Hantavirus Concerns

Kurt M. Jones

Chaffee County Extension Director

            The weather looks like it will be fantastic this coming weekend, and many of us will be getting outside.  Time for the spring cleaning in the home and sheds!  Use caution if you are cleaning in areas infested with mice.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been recognized as a disease only recently in North America. So far, it's also fairly uncommon and the chances of becoming infected are low.  However, HPS is potentially deadly and immediate intensive care is essential once symptoms appear.

Rodents, especially the deer mouse, carry Hantaviruses that cause HPS. You can become infected by exposure to their droppings, and the first signs of sickness (especially fever and muscle aches) appear 1 to 5 weeks later, followed by shortness of breath and coughing.  Once this phase begins, the disease progresses rapidly, necessitating hospitalization and often ventilation within 24 hours. 

             Healthy, active people are more likely to become infected because their activities often put them in contact with the virus.  Anything that puts you in contact with rodent droppings, urine or nesting materials can place you at risk for infection. These include such activities as opening up cabins and sheds or cleaning outbuildings that have been closed during the winter—such as barns, garages or storage facilities for farm and construction equipment. Both activities mean you may directly touch rodents or their droppings and/or "stir up the dust," and when you touch or inhale them, you're at risk for infection.

Follow a few simple instructions to protect yourself from this dangerous disease.  First, put on latex rubber gloves before cleaning up.  Don't stir up dust by sweeping up or vacuuming up droppings, urine or nesting materials.  Instead, thoroughly wet contaminated areas with detergent or liquid to deactivate the virus. Most general-purpose disinfectants and household detergents are effective. However, a hypochlorite solution prepared by mixing 1 and 1/2 cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water may be used in place of commercial disinfectant. When using the chlorine solution, avoid spilling the mixture on clothing or other items that may be damaged.  Once everything is wet, take up contaminated materials with a damp towel, then mop or sponge the area with disinfectant.

Spray dead rodents with disinfectant, then double-bag along with all cleaning materials and bury or burn—or throw out in appropriate waste disposal system.  Finally, disinfect gloves before taking them off with disinfectant or soap and water. After taking off the clean gloves, thoroughly wash hands with soap and warm water.

When going into cabins or outbuildings (or work areas) that have been closed for a while, open them up and air out before cleaning.

At the present time, there is no specific treatment or "cure" for hantavirus infection.  However, we do know that if the infected individuals are recognized early and are taken to an intensive care unit, some patients may do better. In intensive care, patients are intubated and given oxygen therapy to help them through the period of severe respiratory distress.

The earlier the patient is brought in to intensive care, the better. If a patient is experiencing full distress, it is less likely the treatment will be effective.  Therefore, if you have been around rodents and have symptoms of fever, deep muscle aches and severe shortness of breath, see your doctor immediately. Be sure to tell your doctor that you have been around rodents—this will alert your physician to look closely for any rodent-carried disease such as HPS.

Is Academia in Bed with Monsanto?

Tony Koski, Extension Turf Specialist

Source: Discover Magazine

Those of us who work at universities (especially if we work in agriculture or horticulture) are sometimes accused of being bought and owned by the big chemical and fertilizer companies - the Monsantos and Scotts of the world. Those who look unfavorably upon the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers suggest that those of us in academia are unable to conduct independent research, teach in the classroom in an unbiased fashion, or present public education without somehow endorsing the slathering of landscapes with pesticides. Heck, if you believe some people, you would think we run in the same circles as politicians or FIFA officials? Anyway..........

The reason I bring this up is because of a question I answered today that was submitted to the national eXtension Ask an Expert (AaE) system. In AaE, you can ask a question about pretty much anything - and some expert (associated with Land Grant universities across the U.S.) will provide an objective, research-based answer. Those of us who volunteer (yep, no extra pay...) to answer these questions receive an email notice that a question is awaiting our attention. We log in to the system, read the question, provide an answer - and the client receives our response to their question. Clients can submit photos of sick plants, insects, weeds, etc. for identification and diagnosis. When necessary, we can engage in some back-and-forth dialogue with the client. Now that the kinks have been worked out, it's a pretty good way for citizens to get questions on just about any topic answered without someone trying to sell you something.

