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1. USDA Publishes Updated Interagency Strategic and Surveillance Plans for Avian Influenza in Migratory Birds
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
July 2, 2015
Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released two updated interagency plans related to the surveillance of avian influenza in wild birds. As part of USDA's on-going preparation efforts for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), these updated plans will help USDA with further monitoring of wild birds for the HPAI virus during the fall migration. Between now and March 2016, HPAI surveillance in wild birds will increase as APHIS Wildlife Services biologists and their State partners collect approximately 41,000 samples from apparently healthy wild birds from targeted areas throughout the United States.
The first updated plan- U.S. Interagency Strategic Plan for Early Detection and Monitoring for Avian Influenzas of Significance in Wild Birds-describes a unified national system for migratory wild bird sampling involving Federal, State, university and non-governmental organizations. The second updated plan- 2015 Surveillance Plan for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Waterfowl in the United States- outlines specific wild bird surveillance efforts for 2015-2016. These efforts were led by the Interagency Steering Committee for Surveillance for HPAI in Wild Birds. This committee is comprised of experts from USDA APHIS, the Department of the Interior's U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Flyway Council.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/odgvng6
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2. Arizona Poultry & Game Tests Negative for Avian Influenza Featured
By Lynne LaMaster
PrescottENews.com
July 2, 2015
It's good news on the so far non-existent Avian Influenza front in Arizona.
Arizona Poultry & Game Tests Negative for Avian Influenza
According to AZ Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian Perry Durham, so far all initial tests for Avian Influenza (AI) have come back negative, although it's important to note that each county had separate responses.
Dr. Durham explains in his blog, Roaming the Range:
Mohave County - The birds all tested negative initially for both AI and Newcastle disease, which is similar to AI and is monitored by the state. Now they are doing virus isolation testing to "...ensure no latent infection is present." Durham says this will take a few weeks.
"Rarely will samples that are negative on screening tests show a positive result on virus isolation, but it is possible. So these results are helpful and encouraging, but not yet final," Durham states.
Eggs shipped to Santa Cruz County were taken to Mexico.
Eggs shipped to Yavapai County were seized and subsequently destroyed.
"The owner of the chicks shipped to Pinal County opted for USDA indemnification," Durham said. "Those birds and other birds living in that coop were humanely euthanized. Other birds on the premises are being tested."
In the meantime, all quarantines remain in place until the State Veterinarian is satisfied that there is no threat to any poultry industries throughout Arizona.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/oxyavt2
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3. NJ Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Emergency rule
CORRECTED VERSION JULY 2, 2015
TO: NJ Poultry Industry and General Public
FROM: Manoel Tamassia, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT
Director, Division of Animal Health and State Veterinarian
SUBJECT: NJ Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Emergency rule
Since December 2014, a dangerous new strain of Avian Influenza, also known as "bird flu" has been found in domestic poultry, captive falcons and wild, migratory waterfowl in the United States. All poultry owners need to be on the lookout for signs of illness in their poultry and use good biosecurity practices to protect their birds. This avian influenza strain is deadly to birds but poses no immediate public health concern for humans and the Centers for Disease Control currently states the human health risk from these viruses is low.
Because of the rapid spread of HPAI, the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture are implementing emergency amendments to its rules that make two changes regarding the importation of poultry and hatching eggs into New Jersey. First, the emergency rules amend N.J.A.C. 2:3-7.4 to prohibit the importation of poultry and hatching eggs from a state, territory or country where HPAI has been detected, into New Jersey live bird markets, unless a permit is obtained from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) and the poultry are shown through testing to be free from avian influenza within 72 hours of entry into the state.
Second, the emergency rule prohibits importation from anywhere outside of New Jersey of poultry or hatching eggs that are not subject to the 72 hour test and permit requirement, unless the poultry or hatching eggs originate and move directly to New Jersey from an Avian Influenza-negative flock.
