- Hello Jeff -- We are told that dead and/or dying ducks
were found along Lake Monroe on June 29th and at least 2 dozen dead birds
found earlier in the week. We are then told, loud and clear that Avian
Flu has been ruled out.
-
- However, we were not told how, and what tests were used
to 'rule out' H5N1 or any Avian influenza. This IS cause for concern.
-
- In another story yesterday, there was another bird-die
off in the Bahamas.
-
- Patty
-
- UNDIAGNOSED DEATHS, AVIAN - USA (FLORIDA): REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION
- *******************************
-
- The Orlando Sentinel
- 6-30-7
-
-
- At least 34 dead or dying ducks were discovered Friday
night [29 Jun 2007] along Lake Monroe, adding to the mystery of 2-dozen
dead birds found earlier in the week.
-
- Seminole County spokesman Steve Olson said that a number
of adult birds were among those found Friday night [29 Jun 2007] on Marina
Island, and that the ducks that were still alive appeared to be paralyzed.
All the dead ducks found before were juveniles.
-
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
is investigating the deaths, but Olson said no cause had been determined.
He said avian flu had been ruled out.
-
- http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/semin
- ole/orl-cfbriefs30_407jun30,0,3328828.story
-
-
- __________
-
-
- Communicated by:
- ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall
-
- Interesting that only one species of avian is affected.
My initial
- impression is botulism. However, if someone has more
detailed
- information we would appreciate your sharing it with
us.
-
- - Mod.TG
-
- UNDIAGNOSED DIE-OFF, AVIAN - BAHAMAS: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
- *************************************************************
-
- By Sheena Butler
-
- The Freeport News
- 6-30-7
-
- An alarming number of dead birds are being discovered
floating along the shores of the northern Bahamas causing concern among
some residents in the Grand Bahama community. A week after the 1st incident
was reported [18 Jun 2007], accounts of dead birds floating in Bahamian
waters are still filing in.
-
- Tom Christian, a director of Bahamas Air Sea Association
(BASRA), said that they have become aware of several reports regarding
the discovery of dead birds. The 1st incident happened in the waters near
the east end of Grand Bahama Island, off Borrows Cay.
-
- "A boat had left from Freeport and went to Southern
Abaco and on their trip there, and, as they were coming back they spotted
dead birds," Christian explained. "The largest concentration
of the dead birds was off Borrows Cay, floating in the ocean."
-
- The boaters estimated that they had seen somewhere between
50 to 100 dead birds on their trip. The birds were described as having
brown wings, white chests, and hooked beaks.
-
- Mike Wallace, chief public analyst at the Department
of Environmental Health Services (DEHS), said last week that the DEHS was
aware of the incident but had not collected any carcasses at that point.
-
- "We have, and do, herewith request that if there
are fresh sightings, that we be called immediately so as to have a chance
to collect fresh carcasses that we can pass on to the Department of Agriculture
for review," Wallace said.
-
- According to Christian, there have been several new sightings
since the initial incident, yet he has not seen any action. There was an
incident reported to BASRA on 25 Jun [2007], by persons who had spotted
another large quantity of birds 15 miles off Freeport and BASRA also received
information of more dead bird sightings as far as Bimini. Christian said
that BASRA has unsuccessfully tried to get into contact with Mike Wallace
and the DEHS.
-
- Several eyewitnesses also contacted The Freeport News
last week [18-24 Jun 2007] to report incidents of dead birds along Grand
Bahama's shores.
-
- According to a website recommended by Wallace, hundreds
of dead birds also washed ashore in Florida last week [18-24 Jun 2007],
and though scientists are uncertain why these large numbers of birds died,
starvation is suspected. This information might suggest a possible explanation
but some residents are not quick to accept this data as an answer to their
concerns.
-
- "I'm looking for the Health Department to do their
own research in our area and let the people know that dead birds could
be washing up on shore," Christian said. He also went on to say that
while walking along one of Grand Bahama's beaches, he also came upon some
dead birds. "On the 26th, I went out and picked up 4 dead birds, within
a mile, while walking down Williams Town Beach," he said.
-
- At this point, the reason for the mass deaths of the
birds remains unknown.
-
- Residents are concerned the biggest threat is not knowing
what the possible health hazards may be, resulting in the spread of misinformation.
"The biggest danger could be kids picking up the birds and playing
with them or people stepping on them and becoming contaminated," Christian
explained.
-
- Some are speculating that the birds might be eating some
hazardous materials in the water, meaning that some of the fish might also
be contaminated. Others think that the birds may have fallen victim to
the bird flu; either possibility warrants attention in the opinion of concerned
residents.
-
- Wallace told Freeport News that once information on the
dead birds has been passed on to the Department of Agriculture, then, the
issue is no longer in the hands of the DEHS. The Freeport News attempted
to contact persons in charge at the Department of Agriculture yesterday
[29 Jun 2007], but those individuals were unavailable.
-
- http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/328164688764451.php
-
-
- ______
-
-
- Communicated by:
- ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall
-
- The 1st report was primarily regarding seagulls (see
ProMED-mail 20070623.2030). This report seems to extend to other birds,
although no types of birds are specifically mentioned and the description
is broad enough to include several types of species of seagulls. However,
it would seem that the DEHS should be concerned enough about this die-off
and residents/tourists concern to be collecting carcasses and doing necropsies
and testing. Even if the cause is starvation, appropriate information is
very helpful and reassuring to both residents and tourists.
-
- As tourism is a major industry in the Bahamas, the lack
of response from DEHS is difficult to understand. Die-offs like this, without
information, cause rumors and misinformation, which escalates fear and
can cause a drop in tourism.
-
- If there is anyone with accurate information, or if any
testing being done on these avian carcasses, we would appreciate it if
it could be shared with us. - Mod.TG
-
-
-
- Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD
- Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics
- Univ of West Indies
-
- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board at:
- http://www.emergingdisease.org/phpbb/index.php
- Also my new website:
- http://drpdoyle.tripod.com/
- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
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