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1. USDA confirms H5N2 cases in 8 Minnesota farms, 1 Iowa
Feedstuffs
April 14, 2015
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed the presence of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in an additional eight commercial turkey flocks located in six counties of Minnesota. There are 22 total confirmed cases in Minnesota.
The affected flocks are in:
* Kandiyohi County - 30,000 turkeys (fourth detection in the county);
* La Sueur County - 21,500 turkeys (first detection in the county);
* Meeker County - 25,000 turkeys (second detection in the county);
* Meeker County - 20,000 turkeys (third detection in the county);
* Stearns County - 76,000 turkeys (fifth detection in the county);
* Swift County - 160,000 turkeys (first detection in the county);
* Swift County - 154,000 turkeys (second detection in the county), and
* Redwood County - 56,000 turkeys (first detection in the county).
USDA is working closely with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.
Additionally, USDA confirmed the presence of H5N2 HPAI in a commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The flock of 27,000 turkeys is the first discovery in Iowa.
Source:
http://feedstuffs.com/story-update-usda-confirms-h5n2-cases-8-minnesota-farms-1-iowa-45-126421
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2. Duck tests positive for bird flu at Bosque del Apache Refuge [NM]
By: KOB.com Web Staff
KOB.com
April 14, 2015
A lone bird at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge has tested positive for a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain that affects wild and domestic fowl, but is not known to be harmful to humans, officials announced Tuesday.
A cinnamon teal duck was one of 196 birds tested at the refuge for the disease that was first detected in the United States in late 2014. It was the first bird in New Mexico to test positive for the highly pathogenic strain. It is unknown whether the duck was migrating through the state. Most migratory birds have left the refuge for their northern nesting areas.
Dr. Kerry Mower, wildlife disease specialist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, said although the disease poses no threat to humans, people should take precautions to protect their domestic flocks of chickens and other birds. The best way to do that, he said, is to isolate domestic flocks and avoid contact with wild birds.
Full text:
http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3765399.shtml#.VS1-xZNsggQ
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3. Trich CONSULT web tool up and running
By John Maday, Editor
Bovine Veterinarian
April 13, 2015
Trichomoniasis is a confounding and potentially very costly disease, and while the disease is well understood, determining the best prevention or control strategy for an individual ranch can be complicated.
During last week's Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC) conference in Norman, Oklahoma, Kansas State University veterinarian Bob Larson, DVM, PhD, outlined a new tool, Trich CONSULT*, designed to allow veterinarians to help clients assess their risk and make informed decisions for preventing the disease or ridding their infected herds of trich.
[* See: http://www.trichconsult.org/ ]
Trichomoniasis, or "trich," is a sexually transmitted disease for which there is no approved treatment in the United States. Bulls that contract the disease generally remain infected for life, and easily transmit the pathogen to females at breeding. Cows tend to naturally clear the pathogen within a few months, but a few can remain carriers and infected cows can spread the disease to bulls. Once in a herd, Larson says, trich causes embryonic deaths and abortions, and can reduce calving percentage in a herd or breeding group by 50 percent or more.
Several states have listed trich as a reportable disease and enacted specific testing requirements for non-virgin bulls entering the state, and in some cases for bulls sold within the state. Keeping infected bulls out of a breeding herd, and culling for slaughter any infected bulls found, is the best way to prevent introduction of the disease. But even with diagnostic tests available, that is not as simple as it sounds. One veterinarian in the audience related a story of a bull - a $30,000 AI sire - that jumped a fence to visit a neighbor's herd of mixed, sale-barn cows. The visit lasted only about 40 minutes, but the bull subsequently tested positive for trich, which if confirmed, reduces his value to that of a salvage animal.
Full text:
http://www.bovinevetonline.com/news/animal-health/trich-consult-web-tool-and-running
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4. Do You Know the Biosecurity Steps to Protect Your Poultry from Avian Influenza?
Get Advice From the Experts with #chickenchat2015 on April 16
Posted by Joelle R. Hayden, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
USDA Blog
April 14, 2015
Since December 2014, USDA has confirmed several cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 in the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways (or migratory bird paths). The disease has been found in wild birds, as well as in a few backyard and commercial poultry flocks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections to be low. No human cases of these HPAI H5 viruses have been detected in the United States, Canada, or internationally.
