OKLAHOMAN dies of HANTAVIRUS ~ FLORIDA county confirms HUMAN CASE of EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS ~ MONTANA reports EQUINE HERPES VIRUS-1 in two counties ~ RABIES reports from AR, CO, NJ, & NC.

Deer mouse. Courtesy U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Oklahoma 03/27/13 leaderandtimes.com: by Robert Pierce – The recent death of a Hooker, Okla., woman has been ruled as hantavirus. According to district coroner Dr. Hubert C. Peterson, the woman was 50 years old, and she died last week in Ulysses. Hantaviruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control, are a group of viruses that may be carried by some rodents. Some hantaviruses can cause a rare but deadly disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS for short. Last week’s case is the first of 2013. No cases were reported to the Seward County Health Department in 2012, and clinic RN Charly Madden said it has been a few years since the last case. “I would say it has been at least three or four years,” she said. “We just want people to be aware of it and not forget.” Peterson said he was called about the case around 9:30 p.m. around March 19. “She was visiting her parents that live (in Ulysses),” he said. “She had a four-day history of viral symptoms.” Peterson said those symptoms included nausea, muscle aches and increasing respiratory distress. “She went to a Ulysses physician, where she elected to have treatment and return to her parents’ home,” he said.  Peterson said tests showed the disease was in its later stages, and the woman was found four hours after returning to her parents’ home. The coroner said the disease attacks lungs and involves all pulmonary tissue similar to what happens with premature babies. “The patients die of total respiratory insufficiency,” he said. – For complete article see http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11288:hantavirus-kills-hooker-okla-woman&catid=12:local-news&Itemid=40

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE):

Florida 03/25/13 Hillsborough County: Health officials have announced that a human case of EEE has been confirmed in the county for the first time in three years. The person, who was infected with the mosquito-borne virus earlier this month, is recovering. It is unusual to see a case of EEE so early in the year and officials have issued an alert. – See http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/breaking-news/2013/mar/25/2/mosquito-borne-eastern-equine-encephalitis-case-in-ar-670121/

Equine Herpes Virus-1:

Montana 03/25/13 liv.mt.gov: News Release – A 6-year-old mare in Gallatin County has tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), but is not related to a case in Flathead County reported late last week. “We have another case of EHV-1, but let me stress that there is no connection to the earlier case,” said assistant state veterinarian Dr. Tahnee Szymanski. “Fortunately, the Gallatin County case, like the Flathead case, appears to be an isolated event.” The infected horse arrived in Montana three weeks ago from southern California. – For complete release see http://liv.mt.gov/news/2013/2013-0325_equinesherpesvirusgallatincounty.mcpx

Montana 03/21/13 liv.mt.gov: News Release – A horse in Flathead County has been diagnosed with the neurological form Equine Herpes virus (EHV1) after developing clinical signs of the disease. Based upon the travel history of the animal and the incubation period of the disease, the horse was likely exposed at an event in Ravalli County earlier this month. The Department of Livestock is currently working with event organizers to inform event participants of the potential risk. – For complete release see http://liv.mt.gov/news/2013/2013-0321_equineherpesvirusinflatheadhorse.mcpx

Rabies:

Arkansas 03/22/13 Pulaski County: A skunk found in the Edgewater subdivision near Lake Willastein in Maumelle has tested positive for rabies. – See http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=647862

Colorado 03/22/13 Larimer County: Three skunks and a raccoon have tested positive for rabies in the past week. A raccoon that fought with a vaccinated dog in the vicinity of U.S. 287 and Eisenhower Blvd. in Loveland tested positive for the virus. One of the skunks also fought with a dog near the north end of Carter Lake, and the other two were found in the Masonville area. – See http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20130322/NEWS01/303220030/3-skunks-raccoon-Larimer-County-test-positive-rabies?nclick_check=1

New Jersey 03/25/13 Cumberland County: An aggressive raccoon that was in contact with a dog in Stow Creek Township on March 7^th has tested positive for rabies. The dog has been quarantined and its owners are being treated for exposure to the virus. – See http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2013/03/second_reported_case_of_rabies.html

North Carolina 03/23/13 Durham County: A raccoon found in the 100 block of Bahama Road has tested positive for rabies. This is the 5^th rabies-infected raccoon reported in the county this year. – See http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/03/23/2773976/fifth-case-of-rabies-in-durham.html

CHAGAS DISEASE unknown to most but scientists say very costly to U.S. economy ~ FLORIDA man dies of EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS ~ RABIES reports from FL, & NC.

Global 02/11/13 nytimes.com: by Donald G. McNeil Jr. – Chagas disease may be obscure, but the economic burden it imposes on the world is greater than that of better-known diseases, like cervical cancer or cholera, according to a new study. Even in the United States, the authors said, the costs of Chagas are commensurate with those of more publicized diseases, like Lyme disease. (In the same league, perhaps, but not quite equal. In their study, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, the authors calculated that Chagas cost the American economy $900 million a year. A 1998 study estimated that Lyme disease cost $2.5 billion.)

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors that are found only in the Americas (mainly, in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread). The insect vectors are called triatomine bugs (also called kissing bugs or conenose bugs). Chagas disease is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis.AZ Dept of Health Services.

Chagas disease is caused by a trypanosome parasite transmitted by the bloodsucking “kissing bug,” which bites victims as they sleep. Transmission is endemic in much of Latin America, from central Mexico to northern Argentina. Kissing bugs have been found in the southern United States; the bugs tend to live in substandard housing and animal pens. The parasites cause an initial flulike illness that can be cured if it is caught. But it is often not diagnosed, and the infection may become chronic. It may be silent for decades and then emerge as long-term damage to the heart or intestines. It can be fatal. Up to 10 million people may be infected, many of whom have emigrated from Latin America seeking jobs in the United States, Canada and Europe — especially Spain.

Triatomine bugs are typically found in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America (as far south as southern Argentina). The map above details triatomine occurrence by U.S. state. CDC 2012.

