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1. Avian flu might spread via air, research shows
By Tom Cherveny, Forum News Service
TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
June 22, 2015
Scientists do not yet know whether spring winds carried the highly pathogenic avian influenza into barns and infected turkey or egg-laying flocks.
But they now consider airborne transmission a possibility in some of the cases of infected barns, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. It recently reported that "a preliminary analysis of wind data showed a relationship between sustained high winds and an increase in the number of infected farms approximately five days later."
An important part of the research showing that airborne transmission is a possibility was undertaken by a team including Dr. Montserrat Torremorell, D.V.M. She is an animal health expert with the University of Minnesota. Team members chased the virus at infected farms in Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska during much of April and May.
"Like a bit of witch hunting," said Torremorell.
Full text:
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28361136/avian-flu-might-spread-via-air-research-shows
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2. EHV-1 Reported in Two California Counties
By The Horse Staff
TheHorse.com
June 22, 2015
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has reported that equids in Riverside and San Joaquin counties have tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
In a statement on its website, the department reported June 16 that a 12-year-old Quarter Horse gelding and a 12-year-old mule, both from Riverside County, attended Mule Days in Bishop, California, which took place May 17-26.
"After returning home, the Quarter Horse gelding spiked a fever of 106�F on May 30 and exhibited neurologic signs on June 4 and confirmed positive for the non-neuropathogenic strain of EHV-1," the statement said. "The 12-year-old mule never spiked a fever and began coughing on June 2 but showed no other clinical signs."
Both are recovering under the care of their owner's private veterinarian, the CDFA said
The statement also said that an 8-year-old Quarter Horse gelding who did not attend Mule Days, but was a cohort to the other Quarter Horse gelding, developed a high fever and severe ataxia (incoordination) in the hind limbs on June 4.
"His condition deteriorated, and he was euthanized on June 10," the statement said. "He was affected with the neuropathogenic strain of EHV-1."
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35972/ehv-1-reported-in-two-california-counties
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3. Department of Agriculture Imposes Precautionary Interstate Quarantine Orders for Live Bird Markets, Breaker Eggs [PA]
Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture Press Release
June 22, 2015
Harrisburg, PA - A new interstate quarantine order aims to protect Pennsylvania from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by establishing strict testing requirements on shipments of domesticated poultry and eggs from states with cases of HPAI that confirm the shipments as disease-free.
The order, developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and published in the June 20 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin, requires that poultry moving to live bird markets and eggs destined for a commercial breaking operation from states with infected HPAI flocks must meet the 72-hour testing, paperwork and reporting requirements that certify the shipment has tested negative for avian influenza.
"As avian influenza continues to spread eastward, we have increased our monitoring and protocols to safeguard the state's $13 billion poultry industry," said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. "With this order, Pennsylvania's biosecurity efforts are strengthened without impeding commerce. While we know that the disease has not had any known human health impacts, we are taking the necessary precautionary steps to ensure birds and eggs are safe for our consumers."
The disease has been found in 20 other states, including the most recent confirmation in Macomb County, Mich., 150 miles across from Lake Erie's PA shore. More than 48 million birds have been killed by the virus to date.
Full text:
http://www.media.pa.gov/pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=324
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4. Waterfowl banned at state fair due to avian flu concern [DE]
Robin Brown
The News Journal
June 22, 2015
Waterfowl have been banned from poultry contests in next month's Delaware State Fair due to concerns about avian flu.
The state Department of Agriculture, which announced the ban Monday morning, said all birds still allowed to be exhibited - chickens, quail, pheasants, turkeys and others - will be tested for the deadly flu before the fair starts.
The ban will affect 46 exhibitors and 232 waterfowl entries, officials said.
"This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution to guard against the spread of avian influenza," Delaware State Veterinarian Dr. Heather Hirst said in a statement. "We know that some entrants will be disappointed, and regret any inconvenience, but these precautions are necessary to help prevent the accidental spread of avian influenza within Delaware."
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/py6vnsc
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5. Schumer: Bird Flu Crisis Could Worsen If USDA Budget Is Cut [edited]
CBSlocal.com
June 21, 2015
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - Sen. Charles Schumer says a proposal to cut $500 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture budget could hurt the department's efforts to fight bird flu - and that could mean even higher prices for eggs.
The New York Democrat said at a news conference Sunday outside a Manhattan supermarket that the average price of eggs is up nearly 50 percent this year because of bird flu.
The senator said a congressional proposal to cut $500 million from a USDA fund will starve the department of the money it needs to combat the epidemic. He urged Congress to stop the proposed cuts.
"In one of the dumbest moves Washington has made, at a time when bird flu is going through the roof, they're dramatically slashing the one program we have to prevent it, the one program we have to stop its spread," Schumer told reporters, including WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.
Full text:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/06/21/schumer-eggs-bird-flu/
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6. White-Nose Syndrome in Bats Parallels New Deadly Fungal Disease in Snakes
Catherine Griffin
ScienceWorldReport.com
June 22, 2015
Scientists may have found a link between two deadly fungal infections. Researchers have taken a closer look at snake fungal disease and have found that it's eerily similar to the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats.
The snake fungus, in this case, is called Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. It possesses traits that allows it to persist across a range of habitats and infect multiple species.
"The fungus killing these snakes is remarkably similar in its basic biology to the fungus that has killed millions of bats," said Andrew Miller, one of the authors of the new study, in a news release. "It occurs in the soil, seems to grow on a wide variety of substances, and it possesses many of the same enzymes that make the bat fungus so persistent."
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/q9y7vqq
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7. Veterinary Feed Directive; Correction
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 120 (Tuesday, June 23, 2015)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 35841-35842
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15388]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
21 CFR Part 558
Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0155
RIN 0910-AG95
Veterinary Feed Directive; Correction
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Final rule; correction.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a final rule entitled ``Veterinary Feed Directive'' that appeared in the Federal Register of June 3, 2015 (80 FR 31708). The rule amended FDA's animal drug regulations regarding veterinary feed directive (VFD) drugs. The document published with typographical and formatting errors. This document corrects those errors.
DATES: Effective: October 1, 2015.
Full text:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-06-23/html/2015-15388.htm
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