WISCONSIN MAN mauled by BLACK BEAR ~ MONTANA confirms 2 cases of HANTAVIRUS ~ CALIFORNIA university police issue MOUNTAIN LION warning ~ CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE moving toward SHENANDOAH and YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKS ~ RABIES reports from AR, CA, CT, ID, MDx2, NCx2, OH, TX, VA, & WA ~ ANNOUNCEMENT: USDA APHIS meeting re FERAL SWINE damage management.

Black bear. Courtesy U.S. Forest Service.

Wisconsin 05/16/13 greenbaypressgazette.com: by Nathan Phelps – A man was bitten, cut and scratched Wednesday when he was attacked by a black bear on Finch Lane in Silver Cliff in Marinette County. Gerre Ninnemann encountered the bear just before 1:30 p.m. after seeing it go after his dog, according to a Marinette County Sheriff’s Department report. Ninnemann called his dog back to the house and tried to run inside, but the bear ran him down from behind and took him to the ground. The animal started biting and clawing at his back, the report said. Ninnemann was able to get up and make it to the corner of the cabin, but was caught by the animal again.

Marinette County

His wife, Marie, grabbed a shotgun from the home and used it to hit the bear on the head. At that point, Gerre Ninneman again was able to get away from the bear. He used theshotgun to poke it in an effort to keep it away as they retreated into the cabin. The bear continued to circle the cabin and look in the windows, according to the report. A Marinette County deputy shot and killed the bear. A conservation warden took possession of the bear to check for possible rabies, according to the incident report. Gerre Ninneman was taken to Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette for treatment.

Hantavirus:

Gallatin County

Montana 05/17/13 bozemandailychronicle.com: County and state officials today confirmed two new cases of hantavirus and the first 2013 death in the state from the illness. A Gallatin County woman in her 20s died from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and a Carbon County man in his 40s was diagnosed with it, the Department of Health and Human Services reported.

Carbon County

The Gallatin County woman is the 10th person in Montana to die from hantavirus. Both people appear to have had recent exposure to rodents. There have been 37 reported cases of hantavirus in Montana since 1993. With one or two cases a year, Montana is second only to New Mexico in the number of cases. – For further details read May 18 report at www.dailychronicle.com

Mountain Lion Sightings:

California 05/14/13 sanluisobispo.com: by Julia Hickey – A mountain lion sighting at Cal Poly on Monday night has brought the number of sightings at or near the university to four this month. All of the sightings have taken place near Poly Canyon Village, said George Hughes, chief of police for the University Police Department. “This mountain lion has been seen on the hillside. That’s its natural habitat; it’s not unusual,” Hughes said. The first sighting took place May 2 on Stenner Creek Road; followed by two sightings Sunday near the Poly Canyon Village parking structure; and a fourth sighting at 9:30 p.m. on Monday night in the same area near the structure. Police are assuming that all sightings are of the same mountain lion, Hughes said.  Although mountain lions are secretive and attacks on humans are rare, police say there are considered threats. – For recommendations see http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/05/14/2508213/mountain-lion-poly-canyon-village.html

Chronic Wasting Disease:

Virginia 05/14/13 dailyprogress.com: by Aaron Richardson -  A deadly brain disorder affecting deer, moose and elk is on the region’s doorstep, and its spread could be impossible to stop. Chronic wasting disease, a progressive condition that can remain idle for years before killing the infected animal, has been found in deer 25 miles from the Shenandoah National Park’s northern border, said park biologist Rolf Gubler. The park stretches northeast from outside Waynesboro to Front Royal. Experts say there is no evidence that chronic wasting can be transmitted to humans. But its effect on deer, as well as moose and elk, is devastating — symptoms include dramatic weight loss, tremors and teeth-grinding — and the disease is incurable. Park officials held meetings on chronic wasting earlier this spring in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Washington, and they are working on a plan to contain the infection. That could include thinning the heaviest populations of whitetail deer in the park. – For complete article see http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/chronic-wasting-disease-in-deer-likely-to-move-farther-east/article_173a965a-bcea-11e2-ad43-0019bb30f31a.html

Wyoming 05/14/13 thewildlifenews.com: Information gleaned from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department indicates that deadly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is advancing towards western Wyoming’s winter elk feed grounds and Yellowstone National Park. A new map from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition shows the areas where the disease has been detected in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are within 45 miles of winter elk feedgrounds and about 40 miles from Yellowstone Park’s northeast corner. The 2012 information reveals the farthest advance west of CWD in deer in Wyoming yet. Last year, three mule deer were found infected with CWD in Green River, Wyo.; an infected moose was found near Idaho in Star Valley, Wyo., in 2008. Veteran conservationist Lloyd Dorsey of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition said the disease is now essentially on the doorstep of the elk feed grounds, including the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole. Dorsey notes that deer from the endemic disease areas to the east and south migrate north and west to elk herd units in the upper Green River and Jackson Hole, where most of the winter feed grounds are located. For more information on the map depicting CWD areas and Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s efforts to phase out the artificial elk feeding areas and transition to healthier, free ranging wildlife, see http://www.greateryellowstone.org/elkrefuge – For complete article see http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2013/05/17/chronic-wasting-disease-closes-in-on-yellowstone/

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Mississippi 05/15/13 Madison County: State health officials have confirmed the first human case of WNV reported in the state this year in early April. Last year, 247 cases of WNV were reported statewide, including 5 fatalities. – See http://www.dailyleader.com/news/article_e7036d56-bd8c-11e2-97b0-0019bb2963f4.html