The authors, from the University of Pittsburgh and Baylor University, estimated the economic burden by trying to calculate the cost of hospitalization and care, including pacemaker implants, for those with heart damage or other organ failure. The costs vary by country, of course, with the United States being the most expensive. The researchers then added estimates of “disability-adjusted life years,” a measure of how many years of healthy life are lost. They “cost” more when they are subtracted from the life of a working-age adult in a high-wage country than from a retiree or an infant in a poor country. The authors estimate that the global burden of Chagas is about $7 billion a year. By comparison, the burden of cervical cancer — a notorious killer of women, but almost only in poor countries, and usually as they age out of their working lives — is estimated at below $5 billion.

Dr. Peter J. Hotez

The burden of rotavirus, a diarrheal disease that kills many babies but rarely endangers anyone over age 5, is estimated at $2 billion. (By contrast, lung cancer’s burden is estimated at $83 billion a year, and breast cancer’s at $35 billion.) Many millions have been spent developing a rotavirus vaccine and on ways to fight cervical cancer in poor countries. Knowing that Chagas is a serious economic threat could push policy makers to spend more money on developing vaccines against it, said Dr. Peter J. Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and a co-author of the new study. Dr. Hotez is also president of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, which is doing research on Chagas vaccines. – For links to health guide and other relative topics see http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/health/chagas-disease-costs-us-more-than-better-known-illnesses.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y&_r=0

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE):

Florida 02/07/13 Levy County: Health officials have confirmed that a 90-year-old male residing near Bronson died late last month of EEE. This is the first human case of EEE ever reported in the county, they said. – See http://www.chieflandcitizen.com/content/levy-man-dies-eastern-equine-encephalitis

Rabies:

Florida 02/13/13 Duval County: Health officials have issued a Rabies Alert for the Ortega area of Jacksonville because of a rabid bat. – See http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-02-13/story/rabid-bat-leads-rabies-alert-ortega-area

North Carolina 02/12/13 Alamance County: Two raccoons recently involved in separate alterations with two different dogs have tested positive for rabies. On Friday, a raccoon and dog fought on Troendly Street in the northwest part of the county, and a different raccoon attacked another dog Monday on Bethel Methodist Church Road. Both dogs had to be euthanized. – See http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/top-news/county-confirms-second-third-rabies-cases-of-2013-1.94331

Scientist says increase in EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS may be partly due to CLIMATE CHANGE ~ New as yet unnamed TICK-borne illness discovered in the NORTHEAST ~ WHO says DENGUE is world’s fastest-spreading tropical disease ~ RABIES reports from CT, NY, NC, RI, VA, & Canada: MANITOBA.

National 01/17/13 usnews.com: by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter – Although still rare, the extremely serious disease known as Eastern equine encephalitis may be affecting more people than before. In a recent review of two epidemics of Eastern equine encephalitis since the mid-2000s, researchers found 15 cases of the mosquito-borne illness among children in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Normally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention records about five to 10 cases a year nationwide. “This virus is rare, but it’s among the world’s most dangerous viruses, and it’s in your own backyard,” said lead review author Dr. Asim Ahmed, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Boston.

In 2012 alone, Massachusetts had seven documented cases of Eastern equine encephalitis, which is the highest number of infections reported since 1956. What’s more, the first human case ever in Vermont was reported in 2012. And, public health surveillance indicates that the virus that causes Eastern equine encephalitis may now have traveled as far north as Maine and Nova Scotia, Canada. Results of the review are published in the February issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. – For complete article see http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/01/17/cases-of-rare-but-deadly-encephalitis-rising-among-kids-report-finds

Deer tick. Courtesy CDC.

National 01/16/13 bostonglobe.com: by Beth Daley – Researchers have discovered a new human disease in the Northeast transmitted by the same common deer tick that can infect people with Lyme disease. The bacterial illness causes flu-like symptoms, the researchers from Tufts, Yale, and other institutions reported Wednesday, but they also described the case of an 80-year-old woman who became confused and withdrawn, lost weight, and developed hearing difficulty and a wobbly gait. The woman, from New Jersey, recovered after receiving antibiotics. Researchers estimate that 1 percent of the population in areas where Lyme is widespread — such as western Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands — may be infected by the new bacteria, which can be transmitted by the tick when it is as small as a poppy seed. Lyme disease is thought to be 7 to 10 times more prevalent in these areas.

The discovery, disclosed in a paper and letter in the New England Journal of Medicine, marks the fifth human illness spread by deer ticks in the region, highlighting growing concerns about the threat posed by ticks and the burgeoning population of their hosts — deer. The disease is so new it remains unnamed and there is no readily-available test for doctors to screen for it, although some are being developed.  “It was right under our nose the whole time,’’ said Sam Telford, a professor at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine who studies tick-borne diseases, and one of the authors on the paper about the elderly woman. He said the bacterium, known as Borrelia miyamotoi, has been known to exist in deer ticks for about decade. But it was not believed to cause human illness until researchers last year linked it to 46 sick people in Russia, some with relapsing fevers. One scientist said the new disease might be the cause of unexplained symptoms, from fatigue to cognitive decline, in some people who believe they have Lyme but do not test positive for that bacteria. – For complete article see http://bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/01/16/new-illness-transmitted-same-tick-that-carries-lyme-discovered-northeast/LLAaJjOaFjJT18QEeUYdeN/story.html

Global 01/16/13 nbcnews.com: by Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters – Dengue is the world’s fastest-spreading tropical disease and represents a “pandemic threat”, infecting an estimated 50 million people across all continents, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. Transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes, the disease is occurring more widely due to increased movement of people and goods – including carrier objects such as bamboo plants and used tires – as well as floods linked to climate change, the United Nations agency said. The viral disease, which affected only a handful of areas in the 1950s, is now present in more than 125 countries – significantly more than malaria, historically the most notorious mosquito-borne disease. The most advanced vaccine against dengue is only 30 percent effective, trials last year showed.

