Officials discuss animal die-off response

[Sonny]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

Low oxygen levels due to high water tempatures and alge lead to fish die offs
resulting in "" the annual botulism outbreaks". that kills the ducks in the lake. No suprise to find flu virus in ducks.

Avian Botulism Outbreak Subsides

The Avian Botulism outbreak that has plagued the area of Library Park in Lakeport seems to have run its course. No sick or dead waterfowl has been found in the area since September 3rd.

The area will still be monitored because avian diseases can come in waves, however, the cooler weather will help with the dissolved oxygen levels in the lake water and usually signals the end of the annual botulism outbreaks in the area.

Approximately 50 ducks died during this outbreak which is considered very, very, small

[sharon sanders]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

No one at California Fish and Game answers the phone. I tried the main office and the regional office for Lakeport. Of course, it is the weekend. So we may have to wait until Monday to verify this information.

[Snowy Owl]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

Here is what patrick Foy had to say back on september 10th.

California, the nation's most populous state, is uniquely vulnerable the virus arriving via birds or people. In addition to having a citizenry with ties to Asia, where the disease has hit hardest, California has a $2.5 billion poultry industry, and millions of birds migrate along its flyways.


State Fish and Game authorities have spent the past few weeks trying to catch some of those migrating birds, with limited success. They have been focusing especially on pintails, a type of duck with an exceptionally wide range of migration, said agency spokesman Patrick Foy.


Pintails fly all the way to Alaska and Siberia, where their flyways can intersect with those of birds that have traveled through Asia, Foy said.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/news/ci_4315157

[HenryN]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09300601/H5_Lakeport_CA.html

[Sonny]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

I's more likely the WB feeding ban in the park is to decrease the amount of goose poop on the sidewalks and lawns in the park. People are tired of stepping and slipping on bird turds the size of ones finger from hundreds of geese and ducks.

Library Park is located in downtown Lakeport on the edge of Clear Lake. It is a spacious park that commands a sweeping view of Clear Lake, Mt. Konocti and the surrounding mountains. Summer concerts are held in the park and performing artists use the gazebo as a stage. People come from the surrounding communities to enjoy the music, dance, and picnic. A nearby launching ramp and docking facilities provides lake access for boaters. The park has a playground for children, walking paths for relaxation, and lots of tables and benches for people that just want to enjoy the view and atmosphere of this picturesque park. Restaurants are nearby for those who

[Harriet]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

Sent an email to the reporter and will let you know if she responds.

SpiritWild - Wildlife Center
Sandie Elliott, Managing Director


http://www.spiritwild.org/

This is the person who wanted the avian testing completed.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

Low path doesnt cause death..theyve said it a million times. .......

However it can cause illness in humans, and I suppose an opportunity for mutation to a more mammalian adapted infuenza.

For human illness from low path, the Fraser Valley, BC cases are a recent example. see (among many reports):http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m..._n8592195/pg_1

Also http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q..._uids=15663859

Genome sequences of chicken (low pathogenic avian influenza [LPAI] and highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI]) and human isolates from a 2004 outbreak of H7N3 avian influenza in Canada showed a novel insertion in the HA0 cleavage site of the human and HPAI isolate. This insertion likely occurred by recombination between the hemagglutination and matrix genes in the LPAI virus.

from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/flu-viruses.htm...

Human illness due to infection with LPAI viruses has been documented, including very mild symptoms (e.g., conjunctivitis) to influenza-like illness. Examples of LPAI viruses that have infected humans include H7N7, H9N2, and H7N2.


.

[Harriet]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

Also noteworthy, this information was never released to the media via the USDA as were the previous cases of "low path".

Example:

The bird samples were collected on Sept. 24 in the Rice Lake Conservation Area of Fulton County, Illinois, through a partnership between USDA and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as part of an expanded wild bird monitoring program. USDA and DOI are working collaboratively with states to sample wild birds throughout the U.S. for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

These samples were collected on 9/24 and the results were reported 9/29.

In the CA case:
<snip>

The City Council will soon discuss banning any feeding of ducks or waterfowl at Library Park. This comes after another dead duck was found last weekend at Library Park and one of the ducks tested previously by the California Department of Fish and Game has tested positive for H5 avian influenza.

