A recent CDC expert commentary was recently published on “Animal Lovers and Zoonotic Diseases: 5 Things to Know“. Regular readers of Worms & Germs will find many of the points very familiar, but the article provides a nice summary of some of the recurring themes that arise when dealing with animals and people
Crossword answers
Here are the answers to the latest Worms & Germs crossword puzzle. Rather than my boring answer key, here’s a key sent in by a reader, Dr. Hillary Israeli (with much better illustrations than I could do).
New Worms and Germs crossword puzzle
Back by popular demand, here’s the latest Worms & Germs crossword puzzle. It’s a bit tougher than average but most of the answers can be found in recent posts. Answers will be posted in a few days. Have fun!
Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis… What is it?
Since the recently reported case of rabies in a man from BC, Canada, I’ve done a lot of interviews. One thing that has struck me is the continued misconception about what rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is, and the perception that it’s a long, painful ordeal.
It isn’t (at least not anymore)… and I know
Canine influenza, California/Oregon (2019)
Canine influenza is (once again) causing big problems in some parts of the western US. Following reports of influenza outbreaks in animal shelters in Oakland, California, it’s apparent that it has spread within California shelters and to an Oregon shelter. It is also affecting pet dogs in various cities in California.
It’s
Canine rabies imported from Egypt to the US, 2019
During today’s Public Health Agency of Canada webinar, part of a new webinar series on zoonoses and adaptation in a changing world, Chelsea Raybern from the Kansas State Deptartment of Health and Environment provided a report about rabies in a dog that was imported into Kansas from Egypt in 2019.The dog had been
US ban of importation of dogs from Egypt
Effective tomorrow, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suspended importation of dogs to the US that:
- are from Egypt, or
- originated in Egypt and have been in another country for less than 6 months.
This is being done because of multiple cases of rabies in imported dogs specifically from Egypt over
Oral rabies virus exposure
Rabies is “almost always” transmitted by bites and “almost invariably” fatal once disease develops in a person or animal. We use a lot of these kinds of disclaimers with infectious diseases, which can be frustrating, but it’s necessary because exceptional (strange) things occasionally occur.
A report in an upcoming edition of Emerging Infectious Diseases (
Echinococcus multilocularis back in the news
Nothing has changed about Echinococcus multilocularis (the fox tapeworm) in the past couple of months, but my phone is ringing off the hook following another round of media reports about this parasite. Here’s a recap of the issues:
- Echinococcus multilocularis is a small tapeworm normally found in the intestinal tract of wild canids (e.g.
Rabies vaccine failure in a dog?
Rabies vaccination of dogs is legally required in many areas. In most of those, it must be given by a veterinarian, unlike some other vaccines that can be purchased from a veterinarian or supplier and administered by owners.
Why does a veterinarian have to administer rabies vaccines? There are a few reasons.
- One is that