Here is the question, exactly as received (from an Anonymous person), along with my response...and quickly followed by their response. I have yet to respond...

Legitimate Glyphosate education

Hello, I recently ran into a 'master gardener' representing CSU at a local hardware store. This person was about 15 feet away from 2,000 pounds of RoundUp. Why is it that CSU still condones the use of glyphosate when all the research points to cancer in humans, and detrimental effects both directly and indirectly of our pollinators?
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidefactsheets/toxic/glyphosate.php

My response:

 A couple of comments regarding the presence of a CO Master Gardener (CMG) at a hardware store where glyphosate/Roundup was being sold.

First, the mere presence of a CMG at this store (in proximity to bottles of Roundup herbicide) doesn't imply that CSU "condones" glyphosate use any more than does their presence condone or endorse any of the 1000s of other products sold at that store (like Toro mowers or Makita power tools). The CMGs are present at Q & A booths to answer home gardener questions - not to sell any products. CMGs provide advice that is based on the best-available research. For example, weed management advice for a home garden or lawn might include (as appropriate) the use of pulling weeds, cultivating soil, mulching, mowing/fertilizing/watering adequately - and even the use of herbicides (including glyphosate, where appropriate). We realize that some people prefer NOT to use herbicides on their personal landscapes, so provide options for weed management that utilize cultural practices. When people are open to the use of herbicides as a weed management option, we provide information on how to use those products safely.

We recognize that people will disagree on whether or not pesticides are "safe" for the environment, for wildlife, for pets, and for humans. We base any suggested/recommended uses of pesticides on research-based information regarding environmental and health safety (EPA and other Federal guidelines).

The recent news story about the World Health Organization's WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determination that glyphosate is "probably" (their use of the word) a carcinogen has generated a great deal of conversation about potential health concerns of glyphosate. It is important to note that the IARC does not conduct their own research; rather, the IARC reviews published research. Numerous scientists and government agencies around the world have suggested that IARC's interpretation of some of the research (which lead to their declaration that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen) was flawed - or that some of the research they reviewed was perhaps flawed, biased, or even discredited by other scientists. For example, one of the studies that the IARC relied heavily upon has been so discredited (referred to as the Seralini study) by other scientists that the author was forced to retract it from the journal in which it was published.

For some other scientific opinions on the IARC's proclamation on the potential for glyphosate to be carcinogenic, I would suggest this website:
http://academicsreview.org/2015/03/iarc-glyphosate-cancer-review-fails-on-multiple-fronts/

CSU Extension can not (and will not) use information from groups like Beyond Pesticides because they do not present information in an unbiased fashion. They are openly unapologetic in their opposition to the use of all pesticides - even if the preponderance of research suggests that there are safe ways to use those pesticides for agriculture or in your own backyard. We base our landscape management recommendations on research that has been conducted at universities and by independent agencies - the results of which are then peer-reviewed for publication. While the peer review process does not work perfectly - and some biased or poorly performed research occasionally makes its way to publication - the overwhelming majority of peer-reviewed, published research can be viewed with confidence.

I would suggest that you read (and compare the wording and citation format) of this document to the one you read from Beyond Pesticides - and hope that you will see the difference.
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/glyphotech.pdf

In our CMG program we teach using research-based information. We teach the CMGs, in their interactions with the home gardener, to offer a range of options for managing landscapes and controlling pest problems in those landscapes. And we encourage the CMGs to be sensitive to the preferences of individuals when it comes to the use of pesticides in their home landscapes - whether those individuals prefer NOT to use pesticides, or prefer TO use them. Our goal in sharing knowledge on landscape and pest management options is simply to be as unbiased as possible.

Thank you. Let me know if you have further questions.

Tony

And they responded...quickly...

