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  Via the Associate Press : A group of rabbits in Colorado with grotesque, hornlike growths may seem straight out of a low-budget horror film, but scientists say there’s no reason to be spooked — the furry creatures merely have a relatively common virus. The cottontails recently spotted in Fort Collins are infected with the mostly harmless Shope papillomavirus, which causes wart-like growths that protrude from their faces like metastasizing horns. Viral photos have inspired a fluffle of unflattering nicknames, including “Frankenstein bunnies,” “demon rabbits” and “zombie rabbits.” But their affliction is nothing new, with the virus inspiring ancient folklore and fueling scientific research nearly 100 years ago. The virus likely influenced the centuries-old jackalope myth in North America, which told of a rabbit with antlers or horns, among other animal variations. The disease in rabbits also contributed to scientists’ knowledge about the connection between viruses and cancer, such ...

Reuters is going all in on the idea that bats will be the catalyst of the next pandemic (while implying that they were likely behind the most recent one). It's a series of   interesting  (and mostly)  infographic stories , but I wonder why Reuters is all about blaming animals instead of (1) our capitalistic drive to ruin the environment and (2) our militaristic drive to develop new bio-weapons of destruction. That said, if said intrusion is forcing virus-spreading bats into human-populated areas we should also ask what medical steps are being taken to help the sick and prevent a world-wide infection.  Chances are I might go into each of these stories separately at a later time.

 Russell Brand give a hilarious take on this seriously dangerous revelation: