Newcastle disease in two Minnesota lakes.

[Treyfish]

DNR investigating Newcastle disease at Meeker Co. lake and at Faribualt Co. lake

The Associated PressMINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Department of Natural Resources is studying a strain of Newcastle disease that has been found in birds

The infected birds were found in Minnesota Lake in Faribault County and Pigeon Lake in Meeker County.<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>function photoFull (URL) {day = new Date();id = day.getTime();eval("page" + id + " = window.open(URL, '" + id + "', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=0,width=510,height=510,left = 137,top = 84');");}</SCRIPT>

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Authorities say the disease is highly contagious among birds, but rarely affects humans. The DNR says they found more than 900 double-crested cormorants dead or dying in Minnesota and Pigeon lakes. Smaller numbers of white pelicans and other water birds have been affected as well.

The DNR is also testing dead birds found near Lake of the Woods, Marsh Lake and Lake Mille Lacs for Newcastle disease.

:tiphat: http://www.wctrib.com/articles/inde...OKEN=65509147&jsessionid=88303e9ef4ed45684e27

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Newcastle disease in two Minnesota lakes.

Rare disease kills hundreds of waterfowl

Published Saturday, August 16, 2008

Several waterfowl from Minnesota lakes, including Lake Kabetogama, have tested positive for a rare but extremely virulent strain of Newcastle disease.


The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Friday reported that the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the disease.
Other affected lakes include Minnesota Lake in Faribault County and Pigeon Lake in Meeker County, said Erika Butler, DNR wildlife veterinarian.
While humans generally are not at risk from the disease, people may develop mild influenza-like symptoms and conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, if they have close contact with diseased birds, said Joni Scheftel, state public health veterinarian, in a statement.
The disease has killed almost 1,000 cormorants and many white pelicans as well as other birds since July.
Many other dead birds have been found on Lake Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods and Marsh Lake, but tests on those birds are pending.
The public is urged to avoid contact with any dead birds on those lakes or nearby lakes.
The disease is considered a threat to the domestic poultry industry because it can spread so quickly.
The DNR is working with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Department of Health, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Health Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service and the National Park Service while alerting surrounding states and provinces to the lab results.
Virulent Newcastle disease is not normally present in the United States. The last widespread outbreak in the U.S. was in 2003 in southern California and parts of Nevada, Arizona and Texas. The last Minnesota outbreak was in 1992 when more than 20,000 double-crested cormorants died in Minnesota and the Dakotas.:tiphat: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/ar...OKEN=20860801&jsessionid=8830d2ffb8623b2b7922