive for rabies. – See http://blog.al.com/live/2013/02/rabies_diagnosis_confirmed_in.html

Florida 02/13/13 Sarasota and Manatee counties: Fourteen-year-old Lexi Lamb only wants answers about the dog that bit her. “I hate needles so much. Especially like the ones I am going to have to have for rabies shots,” Lamb told ABC Action News Wednesday afternoon. Tuesday night Lexi rode her bike along a path behind the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. As she went to turn toward her parents’ business she spotted a dog behind her. “Next thing I knew the dog was on top of me and it was not stopping. I had my face in the ground to keep it away from the dog and I looked right up and it got me in the face,” she said. Witnesses said the dog described as a Saint Bernard was pulled off of Lexi by its owner who offered help, but then left. “We don’t want to hurt either one of them. We just want to know the history of the dog so that the last thing Lexi needs to go through is rabies shots,” said her mom Jacquie Schlitter. Lexi is preparing for a 12-hour-straight bike race this weekend and only wants to be sure she is healthy so she can compete. “We have a dog ourselves and we are dog lovers, but we need to find out who you are and who the dog is just so she does not have to go through this anymore,” said Schlitter. If you have any information on the dog or the dog’s owner you are asked to call Manatee Animal Services at 941-742-5933. – See video at http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_sarasota_manatee/bradenton/girl-bit-by-unknown-dog-will-need-rabies-shots-if-dog-is-not-found

Maryland 02/17/13 Frederick County: An adult male cat with long black hair that was found in Middletown along Holter Road near the Hollow Creek Golf Course has tested positive for rabies. Anyone who may have been in contact with the cat should seek immediate medical advice. – See http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/displayUpdate.htm?StoryID=146995#.USGvQ2cp9NI

South Carolina 02/14/13 Laurens County: A skunk that attacked a woman in the city of Laurens earlier this week has tested positive for rabies. After kicking it aside three times, she went for a gun from inside the house, shot the animal, and delivered it to a local veterinarian. This is the second reported skunk attack in the vicinity within a week. – See http://www2.wspa.com/news/2013/feb/14/veterinarian-skunk-attacks-laurens-woman-tests-pos-ar-5595551/

Texas 02/14/13 Lubbock County: A striped skunk found Feb. 4^th in the NE corner of the City of Lubbock has tested positive for rabies. – See http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2013-02-14/skunk-lubbock-test-positive-rabies-other-animals-might-be-infected#.UR8qtWckRNI

Texas 02/08/13 Cameron County: by Allen Essex – The city of South Padre Island is working with the Texas Department of State Health Services to distribute vaccination bait that prevents coyotes that eat the material from contracting the canine form of rabies, city officials said in a statement. The bait was distributed Friday morning by city workers in areas of the city where coyotes normally travel, officials said. – See http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_c322e96c-726d-11e2-88d9-0019bb30f31a.html

Virginia 02/09/13 Smyth County: A raccoon found in the Grubmore Road area of the county has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.tricities.com/swvatoday/news/smyth_county/article_062085dc-7249-11e2-a6bb-001a4bcf6878.html

MICHIGAN DNR seeks help with Lower Peninsula WOLF survey ~ COLORADO confirms eight reports of MOUNTAIN LIONS attacking DOGS ~ RABIES reports from TX, & VA.

Gray wolf. Photo by Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Michigan 02/08/13 michigan.gov/dnr: The Department of Natural Resources will conduct a wolf track survey Feb. 11 through March 8 to detect the presence of gray wolves in the northern Lower Peninsula. “Given the low probability of observing an actual wolf or its tracks in the Lower Peninsula, it’s helpful to have as many eyes looking as possible,” said DNR wildlife biologist Jennifer Kleitch. “That’s why public reports are so important.” Sightings of wolves or tracks believed to have been made by a wolf, between Feb. 11 and March 8 can be reported to the Gaylord Operations Service Center at 989-732-3541, ext. 5901. Wolf observation reports can also be submitted online at www.dnr.state.mi.us/wildlife/pubs/wolf_obsreport.asp.