“In 2012, dengue ranked as the fastest spreading vector-borne viral disease with an epidemic potential in the world, registering a 30-fold increase in disease incidence over the past 50 years,” the WHO said in a statement. Late last year, Europe suffered its first sustained outbreak since the 1920s, with 2,000 people infected on the Portuguese Atlantic island of Madeira. Worldwide, 2 million cases of dengue are reported each year by 100 countries, mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America, causing 5,000 to 6,000 deaths, said Dr. Raman Velayudhan, a specialist at the WHO’s control of neglected tropical diseases department. But the true number is far higher as the disease has spread exponentially and is now present on all continents, he said. “The WHO estimates that on average about 50 million cases occur every year. This is a very conservative estimate,” Velayudhan told Reuters, adding that some independent studies put the figure at 100 million. – For complete article see http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/16/16547799-who-dengue-is-fastest-spreading-tropical-disease?lite

Rabies:

Connecticut 01/17/13 New London County: Health officials confirmed Wednesday that a raccoon captured in Groton in the vicinity of Fishtown Road has tested positive for rabies. – See http://groton.patch.com/articles/raccoon-in-groton-tests-positive-for-rabies

New York 01/17/13 St. Lawrence County: During the last few weeks a raccoon captured in the vicinity of Castle Drive in Potsdam, and a skunk captured in Lisbon have both tested positive for rabies. – See http://northcountrynow.com/news/animals-captured-lisbon-potsdam-test-positive-rabies-076510

A Lamancha goat.

North Carolina 01/17/13 Orange County: A black and white Lamancha goat kept near Brookhollow and Bane roads in Efland has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wral.com/first-positive-rabies-test-for-2013/11994585/

Rhode Island 01/17/13 Washington County: A person that was bitten by a raccoon in an unprovoked attacked on Monday night is being treated for possible exposure to rabies. The incident occurred on Heritage Road in North Kingstown. Attempts to capture the raccoon failed and the animal remains at large however, if it was infected with rabies it may now be dead. Always seek immediate medical advice if a person or a pet is exposed to a raccoon whether alive or dead. – See http://www.jamestownpress.com/news/2013-01-17/News/Possible_rabies_case_after_raccoon_attack.html

Virginia 01/17/13 Norfolk: A raccoon that was killed by two dogs  in the 3700 block of Wedgefield Avenue in the Ingleside section of the city has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/norfolk/deceased-raccoon-had-rabies

Canada:

Manitoba 01/17/13 Winnipeg: A skunk that attacked and bit a family’s pet dog recently has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2013/01/17/mb-rabies-pets-winnipeg.html

MINNESOTA confirms state’s first known case of WHITETAIL DEER with RABIES ~ County in NEW MEXICO facing RABIES outbreak ~ EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS reports from FLORIDA, & NORTH CAROLINA.

Whitetail Deer. Photo by Emery Way. Wikimedia Commons.

Minnesota 11/06/12 postbulletin.com: by John Weiss – When a deer was found nearly drowned in a Mower County pond a few weeks ago, experts thought it might have epizootic hemorrhagic disease, an infectious and sometimes fatal disease that they feared had come into Minnesota from Iowa or another state. Much to their surprise, the whitetail had rabies. It was the first known case of a whitetail deer with rabies in Minnesota, said Dr. Joni Scheftel, a Minnesota Public Health Department veterinarian. While it’s incredibly rare for a deer to have the disease, “all mammals can get rabies,” she said. This one probably got it after being bitten by a rabid skunk. It was not a danger to humans, she said. The person who reported the deer saw it near a pond and pulled it out. One of the symptoms of the hemorrhagic disease is that deer seek water because they have a fever, said Dr. Michelle Carstensen, a Department of Natural Resources veterinarian. Another symptom is they bleed from the mouth or anus.

Courtesy National Park Service.

A DNR conservation office investigated, she said. The rabies was detected when the animal’s brain was tested. While it’s the first known case, “it could be that there were cases that went undetected,” Carstensen said. Infected animals might have died in the woods unnoticed, she said. A rabid animal appears disoriented and acts strangely, and its hind legs become paralyzed. Having a deer get rabies “is a really good lesson to everyone to vaccinate your dogs and cats for rabies,” Scheftel said. They, along with horses, can get rabies. Hunters are reminded to not eat meat from a deer that appears sick. It’s just a common safety warning and not related to the rabies case, she said. Hunters who see an animal that might be sick should contact a conservation officer, Carstensen said. The officer will decide what to do and could allow the hunter to shoot the animal, she said. Hunters should wear gloves when field dressing deer and wash their hands after, Scheftel said. Rabies is not found in meat so it’s not a food-safety issue, she said. But bugs and other things that could be in the entrails can cause problems for humans, she said.

New Mexico 11/05/12 krqe.com: by Kim Vallez – The rabies outbreak in Eddy County has taken a scary turn after an infected fox attacked a man, but it was not done yet. It then went after four small dogs. Carlsbad is experiencing its worst rabies outbreak ever. Rabid animals like raccoons, bats and now foxes are on the attack. Sean lynch awoke to his dog growling Friday morning. ”I went outside to see what was going on when stepped outside saw something run through fence of back yard,” Lynch said. “About that time something bit the back of my leg turned around to see a fox running away.” Lynch now undergoing rabies shots. The rabid fox then attacked two dogs down the road and went after Isai Rodriguez’s two dogs Maya and Mateo. – For complete article see http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/health/eddy-county-facing-rabies-outbreak

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE):

Florida 11/05/12 Hernando County: Health officials confirm another sentinel chicken in the NW corner of the county has tested positive for EEE. This is the second EEE positive chicken from the same flock as the one reported last month. – See http://www2.hernandotoday.com/news/hernando-news/2012/nov/05/second-chicken-tests-positive-for-virus-ar-555012/

North Carolina 11/06/12 Brunswick County: A colt that died in the county has been confirmed as the 19^th horse to test positive for EEE in the state so far this year. – See http://www.wwaytv3.com/2012/11/06/brunswick-county-horse-tests-positive-for-eee

COYOTES have PET owners in CANADA’s ALBERTA Province worried ~ FOLLOW-UP REPORT: COYOTE that bit FLORIDA woman had RABIES ~ NOVA SCOTIANs warned that TICKS carrying LYME DISEASE are endemic ~ MOUNTAIN LION reports from ID, IL, & TX ~ EEE & WNV reports from FL, LA, & NV.

Coyote. Courtesy National Park Service.

