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1. Bird Flu Could Be In A Quarter Of Iowa Hens
By: Staff
WHOtv.com
May 4, 2015
On Friday, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency in Iowa to address the spread of avian influenza.
H5-N2 avian flu is not lethal to humans, but it is for birds, and it's been identified in 12 cases across the state, with another nine cases suspected. In all, more than one quarter of Iowa's laying hen population is on farms with either confirmed or presumed cases of bird flu.
In response, Branstad issued a statewide disaster proclamation on Friday. His proclamation activates the State Emergency Operation Center under Iowa's Homeland Security and Emergency Management department, to assemble the different agencies involved.
Some of the work ahead for officials is disposal of 16.5 million carcasses.
He says, "First of all, it's a huge problem. And it's going to take some time, and it's easier, I think, with the turkeys, than it's going to be with the laying hens that are in these cages, and trying to get the dead hens out of the cases when you have, in some cases, millions of them. That's going to be a big challenge."
In addition, Branstad said he intends for the Iowa Department of Transportation to issue guidelines and directions for vehicles hauling the carcasses.
Full text:
http://whotv.com/2015/05/04/bird-flu-could-be-in-a-quarter-of-iowa-hens/
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2. More horses found with Equine Herpes Virus, including most serious form [edited]
HealthCanal.com
May 6, 2015
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Three more cases have been found in Oregon of horses infected with Equine Herpes Virus 1, or EHV-1, and one animal has the most serious "neurotropic" form of the virus that is far more likely to cause serious, sometimes permanent neurological damage.
An initial case of EHV-1 reported last week, and also being treated in isolation at OSU, only had the more common wild strain of the virus. That horse did show neurologic symptoms, although animals with that strain of EHV-1 more often have a disease that causes respiratory infection or abortion in pregnant mares.
Two more cases have been identified of horses with the wild strain, that are not showing signs of neurologic disease, and they are being treated at their home stables in Polk County. Both forms of EHV-1 are highly contagious to horses, but not transmissible to people.
However, a fourth case has been confirmed with the neurotropic form of EHV-1, veterinary experts say, which increases the seriousness of the current outbreak, and makes it increasingly important that horse owners in Oregon practice strong biosecurity management of their animals.
The initial case last week was in a horse housed in Marion County that had recently attended events at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany on April 16-19. Prior to the development of clinical signs in the initial case and institution of the quarantine, horses housed with the initial case had attended an event at the Oregon Horse Center in Eugene on April 25-26. The newest case was not at the Linn County event, Schlipf said, but had been in contact with other horses that attended.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/lmyx3yu
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3. U.S. approves $330 million for bird flu outbreak in poultry
By P.J. Huffstutter - Reuters Exclusive
Reuters
May 5, 2015
The U.S. government will tap an additional $330 million in emergency funds to cover farmer claims related to the fast-spreading bird flu outbreak and other efforts to contain the disease, U.S. Agriculture Department sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The money comes after U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack requested that the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) grant the agency's bid to tap emergency funds.
The additional funds, added to the $84.5 million previously set aside by USDA for the outbreak, bring the federal costs so far to at least $414.5 million. That amount is one of the largest sums the federal government has spent on a livestock disease outbreak, according to government data.
The American poultry industry has been struggling with the worst-ever U.S. outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu, which has led to more than 21.6 million birds in 114 mostly commercial operations being killed so far.
Full text:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/05/health-birdflu-funds-idINKBN0NQ1VN20150505
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4. TIMELINE-Tracing the bird flu outbreak in N. American poultry flocks
Reuters
May 5, 2015
The United States is facing its worst-ever outbreak of avian influenza as three highly pathogenic strains (HPAI) have hit North American poultry flocks since December, with the spread of infection picking up speed in the last month.
More than 21 million birds have been killed or are expected to be condemned, and three states - Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa - have declared a state of emergency.
Exports, which totaled more than $6 billion last year, have been hit as buyers, including China and Mexico, slap bans on U.S. supplies.
Full text:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/05/health-birdflu-usa-idUSL1N0XP2FY20150505
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5. Jennie-O to cut production at Faribault plant, idling 233 workers [MN]
Article by: Mike Hughlett
Minneapolis Star Tribune
May 5, 2015
Jennie-O Turkey Store said Tuesday that it will temporarily lay off 233 workers at its Faribault processing plant because the bird flu has cut into its turkey supplies.
The company said in a statement it will move to a single processing shift in Faribault for the "foreseeable future," effective May 26.
"This is a temporary layoff and our intent is to have everyone come back to work when bird numbers return to normal levels," Randy L. Vergin, the Faribault plant manager, said in the statement. "We do not have an anticipated return to work date at this time."
The Faribault plant employs about 650 and usually operates two shifts. Jennie-O slaughter plants in Willmar, Melrose and Barron, Wis., are not included in the layoff.
Jennie-O, a division of Austin-based Hormel Foods, is the nation's second largest turkey processor. It relies on Minnesota and Wisconsin for its turkeys, and both states have been hit hard by the bird flu.
Two more Minnesota farms have tested positive for the lethal bird flu, bringing the total to 82, the Minnesota Animal Health Board disclosed Tuesday. Both are in Kandiyohi County, the state's largest turkey producer, which now accounts for 31 cases.
Full text:
http://www.startribune.com/business/302596481.html
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6. USDA: Little economic benefit from COOL
By Mary Soukup
Drovers CattleNetwork.com
May 4, 2015
n a report required in the 2014 farm bill, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has said there is "no measurable benefit" to consumers as a result of the mandatory country-of-origin-labeling (COOL) law. The report, completed by a team of agricultural economists from Kansas State University and the University of Missouri, comes just weeks before the World Trade Organization (WTO) is expected to issue its final ruling on the matter.
"Based on a review of academic research, we found no evidence that consumer demand for beef or pork has increased because of MCOOL. Thus, our economic analysis finds no measureable benefits to consumers as a result of the MCOOL rules," according to the report.
It goes on to say, "This report demonstrates substantial economic damage to producers, packers, retailers, and consumers from implementation of MCOOL in 2009 and losses which further increased with modifications contained in the 2013 rule. There is no evidence of offsetting benefits associated with consumer demand increases from MCOOL implementation. On the contrary, consumers lost because they now face higher retail beef and pork prices and reduced supply because of the 2009 and 2013 MCOOL rules."
Full text:
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/news/ag-policy/usda-little-economic-benefit-cool
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7. Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 82 (Wednesday, April 29, 2015)
Notices
Pages 23797-23798
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10026]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
Docket No. FDA-2015-N-0001
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee; Notice of Meeting
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The meeting will be open to the public.
Name of Committee: Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee. General Function of the Committee: To provide advice and recommendations to the Agency on FDA's regulatory issues.
Date and Time: The meeting will be held on June 1, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: FDA White Oak Campus, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31 Conference Center, the Great Room (Rm.1503), Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will also be available via Webcast. The Webcast will be available at the following link: https://collaboration.fda.gov/cbertseac/. When accessing the Webcast please enter as a guest.
Full text:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-04-29/html/2015-10026.htm
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