Wolves began naturally returning to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula via Canada and Wisconsin in the early 1990s. Since that time populations have increased and continue to expand their range. Evidence of range expansion into the Lower Peninsula came when a gray wolf was accidentally killed in Presque Isle County in 2004. Survey teams will respond to areas where there have been one or more observations. Priority will be placed on recent reports and those submitted during the survey period. “It’s important that observations are reported promptly so we can work with fresh evidence. If people find what they believe are wolf tracks, they should preserve the track, disturbing it as little as possible, or take a photo of the tracks with a ruler,” stated Kleitch. “If someone has a photo of a wolf in the Lower Peninsula, we’d certainly be interested in that as well.”

The DNR is partnering in this survey effort with USDA Wildlife Services, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Information on wolves in Michigan and links to other wolf-related Web pages can be found at www.michigan.gov/wolves. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Mountain Lion Attacks on Pets:

Colorado 02/09/13 cbslocal.com: There has been a string of mountain lion attacks in the foothills. The attacks have all been centered around Evergreen, Kittredge and the Bailey area . . . A total of eight dogs have been attacked. “Having eight in the last two to three months is a little bit worrisome, especially for people who have small kids,” Luke McChesney with the Evergreen Animal Hospital said. From sun down to sun up, animal experts say to keep pets close . . . Colorado Parks and Wildlife says young mountain lions looking for easy prey can target small pets. Keeping pets inside or in a caged area can also keep them safe . . . They also say mountain lions are extremely unlikely to attack people — children or adults. – For complete article see http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/02/09/mountain-lion-attacks-on-the-rise-in-the-foothills/

Rabies:

Texas 02/08/13 Cameron County: by Allen Essex – The city of South Padre Island is working with the Texas Department of State Health Services to distribute vaccination bait that prevents coyotes that eat the material from contracting the canine form of rabies, city officials said in a statement. The bait was distributed Friday morning by city workers in areas of the city where coyotes normally travel, officials said. – See http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_c322e96c-726d-11e2-88d9-0019bb30f31a.html

Virginia 02/09/13 Smyth County: A raccoon found in the Grubmore Road area of the county has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.tricities.com/swvatoday/news/smyth_county/article_062085dc-7249-11e2-a6bb-001a4bcf6878.html

COYOTE pack chasing PUPPY break glass door in ILLINOIS neighborhood ~ EQUESTRIAN centers on alert after HORSE in NEW YORK competition diagnosed with EQUINE HERPES VIRUS ~ RABIES reports from FL, GAx3, NJ, NCx2, ND, OK, PA, TX, VA, & CANADA: ALBERTA.

Coyote. Photo by Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Illinois 01/26/13 myfoxchicago.com: by Craig Wall – A pack of coyotes chasing after a puppy broke several panes of glass in the door of a west suburban home Friday as they tried to chase the dog into the house. There were three dogs — Lexie, Snoopy, and Bella — in the fenced-in backyard of the home in the 0-100 block of South Herbert Road just after 1 a.m. The homeowner, Roger Nelson, had just called them in when he heard a rustling in the darkness. Moments later he saw four coyotes racing towards him and his dogs. “They jumped the fence, the golden retriever and I have a German shepherd puppy she made it inside and I ‘ve got a little beagle and I mean he barely made it inside,” Nelson says. “If they would have got one more step they would have grabbed him.” Nelson quickly let the dog in but the coyotes, perhaps driven by hunger, were not deterred by the louvered glass door that came between them and a potential meal. They began to paw at the rear glass door of the home, trying to get at the barking puppy. “They jumped on the door here and started busting the glass with their paws,  jumping on it, growling,” Nelson explains. “I mean, the hair was standing up on their back, you could see all their teeth.” Roger’s wife Lauren heard the commotion and came running downstairs to see the coyotes trying to break in their home. “I literally, really thought they were going to come into the house,” Lauren says. “I was so scared for the dogs, for us, for the kids, it just scared me to death.” The coyotes were finally scared away when Roger fired a high-powered BB gun at them, striking two of them, police said. The dogs were unharmed. “I shot them, they yelped,” Roger says. “A couple of them ran down, one looked like he almost fell down the stairs. When we came back out they were nowhere to be found.”

Coyote’s teeth. Photo by U.S. Department of Energy.

