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1. State confirms first cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in free-ranging geese in Michigan
Michigan Dept. f Agriculture and Rural Development News Release
June 8, 2015
The Michigan departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced the state's first confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N2 in the state. The disease was found in free-ranging Canada geese in Macomb County. Avian influenza is a virus that can infect both free-ranging and domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys, quail and geese.
Three goslings collected last week in Sterling Heights were delivered to the DNR's Wildlife Disease Laboratory for necropsy. Initial testing was performed at Michigan State University's Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in Lansing. These tests were positive and the samples were forwarded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa, for final confirmation. MDARD and the DNR received confirmation Saturday, June 6, that the goslings were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, subtype H5N2.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the risk to people from these HPAI viruses to be low. To date, no human HPAI infections have been detected in the United States. Avian influenza is not a food safety concern and no birds or bird products infected with HPAI will enter the food chain.
Michigan is the 21st state to report a case of HPAI since December 2014. In the other 20 states, the virus has been found in captive wild birds or free-ranging birds, backyard flocks, and commercial flocks. Michigan also becomes the 6th state to detect in wild or free-ranging birds only. To date, there are 226 detections of HPAI across the country (affecting approximately 50 million birds), with Iowa and Minnesota experiencing the most cases.
Full text:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_28248-356588--,00.html
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2. USDA Confirms More Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Avian Influenza in Two Flocks in Minnesota
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletni
June 8, 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 two additional flocks in Minnesota. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time. CDC considers the risk to the general public 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:
Brown County, Minnesota (June 5, 2015)
39,000 turkeys
5th detection in this county
Kandiyohi County, Minnesota (June 5, 2015) 4
4,000 turkeys
40th detection in this county
Full text:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1087f03
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3. Cost to Fight Bird Flu Could Climb to $500 Million
Bloomberg
AgWeb.com
June 8, 2015
Government spending to fight the worst U.S. bird flu outbreak and compensate farmers for their losses will exceed the $410 million so far budgeted and may top a half-billion dollars, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.
While the outbreak of avian influenza, which sent egg prices to record highs, may be ebbing with warmer weather in the Midwest, spending to fight the disease will outstrip what's been approved, Vilsack told Bloomberg reporters and editors Monday in Washington.
"We need to be very prepared for this to reassert itself in the fall," Vilsack said.
About 45 million turkeys and chickens, including more than 10 percent of the country's laying hens, have been wiped out by the spread of avian influenza across the Midwest. Iowa, the top U.S. egg producer, has been hardest-hit. To make up for the loss of eggs sold in liquid form to food manufacturers, buyers are snapping up consumer-grade fresh eggs packed for consumer sale, driving costs higher.
Full text:
http://www.agweb.com/article/cost-to-fight-bird-flu-could-climb-to-500-million--blmg/
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4. Watch out for anthrax in livestock this summer
KOCO.com
June 8, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY -The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is telling Oklahomans to be alert for anthrax in their livestock this summer.
The disease usually occurs in sheep and cattle but can also be seen in dogs, horses, pigs or other animals -- including humans. Officials said outbreaks of the disease can occur after flooding that follows a drought, and Oklahoma has a higher-than-normal chance to see anthrax. The disease is most likely to occur in alkaline soil.
Officials said livestock will suddenly drop dead if infected by anthrax, and there could be no signs of the illness. After death, the carcass of the animal will quickly bloat and dark blood will ooze from the body. Carcasses of animals that die from anthrax should not be opened, as that could cause the bacteria to spread to soil in the area, officials said.
Anthrax causes a very high fever and listlessness in animals, causing death in a short period of time.
Full text:
http://www.koco.com/news/Watch-out-for-anthrax-in-livestock-this-summer/33465096
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5. K-State scientists will breed ticks to slow the spread of diseases
By MAR� ROSE WILLIAMS
Kansas City Star
June 5, 2015
To most people, ticks are loathsome, disease-riddled little bloodsuckers. Best avoided.
To Roman Ganta, they're a scientific subject worthy of a life's work.
He's setting up a breeding facility in Manhattan, Kan., just for ticks. Soon he'll be rearing thousands of the tiny arachnids, trying to learn more about how they harbor and spread sickness to humans and animals.
