Avian Cholera

For one reason or another quite a few diseases have rather confusing names. A prime example of this is Avian Cholera which has been in the news lately. The bacteria which cause avian cholera (Pasteurella multocida) and cholera in humans (Vibrio cholerae) aren't closely related. Humans generally only acquire Pasteurella multocida as a zoonotic infection as a result of bites or scratches from pets such as cats and dogs and even this is relatively rare.

This headline from the New York Times last week could have been a little clearer:
Birds in Great Salt Lake Felled by Cholera by the Thousands
If you'd like to read more about this disease in birds the USGS National Wildlife Health Center has a frequently updated news page on the outbreak.
We will be talking more about wildlife diseases in week 9 but this caught my eye.