Title: Tularemia Outbreak at an International Airport, 2006 Diseases in Nature Transmissible to Man June 12
1Tularemia Outbreak at an International Airport,
2006Diseases in Nature Transmissible to
ManJune 12, 2007
- J L Alexander, TDSHS Zoonosis Division
- R Gilliland, USDA Wildlife Management
- D Duke, COA Environmental Health
- M McGee, COA Animal Control
- JM Richardson, COA Public Health
- TA West, COA Emergency Management
- JR Pierce Jr, Amarillo Bi-City-County Health
District
220 dead jackrabbits found along this 0.6 mi
section of road
3Identifying the zoonotic outbreak
- 05/16/06 An employee of the USDA Wildlife
Management observed a large number of dead jack
rabbits on airport property. - 05/17/06 The Regional Zoonosis Control
veterinarian collected blood specimens and ticks
from dead animals - 05/18/06 CDC laboratory identified Francisella
tularensis as the etiologic agent involved in the
deaths
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6Public Health Response
- 05/18/06 - Closure of property notification of
airport officials suspension of mowing - 05/19/06
- Notification of adjacent property owners and FBI
- Public Health Advisory to area physicians and
veterinarians - Texas Health Alert Advisory
- Press release
- Warning public of tularemia in rabbits near
airport - Not to handle rabbits
- Use insect repellant
- Signs and sxs of tularemia
7Environmental Health and Animal Control Response
- 05/22/06
- Begin applying tick/flea pesticides to grass
- Rabbit reduction program begins
- 05/23/06 05/30/06
- Additional specimens submitted
- Broadened insecticide program
8Tularemia positive specimens from airport
property, 2006
- Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)
- Coyote (Canis latrans)
- Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
- Ticks (Haemaplysalis leporipalustris)
- (Dermacentor variabilis)
9Follow-up response
- 06/01/06 PROMED post
- Next week - several calls from citizens about
dead rabbits multiple media inquires - 06/22/06 second wide-area application of tick
and flea powder to airport property - By 06/23/06 1300 rabbits eliminated subsequent
tests of animals (including prairie dogs) all
negative intense reduction program closed - 09/07/06 repeat testing of rabbits negative
- 01/01/07 maintenance program initiated
10Tularemia - Affected Mammals
These animals are more likely to be affected
through the terrestrial cycle of F. tularensis
ssp. tularensis (Type A)
Sylvilagus floridanus, Eastern Cottontail
Prairie Dogs
Lepus californicus, Black-tailed Jackrabbit
11Tularemia - Affected Mammals
These animals tend to be affected through the
water-borne cycle of F. tularensis ssp.
holarctica (Type B)
Beaver
Muskrat
Vole
12Tularemia - Affected Arthropods
Ticks, mosquitoes, the deer fly and other biting
arthropods serve as vectors for F. tularensis in
its transmission to humans and animals.
13Tularemia - Transmission to Humans
- Insect bite by tick, mosquito or deer fly.
- Skin contact with infected animal products, most
notably rabbits, hares, and rodents. - Ingestion of contaminated food or water.
- Inhalation of live bacteria by aerosolization of
infected material.
14Wildlife Strikes at Airports
- Reported wildlife strikes have more than
quadrupled from 2,066 in 1990 to 9,017 in 2005. - Over this time period, 172 people were injured, 9
died, and 233 million were lost as a result of
incidents with wildlife. - Strikes increasing due to more flights, increased
wildlife populations, more wildlife near
airports, and more reports from pilots
Sources FAA National Wildlife Strike Database
Mutzabaugh, Ben. Today in the Sky. USA Today.
28 February 2007
15Wildlife Strikes at Airports
Note 2007 data includes up to 2/28/07
Total Strikes 88,198
Source FAA National Wildlife Strike Database
16Wildlife Strikes at Airports
Source Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports A
Manual for Airport Personnel
17Source Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports A
Manual for Airport Personnel
18Coyotes and Airports
- Chino, CA -- Coyotes on Runways Animals
Endanger Airplane Landings - In four separate instances in April 2007, pilots
reported spotting coyotes on the runways. - One pilot aborted his landing and did a
go-around. - Chicago Coyotes Slinking Around OHare Cause
Problems - Two pilots were waved-off from their landings at
OHare in February 2007.
