‘Crazy’ Ants Driving Out Fire Ants in Southeast

Invasive fire ants have been a thorn in the sides of Southerners for years. But another invasive species, the so-called “crazy” ant — that many describe as being worse — has arrived and… Read More →

Deaths from West Nile virus hit record last year

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials say last year was the worst ever for West Nile virus deaths. The final tally reported Monday was 286 deaths — or two more than the record set in… Read More →

2 new diseases could both spark global outbreaks

Two respiratory viruses in different parts of the world have captured the attention of global health officials — a novel coronavirus in the Middle East and a new bird flu spreading inChina. Last week, the coronavirus related to SARS spread… Read More →

PLAGUES AND PESTILENCES: Outbreak of mice-vector hemorrhagic fever reported in Argentina; attacks in rural areas

ARGENTINA –   A 31-yeaar old farm hand died and a 12-year old adolescent has been hospitalized in the province of Santa Fe following an outbreak of Argentine hemorrhagic fever (FHA) caused by the viral… Read More →

PESTILENCE AND PLAGUES – Bosnian capital hit by plague of flies

BOSNIA – Sarajevo’s fire brigade was inundated with calls after a massive swarm of flies struck the Bosnian capital. Some people reportedly fled the city to escape the aerial invasion, according to local media. Bosnian… Read More →

Flu infections rising among pigs in southern China as World could be threatened by Coming Pandemic

Scientists said on Wednesday that flu infections were rising among pigs raised for slaughter on farms in south and southeastern China, also plagued by bird flu. And the risk of spillover to humans was… Read More →

17-Year cicada cycle beginning — what to expect

The U.S. Northeast is about to be snowed under by cicadas. Don’t worry, though, it’s normal. The pesky invasion is just so unusual that people tend to forget about it. After 17 years underground,… Read More →

Rat-sized snails taking over Florida, have 1,200 babies a year, and they might be spreading

PESTILENCE ALERT: Giant Africa Land Snails, some the size of rats, are invading Florida, and it will be hugely expensive to stop them from eating everything in their path. “There’s no clear answer” on how… Read More →

Another death in China bird flu crisis as Hong Kong goes on alert

Eleven of the 43 people infected with bird flu in China have died, the World Health Organization said Friday. The latest to succumb was a patient from Shanghai. Of the five latest cases to be… Read More →

Billions Of Cicadas To Swarm U.S. East Coast This Spring

After a 17-year hiatus, billions of cicadas are expected to crawl out of the ground this spring and swarm the U.S. East Coast. According to the New York Daily News, teeming hordes of Brood II cicadas will… Read More →