Rabid Bat Found in Ottawa County

bat (photo from Michigan Field Guide)

from M-Live

Ottawa County (Michigan) Department of Public Health has announced the first case of rabies in the county this year in any species of animal. No human cases have been reported to date.

Bats are most active from May through September, and people should take precautions. Any scratch or bite should prompt capture of the animal for testing. Finding a bat in a room where people have been sleeping or finding a bat in a room with people such as children or the infirm who cannot clearly communicate any interactions should cause concern.

Do not release of dispose of the bat. Confine or collect the bat and contact your local health department so it can be tested. Rabies is curable if treatment begins before symptoms begin.

So far in 2026, Michigan has found 22 cases of animals with rabies.

See Bat in Emmet County Tests Positive for Rabies


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Another Mosquito-Borne Hazard

mosquito (photo by mycteria)

compiled from several sources

Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department has confirmed Jamestown Canyon Virus (JCV) in Michigan this year. The virus is mosquito-borne and causes Jamestown Canyon encephalitis.

The actual occurrance of the disease is quite rare and usually results only in mild flu or cold-like symptoms such as headache, sore throat, runny nose or cough. Some cases are totally asymptomatic.

In a few cases the progression will lead to nausea, vomiting, and fever. This can develop into meningitis or meningoencephalitis, both serious illneeses. Older persons or those with compromised immune systems are more susceptible. However, the CDC reports only 13 cases from 2000 to 2013.

The Environmental Health Division monitors mosquito populations in the Kalamozoo area and found the virus in a routine inspection.

Jamestown Canyon Virus is found throughout the United States, although it is not studied extensively since most cases are mild. Taking normal precautions against mosquito bites is recommended.

See WZZM article


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More about Alpha-Gal Syndrome

lone star tick ((photo by James Gathany, Public Health Image Library, public domain)

from The Daily Mining Gazette

The meat allergy potentially caused by the bite of the Lone Star tick is on the rise. Here's more information.

Alpha-gal syndrome is not caused by a bacteria or a virus. It is an allergic response of the human immune system to the alpha-gal -- short for galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose -- sugar molecule

If this sugar is ingested, it is harmless. In fact, the molecule is present in the meat of most mammals, but not primates or humans.

The problem is that it's present in the saliva of certain ticks, notably the Lone Star tick which has been making its way northward, and has been found in southern Michigan. When one of these ticks pierces human skin, an allergic response is triggered. Symptoms can increase over time.

After a person develops the antibodies, eating red meat (and occasionally dairy products) can cause hives, diarrhea and itchiness. Seafood and poultry do not trigger the response. Depending on the severity of the reaction, this can be life-threatening.

Although the usual "treatment" is to simply avoid red meat, the FDA approved a drug in 2024 that can reduce the symptoms of the reaction. Also, there is a genetically-modified pork on the market that does not contain alpha-gal. Currently, about 450,000 Americans have the syndrome.

See more at Wikipedia


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ID that Engorged Tick

engorged ticks (graphic from Michigan Health Department)

partially from American Lyme Disease Foundation

If you discover a tick on you that has already feasted, it's always a good plan to save the tick in a zip-seal plastic bag so you can take it to your doctor.

This chart may help you identify which type of tick has bitten you.

After tick removal, monitor the bite site over the next few weeks for any signs of Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses, such as a rash or fever. Not all ticks carry disease, and not all tick bites will result in disease. However, if you have concerns or symptoms develop, consult with a healthcare provider. They may advise you based on the type of tick, your geographical area, the duration of attachment, and the local prevalence of tick-borne illnesses.


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Hantavirus Poses Greater Risk to Hikers than on Cruise Ships

deer mouse (photo from Maryland Biodiversity Project)

from Gear Junkie

While hantavirus is in the news of late because of severe illness on a cruise ship, it's really a greater risk to campers and hikers. The disease is caused almost exclusively from contact with the waste products, urine and feces, of rodents. Infection can come from particles entering wounds, or by breathing aerosols or dust.