When police arrived, the coyotes were gone, but several panes of glass on the outer door were broken and the coyotes also broke glass on the main entry door as they tried to get at the puppy. Police Sgt. Bill Gutschick said in a statement that in his 25 years on duty, this was the first time he’s heard of coyotes trying to get into a home while chasing a pet. Riverside has had other recent reports of coyotes attacking pets, Weitzel said, and on Jan. 3, a 7-month-old Bichon-Poo puppy was killed in the 100 block of Addison Road. Weitzel urged residents to be aware of wild animals in the area. “Coyotes do not know the difference between pets and the wild creatures they hunt, so try to protect pets by accompanying them outdoors,” he said. “Use a short leash, as coyotes have been known to attack animals that are on long leashes. Most importantly, use caution near any wild animal.” – See video at http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/20709102/coyotes-break-door-glass-trying-to-chase-puppy-into-home
Equine Herpes Virus:

New York/New Jersey 01/27/13 northjersey.com: by Stephen Canning – Horse farms throughout New Jersey and New York have been quarantined and temporarily shut after a horse in a Newburgh, N.Y., competition was diagnosed with the neurological form of equine herpes virus Type 1. Among the quarantined farms is the North Jersey Equestrian Center of Pequannock. Lynne Richmond, public information officer for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, said the agency was informed of the sick horse on Jan. 18. The animal, from a farm in Gladstone, was immediately tested at the state Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. Afterward, the department confirmed that just that one horse was positive with the virus. Working with the New York State Veterinarian’s Office, the department conducted a “trace back” of the horse’s movements. During the weekend of the Jan. 12 Newburgh competition, the animal came into contact with 11 other horses, including three from the farm in Pequannock’s Pompton Plains section. Those 11 horses have been identified and tested and are being monitored. As of Friday, none of the 11 horses showed signs of the illness, said Richmond. – For complete article see http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/188596201_Equestrian_centers_on_alert_over_virus.html

Author’s Note: The horse pictured above is not the sick horse that was in the New York competition. Equine herpes virus Type 1 has not been known to infect people but it can be transported on their clothes, boots, etc.

Rabies:

Florida 01/22/13 Polk County: An injured bat found in Lake Wales on Jan. 18^th has tested positive for rabies. A homeowner said his three dogs were probably in contact with the bat near his house on 1^st Avenue North. – See http://www.clickorlando.com/news/First-rabies-case-reported-in-Polk-County/-/1637132/18237574/-/2fhjsjz/-/index.html

Georgia 01/28/13 Effingham County: A raccoon that got into a fight with a family dog in Guyton has tested positive for rabies. – See http://savannahnow.com/effingham-now/2013-01-28/raccon-tests-positive-rabies-effingham#.UQdRmmckRNL

Georgia 01/25/13 Barrow County: A raccoon that attacked a family dog off Alexander Street in Winder on Tuesday night has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.barrowjournal.com/archives/7676-First-2013-rabies-case-confirmed-in-Winder-this-week.html

Georgia 01/25/13 Gwinnett County: Health officials have issued a Rabies Alert after two raccoons found in Buford tested positive for rabies. One was found on Jan 16^th in the 3600 block of Sardis Church Road, and the other on the same day in the 800 block of Cannodale Court. – See http://dacula.patch.com/articles/rabies-alert-two-rabid-animals-found-in-north-gwinnett

New Jersey 01/18/13 Middlesex County: A skunk that attacked a dog on Jan. 14^th in the vicinity of Patron Court and Nelson Place in Piscataway has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130118/NJNEWS/301180020/Skunk-attacked-dog-tests-positive-rabies-Piscataway?nclick_check=1

 

North Carolina 01/25/13 Orange County: A goat that was reported to be acting strangely has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/01/countys-rst-rabies-case-found-in-goat

 

North Carolina 01/18/13 Cumberland County: Officials are investigating a situation in Fayetteville involving a dead raccoon that was found behind the Family Dollar store on Andrews Road this past Wednesday. The animal appeared to have been dead for about two days and rabies tests were performed but were inconclusive. It was reported that feral cats in the area had been eating the raccoon’s carcass. People are urged to avoid feral cats and other wildlife in the area, to keep pets on a leash, and to check their pets’ vaccination records. – See http://www.wral.com/suspected-case-of-rabies-reported-in-fayetteville/11997985/