Canada:

Alberta 10/30/12 Edmonton: A coyote snatched a dog that was being walked by a woman Monday on the Highlands Golf Course just moments after another walker said a coyote had been stalking him and his dogs. The city plans to send a pest management consultant to investigate. – See http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2012/10/30/edmonton-coyote-attack-highlands.html

Follow-Up Report:

(See: RABIES reports posted October 26, 2012)

Florida 10/29/12 Brevard County: Health officials have confirmed the coyote that attacked and bit a woman in Malabar last week has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20121029/NEWS01/121029017/Coyote-attacked-Malabar-woman-tests-positive-rabies?nclick_check=1

Lyme Disease:

Canada:

Unfed, partially fed and fully engorged nymphs of the blacklegged tick. Note the change in size and colour. Department of Public Health photo.

Nova Scotia 10/26/12 Queens County: South Shore Health Public Health Services has recently notified residents in Mersey Point and neighboring communities that blacklegged ticks and the bacteria that causes Lyme disease are endemic in the Mersey Point area.  This means that blacklegged ticks are likely to continue to be present in the area. “Although the time of year when ticks are active is coming to an end soon, it is important for people to be mindful that when working or playing in grassy, shrubby and wooded areas they should prevent tick exposure,” says Lynda Earle, medical officer of health, South Shore Health . . .

Black-legged tick.

Although there are now six established areas of increased risk within Nova Scotia (Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Halifax and Pictou counties), ticks have been found throughout the province due to their travels on migrating birds. – See http://southshorehealth.ca/latest-news/presence-of-blacklegged-ticks-confirmed-in-mersey-point-area.html

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Idaho 10/29/12 Canyon County: Police in Nampa report that a man walking his dog in the vicinity of 11^th Avenue North and the Ridgecrest Golf Course said he saw a mountain lion following them. – See http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/10/29/2746933/nampa-police-investigate-cougar.html

Illinois 10/30/12 Morgan County: State wildlife officials confirmed Monday that a trail camera photo snapped in the county is that of a mountain lion. This is only the 4^th confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in the state since the 1870s. – See http://www.galesburg.com/news/x2053816422/Cougar-photographed-on-trail-in-central-Illinois

Texas 10/30/12 Kendall County: Residents in Bergheim say a mountain lion has “gone rogue” attacking four dogs recently, three of them fatally. Wildlife officials say they are assessing the situation. – See http://www.kens5.com/news/Mountain-lion-suspected-of-hunting-dogs-in-Bergheim-176500791.html

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

Florida 10/30/12 Wakulla County: Health officials have issued an alert after confirming that more than one horse has tested positive for EEE in the county so far this year. – See http://www.wakulla.com/Wakulla_News/Local_News/Mosquito-Borne_Illness_Advisory_for_Wakulla_County_2012103014463/

Louisiana 10/26/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials today confirmed 17 new human cases of WNV and one more death from the virus. There are five new neuroinvasive disease cases reported this week, with one each reported from Bossier, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Orleans and West Feliciana parishes. There are 11 new West Nile Fever cases, from Ascension (1), Beauregard (1), Caddo (2), Calcasieu (1), DeSoto (1), East Baton Rouge (4) and Lafourche (1). There was one new asymptomatic case reported this week, from Lafourche Parish. So far, there have been 338 cases and 13 deaths from the disease reported in the state this year. – See http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2675

Nevada 10/30/12 Clark County: Health officials have confirmed that a 29-year-old man in the county has been diagnosed with WNV. This is the 7^th human case of WNV in the county so far this year, including one death. The Southern Nevada Health District also reported WNV positive mosquito pools in several ZIP codes. – For details see http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/oct/30/health-district-reports-7th-west-nile-virus-case-a/

NEW YORK man camping in the ADIRONDACKS survives suspected case of HANTAVIRUS ~ MOUNTAIN LION report from COLORADO ~ COYOTE report from NEVADA ~ ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS report from FLORIDA ~ EEE & WNV reports from IL, LA, NY, TX, & CANADA: ALBERTA ~ RABIES reports from FL, GA, MA, NJ, NCx2, TX, & VT ~ CDC REPORTS: ZOONOTIC DISEASE summary for week ending October 6, 2012.

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

New York 10/13/12 timesunion.com: by Rick Karlin – The Long Island resident who contracted a suspected case of hantavirus after being bitten by a mouse in the Adirondacks in August believes the state Department of Environmental Conservation should consider trapping mice in the region to try to gauge how many rodents are carrying the illness. And “if it’s confirmed, they should really say something about it,” said Long Island’s Michael Vaughan on Friday during a telephone conference with his doctor at Stony Brook University Hospital, where he recovered from the virus last month. A geophysicist and researcher at SUNY Stony Brook, the 72-year-old was bitten by a mouse while camping in a High Peaks lean-to and became ill a month later. Vaughan and his doctor, Rekha Sivadas, cautioned that the hantavirus wasn’t officially confirmed: They’re still waiting for blood samples to come back from the federal Centers for Disease Control and state Health Department. But Sivadas said a sample they sent to a reputable private lab turned up positive for hantavirus, and Vaughan exhibited classic symptoms of the ailment.

While rare, hantavirus can become serious, attacking its victim’s respiratory system. Earlier in the summer, an outbreak of the virus in California’s Yosemite National Park infected nine people and killed three who caught it while staying in canvas-sided cabins. The virus is usually contracted by people when they inhale dust contaminated with rodent droppings. Transmission through a bite is highly unusual. – For complete article see http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Patient-Check-rodents-for-hantavirus-3944488.php

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Colorado 10/12/12 Montezuma County: State wildlife officers trapped and euthanized a mountain lion last week that killed five sheep off of County Road G in the McElmo Canyon area. A nearby resident said the lion was large enough to carry an 80-pound sheep. – See http://www.cortezjournal.com/article/20121013/NEWS01/710139929/Mountain-lion-kills-five-sheep

Coyote Attacks:

Nevada 10/13/12 Washoe County: A Spanish Springs resident witnessed her dog being killed by a coyote in her backyard on October 1, and when she approached the scene the coyote was large enough to clear a pair of six foot fences while holding the pet in its mouth. – See http://www.dailysparkstribune.com/view/full_story/20476975/article-Spreading-the-word

St. Louis Encephalitis:

Florida 10/12/12 Orange County: Health officials are alerting residents after a flock of sentinel chickens tested positive for St. Louis Encephalitis virus. Residents are urged to avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. – See http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-10-12/news/os-encephalitis-orange-county-20121012_1_encephalitis-virus-mosquito-bites-sentinel-chicken-flocks