Most cases in the US are transmitted by deer mice, but most rodents carry some strain of hantavirus. Although the death rate is high from the disease the CDC has tracked only about 30 cases per year for the past 30 years. Voles, shrews, bats, pigs, and cattle have all been noted to sometimes carry a hantavirus. In truth, the risk of contacting the virus is high, but simple cleanliness reduces the risk significantly.

94% of cases in the US have occurred west of the Mississippi.

Campers often use huts, shelters, outhouses, and register boxes where evidence of rodent occupation is obvious. There are simple things you can do to reduce your chances of contracting hantavirus:
• try to sleep elsewhere if you encounter mouse droppings or nests
• store your food in rodent-proof containers
• wear gloves and mask if cleaning areas where you find droppings or nests, and disinfect the areas.

See Hantavirus on Wikipedia


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Botulism C Confirmed in Grand Traverse Bay

botulism molecule (public domain)

from a news release of Michigan DNR

The Department of Natural Resources recently diagnosed type C botulism in wild waterfowl along the East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay. During the last week of July, dead mallards were collected and sent to the DNR Wildlife Disease Lab in Lansing, Michigan, for testing, and just recently the lab confirmed the disease.

"As of Aug. 4, approximately two dozen mallards had been found dead from type C botulism," said DNR wildlife biologist and pathologist Tom Cooley.

Botulism is a condition brought on by ingesting a naturally occurring toxin produced by bacteria found in the bottom sediments of water bodies. Because the water levels in the Great Lakes are higher this year than the past several years, water is currently on mudflats that had been previously exposed, and because the water depth is shallow, the anaerobic conditions necessary for the bacteria to grow are established. In the case of type C botulism, dabbling ducks or other shore birds feeding in the sediment can be susceptible to the die-off.

Fortunately, type C botulism is not an immediate risk to humans, although pets, including dogs, could acquire the toxin if they were to eat a dead bird.

"Any dead birds that are on the shoreline need to be picked up and disposed of properly. Any dead or dying birds that are found along the south shore of Grand Traverse Bay should be reported to the local Traverse City DNR office at 231-922-5280, ext. 6832. Please provide information on the location, type and number of birds.

See Type C botulism confirmed along East Arm of Grand Traverse Bay for the entire article
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Missauke County Dogs Die of Blastomycosis

Chest X-ray from a dog with blastomycosis, (Photo from Univ. of Georgia Dept. of Anatomy and Radiology)

compiled from several sources

Two Missauke County dogs have died from the fungal infection Blastomycosis. The fungus is inhaled as dogs walk through forest litter. The organism responsible is a fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Dogs and humans seem to be most susceptible, but cats and horses may also become infected. Since it depends upon exposure to the fungus, it is found only where the fungus grows. Cases are most often reported in the valleys of the major US rivers, the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio. It has also been documented in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba.

The fungus requires wet, sandy, acidic soils rich in organic matter and in close proximity to water. Sadly, West Michigan sounds like a perfect location.

Large dog breeds, and most often males, are most likely to become infected. No reason for this disparity has been determined, although it may be simply due to the likelihood of those dogs roaming more.

Once a dog is infected, symptoms are diffuse, and only specific tests can determine if the problem is Blastomycosis. Watch for coughing, difficulty breathing, depression, skin lesions (like large pimples), and eye irritation. An exact diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian who is looking for this specific problem. Since it is rare in Michigan, vets may not be looking for it.

The treatment is usually large doses of Amphotericin B, which almost always causes some degree of kidney failure. An alternative is Itraconazole, also effective and safer, but more expensive.

Blastomycosis is a serious disease, and its appearance in Michigan, near Lake City, is not good news.



See Veterinary Clinical Pathology
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First Michigan Human Rabies Death Since 1983

Electron micrograph of the Rabies Virus (photo by CDC, public domain)

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
based on a report from UpNorthLive.com

Few details are being released, but Region #10 Department of public health has reported that a man has died from rabies. This is the first known human death from the virus in Michigan since 1983. Region #10 covers Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Newaygo, Oceana and Wexford Counties, so one can assume that the death occurred in this area.