North Dakota 01/18/13 Burleigh County: A small, female cat, black with golden eyes, that was found on Sioux Avenue in Bismarck and picked up by animal control officers from an unknown person on Jan. 9^th has tested positive for rabies. People who might have been exposed to the cat at any time since Dec. 30, 2012, are urged to seek immediately medical advice. – See http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/cat-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-bismarck/article_2feeeaaa-61e3-11e2-b5d9-001a4bcf887a.html

Oklahoma 01/22/13 Pittsburg County: A horse brought to a veterinarian in McAlester has tested positive for rabies. The owner said the animal refused to eat and was twitching and stumbling. – See http://mcalesternews.com/local/x503829418/Rabies-found-in-Pittsburg-County-horse

Pennsylvania 01/28/13 Allegheny County: A stray cat found in the Union Avenue Extension area of Oakdale earlier this month has tested positive for rabies. A woman who had been feeding the cat and was exposed to its saliva is being treated. – See http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/stray-cat-found-in-oakmont-tests-positive-for-rabies-672369/

Texas 01/24/13 Parker County: Animal control officials have issued a Rabies Alert after 10 skunks and at least one dog tested positive for the virus since the beginning of the year. – See http://weatherforddemocrat.com/top-news/x1303528755/County-residents-warned-of-rabies-cases

Virginia 01/19/13 Smyth County: Twenty-four cats and three dogs have been euthanized after two skunks test positive for rabies in the Stoney Battery and St. Clair’s Creek areas of the county, and a fox believed to be rabid was observed in the Allison Gap area of Saltville. – See http://www.tricities.com/swvatoday/news/smyth_county/article_d012415a-61c8-11e2-ad6f-001a4bcf6878.html

Canada:

Alberta 01/22/13 Calgary: A small brown bat that scratched a local wildlife rehab volunteer after being recovered from a downtown construction site has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Rabid+scratches+wildlife+centre+volunteer/7857040/story.html

OREGON WOLF known as OR-7 appears to be enjoying life in CALIFORNIA ~ And another OREGON WOLF known as OR-16 swims to IDAHO – WASHINGTON MAN attacked by pack of COYOTES ~ RABIES report from NORTH CAROLINA.

Gray wolf. Courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

California  01/01/13 latimes.com: by Bettina Boxall – Like many out-of-state visitors, the lone gray wolf that trotted across the border from Oregon has taken a liking to California. He went back and forth between the two states a handful of times after his initial crossing into Siskiyou County on Dec. 28, 2011. But since spring, the young male has remained in the Golden State, loping across forests and scrublands, up and down mountains and across rural highways in California’s sparsely populated northeast. The first wild wolf documented in California in nearly 90 years, he has roamed as far south as Tehama County — about halfway between the border and Sacramento — searching for other wolves, and a mate. “I guess he’s being the Lewis and Clark of wolves in California,” said wolf advocate Amaroq Weiss.

State and federal biologists are using a tracking collar to follow OR7 — his official designation — and they’re impressed. Not only has he traveled more than 3,000 miles since leaving his pack in northeastern Oregon, he’s demonstrated exceptional homing abilities. “He can find the same locations [after] weeks, sometimes a couple of months, coming back from a completely different direction,” said Karen Kovacs, wildlife program manager for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Since summer, OR7 has spent most of his time in western Plumas and eastern Tehama counties on a mix of public and private lands, with some jaunts into neighboring Butte County. He seems to dine mostly on mule deer, following their seasonal migrations from mountains to lower elevations. Fortunately for him, he has avoided people and livestock. The wolf was accused of killing a cow and her calf and some other livestock, but Kovacs said investigations found no evidence that OR7 was the culprit. The cow died giving birth to the calf, which was either born dead or died soon after birth and was then eaten by coyotes.

None of the wolves in these photos is OR-7.

