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Posted by GoatWorld on April 24, 2002 at 18:58:57:
Hi folks,
I must apologize again for not being around much - but then again, it seems when I am not around, the Message Forum gets more active...hmmm.
Anyway, I want to let everyone know of some possible viruses that are going around; they are basically spin-offs of some of the previous viruses that were being sent through email with .MP3, .PIF, .BAT, or .SRC files attached to them. The new versions appear to be coming in as more personalized emails, one even being addressed with the subject containing, "Hi Gary, this is for you". Of course I had no idea who the sender was.
Also, another variation is that you might receive an email containing a subject line of "Your Message Can Not Be Sent". Of course, chances are you never sent the message anyway, but, the return email contains a link saying that "The File Contains the Original Message You Sent". I think all of us know not to open the original file.
Problem is, things are getting trickier with email viruses. One must be very, very careful in what they open as it could lead to destructive damage to your computer and to your software. I know a number of you have written to me privately asking for your password - because you had computer problems or virus problems. So again, please be very careful in what you open with your email.
On the brighter side of things, the Message Forum itself is virus safe. You should never worry abouting contracting a virus from posting or reading messages on GoatWorld. This in itself is the beauty of using a "web based forum". Unfortunately, the goat industry as it stands right now is in somewhat of a shambles due to the number of "goat related email lists" that are in circulation.
Now some of you may think, "well old Gary is just trying to gather us all together at GoatWorld and make 'it' the place to go" - well, yes and no actually.
Sure, I'd like to see the majority of the industry refer to and use GoatWorld as a sounding board, but I am really more concerned about the actual direction of the industry, the goats themselves, and the security issues such as these darn viruses. Email lists are great tools for gathering (harvesting) email addresses to infect with viruses and to use for SPAM mail (addition of your email address to a commercial mailing list).
It may sound rather callous of me at this point to mention it, but since I'm on somewhat of a roll, what the heck. You see, one large looming problem that I see concerns a some individuals not thinking to highly of the other - and this itself generates alot of discussion and debate among many of these email lists. Personally, I could care a less about who likes who or who did what to whom in the past. We are living in the 'now' and we are gathered for the good of our goats right? Sure, friendships will be borne as a result, but I just tend to think alot of useful energy gets wasted because of things that do not relate to goats.
I guess what I am envisioning for GoatWorld over the long haul is a unified body of members - all from different levels of expertise, reason for raising goats, etc., to help me work this whole thing into an entity - a voice that can be heard to get more research and education for and about goats. More vaccines for goats (such as CL which I'll touch on in a minute). More products labeled specifically for goats, etc.
Another reason I'm taking time to write this is because of an email that I did receive yesterday that kind of stirred my dander - involving CL. Here is the original message sent to me:
"Hi;I was informed by a neighbor that their goats are infected with a disease that has caused the land and barn they currently reside on/in to become contaminated and cannot be used for many years without burning the entire area with extreme heat (propane inflicted). Dirt floor barn. My concern is, these goats are being relocated directly behind my house and for the time being in their side yard which butts up to my yard. Unfortunately they did not provide us with the name of this disease, thru some research I have learned about Caseous Lymphadenitis which describes what the neighbor did disclose. Is there another disease that can also cause such contamindation of the land and barn? If in fact this is the disease they're dealing with, why do they still have the approx. 100 goats on this property and is this a reportable disease? I am not sure they have had a professional vet. diagnosis or determined this disease on their own as to my knowledge they practice their own veterinary care. Also, is it mandatory these diseased goats be destroyed either by incineration or supervised burial? or can they if they choose to do so, keep them and try to control the disease even though it is terminal and contagious? It is my understanding it is communicable to humans, is this only thru contact with the pus, or saliva coughed up by a goat? What is the possibility of our well being affected with diseased goats as close as 50 feet? Please advise A.S.A.P.Thank You"
There was no name attached to this email nor location. But if you are interested, here was my reply:
Hello,
Thank you for writing. Caseous Lymphadentis or CL as it is commonly referred to in "goat lingo", is the bane of many a goat breeder/producer. This is indeed a highly contagious disease which is zoonotic - can be passed from animal to humans by contact. Your scenario brings up several good points, and I will address them as practically as I can.
The goat industry is in its infancy (in the United States) and this in itself has led to many goat owners having to practice their own veterinary services. Many vets are very limited in their knowledge of the caprine physiology. For your neighbors to practice their own vet services, on their own goats, depending upon which state you live in, I believe they are within their rights.
The goat industry is lumped together with sheep - this much to my chagrin has stifled the goat industry to step forward and find a cure for CL. The crux of the problem is this in itself. Any monies that are dispersed for the "industry", again, meaning sheep and goats, go through just that process; first the sheep people get their money, then, whatever is left over goes to the goat people. There is a cure for CL for sheep (as well as other animals including humans), but not for goats. Apparently, giving a goat the vaccination for CL that was created for sheep will make the goat very sick and not cure the CL in the goat.
So, perhaps this gives you an idea of what all of us are up against and why there is a good chance that reporting the CL itself will not raise too many eyebrows. However, you might approach this from the standpoint of "there is a communicable disease running rampant" very close to your location. Again, alot of this will depend upon the state you live in - certain states will provide protection - even certain counties within a state. I'd start with the CDC or the EPA. I would also contact your state representative to try to get legislation to prohibit the transfer, sale of cultivation of goats that have CL - this is the only way we can really get a fire lit in the industry to get the actual vaccination made and working.
In the goat industry, you will find that the majority of "serious" goat breeders will tend to side with you because they too realize the importance of raising healthy animals. The way it stands now, if your neighbor were to take all their goats to a slaughter auction, they could legally sell the goats - CL or not. This really puts those of us who take care to ensure we are raising healthy animals for human consumption through slaughter. And another reason why the goat industry stays fledgling? - Can you imagine CNN or one of the news hounds getting ahold of that what I just said? They need to! To get the industry right because it is wrong. Your neighbor should be reported and hounded to dispose of those goats because chances are they will end up selling them to some other poor unsuspecting fools and the CL will live on.
As for decontamination - yes, extreme heat is effective but I would also recommend the use of agricultural lime sprinkled and tilled into the soil repeatedly as well. And just a short "capsule" before I go - while I would be concerned with the situation you have found yourself in, please do not overlook the fact that there are other "known" diseases that can contaminate soil and water just as there are many "unknown" diseases that are doing the same as we speak. I refer to the anthrax scare last year. Prior to that time, anthrax was rarely discussed. But as the facts were revealed, anthrax can be found anywhere - in particular where there are dead carcasses. How about the diseases we don't know about yet? We are living in a time when these things are becoming that much more important.
Best regards,
Gary Pfalzbot
Anyway folks, I would appreciate your input and comments. Even though I may not always write in the Message Forum - you may be able to get an idea with some of the personal "goat mail" I receive daily. I try to answer it all as fairly and as subjectively as I can, for the good of the goats, the people such as yourselves who really care about your goats, and the overall future of the industry itself.
Best regards,
Gary Pfalzbot
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