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1. Chronic wasting disease found in a wild Michigan deer
Jim Lynch
The Detroit News
May 26, 2015
Michigan has recorded its first case of chronic wasting disease in a wild deer - an ominous milestone linked with a fatal neurological disorder that has the potential to reduce the animal population over many years.
A single, free-ranging deer in Ingham County's Meridian Township tested positive last month for the disease, which affects white tail and mule deer, as well as elk and moose. The finding led state officials to set up a management and monitoring zone that covers nine townships across three counties.
They include:
Alaiedon, Delhi, Lansing, Meridian, Wheatfield and Williamstown townships in Ingham County.
Woodhull Township in Shiawassee County.
Bath and DeWitt townships in Clinton County.
"While it is a disappointing day for Michigan, the good news is that we are armed with a thoughtfully crafted response plan," DNR Director Keith Creagh said in a statement. "We are working with other wildlife experts at the local, regional, state and federal level, using every available resource to determine the extent of this disease, respond appropriately to limit further transmission, and ultimately eradicate the disease in Michigan if possible.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/nee2dm6
See Also:
Michigan confirms state's first case of chronic wasting disease in free-ranging white-tailed deer
Contact: Ed Golder (DNR), 517-284-5815 or Heather Throne (MDARD), 517-284-5725
Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development News Release
May 26, 2015
The Michigan departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today confirmed that a free-ranging deer in Meridian Township (Ingham County) has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. This is the first time the disease has been found in Michigan's free-ranging deer population. In 2008 a white-tailed deer from a privately owned cervid (POC) facility in Kent County tested positive for CWD.
The animal was observed last month wandering around a Meridian Township residence and showing signs of illness. The homeowner contacted the Meridian Township Police Department, who then sent an officer to euthanize the animal. The deer was collected by a DNR wildlife biologist and delivered for initial testing to the DNR Wildlife Disease Laboratory at the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in Lansing, Michigan. After initial tests were positive, samples were forwarded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for final confirmation. The Michigan DNR received that positive confirmation last week.
To date, there is no evidence that chronic wasting disease presents any risk to non-cervids, including humans, either through contact with an infected animal or from handling contaminated venison. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.
"This is the first case of chronic wasting disease to be confirmed in a free-ranging Michigan white-tailed deer," said DNR Director Keith Creagh.
"While it is a disappointing day for Michigan, the good news is that we are armed with a thoughtfully crafted response plan," Creagh said. "We are working with other wildlife experts at the local, regional, state and federal level, using every available resource, to determine the extent of this disease, respond appropriately to limit further transmission, and ultimately eradicate the disease in Michigan if possible."
Full text:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153--355592--,00.html
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2. Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) Diagnosed in Virginia and California
Virginia Horse with Neurological Form of Disease Euthanized
By Fran Jurga
EquusMagazine.com
May 24, 2015
Virginia and California are the latest states to report cases of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) this week. Active cases or quarantines were announced the week before in Oregon, Iowa, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
On Thursday, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported:
"On May 21, the epidemiological investigation was completed on a farm in Prince William County where a single horse was euthanized due to neurologic disease, and whose post-mortem test results were reported as suspect-positive for the neurologic strain of Equine Herpesvirus-1.
"The index horse had not traveled off of the farm recently, and no other horses on the farm have shown any signs of disease. All horses on the farm will continue to be closely monitored for 21 days past the date the index horse was euthanized. Horses will not be permitted to move on or off the farm during this monitoring period."
This week's outbreak follows an earlier one in February in Virginia's Albemarle and Loudon counties. Quarantines of those farms ended in mid-March, according to the VDACS.
From California, a report of a sick barrel horse led to confirmed diagnosis of EHV in Santa Barbara County, also reported on Thursday. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is monitoring this case and published this statement"
"A seven-year-old barrel racing Quarter Horse gelding, originating from San Luis Obispo County, displaying mild hind limb ataxia was confirmed positive for the non-neuropathogenic strain of Equine Herpesvirus-1. This strain of virus is responsible for the more common rhinopneumonitis cases. A small percentage of the non-neuropathogenic infected horses can display neurologic signs compatible with equine herpes myeloencephalopathy which is a reportable disease in California.