Thank you very much. You answered my question. It's obvious to anyone paying attention that glyphosate and other pesticides, neonics for instance, play a huge role in the fact that we have enormous amounts of these products in our water systems, all the way out through the North American terra firma (and then some). The EPA has been clear in it's cooperation with private research, sure, funded by those that produce the chemicals in the first place. Some believe that CSU is 'educating' the public, when in fact, they aren't. Endless research, both in and out of this country points to the fact these pesticides, which are allowable from the EPA, are killing any pollinator with an exoskeleton, which includes them all I believe, and giving humans cancer. I can appreciate Beyond Pesticides as being bias, but I challenge CSU as an institution to perform the necessary research regarding neonics and glyphosate--but it won't happen. Because just like the EPA, grant funding from agribusiness keeps 'the lights on' so to speak. I'm a beekeeper, and when anyone within 3 miles of my home uses pesticides, it affects the bees. I hope that universities and states get on board one day with true education about our food supply. People spray RoundUp like it's water. Here's some interesting data from the EPA, nowhere in the world are these numbers OK. ""RoundUp use: from 85-90 million pounds in 2001 to 180-185 million pounds in 2007. Pesticide use: from 948 million pounds in 2000 to 877 million pounds in 2007 . . . still close to a billion pounds of toxic chemicals intentionally introduced into the environment and our food supply each year."" I appreciate your time here, and the well thought-out response. I never assumed that CSU endorses anything, other than education.

"Anonymous"

The response wasn't surprising. And while there is so much that I COULD respond to here, would it be a productive use of my time?  I'll consider responding...after I ponder the writer's revelation that the "obvious" has somehow escaped my attention throughout all of my years in academia, and that perhaps all of these past 20+ years of teaching really can't be considered "true education"? I'm sure (?) that these words weren't directed at me personally? Were they? Nahhh...couldn't be....not me! :) And as I write this, I realize with some horror that I never addressed this person's question of glyphosate and pollinators... a much less controversial topic, right?

A great Colorado botanist most of us have never heard of - by Irene Shonle

Many of the early botanists in Colorado are familiar to people, if only because their names are memorialized on mountain peaks and with specific epithets:  the twin fourteeners Grays and Torreys  (named after Asa Gray and John Torrey of Flora of North America fame), or Townsendia hookeri (named after William Hooker), Primula parryi (named after Charles Parry), and on and on…  for an interesting read on these famous explorers and botanists, go here: http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/biographies%20of%20naturalists.htm.

But, when I recently came across a book about Hazel Schmoll, a Colorado botanist who did much to protect our state flower, I was chagrined to realize I had never heard of her.  Here is a little bit about what I learned:

• She was determined and took schooling much further than most women in her era. She graduated from CU in 1913 with a degree in biology, then earned a master's degree in botany at the University of Chicago.   Even more unusual, she went back and became the first woman at University of Chicago to obtain a doctorate degree in ecological botany (the at-the-time new science of studying plants in their natural environment).  A woman after my own heart (since I also have a doctorate from there in Ecology and Evolution). Further evidence of her rebellion against the limitations put on women were in evidence in her dress (she refused to use a sidesaddle but shockingly wore a split skirt and often even pants) and that she chose to never marry.  She also worked bring the right to vote to the Eastern States while she was teaching at Vassar  - she did not like not being allowed to vote out there after being allowed to vote in Colorado (Colorado was the second state to allow women to vote in 1893).
•  From 1919 to 1935, Hazel Schmoll was Colorado's State Botanist at the Colorado State Museum.  When the museum closed the thousands of herbarium sheets she had worked on went to CSU and CU, and are still used today.  At the time, there were still quite a few men in opposition to a female State Botanist, and this was discouraging, but her struggles and excellent work paid off since she won the respect of many.

  

  Hazel Schmoll is shown in 1924, when she worked in the Colorado State Museum as state botanist. (Carnegie Branch Library for Local History, Boulder Historical Society collection /Courtesy photo)

•  While conducting a plant survey at Mesa Verde National Park, she discovered Astragalous schmollae, a rare plant now named in her honor.
•  In that early era, people would head for the hills to pick armloads of wildflowers (for example, in 1911, a single trainload of people picked over 25,000 columbines in one day in Silverton). Hazel noted that the populations were diminishing, and that our state flower was in danger (it was voted as state flower in 1899).  Hazel led the effort of the Colorado Mountain Club, and in 1925, she helped pass the "Columbine Bill" which still protects our state flower.
•   She lived until she was 99!

I wonder how many would be left in the wild today without the Columbine Bill?

