TOXIC ALGAE - USA (WASHINGTON)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002049276_webtoxicalgae29.html Mammoth toxic algae bloom sighted off Washington state coast
A toxic algae bloom 30 miles wide has been detected 15 miles off the
northwest coast of Washington state, the largest and most potentially
lethal yet found by scientists in the region.
Pseudo-nitzschia algae in the Juan de Fuca eddy can release potentially
deadly domoic acid, which accumulates in the tissue of razor clams and
other shellfish and, if ingested by humans, attacks areas in the brain
responsible for learning and memory.
Concentrations of the poisonous algae are as high as 11 million cells per
liter, compared with about 200 000 cells per liter in 2003, scientists said
Tuesday following a 3-week research mission.
FELINE LEUKEMIA, FLORIDA PANTHER - USA (FLORIDA)
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040930/NEWS01/409300419/1075 Panthers get rare disease
Feline leukemia new woe for cats
Feline leukemia virus is so called because it was 1st isolated in cats with
leukemia. The virus damages a cat's immune system, similar to the way HIV
affects human health. Besides leukemia (cancer of the white blood cells)
the disease causes other cancers, damages the immune system, and causes
severe anemia, or low red blood cell counts.
5 endangered Florida panthers have died with a disease that was unknown in
the wild cats before state scientists discovered it less than 2 years ago.
RIFT VALLEY FEVER- SAUDI ARABIA (JIZAN) (09): OIE
Source: OIE Disease Information 1 Oct 2004 Vol. 17 - No. 40 [edited]
http://www.oie.int/eng/info/hebdo/a_current.htm#Sec3 Rift Valley fever in Saudi Arabia -- Serological findings
Emergency report
Information received on 29 Sep 2004 from Dr Abdulghaniy Y. M. Al Fadhl,
Director of Animal Quarantine, Ministry of Agriculture, Riyadh:
Date of the report: 18 Sep 2004.
Nature of diagnosis: laboratory.
Estimated date of primary infection: 28 Apr 2004.
During routine serosurveillance for Rift Valley fever, in Jizan region, 5
seropositive cases were detected in 4 sheep flocks, without any clinical
evidence either on the positive cases or on the contact animals.