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

Illinois 10/11/12 Woodford County: Health officials have confirmed that a dead crow found in Minonk on Oct. 2^nd has tested positive for WNV. – See http://www.pjstar.com/news/x2143895642/West-Nile-now-in-Woodford-County

Louisiana 10/12/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials today confirmed 9 new human cases of WNV. Also, one death from WNV occurred this week. This year, 312 cases and 12 deaths from the disease have been reported. There are 5 new neuroinvasive disease cases reported this week, from Calcasieu (2), Iberia (1), Lafayette (1) and Orleans (1) parishes. There are 4 new West Nile Fever cases, from Ascension (2), Jefferson Davis (1) and Livingston (1) parishes. – See http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2667

New York 10/13/12 Schuylkill County: Health officials have confirmed that a horse stabled in the county has tested positive for WNV. – See http://republicanherald.com/news/west-nile-virus-detected-in-horse-in-schuylkill-county-1.1387439

Texas 10/11/12 Nueces County: Local health officials have confirmed that a woman in her 50s is the 7^th human case of WNV in the county so far this year. – See http://www.kiiitv.com/story/19799475/seventh-case-of-west-nile-confirmed-in-nueces-county

Canada:

Alberta 10/12/12 ctvnews.ca: An Alberta Health Services spokesperson said Friday that a death in a southern area of the province marks the first WNV-related fatality in the province since 2007. – See http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/one-dead-from-west-nile-virus-in-alberta-1.993627

Rabies:

Florida 10/12/12 Bay County: Local health officials issued a rabies alert on Friday for Callaway and Parker after a raccoon captured at the intersection of Lannie Rowe Drive and South Gay Avenue in Callaway tested positive for the virus. – See http://www.newsherald.com/news/health/rabies-alert-issued-for-callaway-and-parker-1.29059

Georgia 10/12/12 Houston County: A fox killed by a couple in Warner Robins on Thursday when the woman found the animal biting her 5-year-old child has tested positive for rabies. Police say the woman was also bitten. Police believe the same fox had earlier bitten another woman. – See http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Warner-Robins-police-investigate-fox-attacks-3943108.php

Massachusetts 10/12/12 Barnstable County: More than 24,000 oral rabies vaccination baits aimed at attracting raccoons and other wildlife will be distributed in selected areas from Barnstable through Orleans starting Monday, Oct. 15, officials from Wildlife Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week. – See http://www.wickedlocal.com/orleans/multimedia/video/x1826352572/Rabies-baits-spread-across-half-the-Cape#axzz29EpnxV52

New Jersey 10/11/12 Atlantic County: A raccoon found in the 100 block of Perry Lane in Egg Harbor Township on Oct 8^th has tested positive for rabies. Two vaccinated dogs that may have been in contact with the raccoon have been placed under quarantine. – See  http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/egg-harbor-twp/eht-events/30575-rabies-news.html

North Carolina 10/11/12 Guilford County: A raccoon found on West Friendly Avenue in Greensboro tested positive for rabies. One person and one dog may have been exposed to the virus. This is the 23^rd confirmed rabies case in the county so far this year. – See http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article/249519/57/23rd-Case-Of-Rabies-Confirmed-In-Guilford-County

North Carolina 10/11/12 Mecklenburg County: Health officials issued a rabies warning on Thursday after a dog found on Stem Court in the Holly Hills neighborhood of Mint Hill, zip code 28227, tested positive for the virus. – See http://www.wbtv.com/story/19796300/health-officials-warn

Texas 10/12/12 Coryell County: A raccoon that was displaying unusual behavior last week in the vicinity of the Robertson Avenue Baptist Church in Copperas Cove has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.kxxv.com/story/19807614/rabies-detected-in-wild-animals-in-copperas-cove

Vermont 10/13/12 Windham County: A Bellows Falls family is reportedly in good health after unofficially adopting a family of stray cats, one of which has died from a confirmed case of rabies. According to Dr. Bob Johnson, Vermont’s state health veterinarian, a mother cat and four kittens were found in the village and taken in by a kind-hearted family a little over a month ago. After four to six weeks, however, one of the kittens became ill and lethargic and a member of the family brought it to the Rockingham Veterinary Clinic in Chester. The feral kitten’s condition worsened and it died on Thursday. The cause of death was determined to be an open wound infected with rabies. – See http://www.reformer.com/ci_21763732/officials-confirm-case-rabies-bellows-falls?source=most_viewed

CDC Reports:

CDC MMWR Summary for Week ending October 6, 2012:

Published October 12, 2012/ 61(40); ND-550-ND-564

Anaplasmosis . . . 3 . . . New York (2), Virginia,

Babesiosis . . . 1 . . . Maryland,

Brucellosis . . . 1 . . . California,    

Ehrlichiosis . . . 8 . . . New York (2), North Carolina (6),

Giardiasis . . . 126 . . . Alaska (3), Arkansas (2), California (17), Florida (26), Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine (4), Maryland (5), Michigan (2), Missouri (6), Nevada, New York (13), Ohio (13), Oregon (3), Pennsylvania (6), Vermont, Virginia (3), Washington (14), West Virginia, Wisconsin (3),

Hansen Disease (Leprosy) . . . 2 . . . California, 

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

Lyme Disease . . .  151. . .  California (3), Florida (4), Maine, Maryland (16), Nevada, New York (53), Ohio, Pennsylvania (37), Vermont (2), Virginia (33),

Rabies (Animal) . . . 23. . . Illinois, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York (11), Oklahoma, Texas (7),

Spotted Fever including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Probable) . . . 16 . . . Alabama (2), Florida, Maryland, North Carolina (4), Tennessee (4), Virginia (4).

PENNSYLVANIA confirms first case of CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE on DEER farm ~ EEE & WNV reports from AZ, & FL ~ RABIES report from OREGON ~ FOLLOW-UP REPORT: COYOTE that attacked UTAH security guard tested negative for RABIES ~ TRAVEL WARNINGS: 14 new cases of MALARIA reported in GREECE.

Whitetailed Deer. Photo by ForestWander. Wikimedia Commons.

