Winter 2019 MURINE TYPHUS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO BLAME A PROBLEM SOLELY ON THE OPOSSUM During the week of October 13, 2018 in southern California we all awoke to the “Flea poop and opossums are causing a Typhus outbreak in L.A.” Daily Beast https://www.thedailybeast.com/flea-poop-and-opossums-are-causing-a-typhus-outbreak-in-la same frenzied story from newspapers on “Possums Likely Culprit as ‘Niche Disease’ Appears in SoCal Communities”, NBC news our doorstep, TV and online. Opossums https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Possums-Likely-Culprit-as-Niche-Disease-Appears-in- were to blame for the current typhus SoCal-Communities-295251451.html outbreak (formerly known as murine “Opossums Invading American Cities, Sparking Typhus Fever Outbreak” Inside Edition typhus). https://www.insideedition.com/opossums-invading-american-cities-sparking-typhus-fever- outbreak-47903 The headlines included a side article More newspapers headlining the opossum as the culprit for typhus could be found in the Los about a man who suffered from typhus Angeles Times, Long Beach Press Telegram, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, The Orange County Register, along with others. for weeks without his doctors being able to help him. He credits his Blue Shield 65 typhus. A proper regime of antibiotics their pets for fleas and put away trash Plus HMO health insurance company for brought him back from the brink. that may attract infected animals but allowing him to be referred to HealthCare have done little to control the homeless Partners Medical Group’s infectious For those of you who don’t know, Typhus populations of people crowding the disease specialist in Pasadena who is distinct from typhoid fever, a foodborne sidewalks and bike paths of Los Angeles, properly tested and diagnosed him with illness that is rarely contracted within the Long Beach and Pasadena. Los Angeles, United States and can be spread Long Beach and Pasadena have the from person to person. Typhus, highest concentrations of homeless by contrast, cannot be passed encampments and coincidentally, the between people. highest amounts of reported typhus. Typhus outbreaks are often Typhus spreads when fleas become associated with poor hygiene infected with bacteria known as Rickettsia and overcrowding. Los Angeles typhi (R. typhi) or Rickettsia felis (R. felis). officials say they’re corralling The illness reaches humans when fleas stray animals that could carry bite them or when infected flea feces are fleas, cleaning streets and rubbed into cuts or scrapes in the skin, encouraging people to treat Continued on page 6 Inside This Issue Mail Pouch .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 2 Changes to the OSUS website ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 5 Using Cat Litter Boxes ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 8 OSUS Member in the News ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... Page 9 Visit OSUS at www.opossumsocietyus.org We are all outraged at the stupidity when I get home. of the health department and don’t want the opossum to suffer From what I read it seams like because of this ruling. some moistened cat chow and a shallow water dish will work for Thank you, now. Madeline Libre, Licensed Any guidance would be Rehabilitator and opossum lover. appreciated of where I can take them for rehabilitation if needed. The Virginia Department Hi Madeline, of Game & Inland Fisheries There eyes are open and they Qis adding opossums to its list of A I just had another wildlife seem to be about 4-5” long. Rabies Vector Species (RVS). Do rehabilitator in Virginia ask us you have any hard data we can the same question. I would advise Justin provide them about why opossums them to look at their own statistics don’t carry rabies and should not which show that opossums are not be considered an RVS? a concern; horses have had more Carolyn Wilder cases of rabies than opossums. President, Wildlife Rescue League See for yourself: I would recommend them looking at their own state’s http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ hardA data on the Virginia environmental-epidemiology/ Department of Health website. rabies-control/rabies-statistics/ The website shows in 19 years of Return to our website and collected data only four cases of I think that if they wish to add look under How To Locate a rabies was reported in possums; more species to their RVS list, WildlifeA Rehabilitator Near You. In they had more reported rabies in there’s a lot more animals that the meantime, I will send you the horses. should be in line ahead of the Orphan Care Diet to sustain them opossum. until you can get help. http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ Leslie Bale