Domestic cats in Colorado are dying of bird flu. Is your cat at risk?

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Exposing the Big Game

USA TODAY

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/08/17/indoor-domestic-cats-colorado-bird-flu/74797557007/

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A handful of house cats in Colorado died this year from bird flu and some had no direct exposure to outbreaks on dairy farms.

State public health officials haven’t determined how Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 circulating in infected herds sickened six domestic cats, including two indoor cats, raising questions for some about how the virus spreads and infects different animals.

State officials “suspect it is directly related to dairy farm exposures,” Kristin Richmann, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said in an email.

“Through genetic testing of the virus, the infections in several of these cats have been linked to the avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle, but we did not document direct exposure to dairy cattle in all cases,” she said. As for the two indoor cats, she added, it’s possible “tracking of virus from the environment into the home” caused infections in the pets.

Experts said the deaths could be linked to mice in and around homes that carried bird flu. Cats could have preyed on these rodents and owners may not be aware it happened, said Dr. Jane Sykes, a professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Another source of infection could be raw food that people feed their pets.

Cats living on farms with infected livestock died of bird flu during recent outbreaks this year. However, it’s unclear how house cats with no exposure to sick animals on farms got the virus.

“Honestly, when you see just this small number of animals that are reported, it’s often the tip of the iceberg,” Sykes told USA TODAY. “There are often lots of cases that don’t get recognized.”

A handful of domestic cats in Colorado have died from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza amid 2024 outbreaks of the virus.

Bird flu in cats, humans

The risk of bird flu to the public is low, state and federal officials say. It’s also unlikely that sick pets would transmit the virus to humans. There has been no transmission of the virus between people during this outbreak.

Last week, the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office announced that six domestic cats had been diagnosed with H5N1.

One case was directly associated with a commercial dairy facility where cows were infected. Two others were indoor cats, and the remaining three cats had spent time outside hunting mice or small birds, according to the announcement posted by the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association.

Five of the six cases had similar symptoms. Pet owners reported initial complaints that their cats were lethargic and not eating. Some later became severely ill with respiratory symptoms, and most developed neurologic issues. Several were tested for rabies, which has similar symptoms, but were negative. All the cats died. All tested positive for bird flu.

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The virus detected in nearby dairy herds spilled over to mammals and wild birds on and near these premises, the state veterinarian said. The specific strain of H5N1 has been spreading to species that hadn’t previously been considered reservoirs for the virus.

Citing U.S Department of Agriculture data, Colorado Public Radio linked five of the six cats to northern Colorado, where outbreaks among livestock have occurred.

The USDA said via mail that its National Veterinary Services Laboratory has confirmed 36 domestic cats with bird flu. In many cases, they had the same strain found in dairy cattle.

Across the U.S. this year, 13 people have been infected with bird flu, including 10 in Colorado. All were poultry or dairy workers. No person has become ill from an infected cat, said Richmann, from the state public health department. Officials have monitored people exposed to the sick cats for 10 days after their last exposure, she said.

Cats are typically “dead-end hosts,” meaning they don’t tend to transmit bird flu to other animals once infected, according to Sykes, from UC Davis. Death rates from bird flu have been high among cats: about two-thirds of cats died once they were infected, according to one study.

There have been instances of cats spreading disease. In 2016, a cat infected a person with a different type of avian influenza at a New York City animal shelter. Thailand and Germany experienced prior outbreaks of bird flu in cats.

Jennifer Martin, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Colorado School of Public Health, said it’s important to understand the genetic sequence of H5N1 in cats to determine whether the virus is mutating, or just finding hosts in which it’s already adapted to survive.

“That’s going to be really helpful in putting together a puzzle that seems to be expanding,” Martin said. “But is it an expansion that’s caused by a change in the virus or is it a natural expansion?” She said once that question is answered, “we can rely on best practices to address it.”

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What can I do to protect my cat?

How much the bird flu has spread beyond infected farms remains unclear. In the meantime, the public should rely on established methods to protect people and their pets from getting sick, Martin said. These steps are as simple as washing hands after handling food or litter boxes. Pet owners should also avoid serving their pets raw milk or meat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people and pets avoid contact with wild birds.

