<
https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2024/12/bird-flu-kills-2-wild-cougars-in-washington-state.html>
"Two wild cougars on the Olympic Peninsula have been killed by bird flu, as the
disease continues to spread to more species.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Panthera, a global wild cat
conservation organization, confirmed the deaths Thursday.
One of the big cats was being tracked with a collar, while the other was found
nearby around the same time. Because most animals' locations are not tracked,
it is unknown how many other cougars or other species may be infected on the
peninsula. That is one reason why these deaths are so concerning, said Mark
Elbroch, director of the puma program for Panthera (puma is another name for
mountain lion, or cougar).
Cougars are a top carnivore and that raises the question of how widespread the
disease is lower down the food chain, Elbroch said. “It certainly raises
eyebrow and makes one wonder: is it indicative of a bigger pattern out of
sight. It’s troubling.”
The virus, also known as Type A H5N1, has been circulating in Washington since
at least 2022, when the state Department of Agriculture confirmed it in several
backyard poultry flocks. Soon after, WDFW confirmed cases of the disease in
wild birds. Bird flu killed more than half a tern colony near Port Townsend in
2024, and 2023 saw the first jump of the disease from seabirds to harbor seals,
the first report of marine mammals dying from the disease on the West Coast.
The first human cases of the virus were reported in the state in October, and
as of early November, 14 confirmed and probable cases were reported, according
to department data. Those cases were caused by contact with poultry. So far,
there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of bird flu in
Washington.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain the risk of the
virus to humans is low.
California officials this month declared a state of emergency over the spread
of bird flu. The virus was detected for the first time in U.S. dairy cows last
March, and since then it has been confirmed in at least 866 herds in 16 states,
according to
The Associated Press, and more than 60 people in eight states
have also been infected."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
