[JustPiper]

As reported in a Financial Times article (March 8, 2004), Saudi Arabia "has now put in place world class laws and regulations to combat the financing of terrorism."

Saudi Arabia has enacted strict regulations for Saudi-based charities that "probably go further than any country in the world," according to an official involved in the assessment. A senior U.S. official commended the Kingdom on the crackdown of illegal donations, telling the Financial Times, "this was an issue of high-level attention in the Saudi government."

In its efforts to confront terrorism, Saudi Arabia has banned the transfer of Saudi-based giving abroad without prior approval by the Foreign Ministry and has initiated new reporting requirements to prevent any money from reaching terrorist groups.


For more information, please visit:
Saudi forms new charity oversight commission
http://saudiembassy.net/2004News/News/TerDetail.asp?cIndex=1690

[JustPiper]

TOXOPLASMOSIS, SHEEP - AUSTRALIA (TASMANIA)

---

ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 09:43:09 -0300
From: John Payne Woodall woodall@compuland.com.br
Source: News.com.au 24 Feb 2004 [edited]
http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8773124%255E3462,00.html

Toxoplasmosis spread among sheep in Tasmania

Tasmania's wool-growing industry is under threat from a devastating disease
being spread by feral cats, say rural-sector leaders.

Wool Council executive officer Roger Tyshing says some Midlands woolgrowers
have lost up to 50 percent of their new season's lambs to toxoplasmosis,
which causes infected ewes to abort or produce stillborns. The ewes become
infected by ingesting a parasite contained in feral cats' faeces, Mr
Tyshing says.

"Tasmania's feral cat problem is causing stock losses that could seriously
cripple woolgrowers' ongoing viability," he said. "When someone experiences
a 50 percent loss of lambs, the genetic pool for their breeding program --
which they would have invested heavily in building up -- is reduced.

"Income from the sale of fat lambs is considerably depleted, and in this
day and age farmers can't afford this sort of loss." Carrick woolgrower
Rosemary Stobart said her fine-wool business had been hit hard by the loss
of 300 lambs to toxoplasmosis in 2003. "2 weeks before they were due to
lamb, 300 ewes just aborted," Ms Stobart said.

"It was devastating. They were very well-bred sheep and I'd paid a lot of
money for them." She had immediately had her ewes tested for toxoplasmosis
and the results had come back positive. Feral cats had reached epidemic
proportions on her property, Hatherly, she said.

"My son has shot 10 feral cats on the property since Christmas 2003, and
the fox-catching program has trapped many more," Ms Stobart said.

Mr Tyshing said a number of Tasmanian woolgrowers had been so badly
affected by toxoplasmosis they had stopped running ewes. "Quite a few
farmers have got out of running ewes and lambs and just run castrated male
sheep, which are not susceptible to toxoplasmosis," he said. Mr Tyshing
called on the State Government to introduce cat control programs.

[Byline: Heather Low Choy, The Mercury]

The feral cat is a well-known reservoir of _Toxoplasma gondii_ in
Tasmania. Previous studies have found approximately 50 percent of cats
infected. So called "abortion storms" have been described from other parts
of the world where _Toxoplasma gondii_ occurs, referring to epidemics of
abortions in pregnant sheep when they are let loose on fields heavily
contaminated with _Toxoplasma gondii_ oocysts. Preventing feral cats from
shedding oocysts on grazing land is difficult, and the best strategy is
immunization of pregnant sheep.

see also:
1996
----
Toxoplasmosis, peregrine -Australia 19960726.1335
1995
----
Toxoplasmosis & Kangaroos - Australia (3) 19951026.0983
Toxoplasmosis - Australia (4) 19951102.1012]

[JustPiper]

RABIES, RACCOON - USA (NORTH CAROLINA)

---

A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail, a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

Date: 9 Mar 2004
Source: CGI Citizen-Times, 5 Mar 2004 [edited]
http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/regional/51110

1st case of rabies in 50 years found in Haywood County

---

A raccoon in Haywood County has tested positive for rabies, the 1st such
case in the county in 50 years.

The raccoon was tested after the animal bit an Allen's Creek woman,
according to Bob Wood, Haywood County's health director.

The woman is in good condition and undergoing treatment, which involves a
series of 6 shots administered one every 7 days. [Usually, the shots are
administered over a 28-day period. - Mod.TG]

"This is the first animal other than a bat since 1954 to test positive for
rabies in Haywood County," Wood said. North Carolina saw a rabies epidemic
in the 1950s, but it was brought under control by vaccinating dogs and cats.

While surrounding states have been battling rabies for years, it has only
been since 1990 that North Carolina again saw a renewed rabies outbreak,
according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Rabies is
now a naturally occurring disease in wildlife and spreads from animal to
animal over time.