Rabies:

Arkansas 05/16/13 Garland County: Officials confirm nine skunks have tested positive for rabies in the county in the last three months. Pope County has the highest in the state with 13 cases, and statewide Arkansas had more confirmed cases by May of this year than in the entire year of 2011. With 90 confirmed cases and the summer months still ahead, the Natural State is on track to surpass the 131 cases recorded in 2012. – See http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=663792

California 05/14/13 Santa Clara County: A bat found April 12^th on the Los Gatos Creek Trail between Lark Avenue and Charter Oaks Drive has tested positive for rabies. – See http://campbell.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/bat-found-on-los-gatos-creek-trail-tests-positive-fore594fe7b41

Connecticut 05/14/13 New Haven County: A raccoon found May 12^th in the vicinity of Pope and Hawley roads in Oxford has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.voicesnews.com/articles/2013/05/14/arts_and_living/pets_and_wildlife/doc519274565e1f2493782011.txt

Idaho 05/14/13 Kootenai County: A bat found on an interior staircase of a home in the county has tested positive for rabies. Everyone living in the home is now being treated for potential exposure to the virus. – See http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/may/14/rabid-bat-flies-north-idaho-home/

Maryland 05/16/13 Garrett County: Seven people are being treated for exposure to rabies after a goat in the southern area of the county tested positive for the virus. – See http://times-news.com/local/x730880365/Second-rabies-case-in-Garrett-involves-goat

Maryland 05/14/13 carrollcountytimes.com: by Kelcie Pegher – The Carroll County Health Department is seeking a medium-sized dog with a black coat that bit a person at Memorial Park in Taneytown May 5, according to a release from Carroll County Government. Joe Mancuso, the rabies coordinator for Carroll County said from the description that was given to him, it does not appear as though the dog had rabies.  If you have any information to help locate the dog or its owner, contact the Carroll County Health Department at 410-876-1884, or the Carroll County Humane Society at 410-848-4810.

North Carolina 05/15/13 Henderson County: A gray fox that attacked and bit a woman who was working in the garden at her home on Penny Drive in Hendersonville has tested positive for rabies. The fox bit her several times on the left hand and right leg. Later that night, the fox bit a man in the vicinity of Sweetwater Hills Drive and fortunately the man managed to kill the animal with his flashlight. Both bite victims are being treated for exposure to the virus. – See http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20130515/NEWS/130519867?p=2&tc=pg

North Carolina 05/15/13 Guilford County: A fox that bit two children on Sunday who were sitting on the deck at their apartment on Guyer Street in High Point has tested positive for rabies. One was bitten on the hand, the other on the leg. – See http://www.news-record.com/news/1225066-91/rabid-fox-bites-two-children

Ohio 05/16/13 Mahoning County: A raccoon found in the vicinity of Cherry Hill Place in Boardman has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/may/16/second-rabid-raccoon-found-in-mahoning-c/?nw

Texas 05/16/13 Taylor and Jones counties: A skunk found in the 3400 block of Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene has tested positive for rabies. Three unvaccinated dogs had been in contact with the skunk. Last month, two rabid skunks were captured within the city’s limits. – See http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/may/16/third-skunk-in-abilene-this-year-with-rabies/

Virginia 05/14/13 Pittsylvania County: A raccoon found in the vicinity of Laniers Mill Road has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/article_ccdf3da2-bcd7-11e2-843e-001a4bcf6878.html

Washington 05/14/13 Franklin County: A bat that bit an 11-month-old child twice in Pasco has tested positive for rabies. The child and her grandmother, who removed the bat from the child’s back, are being treated for exposure to the virus. The bat few from the deck umbrella as it was being opened. – See http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/05/14/2597353/rabid-bat-bites-pasco-baby.html

Announcement:

On Thursday, May 23^rd, APHIS’ Wildlife Services and Veterinary Services programs will host a scoping meeting to provide more information about a national approach to feral swine damage management and take comments from participating stakeholders.  Anyone who is unable to attend in person can join the meeting via a live Webcast.  Additional meeting information is available on the Wildlife Services’ Web site at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/feral_swine/index.shtml.  A Notice announcing APHIS’ intent to prepare an environmental impact statement to examine the potential impacts of alternatives for feral swine damage management was published in today’s Federal Register. The public comment period closes June 12.  http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS_FRDOC_0001-1436.

Event Logistics:

Date:  Thursday, May 23, 2013 ~ Time: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT

Location: 4700 River Road, Riverdale, MD 20737

FERAL HOGS a growing concern in OKLAHOMA ~ NEW YORK scientist says new LYME DISEASE VACCINE shows promise in clinical trials ~ CDC releases final 2012 WEST NILE VIRUS report ~ WEST NILE VIRUS report from TENNESSEE ~ RABIES reports from CA, NY, NCx3, & TX.

Feral hog. Photo by University of Missouri Ext.

