Latest news with #Brucella
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Researchers Sound Alarm Over Dolphin Bacteria That Causes 'Neurological Issues' in Humans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A sudden spate of dolphin deaths on Oahu in Hawaii has raised concerns among scientists who have confirmed the presence of Brucella ceti, a marine strain of bacteria that can be transmitted to humans. The bacteria was detected in three striped dolphins found dead on east Oahu beaches between June 7 and 15. According to researchers at the University of Hawaii's Health and Stranding Lab (UHHSL), the cases likely signal a broader outbreak that could affect marine mammals throughout Hawaiian waters. 'Very unusual' Researcher Ilse Silva-Krott said the strandings were "very unusual" in an interview with Newsweek. "We expect that each dolphin that washes ashore represents many more that are lost at sea as the carcass recovery rate of dead striped dolphins that die at sea and are recovered on shore is less than 1%," Silva-Krott said. "Hawaii's striped dolphin population lives in deep water and ranges far offshore, making it less likely when compared to near shore dolphins, that carcasses will be recovered when animals die." Stock image: A dolphin jumping out of an ocean. Stock image: A dolphin jumping out of an ocean. Photo by EyeEm Mobile GmbH / Getty Images Why It Matters Brucella ceti is a zoonotic pathogen, meaning it can jump from animals to humans. Though rare, infections in humans can lead to serious health issues including flu-like symptoms, chronic arthritis and neurological complications if left untreated. "We strongly urge the public to report any whales and dolphins in distress in the ocean or stranded on beaches," Silva-Krott said. "It is best to be cautious and avoid touching or handling stranded animals. Since most carcasses are never recovered, public reporting is of stranded dolphins and whales is vital for understanding threats to marine mammal health." What To Know The three infected dolphins were discovered in Waimānalo and Waikāne. According to a May publication in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, researchers at UH Mānoa and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience found Brucella infections in seven species of cetaceans from 2000 to 2024, with striped dolphins showing the highest prevalence. Many of the animals exhibited symptoms consistent with neurobrucellosis—a condition that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, leading to disorientation, seizures and death. What People Are Saying "Dolphins and whales are recognized sentinels of ocean health and give us signs and signals about what is happening in their ocean ecosystem," Silva-Krott told Newsweek. "The deaths of three striped dolphins is unprecedented for this species in Hawaii and is reason for concern. We have identified striped dolphins in Hawaii as especially vulnerable to this pathogen, but we know from our disease screening efforts that Brucella ceti can also infect other species of whales and dolphins in Hawaiian waters. "We have small local populations of melon-headed whales, endangered false killer whales, pygmy killer whales and spinner dolphins and these other species are also at risk for infection by Brucella ceti. "Environmental changes in the ocean can directly affect the ability of marine mammals to resist infections. Increased dolphin mortality rates may result from an overall decline in whale and dolphin health and signal broader oceanic ecosystem disruptions." What's Next Field investigations will continue throughout the summer, as researchers work to determine the strain of Brucella ceti. "A new strain from Hawaiian waters has recently been cultured by our group from previously stranded striped dolphins and a spinner dolphin, and we suspect that the new strain of Brucella ceti discovered in Hawaii is responsible for the April to June 2025 striped dolphin deaths," Silva-Krott said. "We are also working on testing previously stranded dolphins and whales for antibodies to Brucella ceti to better understand disease exposure among the 20 species of dolphins and whales that inhabit Hawaiian waters."
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Boil It or Risk It': Unpasteurised Milk Linked to Rabies & TB, Warns Vet Expert From Gadvasu.
Ludhiana: Drinking raw or unboiled milk could expose consumers to serious, even fatal diseases such as rabies, tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis, a veterinary expert from Punjab has warned, amid growing concerns about zoonotic infections in India's dairy supply. Dr Randhir Singh, assistant professor of veterinary medicine at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) in Ludhiana, cautioned that pathogens from infected animals often go undetected until symptoms surface — by which time, the damage may be irreversible. "Milk from livestock infected with Brucella or Mycobacterium tuberculosis can carry bacteria into the human body if not properly boiled or pasteurised," Dr Randhir Singh said, speaking at a livestock health awareness session. "These diseases don't always show symptoms in animals right away. But the bacteria often circulate in their blood and are excreted through milk." Rising Rabies Risk The threat is compounded by the rising incidence of stray dog attacks on cattle, especially in semi-urban and rural areas. Dr Singh noted that a single bite from a rabid animal, including dogs, mongooses, or even rats, can infect a cow or buffalo. "Rabies symptoms in cattle typically appear within 10 days, but in some cases, the virus can remain dormant for up to a year," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See List) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo "During this asymptomatic window, the infected animal may look healthy and continue producing milk — which enters the human supply chain." Rabies, he stressed, is invariably fatal once symptoms manifest. Meanwhile, brucellosis can cause fever, chronic fatigue, joint pain, and even infertility in humans, while TB — already a major public health concern in India — is transmissible through raw milk from infected cattle. Preventive Measures Urged Dr Randhir Singh urged dairy farmers to adopt strict biosecurity protocols, including:- Routine animal vaccination Hygienic milking practices Regular veterinary screening "Preventing infection is always more effective than treating it later," he said. For consumers, the message is simple: boil your milk. "It's the most accessible way to neutralise bacteria and viruses," he said. "Pasteurisation serves the same purpose on an industrial scale, but boiling at home is an easy and essential safeguard." As the demand for organic and farm-fresh milk rises, experts warn that the risks of consuming untreated milk must be clearly communicated — especially in rural households and informal dairy networks where pasteurisation is not the norm.