Ticks are responsible for the spread of more than a dozen diseases in people, including some that can be fatal.
"We have no vaccines for most of the pathogens," said Ganta, a professor at Kansas State University and director of its Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases.
Ganta, 56, knows firsthand how ill a person can become when infected with a vector-borne disease. At age 25, living in a small village in the southern part of India, he was stricken with malaria, a mosquito-borne disease common in Asia and Africa. Malaria kills 1.2 million people a year. Ganta was ill for 6 months with the disease, which had also killed a close friend.
When Ganta recovered, he promised himself to use his education to work toward slowing the spread of vector-borne diseases to humans and animals.
"It's my passion," he said.
Full text:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article23254320.html
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6. Tool helps veterinarians, producers adopt changes to VFD
GlobalVetLINK News Release
BeefMagazine.com
June 6, 2015
GlobalVetLINK system aids in VFD documentation
What's old is new again. What's new is the June 3 announcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it would publish final regulations for the long-anticipated and much discussed Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). The final VFD willaffect multiple animal health areas, such as pharmaceutical companies, veterinarians and producers.
While the animal health industry will see changes in many areas, one specific challenge will be the documentation for compliance regarding VFDs. GlobalVetLINK released a system more than 7 years ago that provides a digital solution for VFD communication and compliance, branded FeedLINK�.
FeedLINK is being used today by veterinarians across the U.S. who have already written thousands of VFDs using GVL's real-time system. GlobalVetLINK is working quickly to identify needed modifications to the system due to the new ruling; however, with a proven system in place, implementation of these changes will happen seamlessly. GlobalVetLINK CEO, Cliff Smith stated, "GlobalVetLINK is in a great position to respond to the needs of the industry and aid in compliance and communication for each segment of animal health stakeholders." Smith went on to say "The FeedLINK system is a digital solution already in place for stakeholders to focus animal health and wellness rather than processing paperwork."
Full text:
http://beefmagazine.com/tool-helps-veterinarians-producers-adopt-changes-vfd
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7. How to succeed at reindeer reproduction [edited]
Spenser Heaps, Provo Daily Herald
Elko Daily Press
June7, 2015
SPRINGVILLE -- Dr. Isaac Bott's work day always starts the same way.
He walks out the back door of his Springville veterinary clinic, collects a few scoops of feed from a small garage and goes to feed his reindeer -- Sven and Twinks. This week there is a new mouth to feed, as Twinks has given birth to a small, male calf.
Bott said the reindeer are his pets and Sven, with his large set of antlers, is also the mascot for his veterinary practice -- Mountain West Animal Hospital. But the reindeer are also a professional project of his, as he specializes in reindeer reproductive services.
"People are always intrigued," when he tells them about his work with reindeer reproduction, Bott said.
"What drives me is the comparative medicine; that's what makes my brain move," he said.
Bott explained that male reindeer who haven't been castrated are some of the meanest animals in the world when they're in the mating season.
"They will kill you," Bott said.
So reindeer owners generally keep only castrated males, but that means their females must be artificially inseminated in order for their herd to grow. Collecting semen also proves a challenge, as male reindeer are incredibly sensitive to anesthesia. Bott said attempts to sedate male reindeer in the rut almost always kills them.
Once there is success in collecting reindeer semen, due to its own biological makeup it tends to be very difficult to freeze, ship and thaw, so herds end up being inbred. That is causing all sorts of genetic problems for herds around the world.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/qjj9jx2
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8. U.S. wins WTO poultry birdflu case against India
Reuters
June 4, 2015
GENEVA/WASHINGTON -- The World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Thursday that India broke international trade rules by blocking U.S. poultry and egg imports because of unsubstantiated bird flu fears, confirming a win for the United States in the dispute.
The WTO Appellate Body largely upheld a panel ruling last October that India's import restrictions were not based on international scientific standards on animal health and were discriminatory.
U.S. officials said the win will help lower trade barriers and open new markets for U.S. farmers.
"I welcome this win, which will help us eliminate unjustified trade barriers so U.S. farmers can sell high quality U.S. agricultural products to customers around the world," U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in a statement.
Full text:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/04/usa-india-poultry-idUSKBN0OK1Q020150604
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