Anyone who owns or works with poultry-whether on a commercial farm, in the wild, or at a hobby/backyard farm-should take proper steps to keep HPAI from spreading. The best way to protect your birds is to follow good biosecurity. Even if you are already familiar with biosecurity, now is a good time to double-check your practices. You are the best protection your birds have!
Be sure to join Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, and others for a Twitter chat aimed to empower poultry owners with the information they need to protect their birds' health. Participants include: USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Forest Service; the United States Geological Survey; the Food and Drug Administration; Department of Agriculture representatives from Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin; the National Turkey Federation; and the National Chicken Council. Andy Schneider, a backyard poultry expert, also will be joining the chat, along with Healthy Harry, the spokesbird for USDA's Biosecurity for Birds outreach campaign.
Tune into @scienceatUSDA or @USDA_APHIS and follow along with #chickenchat2015 on Thursday, April 16 at 2 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. PT) to learn how YOU can protect your poultry from this virus.
As part of its safeguarding mission, the USDA helps protects the health of our Nation's livestock and poultry. We respond to major animal disease events, helping to keep dangerous diseases from spreading. We also work to reduce the economic impact of disease events.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/ktvlorm
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5. Now is good time to vaccinate your horse for West Nile virus [WA]
Washington Dept. of Agriculture News Release
April 13, 2015
OLYMPIA - As a mild winter has given way to spring and temperatures rise in our state, can mosquitoes be far behind? The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is advising horse owners to make sure their horse's vaccination is current for protection against West Nile virus.
The disease is potentially fatal to horses and is spread by mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. While West Nile virus can sicken people, horses, birds and other animals, it does not spread from horses to people or other animals.
"With mosquito season approaching, now is the time to schedule a visit with your veterinarian to protect against West Nile virus," said State Veterinarian Dr. Joe Baker. "Do it before mosquitoes are active since it takes time for the vaccine to provide maximum protection for your horse."
Horses require two doses of the vaccine initially, and then boosters at least annually.
Full text:
http://agr.wa.gov/News/2015/15-17.aspx
See also:
Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Goleta [CA]
Oscar Flores, KEYT-KCOY-KKFX Digital Journalist
KEYT.com
April 14, 2015
GOLETA, Calif. - Mosquitoes collected at Lake Los Carneros in Goleta have tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to the Santa Barbara County Health Department.
Related Content
In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, the Health Department says that this is the first West Nile Virus positive mosquito pool in Santa Barbara County since 2006, and the first at Lake Los Carneros since 2005.
Full text:
http://www.keyt.com/news/mosquitoes-test-positive-for-west-nile-virus-in-goleta/32361614
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6. Bill introduced to ban certain antibiotics - again
By P. Scott Shearer, Bockorny Group, Washington, D.C.
National Hog Farmer
April 13, 2015
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) has reintroduced the "Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act," which would ban non-therapeutic uses of medically important antibiotics in food animal production. This is legislation she has introduced over a number of years.
Slaughter also plans to introduce the "Delivering Antimicrobial Transparency Act" in the near future. This legislation would require livestock and poultry producers and veterinarians to submit date to the Food & Drug Administration regarding the types and amounts of antibiotics given to animals in feed. Animal health manufacturers would have to provide "better information" to the FDA on how their antimicrobial drugs are used in food-producing animals. Former Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced the DATA bill last Congress.
Source: http://nationalhogfarmer.com/animal-well-being/bill-introduced-ban-certain-antibiotics-again
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7. FDA Addressing the Shortage of Large Volume Intravenous Solutions
FDA Ctr. for Veterinary Medicine News Release
April 13, 2015
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine is coordinating with drug companies to increase the availability of three- to five-liter intravenous (IV) fluids intended to provide large animals with IV fluid replacement therapy.
The current shortage has been triggered by several factors, including increased demand combined with reduced manufacturing of the sizes most suitable for use in large animals. Because of a shortage of IV fluids for use in both human and veterinary medicine, some manufacturers have focused on manufacturing the smaller sizes for humans and small animals, which has contributed to a decrease in the availability of the three-liter and five-liter sizes that are used in large animals.
The FDA is working with drug companies to address the current shortage and meet the long-term demand for IV fluids. To address the immediate need, the FDA will temporarily exercise enforcement discretion over the importation of large volume IV solutions that are currently marketed in foreign countries and carry labeling appropriate for those countries. Several companies are currently preparing to import five-liter fluids into the U.S. As products become available, we will update our drug shortages - IV Fluids page with additional information.
[ See: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ProductSafetyInformation/ucm440393.htm ]
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/kv83943
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