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The LEO Network is a worldwide network of observers and experts that share their observations of environmental change.
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Observations

Bird flu hits Skåne
An avian influenza outbreak in Skåne has devastated a poultry farm, with over 55,000 geese, turkeys, and chickens lost. Sweden’s veterinary institute warns of an unusually early, severe season, with much of southern Sweden designated high-risk.
Ängelholm, Skåne County, Sweden
SVT Nyheter

Fox tests positive for rabies in Arviat
A fox euthanized after abnormal behaviour in Arviat, Nunavut, has tested positive for rabies, prompting health officials to warn residents to report unusual animal behaviour and seek immediate care after bites or scratches.
Arviat, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

EHD, bluetongue turn up in North Idaho
Idaho Fish and Game confirmed epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and bluetongue in deer across North Idaho’s Panhandle amid hot, dry conditions, with similar outbreaks reported in Eastern Washington and southeastern Montana. Officials report hundreds of sick or dead deer and expect cases to rise until a hard freeze reduces biting midge vectors.
North Idaho, Idaho, United States
The Spokesman-Review

Large egg producer detects bird flu in flock: All hens to be culled
High-pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed on 4 September at an egg farm in Hadsel, Nordland, Norway, with 7,500 laying hens to be culled. Authorities established 3 km and 10 km control zones; human infection risk is assessed as very low.
Hadsel, Nordland, Norway
Nordlys

State issues alert for toxic shellfish found in Kachemak Bay
Alaska health officials issued an alert after wild shellfish from Kachemak Bay’s inner bay tested above regulatory limits for paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins. Residents are warned not to harvest or eat untested wild shellfish; monitoring and test results are being posted by the Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network.
Homer, Alaska, United States
Homer News

Washington confirms second case of chronic wasting disease
A second case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in Washington, detected in a white-tailed deer in Spokane County. This follows the first case earlier in the year.
Spokane County, Washington, United States
Spokesman.com

Avian flu has been confirmed in Canada. What does that mean for you?
A teenager remains in hospital with avian flu, according to British Columbia's top doctor. On Tuesday, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the teen is suffering from severe respiratory distress. On Wednesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed it as avian flu — the first case of its kind in Canada. Henry said it's very likely that the B.C. teen's infection took place due to an exposure to either a sick animal or something in the environment.
British Columbia, Canada
CBC

After rescue, eagle in the Chilkat Valley tests positive for avian flu
A bald eagle rescued in Haines, Alaska, tested positive for avian flu after being taken to the Alaska Raptor Center. The flu, affecting birds across the state, also raises concerns for domestic poultry and public health.
Haines, Alaska, United States
Chilkat Valley News

Dangerous bluetongue virus: Drops sheep program at agricultural fair
The article reports on the serious outbreak of bluetongue virus affecting sheep in Rogaland and Agder, Norway, leading to a 30% mortality rate and the cancellation of all sheep-related events in the regions.
Norway
NRK

Bird flu confirmation prompts cull at 10 more fur farms
The Food Authority noted that it might be possible that foxes are more susceptible to avian flu infections than mink. However, the agency also suggested that infection prevention protocols may not have worked as well at fox farms compared to facilities that raise mink. The authority has now confirmed avian influenza cases at a total of 42 fur farms in Finland.
Laihia, Ostrobothnia, Finland
News

California officials confirm 2 cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne illness rarely transmitted in US
Public health officials say two people in Southern California people have come down with dengue fever without traveling outside the United States, where the mosquito-borne illness is rare.
Long Beach, California, United States
AP News

Mosquito-borne diseases found in emus, horses in Maine
Viruses have now been found in mosquitoes or in animals around the state, prompting health officials to warn Maine residents to protect against mosquito bites. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported positive tests for eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, in several emu flocks and multiple horses. Also, a horse tested positive for West Nile Virus in York County.
Maine, United States
Press Herald

Local Animal Rescue Group Sees Influx of Sea Lions Suffering From Potentially Fatal Bacteria Infection
A local animal rescue in Northern California warns of a surge in sea lions with a potentially fatal bacterial infection, leptospirosis, and advises dog owners to keep pets away.
Northern California, United States
Lost Coast Outpost