Pet owners should watch for signs of illness in their cats and should contact a veterinarian if respiratory and neurological symptoms develop. The Colorado Veterinarian’s Office said bird flu infection should still be considered in cats even if symptoms and risk factors aren’t all present.

People get sick when they inhale the virus or get it in their mouth, eyes or nose. In humans, symptoms have included eye redness and flu-like respiratory issues.

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Python challenge: Why state recommends not eating Florida pythons

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Exposing the Big Game

Python challenge: Why state recommends not eating Florida pythons

Florida Health Department advises against eating pythons, but some do anyway.

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Exposing the Big Game

Samantha Neely Kimberly Miller

USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2024/08/16/florida-python-meat-mercury-challenge/74780800007/

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How do you take your python — deep-fried or sautéed in spices and olive oil? Though you might want to think twice for placing your order.

The Florida Department of Health has recently penned an advisory of “do not consume python” caught in the state, no matter the snake size because of the risk of unhealthy mercury levels in its meat.

However, some are still taking a nibble on the invasive snake. While its not against the law to eat python, it’s just not recommended, according to FWC’s Python Challenge website. Here’s what to know before trying it out.

What are Burmese pythons? See how big invasive snakes get

A Burmese python slithers through the Everglades during the Python Challenge in the Everglades.

The Burmese python is a large, nonvenomous constrictor snake that is an invasive species in Florida. Burmese pythons were introduced to Florida via the pet trade and are now well established in the Everglades, where the snake represents a threat to the ecosystem.

Burmese pythons typically grow to 16 feet long, weighing 200 pounds, with the largest Burmese python ever measured caught at 19 feet in Naples on July 12, 2023.

The pythons are found just south of Lake Okeechobee to Key Largo and from western Broward County west to Collier County. However, officials last year said they are currently trying to learn more about Burmese pythons removed from the Charlotte County area.

What is the Florida Python Challenge? It ends this Sunday

The Florida Python Challenge is a 10-day competition created by FWC to encourage participants to remove pythons from seven commission-managed lands in South Florida.

The annual Everglades python hunt started at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9 and will end at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18. There is $25,000 in prizes up for grabs during this year’s hunt.

FWC officials claim the intent of the challenge is to not only remove the predators but also to spread awareness of the dangers they pose. The competition also seeks to protect the Everglades habitat and all its native animals by removing the invasive Burmese pythons.

Can you eat python meat? Why it isn’t recommended by the FWC

According to the FWC, some Burmese pythons removed from the Everglades that have been tested for mercury levels have contained amounts of mercury considered too high for human consumption.

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“Though it is not illegal to eat python meat, the Florida Department of Health recently finalized a consumption advisory for Burmese pythons found in Florida, advising “Do Not Consume Python” due to the high levels of mercury found in python meat. For more information regarding this advisory, please contact the Florida Department of Health,” it shares on the challenge’s website.

In a Palm Beach Post article, they shared that toxicology results on 487 snakes were reviewed by the state’s health department and led to its advisory, as explained in a March 8 letter to FWC’s non-native wildlife coordinator McKayla Spencer.

The letter also notes that because there is no known meal size for snakes, the standard 8 ounces used for fish was also used in the python testing.

Are some Burmese pythons more poisonous than others? Study says so

Capturing a Burmese python can be the thrill of a lifetime. The FWC has been hosting its Python Challenge since 2013 where professional and amateurs compete for prize money to catch and kill the most Burmese python. These are some of the memorable poses.

Much of the mercury in Florida comes from pollution in the sky, raining down from towering clouds that grab it in the upper levels of the atmosphere.

In Everglades National Park, the mercury mixes with sulfur coming from agriculture upstream. The sulfur oxidizes to sulfate, which energizes microbes that turn mercury into methylmercury, which is what accumulates in the food chain.

In a 2019 study, researchers from Florida Gulf Coast University and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, found lower levels of mercury in pythons that live in the southwest region of the state, including Picayune Strand State Forest and Big Cypress National Preserve.

The 2019 study also found little correlation between python size, age and mercury level.

Participants from all over the country and Canada come for Florida Python Challenge this week 5 things to know about the Florida Python Challenge: Map for hunt, bounty, how to kill No guns: Legal ways to kill a Burmese python in Florida Python Challenge Florida Python Challenge is on! Prizes a lot bigger in 2024 for snakes hunted this August Behold! Some of the biggest Burmese pythons caught during Florida Python Challenge What is a ball python? Here’s an explainer on the ‘nice cousin’ to the Burmese Warmer temperatures, cold-tolerant adaptations means Burmese pythons may reach Georgia

Update on Paul Watson’s Hearing

Posted on August 18, 2024 by Exposing the Big Game

Paul Watson has been denied the basic right to defend himself with evidence, while enduring degrading treatment that is more fitting for a convicted criminal than a man yet to have his day in court. The Ministry of Justice must act swiftly to end this travesty.
Paul was brought to court today in Nuuk, Greenland handcuffed and in immense pain when trying to exit the backseat of a police van.
The entire court hearing was in Danish and Paul was not allowed a translator, which goes against Danish law.
Paul concluded his statement in court saying, “It’s obvious to me that Japan is seeking revenge for the international humiliation caused by the Whale Wars TV series, reporting our actions against illegal whaling. But my two little boys need me more than Japan needs its revenge.”
The court refused to see video evidence of the Whale Wars series that shows that the Japanese fabricated evidence. This evidence is not only publicly available, but also strongly refutes the charges against him. This evidence, if allowed, could significantly undermine the case being brought by the Japanese authorities. The refusal to consider this evidence raises serious concerns about the fairness of the legal proceedings and suggests that Watson is being denied a fair opportunity to defend himself.
The actions taken against Watson represent a blatant violation of his personal rights. The denial of his ability to present exculpatory evidence, coupled with his prolonged detention under dubious circumstances, highlights a disturbing disregard for his basic human rights. This case not only threatens Watson’s freedom, but also sets a dangerous precedent for the treatment of activists and the protection of individual rights in the face of politically motivated persecution.
The positive aspect of this trial is that Japan has now catapulted Operation Kangei Maru to a worldwide audience. Operation Kangei Maru would not have received such attention, so by them arresting Paul, it is putting their actions on trial for the whole world to witness and judge.
The Judge’s verdict – Paul is being held in prison until September 5 pending the Justice Department’s decision on potential extradition to Japan.
Paul’s lawyers immediately appealed the decision to the High Court of Greenland.
Statement by Lawyers Julie Stage and Jonas Christoffersen– “The allegations against Paul Watson are based on facts constructed by Japanese authorities to stop Paul Watson’s campaign. Paul Watson is accused of conspiring with Peter Bethune to injure a crew member of the Shonan Maru, who the Japanese claim was on the deck of the ship when the stink bomb hit the ship. The facts that led to Peter Bethune’s conviction in Japan in 2010. Video shows the crew member was not on deck when the stink bomb hit the ship, contrary to Japanese claims. What the images also show is that the Japanese had, a short time earlier, used large quantities of pepper gas, which touched their own crew in the face. These videos show Japan made up facts to obtain extradition and conviction. Our team will be releasing Animal Planet videos so the public can understand what this case is really about.”
We need ALL hands on deck – Let your voices be heard!
Email and CallDenmark’s Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaardjm@jm.dk+45 7226 8400
#FreePaulWatson

Address to send Paul letters in Prison
PAUL WATSONAnstalten PrisonNuuk, GREENLANDDK-3900

In 2008, the Federal Court of Australia ruled that Japanese whaling activities in the Australian Whale Sanctuary, which is part of the Southern Ocean, were illegal. The court issued an injunction against the Japanese whaling company, Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd, ordering them to stop hunting whales in the Australian Whale Sanctuary but it was ignored by Japan.
Australia then took legal action against Japan by bringing a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2013, challenging Japan’s Antarctic whaling program. Australia argued that Japan’s whaling activities violated international law, specifically the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
In 2014, the ICJ ruled in favor of Australia, declaring that Japan’s whaling program was not for scientific purposes and ordered Japan to cease its whaling operations in the Southern Ocean. Despite this ruling, Japan later resumed whaling under a revised program, claiming it was for scientific research.
At the 2016 International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, Australia led the charge with a landmark resolution, approved by 88 nations, aimed at tightening the loophole that allows nations to kill whales under the pretext of scientific research. While the IWC has made strides in closing this loophole, it still exists. Tragically, over 15,000 whales have been hunted by Japan in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters under the guise of research.

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