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1. Bird flu outbreak could set US record with 'probable' cases in Iowa
Reuters
FoxNews.com
May 1, 2015
The highly pathogenic H5 avian flu turned up in initial tests at five more farms in Iowa, including a commercial egg operation housing up to 5.5 million birds, Iowa's agriculture department said on Thursday.
If the virus is confirmed at the farms in additional tests under way at a U.S. Department of Agriculture laboratory, the total number of American cases could surpass 20 million birds and result in the biggest death toll in a bird flu outbreak in U.S. history.
Avian flu at the egg farm in Buena Vista County, where workers saw an unexpected jump in bird deaths before the flock was tested, could be the largest single farm operation to be hit in the current outbreak.
The egg farm's owner, Rembrandt Foods, one of the top U.S. egg producers, confirmed the outbreak but disputed the number of birds affected. The state did not identify the affected farm by name.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/ov8oh8u
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2. Equine Herpes Virus detected in Marion County horse [OR - edited]
Oregon Dept. of Agriculture News Release
April 30, 2015
One Marion county horse has been hospitalized after testing positive for the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The horse, which has been treated at Oregon State University's College of Veterinary Medicine's Large Animal Hospital, began showing acute neurologic signs on April 28 and was immediately referred to OSU. The positive EHV-1 diagnosis was made April 29. All horses at the Marion County property have been quarantined. The Oregon Department of Agriculture reports there is no indication at this time that the virus has spread to other horses beyond those being quarantined.
Preliminary epidemiological investigations are underway. In all, there are 20 horses at the Marion County stable. The stable owner and all horse owners have been very cooperative and supportive of the disease control actions taken.
The investigation shows that horses from the affected property have attended recent events held at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany on April 16-19, and the Oregon Horse Center in Eugene on April 25-26. While the risk to these horses appears to be low at this time, concerned horse owners are advised to contact their veterinarian.
"The detection of neurologic EHV-1 is taken very seriously and we are doing our best to notify equine veterinarians and horse owners,"says State Veterinarian Dr. Brad LeaMaster of ODA. "We have had occurrences of the disease in Oregon in the past. I appreciate everyone's cooperation in dealing with the disease investigation and control process."
Full text:
http://odanews.wpengine.com/news-release-equine-herpes-virus-detected-in-marion-county-horse/
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3. USDA Confirms More Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Four Flocks in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
May 1, 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, Wisconsin and Iowa. 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:
Kandiyohi County, Minnesota (April 30, 2015)
11,200 turkeys
25th detection in this county
Barron County, Wisconsin (April 30, 2015)
96, 500 turkeys
3rd detection in this county
Buena Vista County, Iowa (April 30, 2015)
Turkeys (number pending)
3rd detection in this county
Buena Vista County, Iowa (April 30, 2015)
Chickens (number pending)
4th detection in this county
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1023e07
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4. Iowa In State Of Emergency Over Bird Flu
CBS2Iowa.com
May 1, 2015
DES MOINES, IA (CBS2/FOX28) -- Governor Terry E. Branstad today was joined by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Mark Schouten to provide an update on the ongoing efforts to stop the avian influenza outbreak in Iowa. In addition, Gov. Branstad announced that he is declaring a state of emergency in Iowa.
"While the avian influenza outbreak does not pose a risk to humans, we are taking the matter very seriously and believe declaring a state of emergency is the best way to make all resources available," said Branstad. "Even before the virus began in Iowa, our office was monitoring the outbreak in other states. We'll continue our work - as we've been doing since the first outbreak in Buena Vista County - in hopes of stopping the virus' aggressive spread throughout Iowa."
At time of Friday's news conference, 21 sites spanning 10 Iowa counties have cases that are either presumed positives or confirmed positives. The counties include: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Kossuth, Madison, O'Brien, Osceola, Pocahontas, Sac and Sioux.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/ngnwrh4
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5. OMB grants Vilsack emergency funds for avian flu
Feedstuffs
May 1, 2015
One day after requesting emergency assistance for poultry and egg producers whose flocks were hit with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 infections, Thursday the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) granted Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack authority to issue emergency assistance for poultry and egg producers whose flocks were hit with the virus.
U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership Wednesday called for emergency assistance to be distributed to producers. Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts (R., Kan.), and Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R., Texas), and ranking members Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.), and Rep. Collin Peterson (D., Minn.), sent a letter to OMB.
The virus has spread to 14 states and affected more than 100 farms, resulting in the depopulation of 15 million birds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Full text:
http://feedstuffs.com/story-omb-grants-vilsack-emergency-funds-avian-flu-45-127162
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6. Dayton signs avian flu emergency funding [MN]
By Forum News Service
The Dickinson Press
May 1, 2015
ST. PAUL - Gov. Mark Dayton signed emergency response funding for avian influenza in Minnesota into law on Friday.
The bill appropriates $514,000 to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and $379,000 to the Board of Animal Health for the costs of avian influenza emergency response efforts that are not covered by federal funding. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
Full text:
http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/agriculture/3735831-dayton-signs-avian-flu-emergency-funding
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7. Bird Flu 'Probable' In Iowa Chicken Broiler Breeding Farm
By P.J. Huffstutter, Reuters
Times Record
April 30, 2015
CHICAGO - An Iowa-based chicken broiler breeding farm has initially tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5 bird flu, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said on Thursday [4/30].
The facility in Kossuth County, Iowa, houses an estimated 19,000 birds, state officials said. Birds were dying in greater than normal numbers at the breeding farm, which is a typical sign of influenza infection in a flock.
This is thought to be first time the avian influenza virus has affected a broiler breeding farm in this outbreak. Such breeding farms are traditionally known for having extremely tight biosecurity systems.
Though the operation is small compared to some of the other poultry farm sites in the Midwest that have been affected by the current outbreak, the probable breach of a chicken broiler breeder's biosecurity underscores the potential for the country's poultry meat industry supply chain to be affected.
Full text:
http://swtimes.com/business/bird-flu-probable-iowa-chicken-broiler-breeding-farm
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