Officials look into deaths of animals in Jamaica

[Emily]

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/courts-police-and-fire/2012-03-23/officials-look-deaths-animals-jamaica.html

Officials look into deaths of animals in Jamaica
Fri, 03/23/2012 - 8:00am | Tim Mitchell, staff writer, News-Gazette.com JAMAICA ? Health officials believe two birds found dead this month in Jamaica probably ate agricultural pesticide, but they still don't know for certain what happened to other animals that have died there in the past month. "The odds are good there is some common cause for these deaths," said Vermilion County Health Department Environmental Health Director Douglas Toole. "We just don't know yet whether what caused the deaths of the birds is the same thing that caused the deaths of the mammals." Vermilion County Public Health Administrator Shirley Hicks said there is no evidence of human illness in the area."...

 

[Emily]

Re: Officials look into deaths of animals in Jamaica

http://commercial-news.com/local/x1437244576/Toxins-found-in-dead-animals

March 30, 2012
Toxins found in dead animals

BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL Commercial-News

JAMAICA ? Tests discovered toxic chemicals in two animals found dead in February in the Jamaica area, according to the Vermilion County Health Department.

Investigations continue into why the two animals ? a dog and a cat ? are among several found dead in that area around the end of February and through part of March.

The county health department issued a release Friday indicating that tests done by officials at Michigan State University found the chemicals carbofuran, strychnine and pentobarbital in a dog ? a female rat terrier ? and a male short-haired cat found in Jamaica.
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?Whether these animals are being poisoned intentionally or unintentionally, the source of the toxins must be found and stopped,? health department administrator Shirley Hicks said in a press release.