H5 avian influenza detected for the first time in elephant seals
NewsDesk @bactiman63 The National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (Senasa)  confirmed new cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5 detected in marine mammals in Comodoro Rivadavia, Rada Tilly and Punta Tombo, Chubut. The agency’s National Laboratory diagnosed new samples positive for the disease, which were taken from sea lions and elephant seals found dead in the aforementioned places. Based on notification, […]
Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut Province, Argentina
Outbreak News Today

Third Detection of CWD Confirmed in North Carolina Deer Herd
A third deer in North Carolina has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Officials with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reported the deer was hunter-harvested in Surry County this archery season approximately 10 miles from the two previous positive detections in Yadkin County.
Dobson, North Carolina, United States
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

Kodiak brown bear cub dies of bird flu
It’s one of only four mammals in Alaska to contract the virus, and the first brown bear to be found with the disease.
Pasagshak State Recreation Site, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

14 pelicans are dead at the Phoenix Zoo after contracting bird flu
The pelicans contracted highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, at the Phoenix Zoo, leaving 14 dead. Several began showing signs on Oct. 15.
Tempe Junction, Arizona, United States
Arizona Republic

First Ever Cases of Infectious Salmon Anaemia in Iceland
The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) has found evidence of infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) in an open-net salmon farm in Reyðarfjörður fjord, East Iceland. ISA is a highly infectious viral disease that has no treatment and causes high mortality in farmed Atlantic salmon.
Reydarfjordur, East, Iceland
Iceland Review

Trichinella advisory issued for Coral Harbour
Nunavut's Department of Health is warning Coral Harbour residents that trichinella has been detected in a walrus that was harvested on Aug. 21.
Coral Harbour, Nunavut, Canada
Nunatsiaq News

H5N8 avian influenza detected in wild goose
Bird flu has been detected in a goose found in Rogaland. The Veterinary Institute has analyzed samples from the bird, which show highly pathogenic bird flu A (H5N8). This virus has caused outbreaks among birds in several European countries this autumn.
Rogaland, Norway
Outbreak News Today

B.C. veterinarians blame COVID-19 pandemic for rise in kennel cough cases in dogs
The Society of B.C. Veterinarians has noticed more dogs are catching kennel cough this year than in previous years, and they think it might be due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CKNW

Infection spreads at mink farms in Sweden
Coronavirus has been detected at a further three mink farms in southern Sweden, according to the National Veterinary Institute.
People in the vicinity of the farms are being tested for the virus, and Karl Ståhl at the National Veterinary Institute says they are in control of the situation.
Hjo, Västra Götaland, Sweden
Radio Sweden

Covid had spared Alaska’s most remote villages. Not anymore.
Almost 20 percent of residents in one town have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Chevak, Alaska, United States
Washington Post

Infected Covid-19 patients climb in Arctic Alaska
October began with "an explosion" of COVID-19 positive cases despite efforts to tighten and extend restrictions. In the first five days 14 residents on the North Slope and 23 in the Northwest Arctic, upping active caseloads in each borough to 40 and 45, respectively.
Kotzebue, Alaska, United States
The Arctic Sounder

Scientists suspect "Alaskapox" rash could be spread from small animals
The novel virus has only affected two people, both in Fairbanks. The "Alaskapox" was first identified in 2015 after a Fairbanks woman sought medical attention for a small skin lesion, pained fever and fatigue. In August, a second Fairbanks woman with no known connection to the first was found to have the virus. Scientists suspect both women may have gotten the virus from contact with small wild animals.
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Alaska Public Media

Veterinarians warn of unusual strain of kennel cough in dogs
A potentially dangerous dog virus is spreading among animals in the Wilmington area.
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

IPN Virus Detected in East Iceland Fish Farm
It’s the first time that the virus has been detected in salmon in Iceland, though it was found in halibut in 1999. The virus poses no health risks to people.
Reyðarfjörður, East, Iceland
Iceland Review

Huge cull of 250,000 reindeer by Christmas in Yamalo-Nenets after anthrax outbreak
Freak warm weather followed by a freeze in winter 2013-14 caused an ice-over of pastures which led to the deaths of some 70,000 reindeer in a famine. This summer, there was an outbreak of deadly anthrax after the hottest Arctic summer on record.
Noyabrsk, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Siberia Times

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