So, next time you see a meadow full of Columbine, give a nod of gratitude to Hazel Schmoll, an underappreciated botanical treasure!

Does your Bluegrass have the Yellows?

Lush, water- and fertilizer-fueled grass growth is often
light green or yellow. Clippings should be collected if
you can't mow often enough to prevent the accumulation
of clumps - which cause the grass underneath to turn
even brighter yellow!

Tony Koski, Extension Turf Specialist

You’re not the only one who has had enough! Have you noticed some yellowing in lawns in the past week or so? The precipitation and cool weather over the past couple of weeks have created some temporary (well, if the rain stops) problems for our cool-season lawns.

While there is plenty of glowing green turf out there, the persistent moisture has encouraged ample growth, especially on well-fertilized lawns - growth which may be lighter green or even yellow. Fast- growing grass leaves are often lighter green because leaf chlorophyll content is less concentrated or “diluted” by the rapid growth rate. Plus, those leaves lower in the canopy are normally more pale green – or even slightly yellow – than leaves higher up in the canopy, where light intensity is greater. When weather delays mowing and the grass gets tall, the darkest green leaves are mowed off – leaving the pale green and yellow leaves behind. When this rain stops, temperatures warm and you catch up on your mowing, growth will slow and more normal color will return.

Iron chlorosis develops in random patches. The youngest leaves
will be the brightest yellow, since iron doesn't move well
from older leaves to younger ones. Rapid growth and saturated
soil will encourage this temporary iron deficiency in turf.

The wet, cool conditions are also causing iron chlorosis to develop. The roots can’t get adequate iron from the soil to supply the rapidly growing shoots – so the turf becomes iron-deficient and chlorotic (yellow). With iron chlorosis, the YOUNGEST, newest leaves at the top of the grass plant will become deficient first. This is in contrast to the yellowing described above, which occurs on the OLDER leaves in the lower part of the turf canopy, with the youngest leaves at the top of the canopy being darker green. Persistent, severe iron chlorosis can cause the entire plant to become yellow – sometimes to the point that some plants die and the turf thins out. As soil temperatures warm and we get drier weather, the iron chlorosis we are seeing will diminish. 

Melting out disease can become a big problem in bluegrass
lawns during extended rainy, cool periods in the spring.

Melting out can quickly kill large patches of turf when
conditions are favorable: cool, moist and cloudy.

We are seeing melting out (Bipolaris sorokiniana) in bluegrass lawns now. Normally more of a problem in the Midwest and other wetter parts of the country, this fungus is turned on by continuous cool, wet conditions.  It causes small brown spots to form on leaves (similar to leaf spot disease seen on turf under warmer summer conditions – but those are caused by a different fungus, Drechslera poae) and leaf sheaths. Under ideal (cool, wet) conditions, the fungus invades crowns, rhizomes and roots of the grass plant – causing leaves to turn light green or yellow. Heavily infected plants die and turn brown. The turf yellows and thins out in patches – hence the name “melting out”. Severe melting out can cause large, irregularly shaped patches of dead turf. Advanced melting out is very difficult to control with fungicides. This disease is more common on older lawns; overseeding with newer, more resistant bluegrass cultivars is probably the most effective management tool. Also, heavy spring nitrogen use will increase the potential for and severity of this disease.

Roughstalk bluegrass (Poa trivialis) loves cool, rainy weather.

Rainy, cool weather also encourages the growth of two light green grasses in lawns: annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and roughstalk bluegrass (Poa trivialis). Poa annua is flowering profusely right now (an important allergen for many this time of the year), and Poa triv will spread rampantly in this kind of weather. Selective control of Poa trivialis in bluegrass lawns is not  possible; annual bluegrass can be controlled long term using a combination of strict cultural practices and use of Tenacity (mesotrione) herbicide.

Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) invasion is favored by cool,
rainy weather.

When things dry out and warm up, the severity of these problems should diminish – except that the Poas will never go away on their own. And I’m betting that this will be a banner year for necrotic ring spot – a root rot disease that is encouraged by overly moist soil conditions in the spring and summer. More to come on that…

And speaking of more to come….a look at the 10-day forecasts by both AccuWeather and Weather Underground are calling for rain on 9 of the next 10 days in Fort Collins.