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Two People Die from Rabies in Idaho After Skunk Scratch, Including Organ Recipient from Michigan

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An Idaho resident was scratched by a rabid skunk, triggering an exceptionally rare and fatal chain of events that resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including the initial bite victim and an organ transplant recipient, as announced by federal authorities.

This incident marks the fourth case of rabies transmission via organ transplant in the U.S. since 1978, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reported, “Our investigation indicates a possible three-step infection chain where a rabid silver bat infected the skunk, which subsequently infected the donor, and then the kidney recipient.”

The agency noted that the Michigan man “underwent a left kidney transplant from an Idaho donor at an Ohio hospital” in December and passed away approximately six weeks later.

The CDC confirmed that “viral RNA was found in the saliva, nuchal skin, and brain tissue samples” of those affected by rabies.

New interviews with the families of Idaho organ donors revealed “information not captured in the DRAI questionnaire,” referring to the “Donor Risk Assessment Interviews.”

Investigators determined that, in late October 2024, a skunk “approached and scratched a donor who was holding a kitten in a rural outbuilding” in Idaho.

The donor died roughly six weeks later, exhibiting symptoms such as “confusion, difficulty swallowing and walking,” along with “hallucinations,” as reported by the CDC.

Officials indicated that the Idaho man’s corneas were extracted and “three patients, one each from California, Idaho, and New Mexico,” received transplants in December and January.

As investigations proceed, three “corneal recipients underwent preventive graft removal,” and “plans for a fourth corneal graft for a patient in Missouri have been halted,” according to the CDC.

All three patients are currently reported to be asymptomatic.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Mysterious Stonehenge Found Beneath Lake Michigan Stuns Archaeologists

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Stone circles are remnants of ancient rituals and druidic lore. Most people recognize the stone rings at Stonehenge, located near Amesbury, England; which dates back to 2500 BC (around 4,525 years ago). However, numerous examples of “menhills” (standing stones) and other ancient stone arrangements can be found globally.

In fact, some of these stone monuments predate Stonehenge. For instance, the Oyyu Stone Circle in Northern Japan is estimated to be about 3,500 years old, having been discovered in 1931. Additionally, there are various Aboriginal stone circles throughout Australia; some of which may be nearly 10,000 years old.

Conversely, stone monuments are uncommon in America. Thus, in 2007, archaeologists were thrilled to uncover what seems to be a human-made stone arrangement at the bottom of Lake Michigan.

One archaeologist, Mark Holly, has since been seeking funds to drill at the site while keeping its exact location confidential to prevent disturbances.

Currently, the origin of these stones remains unclear. One theory suggests that they may indicate “driving lanes” for caribou hunting, reflecting a different study. 9,000-year-old stone arrangements found on Lake Huron would have been visible when the lanes were marked.

Lake Michigan remained dry until approximately 15,000 years ago. Therefore, these stones might have been arranged significantly earlier than those found at Lake Huron or Stonehenge.

This article addresses the inquiry by John McPherson from Ripon: “Are there any other stoneworks?”

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Wisconsin Boater Discovers Historic Shipwreck in Lake Michigan

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Olson noted that the wreck lies in shallow waters approximately 20 feet deep. He observed that the bottom of the hull is mostly intact, while the ship’s sides are cut and flattened like fillets.

Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist at the State Historical Preservation Office of the Historical Society, dedicated several weeks to scrutinizing newspaper clippings, archival insurance records, and a database of port registrations, which is comparable to vehicle registrations.

Thomsen and her team also undertook diving missions to identify specific characteristics of the wreck.

Based on the ship’s exterior and its general wreckage location, the Historical Society confirmed that Olson had unearthed the long-lost remains of the Frank D. Barker.

“What’s fascinating about this wreck is that it’s all there,” Thomsen remarked. “It spreads across the bottom like a puzzle piece that you can visualize and reorganize.”

The 137-foot Frank D. Barker was constructed from wood in 1867 by veteran shipbuilder Simon G. Johnson in Clayton, New York. This canaler is specially designed for operation in the Great Lakes, as Thomsen explained. It was built to navigate the Welland Canal, which includes a series of locks that permit ships to bypass Niagara Falls, in addition to a combination of natural and modified waterways.

