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Chronic Wasting Disease: An Urgent Call to Action Last updated on February 13, 2024 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has emerged as a significant threat to cervid populations in British Columbia. Recent confirmations of CWD in two deer samples from the Kootenay Region have prompted immediate action and heightened awareness within the hunting community. MANDATORY TESTING REQUIREMENT Effective immediately, hunters are mandated to submit harvested white-tailed and mule deer for CWD testing if obtained within specific Management Units (MUs). These include MUs 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8, 4-23, 4-24, and 4-25. Testing must occur within one week of harvest. Detailed submission instructions can be found on our CWD Surveillance & Testing page. UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD is a fatal neurological infection affecting cervids such as mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, and caribou. The disease's confirmation in the Kootenay Region has triggered a coordinated response led by the Provincial Wildlife Veterinarian in conjunction with the CWD Advisory Committee and Regional Working Groups. This collaborative effort includes input from First Nations, stakeholders, CWD experts, and other partners. LATEST NEWS AND RESOURCES Stay informed with the latest updates and resources concerning Chronic Wasting Disease. We encourage you to share this vital information within your networks to raise awareness and promote proactive measures.

In a recent report, the #CDC disclosed a case in July 2022 of a 29-year-old patient with #trichinellosis. The patient had eaten rare black bear meat with others, which had been frozen for 45 days before grilling. The symptoms included fever, muscle aches, eye swelling, and elevated eosinophils. Molecular testing found #trichinella larvae from the bear meat had been frozen in a household freezer for more than 15 weeks. #Freezing can kill some parasites commonly found in black bears, but according to the World Organization for Animal Health, some species of parasites are freeze-tolerant. Adequate cooking is the only reliable way to kill trichinella parasites. #Publichealth #CDC #Trichinellosis #FoodSafety #freezing

Bites and rabies : laws to be clarified? Resources and Numbers to remember in case of bites and information for first responders. 1)Resources for the person who has been bitten, or the responders in contact with animal fluids (saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, others): 811 or the public health department of the region (decision-making algorithm). While waiting for their response wash the wound with water  2) any exposure to bats must be evaluated even in the absence of injuries because the lesions made by this animal can go unnoticed, the 811 and the public health department contacted. Wash the exposed area as noted above even in the absence of lesion . 3) contact when an animal has bitten or is bitten:  a) pet: MAPAQ: 1-844 -Animals  b) non-domestic animal: MELCCFP: 1-800-463-2191 1-877-346-6763 MAPAQ: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food MELCCFP: Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. WARNING: To be observed and repeated for each bite Do not euthanize the animal because observation period is necessary (to check if the animal that has bitten may be a carrier of rabies) without authorization from the veterinarian except to protect the life of a person. Laws to be clarified on this?  Isolate the animal while waiting for the intervention of the MAPAQ or MELCCFP, if this is not possible or would be dangerous for responders, take the contact information of the owner of the pet that has bitten or has been bitten, and geolocate the animal and give the information to MAPAQ AND MELCCFP.  Bite protection equipment and precautions for responders.    Note: bites occur mainly in children,              bats can carry the rabies virus anywhere in Quebec. and any exposure to this animal must be evaluated, 811 and/or the public health department contacted because the lesions caused by this animal may go unnoticed  , and  MAPAQ and MELCCFP contacted too .              territories to watch in Quebec: North: Abitibi, North Shore, Cree James Bay,               Nunavik (Arctic fox)             South: Montérégie, Estrie (raccoon)Here are the main concepts to remember            (For children in camps, the stakeholders (police, firefighters, workers and             volunteers in the parks, nature hikers, etc.), Following the post of Christopher Labos on the rabies , .I wrote an English version of a post made previously

SAY “NO” to 43,000 monkey torture prison, biggest in the western hemisphere, proposed to be built on 500 acres of sensitive ecological land! Sign the petition 🖋️ ⬇️ ( The proposed facility would occupy environmentally sensitive areas that include wetlands, creeks, and rivers, allowing for the rapid and wide distribution into the environment of massive amounts of biological waste—including monkey saliva, feces, urine, blood, and other bodily fluids—potentially harboring pathogens.) ( PETA has obtained CDC documents showing that in recent years, there’s been a significant uptick in the arrival in the U.S. of monkeys infected with tuberculosis, malaria, and other deadly diseases. Deadly pathogens and diseases such as herpes B virus, Ebola-like viruses, tuberculosis, and others that monkeys pick up overseas can spread to humans and other animals ) ( Charles River has an appalling record of animal abuse. The company has been cited by federal authorities on numerous occasions for failing to provide even the most basic animal protections required by law, including for denying veterinary care and pain relief. Blatant neglect has led to abominable deaths. The company baked 32 monkeys to death after no one noticed that a thermostat had malfunctioned at its Nevada facility.) ( These monkeys are snatched from their homes, confined to squalid breeding farms, locked in small wooden crates, and shipped to the U.S. before they’re poisoned, cut up, and killed in gruesome laboratory experiments.) Watch the video and witness the truth, animal testing is torture! 🆘 STOP THE TORTURE ❌ DEMAND U.S. LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL TESTING BECOME LAW NOW! I AM AN ANIMAL TOO, HERBIVORE BY DESIGN #lifemattersforall All life matters as all matters are intrinsically connected to all life on Earth 🌍 (?)•> ( )”~ * <”\ \/“> ^••^ ~•> ‘0‘ <•\ (!)

𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥-𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 #Zoonoticdiseases, originating from animals, pose an ever-growing threat to human health. Several factors significantly increase the risk of these diseases crossing over to humans. Discover in this One Health Insights article how the constant movement of animals, hunting and consumption of bushmeat, and the relentless push into natural habitats are accelerating this danger. Also, find out how a multidisciplinary approach involving scientists, veterinarians, and public health officials is crucial in combating these outbreaks. Read here: https://lnkd.in/dreKqaHR ______________________________________ This article was contributed by Isabella Hofman #Zoonoses #Emergingandreemergingdiseases #Environmentalhealth #Globalhealthsecurity #Animalwelfare #onehealth

CWD Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer: Eating Meat of Diseased Animals or Animals Found Dead Is Not Recommended #CWD #WOAH #priondisease #zombiedeer #transmission #venison #CDC In the United States, the CDC now thinks two cases of hunters dying from eating diseased deer were indeed from eating deer with Chronic Wasting Disease. CWD is a prion disease, like Mad Cow, and the hunters developed the same sort of neurological decline. Infected deer have been gruesomely named Zombie Deer for their lack of coordination, stupor, and disorientation. It is easy to spot infected animals, and people have been warned to not eat infected deer they shoot, and in general, never eat or touch an animal found dead. This will be a challenge because deer are hunted, not farmed. People will have to decide by sight if the meat is safe. Likely, if the problem becomes widespread and there are a few more human CWD cases, deer hunting will be closed and wildlife managers will have to decide the most sustainable way to kill herds suspected as diseased.

Who's afraid of little old me?🖋 Not everyone is a fan of snakes, or reptiles in general, and that's perfectly alright because you don't need to like snakes in order to simply respect them and the tremendously important role that they play in their native ecosystems! For example... 🐍Snakes are experts at population control and help keep the food web in check, especially rodent and insect populations, by consuming speed-breeding animals. 🐍Snakes also help prevent the spread of disease by consuming animals that carry zoonotic diseases, such as rodents and small mammals that host ticks and associated tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, and more. 🐍Snakes also help prevent the destruction of property and infrastructure by consuming the animals typically responsible for structural damage such as mice, rats, moles, squirrels, bats, grubs, slugs, and even baby gophers. 🐍Snakes help aerate and fertilize soil as they burrow through the dirt, ensuring that plants receive plenty of oxygen and nitrogen. And, they can also serve as secondary seed dispersers. 🐍Snake venom has also led to the development of several critical pharmaceutical therapies used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, heart attacks, and even cancer. So, if you spot a snake, don't panic! They're more afraid of you than you are of them and have absolutely zero interest in biting you, unless they're being provoked. Most snakes will typically be on their merry way as soon as they sense people or pets approaching. However, if you happen to come across a snake that isn't too keen on moving, likely because it's sleeping, cold, or digesting, simply give it some space and adjust your course and activities around the snake. It will be on its way in a few hours after it has had a chance to rest, digest, and/or soak up some sunshine. If you're concerned that you've encountered a venomous snake, do not approach or attempt to harm it, as even deceased and decapitated venomous snakes can still envenomate people and pets! If you are safely able to do so, take a photo of the snake and contact your nearest Wildlife Conservation Law Enforcement Office to identify and, if necessary, relocate the animal. Fortunately, of the 21 snake species that call Pennsylvania home only 3 are venomous: copperheads, timber rattlesnakes, and eastern massasauga rattlesnakes. And, all three species prefer to keep to themselves and away from humans. If you do encounter a venomous snake in Pennsylvania near your property, place of work, or campground contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for further assistance.

Which is the best method to control African Swine Fever (ASF) in wild pigs? We compared the efficiencies of four methods as part of a simulated ASF response in wild pigs. Culling and recovering carcasses of wild pigs averaged 0.15 wild pigs/person hour and cost an average of $233/wild pig across all four methods. https://lnkd.in/ge2tpe4y

The NAPSE has identified key strategic actions to be undertaken for operationalization of human, wildlife and animal component. The strategic action for human health component includes ensuring provision of anti snake venom at all health facilities, strengthening surveillance of snake bite cases and deaths in humans, strengthening of emergency care services at District Hospitals/ CHCs including services for ambulance, institutionalization of Regional Venom Centre’s and inter-sectoral coordination. The strategic action for wildlife health component includes education awareness, antivenom distribution, strengthening of the key stakeholders, systematic research and monitoring and snake venom collection and snake relocation. The strategic action for animal and agriculture component includes prevention of snake bites in livestock, community engagement etc. The NAPSE envisages a step wise approach for the States to develop their own Action Plan as per their needs. The activities envisaged under human, wildlife, tribal and animal health component will be undertaken by concerned stakeholders at all levels. The states will identify and nominate State and District Nodal Officer (SNO & DNO) to coordinate with SNO and DNO of SBPC. The activities of human health component are already being implemented under snakebite prevention and control through the State and District Nodal Officer (SNO & DNO) under National Health Mission. Surveillance is a key element in NAPSE so that problems can be easily identified, and actions could be undertaken taken in a timely manner. The NAPSE has defined joint monitoring mechanisms with specific indicators for both human, wildlife and animal health components at all levels, independent component wise monitoring by the concerned stakeholder and independent external evaluation of the state action plan. This document describes phase wise activity matrix and road map for State action plans. Dr Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Smt. L S Changsan, Addl. Secretary and MD (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Smt. R Jaya, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs; Shri Sushil Kumar Awasthi, Addl. Director General of Forest (WL), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dr Roderico H Ofrin, WHO Representative to India and senior officials of the Union Government were present on the occasion.

Discover the parasites you need to be aware of and learn how to prevent them. 🛡️🐄🐑 Click the link to protect your precious animals 👇👇 https://bit.ly/3KQknwQ #ParasiteAwareness #AnimalHealth #LivestockHealth #AnimalWellness #FarmLife #ProtectYourHerd #BeatTheParasites #AD