Biological Hazard - North-America - USA

There is a health crisis breaking in Eastern Washington. Pneumonia is ripping its way through the Yakima Valley. It's not people, but big horn sheep that are at risk. Nearly 20 sheep have died, and dozens more have been infected. Wildlife experts say they have no choice, but to hunt down the sick and kill them. "We'll be looking for sheep that are coughing. There's a telltale head bobbing when they're coughing so it's pretty easy to pick up," said Donny Martorello with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Pneumonia is quickly spreading through two of the state's four herds.There is no vaccine and no cure. Experts believe the only way to protect the health sheep is to kill the sickest sheep. "We believe we'll have to remove a third or about 85 sheep," said Martorello. "It's something we prefer not to have to do, to have to euthanize animals, especially the number we're talking about. That's a big deal for us. Two hundred and sixty sheep belonging to two herds live here in Yakima Canyon near Ellensburg. Eighteen sheep have already died. No one knows for sure how they got sick, but the condition is often fatal. And sick sheep that do survive can affect the survival rate of their offspring. "I'm really concerned," said Martorello. "More than half the states big horn sheep are in this area, and we are dangerously close to expanding to other herds." A challenging the experts are facing is actually finding the sheep. They have to rely on binoculars to look over nearly 90 sheep spread out over 25 miles of canyon country. This is the second pneumonia outbreak to affect big horn sheep in Washington state in 15 years.

Source: http://hisz.rsoe.hu