This emergency rule is in effect immediately. Required permit information can be obtained by calling the NJDA, Division of Animal Health at 609-671 6400. Emergency rule amendments can be viewed at www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/pdf/HPAIemergencyrule.pdf
Other AI information can be found at:
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/diseases/avian_influenza.html
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4. Brucellosis speakers amplify difference between wildlife, livestock interests
By Brett French
Billings Gazette
July 2, 2015
While livestock producers continued to voice support for the eradication of brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Area, one wildlife expert said he foresees "no magic bullet" to eliminate the disease in elk.
The discrepancies were again highlighted during the second day of a National Academy of Sciences panel meeting at Montana State University in Bozeman on Thursday. The panel has been convened at the request of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to try to delineate a scientific path forward to eliminate or contain brucellosis in the GYA.
The disease is carried by elk spread out across the vast GYA and is also found in Yellowstone National Park bison. If transferred to cattle the disease can cause young cows to abort and lead to costly quarantines for livestock producers.
"I personally believe we're going to be living with brucellosis for a long time," said Keith Aune, of the Wildlife Conservation Society. Aune was one of the scientists asked to address the panel. "One of the big take homes is ... that healthy habitat sustains healthy wildlife."
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/pe2b337
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5. Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed in Two Colorado Counties [edited]
By Edited Press Release
TheHorse.com
July 2, 2015
Horses on two Montrose County and one Delta County premises have tested positive for vesicular stomatitis (VS) and have been placed under quarantine, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) reported July 2.
Colorado has become the fourth state in the country to have confirmed equine VS cases in 2015. Previous positive cases of vesicular stomatitis this year have been diagnosed in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
On July 2, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory reported positive tests. The initial Colorado disease investigations were accomplished by field veterinarians from the state veterinarian's office at the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
New for 2015 VS investigations is that the USDA has delisted VS as a foreign animal disease in horses; VS continues to be listed as a foreign animal disease for cattle and other livestock. This USDA procedural change will allow greater flexibility in how VS is managed in respect to equine cases. The primary change will now be that quarantines can be released as soon as 14 days after the onset of clinical signs of the last affected horse on a premises.
"Science has shown that the transmission of the virus is for a brief period of time after the initial clinical signs of VS," said Reohr. "Our goal is to appropriately adjust our response to this disease to reduce the negative economic impact to the equine community."
With the delisting of VS as a foreign animal disease, Colorado veterinarians can now take a lead role in the management of the disease in equine cases. In earlier cases, CDA or USDA field vets were required to perform the disease investigations on horses; the delisting now allows local veterinarians to perform the initial investigations, collect samples, and collaborate with animal health officials regarding movement restrictions and quarantines.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36030/vesicular-stomatitis-confirmed-in-two-colorado-counties
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6. California EHV-1 Quarantines Released [edited]
By Erica Larson, News Editor
TheHorse.com
July 2, 2015
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) released the equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) quarantines in San Joaquin and Riverside counties on June 30.
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.
The CDFA released the quarantine after no additional cases were confirmed and it had been at least 14 days since the gelding's euthanasia.
Meanwhile, in San Joaquin County, there have been no additional EHV-1 cases reported since a 13-year-old Quarter Horse mare tested positive earlier this month. That mare did not attend Mule Days, but was exposed to two cohort mules after they arrived home from the event.
The CDFA said it released the quarantine after a second set of samples from five exposed horses and mules came back negative.
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36037/california-ehv-1-quarantines-released
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7. Throlson American Bison Foundation Scholarship Now Accepting 2015 Applications
National Bison Assoc. News Release
July 1, 2015
Westminster, CO -The National Bison Association (NBA) has announced the 2015 Throlson American Bison Foundation Scholarship amid continued growth in consumer demand for healthy, natural bison meat.
The Throlson American Bison Foundation is named after its founder, Dr. Ken Throlson, DVM, a pioneer of the modern bison business and awards three outstanding college students with an interest in the burgeoning bison industry.
"The Throlson American Bison Foundation Scholarship program has been established to recognize, encourage and promote leadership among future bison industry professionals," said Dave Carter, executive director of the NBA.
In November 2015, the Throlson American Bison Foundation will award scholarships totaling, but not limited to, $5,000 to outstanding college junior, senior or graduate students studying fields related to the bison industry.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/oumtjw5
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