Australian citizen scientists urged to help track rabbit virus

STORY: Australian citizen scientists urged to help track rabbit virus SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 22, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 22, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:49 LOCATION: Canberra CATEGORY: SCIENCE SHOTLIST: 1. various of CSIRO Discovery centre 2. various of wild rabbits STORYLINE: Australians have been called upon to help the national science agency track rabbit diseases to help contain the invasive pest species. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Thursday released new research showing that testing for the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) has expanded from fewer than 30 tissue samples annually to an average of 345 tested samples per year since the 2015 launch of the disease monitoring program. RHDV, also known as Rabbit Calicivirus or Lagovirus, is used as a biocontrol agent to manage feral rabbits, which are one of Australia's most destructive pest species. According to the CSIRO, feral rabbits cause plant diversity loss, compete with native animals for food and cost t

Infectious disease kills 2 in Afghanistan

STORY: Infectious disease kills 2 in Afghanistan DATELINE: June 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:14 LOCATION: Kabul CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of a hospital in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province STORYLINE: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus has claimed the lives of two persons including a medical doctor in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province over the past two weeks, provincial director for public health Zabiullah Hussaini said on Thursday. The contagious disease was transmitted from a sick butcher who visited the civil hospital for receiving medical treatment to health workers including a medical doctor weeks ago, the official said, adding that five more patients have recovered. This is the second time that health officials have reported the spread of such disease in the northern region of Afghanistan. Earlier, Najibullah Tawana, director of the health department in Jawzjan's neighboring Balkh province, reported two deaths due to infection with the disease and 10 more patients tested