BOBCATS DEFEATS CARDS IN FIRST MATCHUP, 1B
MCNAIRY COURT HEARS VOTER FRAUD CASE, 2A
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Volume 111, Number 45, Wednesday, March 26, 2014
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Quarantine order for some county horses
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By Christen Coulon Managing Editor
Two horse owners in McNairy County have been told to quarantine their animals due to an outbreak of a deadly equine disease. So far, six cases of Equine Infectious Anemia have been discovered in McNairy County through testing conducted at the Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Lab, said Tom Womack, director of public affairs for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Womack said that after the disease was discovered a quarantine was set up. Currently the State Veterinarian’s office is conducting an epidemiological investigation. The disease, also known as EIA is a viral horse disease transmitted primarily by biting flies such as the horse fly and deer fly. Tennessee animal health regulations require annual testing of all horses that change ownership or are commingled with
horses of multiple ownership. Tennessee’s State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher, said that the disease is not communicable to humans or other animals. He said it is not spread through nose to nose contact like other equine diseases which helps to control the spread of the disease. Hatcher said in this case one horse initially tested positive for EIA, then through the state’s investigation five other horses were found with the disease. He said that this case underlines the importance of requiring Coggins tests in the state. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, EIA is an infectious and potentially fatal viral disease of members of the horse family. The equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is categorized as a lentivirus: it contains genetic RNA material, which it uses to produce DNA. This DNA is then incorporated into the genetic makeup of infected cells.
The disease was originally identified in France in 1843 and first tentatively diagnosed in the United States in 1888, EIA has commanded a great deal of attention over the years. No vaccine or treatment exists for the disease. It is often difficult to differentiate from other fever-producing equine diseases, including anthrax, influenza, and equine encephalitis. Hatcher said the disease is fairly rare in Tennessee and normally the state sees less than 10 cases per year. He said that they believe the McNairy County outbreak is controlled, but it would take about a week to make a full determination and lift the quarantine orders. A fact sheet on Equine Infectious Anemia can be found at the following link, aphis.usda.gov. Questions related to the regulation of Equine Infectious Anemia can be directed to the State Veterinarian’s office at (615) 837-5120 or to animal. health@tn.gov.
Better late than never...
INSIDE THIS WEEK Signs of spring popping up all over McNairy County
MORRIS THROWS PERFECT GAME Gabby Morris records 14 strikeouts against Tigers PAGE 1B
Staff Photos by Christen Coulon
After one of the worst winters in recent decades and a stubbornly slow start to spring, local residents appear to be receiving a reprieve from the cold. Last weekend’s warm weather combined with additional sunshine from the longer days seem to have finally convinced our local vegetation that spring is here. Warm weather has been forecast in the area again for the coming weekend with near perfect conditions forecast for Sunday. The long term forecast is predicting warm weather ahead through early April with daily highs forecast in the 60’s and 70’s and low temperatures expected to stay well above freezing for at least the next 10 days.
Selmer native dies in recent auto accident, students mourn loss of beloved band director By Brittany Nicholson WBBJ Channel 7 Eyewitness News
TASTE OF MCNAIRY Habitat announces winners at annual fundraising event PAGE 4A
Former students and family members are mourning the loss of beloved band director and Selmer native Michael Congiardo. Former students spoke out about the kind of teacher, the school band director at Madison Academic Magnet High School, was and the impact he had on so many students in the classroom. The students said they are devastated by the sudden loss of their band director. “I was definitely upset because I didn’t see it coming,” Bo Kitzman, a former Madison Academic student, said.
“When I found out he had passed. It was tough,” Seth Harden, another former student, said. Congiardo, 49, was killed in a wreck Friday when his car struck a Jackson-Madison County School bus. Police said he had a medical condition that caused him to run a red light. “He was a great person and everybody around him whether they were an educator or a student they loved him. He was just a great guy,” Kitzman said. The former students said they kept in touch with Mr. Congiardo after high school. They both said they considered him to be a
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CONGIARDO
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