The disease was contracted by contact with a bat, although it has not been stated whether the man was actually bitten. Bats are the most frequent carriers of the virus in Michigan, although fewer than 1% of the animals are infected. Other common carriers are foxes, skunks, raccoons and coyotes.

Only 55 cases of rabies have been diagnosed in the United States since 1990. By the time symptoms appear in a human, the virus has probably reached the brain, and no treatment is possible. However, if contact is made with a wild animal that is acting strangely, one should always seek treatment immediately so that vaccine can be administered in time to prevent the disease from spreading, and ultimate death. Infected animals may lose their fear of humans, act aggressively or in an agitated manner. They may drool or be unsteady on their feet if the disease has progressed.

The virus is transmitted through the saliva of the infected animal. If one is bitten by a wild animal one should wash the wound with soap and water, and seek medical attention. If possible, the animal should be captured and tested. If bitten, also call the local health department and animal control office.

See rabies information from the Michigan DNR.
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Vaccine for West Nile on the Horizon?

from a news release of the University of Queensland

Research conducted at The University of Queensland could contribute to the development of a vaccine and cure for West Nile virus and Dengue fever.

Led by Associate Professor Alexander Khromykh, a team of researchers from UQ's School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences identified a novel characteristic of the virus family to which these diseases belong.

This family, the flaviviruses, produces a small molecule. One of its functions is to control the response of the host to the viral infection. The molecule itself is part of the genetic material of the virus, and is labeled sfRNA.

The researchers stated that all flaviviruses tested thus far have contained the sfRNA. This means that targeting that specific part with an antiviral therapy may be effective for the whole range of flaviviruses.

By using reverse genetic engineering they were able to generate viruses that do not produce this sfRNA. The viruses that were missing the sfRNA were no longer able to kill their hosts or elicit disease symptoms. However, the engineered viruses did trigger the antiviral immune response in the host. This means that the body would create its own protection against all flaviviruses without contracting the disease.

These tests were conducted with mice. "The knowledge obtained from our studies with West Nile virus should be readily applicable for designing anti-viral drugs and engineering similar vaccine candidates for other medically important flaviviruses," said team leader Associate Professor Alexander Khromykh.

The study will be published in the December issue of the prestigious journal from Cell Press, Cell Host & Microbe.

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Big Mosquitoes are Safer Mosquitoes

photo from the Michigan DNR

from a news release of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , "Smaller mosquitoes are more likey to be infected with viruses causing human diseases," Nov 3, 2008

An entomologist at the Illinois Natural History Survey says smaller mosquitoes are more likely to be infected with viruses that cause diseases in humans.

Barry Alto, Ph.D., Director of the Medical Entomology Program at the Illinois Natural History Survey, and several colleagues, fed mosquitoes blood with dengue virus and later tested them for infection. The researchers painstakingly took into account the size of each mosquito by measuring the length of their wings. Smaller-sized mosquitoes had higher infection and potential to transmit dengue virus than larger individuals. Other components, such as adult longevity, host preference, and feeding frequency, that determine a mosquito's vectoring ability still need to be taken into account in future studies.

The Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes are the two main transmitters of dengue virus, the mosquito-borne virus of greatest importance to human health. Both of these mosquitoes are found throughout the world including the U.S. The ferocious tiger mosquito invaded Illinois in the 1990s. Now researchers have shown that only slight differences in the body sizes of these mosquitoes drastically alter their potential to transmit viruses causing human disease.

What's more surprising is that the effects were consistent for the two mosquito species.

Results of this study have important implications for mosquito control strategies and evaluation of disease risk for dengue. Competition among the larvae of container-breeding mosquitoes results in smaller sized adults. However, control strategies (e.g., larvacides) release surviving larvae from competition, resulting in the production of larger adult mosquitoes. Thus, a benefit of control strategies may be the production of larger, less competent adult mosquitoes in terms of infection. These results have the potential to provide information on disease risk and aid in control efforts of the diseases that mosquitoes transmit.

The Medical Entomology Program of the Illinois Natural History Survey originated out of concern for container mosquitoes. In recent times the program has invested much of its efforts towards addressing West Nile virus in Illinois as well as a program on encephalitis prevention.

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