important themes

(Photomicrograph from CDC)

The last outbreak of monkeypox in the U.S. was in 2003 from owners and veterinarians handling pet prairie dogs, exposed at pet rodent distributors by imported giant Gambian rats. Now we have a new wrinkle with human-to-human transmission. See links below and look forward to the "M" novel!

 Monkeypox | Poxvirus | CDC 

 Monkeypox Transmission and Pathogenesis in Prairie Dogs - Volume 10, Number 3—March 2004 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC 

People often think of 'the flu' as only a human-to-human disease. But the reservoir for the virus is in animals. More exciting challenges for Maya Maguire with pigs and birds in the "I" book!

Deadly bird flu found in ducks on the Mall in Washington. - The Washington Post 

 Why unprecedented bird flu outbreaks sweeping the world are concerning scientists (nature.com)