Pennsylvania 10/11/12 mcall.com: The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today confirmed the first positive case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the state on a deer farm in Adams County. The disease is fatal in deer, elk and moose, but there is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The World Health Organization. The positive sample was taken from a white-tailed deer at 1491 New Chester Rd., New Oxford, and tested as part of Pennsylvania’s intensive CWD monitoring efforts. The sample tissue was tested at the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg and verified at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. In addition to the Adams County location, the department has quarantined two farms directly associated with the positive deer at 6464 Jacks Hollow Rd., Williamsport, Lycoming County, and 61 Pickett Rd., Dover, York County. The quarantine prevents movement of animals on and off the premises. – For complete article see http://blogs.mcall.com/outdoors/2012/10/first-case-of-chronic-wasting-disease-cwd-confirmed-in-pennsylvania.html

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

Arizona 10/11/12 Mohave County: Health officials have confirmed the first human case of WNV in the county so far this year in a Mohave Valley man in his 70s. – See http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2012/10/11/news/local/doc50766f70adfa3869294419.txt

Florida 10/11/12 Hernando County: Health officials announced Thursday that one of its sentinel chickens has tested positive for the EEE. The chicken is located in the northwest corner of the county, off Zebrafinch Ave. west of U.S. 19. The result means mosquitoes carrying the virus are present in the area. – See http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2012/10/11/hernando_chicken_tes.html

Rabies:

Oregon 10/10/12 Benton County: Health officials have confirmed that a bat tested positive for rabies. This is the third positive bat for rabies in the county this year. On Tuesday, Oct. 2, a woman working at a horse arena in the Philomath area scooped two bats out of a watering trough. One bat was dead and the other was alive but weak from the time in the water. Since the bats were scooped out barehanded, it was decided they should be tested for rabies. One of the bats was positive for rabies. The woman who had contact with the bat will be evaluated for receiving the post-exposure rabies vaccine. – See http://democratherald.com/news/local/third-benton-county-bat-tests-positive-for-rabies/article_20f57026-2ecb-57ee-91c6-484d6b9e9cdb.html?comment_form=true

Follow-Up Report:

(See “UTAH security guard staffing entry booth attacked by COYOTE” posted 10/10/12)

Utah 10/10/12 standard.net: Utah officials say test results are negative for rabies for a coyote that attacked a guard at a Kennecott Utah Copper site in Salt Lake City. Leslie McFarlane of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says the rabies test came back negative Wednesday, but a necropsy to determine any other signs of illness in the coyote is still pending. Results of the necropsy are expected sometime next week. – See http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/10/10/coyote-attack-called-strange
Travel Warnings:

Greece 10/11/12 cdc.gov: The CDC has received information that there have been 14 additional P. vivax malaria cases identified in Greece; four that are locally-acquired cases in Greek residents with no previous travel, and 10 cases in immigrants. Those 10 cases could have either been imported or acquired locally. Between Jan 1 and Oct 1, 2012, Greece has reported a total of 70 cases of malaria. Of those, 54 were caused by P. vivax (12 are locally acquired, 2 are relapses, and 40 occurred in immigrants). Those among immigrants from P. vivax-endemic countries could have either been imported or acquired locally. The immigrants reported being in Greece from as short as a few days before onset of symptoms to as long as 4 years before the onset of symptoms.

Three of the new cases occurred in areas where malaria had not been previously identified. (see map)  The first occurred in an agricultural setting in Selino, Xanthi. The second case was in a patient who travelled within Greece, and was believed to have become infected with malaria in Viotia. The third case occurred in a patient from Karditsa. The fourth new case had onset of symptoms at the end of Sep and is believed to have acquired the infection in Evrotas in the Laconia (southeastern Peloponnese) region. The agricultural area of Evrotas was the principal site of the 2011 P. vivax outbreak and was also where other locally-acquired were identified in Jun, Jul, and Aug of 2012. No new cases have been reported in Markopoulo and Marathon, two areas were cases had been identified during Jun through Aug.  No locally transmitted malaria cases have been reported in Athens.

UTAH security guard staffing entry booth attacked by COYOTE ~ MOUNTAIN LION sightings from CA, & ID ~ EEE & WNV reports from DE, NH, NJ, TN, & UT ~ RABIES reports from FL, & GA.

Coyote. Photo by Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Utah 10/10/12 sltrib.com: by Brett Prettyman – State wildlife officials are calling a coyote attack on a female security guard at Kennecott Utah Copper Monday night “rare” and “strange.” At 9:45 p.m. Monday, a contracted security officer staffing the Kennecott entrance at 10200 South and 8400 West was in a booth when a coyote entered through the door and lunged at the woman. “As the animal was engaging her, she put up her arm to defend herself, and she did get several bites on her forearm,” said Kennecott spokesperson Kyle Bennett. “She was eventually able to get the animal out of the security station, and she called for backup.” Bennett said the woman was taken to Jordan Valley Medical Center where she was treated with “a few stitches” and released. A Unified police officer responded to the scene and shot the coyote. The head of the canine was sent to the Unified State Laboratories managed by the Utah Department of Health early Tuesday for a rabies test. Authorities said results could come as early as Wednesday. – For complete article see http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55052403-78/coyote-kennecott-rabies-utah.html.csp

Mountain Lion Sightings:

California 10/06/12 San Mateo County: Police in Belmont report that a mountain lion was seen Friday in the 3200 block of East Laurel Creek. – See http://belmont-ca.patch.com/articles/mountain-lion-spotted-in-belmont-neighborhood

Idaho 10/06/12 Ada County: A Garden City resident told local police he saw a mountain lion roaming near the Les Bois Park stables Saturday. A search was conducted with negative results. – See http://www.kivitv.com/news/local/172994951.html

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

Delaware 10/09/12 New Castle County: A human case of WNV in Middletown has been confirmed as the state’s 7^th case of the virus this year. – See http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/apexchange/2012/10/09/de–west-nile-virus.html

New Hampshire 10/09/12 Rockingham County: More mosquitoes have tested positive for EEE in Newton and Newfields. – See http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x1475177804/Third-case-of-EEE-found-in-Newton

New Jersey 10/09/12 Passaic County: A 75-year-old woman has become the third person in the state to die of WNV this year. – See http://www.northjersey.com/news/Passaic_County_woman_75_dies_of_West_Nile.html

