|
* * * * * * * * * *
1. Toll of bird flu in Minn. approaching $650M
By Mark Steil, Minnesota Public Radio News
Alberta Leaf Tribune
July 18, 2015
The economic toll of avian flu on Minnesota's poultry industry has climbed to nearly $650 million, according to new data from University of Minnesota Extension.
That is nearly double the estimate in May, when the disease was midway through its march through the state.
"That's coming both from losses in the poultry production as well as from losses in poultry processing," said Brigid Tuck, a senior analyst for the extension.
Minnesota farmers have lost more than 9 million chickens and turkeys to avian flu, and the total estimated cost is nearing the $870 million value of turkey sales last year.
Bird flu has mysteriously infected flocks at more than 100 Minnesota farms, from the Iowa border nearly to Canada. The state's main poultry production zone in central Minnesota has been hit the hardest. In Kandiyohi County, the state's leading turkey producer, the virus devastated about three dozen farms.
The university's damage estimate includes about $250 million in direct losses to farmers.
Full text:
http://www.albertleatribune.com/2015/07/toll-of-bird-flu-in-minn-approaching-650m/
********
|
|
2. Iowa chicks sent to far away Brazil to evade flu
Reuters
Gulf Times
July 20, 2015
Less than 24 hours after a deadly infection of bird flu was confirmed at a turkey farm north of Des Moines, Iowa, Bud Wood packed about 3,500 rare baby chicks into boxes and put them in the back of a truck.
With the delicate birds just hours old, the president of Murray McMurray Hatchery hit the road around 1am on a Saturday to drive through the night to a friend's farm in Texas "just to have them in a safe place", he said.
Breeding chickens that are the valuable genetic source for egg-laying hens have gone into hiding as the outbreak of bird flu in poultry has developed into the worst animal-health emergency in US history. Some have been relocated as far away as Brazil.
Wood's breeding stock includes chickens with genetic lines that date back to the early 1900s. Some of the breeds are so rare, he said, that if they were ever wiped out by the flu, "even to find them and build them back up to bigger numbers would take a long time".
Full text:
http://www.gulf-times.com/us-latin%20america/182/details/448075/iowa-chicks-sent-to-far-away-brazil-to-evade-flu
********
|
|
3. Are Plant-Based Horse Vaccines on the Horizon?
By Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
TheHorse.com
July 19, 2015
Antibiotics serve an important function in health care for horses, humans, and other animals. But as they've become more commonly used, many of the pathogens they're designed to treat are becoming resistant to their effects. This so-called "antibiotic resistance" is now a serious problem for doctors and veterinarians alike.
"The progressive reduction in antibiotic efficacy has left us with few alternatives for fighting infections and has contributed to substantial economic losses and public alarm," explained Rima Menassa, PhD, from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
One way to decrease antibiotic use in both human and veterinary medicine is through vaccination. That said, concerns about vaccinating persist among some owners and include the cost, the logistics of vaccinating large herds, secondary infections at the injection site, and, in some cases, lack of vaccine efficacy. So if an owner doesn't want to use traditional vaccines, what other option do they have?
"One viable alternative is the use of plant-based systems to produce edible vaccines or even antibodies (proteins that help fight infections) against disease-causing organisms to decrease the incidence of disease," said Menassa. "Edible vaccines can be administered in the diet ... and do not breach the skin through injection."
Full text:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36107/are-plant-based-horse-vaccines-on-the-horizon
********
|
|
4. Shearers specify plastic ear tags
By The American Sheep Industry Association
High Plains Journal
July 17, 2015
The chief concern of the shearers attending the Wool Council's summer meeting recently was producer's use of the metal scrapie ear tags. If the shearers had their way, use of the metal tags would be discontinued immediately.
Metal tags are many times not visible and when a clipper hits a metal tag, a shearer can be severely injured. A firsthand account of a shearer being air-lifted from a shearing site after severing every tendon, nerve, ligament and the main vein in his wrist was conveyed to drive the point home. More than $400,000 in medical bills were incurred and the shearer's career was abruptly ended.
The council drafted a proposed policy that reads: whereas in the United States it is mandatory to tag an animal with a scrapie ear tag, which is available in both metal and plastic versions free of charge to the producer; whereas metal ear tags are dangerous to shearers due to risk of injury to both the shearer and the sheep if the tag is caught in the comb and cutter from a lock-up; be it resolved that the ASI Wool Council and the United States shearers request that all metal ear tags be removed from the supply in the United States and producers use the plastic tags that are available free of charge. Be it further resolved that all new animals are to be tagged with the plastic tags.
White plastic scrapie tags are available to producers at no cost-just like the metal tags-through USDA/APHIS. ASI will further explore the use of plastic ear tags in the months to come.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/o3sqpbc
********
|
|
5. Smith and Kind Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Veterinarians in Rural Areas
Rep. Adrian Smith Press Release
July 16, 2015
Congressmen Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced H.R. 3095, the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act, today to address the shortages in essential veterinary services facing rural communities.
