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J L Alexander, TDSHS Zoonosis Division R Gilliland, USDA Wildlife Management

Tularemia Outbreak at an International Airport, 2006 Diseases in Nature Transmissible to Man June 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

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J L Alexander, TDSHS Zoonosis Division R Gilliland, USDA Wildlife Management

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  1. Tularemia 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

  2. 20 dead jackrabbits found along this 0.6 mi section of road

  3. Identifying 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

  4. Public 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

  5. Environmental 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

  6. Tularemia positive specimens from airport property, 2006 • Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) • Coyote (Canis latrans) • Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) • Ticks (Haemaplysalis leporipalustris) (Dermacentor variabilis)

  7. Follow-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

  8. Tularemia - 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”

  9. Tularemia - Affected Mammals These animals tend to be affected through the water-borne cycle of F. tularensis ssp. holarctica (Type B) Beaver Muskrat Vole

  10. Tularemia - Affected Arthropods Ticks, mosquitoes, the deer fly and other biting arthropods serve as vectors for F. tularensis in its transmission to humans and animals.

  11. Tularemia - 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.

  12. Wildlife 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

  13. Wildlife Strikes at Airports Note: 2007 data includes up to 2/28/07 Total Strikes: 88,198 Source: FAA National Wildlife Strike Database

  14. Wildlife Strikes at Airports Source: Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports: A Manual for Airport Personnel

  15. Source: Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports: A Manual for Airport Personnel

  16. Coyotes 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 O’Hare Cause Problems” • Two pilots were waved-off from their landings at O’Hare in February 2007.

  17. Coyotes 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

  18. Coyotes 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.

  19. Coyote Strikes at Airports United States Note: 2007 data includes up to 2/28/07 Total Strikes: 303 Source: FAA National Wildlife Strike Database

  20. Coyote Strikes at Texas Airports Note: 2007 data includes up to 2/28/07 Total Strikes: 12 Source: FAA National Wildlife Strike Database

  21. Texas Coyote Strikes Dates: January 1990 – February 2007 Number of Strikes: 26 Source: FAA National Wildlife Strike Database

  22. Title 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

  23. Wildlife 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

  24. Rabbit & 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.”

  25. Rabbit & 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.

  26. Rabbit 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/

  27. Amarillo 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

  28. Amarillo 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.

  29. Acknowledgements • 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

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