"The quarantined gelding is under veterinary care in Santa Barbara County and is recovering. An investigation has been initiated and owners with potentially exposed horses will be contacted. Owners of exposed horses are asked to monitor their horses for clinical signs and take temperatures twice daily. CDFA will continue to monitor the situation."
Full text:
http://equusmagazine.com/blog/equine-herpes-virus-ehv-virginia-california-28615
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3. Six more avian flu cases hit Minnesota turkey industry and two more in Iowa
By Dana Melius
St. Peter Herald
May 26, 2015
Minnesota's turkey industry took more hits over the Memorial Day weekend, as six more cases of the avian influenza virus were announced Tuesday by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
The surprise May 26 announcement disrupted a 10-day break in confirmed bird flu outbreaks, which had prompted the board to suspend its daily updates and suggest that the worst might be past state poultry operations. The report contained additional bad news, as the first "presumptive positive" flock in Brown County was detected, affecting 46,800 turkeys.
Three more detections in Kandiyohi County brought that Willmar area total to 36, by far the state's worst hit region. Two more Renville County turkey operations were also hit. However, flock sizes in these two counties were not provided by the Tuesday report.
The six new cases increase the statewide total of affected farms to 94, now totaling 22 counties. After the Kandiyohi total, the other worst hit areas include Stearns (14), Meeker (9) and Swift (7) counties. Renville and Redwood counties both now total four affected farms.
Full text:
http://www.southernminn.com/st_peter_herald/news/article_58249048-7bfe-51a0-9af1-3eb305ae94d3.html
See Also:
Iowa reports new bird flu cases
Associated Press
AgriNews.com
May 26, 2015
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Two more Iowa farms have tested positive for bird flu.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture says two northwest Iowa farms raising young chickens to eventually lay eggs likely have the virus. No estimate of numbers was immediately released for a farm in Sioux County, the 12th case in that county, and one in Plymouth County, the first case there.
Iowa has 52 bird flu cases in 14 counties. Nearly 25 million chickens and 970,000 turkeys will die.
Full text:
http://agrinews-pubs.com/Content/News/Latest-News/Article/Iowa-reports-new-bird-flu-cases-/8/6/12684
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4. Kentucky Urges Owners, Event Organizers to Be Aware of EHV-1
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
May 24, 2015
In a recent statement, Kentucky Equine Programs Manager E.S. "Rusty" Ford and State Veterinarian Robert Stout, DVM, encouraged horse owners and event organizers to be aware of and take precautions due to the numerous cases of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) recently diagnosed across the country.
"We first want to remind all associated parties that mitigating risk of disease is a shared responsibility that requires commitment from each individual exhibitor, event managers, facility operators, veterinarians, and animal health officials," Ford said in the statement. "We are directing Kentucky facility managers and the managers of shows/exhibitions planned to be held in Kentucky to immediately review their biosecurity practices and if needed elevate their biosecurity plan to minimize opportunity of horses having direct or indirect contact with one another.
"The goal of a biosecurity plan is to prevent the transmission of infectious agents among individuals and the components of a successful program will include cooperation of management, facility layout, decontamination, and when applicable immunization. Each of these factors directly affects the success or failure of the program," his statement said.
Ford also recommended that owners discuss vaccination with their veterinarians and consider whether horses could benefit from being vaccinated against EHV-1.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35838/kentucky-urges-owners-event-organizers-to-be-aware-of-ehv-1
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5. International Egg Commission Launches Avian Flu Action Plan
ThePoultrySite.com
May 26, 2015
GLOBAL - The International Egg Commission (IEC) is launching its 'Avian Influenza Action Plan', a series of initiatives related to combating avian influenza.
The plan aims to provide immediate support for the egg industry and to co-ordinate a series of actions internationally, with the ultimate long term goal of ridding the egg industry of this destructive disease.
IEC will provide a central international communications hub on avian influenza, be the link between the global egg industry and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and be responsible for communicating information and best practices to IEC members and the wider egg industry.