Oklahoma 05/14/13 odwc.state.ok.us: News Release – Feral hogs destroy wildlife habitat at alarming rates and cause a number of important concerns to hunters, farmers and other landowners in Oklahoma  Feral hogs can cause extensive damage to farm fields, crops, stored livestock feed, woodlots, suburban landscaping, golf courses and wildlife habitat relied upon by native species such as deer, turkey, squirrels and quail. Their voracious appetites, destructive habits and prolific breeding patterns wreak havoc on the landscape, often resulting in overwhelming competition to native species. They may also carry diseases that can be transmitted to other species, including humans. “The bottom line is they don’t belong here,” said Kevin Grant, Oklahoma state director of Wildlife Services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which oversees feral swine management issues in Oklahoma as part of a memorandum of understanding with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The memorandum is rooted in the fact that feral swine are not true wildlife, but rather descendants of domestic stock living at large in a feral state.

Grant said millions of dollars and significant resources have been spent in an effort to make sure domestic swine stock is safe from disease, so the presence of feral populations raises concerns for the safety of domestic swine and the swine industry. “If they’re here, they need to be on the plate or in a pen because they’re not native to the Americas, and the way that they’re really taking off out there is pretty phenomenal,” Grant said. Grant’s comments were part of a presentation to the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission on the statewide status of feral swine, or “wild hogs” as they are often called in Oklahoma. According to Grant and officials with the Wildlife Department, feral hogs are a well-established and still growing problem in Oklahoma. “They are probably the most prolific large mammal around,” Grant said, adding that feral swine can reach sexual maturity by 6 months of age, have relatively short gestational periods and can give birth to large litters multiple times a year. In the 1990s, the Agriculture Department worked with the Wildlife Department and the Noble Foundation to study the spread of feral hog populations in Oklahoma. Feral hogs seemed to originate in southeastern Oklahoma, and they since have spread to all 77 counties. – For complete release see https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/13ea4fb0754627c5

Lyme Disease:

Global 05/13/13 healthcanal.com: News Release – The results of a phase 1/2 clinical trial in Europe of an investigational Lyme disease vaccine co-developed by researchers at Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and at healthcare company Baxter International S.A., revealed it to be promising and well tolerated, according to a research paper published online in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The vaccine was shown to produce substantial antibodies against all targeted species of Borrelia, the causative agent of Lyme disease in Europe and the United States. Baxter conducted the clinical trial of the vaccine.

Benjamin Luft, M.D., Stony Brook University School of Medicine.

Since the early 1990s, Benjamin Luft, MD, the Edmund D. Pellegrino Professor of Medicine at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and the late John Dunn, Ph.D., a biologist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, spearheaded the initial development of the original vaccine antigen concept, and together with researchers at Baxter helped bioengineer the formulation used in the clinical trial. . . “The results of the clinical trial conducted by Baxter are promising because the vaccine generated a potent human immune reaction, covered the complete range of Borrelia active in the entire Northern hemisphere, and produced no major side effects,” said Dr. Luft, a co-author on the paper. “We hope that a larger-scale, Phase 3 trial will demonstrate not only a strong immune response but true efficacy in a large population that illustrates protection against Lyme disease.” – For complete release see http://www.healthcanal.com/infections/38557-lyme-disease-vaccine-shows-promise-in-clinical-trials.html

West Nile Virus (WNV):

National 05/14/13 cdc.gov: Media Advisory – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today released the final 2012 national surveillance data for West Nile virus activity. To access the information, please visit www.cdc.gov/westnile . A total of 5,674 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 286 deaths, were reported to CDC from 48 states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Of all West Nile virus disease cases reported, 2,873 (51 percent) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (e.g., meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis). The dates of illness onset (when the patients’ illness began) ranged from March through December 2012. The numbers of neuroinvasive, non-neuroinvasive, and total West Nile virus disease cases reported in 2012 are the highest since 2003. The number of deaths is the highest since cases of WNV disease were first detected in the United States in 1999.

Tennessee 05/13/13 Davidson County: A batch of mosquitoes collected in Bordeaux near the intersection of Clarksville Pike and West Hamilton have tested positive for WNV.  – See http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130513/NEWS07/305130038

Rabies:

California 05/14/13 Orange County: A bat found on the garage floor of a home in the 2300 block of Vanguard Way in Costa Mesa on May 5 has tested positive for rabies. A 15-year-old boy contained the live bat in a box without touching it, he said, but the family was urged to pursue a course of action because of possible exposure. – See http://www.dailypilot.com/news/tn-dpt-me-0515-rabid-bat-20130513,0,5554328.story

New York 05/12/13 Staten Island: A Rabies Alert has been issued after ten raccoons and one bat tested positive for the virus on the island so far this year. The raccoons were found in Eltingville, Grasmere, Great Kills, New Dorp, Park Hill, and Westerleigh. – See http://statenisland.ny1.com/content/top_stories/181948/doh-says-high-number-of-si-raccoons-tested-positive-for-rabies

North Carolina 05/13/13 Wake County: A fox that fought with an unvaccinated dog last Wednesday in the vicinity of the 300 block of Jones Franklin Road in Raleigh has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.hollyspringssun.com/view/full_story/22524264/article-Wake-issues-rabies-notice?instance=popular

North Carolina 05/13/13 Guilford County: A raccoon found on Foxcreek Court in High Point has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.news-record.com/home/1213043-63/raccoon-tests-positive-for-rabies

North Carolina 05/12/13 New Hanover County: A Wilmington woman says she is scared she will have to have unnecessary rabies shots, after the owner of a dog that bit her disappeared. Susan Matthews said she was at the Fort Fisher Park on Saturday, visiting with one family and their puppy, when a second dog came up and bit her in the face. She says she started bleeding and raced down to the water to wash off her face, when she looked back, she says the dog owner had disappeared. “It happened so fast and then they were gone, it made me just want to cry,” said Matthews. “I was in shock the rest of the day, both about the bite and the fact that they left.” She says the cut continued to bleed, and wants to know if the dog had its rabies shots. If she can’t find the owners, she says she will have to go forward with rabies shot. “It’s very painful and very expensive and we don’t have insurance,” said Susan. She says, she is hoping to find the owner before time runs out, so she can save herself the pain and extra money if the shot is unnecessary. Susan says the dog has white hair. (Anyone with information about this incident should contact New Hanover County Public Health at 910-798-6500.)