Tennessee 10/09/12 Davidson County: Health officials in Nashville today confirmed that a 70-year-old man is the first WNV-related death in the state this year. So far, 29 human cases have been documented in the state in 2012. – See http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/09/west-nile-virus/1622463/

Utah 10/09/12 Box Elder County: Bear River health officials today confirmed the WNV-related death of a man over the age of 65. This is the state’s first WNV-related fatality this year. – See http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55051830-78/virus-health-death-cases.html.csp

Rabies:

Florida 10/10/12 Pinellas County: by Laura C. Morel – Health officials are looking for a child of about 3 years of age who may have been exposed to rabies after being clawed by a raccoon at Sawgrass Lake Park just before 2 p.m. on Thursday. A park employee who witnessed the incident asked the man accompanying the child to seek medical attention, but the man left the park at 7400 25th St. N with the toddler and refused to provide contact information. – See http://www.tampabay.com/news/bizarre/rabies-concerns-cause-officials-to-search-for-boy-clawed-by-raccoon-at/1255561

Georgia 10/08/12 Hall County: A raccoon that made contact with two dogs near Bark Camp Road in Gainesville last week has tested positive for rabies. This is the 21^st confirmed case of rabies in the county so far this year. – See http://www.11alive.com/news/article/259929/13/Rabid-raccoon-found-in-Gainesville

EHD virus in ILLINOIS may have killed more than 2,000 DEER ~ CALIFORNIA confirms GROUND SQUIRREL positive for BUBONIC PLAGUE ~ Scientists say LYME DISEASE will continue to spread ~ MOUNTAIN LION report from IDAHO ~ COYOTE reports from CA, FL, & ILx2 ~ EEE/WNV report from CAx2, CO, FL, LA, & VT ~ RABIES reports from TN, TX, & VA ~ CDC REPORTS: ZOONOTIC DISEASE summary for week ending September 29, 2012.

Whitetail Buck. Courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Illinois 10/05/12 dnr.illinois.gov: News Release – State officials today announced updated results of monitoring of deer mortality in the state attributed to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).  Since an earlier update on September 6, many Illinois citizens have taken the time to make reports of sick, dead, and/or dying animals throughout the state. The IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources thanks those individuals who have taken time to provide information on EHD-probable deer mortality in the state. As of September 30, there were 2,043 deer reported as probable EHD deaths, with reports from 76 counties.  The highest numbers were reported from Cook (326); Calhoun (181); Coles (138); Macon and Shelby (121). Hunters taking to the field in Illinois for archery deer hunting and the Oct. 6-7 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer Hunt need not be concerned about eating venison from animals that may have contracted EHD and survived.  EHD has no impact on humans, pets, or livestock. – For complete news release and county maps see http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Pages/EpizooticHemorrhagicDisease%28EHD%29IllinoisUpdate.aspx

Bubonic Plague:

Ground squirrel. Courtesy National Park Service.

California 10/05/12 inlandnewstoday.com: For the first time in nearly a decade, bubonic plague has been confirmed in Riverside County.  State health officials said Thursday that a ground squirrel tested positive. It was found during routine testing at the Fern Basin campground in the San Jacinto Mountains north of Idyllwild. It’s an area where similar findings were an annual occurrence in the 1990’s. Bubonic plague is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted from wild rodents to humans through bites from infected fleas. Campers are being warned to stay away from squirrels and other wild animals.

Lyme Disease:

National 10/05/12 petsandparasites.org: by Dr. Chris Carpenter – The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) 2012 Fall Lyme Disease Forecast calls for increased risk in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, the upper Midwest, the Southeastern United States and all along the West Coast. The disease incidence is steadily spreading southward, even into some areas traditionally free or with low incidence of Lyme disease such as the Midwest and parts of the Southeast. The Northeast continues as the most Lyme endemic region of the country. – For complete article see http://www.petsandparasites.org/about-capc/

Mountain Lion Sightings:

Idaho 10/05/12 Ada County: A Boise police bicycle officer saw a mountain lion at about 9:30 a.m. Friday, according to a release from the police department. The cat was spotted beyond 31st and Pleasanton streets in a remote gravel area. The animal fled the area, and officers were unable to locate it. Police are consulting with Idaho Fish & Game officials. The Friday morning sighting was the fifth since Wednesday. – See http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/10/05/2718042/cougar-sighting-friday-morning.html

Coyote Attacks:

California 10/05/12 Orange County: A Tustin family says their small dog was fatally injured by a coyote in their Laurelwood neighborhood front yard last month. So far this year, local police have reported 13 coyote sightings near Bryan Avenue and Jamboree Road, about 2 miles from Laurelwood. – See http://www.ocregister.com/news/coyote-373645-coyotes-residents.html

Florida 10/05/12 Orange County: Residents in Dr. Phillips are petitioning to have coyotes removed after several family pets were killed. They say sightings occur on a daily basis and their afraid to allow pets, or even small children, out of their sight. – See http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/10/5/neighbors_start_peti.html

Illinois 10/05/12 DuPage County: Local police report two small dogs survived a coyote attack on September 27^th in the 2000 block of Stonebridge Court in Wheaton. One dog was treated for four bites on the neck and face. – See http://wheaton.patch.com/articles/dogs-survive-coyote-attack-in-wheaton

Illinois 10/05/12 DuPage County: A Winfield family says their dog, a Yorkshire terrier, was fatally injured by a coyote in their yard adjacent to the Illinois Prairie Path on Wednesday. – See http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8837288

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

California 10/06/12 Shasta County: Health officials have confirmed the county’s first human case of WNV this year. This person is the 217^th human case of WNV in the state this year. – See http://anewscafe.com/2012/10/06/first-human-west-nile-virus-infection-of-2012-identified-in-shasta-county/

California 10/05/12 Merced County: Health officials confirm that a 26-year-old woman from Gustine has presented the first human case of WNV in the city this year. – See http://www.westsideconnect.com/2012/10/05/human-case-of-west-nile-in-gustine-2/

Colorado 10/05/12 Pueblo County: Health officials have confirmed one human case of WNV in the city of Pueblo, and suspects another. – See http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/puebloan-contracts-west-nile-virus/article_5bb26fc6-0f46-11e2-b001-001a4bcf887a.html

Florida 10/05/12 Jackson County: Health officials have reported a human case of WNV in the county, and a horse stabled on Sellers Road between Malone and Campbellton has tested positive for EEE. – See http://www2.jcfloridan.com/news/2012/oct/05/west-nile-eee-reported-jackson-county-ar-4693739/

Louisiana 10/05/12 dhh.louisiana.gov: Update – State health officials have confirmed 25 new human cases of WNV, but not new deaths occurred this week. So far this year, 305 human cases of WNV have been reported, including 11 WNV-related deaths. – See http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2651

Vermont 10/06/12 Essex County: Health officials have confirmed that a second person in the state has been infected with WNV and is recovering. – See http://www.reformer.com/latestnews/ci_21711420/second-case-west-nile-identified-vermont

Rabies:

Tennessee 10/05/12 tnpublichealth: State health officials are currently distributing oral rabies vaccine packets in eight northeast counties to prevent the spread of rabies in raccoons. The air drops began Tuesday and will continue through Oct. 12^th.