"The ongoing outbreak of avian flu in Nebraska and many other states, which has already cost our country's poultry flocks more than 35 million birds, is again highlighting the importance of veterinarians in ensuring the health, safety, and security of our nation's livestock chain," Rep. Smith said. "Farmers and ranchers depend on veterinarians to help maintain our first class food safety system. This bill addresses a discrepancy in our outdated tax code to ease compliance for veterinarians who choose to serve where they are needed most."
"The critical services large animal veterinarians provide to communities in western and central Wisconsin helps maintain both the safety of our food and the health and welfare of our livestock," Rep. Kind stated. "However, there are many areas, including in much of my district, where there is a shortage of these doctors. This legislation would encourage more veterinarians to locate to the places of highest need."
The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) provides student loan reimbursement to veterinarians who chose to practice for three years in federally designated shortage areas. A similar program, the National Health Service Corps, provides loan repayments to medical doctors and other human health practitioners.
Despite the similarity of these programs, National Health Service Corps loan repayments are exempt from federal withholding tax, while VMLRP payments are not. To address this inconsistency, H.R. 3095 would provide a similar exemption for VMLRP.
Source:
http://adriansmith.house.gov/press-release/smith-and-kind-introduce-bill-expand-access-veterinarians-rural-areas
********
|
|
6. From the Farm: Tips for practical farm biosecurity
Rusty Evans, Montgomery County Extension Service
The Leaf-Chronicle
July 17, 2015
Dr. Lew Strickland, University of Tennessee Extension veterinarian, shares some good information with us on farm biosecurity:
With the current price of cattle, it is wise to do everything possible to protect your investment. The best vaccines and medication can be overcome by poor management every time, so simple, down-to-earth basic biosecurity can be applied to farms without costing a fortune. This will help to prevent the spread of disease farm to farm and within your farm.
Have a boot-cleaning kit
Footbaths have their place but for most operations they aren't practical, especially in freezing temperatures or muddy conditions. And dipping boots in them doesn't allow enough contact time to penetrate collected material. The most important thing is removing mud and manure from boots. A good brush, scraper and pail of hot, soapy water can be very effective. Once cleaned, use a spray bottle to thoroughly apply a solution of household bleach as a last step.
Simple disinfectant use
There are many good disinfectants but the best option is one that is readily available and will be used. The more expensive the product, the more the tendency to skimp. Everyone has household bleach and will not be afraid to use it.
Biosecurity for guests
Have extra boots and coveralls for visitors. This can be as simple as disposable plastic boot covers and single-use coveralls, so no need to manage footbaths and wash-up protocols or tell people they need to clean up. These can be removed and disposed of in a designated area while on the farm.
Disposable gloves provide protection against disease spread and even some zoonotic diseases, but if gloves are not available, wash hands as soon as possible and use alcohol based hand cleaners.
Full text: http://tinyurl.com/ns3nby8
********
|
|
7. Feds propose adding H5N1 to HHS select agent list
Lisa Schnirring, Staff Writer
CIDRAP News
July 17, 2015
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday unveiled a proposal to add certain H5N1 influenza viruses to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) select agent list and to designate ones that are modified to be more transmissible in mammals to the category that poses the greatest risk to humans.
Federal officials have been weighing adding the viruses as select agents in the wake of lab biosafety concerns involving the publication of studies on lab-modified H5N1 strains that were capable of airborne transmission in ferrets, which triggered a debate about dual-use research of concern (DURC) that began in early 2012.
The CDC detailed the proposal yesterday in a Federal Register notice and asked the public for comments, which are due by Sep 14. Experts contacted by CIDRAP News voiced mixed reactions to the proposal.
Also, a Dutch court has handed down a decision to Dutch H5N1 researchers that adds to uncertainties over whether they need government clearance to publish DURC research.
Full text:
http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2015/07/feds-propose-adding-h5n1-hhs-select-agent-list
See Also:
Possession, Use, and Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins; Addition of Certain Influenza Virus Strains to the List of Select Agents and Toxins
Federal Register Volume 80, Number 136 (Thursday, July 16, 2015)
Proposed Rules
Pages 42079-42084
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17435]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
42 CFR Part 73
Docket No. CDC-2015-0050
RIN 0920-AA58
Possession, Use, and Transfer of Select Agents and Toxins; Addition of Certain Influenza Virus Strains to the List of Select Agents and Toxins
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.
SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to add certain influenza virus strains to the list of HHS select agents and toxins. Specifically, we are proposing to add the influenza viruses that contain the hemagglutinin (HA) from the Goose Guangdong/1/96 lineage (the influenza viruses that contain the hemagglutinin (HA) from the A/Gs/Gd/1/96 lineage), including wild-type viruses, as a non-Tier 1 select agent. We are also proposing to add any influenza viruses that contain the HA from the A/Gs/Gd/1/96 lineage that were made transmissible among mammals by respiratory droplets in a laboratory as a Tier 1 select agent. We have determined that these influenza viruses have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety.
DATES: Comments should be received on or before September 14, 2015.
Full text:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-16/html/2015-17435.htm
********
|
|