environmental-epidemiology/ Leslie President rabies-control/rabies-statistics/ Opossum Society of the United Pls Help: need detail recipe Leslie States for MBD. Recommended diet Hello, I am a landlord and Qhigh quality dog/cat chow-what The health department in my tenant called me this I’m I to look for on ingredient the state of Virginia has just Qmorning and said there was a label? Any advz would be greatly Qput the opossum on the RVS list. dead opossum and that rats were appreciate. The osos 90:10 : are I am looking for any information eating it. This was 10 am. I was the ingredients blended or alone. on the matter. I have been doing scared at first because if rats were opossums for some years and out during the day and eating a any help would be greatly have never had a case of rabies. dead carcass, then I had bigger appreciated- If you have any stats, articles or problems. Turned out to be baby information to helps us change opossums atop their dead mother; thk-you, this matter please forward to me. 3 dead, but 6 alive. I have them in a bucket now with some wood carol chips. I will throw a couple rads in Continued on page 3 2 OSUS www.opossumsocietyus.org If you are thinking of creating a MAIL POUCH continued from page 2 club for your campus during your studies, you would need to check Hi Carol, the recovery time. with administration as to what needs to be done to get approval. AIt sounds like you’ve Leslie After approval has been given, or already read our article on our maybe as part of the approval website about MBD https:// I love the work that you all are process, you will need to find opossumsocietyus.org/metabolic- doing to help the opossums out the student interest in your bone-disease-mbd and you have Qand spread awareness on their campus club. Pick a meeting place a copy of our 90/10 diet. place on our Earth. I’ve always felt and put out flyers or information really strongly about opossums to students online as to who might I offer the ingredients unblended; and have recently thought about be interested. Biology students, placing the 10% supplemental starting an organization similar vet students, agriculture studies food atop the dog chow. Some to this at my university. I was might be prime targets. people find the opossums are wondering what the reception is more inclined to eat if they like in your communities about Once you find out the interest level, moisten the chow and blend it what you all are doing, and any ask if a local wildlife rehabilitation with the vegetables. Softening the tips on starting a community of organization would have someone chow by soaking, then draining opossum lovers at my school. who could talk about opossums, the excess water, is recommended check by county here: for serious MBD cases as their Our reception in the teeth will be loose. Chop the fruit community varies on the https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/ and vegetables finer and blend all peopleA attending our education conservation/laboratories/ together with the soaked chow if presentations. I would say wildlife-investigations/rehab/ their teeth are loose. universally their minds are facilities changed once they are given some All dog and cat food sold in the U.S. background on opossums. I know my biology teacher at is nutritionally balanced; for dogs university let me come back each and cats. Most kibble is around We are a non-profit public semester and guest speak on 18% protein. Choose a kibble with education corporation; lots of opossums until he retired. the highest protein level for the annual paperwork to keep that opossum. Sometimes you can find status in California. Thank you for being interested in brands with 25% protein listed, opossums. choose that one. Serving portions for Juveniles and Adults Leslie Bale As our article states, you must feed a good diet, For 1 juvenile opossum: 1 – 3 Tbsp of mixture There was animal abuse of a supplemented with calcium For 1 adult opossum: 1/4 to 3/4 cup of mixture possum. I contacted an animal (see the 90/10 diet for Qcontrol officer and told them what Always have a bowl of dry kibble available. instructions) for as long as happened basically and he didn’t the opossum was fed a wrong When opossums are placed in outdoors runs, seem to care and they told me is diet. only offer bowl of kibble + mixture in the that more than likely no charges evening. will be filed but the abuse is so bad If you are versed in Adult opossums can be fed dry dog food (90%) I think they need to be. Can I file homeopathics, I can give you with supplements including sardines (to add charges on my own because of the information on how to treat Taurine) eggs, vegetables, fruit, other fish (with abuse? I’m not sure because it’s a an opossum homeopathically bone), chicken bones, etc.