Texas 05/13/13 Wichita County: A Rabies Alert has been issued in Wichita Falls after two skunks tested positive for the virus. – See http://texomashomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=274872

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

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

About 20 WILD TURKEYS found in MAINE with LPD VIRUS ~ RABIES reports from DC, GA, NJx2, NC, OK, PA, & TXx3.

Eastern Wild Turkey. Photo courtesy U.S. Army.

Maine 04/24/13 maine.gov/ifw: News Release – LPDV or lymphoproliferative disease virus causes minor to extreme lesions on a turkey’s head and legs. It is thought to spread between turkeys by direct skin contact or through mosquito bites. Some turkeys can fend off minor infections and survive while others can develop extreme lesions that inhibit their sight and ability to eat, which ultimately leads to death. The disease poses no risk to human health. However, like all infections, caution is advised while handling a bird with LPDV. There is a potential for secondary bacterial infections if birds are handled improperly. Thoroughly cooking the meat to an internal temperature of a minimum of 165°F is also advised. Although wild turkeys cannot pass on this virus to humans, if you shoot a bird that looks like the above picture and you do not want to eat it, do NOT register it and please contact a Wildlife Biologist or call the Department of Public Safety in Augusta at (800) 452-4664 to be connected with a Game Warden. After examining the bird, the Department staff member will determine your eligibility to harvest another turkey. Little is known about the origin of LPDV in the United States.

Turkey infected with LPDV. Photo courtesy Maine IFW Dept.

LPDV was first detected in domestic turkeys in Europe. The first confirmed case in the United Sates was in wild turkeys in Georgia in 2009. MDIFW confirmed Maine’s first case of LPDV in April 2012. Since that time, we have confirmed several cases throughout the state. Currently, known cases occur virtually wherever wild turkeys are present. We speculate that a combination of a very good turkey production year in 2011 and the mild winter of 2011-2012 may have contributed to the apparent increase in occurrence recently. – See http://www.maine.gov/ifw/news_events/pressreleases/index.htm

Rabies:

District of Columbia 04/26/13 USN/USAF Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling: The Air Force 579^th Medical Group has issued a Rabies Alert after an unusually aggressive groundhog captured on the base April 21^st tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.dvidshub.net/news/105945/air-force-medical-group-issues-rabies-alert-dc-joint-base#.UXtTt8okQtV

Georgia 04/25/13 Columbia County: Health officials have confirmed that a raccoon found in the vicinity of Old Blythe Road in Harlem has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wjbf.com/story/22076428/positive-rabies-test-confirmed-in-columbia-county

New Jersey 04/24/13 Salem County: A raccoon discovered in a barn by a Pittsgrove Township homeowner has tested positive for rabies. Health officials also found a cat in Lower Alloways Creek that tested positive for the virus. – See http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2013/04/rabid_raccoon_discovered_in_pi.html

New Jersey 04/24/13 Middlesex County: A skunk found in the vicinity of Route 18 South and West Prospect Street in East Brunswick has tested positive for rabies. A day earlier, a raccoon found in South Plainfield tested positive for the virus. – See http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130424/NJNEWS/304240055/Rabid-skunk-found-East-Brunswick?nclick_check=1

North Carolina 04/25/13 Orange County: A 2-month-old goat that died Monday on a small family farm in the northern part of the county has tested positive for rabies. Several family members and a neighbor who had been bottle-feeding the goat for several weeks are being treated for exposure to the virus. Six other goats on the farm have been quarantined. – See http://www.wral.com/goat-in-orange-county-tests-positive-for-rabies/12380917/

Oklahoma 04/25/13 Cleveland County: A skunk that attacked two 6-week-old puppies on the back porch of their owners home in Norman has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKDx_Hq2aRo

Pennsylvania 04/25/13 Allegheny County: Two raccoons that fought with dogs in separate incidents have tested positive for rabies. One raccoon fought with a dog on Park Lane in Glen Osborne, and another fought with two dogs on Redgate Road in Aleppo. All the dogs were vaccinated but are being quarantined as a precaution. – See http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-north/health-department-confirms-rabies-in-2-raccoons-in-sewickley-area-685018/

Texas 04/24/13 Travis and Williamson counties: A bat found on the campus of the Henry Middle School in Cedar Park, and touched by several students, has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local-education/dead-bat-found-at-middle-school-tested-positive-fo/nXXGR/

Texas 04/25/13 Denton County: A skunk that fought with three dogs in the Saddlebrooke Addition in the southeast portion of Krum has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20130425-krum-plans-vaccination-clinic-after-report-of-rabid-skunk.ece

Texas 04/26/13 Taylor and Jones counties: A skunk captured in the Beltway South area in the far south of the City of Abilene has tested positive for rabies. This is the second skunk testing positive for the virus this month. – See http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/apr/26/rabid-skunk-second-this-month-confirmed-in/

WORLD MALARIA DAY ~ OKLAHOMAN dies of HANTAVIRUS ~ RABIES reports from AK, FL, MD, & NC.