Texas 10/05/12 Wichita County: Two skunks found near Wichita Falls, one southwest of the city and the other southeast, have tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2012/oct/05/skunks-near-city-positive-rabies/

Virginia 10/04/12 Virginia Beach: A fox that attacked four people on Border Way off Salem Road has tested positive for rabies. – See video report at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjTzOY28pqg

CDC Reports:

CDC MMWR Summary for Week ending September 29, 2012:

Published October 5, 2012/ 61(39); ND-536-ND-549

Anaplasmosis . . . 1 . . . New York,

Babesiosis . . . 4 . . . California, New York (3),

Brucellosis . . . 2 . . . California (2),    

Ehrlichiosis . . . 8 . . . North Carolina (7), Tennessee,

Giardiasis . . . 167 . . . Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas (5), California (20), Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho (2), Iowa (3), Maine, Maryland (5), Massachusetts (7), Michigan (4), Missouri (7), Nebraska (5), New York (55), Ohio (21), Oregon (4), Pennsylvania (6), Vermont, Virginia, Washington (15), Wisconsin,

Lyme Disease . . .  161. . .  California, Delaware (4), Maine (3), Maryland (25), New Hampshire, New York (72), North Carolina (11), Pennsylvania (32), Vermont (5), Virginia (7),

Q Fever (Acute) . . . 2 . . . North Carolina (2), 

Rabies (Animal) . . . 46. . . Idaho (5), Kansas (2), Missouri, New Hampshire, New York (8), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (6), Rhode Island, Vermont (2), Virginia (17),

Spotted Fever including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Confirmed) . . . 2. . . Maryland, Missouri, 

Spotted Fever including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Probable) . . . 43 . . . Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana (2), Kentucky (3), Missouri (2), North Carolina (21), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee (8), Virginia (3),

Tularemia . . . 1 . . . Missouri.

FLORIDA scientist finds SNAKES harboring EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS ~ EEE & WNV reports from MN, NV, & RI ~ RABIES reports from NJ, & TN.

Water Moccasin. Photo by Ltshears. Wikimedia Commons.

National 10/01/12 nbcnews.com: by Maggie Fox – (Excerpts) “Snakes may provide a winter hiding place for a virus that’s causing an unusually severe outbreak in the U.S. northeast this year, and this could be good news for control efforts, researchers said on Monday. They found eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE for short) in cottonmouths and copperhead snakes and said it’s likely the reptiles incubate the virus while they hibernate over the winter. When they come out in spring, mosquitoes feast on the snakes and then pass it to birds.

The study, published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, explains why EEE keeps coming back in northern states where mosquitoes hunker down for the winter and where many birds take off for warmer climes. “There must be a way that the virus manages to overwinter. We think it’s the snakes, because they do overwinter in these sites,” said Dr. Thomas Unnasch of the University of South Florida, who led the study.”

Dr. Thomas Unnasch.

“Tests on cottonmouths in the Tuskeegee National Forest in Alabama confirmed a fairly high percentage were infected with EEE, as well as at least one copperhead. It doesn’t make the snakes sick and they seem to stay actively infected for months on end, Unnasch said. So when it gets cold up north and the migrating birds leave, the snakes are still infected with EEE and they hibernate. In the spring, newly hatched mosquitoes feed on the snakes and get infected. “They act as the Typhoid Mary of the virus,” Unnasch said. Copperheads are related to rattlesnakes and there are plenty of both in the north, Unnasch noted.”

Northern Copperhead. Photo by Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

“Is there a lesson here for West Nile virus, another mosquito-borne infection that’s causing an unusual amount of trouble this year? CDC reports 3,545 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 147 deaths. Unfortunately not, says Unnasch — West Nile is not related to EEE and while it passes from birds to mosquitoes to people, it has a different cycle of infection.” – For complete NBC News article by Maggie Fox see http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/01/14172867-snakes-may-harbor-deadly-virus?lite

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

Minnesota 10/01/12 dglobe.com: Four more human cases of WNV have been reported this past week. So far this year 65 human cases and one death have been attributed to the mosquito-borne virus in the state. – See http://www.dglobe.com/event/apArticle/id/DA1KVEKO2/

Nevada 09/28/12 Washoe County: Health officials report that a 6-year-old feral horse in Reno was put down after testing positive for WNV. This is the first animal or human case of the virus in the county this year, but two human cases have been reported elsewhere in the state, one each in Clark and Churchill counties. – See http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Horse-in-Washoe-County-Positive-for-West-Nile-171765551.html

Rhode Island 10/01/12 Newport County: A batch of mosquitoes captured in Tiverton has tested positive for EEE. – See http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode-island/2012/10/01/eee-found-mosquitoes-west-nile-detected/y9C728lONohFY8qOJT9kTI/story.html

Rabies:

New Jersey 09/30/12 Hudson County: Health officials have confirmed that a sick raccoon reported just blocks from Franklin School in North Bergen on September 12^th has tested positive for rabies. – See http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_stories_home/20308415/article-Rabid-raccoon-caught-blocks-from-school-Creature%E2%80%99s-bite-could-have-killed-children-passing-by-?instance=north_bergen_story_left_column

Tennessee 09/29/12 theleafchronicle.com: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin distributing an oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons in selected areas of the southeast, including 15 counties in East Tennessee. – See http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120929/SPORTS/309290033/Outdoors-notebook?nclick_check=1