I.  OIE List A Diseases

 Newcastle Disease (ND)

Newcastle Disease in Algeria, August 2002 -- An outbreak of Newcastle disease involving poultry layer farms in Algeria was reported to the OIE on August 27, 2002.  Algeria’s last reported outbreak of Newcastle disease was in 1997.  The current outbreak involves the Wilaya of Medea and the Wilaya of Bouira (pushpin markers on map).  The disease was first detected on August 18. 

Source: OIE, ProMED, CEI Impact Worksheet

Newcastle Disease in Denmark, August 2002 -- The Danish National Veterinary and Food Administration confirmed an outbreak of Newcastle disease at 42 premises in western Denmark.  The last reported outbreak of Newcastle disease in Denmark was 1998.  In mid-July, Danish authorities suspected an outbreak of Newcastle disease on premises located in the southern part of the Jutland Peninsula, near the German border.  To control the outbreak, the chickens were destroyed.  Safety zones of 10 kilometers were established around the affected premises.    As of August 22, 132 outbreaks of ND in Denmark were recorded.  A regionalization plan remains in force.  Health certificates for poultry slaughter and hatching eggs are issued only from 8 counties.

Source: OIE, ProMED, CEI Impact Worksheet

II.  OIE List B Diseases

Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC)

SVC in North Carolina, July 2002 -- Spring viraemia of carp (SVC) in the US has been detected in a koi hatchery in Kernersville, North Carolina.  Diagnostic samples were first sent to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Laboratory, an APHIS approved diagnostic laboratory, then forwarded to the OIE reference laboratory located in Weymouth, United Kingdom, where the diagnosis was confirmed on July 5, 2002.  The premises where infected fish were found consisted of 202 ponds divided among 6 locations.  Infected fish were detected in a total of 4 ponds.  Of 150,000 koi in the 4 ponds, 15,000 died and the remaining 135,000 were depopulated.  The 4 affected ponds were drained.  The hatchery is no longer experiencing signs of SVC in any of the other ponds or processing facilities.  The source of infection has not been identified.  A surveillance program has been instituted and the hatchery has been placed under quarantine.  The North Carolina Wildlife Commission is testing rivers and tributaries that receive effluent water from the hatchery. 

SVC in Wisconsin, July 2002 -- Wisconsin experienced an approximately 10-ton fish kill in Cedar Lake in the north-western part of the state.  Specimens were submitted to the Wisconsin State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where SVC was diagnosed.  The source and extent of infection is unknown but the lake empties into the Mississippi River via the St. Croix River. 

Source: ProMED, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Press Release

Mikrocytosis of Pacific Oysters

Mikrocytosis in Washington, July 2002 -- Mikrocytos mackini (Mikrocytosis) was identified in feral Pacific oysters in waters of the Dungeness Bay in the northwestern part of the state of Washington.  Commercial oysters from a nearby farm grown on longlines (ropes spread over the sand) have previously tested negative for Mikrocytos mackini.  Movement or harvest of shellfish from waters of the Dungeness Bay was already prohibited because of high fecal coliforms and paralytic shellfish poisoning.  Although not previously reported in the United States, Mikrocytosis is probably ubiquitous in feral oysters throughout the Strait of Georgia and is found in specific localities around Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Source: USDA, OIE; Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

Tularemia in Prairie Dogs

Tularemia in Texas, August 2002 -- Wild caught prairie dogs (Cynomys species) from Texas and South Dakota destined for interstate and international shipment appeared ill at an export facility in Texas.  The diagnosis of Francisella tularensis, serotype B was made in about 250 of the 3600 present.  States and countries which received animals before the onset of clinical signs were notified and all remaining exposed animals were depopulated.

Source: OIE, City of Lubbock, TX web site, Texas Department of Public Health

III.  Other Significant Disease Events

United States

Chronic Wasting Disease

The first case of CWD in Minnesota was reported in August in a farm-raised elk.  Minnesota is the 10^th state to report CWD.  Minnesota has had a CWD sampling plan for suspect feral deer for over a year but none have previously been found positive. Minnesota will intensify the deer sampling program in the Aitkin county area, where the first case of CWD in elk was reported.  The first finding of CWD in captive elk in South Dakota since 1997 was also reported in August.  The animal was from a herd which had been maintained behind double fencing as a precaution against fence-line contact with an affected adjacent herd which had been depopulated 51 months earlier.  The elk herd where the diagnosis was made has been quarantined under South Dakota regulations and will be depopulated.  No further permits for captive elk at the facility will be issued.

Source: ProMED, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

West Nile Virus

WNV in the United States, July-September 2002 -- West Nile Virus continued to expand in range.  The number of equine cases reached 7462 by September 29, with 1239 cases reported over the previous seven days.  WNV is now present in 42 states in the United States and 5 Canadian provinces.  In many states, WNV is present in all or nearly all counties.  In humans as of September 25, there were 2121 confirmed cases and 95 fatalities in 2002, over twice the number of cases predicted.  WNV has also been found in other mammalian species including: squirrel, dog, wolf, mountain goat, sheep and at least 80 species of birds.

 Source: ProMED, CDC, Cornell University Center for the Environment

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease of Deer 

Wisconsin, September 2002 -- The first ever case of EHD in Wisconsin was found within the state’s chronic wasting disease eradication zone.  The Wisconsin DNR will continue investigating and reporting deer deaths from this disease through the agency's affiliation with the Southeast Wildlife Disease Cooperative in Athens, Georgia which runs a national surveillance program to track the disease.  Ohio, September 2002-- The Ohio Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed that EHD was present in Meigs, Gallia and Vinton counties after the reported deaths of about 200 deer.  This is the first time EHD has been found in Ohio.  The state will not propose any changes in regulations for this deer hunting season.

Source: ProMED, Ohio Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 

International 

Phocine Distemper 

Phocine Distemper in Northern Europe, July 2002 -- Phocine distemper re-emerged for the first time since 1988.  The disease causes significant morbidity and mortality among harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).  Along the Scandinavian coast, 1160 dead seals were found and at least 50 in the Netherlands.  In the 1988 outbreak, mortality was 40-60%.  Germany and the United Kingdom have also diagnosed phocine distemper in their waters.  Although an experimental vaccine exists in the Netherlands, no uniform strategy for vaccinating, treating or controlling phocine distemper is in place. Early detection of the disease should give countries bordering the North Sea a chance to plan ahead. 

Source: ProMED, Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs United Kingdom (DEFRA), Nature Science Update 

This summary is produced in January, April, July and October by the Center for Emerging Issues (CEI), a part of USDA’s Veterinary Services.  The summary delivers a concise report of selected worldwide animal disease events in a single document for the benefit of USDA veterinarians and epidemiologists as well as other readers.  This and other reports produced by CEI are available on the internet at:  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cei/index.htm.  Comments concerning this edition may be addressed to Robert Harris at 970-494-7327 or Robert.Harris@aphis.usda.gov.