There have been a number of reported sightings of the 3-1/2 -year-old wolf, but only a few have been confirmed. One was in a state wildlife area in November, when a man hunting with his daughter saw a group of deer emerge from a woodland. Behind it was a single deer running from what appeared to be a wolf. The animal broke off the chase, looked in the direction of the hunters and trotted away. The excited pair reported the sighting, and radio signals placed OR7 in the area. “The timing, the behavior, the location; we’re pretty sure it was OR7,” Kovacs said. Although he has journeyed much farther from his home pack than is typical, the wolf is doing what young males do, searching for a mate and other wolves with which to form a pack. He returns to areas where he has left his scent, hoping to find signs of other wolves. It is possible that other gray wolves without radio collars have crossed into the Northern California wilds from Oregon, where there are a number of packs. But biologists have found no evidence of them, and Kovacs said the chances are slim that OR7 will find a mate in California. – For complete article see http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-wolf-california-20130102,0,6588131.story

Not OR-16.

Idaho 01/02/13 wallowa.com: A wolf recently captured, collared and photographed north of Elgin has crossed the Snake River into Idaho. OR-16, an 85-pound yearling male wolf, crossed from Oregon into Idaho on Dec. 19, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reported. ODFW captured OR-16 on Nov. 1 and fitted the animal with a GPS collar. ODFW later determined that he was part of the Walla Walla pack in northern Umatilla County.

Coyote Attacks:

Washington 12/29/12 komonews.com: by Kristen Drew – A local man was attacked by coyotes in his own backyard and spent most of Friday night in the emergency room. Now he is now warning others to be on the lookout – and he’s especially worried for pets and children in the area. Faron Scarberry says he moved to Kent about two weeks ago and he’s already facing an unexpected danger in the neighborhood. “I love wildlife,” he says, “I like looking out the deck, looking at them. But when they’re starting to threaten the animals and people in the neighborhood, it’s gone a little bit overboard.” Scarberry says three coyotes attacked him Friday night while he was walking his dog in the backyard.  “They come up toward my face, and I kind of blocked them and pushed them away, and that’s when the one grabbed me by the leg,” he says. Scarberry spent most of the night in the emergency room – diagnosed with a coyote bite and scratches. He got 24 rabies shots in his leg and two in his hip.- For complete article and TV news report video see http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Kent-man-attacked-by-coyotes-in-his-own-backyard-185180232.html?tab=video&c=y

Rabies:

North Carolina 12/31/12 Guilford County: A raccoon that came in contact with a dog on Russell Avenue in High Point has tested positive for rabies. Health officials confirm this is the county’s 28^th case of animal rabies this year. – See http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/261346/57/Guilford-Health-Officials-Confirm-28th-Rabies-Case-

Missing piece of LYME DISEASE puzzle published in New England Journal of Medicine ~ RABIES reports from FL, MA, PA, & TX ~ CDC issues final WEST NILE VIRUS report for 2012.

Red fox after mouse. Photo by State of Connecticut.

National 12/27/12 medpagetoday.com: by Nancy Walsh – Excerpts – “With almost 25,000 cases confirmed by the CDC in 2011, Lyme disease indeed is a serious public health concern, but the evidence continues to argue against infection with the tick-borne spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi as the cause of multiple persisting complaints including neurocognitive abnormalities and chronic musculoskeletal pain.”

 “The most recent piece of this puzzle, published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine, was the determination that what seemed to be persistent disease and relapse actually was a new infection. In that study, Robert B. Nadelman, MD, of New York Medical College in Valhalla, and colleagues conducted genotype analyses of an outer surface protein of B. burgdorferi from 17 patients who had had more than one episode of the pathognomonic erythema migrans rash. In the 22 paired episodes of Lyme disease in this group of patients, not a single one was found to have the same surface protein genotype in either skin or blood cultures for the two episodes. Moreover, the recurrent skin lesions most often developed 1 or 2 years after the initial episode, and did so in the summer months when primary infections are most likely to occur, implying that the individuals had been reinfected.”