 

World Malaria Day is commemorated on April 25, the date in 2000 when 44 African leaders met in Abuja, Nigeria, and committed their countries to cutting malaria-related deaths. In the last decade, increased funding and political commitment have led to a scale-up of effective malaria prevention and control interventions, saving approximately 1.1 million lives globally and decreasing malaria mortality by nearly 25% globally and 33% in sub-Saharan Africa . Despite these successes, an estimated 660,000 malaria-related deaths occurred worldwide in 2010 . For 2013, the theme of World Malaria Day is “Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria,” which serves as a reminder of the ultimate goal. – Reference: World Health Organization. World malaria report 2012. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2012. Available at http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world_malaria_report_2012

Hantavirus:

Deer mouse. Courtesy USDA.

Oklahoma 04/24/13 sfgate.com: An Oklahoma Panhandle resident has died due to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, according to the State Department of Health. The department said in a news release that the Texas County man’s death is the first hantavirus-related death in Oklahoma since 2001 and the third such death in the state since 1993, when hantavirus was first recognized in

Texas County

the U.S. Health department officials did not release the man’s age or when he died. Hantavirus is carried by wild rodents, particularly by deer mice in Oklahoma. – See http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Okla-health-dept-reports-death-due-to-hantavirus-4460363.php

Rabies:

Alaska 04/23/13 Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area: A rabid wolf killed near Chandalar Lakes and transported to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough has state health and wildlife officials warning Alaskans to be on the lookout for other animals that may be infected. The rabid wolf was the first infected animal to be documented around Chandalar Lakes, an area south of the Brooks Range about 185 miles north of Fairbanks. The trapper discarded the skinned, beheaded carcass of the sick wolf in a forested area near Palmer and state wildlife officials warned that contact by other animals could spread the disease. Department of Fish and Game spokeswoman Cathie Harms said its presence in the Mat-Su is not grounds for panic. After tests on the head confirmed rabies, the rest of the carcass was retrieved. The rabies virus is found in an infected animal’s nervous system, and nervous system tissue on the carcass such as the spinal cord had not been scavenged. “The chances for transmittal are low, but they exist,” Harms said by phone from Fairbanks. – For complete article see http://www.necn.com/04/23/13/Rabid-Alaska-wolf-prompts-health-warning/landing_nation.html?&apID=f0c0de27a0ad4bbeaa12729602293783

Florida 04/23/13 Jackson County: A raccoon killed by a dog south of Marianna has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.jcfloridan.com/news/article_7bd2207c-ac57-11e2-8c39-0019bb30f31a.html

Maryland 04/23/13 Caroline County: A feral cat captured late last month in the 3000 block of Houston Branch Road in Federalsburg has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/article_cd489bae-ac1e-11e2-9625-001a4bcf887a.html

North Carolina 04/22/13 Catawba County: A raccoon killed by two unvaccinated dogs in the Conover area has tested positive for rabies. Both dogs have been euthanized. – See http://www.wbtv.com/story/22045125/confirmed-case-of-rabies-reported-in-catawba-county

MONTANA college student attacked by GRIZZLY ~ NEW MEXICAN diagnosed with state’s first case of HANTAVIRUS this year ~ MOUNTAIN LION alert issued by CALIFORNIA authorities ~ TICKS at CALIFORNIA and WASHINGTON test positive for LYME DISEASE ~ MOSQUITO in TEXAS tests positive for WEST NILE VIRUS ~ RABIES reports from CA, FL, GA, KS, MD, NC, & TN.

Grizzly. Photo by Jean-Pierre Lavoie. Wikimedia Commons.

Montana 04/20/13 missoulian.com: by Vince Devlin – A Salish Kootenai College student was attacked and mauled by a grizzly bear less than a mile from the campus Friday morning. Less than three hours later, the college cancelled classes and asked students to leave campus immediately after a bear was seen in the vicinity of campus dormitories. The mauling victim, a male, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in Ronan and transferred to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Stacy Courville, a wildlife biologist with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said the student was hiking alone in a brushy area along Mud Creek. Lake County Undersheriff Dan Yonkin said the man’s injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Karen Sargeant said he suffered head and arm injuries, but his condition was unknown. The student’s name was not disclosed.

Salish Kootenai College is in Pablo, Lake County, MT.

Reports on when the attack occurred varied from 10:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Yonkin said the victim was coherent and talking after the attack, and told authorities he believed the bear was a grizzly. CSKT authorities later confirmed it was a grizzly sow with two yearling cubs. “He was unaware a bear was nearby until she started charging,” Yonkin said. “She was most likely in defensive mode because of the cubs.”  – For complete article see http://missoulian.com/news/local/salish-kootenai-college-student-mauled-by-grizzly-bear/article_aa63db10-a919-11e2-882f-001a4bcf887a.html

Hantavirus:

Deer mouse. Common carrier of Hantavirus.

New Mexico 04/19/13 health.state.nm.us: News Release – The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) is announcing today that a 45-year-old woman from McKinley County has laboratory confirmed Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome  (HPS). This is the first case of Hantavirus in New Mexico this year. The patient has been hospitalized at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she was last listed as being insatisfactory condition.

