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If this was only a media fear fest the Norwegian Food Safety Authority wouldn't act as they have. They wouldn't recommend dog owners to avoid dog socialization

If this was only a media fear fest the Norwegian Food Safety Authority wouldn't act as they have. They wouldn't recommend dog owners to avoid dog socialization if they didn't think this was a serious, real threat. It's clearly a seasonal thing. The autumn weather activates Providencia Alcalifaciens somehow, but how isn't known yet. It's apparently a part of the normal gut flora, but the levels are very elevated in the dead dogs. ------ This article is really interesting (paywall): https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/MRWR00/Har-ventet-i-13-ar-pa-at-bakterien-skulle-dukke-opp https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/MRWR00/Har-ventet-i-13-ar... Paywall free article (translated to English): https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=no&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fkristofferr.com%2Ffiles%2Fdog.html https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=no&tl=en&u=https%3... The bacterium have apparently killed dogs before in South-Africa.

zaroth 7y ago
I don’t know how it is in Norway, but in the States sometimes these organizations like to “get out ahead” of something for fear of being blamed later. In the US we have an average of 7 cases of EEE (Mosquito born illness) in humans per year, but if you get it it’s often fatal. This year there was an “outbreak” in MA of 7 cases. There are 36 communities which are claimed to be at “critical” risk. The problem with this nonsense is that they close the town fields and they don’t let the kids outside before school starts or even for recess. This apparently will continue until the first hard frost hits. It’s tragic that a few people have died. I think it’s insane to respond by effectively canceling fall outdoor sports. Humans are just really bad at evaluating risks of extremely low probability events.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- hdfbdtbcdg 7y ago
  Norwegian culture is very different to US culture with this sort of thing at many levels. If a Norwegian public body declares an emergency it means there is a problem. Some examples... There isn't really a blame culture here. People can fuck up massively and face no serious consequences. There isn't really the same aversion to risk. Sick people are told by their doctors to get some exercise and lose weight before the doctors reach for drugs. It would seem alien to an American in many ways.
  - vonseel 7y ago
    Those are some of the things I love about Norway. The culture and people seem much more practical, on many levels. As a Texan with family in Norway, I’ve often admired Norwegian culture... Everything is just so koselig, you know?
    - hdfbdtbcdg 7y ago
      There are some downsides. The fact no one is held accountable for failure means incompetent people can waste a lot of resources and time.
pvaldes 7y ago
> The autumn weather activates Providencia Alcalifaciens somehow, but how isn't known yet. One way to increase a bacteria is killing all the competition and waiting to the survivors filling the new space available
bayesian_horse 7y ago
Infections with this is isolate need not be causal, it can also be secondary to some other problem, for example viral or environmental. On the other hand there may be a newly-significant way of transmission.
PortmanSpride 7y ago
I recommend the food brand called Sportsman's Pride. If your dog has allergies choose the Chicken & Lamb blend. And of course jeg er norsk som en jævel. I feel sorry for everyone who has lost their dog.
- LambAndRice 7y ago
  It's Lamb & Rice, my inconsiderate clod. Typo. Their lamb and rice mix is wonderful. I'd try that if I was a dog with allergies.
laxd 7y ago
I don't think it's _only_ a media fear fest. It's been scary, and still is. If dogs are dying from this seasonaly, and the media frenzy results in things beeing figured out - it's good. Early news coverage said similar incidents had occured in denmark and england. Also. I certainly don't believe in the food theory. As a population, dogs are fed a variety of food. While individuals are often on a limited diet. Which suggest to me that it would be figured out quickly if it was a factor.

zaroth 7y ago

I don’t know how it is in Norway, but in the States sometimes these organizations like to “get out ahead” of something for fear of being blamed later. In the US we have an average of 7 cases of EEE (Mosquito born illness) in humans per year, but if you get it it’s often fatal. This year there was an “outbreak” in MA of 7 cases. There are 36 communities which are claimed to be at “critical” risk. The problem with this nonsense is that they close the town fields and they don’t let the kids outside before school starts or even for recess. This apparently will continue until the first hard frost hits. It’s tragic that a few people have died. I think it’s insane to respond by effectively canceling fall outdoor sports. Humans are just really bad at evaluating risks of extremely low probability events.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
hdfbdtbcdg 7y ago
Norwegian culture is very different to US culture with this sort of thing at many levels. If a Norwegian public body declares an emergency it means there is a problem. Some examples... There isn't really a blame culture here. People can fuck up massively and face no serious consequences. There isn't really the same aversion to risk. Sick people are told by their doctors to get some exercise and lose weight before the doctors reach for drugs. It would seem alien to an American in many ways.
- vonseel 7y ago
  Those are some of the things I love about Norway. The culture and people seem much more practical, on many levels. As a Texan with family in Norway, I’ve often admired Norwegian culture... Everything is just so koselig, you know?
  - hdfbdtbcdg 7y ago
    There are some downsides. The fact no one is held accountable for failure means incompetent people can waste a lot of resources and time.

pvaldes 7y ago

> The autumn weather activates Providencia Alcalifaciens somehow, but how isn't known yet. One way to increase a bacteria is killing all the competition and waiting to the survivors filling the new space available

bayesian_horse 7y ago

Infections with this is isolate need not be causal, it can also be secondary to some other problem, for example viral or environmental. On the other hand there may be a newly-significant way of transmission.

PortmanSpride 7y ago

I recommend the food brand called Sportsman's Pride. If your dog has allergies choose the Chicken & Lamb blend. And of course jeg er norsk som en jævel. I feel sorry for everyone who has lost their dog.

LambAndRice 7y ago
It's Lamb & Rice, my inconsiderate clod. Typo. Their lamb and rice mix is wonderful. I'd try that if I was a dog with allergies.

laxd 7y ago

I don't think it's _only_ a media fear fest. It's been scary, and still is. If dogs are dying from this seasonaly, and the media frenzy results in things beeing figured out - it's good. Early news coverage said similar incidents had occured in denmark and england. Also. I certainly don't believe in the food theory. As a population, dogs are fed a variety of food. While individuals are often on a limited diet. Which suggest to me that it would be figured out quickly if it was a factor.