Shrew. Photo by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

“In particular, these researchers reported, the continuing expansion of the incidence and geography of Lyme disease may reflect a shift in predator patterns throughout North America. The near-extinction of the gray wolf has allowed coyotes to move to a dominant niche in the food chain, which has resulted in a sharp decrease in the population of red foxes, a favored prey of the coyote. This, in turn, has led to a rise in the numbers of foxes’ smaller prey, such as the white-footed mouse, the Eastern chipmunk, and two types of shrew – the very animals that are responsible for the infection of up to 90% of ticks with B. burgdorferi.” – For complete article see http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/36629

Rabies:

Florida 12/28/12 Suwannee County: Health officials have issued a Rabies Alert after a raccoon found in the area west of County Road 49 and south of 296^th Street, which is southeast of Branford, tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wtxl.com/news/rabies-alert-issued-in-suwannee-county/article_418ece86-510f-11e2-8425-001a4bcf6878.html

Massachusetts 12/28/12 Middlesex County: A cat that has been roaming around the Vernon Street area in the center of Framingham and bit a person on Dec. 22^nd has tested positive for rabies. The animal is described as a young adult domestic short-hair gray tiger. Officials do not know if the cat was feral or a pet and are encouraging anyone bitten or scratched by the animal to seek medical advice immediately. – See http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/framingham/2012/12/framingham_officials_warn_resi.html

Pennsylvania 12/27/12 citizenstandard.com: by Rebecca Zemencik – Tri-Valley school officials have reported that approximately 27 Mahantongo Elementary students had come in contact with a stray cat that was determined to have rabies earlier this month. A special meeting was held Tuesday, Dec. 18, in the Mahantongo all-purpose room with representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control to discuss the facts about rabies and to clear up any questions or concerns that parents had. According to Superintendent Mark D. Snyder, sometime between Tuesday, Dec. 4 and Wednesday, Dec. 5, there was a gray, striped farm cat from an adjacent property that had been on school property in the area of the playground and several students had come in contact with the cat. Dr. Amanda Beudoin, DVM, PhD, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, serving a fellowship with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, assured parents that just because their children may have petted the cat, they would not be susceptible to contracting rabies. “Even though a cat licks itself, a person would not contract rabies by just petting the animal,” said Dr. Beudoin. “However, if that student had a cut or an open wound on their hand, then they should be treated with the rabies vaccines.” Approximately 20 parents attended the meeting and most parents confirmed that they had their children treated as a precautionary measure. Rabies is the type of disease that until symptoms appear it is too late then to treat the disease and death will occur. Mahantongo Elementary Nurse Paula Morgan was actually bitten by the cat and has been undergoing shots every so many days since the incident. – For complete article see http://citizenstandard.com/news/rabies-concerns-addressed-1.1420979

Texas 12/28/12 Navarro County: A small, 18-month-old dog belonging to a family with a small child in Blooming Grove has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.athensreview.com/breakingnews/x2056568811/State-confirms-Navarro-County-rabies-case

West Nile Virus (WNV):

National 12/11/12 cdc.gov: As of December 11, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,387 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 243 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 2,734 (51%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 2,653 (49%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease. The 5,387 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the second week in December since 2003. Eighty percent of the cases have been reported from 13 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Illinois, Mississippi, South Dakota, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Ohio, and New York) and a third of all cases have been reported from Texas. – This will be the last update for 2012 until final data are available in the spring of 2013. – For further details and maps see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

 

COYOTE attacks on PETS increasing in KANSAS ~ MOUNTAIN LION report from MISSOURI ~ WEST NILE VIRUS reports from CDC National, AL, IL, LA, & NY ~ RABIES reports from CA, CO, NJ, NC, & VA ~ CDC REPORTS: ZOONOTIC DISEASE summary for week ending November 3, 2012.

Coyote. Courtesy National Park Service.

Kansas 11/07/12 Sedgwick County: Several veterinary clinics in Wichita report rising incidents of coyote attacks on pets. Dr. Brock Lofgreen said “Over the past few weeks I just counted four in my head that I saw over the last two weeks. I know we’ve had more than that…” – See http://www.ksn.com/news/local/story/Coyotes-are-attacking-pets-in-and-around-Wichita/sHdKE4RrykKkm3Iq_Eaf4w.cspx

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Missouri 11/09/12 Reynolds and Ripley counties: State officials have confirmed trail camera photos taken recently of a mountain lion in each county. One was taken in Reynolds County’s Current River Conservation Area south of Ellington, the other in northeast Ripley County. – See http://www.waynecojournalbanner.com/reynolds_county/news/article_3b8f1e16-2a93-11e2-aa43-0019bb30f31a.html