McKinley County

An environmental investigation will be conducted at the home of the patient to try and help reduce the risk to others. – For complete release with recommended protective measures see http://www.health.state.nm.us/CommunicationsOffice/2013%20News%20Releases/NMDOH-PressRelease-20130419-HumanHantavirus-EN.pdf

Mountain Lion Sightings:

California 04/20/13 El Dorado County: An alert has been issued in South Lake Tahoe after a mountain lion was sighted this week in a meadow area between Black Bart Avenue and Al Tahoe Boulevard. – For details see http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/20/5357412/mountain-lion-sightings-in-south.html

Lyme Disease:

Female Western Black-legged Tick. Courtesy CDC.

California 04/19/13 nps.gov: News Release – Officials from Los Angeles County and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) are advising visitors that ticks from Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills recently tested positive for Lyme disease. Three separate pools of western black-legged ticks (Ixodes pacificus) found along the Coyote Trail were found to be positive. . . “We’re finding that about 1 or 2 percent of western black-legged ticks in the area carry the Lyme disease bacteria, so it’s important for us to identify where the problem is occurring,” said Saviskas. “This particular tick is most active from late November through May.” More information is available at www.lawestvector.org or by calling 310-915-7370. – For complete release see http://www.nps.gov/samo/parknews/lyme-disease-at-paramount.htm

Washington 04/19/13 konp.com: Samples of ticks in Clallam County showed a couple had the bacteria that could lead to Lyme disease. That prompted health officials to issue a warning to local health providers to be on the lookout. But Clallam County health officer Dr. Tom Locke says the results don’t mean you should stop going outside. He tells KONP, it’s uncertain of this is the start of an acute outbreak, or just a normal level of the bacteria. He says typically they don’t change protocol for tick management until tests show at least 20 percent of the tick population has the bacteria. – For complete article see http://www.konp.com/local/8640

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Texas 04/19/13 Dallas County: Officials in Highland Park are spraying the southwest part of town after a mosquito trapped in the area tested positive for WNV. – See http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/04/19/mosquito-tests-positive-for-west-nile-virus-in-highland-park/

Rabies:

California 04/19/13 Tulare County: County health officials are asking for help contacting a Tulare woman who turned in a bat earlier this month. Health officials said today the bat tested positive for rabies, prompting officials to seek out help locating the woman and her family members. “This woman and her family are at risk for contracting rabies,” Health officials said in a released statement. Anyone with information about the woman is encouraged to call Tulare County Communicable Disease Control Office at 685-5720, or 471-7092 after regular business hours.

Florida 04/19/13 Palm Beach County: A raccoon captured by a private trapper on the FAU North Campus in Jupiter on Wednesday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/sfl-rabid-raccoon-captured-at-fau-campus-in-jupiter-20130419,0,5207729.story

Georgia 04/19/13 Forsyth County: A fox that was killed by two dogs on April 16^th in Cumming has tested positive for rabies. The encounter took place in the vicinity of Hickory Trail located off Chamblee Gap Road. – See http://johnscreek.patch.com/articles/alpharetta-woman-charged-with-murder-rabies-reported-in-forsyth

Kansas 04/20/13 Russell County: A domestic animal within the City of Russell has tested positive for rabies. With the difference between “Furious” and “Paralytic” rabies explained. – See http://www.krsl.com/local-news/2081-animal-in-russell-tests-positive-for-rabies-virus

Maryland 04/18/13 Baltimore County: Health officials have confirmed that a grey, tan, and white feral cat from a colony living in the vicinity of Rhonda Court in Milford Mill has died of rabies. Anyone exposed to a stray cat of that description in that area between March 28 and April 12 should immediately seek medical advice. – See http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/feral-cat-has-rabies-baltimore-county-to-trap-others-in-colony/2013/04/18/55404906-a889-11e2-9e1c-bb0fb0c2edd9_story.html

North Carolina 04/20/13 Forsyth County: Officials are concerned about a raccoon that attacked a dog on April 15^th in the 500 block of Knollwood Street in the Ardmore community of Winston-Salem. The raccoon was not captured and could be infected with rabies. – See http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_022b8490-a93f-11e2-aa6b-0019bb30f31a.html

Horse with rabies. Not the horse mentioned in the article.

Tennessee 04/18/13 Wilson County: A horse stabled in the county has tested positive for rabies. Two other Wilson County animal rabies cases this year involved a dog and a skunk.  – See http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130418/NEWS07/304180088/Horse-tests-positive-rabies-Wilson-County?nclick_check=1

MOUNTAIN LIONS in ARIZONA and CALIFORNIA moving to the suburbs ~ TICKS in CALIFORNIA’s Malibu Creek State Park carrying LYME DISEASE ~ MOSQUITOES in Dallas County, TEXAS, test positive for WEST NILE VIRUS ~ RABIES reports from AR, CO, FL, NJ, NM, OH, TXx2, & VA.

 

Mountain lion. Photo by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Arizona 04/10/13 Yavapai County: Local, county, and state officials herded two mountain lions away from a residential area after the lions were reported pacing a short distance from a home on Talia Place in Chino Valley, and from livestock in the area. – See http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=117974

California 04/11/13 Los Angeles County: A mountain lion was tranquilized and removed from the backyard of a home in the foothills of Glendale on Thursday. It was first spotted when it jumped over a fence in an area north of Foothill Boulevard and east of New York Avenue. – See http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/04/11/mountain-lion-reportedly-seen-in-glendale-backyard/

Lyme Disease:

Tick stages. CDC.

