Chicagoist: Botulism Killing Lake Michigan Birds

RFM

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:05:38 -0600

Botulin is the toxin produced by Clostridium, which can affect any other mammal that ingests it, nothing more is needed. What seems to be overlooked is that Clostridium outbreaks can easily and rapidly become a major public health hazard. It is interesting that the news reports reach out for the zebra mussel as the probable source with no evidence or scientific literature anywhere to support that conclusion. There is a lot of scientific evidence however that one of the common sources of Clostridium is raw sewerage, which gets into the lake water on a regular basis. One thing we can be certain about however, as long as it is perceived as killing a few birds, nobody is going to worry. When it gets a few humans, then something might be done.

P Griffin Baron

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:07:14 -0600

....Once again proving my original point, birds shouldn't use Botox. I know it'll make them look younger, but seriously... c'mon.

JP2

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:36:00 -0600

I used to know more than your average bear about water and water quality and stuff like that, but I was still a bit surprised to read that botulism occurs in a communicable form in the water of Lake Michigan. Yuck!