West Nile Virus (WNV):

National 11/06/12 cdc.gov: Update – As of November 6, 2012, 48 states have reported WNV infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,054 cases of WNV disease in people, including 228 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 2,559 (51%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 2,495 (49%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease. The 5,054 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of WNV disease cases reported to CDC through the first week in November since 2003. Almost 80 percent of the cases have been reported from 12 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, South Dakota, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio, and Arizona) and over a third of all cases have been reported from Texas. – For further details see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Alabama 11/06/12 usgs.gov: Update – State health officials have confirmed 43 human cases of WNV throughout the state this year, including one death. – For a breakdown of cases by county see http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_al_human.html

Illinois 11/08/12 Kane County: Health officials confirm an Aurora man, 64, has been identified as the 12^th human case of WNV in the county this year. State officials report 245 human cases statewide, including 10 deaths. – See http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/16248952-418/another-west-nile-case-brings-kane-county-total-to-12-in-2012.html

Louisiana 11/05/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials today confirmed six new WNV human cases, urging Louisiana residents to continue to Fight the Bite. No deaths from the disease occurred this week. So far, there have been 344 human cases and 13 deaths from the disease reported this year. There are two new neuroinvasive disease cases reported this week, from East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes. There are four new West Nile Fever cases, from Calcasieu (1), East Baton Rouge (2) and West Baton Rouge (1) parishes. – See http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2686

New York 11/08/12 Suffolk County: Health officials confirm the county’s 5^th human case of WNV this year in a Babylon resident under the age of 55 who was hospitalized but has since recovered. This brings to 19 the total number of WNV human cases confirmed on Long Island this year, including one elderly resident who died. – See http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/suffolk-reports-fifth-case-of-west-nile-1.4202655

Rabies:

California 11/08/12 Los Angeles County: Officials report that two more bats found in the Santa Clara Valley in the past few weeks have tested positive for rabies. This brings the total number of rabies cases in the county to 55 this year, which is a record number since testing began in 1961. – See http://scvnews.com/2012/11/08/two-more-rabid-bats-in-scv-last-for-2012/

Colorado 11/08/12 Larimer County: A skunk trapped in the vicinity of the Residence Inn near the Outlet Mall in Loveland  has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.noco5.com/story/20047511/skunk-found-in-loveland-tests-positive-for-rabies

New Jersey 11/08/12 Burlington County: A raccoon found in the vicinity of Kanabe Drive in Westampton Township has tested positive for rabies. – See http://sj.sunne.ws/2012/11/08/rabies-case-found-in-area/

North Carolina 11/08/12 Brunswick County: A fox that ran from the woods on Oak Island Wednesday and bit a Mercer Street resident who was collecting her mail has tested positive for rabies. – See http://stateportpilot.com/news/article_70ee9c76-29e4-11e2-af93-0019bb2963f4.html

Virginia 11/08/12 Pittsylvania County: Health officials have issued a rabies alert after a skunk found recently in the Deerview Road area of Gretna tested positive for the virus. – See http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-skunk-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-gretna-20121108,0,534621.story

CDC Reports:

CDC MMWR Summary for Week ending November 3, 2012:

Published November 9, 2012/ 61(44); ND-607-ND-620

Anaplasmosis . . . 2 . . . New York (2),

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

Giardiasis . . . 100 . . . Alabama (2), Alaska (2), Arizona, Arkansas (5), California (10), Florida (20), Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Maryland (3), Michigan (5), Missouri, New York (24), Ohio (8), Pennsylvania (2), Vermont (4), Virginia (2), Washington (6), West Virginia, Wisconsin,

HME/HGE Undetermined . . . 1 . . . Maryland,

Lyme Disease . . .  100. . .  Alabama, Florida (2), Maine, Maryland (6), New York (61), Ohio, Pennsylvania (17), Tennessee, Vermont (2), Virginia (8),

Rabies (Animal) . . . 17. . . Idaho (2), New York (5), Vermont, Virginia (9),

Spotted Fever including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Probable) . . . 15 . . . Alabama, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina (8), Virginia (4),

Tularemia . . . 2 . . . Indiana, Oklahoma.