An e-mail sent Sept. 11 from SpiritWild's Sandie Elliott to Buckman said, "If the lab would have listened to me on Aug. 14 when I suspected LPAI (low pathogenic avian influenza) preceding the botulism, we could have done lots of testing. I believe the topic of a program outline is soon to be a subject that the board of supervisors will be demanding." Elliott added, "It's about time."

</snip>

Initially birds were dying around 8/14. Tests were conducted and revealed h5 at some point and results were not reported. More ducks die and the City Council is trying to ban feeding water fowl.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

.....City Council will soon discuss banning any feeding of ducks or waterfowl at Library Park.....

I agree with Sonny - folks around the country are tired of bird droppings in places used by high human populations.

When giving my bird talks, as soon as I bring up the Canada Goose, almost everyone indicates their frustration with the impact of apparent overpopulation. Of course, it's largely because humans have created the perfect goose/duck habitat - well fertilized grasses with bodies of water nearby. But some species have been overpopoulated. I believe the Snow Goose is one - destroying their own habitat.

There are strategies for relocating these birds, but not creating favorable conditions (including feeding) tops the list of deterrents.

.

[Harriet]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

The City Council is likely aware of the h5 positive testing and that ducks have died there.

The article is entitled : "Officials discuss animal die-off response"
and goes on to say "The City Council will soon discuss banning any feeding of ducks or waterfowl at Library Park. This comes after another dead duck was found last weekend at Library Park and one of the ducks tested previously by the California Department of Fish and Game has tested positive for H5 avian influenza

IMHO don't think this has a lot to do with people being sick of bird droppings. They seem more concerned for public safety. That would follow a normal, logical thought process.

[sharon sanders]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

Also noteworthy, this information was never released to the media via the USDA as were the previous cases of "low path".

Example:

The bird samples were collected on Sept. 24 in the Rice Lake Conservation Area of Fulton County, Illinois, through a partnership between USDA and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as part of an expanded wild bird monitoring program. USDA and DOI are working collaboratively with states to sample wild birds throughout the U.S. for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

These samples were collected on 9/24 and the results were reported 9/29.

In the CA case:
<SNIP>

The City Council will soon discuss banning any feeding of ducks or waterfowl at Library Park. This comes after another dead duck was found last weekend at Library Park and one of the ducks tested previously by the California Department of Fish and Game has tested positive for H5 avian influenza.

An e-mail sent Sept. 11 from SpiritWild's Sandie Elliott to Buckman said, "If the lab would have listened to me on Aug. 14 when I suspected LPAI (low pathogenic avian influenza) preceding the botulism, we could have done lots of testing. I believe the topic of a program outline is soon to be a subject that the board of supervisors will be demanding." Elliott added, "It's about time."

</SNIP>

Initially birds were dying around 8/14. Tests were conducted and revealed h5 at some point and results were not reported. More ducks die and the City Council is trying to ban feeding water fowl.

On SpiritWild's website it also says that no dead ducks have been found since September 3rd. This contradicts the above news report. We can speculate all we want, but we will not know anything until Monday when I can get some state officials on the phone. I have not heard from the editor or the reporter of the original story in post one.

"The Avian Botulism outbreak that has plagued the area of Library Park in Lakeport seems to have run its course. No sick or dead waterfowl has been found in the area since September 3rd.
The area will still be monitored because avian diseases can come in waves, however, the cooler weather will help with the dissolved oxygen levels in the lake water and usually signals the end of the annual botulism outbreaks in the area.
Approximately 50 ducks died during this outbreak which is considered very, very, small."

http://www.spiritwild.org/

[Harriet]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

Saw that written about the last die off.

My interpretation is this is a new duck that has died around the time of the writing of the article and people are concerned with the death being in an area with ducks already h5 positive.

[sharon sanders]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

I can not assume the timing of that posting on the website. It is there now. I am going with the facts, of which, I have little.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

IMHO don't think this has a lot to do with people being sick of bird droppings. They seem more concerned for public safety. That would follow a normal, logical thought process.

Probably both - just imagine how many of our regulations will need to change when HPAI is carried by birds that frequent public places.....they will become "the enemy."

.

[Harriet]

Re: Officials discuss animal die-off response

This comes after another dead duck was found last weekend at Library Park


Most recent duck death was between 9/17-9/23.
This news report may be a good source for supporting factual content as they have to verify before they print.

The Spirit Wild is Lake County's Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center and am not sure what their role would be in documenting these type of events.