SCWDS BRIEFS: Volume 22, Number 1 (April 2006)

Avian Influenza Update - May 2006: 207 human cases, 115 fatalities. HPAI H5N1 virus has been detected in wild birds in Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. SCWDS remains actively involved in several field and laboratory studies investigating the ecology of avian influenza virus (AIV), including both high pathogenicity viruses (HPAI) and low pathogenicity viruses (LPAI). A plan to conduct a survey of avian influenza (AI) viruses in wild birds in Canada was developed late in 2004 by the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) in consultation with a wide range of federal and provincial government agencies with responsibilities for wildlife management, domestic animal health, and public health. The purpose of the survey was to obtain information on the range of influenza Avian Flu Virus in Mammals: The results of natural and experimental infections of mammals with HPAI H5N1 are indicators of the broad species susceptibility to this virus and the need for vigilance in monitoring HPAI H5N1 virus. West Nile virus (WNV): Since the virus was first detected in New York in 1999, 19,655 human cases have been reported in the United States, resulting in 782 deaths. WNV transmission to humans has been documented by five routes: mosquito bites, blood transfusions, organ transplantation, transplacental transfer, and breastfeeding. National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative Parvovirus was confirmed as the cause of mortality in a young raccoon submitted to SCWDS in January. Dr. Michael J. Yabsley has accepted an offer to fill the vacancy created by the recent retirement of Dr. William Randolph Davidson. Dr. John Fischer was promoted from Associate Professor to Professor and was awarded tenure; Dr. Joseph Corn was elevated from Public Service Assistant to Public Service Associate; and Dr. Danny Mead was advanced from Assistant Research Scientist to Associate Research Scientist. An anonymous donor recently contributed $100,000 to the Southeastern Wildlife Health Development Fund