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1. Influenza in Four Flocks in Minnesota and South Dakota
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
April 21, 2015
WASHINGTON - The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in additional four flocks in Minnesota and South Dakota. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.
USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed HPAI H5N2 in the following counties and states:
Cottonwood County, Minnesota (April 20, 2015)
30,000 turkeys
2nd detection in this county
Wadena County, Minnesota (April 20, 2015)
301,000 turkeys
Kandiyohi County, Minnesota (April 20, 2015)
61,000 turkeys
8th detection in this county
Spink County, South Dakota (April 20, 2015)
33,300 turkeys
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1004a87
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2. Georgia Assisting in Avian Influenza Response Efforts in Minnesota
by Randall
SoutheastAgNet.com
April 20, 2015
At a request from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and Georgia Poultry Lab have sent employees to Minnesota to assist in response efforts to the Avian Influenza outbreak in that state. I talked with both Georgia State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb and Dan Duncan, livestock and poultry division manager, about these efforts. First Dr. Cobb explains what this trip is all about.
Listen to the full audio at this link:
http://southeastagnet.com/2015/04/20/georgia-assisting-in-avian-influenza-response-efforts-in-minnesota/
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3. State Senate backs $893K for avian flu response, but dispute emerges
Posted by: Patrick Condon
Minneapolis Star Tribune
April 21, 2015
The Minnesota Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved $893,000 in emergency state funds to respond to the avian flu outbreak, although a political squabble over a non-related provision attached to the legislation by the DFL's Senate majority may slow down distribution of the money.
The House passed the avian flu money on Thursday. It's divided into two pots: $514,000 for the state Department of Agriculture, and $379,000 for the state Board of Animal Health.
"There is some urgency," Sen. Kevin Dahle, DFL-Northfield, said Tuesday during Senate debate.
Dahle noted that the number of Minnesota turkey farms affected by the outbreak has been rising; it most recently was tallied at 28 farms in 14 counties. Minnesota is the nation's largest turkey producer.
However, a day earlier in Senate Finance Committee, DFL senators attached a provision that would move up a yearly date on which the Minnesota Management and Budget office reports the size of the state's budget reserve to legislators. Backers said it's meant to give lawmakers more time to prepare for the legislative session and the scope of resources available.
Full text:
http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/300831501.html
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4. Bird flu outbreak could impact poultry supplies
Hormel warns it will have less turkey product this year
By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com
April 21, 2015
An outbreak of H5N2 avian, or bird flu, spread quickly this week through poultry operations in the upper Midwest, resulting in the deaths of millions of bird, potentially affecting supplies and prices for consumers.
The disease was discovered in poultry operations in Osceola County, Iowa, a major egg-producing region. Hen losses have been estimated at 5.3 million.
The impact on egg prices is unclear. Bloomberg News reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture had earlier projected an increase in 2015 egg production and a decline in prices from last year. So it is possible consumers will notice no increase in prices.
Earlier, in neighboring Minnesota, bird flu swept through at least 28 turkey-producing farms. Turkey losses are estimated at 1.7 million.
The impact was severe enough that Hormel Foods, a publicly traded company, warned it would likely be felt when the company reported its quarterly earnings.
"We are experiencing significant challenges in our turkey supply chain due to the recent HPAI outbreaks in Minnesota and Wisconsin," said Jeffrey Ettinger, chairman and CEO of Hormel Foods.
Ettinger said he expects the outbreaks will subside as the weather improves but in the short term Hormel will face "turkey supply challenges."
Full text:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/bird-flu-outbreak-could-impact-poultry-supplies-042115.html
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5. Michigan EHV-1: No New Cases Since April 3
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
April 20, 2015
In an April 17 statement the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) reported that no new equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) cases have been confirmed since April 3.
A total of four horses have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak began in late March: One Livingston County horse was euthanized, while another Livingston County horse and two Saginaw County horses are recovering at quarantined premises.
The MDARD statement noted that, "in an effort to assist individual horse owners whose horses are currently housed at the quarantined facilities, the (department) allowed three horses quarantined at the ... Saginaw County premises to move to isolated locations, one each to Midland, St. Clair, and Genesee counties" last week. The MDARD said the horses that moved have not tested positive for EHV-1, but might have been exposed to EHV-1 positive horses.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35665/michigan-ehv-1-no-new-cases-since-april-3
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6. Arizona Deer, Elk Clear of Chronic Wasting Disease
Arizona Game and Fish Department
WillcoxRangeNews.com
April 20, 2015
PHOENIX - Arizona Game and Fish Department officials have not found any cases of chronic wasting disease in the state's deer and elk populations despite the illness being detected in nearby states.
Tests for the fatal neurodegenerative disease in 1,342 deer and elk have come back negative. Currently chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed in the neighboring states of Utah, New Mexico and Colorado.
"The continued vigilance of hunters is essential for the Department's effective surveillance of CWD in deer and elk," said Wildlife Biologist Carrington Knox. "The CWD surveillance program is reliant on the voluntary submission of samples by hunters and samples collected by taxidermists and meat processors. This data is critical to our early detection efforts and we are very appreciative of all the effort to ensure the program is a success."
Full text:
http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/news/article_b92a3418-e798-11e4-b8d8-9352b1a2cb4c.html
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7. Daemen [NY] establishes partnership with LMU [TN] to offer veterinary medicine degree
Niagara Frontier Publications
April 20, 2015
Daemen College and Lincoln Memorial University have formed a unique educational collaboration that will pave the way for Western New York students to earn a doctor of veterinary medicine. It is the only program of its kind available at a Buffalo/Niagara institution, one of only three in the Northeast, and the first formal agreement like this LMU has established with another institution.
A memorandum of agreement was officially signed April 20 by Daemen President Gary A. Olson; Dr. Glen F. Hoffsis, dean of the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine; and Dr. Michael Brogan, Daemen vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. The accelerated program will be launched this fall.
"We are thrilled to establish this joint effort with Lincoln Memorial University and to implement our shared vision to expand educational offerings that utilize the expertise and resources of both our institutions," Olson said. "With this dual degree program, we've created an attractive new option for college students in the Buffalo/Niagara region who aspire to have a career in veterinary medicine."
Established in 2014, LMU's veterinary medicine degree is an emerging program at the well-established institution and one of only 30 DVM programs offered across the U.S. As one of the newest programs in the country, it has received provisional accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.
"We are excited to enter into this agreement with Daemen College," Hoffsis said. "LMU is proud of its new College of Veterinary Medicine and we are pleased to provide an opportunity for Daemen students to follow their dream of becoming a veterinarian."
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/lzxhd36
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