First steps are to create the Avian Influenza Task Force and to hold an urgent face to face meeting with the head of the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) to push for practical action on promoting 'Compartmentalisation'.
IEC Chairman Cesar de Anda and IEC Director General Julian Madeley are meeting with a top level OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) delegation this week to address egg industry issues over the current avian influenza outbreak in North America.
For the Task Force, the IEC is looking to find world class individuals with technical or specialist skills related to avian influenza, both from inside IEC Membership and from the broader egg industry.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/mn8758l
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6. Federal Veterinarians: Efforts Needed to Improve Workforce Planning
GAO-15-495
May 26, 2015
What GAO Found
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken actions to ensure that component agencies include veterinarians in workforce planning efforts for meeting routine needs, but the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not done so. GAO has identified top leadership involvement as a key principle for workforce planning. For example, USDA provided guidance to its component agencies to assess and develop strategies for its workforce. In accordance with this guidance, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)-the agency that inspects slaughter plants-developed a workforce plan that included recruitment incentives and other strategies for veterinarians. HHS's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also included veterinarians in its workforce plans, but HHS did not provide guidance or direction to FDA or other component agencies to do so. GAO recommended in 2009 that USDA and HHS conduct department-wide assessments of their veterinarian workforces. The efforts of USDA and its component agencies met the intent of the recommendation. GAO believes that the recommendation to HHS is still valid. Direction and guidance from HHS could help integrate its component agencies' workforce planning efforts for veterinarians into a department-wide assessment.
USDA participated in a government-wide study to estimate the veterinarians needed to respond to animal disease outbreaks, but because of limitations in the study, the estimates are not reliable for purposes of effective emergency response planning. For example, the estimates were based on a USDA model that had not been verified or validated. Moreover, USDA has not developed a detailed plan to augment or train its workforce to respond to an economically devastating or highly contagious outbreak. Without reliable estimates of the veterinarians needed or how it will augment and train its workforce, USDA cannot ensure it will have enough veterinarians to adequately respond.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and other federal agencies have taken steps toward achieving the goals outlined in OPM's government-wide strategic plan for the veterinarian workforce, primarily through an interagency group OPM created. However, in each of the three goals, the interagency group did not follow through on next steps and made limited progress. For example, to improve recruiting, OPM granted government-wide direct-hire authority in 2009 to enable agencies to hire qualified veterinarians without regard to certain federal hiring requirements. However, OPM did not follow through on plans to review agencies' use of the authority. As a result, OPM cannot determine the overall impact on recruitment or whether the authority should continue or be modified. Monitoring and evaluating progress toward human capital goals is among the key principles GAO has identified for effective strategic workforce planning. According to OPM officials, the group did not consistently monitor progress toward goals in part because it did not have sufficient leadership support from participating agencies. OPM and group members, including USDA and HHS, recognize a need for a higher level of leadership but have not identified officials to serve in this capacity. Obtaining leadership support-including from USDA and HHS, the major federal employers of civilian veterinarians-and monitoring and evaluating progress could help emphasize the importance of completing work under these goals and better position OPM to ensure progress or take appropriate actions if progress is limited.
Full text and link to highlights and complete report:
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-495
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7. WHO to Fight Resistance to Antibiotic Resistance
Seth Augenstein, Digital Reporter
Laboratory Equipment
May 26, 2015
Resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobials is growing worldwide, and is threatening modern methods to treat and prevent disease. In the U.S. alone, the resistance accounts for an estimated 2 million illnesses and 20,000 deaths annually.
The World Health Organization will now coordinate an international effort to stop the growth of resistant germs worldwide.
The World Health Assembly endorsed a global action plan Monday, calling for all member states to have national plans in place by May 2017 to stop the march of the germs.
"WHO will work with countries to support the development and implementation of their national plans, and will report progress to the Health Assembly in 2017," they said in a statement shortly after the endorsement.
The five general objectives of the new effort are: improving awareness and understanding of the trend, strengthening surveillance and research, reducing infection, optimizing the use of key drugs, and ensuring sustainable and targeted investment in antimicrobial efforts, the organization said.
Full text:
http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2015/05/who-fight-resistance-antibiotic-resistance
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