Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
Date of this Version
July 2003
Abstract
• CWD Surveillance in the Southeast: The discovery of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild deer remote from the historic endemic area in Colorado and Wyoming has fueled concerns among wildlife agencies over the distribution of the disease.
• Monkeypox Introduced with Exotic Pets: During June and July 2003, 72 suspected human cases of monkeypox were reported in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin (37 confirmed).
• SARS: In February 2003, a new coronaviral disease known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) gained international attention as it spread to 32 countries around the world.
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) passed a policy regarding feral and free-roaming cats. The policy states that in being entrusted by the public with the responsibility of safeguarding wildlife resources, FWC is obligated “to protect native wildlife from predation, disease, and other impacts presented by feral and free-ranging cats.”
• White Paper on Feeding and Baiting: Several significant health problems in free-ranging wildlife are strongly associated with artificial supplemental feeding.
• SCWDS graduate student Michael Yabsley was highly honored recently as the recipient of the Norval-Young Award, given by the Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine at its biennial conference.
• Drs. Cynthia Tate and Andrea Varela were chosen to receive awards during the upcoming 52nd Annual Conference of the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA).