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1. EHV-1 Identified in Illinois
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
May 14, 2015
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA) has confirmed that two horses in that state have tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
"On Friday May 8, the Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare was notified that two horses located in a stable in northeast Illinois tested positive for EHV-1 via the nasal swab PCR test," the IDA said in a statement on its website. "Additional horses at the same stable had exhibited fevers throughout the week of May 4. Three horses have exhibited neurologic signs of disease and two of those horses have been euthanized.
"All horses on the premises have been restricted to the stable and are being monitored daily for signs of disease," the statement continued. "Stable personnel have been instructed to eliminate direct contact between horses as much as possible and to segregate sick horses from healthy horses as well as limit personnel entering the barn. The stable manager has implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures to help decrease the possibility of exposure. A source of the initial exposure has not been identified."
The statement also indicated that several horses from the affected stable attended events on or about April 25 and May 2. "These venues have been contacted and are implementing steps to reduce the chances of additional exposures," the statement said.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35793/ehv-1-identified-in-illinois
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2. USDA Confirms More Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in One Flock in Iowa
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
May 15, 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 one additional flock in 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:
Lyon County, Iowa (May 14, 2015)
275,000 chickens
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1048f85
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3. Minnesota State Fair cancels poultry shows [and other venues]
Associated Press
Post Bulletin
May 15, 2015
ST. PAUL - All poultry shows have been canceled at the Minnesota State Fair and county fairs across the state this year as authorities try to stop the spread of bird flu.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is also prohibiting birds from being included in swap meets, exotic animal sales and petting zoos.
Dr. Beth Thompson, the board's assistant director, says in a statement Friday that the state needs to do everything possible to get rid of this virus, and preventing the commingling of birds from different farms is one way to do that.
As of Thursday*, 87 Minnesota turkey and chicken farms had been hit by confirmed or presumed outbreaks of the H5N2 avian influenza virus, which has cost the state's producers around 5.8 million birds.
[* 90 farms affected in MN as of noon Friday May 15]
Source: http://tinyurl.com/ln6bpk4
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4. USDA to study rodents as part of avian influenza investigation
By Radio Iowa Contributor
RadioIowa.com
May 14, 2015
A team of wildlife biologists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be trapping and testing small mammals and birds in Iowa for avian influenza over the next couple of weeks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are no confirmed cases of avian flu in mammals. But, USDA epidemiologist Dr. Brian McCluskey says small rodents could still play a role in the spread of the virus.
"There's actually evidence in the scientific literature that mice and other small rodents can actually carry the virus. Maybe not as a biological vector, but as a mechanical one, so the virus may be drug in on the animal itself," McCluskey says. In other words, a mouse might transmit the virus to a chicken or turkey barn by carrying infected material on its fur or paws.
Full text:
http://www.radioiowa.com/2015/05/14/usda-to-study-rodents-as-part-of-avian-influenza-investigation/
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5. Construction To Finally Begin On Lab Portion Of National Bio And Agro-Defense Facility
By Laura Ziegler
KCUR.org
May 14, 2015
A newly appointed official with the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, or NBAF, said Thursday the facility's main laboratory will be under construction within a month at the site in Manhattan, Kansas.
Marty Vanier told the Agriculture Business Council of Kansas City the release of several million dollars in funds from Washington finalized the federal government's commitment, allowing The Department of Homeland Security to move forward with the lab.
The state of Kansas has committed more than $300 million in state funds.
Full text:
http://kcur.org/post/construction-finally-begin-lab-portion-national-bio-and-agro-defense-facility
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6. U.S. bill would ban antibiotic-resistant strains of salmonella
By Lynne Terry
The Oregonian
May 13, 2015
Two U.S. representatives pushed again on Wednesday for an overhaul of the federal food safety system to protect consumers against salmonella and other outbreaks.
Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., re-introduced a bill that would ban meat, poultry, or egg products contaminated with bacteria resistant to antibiotics or involved in a serious outbreak.
They first introduced the Pathogen Reduction and Testing Reform Act last June but the bill died without a hearing. They resurrected it on Wednesday following an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive of the USDA's flawed response to four salmonella outbreaks that state and federal officials tied to Foster Farms chicken over a decade. Frontline also covered the USDA's handling of the outbreaks in a documentary aired Tuesday.
The bill would amend three federal statutes, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act and the Egg Products Inspection Act -- to force USDA action against harmful strains of salmonella and campylobacter. Both are common in poultry, the deadliest food that Americans eat. The bill would trigger a recall of meat, poultry and processed eggs contaminated with strains resistant to at least two antibiotics used to treat human infections. It would also force a recall in an outbreak involving serious illness or death.
Full text:
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2015/05/us_bill_would_ban_antibiotic-r.html
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7. Ohio State Fair bans birds from states affected by avian flu
By Kathy Lynn Gray
The Columbus Dispatch
May 14, 2015
Poultry from states where the H5 avian flu has surfaced won't be permitted at the Ohio State Fair this year. And the Ohio Department of Agriculture could cancel the fair's poultry show altogether if the flu gets worse.
"It's an evolving situation, and we're constantly re-evaluating what our level of response will be," Erica Hawkins, the department's communications director, said on Thursday.
"The big thing right now is (the flu is) not established anywhere in Ohio and ... we're taking reasonable measures to prevent its establishment."
On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture canceled all avian competitions and activities at fairs throughout the state this year because of the flu, even though it hasn't been detected in that state.
Full text:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/05/14/ohio-state-fair-bird-ban.html
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8. White-nose syndrome confirmed in eight Wisconsin counties
By Bob Hague
Wisconsin Radio Network
May 14, 2015
White-nose syndrome is continuing to spread in Wisconsin. The state Department of Natural Resources recently completed its winter survey for the fatal bat disease, and found it in a total of eight Wisconsin counties.
Bats at sites in Grant, Crawford, Richland, Door and Dane county have tested positive, while the fungus known to cause the disease has been confirmed at sites in Iowa, Dodge and Lafayette counties. White-nose syndrome was first detected in the state a year ago in Grant County.
The original point of infection in Grant County has experienced an overall population reduction of 70 percent from pre-WNS estimates, according to a release from DNR species management section chief Owen Boyle. The Grant County site is thus far the only affected location with a noticeable difference in population resulting from white-nose syndrome.
Full text:
http://www.wrn.com/2015/05/white-nose-syndrome-confirmed-in-eight-wisconsin-counties/
See Also:
Bat-killing fungus confirmed in 3 more Illinois counties
The Associated Press
Lexington Herald-Leader
May 13, 2015
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois wildlife officials say a fungal disease that's killed millions of bats in the U.S. has turned up in Adams, Carroll and Pike counties.
That brings to 11 the number of counties where white-nose syndrome has been confirmed since it was first found in Illinois two years ago.
Named for the white fungus that appears on the animals' noses, the disease was first detected in New York in 2006. It's extremely lethal, killing 90 percent or more of hibernating bats in some caves.
White-nose syndrome was discovered in Illinois in 2013 in Hardin, LaSalle, Monroe and Pope counties. It was found in Jackson, Johnson, Saline and Union counties earlier this year.
Full text:
http://www.kentucky.com/2015/05/13/3849206/bat-killing-fungus-confirmed-in.html
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9. Finding Housing for Horses During Evacuations
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
May 13, 2015
We all hope natural disasters will never threaten our horses' lives, but these unpredictable and often deadly events can occur anytime, anywhere. But thanks to modern meteorological technology coupled with televisions, computers, and smart phones, many weather emergencies are preceded by warnings to either seek shelter immediately (if a tornado is approaching, for instance) or to evacuate the area (in the event of a hurricane or wildfire, for example).
In the latter case, finding a place to ride out the weather in safety can be challenging. But that challenge is compounded for owners evacuating their horses from a storm's path. Where do you drop a 1,100 pound animal to keep them safe from natural disasters? Here are some places you can look to find equine evacuation sites before the flood waters start rising.
Prepare in Advance
Don't wait until disaster is on your doorstep to find a place to take your horses or decide what supplies need to stay or go. Do your homework ahead of time.
Once you've selected an evacuation site, determine what health requirements the facility has and what documentation you'll need from your veterinarian-such as proof of a negative Coggins test or a health certificate-in order to bring horses there in case of an emergency.
Also, find out in advance whether you'll be expected to bring bedding, feed, and other horse-keeping supplies, and who is responsible for caring for your horse during an evacuation. While many sites require the owner to supply everything their horse will need during their stay, others might have supplies available for purchase. And determine if it's your responsibility to feed, water, and clean your horse's stall or paddock (and if so, is there lodging for you at the center as well?), or whether someone will be available to help should you need to seek shelter in another location.
Be sure to find out what the protocol is for bringing horses to the evacuation site (for instance, do you need to call in advance or can you just show up?), and find out if there's a fee to house your horse. While many sites are available to owners for free, others charge a small fee or accept donations. And, if possible, visit your evacuation site of choice ahead of time so you're familiar with the area when emergencies arise.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35778/finding-housing-for-horses-during-evacuations
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