California 04/13/13 malibutimes.com: by Melissa Caskey – County and National Park Service officials are advising visitors to check their clothing and exposed skin for tiny creatures after a tick species in Malibu Creek State Park tested positive for Lyme disease. The western black-legged ticks also tested positive for the infectious disease in Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills and Tapia Park, officials said. “This is a good reminder for visitors to stick to the trail and avoid the vegetated areas where ticks like to hang out,” said Evan Jones, a chief ranger for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. “Though Lyme disease can be very serious, simply following a few basic steps can greatly minimize exposure.” – For complete article see http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_0662db72-a3df-11e2-aba1-001a4bcf887a.html

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Texas 04/11/13 Dallas County: Officials in the city of Richardson have confirmed that mosquitoes caught in four traps scattered throughout the county have tested positive for WNV. – See http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/richardson-lake-highlands/headlines/20130411-west-nile-virus-makes-early-appearance.ece

Rabies:

Arkansas 04/12/13 Pulaski County: Three skunks found near Maumelle have all tested positive for rabies. So far this year, 58 skunks have tested positive for the virus statewide. – See http://www.katv.com/story/21952763/three-rabid-skunks-reported-in-pulaski-county

Colorado 04/11/13 Bent County: A skunk found just east of McClave on US 50 has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.lajuntatribunedemocrat.com/article/20130411/NEWS/130419986/-1/sports

Florida 04/12/13 Palm Beach and Martin counties: A raccoon killed by a vaccinated dog and found floating in a pond in far western Lantana, near Homeland, and another raccoon that fought with a vaccinated dog in the vicinity of Bay Colony Drive in Stuart, both tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/breaking-news/palm-beach-martin-health-officials-find-new-rabies/nXLDN/

New Jersey 04/11/13 Middlesex County: A skunk killed by a vaccinated dog in the area of Delafield and Courtland street in New Brunswick has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2013/04/skunk_killed_by_dog_is_middles.html

New Mexico 04/13/13 Eddy County: A skunk that fought with two vaccinated dogs in the vicinity of the 1400 block of North Guadalupe Street in Carlsbad on Thursday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.currentargus.com/ci_23015950/skunk-rabies-reported-carlsbad

Ohio 04/12/13 Mahoning County: A raccoon found in the vicinity of Colonial Drive in Canfield has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.vindy.com/news/2013/apr/12/a-raccoon-found-in-canfield-tested-posit/?nw

Texas 04/12/13 McLennan County: A skunk that attacked a family’s dog on April 5^th in Hallsburg has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.kwtx.com/ourtown/home/headlines/Hallsburg–Rabid-Skunk-Attacks-Family-Dog-202357381.html

Texas 04/11/13 Tarrant County: A skunk found in the vicinity of Laurel Lane in Bedford has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_82482.shtml

Virginia 04/10/13 Stafford County: A sick or injured feral cat that scratched an animal control officer after being reported on April 3^rd by a Bruce Street resident in the Stowe-of-Amyclae subdivision in North Stafford has tested positive for rabies. This is the second report of a rabid cat in the county in the last two weeks. – See http://potomaclocal.com/2013/04/10/second-rabid-cat-found-officer-scratched/

TICKS near CALIFORNIA’s Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve test positive for TULAREMIA ~ MISSISSIPPI confirms first HUMAN case of WEST NILE VIRUS in 2013 ~ RABIES reports from CT, FL, GAx2, MD, NJ, NCx3, PA, TXx3, VT, VAx2, & CANADA: ONTARIO ~ TRAVEL WARNING: CDC issues LEVEL 1 TRAVEL WATCH on NOVEL INFLUENZA A (H7N9) VIRUS.

Black tailed jack rabbit. Courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

California 04/09/13 pomeradonews.com: Several ticks trapped in routine monitoring near Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve March 29 have tested positive for tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” San Diego County Department of Environmental Health officials said Tuesday. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say tularemia is a potentially dangerous illness that people can contract from infected animals such as rabbits and rodents in a number of ways — through direct contact with an infected animal; by drinking or inhaling contaminated water, dust or aerosols; or through “vectors,” pests such as ticks that bite an infected animal and then a person. . .

American dog tick. CDC.

Dr. Wilma Wooten, County Public Health Officer, said tularemia cannot be transmitted from person-to-person and can be treated with antibiotics. However, Wooten said that the illness can be serious and even deadly in rare cases, and that people should consult their doctors immediately if they think they have contracted the disease. – For complete article including protective measures see http://www.pomeradonews.com/2013/04/09/ticks-in-penasquitos-preserve-test-positive-for-%E2%80%98rabbit-fever%E2%80%99/

Author’s Note: According to the CDC, ticks that transmit tularemia to humans include the dog, wood, and lone star ticks. Deer flies also carry the disease.