19Coyotes and Airports
- In October 2005 a 19-passenger Beechcraft hit a
coyote on takeoff, causing the nose gear to
collapse and the plane to be declared as a total
loss. - In October 1994 a small plane struck a coyote.
- The nose gear collapsed and the propeller hit the
runway. - Resulted in major damage to the engine and
crankshaft.
Sources Mutzabaugh, Ben. Today in the Sky. USA
Today. 28 February 2007 Wildlife Hazard
Management at Airports A Manual for Airport
Personnel
20Coyotes and Airports - Potential Consequences
- The presence of a coyote on the runway can be
disastrous for a pilot whose natural instinct is
to swerve, resulting in a wing going too low and
the plane crashing or in the eruption of a fire. - An animal on a runway could be sucked into an
engine or hurled through a windshield. - If the strike occurs at the critical phase of
landing, a coyote could be smashed by the main
gear, causing major damage and possibly changing
the path of the aircraft.
21Coyote Strikes at Airports
United States
Note 2007 data includes up to 2/28/07
Total Strikes 303
Source FAA National Wildlife Strike Database
22Coyote Strikes at Texas Airports
Note 2007 data includes up to 2/28/07
Total Strikes 12
Source FAA National Wildlife Strike Database
23Texas Coyote Strikes
Dates January 1990 February 2007 Number of
Strikes 26 Source FAA National Wildlife Strike
Database
24Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part
139.337
- If an aircraft carrier experiences a multiple
wildlife strike or substantial damage from
striking wildlife, a Wildlife Hazard Assessment
is triggered. - Species-specific population management
- Food and prey management
- Vegetation, water, and building management
- Wildlife Hazard Control Measures
- Repel
- Capture
- Kill
25Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports A Manual
for Airport Personnel
- Federal law does not protect terrestrial mammals,
reptiles, or other wildlife taxa (e.g. deer,
coyotes). - A shooting program may be used to remove specific
problem animals or to kill one - or more to reinforce repellent
- techniques.
- Lethal neck snare traps
- can also be used on coyotes.
Source Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports A
Manual for Airport Personnel
26Rabbit Coyote Population Dynamics
- A rule-based rabbit-coyote biological model
predicts that with the elimination of coyotes,
the rabbit population will increase.
Source Ledgard, Henry. An Introduction to VSE
The Visual Software Environment.
27Rabbit Coyote Population Dynamics
- Short-term removal effort of coyotes had no
effect on the population of other species,
including cottontail rabbits. - Long-term removal efforts (9 months) caused
increases in jackrabbit population. - A 2-year removal program in Texas resulted in a
320 increase in jackrabbit population density. - A study in Utah which used interaction models
that mimicked field observations showed that
decreased coyote population densities result in
increases in jackrabbit abundance.
Source Henke, Scott. Effects of Coyote Control
on Their Prey A Review. Coyotes in the
Southwest A Compendium of Our Knowledge. San
Angelo, TX. 13-14 December 1995.
28Rabbit and Coyote
- Reduced numbers of coyotes as evidenced by fewer
scat counts resulted in increased numbers of
rabbits, especially when coyote scat counts are
zero or near zero.
Stapp P. Small Mammal Studies. Shortgrass Steppe
Long-term Ecological Research. 2005.
http//sgs.cnr.colostate.edu/
29Amarillo airport zoonotic events
- In 2004, a natural increase in the rabbit
population began, which attracted coyotes. - In 2004 a rabbit was "ingested" by a commercial
airplane engine during landing justifying the
population reduction program. - A coyote and rabbit control program was initiated
in May 2004 - By the end of 2004, approx 15 coyotes and 301
jackrabbits had been removed
30Amarillo airport zoonotic events
- In August 2005 the rabbit population at the
airport began to increase, this time without any
natural predation. - In 2005, 513 rabbits were removed.
- The rabbit population continued to increase until
the tularemia die-off in May, 2006. - Over 3500 rabbits have been removed since the
initiation of this program 3 years ago.
31Acknowledgements
- Thomas Gerald, TTUHSC Research Associate
- Contributors from the field
- Rick Gilliland, USDA Wildlife Management
- Deree Duke, COA Environmental Health
- Mike McGee, COA Animal Control
- J Matthew Richardson, COA Public Health
- Theresa West, COA Emergency Management
- Fellow Investigator
- Dr. James Alexander, TDSHS