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Decapitated dolphin in North Carolina prompts $25,000 reward offer from US
NORTH CAROLINA - Federal authorities want to know who decapitated a dolphin that had been stranded on an island off the coast of North Carolina in April, and they are offering a reward of up to US$20,000 (S$25,000) for information that could help them find out. The 8-foot-long bottlenose dolphin was found dead on Lea-Hutaff Island, North Carolina, on April 15, according to a statement from the Office of Law Enforcement of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The reward notice included a photo of the dolphin, which was missing its head, as it lay on the shore of the remote, undeveloped barrier island, which is north of Wilmington, North Carolina, and only accessible by boat, the agency said. Officials from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, which partners with NOAA to respond to dolphin strandings in the region, said that they determined that someone intentionally removed the dolphin's head after it had been stranded on the island. The agency noted that the dolphin was carrying Brucella, a bacteria that causes the infectious disease brucellosis, which can be transferred to humans through direct contact. Symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever, sweating and generally feeling badly or malaise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials performed a necropsy, an animal autopsy, and the results and cause of death were pending. Dolphins are not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which bans harassing, hunting, killing or feeding wild dolphins. Violations can lead to fines up to US$100,000 and up to one year in jail. Officials said that anyone with information about the Lea-Hutaff Island's dolphin should call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. People can leave tips anonymously, but to be eligible for the reward, they must include their name and contact information. The agency has previously offered rewards to the public for information about dolphins that appeared to have been killed. In 2024, it offered up to a US$20,000 reward in exchange for information to find the person who they believe fatally shot a juvenile dolphin at a beach in Louisiana. And in 2020, federal authorities offered a reward after two dead dolphins were found with gunshot or stab wounds in Florida. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Decapitated Dolphin in North Carolina Prompts $20,000 Reward Offer From U.S.
The federal authorities want to know who decapitated a dolphin that had been stranded on an island off the coast of North Carolina last month, and they are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information that could help them find out. The 8-foot long bottlenose dolphin was found dead on Lea-Hutaff Island, N.C., on April 15, according to a statement from the Office of Law Enforcement of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The reward notice included a photo of the dolphin, which was missing its head, as it lay on the shore of the remote, undeveloped barrier island, which is north of Wilmington, N.C., and only accessible by boat, the agency said. Officials from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, which partners with NOAA to respond to dolphin strandings in the region, said that they determined that someone intentionally removed the dolphin's head after it had been stranded on the island. The agency noted that the dolphin was carrying Brucella, a bacteria that causes the infectious disease brucellosis, which can be transferred to humans through direct contact. Symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever, sweating and generally feeling badly or malaise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials performed a necropsy, an animal autopsy, and the results and cause of death were pending. Dolphins are not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which bans harassing, hunting, killing or feeding wild dolphins. Violations can lead to fines up to $100,000 and up to one year in jail. Officials said that anyone with information about the Lea-Hutaff Island's dolphin should call the NOAA Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. People can leave tips anonymously, but to be eligible for the reward, they must include their name and contact information. The agency has previously offered rewards to the public for information about dolphins that appeared to have been killed. Last year, it offered up to a $20,000 reward in exchange for information to find the person who they believe fatally shot a juvenile dolphin at a beach in Louisiana. And in 2020, the federal authorities offered a reward after two dead dolphins that were found with gunshot or stab wounds in Florida.
USA Today
15-05-2025
- USA Today
A dolphin was decapitated in North Carolina. NOAA is offering a reward for any information.
A dolphin was decapitated in North Carolina. NOAA is offering a reward for any information. Editor's note. The contents of this story may be disturbing to some readers. A bottlenose dolphin was found decapitated in North Carolina, and federal officials are offering up to $20,000 for information related to its death. A citizen reported the deceased dolphin on April 15, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service. The carcass was recovered from Lea-Hutaff Island, an uninhabited area about 20 miles north of Wilmington. NOAA said when responders located the marine mammal, "its head had been removed." Decapitation violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act, officials say According to the agency, officials believe the dolphin was dismembered between April 16 and 18. A necropsy was performed, and NOAA reported that they suspect the dolphin had Brucella. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria can cause brucellosis, a disease that can spread through contact with contaminated animals. "This animal was intentionally decapitated, a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act," the agency said. "The remote location where the dolphin was found adds to the difficulty of investigating this incident and the cause of death. We are calling on your help to find those responsible." The NOAA Office of Law Enforcement is offering a $20,000 reward for information "leading to criminal conviction or the assessment of a civil penalty." Anyone with information is encouraged to call 800-853-1964. Wildlife: Viewers can see hundreds of rattlesnakes come out of den on new Pennsylvania webcam Man decapitates sea lion in California There was another similar case that recently made headlines. In March, NOAA announced a $20,000 reward for a man accused of decapitating a sea lion in Northern California. The agency said the animal was found dead last Christmas at Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay, and the suspect was seen using "a black 8-inch knife to remove the sea lion's head, placing it in a clear plastic bag, and riding away" on an electric bike. Contributing: Gareth McGrath, Wilmington StarNews, Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