The Frank D. Barker primarily transported grain from the ports of Milwaukee and Chicago to Lake Ontario, and on westward voyages, it typically carried coal from Lake Erie’s ports to the Midwest, fueling factories and industries.

In 1887, the Frank D. Barker sailed from Manistee, Michigan, to Escanaba, Michigan, to load a cargo of iron ore. Unfortunately, the ship’s captain and crew strayed off course due to inclement weather and fog.

Ultimately, the vessel ran aground and was stranded by blown limestone on Spider Island. Multiple attempts to salvage the ship in October 1887 and again in August, September, and October of 1888 were unsuccessful.

“They finally concluded that they couldn’t retrieve it from where it was stuck and decided to abandon the ship,” Thomsen explained.

According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the estimated loss of the ship was around $8,000 at the time, which translates to over $250,000 today.

Rediscovering the Frank D. Barker after 138 years is a momentous occasion for Door County, but it holds personal significance for Olson as well.

After informing the state’s historic preservation office about the findings, Olson chose to delve deeper into the exploration.

“When I think about my six-year-old son snorkeling on a shipwreck for the first time,” he shared.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Antibodies for avian flu discovered in dairy farm workers in Michigan and Colorado

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Farm workers exposed to infected dairy cows found to have avian influenza antibodies

Helen King/Getty Images

There may be more human cases of avian influenza in the United States than previously thought. Health officials in the two states conducted blood tests on workers at dairy farms known to have received infected cattle and found that about 7% of them had antibodies to the disease. This included people who had never experienced any flu symptoms.

Since March, an avian influenza virus known as H5N1 has been circulating among dairy cows across the United States. so far, 446 cows People have tested positive for the virus in 15 states in the United States. From April, 44 people In the United States, people have tested positive for H5, the influenza subtype that includes H5N1. All but one of these cases occurred in poultry or dairy farm workers infected with H5N1.

To better understand how many farmworkers may have been infected with the virus. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborates with state health departments Blood samples were taken from 115 people working on dairy farms raising H5N1-infected cows in Colorado and Michigan. All samples were taken between 15 and 19 days after a cow on the farm tested positive for the virus.

Nirav Shah The CDC and his colleagues then removed seasonal influenza antibodies from the samples before testing them for the presence of H5N1 antibodies. H5N1 antibodies were detected in eight of the samples, or about 7%, suggesting that eight of the workers may have been unknowingly infected with the virus. Furthermore, four of the employees did not remember having symptoms.

“This is very important because by this point, [H5N1] “Testing is primarily focused on symptomatic workers.” Megan Davis at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. “If workers are unaware that they are infected, they may inadvertently expose others in the community to infection.”

H5N1 is poorly adapted to infecting humans and is not known to be transmitted between humans. Still, more than that, 900 people worldwide People have been reported to have been infected with the virus since 2003, and about half of them have died from the virus. Each of these infections gives the virus a chance to mutate, potentially making it more dangerous to people.

“Those of us in public health need to cast a wider net in who we provide testing to,” Shah said at a press conference today. “Going forward, CDC plans to expand testing recommendations to include infected workers.” [to H5N1] And there are no symptoms. ”

The agency also recommends providing antiviral drugs to asymptomatic workers who are at high risk of infection, such as dairy farm workers who may get raw milk on their faces. That way, even if you do get infected with the virus, the amount of virus circulating in your body will be reduced and the risk of spreading the virus to others will be lower. “The less room we give this virus to spread, the less chance it has of changing,” Shah said.

The data also highlights that many H5N1 infections remain undetected, a concern public health officials have long suspected to be true. But until more data is available, “we can't estimate how many unconfirmed cases there are,” Shah said.

The CDC is currently analyzing an additional 150 blood samples taken from veterinarians who work with cattle. Once these results are available, Shah said it should give a clearer picture of how many cases are slipping through the cracks.

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Source: www.newscientist.com