Rabies travels through the nervous system, eventually inflaming the brain.
Early symptoms include irritability, headache, fever, and sometimes itching
or pain at the site of the bite. The disease eventually progresses to
paralysis, spasms of the throat muscles, convulsions, and delirium. Without
preventive treatment, it is fatal. [The preventative treatment is
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, and most likely is the series of injections
mentioned previously. - Mod.TG]

Layton Long, environmental health director at the Buncombe County Health
Center, said there are pre-exposure vaccines for people who may come into
contact with rabid animals through the course of their job, such as
veterinarians and animal control officers. But Long said the general public
doesn't need the vaccination.

The treatment of rabies exposure has also come a long way since the time a
person had to take 21 shots in the stomach. Today, most people need 5
rabies vaccinations in the arm spaced out over a 28-day period, as well as
a one-time dose of rabies immune globulin.

Wood said it was only a matter of time before a case surfaced in Haywood
County. Buncombe County led the state in documented rabies cases in 2003
with 70, according to the state laboratory. There were also 9 confirmed
cases in Henderson County and one in Jackson County during the same period.
A majority of those cases involved raccoons.

Wood said Haywood County residents should watch their dogs and cats.

"People should beware of any suspicious acting animals, wild or domestic,"
Wood said. "Do not go near wild animals, and notify animal control if they
are behaving suspiciously."

Dogs and cats are required by law to be vaccinated against rabies. An
animal's first rabies shot is good for one year, and boosters are good for
3 years.

The Haywood County Health Department will hold a special rabies clinic from
4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hazelwood Elementary School. Shots will be offered
for 5 USD. Pet owners whose pets have never been vaccinated or those that
need a booster shot are encouraged to attend. Pet owners can also visit
their veterinarians for rabies shots.

[An excellent review of the protocol for human immunoglobulin post-exposure
prophylaxis can be found in ProMED-mail archive 20010419.0770. - Mod.TG]

[see also:
Rabies, raccoon - USA (MA) 20040304.0642

2003

Rabies, fox - USA (TX) 20030215.0400
Rabies, racoon - USA (Connecticut):alert 20030110.0084
Rabies, raccoon, oral vaccination - USA (Penn.) 20020624.4592

2002

Rabies - USA (Kansas) (04) 20020504.4090
Rabies - USA (Kansas) (03) 20020503.4078
Rabies - USA (Kansas) (02) 20020501.4063
Rabies - USA (Kansas): alert 20020425.4031
Rabies, otter - USA (Pennsylvania) 20020424.4020
Rabies, pet store dog - USA (Arizona) 20020407.3899
Rabies, epizootic - USA (Alaska) 20020319.3766

2001

Rabies-vaccinia infection from oral vaccine - USA 20010825.2010
Rabies, wildlife - USA (Florida) 20010717.1385
Rabies, human, suspected - UK ex Philippines 20010611.1139
Rabies, skunks - USA (Arizona) 20010524.1010
Rabies - USA Maine), Canada (New Brunswick) 20010522.0988
Rabies immune globulins, equine, supply crisis (03) 20010419.0771
Rabies, human, post-exposure prophylaxis 20010419.0770
Rabies immune globulins, equine, supply crisis 20010416.0755
Rabies - USA (Florida): alert 20010217.0318

2000

Rabies, skunks - USA (Wyoming) 20001221.2243
Rabies, bobcat - USA (Vermont) (03) 20000523.0812
Rabies, bobcat - USA (Vermont) (02) 20000520.0795
Rabies, bobcat - USA (Vermont) 20000518.0778
Rabies, epizootic - USA (Pennsylvania) (03) 20000503.0668
Rabies, epizootic - USA (Pennsylvania) (02) 20000429.0648
Rabies, epizootic - USA (Pennsylvania) 20000425.0620

1999

Rabies, animal - USA (North Carolina) (06) 19991122.2070
Rabies alert - USA (Florida) 19990927.1730
Rabies, raccoon - USA (Missouri) 19990927.1725
Rabies, animal - USA (North Carolina) (05) 19990927.1722
Rabies, raccoon, - USA (Maine) (02) 19990923.1702
Rabies, raccoon - USA (Maine) 19990921.1686
Rabies, pets - USA (Texas) (02) 19990903.1549
Rabies, pets - USA (Texas) 19990902.1540]

[JustPiper]

AVIAN INFLUENZA, POULTRY, H7 â?" USA (MARYLAND)

---

A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail, a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

Date: 9 Mar 2004
From: Stephen C Guptill sguptill@usgs.gov, Brian D. Sauders
bds26@cornell.edu, and Pablo Nart P.nart@ntworld.com
Source: Maryland Department of Agriculture Official News Release, 6 Mar 2004
http://www.mda.state.md.us/press/airestr3.htm

News Release

---

Avian Influenza Case Confirmed on Maryland's Eastern Shore; Quarantine
Order Extended; Biosecurity Practices Remain Heightened

This afternoon, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary
Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa confirmed the presence of the H7 strain
of avian influenza in a commercial poultry flock on Maryland's Lower
Eastern Shore. The University of Delaware's Lasher Laboratory sent the
samples to the Ames, Iowa laboratory last night.