West Nile Virus (WNV):

Madison County

Mississippi 04/08/13 Madison County: State health officials confirmed the state’s first human case of WNV this year. Last year, the state reported 250 confirmed cases including 5 deaths. – See http://www.wjtv.com/story/21914595/first-ms-west-nile-virus-case-confirmed-for-2013

Rabies:

Connecticut 04/08/13 New London County: A cat found in the area of Bank and Howard streets near Crocker’s Boatyard in the city of New London has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.theday.com/article/20130408/NWS01/130409576/1047/NWS

Florida 04/01/13 Marion County: Health officials have confirmed that a raccoon found in the northern section of the county has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wuft.org/news/2013/04/01/raccoon-tests-positive-marion-county-officials-issue-rabies-alert/

Georgia 04/08/13 Hall County: A raccoon that fought with five dogs in the vicinity of Toombs Street in Lula recently has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=260223

Georgia 04/04/13 Fayette County: A raccoon reported acting disoriented in the vicinity of Lone Oak Drive off Padgett Road in Starr’s Mill has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.thecitizen.com/articles/04-04-2013/rabid-raccoon-killed-south-starr%E2%80%99s-mill-area

Maryland 04/08/13 Carroll County: A person was bitten by a dog on Autumn View Drive in Sykesville April 4 and will undergo expensive post-exposure rabies shots if the dog is not found and verified to be healthy before April 12, according to a Carroll County Health Department. Residents are being asked to help find this dog or its owner so that the rabies shots will be unnecessary. According to a press release, the dog is a Shepherd mix, medium build, and is not wearing a collar. Contact the Carroll County Health Department at 410-876-1334 or the Carroll County Humane Society at 410-848-44810 with any information.

USDA APHIS.

New Jersey 04/02/13 Cape May County: Officials will distribute 41,000 oral rabies vaccine baits throughout the county beginning April 22^nd.  Most of the bait will be air-dropped, but some will be distributed by hand in raccoon habitats such as storm drains and other areas considered inaccessible from the air. – See http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/cape-may-county/36745-hed-more-than-41000-vaccine-laden-baits-to-be-distributed-in-county.html

North Carolina 04/05/13 Wake County: Three unvaccinated dogs were euthanized after a raccoon that one of the dogs interacted with in the 4800 block of Clifton Road in Knightdale tested positive for rabies. That dog also tested positive for rabies and the other two dogs lived in the same household. – See http://www.wral.com/three-dogs-euthanized-in-knightdale-after-rabies-exposure/12310812/

North Carolina 04/04/13 Orange County: A raccoon that was killed by a vaccinated dog in the vicinity of NC Highways 15 & 501 and Bennett Road in Chapel Hill on Monday has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wral.com/fourth-rabies-case-reported-in-orange-county/12304604/

North Carolina 04/04/13 Guilford County: A raccoon found on Longview Road in High Point has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.news-record.com/news/1010575-91/guilford-county-sees-third-case

Pennsylvania 04/03/13 Crawford County: Two raccoons that were reported fighting with unvaccinated dogs in separate incidents have tested positive for rabies. The first incident occurred March 25^th on Towpath Road in Union Township. The dog received rabies vaccine and has been quarantined for 180 days. The second incident occurred March 28^th in the vicinity of Gravel Run Road in Woodcock Township. The dog was euthanized. – See http://www.titusvilleherald.com/articles/2013/04/03/news/doc515b965f00826605497625.txt

Texas 04/08/13 Tarrant County: A skunk reported by a resident near Timber Run Drive in Southwest Arlington has tested positive for rabies. It was reported that a dog found the injured skunk on March 30^th. – See http://www.arlingtonvoice.com/story/news/04/08/2013/skunk-southwest-arlington-tests-positive-rabies

Texas 04/01/13 McLennan County: A skunk found in the 400 block of Shadow Mountain in Woodway has tested positive for rabies. This is the third case of animal rabies in the Waco-area within the last week. – See http://www.wacotrib.com/news/greater_waco/woodway/rabies-confirmed-in-woodway-skunk/article_6d4220c3-9523-5ba5-b135-a8755d1b4ba8.html

Texas 04/02/13 Galveston and Harris counties: A bat picked up at Friendswood High School on March 28 has tested positive for rabies. No human exposure was reported. – See http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/friendswood/news/bat-tests-positive-for-rabies/article_cffc7956-63e6-5630-8bfe-fcebea85af11.html

Vermont 04/08/13 Franklin County: Three raccoons found recently in separate incidents in the vicinity of New, High, and Federal streets in St. Albans have tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.fox44abc22yourvoice.com/story/21907750/another-raccoon-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-st-albans

Virginia 04/02/13 Stafford County: A feral cat that scratched two women on March 24 has tested positive for rabies. Authorities are now looking for six other feral cats that were in the same area when the rabid cat was captured. – See http://www.necn.com/04/02/13/Rabies-confirmed-in-stray-cat-in-Staffor/landing_nation.html?&apID=91a8c174efa3449e90f9705cbc0306fa

Virginia 04/04/13 Gloucester County: A dead raccoon found in the Roanes area of the county has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.dailypress.com/news/gloucester-county/dp-nws-gloucester-rabies-0405-20130404,0,2111939.story

Canada:

Ontario 04/04/13 Grey County: A teenager was walking near St. Vincent and Margaret Streets in Meaford around 5 PM on Monday when he was bitten by a dog. The dog is described as a black, white and brown beagle. Health officials say the dog was one of three dogs that were being walked by two people. Staff of the Grey Bruce Health Unit want to find the dog owner to confirm the animal is not infectious with rabies. That way, the teenage boy can avoid post-exposure rabies treatment. If you have any information related to this incident, please contact the Grey Bruce Health Unit at 519-376-9420. – See http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=55972

Travel Warning:

Global 04/05/13 cdc.gov: Traveler’s Health Notice – 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: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, 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. – For complete Notice see http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/avian-flu-h7n9-china.htm

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