This is the same strain that was found during February 2004 in 2 flocks in
Delaware, but there is no known connection between the Maryland and
Delaware cases. A press conference will be held at 10 a.m. Sun 7 Mar 2004
at the Holiday Inn Express, 125 Newtown Blvd, Pocomoke City off U.S. 13.

This case was detected through the surveillance efforts established after
the 2 positive cases were found in Delaware during February 2004. As of
Friday, 5 Mar a total of 1950 houses representing 828 farms on Delmarva
have all tested negative for avian influenza. This represents approximately
43 percent of the total number of commercial farms and approximately 38
percent of the total number of commercial houses on the Peninsula. This
morning there was a meeting of the Delmarva Emergency Poultry Disease Task
Force, which includes Delmarva poultry companies, epidemiology,
agriculture, and health officials from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and
the U.S. governments, to coordinate the approach to address this new avian
influenza case.

"We are taking all measures possible to protect Maryland's farm community
and our poultry industry," said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Lewis R. Riley.

"We placed the farm under quarantine last evening. I have issued a new
Quarantine Order to address the new geographic area and situation. It is
imperative that each and every poultry farmer, company representative, feed
hauler, and all others associated with the birds on the Eastern Shore
continue to practice the highest levels of biosecurity on their farms, in
their businesses and at home. I thank everyone for their cooperation in
this very difficult time."

The positive farm is in the Pocomoke City area and is made up of 4 poultry
houses with approximately 118 000 6-week-old broilers. The chickens will be
destroyed humanely, or depopulated tomorrow morning and composted on-farm
and in-house.

The owner of this farm has an 8-house farm with 2-week-old birds about 1
mile from the first farm. Because of the close relationship between these
farms, and the shared personnel and equipment, as a proactive step to
prevent spread of the disease, those 210 000 birds will also be depopulated.

His third farm is about 2 miles from the original farm and the one-week-old
birds on that farm will be observed for the time being.

The new quarantine applies to the areas of Maryland south of Rt. 50 to the
Virginia border. The quarantine restricts movement of poultry and poultry
litter and imposes additional biosecurity precautions.

There are 71 farms with 171 poultry houses within a 6-mile radius of the
positive farm, all of which will be sampled for presence of avian
influenza. Pre-processing testing will continue across all of Delmarva
until at least 16 Mar 2004.

Poultry in Maryland accounted for USD 440 million or 31 percent of the
state's $1.4 billion agriculture industry in 2002, the last year for which
there are statistics. In addition, 60 percent or more of the state's
cropland is dedicated to grains for poultry feed. There are approximately
1100 poultry farms on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Maryland's last outbreak of
avian influenza was in 1993 among game birds on a Queen Anne's county farm.

The H7 strain of avian influenza could be a serious threat to the Delmarva
poultry industry if it spreads, but has not been associated with serious
human illness.

Avian influenza spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions
as well as manure. It can spread rapidly from flock to flock and can be
carried across great distances by contaminated vehicles, equipment, and
clothing, for example.

Note: Reporters are reminded that they are to stay off of poultry farms.

[The same story was reported in the Sunday Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37109-2004Mar6.html and in
the sunday NewsDay
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-bird-flu-maryland,0,6019546,print.story?coll=3Dsns-ap-nationworld-headlines

The Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia) peninsula is a contiguous
land area. It is likely that there is transit along the routes and perhaps
some ill chicks are leaving trails or moving along the peninsula.

Currently, Delaware and New Jersey have H7N2, but Pennsylvania has H2N2 and
Texas has H5N2 (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza).

Although this news release only specifies H7, it is likely it is H7N2, as
Maryland is part of the Delmarva region.

[see also:
Avian influenza, H7 serotype, poultry - Canada (BC) 20040220.0548

Avian influenza, poultry - USA (PA) 20040215.0504
Avian influenza - USA (DE) (06): OIE 20040214.0488
Avian influenza, poultry - USA (NJ) 20040213.0479
Avian influenza, poultry - USA (PA, NJ) 20040213.0486
Avian influenza, poultry - USA (DE) (05) 20040212.0471
Avian influenza - USA (DE)(04) 20040211.0459
Avian influenza - USA (DE)(03): OIE 20040211.0458
Avian influenza, poultry - USA (DE)(02) 20040207.0442
Avian influenza, poultry - USA (DE) 20040206.0432]

[JustPiper]

NEW YORK (AP) Body pulled from East River is identified as the missing actor-writer Spalding Gray, according to the medical examiner.

A 23 April, 2002 file photo shows Spalding Gray arriving at the film premiere of 'Hollywood Ending' at Chelsea West Cinema in New York City. A body pulled from New York's East River was identified as that of writer and actor Spalding Gray, 62, who had been missing for nearly two months.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Evan Agostini)

Monologuist Spalding Gray poses in his New York apartment in this Dec. 3, 1996 file photo. Authorities confirmed Monday, March 8, 2004, that the body of Gray, 62, was pulled out of the East River off Greenpoint, Brooklyn, on Sunday, two months after he walked out of his Manhattan apartment and disappeared. (AP Photo/Joe Tabacca, File)

NEW YORK - Actor-writer Spalding Gray, who laid bare his life in a series of acclaimed monologues like "Swimming to Cambodia" while making memorable appearances in such films as "The Paper," was found dead over the weekend, two months after he walked out of his Manhattan apartment and disappeared. He was 62.

Gray's body was pulled from the East River on Sunday and identified Monday through dental records and X-rays. The cause of his death was still under investigation, according to a spokeswoman for the medical examiner. But Gray had a history of depression and attempted suicide in 2002.

Story

FULL STORY

[JustPiper]

From Newsmax:

A special message from our friends at Lear Financial. They have Three Reasons Why Gold’s Widely Predicted Next Stop is $500 an ounce!

While gold is building support for its widely predicted next stop at $500, escalating world tensions could soon move its price even higher. According to Barron’s Magazine, James Turk, long-time gold authority, says, “The Gold Bull is just getting started.” Here may be why…

1) Chinese demand is predicted to eat up “3,000 tonnes of gold…worldwide supply is just 2500 tonnes per year!”
2) Japan has threatened to move a small portion of their dollar holdings to Gold…this alone could push gold to $500-$600 per ounce.
3) The U.S. Budget Deficit is expected to push interest rates higher after the elections. This would be a major boost to gold prices.

Will these things happen? Time will tell. But, with the dollar’s continuing free fall and Global uncertainty, you’d be wise to prepare.

http://etools.ncol.com/a/jgroup/bg_wwwgoldcentralcom_wwwnewsmaxcom_15.html

[JustPiper]

U.S. Asks Allies to Condemn Iran on Nuclear Issue
By CRAIG S. SMITH

Published: March 9, 2004

VIENNA, March 8 — The United States is pressing its European allies in the International Atomic Energy Agency to condemn Iran's nuclear program despite Tehran's insistence that it is for peaceful purposes only, according to a spokesman for the agency.

The United States is circulating a draft resolution at the agency's current board of governors' meeting that condemns Iran for failing to disclose in a declaration in October that it was working on an advanced centrifuge design capable of producing highly enriched uranium suitable for use in atomic weapons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/09/international/europe/09IRAN.html?th

[JustPiper]

Zimbabwe Reports Seizing Plane With 64 Suspected Mercenaries
By SHARON LaFRANIERE

Published: March 9, 2004

JOHANNESBURG, March 8 — Zimbabwean authorities said Monday that they had impounded a United States-registered cargo plane after its owners lied about the existence of 64 suspected mercenaries and military equipment on board.

The Boeing 727-100 cargo plane was seized Sunday night at the international airport in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi told reporters.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/09/international/africa/09ZIMB.html?th

[JustPiper]

Nuclear Plant, Closed After Corrosion, Will Reopen
By MATTHEW L. WALD

Published: March 9, 2004

WASHINGTON, March 8 — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Monday that it would allow an Ohio company to restart a nuclear plant that has been shut down since early 2002, when technicians discovered that acid used in the cooling water had eaten almost through the lid of the reactor.

The plant, Davis-Besse, near Toledo, has had extensive hardware and personnel changes, although critics said that reopening it was premature. Some are hoping that the owner, the FirstEnergy Corporation, will sell it to another operator.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/09/national/09NUKE.html?th

[JustPiper]

Bush Attacks Kerry on Bill to Trim Intelligence Budget
By RICHARD W. STEVENSON and JODI WILGOREN

Published: March 9, 2004

HOUSTON, March 8 — President Bush accused Senator John Kerry on Monday of having tried to "gut" the nation's intelligence services in 1995 when Mr. Kerry introduced legislation that would have cut intelligence spending by $1.5 billion over five years.

On a day of rock-'em, sock-'em politics unusual for such an early stage of a presidential campaign, Mr. Bush said the 1995 legislation, proposed two years after the first attack on the World Trade Center, undermined Mr. Kerry's claim to have given the nation the intelligence tools it needs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/09/politics/campaign/09TRAI.html?th
___________________________________________________________

WASHINGTON (AP) Federal regulators will allow Davis-Besse nuclear plant to reopen after two-year shutdown over safety issues.

[JustPiper]

WILL THE 'REAL' JOHN KERRY PLEASE ASK "YOU RANG?"

[Mrs. Xtrmst]

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